3D Printed Electronics CAD/CAM Control for Recycling and Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic waste recycling methods are complex, labor-intensive, and inefficient, particularly for 3-D printed components, which complicates material recovery and reuse due to embedded and undetectable conductor tracks and components.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates machine-readable control instruction sets for both production and post-processing, including recycling and repair, using structural and production information to automate the recycling and repair of electronic components, allowing for precise material recovery and component reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional recycling methods are used for 3-D printed electronic components, then material recovery is attempted, but the process becomes complex and labor-intensive due to embedded and undetectable conductor tracks and components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing production information (including conductor track layouts, component positions, and material specifications) during the manufacturing phase. This pre-stored data is later retrieved and used to guide the recycling process, enabling automated disassembly and material recovery without complex detection systems. The production information serves as a digital blueprint that simplifies the recycling operation by providing all necessary guidance in advance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual programming is used to generate control instruction sets for production devices, then flexibility is maintained, but time and effort are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by automatically generating control instruction sets through evaluation of production information rather than manual programming. The system copies the structural and process data from the production phase (stored in production information) and transforms it into recycling control instructions. This automated generation eliminates time-consuming manual programming while maintaining flexibility, as the control instructions are derived directly from the actual production data specific to each component.
3Productivity
If complete automation of production is achieved using CAD/CAM devices, then productivity increases, but the ability to detect and measure embedded components during recycling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary solution by using production information as a digital mediator between the automated production phase and the recycling phase. Instead of relying on physical detection of embedded components during recycling, the system uses the stored production information (which contains precise data about conductor tracks, components, and materials) to guide the recycling process. This intermediary data layer eliminates the need for complex detection systems while maintaining full automation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing the automated production of an electronic component by 3D printing, in which at least one of an SMD component and a conductor track are arranged on a substrate. Structural information describing the structure of the electronic component is used to determine first production information including a first machine-readable control command set for a production device for 3D printing. Together with the first control command set, post-processing information is determined from the structural and production information, which includes recycling information including a second, machine-readable control command set for a recycling device for at least partial automated recycling of the electronic component by recovery of at least one material of the electronic component and repair information including a third machine-readable control command set for a repair device for at least partial automatic repair of the electronic component, and is reserved for post-processing and repair of the electronic component.