Thin-film and printed electronics design

About

I connect industrial design with printed-electronics manufacturing, using creative ideas and production expertise to turn concepts into practical, manufacturable products.

Michael R. LeFebvre, thin-film and printed electronics designer
ThinFilm & Printed Electronics Design

I do more than prepare printed-electronics artwork—I create the concepts and engineer the path to production. For more than 40 years, I have solved complex printed-electronics challenges, from originating product concepts and designing circuitry to engineering printable layers and delivering press-ready manufacturing artwork.

In 1984, I co-founded a Valencia, California, screen-printing company specializing in additive printed manufacturing for graphic overlays, membrane switches, and touch interfaces. My work includes Tidel Systems’ first Timed Access Automated Cash Control (TACC) system and TEC America’s first instantly swappable digital cash-register menu system, both conceived, designed, and manufactured around innovative printed-interface concepts.

I work as an embedded design resource. Some clients hand me a rendering and a spec and ask for a releasable artwork package. Others bring a field failure and need someone to read the construction and say what went wrong. Both are welcome.

Deliverables are unambiguous: layered production files, separations, dimensioned control drawings, die data and a written construction note that a buyer, a printer and a quality engineer can all read the same way.

Who I work with

  • Industrial design firms
  • OEM manufacturers
  • Membrane switch companies
  • Touch screen integrators
  • HMI developers
  • Medical equipment makers
  • Wearable sensor teams
  • Thin-film manufacturers
  • Industrial screen printers
  • Thin-film solar producers

Track record

  1. 1984

    Co-Founded TechPanel Industries

    In 1984, I co-founded a Valencia, California screen-printing company specializing in additive printed manufacturing. I conceived, designed, and manufactured graphic overlays, membrane switches, touch interfaces, and pioneering products—including Tidel Systems’ first TACC system and TEC America’s first instantly swappable cash-register menu system.

    1984 — Co-Founded TechPanel Industries
  2. 1994

    Relocated business to Reno, Nevada

    Moved into design and manufacturing for man-machine interfaces, touch-screens, capacitive keypads, security keypads for machinery and thin glass backlit instruments.

    1994 — Relocated business to Reno, Nevada
  3. 2019

    Independent practice

    Opened an independent studio serving industrial design firms, OEMs and thin-film manufacturers as an embedded design resource.

    2019 — Independent practice

Next step

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