The Aerosol Jet 5X is a modular solution equipped with sprint direct-write technology, tailored for printed material evaluation, and prototyping. It supports a wide range of functional materials, including conductive inks, dielectrics, polymers, and adhesives, which can be deposited on both planar and non-planar substrates.

External users: registration to be carried out only through I-STEM portal
Additional information about sample and analysis details should be filled in the pdf form provided in the I-STEM portal under “DOWNLOAD CSRF”

Internal users (IITB): registration to be carried out only through DRONA portal
Additional information about sample and analysis details should be filled in the pdf form provided here.

Make
Optomec
Model
AJ5X
Facility Status
Working
Date of Installation
Facility Management Division
Centre for Sophisticated Instruments and Facilities (CSIF)

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Category

  • Fabrication and Processing » Microfabrication

Booking Details

Booking available for
Internal and External Both
Available Equipment/ Mode of use
Ultrasonic
Pneumatic

Facility Management Team and Location

Facility In Charge
Prof. Dipti Gupta, diptig@iitb.ac.in, +91-022-2576-7608
Co-convenors
Prof. Parag Bhargava
Facility Manager
Prof. Dipti Gupta, diptig@iitb.ac.in, +91-022-2576-7608
Facility Operator
Jayant Kalra
Facility Management Members
Prof. Abhijeet Sangle, Prof. Prasanna Gandhi, Prof. Prakriti Tayalia, Prof. Guruswamy Kumaraswamy
Department
Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science (MEMS)
Lab Email ID
mm3dp.memsiitb@gmail.com, 204116005@iitb.ac.in
Facility Location
3d Printing Lab, Room G017, Ground floor, Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076
Lab Phone No
022-21596344

Facility Features, Working Principle and Specifications

Facility Description

Facility Description

Multi Material 3D printer  is an additive manufacturing device that deposits fine patterns of materials onto a substrate by first atomizing an ink solution into a fine aerosol mist using an atomizer, such as ultrasonic or pneumatic. The aerosol is then transported by a carrier gas to a deposition nozzle, where it is focused into a narrow jet using a sheath gas. This focused aerosol jet is directed onto a substrate, allowing for precise, high-resolution deposition of materials.

Features Working Principle

Key Features:

1.     Features sizes ranging from few microns to millimeters.

2.     Dispensing support for a wide variety of inks / materials.

3.     Repeatable recipe driven dispense

4.     Non-planar 3D printing capabilities

5.     R&D to low-volume flexibility

 

Aerosol jet printing operates by first atomizing an ink solution into a fine aerosol mist using an atomizer, such as ultrasonic or pneumatic. The aerosol is then transported by a carrier gas to a deposition nozzle, where it is focused into a narrow jet using a sheath gas. This focused aerosol jet is directed onto a substrate, allowing for precise, high-resolution deposition of materials.
Aerosol Jet Process:

1.     An ink, such as a conductor or dielectric, is atomized within the Print Module creating a dense aerosol with a tight distribution of droplet sizing.

2.     The aerosol is transported to the Print Head using high purity nitrogen as a carrier gas.

3.     The aerosol is focused within the Print Head by an annular sheath of nitrogen focusing and accelerating the material onto the substrate as it travels through the nozzle.

4.     The Print Head’s in-line shutter facilitates fast feature termination. Interchangeable Print Heads with various nozzle geometries allow for feature size flexibility.

Sample Preparation, User Instructions and Precautionary Measures

Instruction for Sample Preparation

Instruction Manual for Users:
1(a). What kind of samples can the equipment print?
Electronic material printing (Ag, Au, Pt, Cu nanoparticle-based ink),
Biomaterial/Polymer printing
Creating specific micro- patterns (minimum 100 μm)
Substrate:
Metals, ceramics, and Polymers such as PET, polyimide, and others with smooth surfaces.
Substrate Size: Max.: 5cm×5cm and min.: 1cm×1cm
1(b). What kind of samples would not be done?
● Ink samples with toxic, corrosive and vaporizing at low temperatures.
● Substrate surface with high roughness.
● Just a blanket coating where other methods of large area can be used
● Where the specific micro-patterns are not required and can be done manually.
● Ink containing salts would not be done.
2. Inks preparation and Testing
a) Commercial Inks (Aerosol Inks and Its Vendor Names, MSDS, Date of purchase, Shelf Life)
The link for the ink:
https://optomec.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AJ_MATERIALS_FAQs-Web0417.pdf

Lab - prepared Inks

● Particle size (<50nm for ultrasonic atomizer and <300 nm for pneumatic atomizer)
● Solvent (Acetone, IPA, water, ethanol, and others with high boiling point with no toxic and
corrosive in nature such as DMF, NMP)
● Concentration (<30% for ultrasonic atomizer and < 50% for pneumatic atomizer)
● Viscosity (<10cp for ultrasonic atomizer and <50 cp for pneumatic atomizer)
 

b) Characterization data to be shown before coming for printing
i) DLS (Repeated over 10 days period time, 3 sets of such data to check stability for one month)
ii) TEM for the particle size measurement
iii) Viscosity of the ink
iv) Shelf life
3. CAD/CAM designs: (.dxf) file format is required for designing the pattern files in CD/DVD.

User Instructions and Precautionary Measures

Instruction Manual for Users:
1(a). What kind of samples can the equipment print?
Electronic material printing (Ag, Au, Pt, Cu nanoparticle-based ink),
Biomaterial/Polymer printing
Creating specific micro- patterns (minimum 100 μm)
Substrate:
Metals, ceramics, and Polymers such as PET, polyimide, and others with smooth surfaces.
Substrate Size: Max.: 5cm×5cm and min.: 1cm×1cm
1(b). What kind of samples would not be done?
● Ink samples with toxic, corrosive and vaporizing at low temperatures.
● Substrate surface with high roughness.
● Just a blanket coating where other methods of large area can be used
● Where the specific micro-patterns are not required and can be done manually.
● Ink containing salts would not be done.
2. Inks preparation and Testing
a) Commercial Inks (Aerosol Inks and Its Vendor Names, MSDS, Date of purchase, Shelf Life)
The link for the ink:
https://optomec.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AJ_MATERIALS_FAQs-Web0417.pdf

Lab - prepared Inks

● Particle size (<50nm for ultrasonic atomizer and <300 nm for pneumatic atomizer)
● Solvent (Acetone, IPA, water, ethanol, and others with high boiling point with no toxic and
corrosive in nature such as DMF, NMP)
● Concentration (<30% for ultrasonic atomizer and < 50% for pneumatic atomizer)
● Viscosity (<10cp for ultrasonic atomizer and <50 cp for pneumatic atomizer)
 

b) Characterization data to be shown before coming for printing
i) DLS (Repeated over 10 days period time, 3 sets of such data to check stability for one month)
ii) TEM for the particle size measurement
iii) Viscosity of the ink
iv) Shelf life
3. CAD/CAM designs: (.dxf) file format is required for designing the pattern files in CD/DVD.
4. Slots: 8 hrs. for one sample
5. Costing: For one slot (8 hrs.)
a) Ink provided by User (per sample):

IITB Users: 5000/- Rs
Academia Users from other Institutes: 10000/- Rs + 18% GST
Industry/Company Users: 20000 Rs + 18 % GST
(b) Inks provided by the 3D printing facility:
(Ink cost is variable and would be discussed before printing)
IITB Users: 5000/- Rs + Ink Cost
Academia Users from other Institutes: 10000/- Rs + Ink Cost+ 18% GST
Industry/Company Users: 20000 Rs + Ink Cost + 18 % GST

Charges for Analytical Services in Different Categories

Usage Charges

(a) Ink provided by the user:
IITB Users: Rs 5000/-
Academia Users from other Institutes: Rs 10000/- + 18% GST
Industry/Company Users: Rs 20000 + 18 % GST

(b) Inks provided by the 3D printing facility:
(Ink cost is variable and would be discussed before printing)
IITB Users: Rs 5000/-  + Ink Cost
Academia Users from other Institutes: Rs 10000/-  + Ink Cost+ 18% GST
Industry/Company Users: Rs 20000 + Ink Cost + 18 % GST

Applications

  • 3D-printed electronics, sensors, RFID, antenna etc.

  • Complex 3D structures with embedded electronic components

  • Complex Molded Interconnect Devices

  • Microfluidics

  • Acoustics, Battery, etc.

Sample Details

Chemical allowed
  • Electronic material printing (Ag, Au, Pt, Cu nanoparticle-based ink),

  • Biomaterial/Polymer printing

  • Creating specific micro- patterns (minimum 100 μm)

Gases allowed

Nitrogen

Substrate Dimension

Max.: 5cm×5cm and min.: 1cm×1cm

SOP, Lab Policies and Other Details

Publications