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Hands-On 3D Printed Electronics

Julian Rasch, Florian Müller, Thomas Kosch, Martin Schmitz, Sebastian S. Feger
TEI 2023
Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction
PDF DOI
TL;DR
What we did: We conducted a hands-on workshop focused on best practices and design recommendations for 3D printed electronics.
What we found: We found that participants encountered various challenges during the design and fabrication processes, which led to valuable discussions on problem-solving strategies.
Takeaway: We demonstrate that sharing experiences in 3D printed electronics can inspire and equip new users to create engaging and functional tangible objects.

Abstract

The parallel improvements in multi-material 3D printers and the quality of conductive filament open new possibilities for the fabrication of tangible and functional objects. In this studio, we discuss best practices for 3D printed electronics, talk about encountered problems, and derive design recommendations. We will guide the participants through a fabrication process by practically designing and printing objects. Consequently, we contemplate individual functional fabricated components, including small printed circuits and multi-material prints. We aim to spark a discussion about individually experienced challenges participants encountered during their design and fabrication process. This discussion includes problemsolving strategies, whose insights benefit other participants. Finally, we show the potential of printed electronics and discuss encouraging new opportunities in this field.