Fig. 5: Overview of metal-polymer components fabrication through a hybrid process combining 3D printing and electroless plating.
a laser assisted activation and DLP-based 3D printing of circuits with silver and nickel coatings. Copyright from ref. 86, b DLP-based 3D printing of embedded catalytic precursors for selective copper electroless plating of polymer substrates such as lightweight gears. Copyright from ref. 89, c multi-material DLP-based 3D printing of charged photopolymers to generate intricate Ni-P and dielectric 3D objects. Copyright from ref. 90, and d fabrication of laser-assisted activation of substrates utilizing a myriad of AM technologies such as SLA, Polyjet, SLS, and MJF. Copyright from ref. 94.
