WHEN CONSIDERING THE benefits of additive manufacturing processes for PCBs, several factors need to be considered. Each printing method has its strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to understand the nuances of each. Items like circuit layout or total resistance of traces carrying power or signal may be different from traditional PCB processes. Some printed electronics technologies like inkjet have hundreds, or even thousands, of nozzles, which enable them to swipe over the area and recreate the image of the pattern in seconds, typically printing a layer thickness less than lum. Screen printing, another common method, can create layers with a minimum thickness of 25pm with very flexible feature size. Screen printing is not ideal for prototyping, however, as stencils for each pattern to be printed must be used. Aerosol jet can print digital referenced-CAD or imagery, but the cycle time may take longer. The way it works is like drawing with a pencil. If there is an area to fill, you would have to move your hand back and forth, which can affect the cycle time to make the circuit. Designers must weigh the commonality with traditional PCB layouts vs. the time it takes to make the circuit. These are three prime examples of the different applicable technologies and nuances of printed electronics.
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