BotFactory Announces Multi-Layer Capability for Squink Printer at Printed Electronics Europe - 2016 IDTechEx Show

New York, April 27, 2016—What is next for BotFactory’s desktop PCB printers? A year after shipping its first printer, BotFactory has announced all its printers will be able to print multi-layered boards via an add-on and a software update.

BotFactory Squink is a $3000 Desktop PCB Printer that can inkjet-print conductive traces, dispense solder/glue and pick-and-place components on rigid or flexible substrates. Like a 3D Printer, you can prototype and print Electronic Circuits, or Printed Circuit Boards. The R&D team at BotFactory has been hard at work for the last couple of years. In October 2015 they introduced a new ink, called “Advanced Ink”, which allowed users to print flexible and rigid circuits on a variety of substrates - FR4 and Kapton included - and this upgrade strengthened their position in the educational market and pushed them into research and development labs at companies in different markets. Today BotFactory is announcing a new product that would enable existing and future users of their desktop PCB factory - Squink - to print and assemble multi-layer boards, deepening on their promise of affordable rapid-prototyping.

Dubbed “Multilayer Package”, it consist of a new cartridge containing insulating ink and a curing lamp. The latter is placed on top of the circuit to cure the insulating ink via UV light while protecting the eyes and skin of the users during the process.

The specially-formulated ink is electrically insulating and is compatible with the existing Advanced Ink, allowing users to print insulating ink on top of the conductive traces or to print traces on top of an insulating layer. It can also be used to improve printing on materials that are not easily compatible with the advanced ink like porous, stretchable or textile materials. Application of an additional layer of insulating ink on top of the the upper conductive layer is also an option to protect the exposed traces.

Users of the Multilayer Package will be able to design their multi-layered circuits using standard CAD tools like Eagle, Altium or KiCad. Squink will use the exported GERBER files to design the printing strategy and guarantee connection between different layers using stacked VIAS. BotFactory is officially supporting two-layer boards and encourages users to experiment with additional layers. It is likely that official support for additional layers will become available in the near future.

Given the complexity of existing ICs and the growing demand for smaller footprints when it comes to electronic devices, multilayering is mandatory. The introduction of the multilayer capability, even for flexible circuits, will immediately alleviate prototyping pains in applications like Wearables devices, Internet of things, Medical devices, Education, Avionics and Art-tech amongst others.

BotFactory will offer the Multilayer Package in two ways. The standalone “Insulating Package” can be ordered as an upgrade kit for US$400. In addition, the new “Squink Professional Set” will bundle a Squink printer, an Advanced Ink cartridge, FR4 and the Multilayer Package for US$3500. The new products will be available for pre-order at the company’s website (https://www.botfactory.co) from April 27th to May 15th 2016. Shipping of the multilayering packages will begin on May 23rd, 2016.

BotFactory Squink is the strongest offering in the market for rapid PCB prototyping, miniaturizing processes seen in large-scale Factory floors and bringing it to the Desktop. By providing outrageous value, BotFactory aims to revolutionize how the Industry, Educators and Makers innovate and prototype Electronics Devices.

Resources.
Pictures on the insulating package can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwIegmfGnMxfMDRaRU5FM1Nlc1k

BotFactory was born in the intersection of multiple things: A group of great people, a clear need for a new technology that allowed agile methodology for electronics development and the vibrant environment of Brooklyn.

Founded in 2013 by New York University Graduates, BotFactory has been awarded multiple awards for their Squink PCB 3D Printer.

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This release was published on openPR.