Hummink’s HPCAP patended technology for repairing electrical components

Foetz, April 1st 2024

Maana Electric, in partnership with Hummink, has been selected by the European Space Agency for a new Early Technology Development contract focused on advanced manufacturing and repair of electronic micro-patterns in microgravity. The project, titled “Manufacturing and repairing of micro-patterns for electronics in microgravity through High Precision Capillarity Printing (HPCAP)”, is commonly referred to as μCAP.

At the core of the project lies High Precision Capillarity Printing (HPCAP), a patented technology developed by Hummink. HPCAP enables the deposition of virtually any material on any substrate with resolutions ranging from approximately 50 micrometres down to 100 nanometres. The process relies on nano-capillaries mounted on a macro-resonator oscillating at a controlled frequency, allowing precise and repeatable material transfer. The use of capillarity as the driving mechanism makes this technology particularly well suited for operation in microgravity, where conventional printing and deposition techniques face significant limitations.

Within the μCAP project, Maana Electric and Hummink will jointly develop and adapt dedicated hardware for in-space manufacturing and repair of electronic components. The activity targets applications such as local fabrication of conductive tracks, functional patterns, and the repair of damaged or degraded electronics directly in orbit. These capabilities are considered key enablers for long-duration missions, space infrastructures, and future autonomous platforms, where resupply from Earth is limited or impractical.

The selection of μCAP by ESA highlights the strategic importance of combining advanced printing technologies with in-space manufacturing approaches. By bringing together Hummink’s micro- and nano-scale printing expertise and Maana Electric’s experience in space hardware and manufacturing systems, the project aims to advance the state of the art in resilient, repairable, and sustainable space electronics.