Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1443477
JANUARY 2022 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 45 vias, shielded wires such as coax, and different shapes of the overall circuitry. Hence twisted wires, pair, triple, etc., can be fabricated within the build, eliminating the need to use external circuit wiring. As published in several elec- tronics-related journals, coils, capacitors, and multi-shape/multilevel antennas can be fabri- cated as an integral part of the electronic cir- cuit with capabilities that cannot be matched by PCB fabrication, not only in terms of cost but also in electronic performance. Schleicher: Even if it is not always obvious, there are now a great many patents in the field of PCB layout. If you do a search, you will also find some on the topic of "twisted pair" routing for conventionally manufactured PCBs. However, the realization is that twisted pair is a useful method of transmitting fast switching signals. e actual goal of twisted pair is to maintain the signal integrity and thus the signal quality as good as possible. For this purpose, the for- ward and return conductors are "coupled" as well as possible. Ideally, the cable could still be sheathed with a shield. is is how we all know it from network cables. In a printed circuit board, the conductor width and the distance to a reference layer are usually calculated to achieve a certain imped- ance of lateral connections. With the existing possibilities, the corresponding lines can be routed with any layout tool nowadays. For ver- tical connections it is more difficult. ere are several workarounds with which the desired impedance can be achieved with more or less success/effort. Here the possibility of digital printing offers an almost optimal solution. ere is no longer any layer dependency. e lines can be routed and produced at the optimum distance from each other. Of course, if you look closely, there are limitations, such as a certain surface rough- ness due to the arrangement of the "voxels" on the printed product. In my estimation, this will be optimized considerably in the future. Johnson: What equipment is required to manu- facture with AME techniques? Nulman: e most common and highest throughput is delivered using inkjet-based equipment with at least two printer heads, one for dielectric and one for conductive inks. Other techniques include aerosol, dispensing, and LIFT (laser induced forward transfer). e equipment also has integrated energy sources for ink curing, drying, and sintering. e AME fabrication technology, while giving the free- dom of design, is also a heavily integrated tech- nology between the materials (inks), deposi- An example of possible design elements.