Optomec showcases production systems for 3D printed electronics and metals at RAPID + TCT Conference
Optomec (Albuquerque, New Mexico), a global supplier of production grade additive manufacturing solutions, will showcase its industry-proven Aerosol Jet Systems for printed electronics and LENS systems for 3D printed metals at the RAPID + TCT Conference this week in Fort Worth, Texas.
Highlighting its exhibition will be live demonstrations of the five axis Aerosol Jet 5x system for printed electronics and video presentations of the industry’s first and only atmosphere controlled LENS Hybrid System for additive and subtractive processing of metals, including titanium and aluminium. In addition, Optomec will display sample parts demonstrating conformal sensors, antenna, and 3D interconnects for semiconductor packaging, as well as LENS produced metal parts, including a rocket jet nozzle which was built 10 times faster than the build rate of powder bed fusion.
Optomec LENS systems are claimed to be the leading powder fed Directed Energy Deposition (DED) printers on the market, recently reaching 100 installations in 15 countries. The new LENS 3D Machine Tool Series (MTS) enables 3D metal printing at roughly 1/3 the price of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) systems, in terms of both equipment and powder cost. LENS DED systems are also 10 times faster than PBF and have the further benefit of enabling high ROI applications such as repair and wear coatings.
In addition to the exhibition, Bryan Germann, Optomec Aerosol Jet product manager, will deliver a presentation at the conference titled “Functionalizing Structures via Aerosol Jet 3D Printed Electronics” in the RAPID Innovation Summit at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, 25 April. Germann will discuss how structural electronics is emerging as a new way of adding intelligence into products such as automobiles, turbine engines, medical devices, and building infrastructure. These functions can be used to sense, report on, and take or recommend corrective actions when products are deviating from their specifications. Optomec Aerosol Jet printers deliver the unique ability to print electronic and other materials onto any type of 2D and 3D structure, in dimensions ranging from 10 microns up to centimetres in scale. Aerosol Jet 3D printed electronics solutions have been deployed to add intelligence to products enabling continuous monitoring and feedback.
RAPID + TCT is an additive manufacturing event that showcases product innovations and offers collaborative learning opportunities to ultimately accelerate the adoption and advancement of the technology.
Caption: Close-up of an Optomec Aerosol Jet system (photo: Optomec)