A new breakthrough has given us a glimpse of the future of repairs. This new tech would even allow you to replace your broken display by making an OLED screen yourself.
According to an Engadget report, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have developed what they believe is the first fully 3D printed flexible OLED display. In other words, you might not have to rely on major display makers like BOE or Samsung to manufacture a replacement panel to fix your electronic devices. Talking about the process, the breakthrough involves the combination of two methods of 3D printing to print the six layers needed for a functional display.
The University team used extrusion printing to make the electrodes, encapsulation, insulation and interconnects, with active layers being spray painted at room temperature. Notably, previous attempts from others had ran into issues with light uniformity (consistency across the whole panel) or relied on techniques beyond 3D printing to assemble the components. But, the researchers at Minnesota Twin Cities managed to build a prototype, which is just 1.5 inch wide and uses 64 pixels.
Meaning, this technology is still quite far from being viable since any practical use would require a much higher pixel count. The people behind this technology are also working on making the display brighter while also adapting the technology for use at homes. Unfortunately, the brand used a custom 3D printer that costs as much as a Tesla Model S. So, we don’t expect this breakthrough to make it to your homes within the next couple of years.
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