Summary of Print Your Own Circuit Boards and Reflow SMD Components with the Voltera V-One
Voltera's V-One is a desktop circuit board printer designed to accelerate hardware prototyping by printing traces, insulating layers, and applying solder paste directly onto FR-4 boards. It features modular print heads, an internal heating element for curing ink or reflowing components, and LED status indicators. The device achieves 8mil trace resolution with resistance comparable to copper, aiming to launch via Kickstarter at approximately $1500.
Parts used in the Voltera V-One:
- Silver nanoparticle conductive ink
- Standard FR-4 board
- Insulating layer material
- Solder paste
- Heating element
- Internal LEDs
- Modular print heads
- Magnetic clasps
Typically when electrical engineers wants to make a new circuitboard, they need to send their design files to a manufacturer and wait for it to be produced and mailed back. Hardware startup Voltera aims to expedite this process by putting it in on your desk with its V-One consumer circuit board printer.
Winners of the $50,000 TechCrunch “Hardware Battlefield” at CES 2015, the Haxlr8r alumnus Canadian team has created a stylish printer that uses a silver nanoparticle conductive ink to lay traces on a standard FR-4 board. The printer can also place an insulating layer over the traces to allow for two-layer circuits, and also offers a solder paste option to allow makers to reflow surface-mount components onto existing boards.
The unit contains a heating element to allow the conductive ink to cure, or to function as a reflow heater for surface-mount projects. Internal LEDs that indicate what part of the process the device is currently at.
The print heads are modular, popping into the machine with magnetic clasps to allow for quick changes between printing types.
According to Voltera cofounder Alroy Almeida, the V-One prints at 8mil space and trace, passives down to 0603, and pin-to-pin pitch is 0.8mm. Resistance is comparable to copper, “about an order of magnitude not as conductive” but says that in their tests, everything has been fine so far.
Voltara aims to launch a Kickstarter in the near future, with a price point around $1500.
It’s not the first circuit board printer, however — various printer hacks have existed for some time, and last year the Kickstarted Squink finished with just over $100,000 in funding for a $3000 machine that also includes pick-and-place capabilities.
For more detail: Print Your Own Circuit Boards and Reflow SMD Components with the Voltera V-One
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How does the Voltera V-One expedite circuit board production?
It allows engineers to print designs directly on their desk using silver nanoparticle ink instead of waiting for manufacturer production. -
What types of layers can the printer create?
The unit can lay traces, place an insulating layer over them for two-layer circuits, and apply solder paste for surface-mount components. -
Does the machine have a heating function?
Yes, it contains a heating element to cure conductive ink or act as a reflow heater for surface-mount projects. -
Can users easily switch between different printing tasks?
Yes, the print heads are modular and use magnetic clasps for quick changes between printing types. -
What is the minimum trace and pitch resolution of the V-One?
It prints at 8mil space and trace with a pin-to-pin pitch of 0.8mm and supports passives down to 0603. -
Is the conductivity of the printed traces equal to copper?
No, the resistance is about an order of magnitude less conductive than copper but tests show everything functions fine. -
What is the expected price point for the Voltera V-One?
The company aims for a price point around $1500 when launching via Kickstarter.
