In-Situ Laser Processing for 3D Printed Mechanical Transducers

Abstract

With the development of our in-situ Laser Processing techniques we provide solutions to both planarize Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printed plastics and sintering of inks printed by Direct Ink Writing (DIW). Laser sintering enables fabrication of 3D printed functional and structural layers out of FDM printed thermoplastics and DIW printed conductive inks. As the sintering is in-situ, the sintered conductive layers, produced out of DIW printed silver inks, can be embedded into thermally sensitive FDM printed thermoplastics. In this fashion, vertical stacks out of these materials can be fabricated, in order to achieve capacitive and resistive mechanical transducers.