At SOLIDWORKS World 2016, Nano Dimension Ltd., is demonstrating its recently unveiled DragonFly 2020 3D Printer, designed to be the ultimate rapid prototyping tool for professional electronics. The DragonFly 2020 3D Printer will be exhibited in the show’s Partner Pavilion January 31 – February 3.
The DragonFly 2020 3D Printer brings together an extremely precise inkjet deposition system, advanced nano chemistry and sophisticated software to print rapid prototypes of professional multilayer printed circuit boards in-house, more quickly and less expensively than outsourcing.
Using a combination of SOLIDWORKS 3D design software, Composer and PDM Professional, Nano Dimension was able to visualize the DragonFly 2020 3D Printer and its components with accurate 3D illustrations of the design and renditions of the product, before actual production. The software helped speed production of the components while making the system visually impressive and friendly to the end user.
“In addition to helping with the design, SOLIDWORKS enabled the simulation and verification of our 3D models for the DragonFly 2020 3D Printer, which was critical in helping us achieve accurate component dimensions, select the best materials for the system, and define its performance,” said Simon Fried, Chief Business Officer and Co-founder of Nano Dimension.
“Nano Dimension and its DragonFly 2020 3D Printer were not only designed using SOLIDWORKS, but will be compatible with upcoming PCB 3D design technology from SOLIDWORKS, seen on stage today at SOLIDWORKS World 2016,” said Kishore Boyalakuntla, Senior Director, SOLIDWORKS Portfolio Management, Dassault Systèmes. “I’m always excited when we complete the ecosystem, so to speak: an innovative new product designed in SOLIDWORKS, which will then 3D print innovative new products using innovative new 3D design technology from SOLIDWORKS.”
The capability of rapidly producing functional multilayer PCB prototypes using 3D printing is new to the printed electronics design and manufacturing industry. The current standard subtractive manufacturing of PCBs is a multi-stage, labor- and material-intensive process, and is so costly and time consuming that electronics designers requiring prototypes resort to outsourcing. Nano Dimension’s 3D printer can print a complete multilayer PCB, including all interconnections between layers, using its revolutionary inkjet printer and highly conductive, proprietary AgCite nano-inks and dielectric nano-inks. Sophisticated proprietary software accepts industry standard Gerber design files and manages the precise print process. In addition, the DragonFly 2020 3D Printer gives users the option of testing on-the-fly a range of designs and exploring new circuit geometries that would not have been possible to make in any other way.
The DragonFly 2020 3D Printer is targeted for commercial availability towards the end of 2016. The AgCite conductive nano inks are available today.
