The Project is aimed towards SME Research and Innovation Action (RIA), with a strong emphasis upon demonstrating superior cost and speed performance in end-to-end processes featuring laser-based additive manufacturing in two key applications requiring high resolution printed conductive metallic lines, mainly laser printed RFID Antenna and Laser Fingerprinted sensors.

Oxford Lasers was responsible for two aspects of the project:

Selective Laser Sintering – Sintering is a post-process curing process which is required to convert non-fully conductive patterns comprising nanostructured materials such as metal Nano-particle conductive inks, into highly conductive ones with electrical properties comparable to the pristine material.

Laser Ablation – Where required, for example when there is a need to modify printed lines (e.g. reduce dimensions) or to remove shorts, laser patterning is used for shaping or trimming. In this case, mask imaging techniques are used to ensure straight edges are achieved. Laser shaping can also be employed to remove material from printed and sintered lines at precise locations, in order to facilitate making interconnections.

If you would like to discuss this project in detail or for more information please contact us.