Conductive ink isn’t a new technology, but there are still many possibilities waiting to be explored. Traditionally, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are fabricated using copper-clad substrates sandwiched between silicon layers. An innovative approach involves using conductive ink. For instance, it’s utilized in radio frequency identification (RFID) tags used in modern transit tickets to print circuit boards. Modern cars also feature conductive ink printed on rear windows, serving as radio antennas.<\/p>\n
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Numerous simple applications are already available online. One common use is employing conductive ink to draw simple circuits. Place a button cell battery (or another power source) along the drawn line, add some LEDs, and you have a fully functional electric circuit. Below, we can provide you with a brief guide on how to create one of these circuits using a bit of conductive ink. We previously executed a project for Rabobank where we employed these techniques.<\/p>\n
Creating a Small Circuit with Conductive Ink<\/p>\n
To create such a circuit, you’ll need a few materials:<\/p>\n
Battery (preferably a button cell battery with a holder) Some LEDs Conductive ink (we used this paint) A surface to make your circuit on, like a thick piece of paper Pencil or pen Glue Our template + instructions on the sheet (recommended)<\/p>\n
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Begin by drawing the design you desire on the paper. Outline where you want your battery, switch, and LEDs to be located. Consider not only placement but also whether your circuit will be a parallel or series circuit. In a parallel circuit, each component has its own circuit for each or certain components. The advantage is that if one component fails, the rest of the circuit continues to function. In a series circuit, the current remains the same throughout the entire circuit. Determine which circuit suits your project best and select accordingly.<\/p>\n
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Use the pen to poke holes in the paper. These holes will secure the pins of the LEDs. This way, the front of the paper remains neat and clean, while the circuit is drawn on the back. After poking the holes and securing the LEDs, you can bend the legs of the LEDs to hold them in place. This prevents them from falling out.<\/p>\n
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Insert the battery into the holder and glue the holder to the paper where you want the battery to be. Ensure that + and – are correctly positioned on the circuit; otherwise, the LEDs won’t work. Make sure the ink can reach the metal plates connecting the battery to the holder, and we’re nearly finished! No battery holder? No problem! Keep the button cell in place with a paperclip or a clamp.<\/p>\n
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Now comes the fun part! Use the conductive ink of your choice to create an uninterrupted line between all the components. The legs of the component should touch the conductive ink to form a closed circuit. Connect from the side of the battery to the LEDs and from the LEDs back to the other side of the battery. Ensure the paint is completely dry before you start interacting with your circuit.<\/p>\n
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Once you’re confident your circuit works, you can cover the back with another piece of paper. This way, you’ll be able to secure the back of your project.<\/p>\n
Another use for the ink is printing circuits rather than drawing them by hand. This way, you can design highly detailed (nano) circuits on a computer and print them using ink.<\/p>\n
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We’re discovering more ways to use conductive ink as a replacement for traditional circuits. On the flip side, why not use it as a means of communicating with an object? Interaction is becoming increasingly crucial to keep users engaged with an object. Not only will you be able to convey the story in a remarkable way, but you’ll also enhance word-of-mouth advertising.<\/p>\n
More and more companies utilize exhibitions and events to showcase their products and services. At these events, standing out from the crowd is essential. Most booths distribute flyers or posters and employ individuals to provide information about their company. But what if visitors could explore the company’s story in a unique way? An interactive installation<\/a> is a solution to this question. In recent years, we’ve seen a rising demand for interactive installations for such purposes.<\/p>\n With that in mind, we decided to work with conductive ink. Instead of using the ink solely for an electric circuit, it could also be part of the design. The ink can function as a button, allowing someone to touch the ink and illuminate an LED. However, this isn’t the kind of interaction we were seeking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These touch boards can create their own sensors. Using a conductive material like the aforementioned conductive ink, any surface can be transformed into an interactive object. You connect the conductive material to one of the 12 electrodes on the board, and you have a reliable touch or proximity sensor. This board can then transmit this data as a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) signal. That means we can easily use any MIDI controller to utilize this data.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, we now have interaction and input, but what can we do with this data? We decided to expand interactivity with an application called MadMapper. This program allows users to easily project onto 3D surfaces. Using data from the touch boards, we could link various sounds and animations to these “buttons” using projection mapping. This means we could transform each stroke of conductive ink into a button that a user can interact with. With MadMapper, we have an output, but we still need a way to use everything as a whole.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Having input and output is exciting, but we still need a way to create a complete picture. We decided to create an interactive wall measuring 2.5 meters in height and 4 meters in width. On this wall, we used ink as paint and employed a sticker plotter to create stencils. We removed the stickers to create a negative space and filled the openings with conductive paint. Using these stickers, we were able to create incredibly precise images on the wall that users can interact with.<\/p>\n After the paint dried, we connected the paint to touch screens (four in total) using some wires. The touchboards were connected to a PC, and with the help of MadMapper, we imported certain images. Finally, we used two extreme short-throw projectors to project the images onto the wall. This way, all the graphical elements on the wall came to life with a simple touch of a finger.<\/p>\nBareConductive Touchboards<\/h4>\n
MadMapper<\/h4>\n
The Installation<\/h4>\n