Patent Publication Number: US-2022240387-A1

Title: Method and system for operating a metal drop ejecting three-dimensional (3d) object printer to form vias in printed circuit boards with conductive metal

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure is directed to melted metal ejectors used in three-dimensional (3D) object printers and, more particularly, to operation of the ejectors to form electrical circuits on substrates. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object from a digital model of virtually any shape. Many three-dimensional printing technologies use an additive process in which an additive manufacturing device forms successive layers of the part on top of previously deposited layers. Some of these technologies use ejectors that eject UV-curable materials, such as photopolymers or elastomers. The printer typically operates one or more extruders to form successive layers of the plastic material that form a three-dimensional printed object with a variety of shapes and structures. After each layer of the three-dimensional printed object is formed, the plastic material is UV cured and hardens to bond the layer to an underlying layer of the three-dimensional printed object. This additive manufacturing method is distinguishable from traditional object-forming techniques, which mostly rely on the removal of material from a work piece by a subtractive process, such as cutting or drilling. 
     Recently, some 3D object printers have been developed that eject drops of melted metal from one or more ejectors to form 3D objects. These printers have a source of solid metal, such as a roll of wire or pellets, that are fed into a heating chamber where they are melted and the melted metal flows into a chamber of the ejector. The chamber is wrapped with an uninsulated electrical wire. An electrical current is passed through the conductor to produce an electromagnetic field to cause the meniscus of the melted metal at a nozzle of the chamber to separate from the melted metal within the chamber and be propelled from the nozzle. A platform opposite the nozzle of the ejector is moved in a X-Y plane parallel to the plane of the platform by a controller operating actuators so the ejected metal drops form metal layers of an object on the platform and another actuator is operated by the controller to alter the position of the ejector or platform in the vertical or Z direction to maintain a constant distance between the ejector and an uppermost layer of the metal object being formed. This type of metal drop ejecting printer is also known as a magnetohydrodynamic printer. 
     Some electronic devices are currently manufactured using direct write (DW) methods. These DW methods include inkjet printing, aerosol jet printing, and micro-dispensing. In these methods, solvent-based inks containing electrically conductive nanoparticles are deposited onto substrates to form metal traces or lines of conductive material on a substrate and these traces are connected to one another and to some leads of electronic components positioned on the substrate to form an electronic device. Examples of substrates include silicon wafers, their oxides, or other electrical components integrated into or deposited on the wafer. Substrates can also be made from polymer, ceramic, or glass. 
     One of the issues associated with these DW methods is the formation of vias or through holes in the substrate. Vias are electrically conductive structures that connect one layer or face of a circuit board to another layer or face of the circuit board. Thus, sometimes vias are referred to as vertical electrical traces. Several types of prior art vias are shown in  FIG. 5 . A through via  504  as shown in the figure is a vertical conductive trace along the wall of the via that electrically connects a horizontal circuit trace or pad  508  on one face  520  of the circuit board to a horizontal circuit trace or pad  512  on the opposing face  524  of the circuit board. A blind via  516  is a conductive trace along the wall of the via that connects a horizontal circuit trace or pad  528  on the face  520  of the circuit board to a horizontal circuit trace or pad  532  on an intermediate layer  436  between the opposing faces  520  and  524  of the circuit board. A buried via  540  is a vertical conductive trace along the wall of the via that connects a horizontal circuit trace or pad  544  on the layer  536  between the opposing faces  520  and  524  of the circuit board to a horizontal circuit trace or pad  548  on another layer  552  between the opposing faces of the circuit board. 
     These various types of vias are first formed in one or more layers of a circuit board by mechanical or laser drilling in the substrate followed by an electroplating or other known technique for applying electrically conductive material, such as copper, to the walls of the drilled hole to connect electrically an upper surface of a substrate to a lower surface of the substrate or, in the case of multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs) to connect one layer electrically to another layer. Preparation of the vias typically requires etching or other chemical treatment before applying the electrically conductive material to the walls of the vias. Additionally, flexing of the circuit board can crack or otherwise affect the electrically conductivity of the vias since the coating of the walls by known techniques can be relatively thin. 
     A melted metal drop ejector has been developed that forms electrical traces on a substrate with the melted metal drops but the completion of the vias still requires electroplating and other known techniques. Being able to form apply conductive metal within vias in a substrate from known metal drop ejectors would be beneficial. 
     SUMMARY 
     A new method of operating a metal ejecting 3D object printer forms vias in substrates in conjunction with the formation of electrical traces on the substrate. The method includes identifying a bulk metal to be received and melted by a melter using a digital data model of a substrate having a plurality of via holes, identifying locations of each via hole in the substrate using the digital data model, generating machine ready instructions for moving and operating an ejector operatively connected to the melter to fill the via holes at the identified locations, and executing the machine ready instructions to move and operate the ejector to position the ejector opposite the identified locations for the via holes in the substrate and eject drops of the melted bulk metal toward the via holes at the identified locations until each via hole is filled. 
     A new 3D metal object apparatus forms vias in substrates in conjunction with the formation of electrical traces on the substrate. The apparatus includes a melter configured to receive and melt a bulk metal, an ejector operatively connected to the melter to receive melted bulk metal from the melter, a platform configured to support a substrate having a plurality of via holes in the substrate, the platform being positioned opposite the ejector, at least one actuator operatively connected to at least one of the platform and the ejector, the at least one actuator being configured to move the platform and the ejector relative to one another, a user interface configured to receive a digital data model of a substrate and user input data, and a controller operatively connected to the melter, the ejector, the user interface, and the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to identify the bulk metal to be received by the melter using the digital data model, identify locations of the via holes in the substrate using the digital data model, generate machine ready instructions for moving and operating the ejector to fill the via holes at the identified locations, and execute the machine ready instructions to operate the ejector, the at least one actuator, and the melter to position the ejector opposite the identified locations for the via holes in the substrate and eject drops of the melted bulk metal toward the via holes at the identified locations until each via hole is filled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of a metal ejecting 3D object printer and its operation to form vias in substrates in conjunction with the formation of electrical traces on the substrate are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  depicts an additive manufacturing system that operates a liquid metal drop ejector to form vias in substrates in conjunction with the formation of electrical traces on the substrate. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a method of operating the system of  FIG. 1  to fill blind via holes with ejected metal drops that have a diameter that is less than a diameter of the through holes. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a method of operating the system of  FIG. 1  to fill blind via holes with ejected metal drops that have a diameter that is equal to or greater than a diameter of the blind via holes. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a process for operating the system of  FIG. 1  to fill via holes in a substrate. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the types of via holes known in the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For a general understanding of the environment for the system and its operation as disclosed herein as well as the details for the device and its operation, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like elements. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a melted metal 3D object printer  100  that forms vias in substrates in conjunction with the formation of electrical traces on the substrate. In this embodiment, drops of melted bulk metal are ejected from a printhead  104  having one or more ejectors and these drops form metal traces on a substrate  108  laying on a platform  112 . As used in this document, the term “bulk metal” means conductive metal available in aggregate form, such as wire of a commonly available gauge or pellets of macro-sized proportions. A source of bulk metal  160 , such as metal wire  130 , is fed into the printhead and melted to provide melted metal for a chamber within the printhead. An inert gas supply  164  provides a pressure regulated source of an inert gas  168 , such as argon or nitrogen, to the melted metal in the printhead  104  through a gas supply tube  144  to prevent the formation of metal oxide in the printhead. 
     The printhead  104  is movably mounted within Z-axis tracks  116 A and  116 B in a pair of vertically oriented members  120 A and  120 B, respectively. Members  120 A and  120 B are connected at one end to one side of a frame  124  and at another end to one another by a horizontal member  128 . An actuator  132  is mounted to the horizontal member  128  and operatively connected to the printhead  104  to move the printhead along the Z-axis tracks  116 A and  166 B. The actuator  132  is operated by a controller  136  to maintain a predetermined distance between one or more nozzles (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the printhead  104  and an uppermost surface of the substrate  108  on the platform  112  and the traces being formed on the substrate  108 . 
     Mounted to the frame  124  is a planar member  140 , which can be formed of granite or other sturdy material to provide reliably solid support for movement of the platform  112 . Platform  112  is affixed to X-axis tracks  144 A and  144 B so the platform  112  can move bidirectionally along an X-axis as shown in the figure. The X-axis tracks  144 A and  144 B are affixed to a stage  148  and stage  148  is affixed to Y-axis tracks  152 A and  152 B so the stage  148  can move bidirectionally along a Y-axis as shown in the figure. Actuator  122 A is operatively connected to the platform  112  and actuator  122 B is operatively connected to the stage  148 . Controller  136  operates the actuators  122 A and  122 B to move the platform along the X-axis and to move the stage  148  along the Y-axis to move the platform in an X-Y plane that is opposite the printhead  104 . Performing this X-Y planar movement of platform  112  as drops of molten metal  156  are ejected toward the platform  112  forms a line of melted metal drops on the substrate  108 . Controller  136  also operates actuator  132  to adjust the vertical distance between the printhead  104  and the most recently formed layer on the substrate to facilitate formation of other structures on the substrate. While the molten metal 3D object printer  100  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as being operated in a vertical orientation, other alternative orientations can be employed. Also, while the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has a platform that moves in an X-Y plane and the printhead moves along the Z axis, other arrangements are possible. For example, the printhead  104  can be configured for movement in the X-Y plane and along the Z axis. Additionally, while the printhead  104  has only one nozzle, it is configured in other embodiments with an orifice plate having multiple orifices fluidly connected to the nozzle to increase the metal deposition rate of the ejector. 
     The controller  136  can be implemented with one or more general or specialized programmable processors that execute programmed instructions. The instructions and data required to perform the programmed functions can be stored in memory associated with the processors or controllers. The processors, their memories, and interface circuitry configure the controllers to perform the operations previously described as well as those described below. These components can be provided on a printed circuit card or provided as a circuit in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Each of the circuits can be implemented with a separate processor or multiple circuits can be implemented on the same processor. Alternatively, the circuits can be implemented with discrete components or circuits provided in very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. Also, the circuits described herein can be implemented with a combination of processors, ASICs, discrete components, or VLSI circuits. During electronic device formation, image data for a structure to be produced are sent to the processor or processors for controller  136  from either a scanning system or an online or work station connection for processing and generation of the printhead control signals output to the printhead  104 . 
     The controller  136  of the melted metal 3D object printer  100  requires data from external sources to control the printer for electronic circuit manufacture. In general, a three-dimensional model or other digital data model of the device to be formed is stored in a memory operatively connected to the controller  136 , the controller can access through a server or the like a remote database in which the digital data model is stored, or a computer-readable medium in which the digital data model is stored can be selectively coupled to the controller  136  for access. In the application being discussed, namely, the formation of electrical circuits on a substrate, the digital map depicts the circuit layout on the substrate and the locations of the leads on the electronic components to which at least some of the electrical traces are connected. This three-dimensional model or other digital data model can be used by the controller to generate machine-ready instructions for execution by the controller  136  in a known manner to operate the components of the printer  100  and form the electrical device corresponding to the model. The generation of the machine-ready instructions can include the production of intermediate models, such as when a CAD model of the device is converted into an STL data model, or other polygonal mesh or other intermediate representation, which can in turn be processed to generate machine instructions, such as g-code for fabrication of the device by the printer. As used in this document, the term “machine-ready instructions” means computer language commands that are executed by a computer, microprocessor, or controller to operate components of a 3D metal object additive manufacturing system to form metal structures on a substrate. The controller  136  executes the machine-ready instructions to control the ejection of the melted metal drops from the printhead  104 , the positioning of stage  148  and the platform  112 , as well as the distance between the printhead  102  and the uppermost layer of the structures on the substrate  108 . Additionally, the digital data model can be used by the controller  136  to operate a mechanical drill or laser (not shown) to form the holes in the substrate where vias are located. 
     The effects of metal trace formation on a substrate are a function of initial drop spacing, drop volume, the number of metal drops, the sequence and placement of drops, and the temperature at which the melted metal drops are ejected. Similarly, the formation of the vias after they are drilled is a function of the frequency of the melted metal drop ejection into the drilled hole, the number of metal drops, the size of the drops, the temperature of the drops into the drilled holes, and the type of metal ejected into the drilled holes. 
     The behavior of metal drops on substrates and in the vias can be controlled using a number of parameters that are adjustable in the printing process. These parameters include: drop frequency, spacing, temperature of the drops, and temperature of the substrate. These parameters can be used to control the metal drop freezing process and the application of electrically conductive metal to the drilled holes for the vias. Various modes of via formation behavior can be seen as these parameters are varied, which makes the process more or less suitable for the completion of the vias. Part of the digital model of the device identifies the material of the substrate and the metal being fed to the printhead. Alternatively or additionally, these parameters can be entered by an operator through the user interface  170  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In one embodiment of the system  100 , the alternating current pulses in the electromagnetic coil surrounding the printhead can be independently varied with respect to pulse length, pulse voltage, and frequency of pulse application to provide control over the dynamics of the melted drop ejection into the drilled holes for the vias. Drops are typically ejected at a velocity of 1 to 10 meters/second, although other velocities are possible. Additionally, nozzle orifice diameter, the distance between a nozzle orifice and the surface receiving a drop, drop temperature, substrate temperature, drop size, and drop spacing can also affect the dynamics of melted drop ejection and interaction between the melted drops and the walls of the drilled holes for the vias. As used in this document, the term “drop spacing” means the distance between the centers of adjacent drops in a sequence of melted metal drops ejected into the drilled holes for the vias. 
     The process of operating the metal drop ejecting system  100  disclosed in this document fills via holes with conductive metal as opposed to coating the walls of the via holes with a thin layer of metal. In one embodiment of the process, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a blind via hole  204  having a wall  206  is formed in the circuit board  208 . Because hole  204  is a blind via hole, another substrate  222  is beneath the hole and acts as a bottom to the hole. Drops  212  of molten metal having an average diameter that is less than the diameter of the blind via hole are ejected into the via hole. These drops spread and solidify as they cool so the solidified metal  216  contacts the conductive traces  218  on the substrate  222 . Eventually, the solidified metal  216  fills the blind via hole in a bottom up manner as the ejected conductive metal drops land on the previously solidified metal and solidify as they cool. By ejecting drops that have a diameter that is less than the diameter of the blind via hole, air is expelled from the hole as indicated by the arrows  220  in the figure. If the drops had a diameter larger than the diameter of the blind via hole, they could cover the entire hole opening and trap air inside the blind via hole. This hole covering and trapped air prevents the via hole from being completely filled with metal. 
     In another embodiment of the process, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the blind via hole  204  having a wall  206  can be filled with drops  212  of molten metal having an average diameter that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the blind via hole. These drops are not ejected into the center of the blind via hole but are instead ejected so the overlap the wall  206 . Thus, a portion of the ejected metal drop flows down the wall until it cools and solidifies in the hole. In this manner, metal extends from the wall of the blind via hole into the opening of the hole. By ejecting subsequent drops so they overlap with the solidified metal  216  on the wall of the blind via hole, the hole is filled in a bottom up manner since the air can escape as shown by the arrow  220 . Using this technique, the metal drop ejecting system can also fill a through via hole. Buried via holes are filled in the same manner as the blind via hole since multi-layer boards are typically produced one layer after another. When the layer containing a buried via hole is the current uppermost layer, the buried via hole is filled as described above for a blind via hole. Then one or more subsequent board layers are fabricated on top of the layer containing the top of the filled via hole producing a buried via. 
     The process determines the number of jetted drops needed to fill a given via by identifying the cumulative volume of the drops ejected into a via hole. This cumulative volume is made to closely approximate the volume of the hole. If n drops having a diameter of D d  are jetted into a via hole, the volume of jetted metal (V m ) is: 
     
       
         
           
             
               V 
               m 
             
             = 
             
               
                 n 
                 · 
                 π 
                 · 
                 
                   D 
                   d 
                   3 
                 
               
               6 
             
           
         
       
     
     A via hole having a diameter of D v  and a depth of H v  will have a volume (V v ) of 
     
       
         
           
             
               V 
               v 
             
             = 
             
               
                 π 
                 · 
                 
                   D 
                   v 
                   2 
                 
                 · 
                 
                   H 
                   v 
                 
               
               4 
             
           
         
       
     
     Setting the two volumes equal to each other, and solving for n, the number of drops needed to fill the via is 
     
       
         
           
             n 
             = 
             
               
                 1.5 
                 · 
                 
                   D 
                   v 
                   2 
                 
                 · 
                 
                   H 
                   v 
                 
               
               
                 D 
                 d 
                 3 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Drop diameter is closely related to the diameter of the orifice in the nozzle, the voltage of the pulse signal sent to the coil, and the pressure exerted by the molten metal in the reservoir above the nozzle orifice. In typical operation, the drop diameter is within +/−25% of the diameter of the orifice in the nozzle. Thus, the nozzle diameter of the ejector in system  100  when it is to be used for filling via holes is slightly smaller than the diameter of the via holes. For a 100 μm diameter via, a nozzle diameter of approximately 75 μm would be appropriate, for example. 
     For via hole filling, the temperature of the molten metal in the ejector head is regulated to be approximately 50° C. to 200° C. higher than the melting temperature of the metal being jetted. This temperature range helps ensure that the ejected metal drops do not cool down and solidify until after they have entered the via hole. For aluminum, the temperature of the melted metal is in the range of about 700° C. to about 900° C. For copper, the temperature of the melted metal is about 1100° to about 1300° C. 
     A process for operating the printer shown in  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In the description of the process, statements that the process is performing some task or function refers to a controller or general purpose processor executing programmed instructions stored in non-transitory computer readable storage media operatively connected to the controller or processor to manipulate data or to operate one or more components in the printer to perform the task or function. The controller  136  noted above can be such a controller or processor. Alternatively, the controller can be implemented with more than one processor and associated circuitry and components, each of which is configured to form one or more tasks or functions described herein. Additionally, the steps of the method may be performed in any feasible chronological order, regardless of the order shown in the figures or the order in which the processing is described. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a process that operates the printing system  100  to fill via holes in a substrate. The process  400  begins with receipt of a digital data model for the substrate (block  404 ). The digital data model is analyzed to identify the via holes in the substrate (block  408 ). The smallest diameter of a via hole is identified (block  412 ) and a message is sent to the user interface  170  that identifies the diameter of the nozzle that is optimal for filling the smallest hole (block  416 ). After a signal is received from the user interface that confirms a nozzle with the identified diameter is installed in the ejection head (block  420 ), the process determines the number of drops required to fill each via hole (block  424 ). The machine ready instructions for maneuvering the ejection head to each of the identified holes and operating the ejection head to fill each of the holes are generated (block  428 ). The machine ready instructions are then executed by the controller of system  100  to move the ejection head to a via hole and fill the via hole (block  432 ). This process continues until all of the via holes have been filled (block  436 ). The process determines whether the board is to be removed or another board is to be added (block  440 ). If another board is added, then the process is repeated for filling the via holes in the new board (blocks  404  through  440 ). Otherwise, the board is removed from the platform  112  and the process stops (block  444 ). 
     It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems, applications or methods. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art that are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.