Panasonic and NTU Singapore create a multi-material 3D printer to produce flexible smart devices

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU Singapore), Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific and the Singapore Center for 3D Printing (SC3DP) have developed a new multi-material 3D printer using high-powered multi-wave lasers to quickly and easily 3D print smart, flexible devices .

The multi-material 3D printer works by utilizing different laser wavelengths, creating thermal and chemical reactions capable of converting carbon-based materials (polyamide and graphene oxide) into a new type of highly porous graphene. The structure printed in this way is not only light and conductive, but can also be printed or coated on flexible substrates such as plastics, glass, gold and fabrics, creating flexible and pliable devices. Traditionally, electronic devices and components are usually made of rigid materials such as metals, silicon and ceramics, but there is growing interest in flexible electronic devices that can be bent, twisted and easily conformed to a variety of surfaces.

The newly created 3D printer has already attracted the interest of various companies, including the American JABIL, which plans to integrate 3D printed graphene-based electronics into a smart infusion system. The concept was illustrated by a prototype of a cheap intravenous (IV) bag with a built-in sensor created in 3D printing technology, supported by artificial intelligence. The device monitors the status of the drip, regulates parameters such as flow and temperature, and then sends this information to your smartphone in real time. This will allow medical staff to remotely monitor, control and detect anomalies in the patient. The research team also tested the feasibility of integrating 3D-printed components in the production of high-performance electronics, such as pressure sensors and heaters, with financial support from NAMIC.

The NTU-Panasonic team believes that the newly developed 3D printer offers a level of flexibility and functionality that cannot be achieved with other similar products on the market. Project members say the innovation has the potential to revolutionize the field of 3D printing and open up new possibilities for new product design and innovation. The project between NTU and Panasonic to develop a new multi-material printer was launched in 2016 with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) under the Industrial Post-graduate Program (IPP). Over the years, the project team has filed two patents, presented its results at 11 international conferences and published 11 papers. The project also supported three Panasonic scientists and engineers who obtained their PhDs from NTU.

As a next step, Panasonic has set up a new center for laser-based manufacturing systems at its research center in Singapore to allow for further concept trials using components produced by a multi-material 3D printer, as part of Panasonic’s “Autonomous Factory” concept for the smart factories of the future.

Source: www.ntu.edu.sg