Making PCBs using Conductive Ink Printer (ie Voltera V-One)

[DerekG]

Hi,

A colleague sent me the link below to the Voltera V-One Conductive Ink Printer that is designed to lay tracks down onto either ridged or flexible circuit board substrate (or plastic or almost anything flat).

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/voltera.html

I understand that conductive ink can also be used to fill through hole vias.

The Voltera conductive ink printer can read Gerber files in directly.

These are of interest as it could mean a prototype circuit could be "produced & tested" in an afternoon.

I'm wondering if anyone has used either the Voltera printer (or another brand) & how successful they have found them in real life.

[cdev]

With the caveat that I have always wanted to do conductive ink for other reasons, I can make my own prototype PCB in an hour or so now. Ghetto style. So that may not be such a big thing because lots of people can and do make their own PCBs in a short periodof time using toner transfer or similar.  Its less complicated than people think.

[mairo]

not in the Voltera price range, but this might do a better job:
http://www.nano-di.com/3d-printer

[phil from seattle]

The video had zero details on how you attach components. Solder? Fused deposition materials typically have a low melting point - solder would be problematic.

[Kean]

From what I recall reading, it supposedly works OK, but has limited use cases and expensive single-source consumables.
In these days of cheap online PCB ordering (even recently for flex), it would be awfully hard to justify - but sometimes you need a one-off sample same-day (education, high-value prototyping).

I'm guessing Circuit Specialists are just a reseller - the company website is https://www.voltera.io/
The original Kickstarter is at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voltera/voltera-your-circuit-board-prototyping-machine

There is some older discussion on the Voltera in the Crowd Funding section of this forum
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/new-kickstarter-voltera-print-paste-and-toast-)-your-prototype-board/

[tooki]

The video had zero details on how you attach components. Solder? Fused deposition materials typically have a low melting point - solder would be problematic.

At least a while back when I first saw the Voltera, they specified a low-temperature tin-bismuth (IIRC) solder.

[ar__systems]

So what do you do with the single side PCB with no mask, no legend, and no holes?

[phil from seattle]

Well, in theory it could print multiple materials: insulators (for trace crossings), ink for legend, masking ink for the solder mask.  Resistors and caps could be printed. Maybe even thick film devices. Probably would require significant mind shift in how boards are designed and laid out. Plus, a lot of new tools and materials.

Theory might be a bit ahead of reality, though...