PVA probably really limits the applications but that’s super cool
DissolvPCB enables fully recyclable 3D-printed circuit boards with liquid metal conductors
Submitted 5 hours ago by cm0002@piefed.world to 3dprinting@lemmy.world
Comments
neclimdul@lemmy.world 33 minutes ago
ricdeh@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
ricdeh@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
This is not just one of those ivory tower papers with their actual applications far away in time and eventually ending up in some obscure industrial process never heard of again in lay circles; this could have an immediate impact on the maker culture and makerspaces right now and in the near future. The preprint describes the process in a very understandable, digestible manner and provides actual implementation examples, as well as detailed recipes for all of the compounds. If you are even remotely interested in the subject matter, I’d recommend you to try it out for yourself. The “ingredients” are all easily obtainable and handleable. Yes, gallium and indium might be a bit expensive, but it is worth it imo. They literally used consumer kitchen equipment for some of the steps, to demonstrate how this is feasible for tinkerers, makerspaces and prototypes. No expensive machinery required (except for an FFF 3d-printer, of course).
WaterWaiver@aussie.zone 3 hours ago
Direct metal liquid contact from pin to pin! I love it.
peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 2 hours ago
Ooooooooo
wjrii@lemmy.world 2 minutes ago
Very cool, though JFC there’s no way MY printer will be fine tuned enough to generate the channels. The whole process reminds me of the rednecks who pour molten aluminum down fire ant hills, in a good way. The sealing with glorified Elmer’s glue is also clever.
Now all that said, you wouldn’t want to make anything that’s going to have much contact with water, so a lot of typical applications are risky: “My PCB is leaking!” I do wonder if you could do the same thing, but less immediately recyclable, with PLA and a 3D pen.