We present our laboratory’s ongoing work in developing techniques based on commercially available screen-printing inks and threads to realize electronic components and multi-level circuits on clothing, where the fabric serves as the substrate for textile-based printed circuit boards. We investigate various limitations of commercially available scree-printing inks, including the physical properties of traces such as their resistance, clearance limit, resolution, ink penetration depth, flexibility, and stretchability. We also investigate the solderability of the inked traces and threads, ability to make custom components such as resistors and capacitors, durability of traces under flexing, and attachment techniques to surface mount components.
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