Flexible Circuits is creative research into novel methods and materials for electronic circuit board fabrication. The robotic and interactive work I produce requires short run and sometimes singular custom circuits boards. Production of these boards is often costly and time consuming as remote manufacturers introduce significant time lags to the process that greatly disrupt creative flow.
Circuit printing has recently emerged as a new strategy for rapid prototyping electrical hardware. Circuit printing combines the flexibility and knowledge of additive 3D-printing strategies with the subtractive fabrication power of milling into a single machine. These new tools form a novel system flexible enough to allow electrical traces and drilled solder points to be fabricated at a single workstation — often in a matter of minutes or hours. Even more promising, these machines open a pathway to printing onto diverse substrates such as flexible Kapton, polycarbonate and fabrics. Substrate flexibility opens countless opportunities to artists and makers interested in working in novel production contexts.
The Flexible Circuits project could not have been completed without the fantastic work by Megan Schoeppich. Megan is a true artist and explorer.
This research into Flexible Circuit fabrication was supported in part by the FCAD Creative Technology Lab through access to its voltera.io circuit printer.
wave and bracelet
Wave circuit with printed switch
A major goal for this project was to develop methods and creative pathways for printing onto clear, translucent and flexible substrates. We tested countless materials and found success with a few. The most challenging step is the baking of the circuit to stabilize the silver traces. Substrates often deformed, depending on how they were secured.
material testing
When it works, the outcomes are magical.
printed flex switch