The most common examples of 3D printing are limited to simple decorations or conceptual proofs that have no specific utility. What we are really waiting for is an acceleration of so-called functional 3D printing, and for that we need machines like the Voxel8, a 3D printer that, besides working with plastic, is also compatible with a special conductive ink, allowing the creation of printed circuits.
We have seen all kinds of designs, and the Web is filling up with free models that anyone with a 3D printer can reproduce at no cost (obviously ignoring the plastic, electricity and time). Some of these figures are truly incredible, almost impossible to reproduce by hand. But it is those cases of functional printing that catch our attention. Besides restoring objects and repairing mechanisms, 3D printing is literally saving lives, with facial reconstructions, vertebra transplants, and cranial implants. We all know that one of the priorities among 3D printers is to lower its price. However, they must also gain powerful functions that multiply their potential. Today we present the Voxel8, and its main trick is printed circuits.
On more than one occasion we have heard about conductive ink (read conductive), used to make small repairs on accessories such as remote controls, and even computer keyboards (having to deal with membranes of twenty years or more, conductive ink is one of my best allies). The problem is that its conductivity is not that good. We can correct gaps of a couple of millimeters, but any complex design is left out of the equation. With the Voxel8 this changes completely thanks to its special silver-based conductive ink, which is five thousand times more conductive than its carbon sisters. The Voxel8 can be programmed with strategic pauses that give the user enough time to incorporate external components into each circuit. The final result is a creation with an internal 3D circuit, completely protected from the elements, something fundamental when manufacturing objects like a quadcopter.
The Voxel8 printer software was developed by none other than Autodesk under the name Project Wire, and it has been designed especially for creating 3D circuits. All this sounds very good, although we must face reality: the cost of the Voxel8 is quite high. The standard model has a price of 8,499 dollars, and requires a 500 dollar deposit. There is also an option of 8,999 dollars that doubles the amount of PLA plastic and conductive ink, as well as guaranteeing early access to new compatible materials. The first units will be delivered at the end of the year.
