Embedding Electronics In Printing ULTEM 9085 Quadcopter

Abstract

There are a lot of benefits, particularly in aerospace and automotive engineering applications, to embedding electronic systems within structural bodies. First and foremost is the benefit of weight reduction. Typically, electronic hardware must be fitted into some form of protective casing before being mounted onto a bracket, and then onto the airframe section (or into a car) where the hardware can potentially become exposed to variations in pressure, temperature and moisture. By using additive manufacturing to embed the electronics into structural elements, the need for protective casing and brackets can be alleviated, reducing weight and cost while adding protection from the elements. ULTEM 9085 is an engineering thermoplastic used widely in the aerospace industry due to its high tensile and specific strengths relative to other 3D printed thermoplastics (see Figures 1 and 2). Additionally, ULTEM 9085 has been certified for use in commercial aviation and spaceflight applications, due to its low toxicity and low outgassing properties.