-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueWet Process Control
In this issue, we examine wet processes and how to obtain a better degree of control that allows usable data to guide our decisions and produce consistently higher-quality products.
Don’t Just Survive, Thrive
If we are to be relevant and prosper during these next critical decades in electronics, we must do more than survive. As an industry, we can and must thrive. In this issue, our contributors explore these concepts meant to help you take your business to the next level.
Material Matters
Materials management is nuanced, multifaceted, and requires a holistic systems approach for business success. When building high mix, low volume, and high technology, managing materials and overall cost containment are even greater challenges.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
PCB Prototyping Evolves With New Wave of Electronics Printers
August 4, 2015 | Business WireEstimated reading time: 1 minute
A new wave of printers targeting PCBs is enabling rapid, local prototyping while protecting company IP, finds IDTechEx Research.
The established $80 billion PCB market is under increasing strain to produce more customized circuit boards more quickly, driven by the proliferation of choices of consumer electronics devices, many only being sold for short periods of time until being bettered.
The current status quo of making prototypes in Asia and then shipping them to the product developer not only typically takes one to three weeks but can put intellectual property at risk, at a time when product developers seek both time-to-market and product design as key differentiators in a sector where branded devices are sometimes copied and commoditized before they have even been launched.
IDTechEx Research has discovered that this has led to a new category of printers that print conductive ink and other materials to enable in-house, low cost, rapid prototyping and development work.
According to research conducted for the report “From 2D to 3D Printed Electronics 2015-2025” (www.idtechex.com/3dpe) the opportunity is being explored mainly by start-up companies rather than large equipment providers. Of those involved, 45% are targeting the low cost printer opportunity (under $3,500 per printer) focusing towards the educational and hobbyist markets.
The rest are focussing on the industrial market, targeting up to 6 circuit layers, which accounts for 43% of all PCBs produced.
IDTechEx Research finds that both groups have to contend with the higher resistivity of the ink, although the increasing supply of nanoparticle inks will help to close the performance gap with etched traces.
This will culminate in at least $130m of specialist equipment sales in 2020 and thereafter scale rapidly as not only more materials become available but also ability to print on everything from flexible substrates to 3D surfaces unleashes current design constraints. The new wave of printed electronics manufacturing will enable new product designs.
For more information see the new report from IDTechEx “From 2D to 3D Printed Electronics 2015-2025”. The IDTechEx Show! on November 18-19 in Santa Clara covering Printed Electronics and 3D printing will showcase the solutions.
Suggested Items
AIM Solder Appoints Kevin Kwan as Business Development Manager in Asia
09/06/2024 | AIM SolderAIM Solder, a global leader in solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kevin Kwan as Business Development Manager for the Asian market.
SEMICON India 2024 to Highlight Local Semiconductor Ecosystem Growth and Industry Trends
09/06/2024 | SEMISEMICON India 2024 will bring together global leaders, semiconductor industry experts, academia, and government officials from September 11-13, 2024, at the India Exposition Mart Ltd. (IEML) in Greater Noida, Delhi NCR.
MICRONOX MX2123 to Lead KYZEN Offerings at The International Symposium on Microelectronics
09/05/2024 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at The 2024 International Symposium on Microelectronics scheduled to take place October 1-3, 2024 at the Encore Boston Harbor.
Altus Enhances Customer Support in the North
09/05/2024 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading capital equipment distributor for the electronics industry in the UK and Ireland, is pleased to announce the addition of a Senior Sales Manager to its growing team.
Altium, Mouser Team Up to Advance Electronics Education and Careers Worldwide
09/05/2024 | AltiumAltium LLC, a global leader in software and solutions for the electronics industry, and Mouser Electronics, a global authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components, are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at advancing electronics education and careers worldwide.