3D printing has been grabbing headlines, as well as the attention of tech fanatics, for quite some time. The ability to instantly produce almost any 3D object is extremely impressive and has some incredibly useful applications as well.

The ability to produce electronics, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), using a 3D printer is one of the newest ways this technology is revolutionizing the way we think about manufacturing. PCBs are extremely complex, however. Is 3D printing really up to the challenge?

The 3D-printed electronics industry is still in its infancy due to the complexity of the process. The printer must be able to produce a material that conducts electricity and stands up to the demands of use in areas such as aerospace, wearables and the Internet of Things, in addition to consumer electronics.

We’re just beginning to see the first 3D printers capable of printing electronics. One such printer is the NexD1 3D printer from Next Dynamics. The NexD1, which sells for around $3,000, is a multi-material and electronics printer in one. It can print using six materials at once and produce functional low-resistance circuits.

Next Dynamics is currently raising funds for this project on Kickstarter. The company plans to start shipping in September of 2017.