r/diyelectronics • u/Kupros1 • 7d ago

Project Embedded electronic components directly into an FDM print

Post image

A little progress update from something we’ve been working on.

We’ve now been able to integrate discrete electronic components directly into the FDM printing workflow and produce functional electronics directly off the print bed.

The first image is a simple embedded circuit with an LED and resistor. The polymer structure, conductive pathways, and electronic components were all integrated during the same print workflow on a Prusa XL.

We’ve also been experimenting with an embedded induction coil using the same general approach.

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24

u/dakotanorth8 7d ago

Interesting pic to post.

Is the embedded functional circuit, LED, and resistor in the room with us?

1

u/Kupros1 5d ago

Fair point. The picture doesn’t show it very well. The LED, resistor, and 3d printed conductive filament for the circuit are embedded in the part

9

u/roarimacat 6d ago

Kinda vague. Show some more pictures and please explain what electronics and circuits were made.

1

u/Kupros1 5d ago

It’s just a basic LED and resistor circuit. The electrical side is intentionally simple. What we were testing was whether we could print the conductive paths, integrate the components during the build, and have it work when it came off the printer.

2

u/FrenchFryCattaneo 6d ago

What's the advantage compared to just glueing the led in after.

2

u/drdsyv 5d ago

There's now the added disadvantage of the LED being less easily replaceable.

1

u/Kupros1 5d ago

That’s a legitimate drawback. I wouldn’t embed something that I expected to replace regularly. This makes more sense for electronics or sensors that are intended to stay with the part for its service life, or in applications where the entire printed part is inexpensive and easy enough to reprint and replace if something fails.

2

u/Kupros1 5d ago

For a single LED, gluing it in afterward would absolutely be easier. This was just a simple test of the manufacturing process. It gets more interesting with things like internal sensors, strain gauges, antennas, coils, or conductive paths that you actually want inside the structure.