The first printed demo device has an integrated circuit board with sensors, and the metal shell of the piece acts as an antenna. To date, this kind of solution has been regarded as challenging, if not impossible, for conventional technology.

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“Industrial 3D printing of metal is not a new thing, as various parts of industrial production equipment are already being 3D-printed around the world. Additionally, electronics can be placed inside the 3D printed objects, when they are made of plastic, for example.

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Metal powder-bed fusion printing, on the other hand, requires such high temperatures that the electronics have not been able to withstand it.

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Now we have succeeded in keeping the electronics in good working order even when 3D-printed in metal,” says Tero Leppänen, Director from Etteplan’s Software and Embedded Solutions service area. There is a vast range of possible use-cases for 3D printed metal objects with embedded intelligence. […]

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