Manufacturing of Smart 3D Multifunctional Parts using Flashlight Sintering

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Flexible, printed electronics have recently drawn considerable attention due to their promising market opportunities. According to a recent IDTechEX report, the value of this industry is expected to exceed $73 billion USD by 2025. Due to the rapid growth of the Internet of Things and low-cost, lightweight technologies, the manufacture of metal electrode patterns and circuits onto flexible and polymeric substrates is a crucial area of research. Three-dimensional fabrication of multifunctional and multimaterial components can create even higher value-added products while minimizing the manufacturing footprint. This is where flexible and conformable sensor and actuator system technologies have an important advantage over conventional systems that are built on rigid substrates. Technological breakthroughs are critical in driving the next generation of sensing, actuation and communication systems, which rely on novel materials and cutting edge equipment to accomplish rapid prototyping.