GadgetByte Nepal

3D-printers have opened endless possibilities for home production and rapid prototyping. Now you can easily create practically any model in a 3D-program and 3D print it. But until now, only a few people have thought about the possibility to 3D print electronics for this or that solution (model). Up to this day to make a circuit board for a prototype one had to pore over it with a soldering iron or to order a short production run. However, many of us can make it using a conventional iron and a laser printer.

Though, this process is not very pleasing either aesthetically or technologically. In this article, we would like to describe another method. Not only any 3D printer but also any DIY Engraver will fit for it.

You can install a diode laser almost on any 3D-printer, setting it as an addition or in place of the extruder. Diode lasers are small in size and compact. Their relatively small power output compared with that of CO2 lasers is not a drawback in this case.

So, what does the process of the circuit board manufacturing at home or in the office look like?

For this, we need a copperized glass fiber plate, any dark vinyl film (any dark film that a laser can burn through will fit), iron chloride (sold openly in stores of chemical reagents) and, of course, a diode laser installed on a 3D printer. Its power output is not so very important, but we recommend to use a diode laser of more than 2W (2000 mW). To install a laser on any 3D printer is very easy. Here are some few steps:

1. Create a circuit board model using any program of an InkScape type (inversion picture. Later, we’ll explain why inversion).

   

2. Convert it into the gcode

   

3. Stick the vinyl film onto the copperized plate of glass fiber. 

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4. Place the vinyl-coated glass fiber plate onto the work table of the 3D printer, and turn on the 3D printer in the laser cutting / engraving mode. 

   

5.  The laser will burn on the vinyl film an inversion image of the pattern to be resulted. 

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6. Dissolve the iron chloride powder in water (do not worry, no chemical reaction will follow) 

   

7. Put the glass fiber plate into the iron chloride water for 45-60 minutes.

The copper on the glass fiber surface, free of the film after the laser burning, will react with the iron chloride (copper etching chemical reaction) and goes into the solution leaving clean glass fiber in the contours of the inversion image. Then, make holes for the necessary connectors with a small drill, or leave as is, and solder the connectors on top of the circuit board. So, we have told you how you can create a small shop – laboratory for circuit boards manufacturing, using a 3D printer and a laser. This technology is certainly not perfect and has several shortcomings, but it is efficient and can be used at home and small laboratories.

We got a chance to spend some time with Suman Raj Manandar, CEO of Microdia Nepal and talk to him about the company’s progress in Nepal. Must of us might not know about the company Microdia, but they are offering a wide range of products ranging from netbooks to smartphones and is quickly making a name in Nepal market for its world class SD cards.

On with the interview…

1. So, let’s start with a very simple question. Tell us about the Company Microdia.

Well, Microdia is a technology company founded 23 years ago that believes possibilities are beyond our imagination. It is headquartered in San Jose, California, USA. The company has manufacturing facilities in China, Japan, and Korea. Quality is the unique selling point of Microdia as it has obtained 14001 and 9001:2000 certificates.

2. How long has Microdia been in Nepal?

The franchise of Microdia has been brought here in Nepal by B.R. Impex Trade link a year back. We are making baby steps in the Nepalese technology market. We first started with the sales of memory cards and now gradually we are bringing in other Microdia’s products as well.

3. What are the Microdia products that are currently being sold in Nepal?

At present Microdia’s products like memory card (in various storage capacities), cables and adapters, OTG drive and card readers are available. Moreover, like I mentioned before, we have plans to introduce other products as well.

4. What kind of after service do we get after buying Microdia products?

First, I would like to assure the readers by stating the fact that each and every Microdia’s products is well tested in the factory by the specialists themselves. Therefore, the chance of getting a damaged piece is almost negligible. However, by any chances let us suppose if this happens, then we give 1-year replacement warranty in any sort of products that we have launched in Nepal.

5. What are the upcoming Microdia products in Nepal?

To name a few, we are introducing Microdia’s tablets, power banks, and mobile phone sets in the days to come.

6. Talking about the SD cards, why do you think the customer should go for your product?

We are promoting our products including SD cards as the best quality products that our clients can ever have. Therefore, it’s the quality of the Microdia’s SD card for which I think the customer should go for. As SD card stores priceless and irreversible memories, so one should not compromise it with quality.

7. What are the different ways customers can buy Microdia products in Nepal?

Customers can buy it from Sasto Deal and Kaymu who are our online partners. Apart from that, we even have distributors in Pokhara, Dharan, Chitwan and Janakpur representing Microdia Nepal.

8. At last, is there anything you want to say to our readers?

If you believe in quality, we will make sure you get it.

9. Do u see the Future of Microdia in Nepal?

As they say, Technology has no limits and it is clearly visible through where the technology market in Nepal is heading towards. Therefore, if all goes well, I see a very positive and affluent future for Microdia in Nepal.