Pilot line boost for roll-to-roll printed sensors
VTT in Finland has launched a pilot line for high volume production of printed electronics, including wearable sensors.
The Printocent Pilot Factory bridges the gap between the lab and high volume production with a roll-to-roll process for wearable sensors and patches and other flexible electronics.
The roll-to-roll printed electronics lines have interchangeable printing methods, high curing capacity and automated layer-to-layer registration with printing and coating processes are available for thin films (<100 nm) up to thick films (tens of micrometers).
The pilot lines also have component assembly in a roll-to-roll format with high throughput pick and place line for low-temperature soldering or adhesive bonding and a flip-chip high-precision and bare-die assembly line.
- Self-powered wearable patch enables AI speech synthesis
- Wearable ultrasound patch works for 48hrs – video
A lamination and cutting converting line equipped with a cutting laser, robot arms, soldering and ultrasonic welding capabilities supports post processing and assembly of wearable sensors, and an injection molding machine with a roll feeder supports overmolded electronics.
All of this is supported by a test line for automated functionality testing and programming purposes.
For early screening and testing, there are laboratory-scale capabilities available for all key processes used in the pilot factory. Characterization capabilities range from material testing, profilometry to 3D X-ray imaging.
In a recent study, (Biodegradable ECG patch for sustainable wearable) VTT has developed a new sustainable electrocardiogram (ECG) patch that is fully recyclable and made of biomaterials. The device is modular, so electronic components can be easily removed from the disposable patch and used again.
The patch itself is made of nanocellulose and printed with carbon conductors and sensing electrodes. The biodegradable patch is made of a cellulose e-skin material developed at VTT to replace traditional plastic in wearable skin applications.
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
