Optomec enables next-generation 3D manufacturing

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Officials from Optomec, a leading global supplier of production grade additive manufacturing systems for 3D printed metals and 3D printed electronics, announce that the company has received multiple orders for its advanced Aerosol Jet 5X printing system. Orders were received from leading companies in healthcare (medical devices), consumer electronics, industrial, aerospace, and defense, who will use their systems to manufacture 3D printed electronics for smart devices used in Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

The advanced Aerosol Jet 5X system was specifically developed to enable a new generation of lighter weight, high performance smart devices for consumer and industrial Internet of Things applications. Smart devices requiring tightly integrated 3D antennas, sensors, and other circuitry have become ubiquitous within the automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, defense, healthcare, and power generation industries; and such applications are projected to grow exponentially over the coming decade. Equipped with a 5-axis coordinated motion platform, the Aerosol Jet 5X System provides a flexible and cost efficient method for manufacturing these integrated electronics onto a variety of plastic, ceramic and metal 3D structures.

“With the Aerosol Jet 5X system we expect to iterate quickly to provide optimized 3D printed electronic solutions enabling engineers to create smaller, lighter, and more efficient products,” says Steve Crynock, AME senior electrical process engineer, at GE Healthcare Systems.

Using Optomec patented material input and aerodynamic deposition capabilities, the Aerosol Jet 5X system can print feature sizes ranging from 10 microns on up to millimeters in width. The printer supports a wide variety of functional materials, including conductive inks, dielectrics, polymers and adhesives and can deposit these materials on low temperature substrates enabling a range of applications. Aerosol Jet 5X technology is also scalable to meet high volume production requirements.

“We are pleased to see the rapid adoption of our recently introduced Aerosol Jet 5X system by multiple companies across a variety of industries,” states Mike O’Reilly, director aerosol jet product management at Optomec. “This solution is enabling next generation 3D electronics in ways not possible with current manufacturing methods.”