Nano Dimension Reveals Switch, the Software Package for the Eagerly Awaited DragonFly 2020 3D Printer

It hasn’t been that long since Nano Dimension revealed their first-of-its-kind printed circuit board (PCB) desktop 3D printer, the DragonFly 2020 – but the anticipation has made it feel like much longer. The Israeli company has been offering plenty of news to whet our appetites, however, in advance of the DragonFly’s release later this year. Distribution agreements, new conductive inks, and entry into the US stock market are just a few of the announcements that have kept us interested in and excited about the printer’s upcoming release, and now Nano Dimension has revealed the software package that will accompany the DragonFly, having completed development of the initial version.

The software, called “Switch,” will allow users to prepare files of electronic circuits for printing with the DragonFly. It will support most typical file formats used in the electronics industry, including Gerber, VIA and DRILL files. Its interface, in fact, is specially designed to display Gerber files along with a detailed description of the structure of the PCB to be printed, enabling precise conversion to a 3D file format.

The Switch software, which will be integrated with the DragonFly, enables the editing and preparation of multilayer 3D files, and allows the user to adjust numerous parameters such as layer order and thickness, punching and rotation options, conductor width, and shape or object outline. It also optimizes the printing process by maximizing the use of the DragonFly’s ca. 20 x 20 cm print area.

Amit Dror with the DragonFly 2020 at IDTechEx 2015. [Image: EE Times]

“We are thrilled to announce the completion of the development of the initial version of our 3D printer software which presents a new dimension for creating and designing electronic circuits,” said Amit Dror, CEO of Nano Dimension. “In order to minimize production time, Nano Dimension strives to provide its customers a comprehensive solution to 3D print multilayer PCB prototypes: our novel 3D printer, advanced conductive and dielectric nano-inks, and now – an advanced software package for the management, editing and printing of electronics files. The software is designed to allow the engineer to create the production files for automat 3D printing, with no intermediate files. It’s now easy to ‘Switch’ from Gerber to 3D files.”

Nano Dimension is still a young company, having only been founded four years ago, but their accomplishments so far have made them seem as though they’ve been here for much, much longer. In addition to being on the cutting edge of nanoparticle technology, conductive 3D printing, and, of course, electronic circuit board 3D printing, the company is already turning towards other growing areas of the 3D printing industry. They recently announced that they’ve been working on the development of a bioprinter – which, considering their expertise in nanotechnology, is likely to be as unique and groundbreaking as the DragonFly 2020. So don’t worry – even after the DragonFly begins shipping, Nano Dimension won’t be disappearing from the headlines for long. Let’s discuss further over in the Nano Dimension 3D Switch Software forum at 3DPB.com.