Techniques developed by the AMRC Design and Prototyping Group (DPG) have increased additive manufacturing's potential applications to include embedded components.

DPG researchers set themselves the challenge of creating an additively manufactured product with a component that had not been additively manufactured inside.

They used stereolithography (SLA) to create a USB memory stick by building the case around the circuitry instead of having to make it in two halves and then join them together once the circuit had been placed inside.

Embedding components during the SLA process could offer better protection from dust, liquids or impacts. It could also reduce the amount of support material, assembly time and post processing required.

The technique could be used to make medical products or products incorporating fixtures and fittings, in addition to electronic applications.

Knowledge gained by DPG will be used in future design projects. Further work could include investigating whether the technique offers improved protection to part in service and ways of embedding several components in a single part.

Download the Embedding Components During the SLA Process case study.

For further information contact Mike Locking: m.locking@amrc.co.uk