Commercial printers may soon be able to turn traditional print pieces into electronic objects thanks to a prototype 3D device.

A Brisbane engineering studio is conducting a fundraising campaign for its EX1 printer, which it said could print circuit boards on to paper, fabric, stickers, wood, glass, acrylic, ceramic, silicone and many types of plastics.

Cartesian launched a month-long Kickstarter campaign on 11 November. It set a goal of raising $30,000 and has so far received more than $125,000 in pledges. The money will help Cartesian turn its prototype into "full-blown production".

The EX1 is designed specifically to produce circuit boards, unlike most 3D printers which are designed to create an array of objects, according to Cartesian.

"The basic principle of operation is simple. Two inkjet cartridges similar to the ones in your desktop printer print images on a substrate, but instead of ink they lay down two different chemicals. When these two chemicals mix, a reaction occurs to produce silver nano particles, leaving a silver image on the substrate."

The EX1 weighs 6kg and is the size of a desktop printer. Cartesian said it could produce complex circuits "as easily as if they were printed on your desktop printer".

"The materials you can print onto is only half of the equation. Equally important are the inks you're using to do so. We're actively working on new ink formulations and processes to ensure using your printer is as easy and reliable as possible."

[LinkedIn: Is 3D printing an opportunity for commercial printers?]

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