Four engineering students from the University of Waterloo, Canada, have won an international James Dyson award. Their invention, the Voltera V-One, is a laptop-sized PCB printer that can turn design files into prototype circuit boards in minutes, cutting both the time and cost involved in designing and prototyping PCBs.
Voltera V-One uses the same rapid prototyping principles that underpin 3D printing. It lays down conductive and insulating inks to create a functional, two-layer circuit board. But it is also a solder paste dispenser, allowing components to be added to the board and reflowed by a 550W heater.
Alroy Almeida, co-founder said: “When we first started the company, we spoke to many experts who told us we were too ambitious and that it was impossible to create a tool that could effectively prototype circuits. We took that as a challenge.”
Additive manufacturing has transformed how things are made and who can make them. Voltera V-One promises to do the same for electronics. As international winners of the James Dyson Award, the team will be awarded £30,000 to further develop their idea.
According to a report by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the growth of personal 3D printers is said to have averaged 345% every year between 2008 and 2011, and CCS Insight claim that consumer 3D printing is set to grow tenfold by 2018. But while 3D printers have opened the door to the maker and hobbyist movement, three quarters of the revenue generated is expected to come from business.
Jesús Zozaya, co-founder, added: “We’re at a critical point with Voltera. Our parts are now being manufactured and we are about to begin a new wave of testing in our lab. The £30,000 we’ve been awarded will allow us to ramp up production and enhance testing.”
Author
Tom Austin-Morgan
Source: www.newelectronics.co.uk