Focused microwaves allow 3D printers to fuse circuits onto almost anything

Re:Focused microwaves allow 3D printers to fuse circuits ont... by torginus on Monday April 20, 2026 @08:09AM (#47833129)

I dont get this - you can just print with SMD paste and then reflow the whole thing at once - though you will need high temp materials to do that, but several amateurs have done it.

Afaik there are a lot more high temp UV resins you can print with.

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Re:Focused microwaves allow 3D printers to fuse circuits ont... by StingyJelly on Monday April 20, 2026 @08:17AM (#47833199)

Reflowing smd paste inside print won't work reliably as the solder will tend to form blobs instead of keeping the track shape

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Re:Focused microwaves allow 3D printers to fuse circuits ont... by Joel_Mckay on Monday April 20, 2026 @08:56AM (#47833623)

I actually tried mixing in fine copper dust with fine SAC305 paste to create a non-liquid amalgam on re-flow, but the void/inclusion problem was worse than conventional SLS processes.

Also looked at RF and metal salt processes, but it had more problems/hazardous-material than traditional laser setups.

The core problem is making these machines safe and cheap to use. =3

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