Parlin Industries has PTF manufacturing capabilities, and has been offering this service for nearly a decade. We would like to see an expansion of its use among our customers, and offer the following brief tutorial for those unfamiliar with the technology and its potential.
The basic process consists of polymer resins filled with conductive or resistive particles that are screen printed and cured onto a substrate. The resin components can be blended to achieve specific characteristics, such as resistors of a given value, conductors, or insulators. PTF has proven its value in numerous applications, particularly in cost-sensitive products with high component density, and in harsh environments. PTF technology is found in commercial and consumer products such as automobiles, data entry keyboards, industrial controls, and home entertainment products. Popular uses include EMI shielding, rotary and linear potentiometers, multilayer circuitry, fixed resistors placed beneath other components, heating elements, and as replacements for conventional jumpers. Examples of these can be found below. PTF has an immediate and significant impact on reducing the mechanical complexity of electronic product designs. Fewer components are needed, therefore fewer connections are required. This reduced dependency on discrete components and solder connections promotes more predictable, reliable performance, and simplifies assembly. The reduction in parts afforded through the use of PTF devices also eliminates the need to purchase, inventory, and test those components. The stability of PTF materials, combined with the ability to design for manufacturability, also results in a less costly product. |
If you want to read more, a PTF ink supplier has more information on their site.
Some applications include...
Fixed Resistors
Extremely low profile, surface mounted, can be located beneath conventional components to conserve area. Appropriate when high-precision resistance is not required.
Potentiometers
Carbon-based polymer exhibits excellent abrasion resistance for rotary and linear potentiometer applications.
Cross-overs & Jumpers
Silver-based conductors create low-voltage jumper traces wherever necessary, possibly eliminating the need for additional board layers and reducing costs.
EMI Shielding System
Ground plane layer printed over sensitive or noisy circuitry, provides shielding from electro- magnetic interference, reduces emmisions and cross-talk.
Keypad and Switch Coating
Excellent abrasion resistance and maintained low surface resistance, even in corrosive environments. Used to create "switches on board".
Membrane Switch Construction
Build switches, traces, and connectors on flexible or rigid substrates.
Contact Finger Coating Abrasion and oxidation protection of copper conductors, providing a low-cost alternative to gold plating.
Heating Elements Durable traces designed to generate heat. Can be printed on glass to function as a de-icer.
Multilayer Circuits Sequential printing of conductive traces and dielectric layers.
(There's more...but we have to stop somewhere!)
Think you have an application? Want to prototype it?
This may be the technology you need to achieve your goals regarding size, performance, reliabilty, and cost. Contact us about it! We can supply your needs from fast prototypes to high-volume production.
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