Embedables

Company

TU Delft

Role

Graduation designer

Year

2012

For my MSc graduation project I explored whether electronic components could be embedded directly into a product during the 3D printing process, and what that would make possible. I mapped the technology landscape, developed a full digital toolchain from CAD to CAM, and designed and built a working proof-of-concept product: a customisable USB controller with snap-fit embedded components.

Context

In 2012, additive manufacturing was developing rapidly but remained largely separated from electronics assembly. Products still required conventional post-production integration of electronic components, limiting what was possible in terms of product design and personalisation.

Challenge

The project explored whether electronic components could be embedded directly into a product during the 3D printing process itself, and what that would enable. No established methodology existed for this at the time, making the research and development process genuinely open-ended.

Contribution

I framed the research question, made the technology selection decisions, and took
the project from concept to working prototype independently.

  • Mapped the landscape of available AM technologies, identified which were most suitable for component embedding, and developed the full digital toolchain from CAD to CAM.

  • Explored the integration of a collaborative robot into the embedding process as part of the broader research scope.

  • Designed and built a customisable USB controller as the proof-of-concept product, with snap-fit components in conductive channels printed into the enclosure, removable and reusable in new configurations.

I framed the research question, made the technology selection decisions, and took
the project from concept to working prototype independently.

  • Mapped the landscape of available AM technologies, identified which were most suitable for component embedding, and developed the full digital toolchain from CAD to CAM.

  • Explored the integration of a collaborative robot into the embedding process as part of the broader research scope.

  • Designed and built a customisable USB controller as the proof-of-concept product, with snap-fit components in conductive channels printed into the enclosure, removable and reusable in new configurations.

I framed the research question, made the technology selection decisions, and took
the project from concept to working prototype independently.

  • Mapped the landscape of available AM technologies, identified which were most suitable for component embedding, and developed the full digital toolchain from CAD to CAM.

  • Explored the integration of a collaborative robot into the embedding process as part of the broader research scope.

  • Designed and built a customisable USB controller as the proof-of-concept product, with snap-fit components in conductive channels printed into the enclosure, removable and reusable in new configurations.

Outcome

A validated proof-of-concept product and a documented production method for embedded-electronics 3D printing.