Nanyang Technological University (NTU) researchers in Singapore have embedded electronics into a 3D printed drone. Using Stratasys’ 3D printers and the advanced ULTEM 9085 material Phillip Keane produced the device as part of the Singapore Center for 3D Printing (SC3DP) at NTU. The quadcopter, it has four propellers, with its impressive construction and embedded electronics is impressive, but still has some way to go to catch up with TERN, DARPA’s military drone currently under development.
Embedding the electronics into the drone in one process is significant since they would need to withstand the high temperatures associated with additive manufacturing. To do this electronics were modified in order to withstand high temperatures and then placed inside the print at different stages of the fabrication process. Temperatures during the print needed to be a minimum of 160°C for the advanced resin. Only the motor and propellers needed to be fitted following the 14 hour print with just three pauses required to embed electronics.
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