Daily Note: Interactive 3D-Printed Electronics

These notes are a summary of concepts presented in “Oh, Snap! A Fabrication Pipeline to Magnetically Connect Conventional and 3D-Printed Electronics.”

Martin Schmitz, Jan Riemann, Florian Müller, Steffen Kreis, and Max Mühlhäuser. 2021. Oh, Snap! A Fabrication Pipeline to Magnetically Connect Conventional and 3D-Printed Electronics. In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’21). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 420, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1145/3411764.3445641

  1. Introduction
    • Combining multiple filaments enables new interaction possibilities
    • 3D-printed objects integrate touch, deformation input, optical, and auditory outputs
    • Magnetically connected sensing structures integrate seamlessly with conventional electronics
  2. Materials and Printing
    • Three key materials
      • Insulating polymer – shapes the 3D object and separates conductive structures
      • Ferromagnetic polymer – enables magnetic interfacing with conventional electronics
      • Conductive polymer – forms conductive traces for capacitive sensing and electronic connections
    • Single-pass printing on standard 3D printers ensures efficiency and precision
  3. Capacitive Sensing Technology
    • Versatility in detecting touch, proximity, deformations, gestures, and liquid movement
    • Embedded conductive traces connect passive structures to active circuits via pogo pins
  4. Magnetic Interfacing Mechanism
    • Embedded magnets ensure secure attachment and alignment with conventional electronics
    • Design prevents accidental detachment and misalignment
    • Standard pogo pins create robust electrical connections
  5. Interactive Prototypes
    • Gesture control
      • 3D-printed object detects swipe gestures (5-15 cm range) for controlling devices
    • Smart home control and piano
      • Miniature 3D-printed models control devices by touch
      • Piano demonstrates creative applications using capacitive sensing channels
    • Key rack for object presence detection
      • Detects keys and automates actions like opening garages or turning off lights
    • Smart flowerpot for liquid sensing
      • Monitors water levels and notifies users to water plants
    • Configurable game controller
      • Customizable physical inputs for gaming, featuring interchangeable buttons
  6. Comparative Benefits of Magnetic Snapping
    • Overcomes limitations of clips, plug-in connectors, and Velcro
    • Durable and orientation-independent attachment
    • Enables precise and efficient interaction