Application Cases

Experiment Title: Design of Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) Printing Software System

Testing Purpose:The EHD printing software system is built upon the hardware system. Through the software system, the coordinated operation of the hardware is controlled, enabling the entire EHD printer to complete various EHD printing processes. The hardware system determines the functionality of the entire software system.

Testing Equipment: High Voltage Amplifier, High Voltage Generator, Function Generator, Pressure Controller, Precision Flow Pump, etc.

Experiment Process:

Figure 1: Overall Hardware Structure Diagram

As shown in Figure 1, the overall hardware consists of 2 nozzle pressure systems, 2 nozzle flow systems, 3 motion systems, 3 vision systems, and 1 control system. The nozzle system is responsible for controlling the process flow and process voltage to form the specified process modes (electrospinning direct writing, EHD drop-on-demand printing, electrospray deposition). The motion system is responsible for the relative movement between the substrate and the nozzle to form the specified pattern. The vision system is responsible for observing the printing process, feedback control, and auxiliary positioning.

Figure 2: Common Combination Schemes for Nozzle Systems

The nozzle system is the core part of realizing the EHD printing process. The basic principle is to apply a high voltage between the nozzle and the substrate to form a Taylor cone, thereby completing the EHD printing process. The nozzle requires voltage control and flow control.

Voltage control can be achieved using a function generator + high voltage amplifier, and flow control can be achieved using a pressure controller or a precision flow pump: the former provides stable flow control and can be controlled by a PC, but it requires a pressure interface at the nozzle end, which is generally used for stable electrostatic drop-on-demand printing with a pressure controller; the latter can be connected to a PC, where the flow rate is adjusted by the PC to maintain supply balance. It is simple and convenient to use, and electrospinning and electrospray often use precision flow pumps for flow control.

Common combination schemes for electrospinning, electrostatic drop-on-demand printing, and electrospray are shown in Figure 2. For electrospinning and electrostatic drop-on-demand printing that require voltage control on the PC and a maximum voltage not exceeding 5KV, a function generator + high voltage amplifier is used for voltage control. For electrospray that requires a voltage exceeding 5KV, a high voltage generator is needed for voltage control. For electrostatic drop-on-demand printing with high flow control stability requirements, a pressure controller is used for flow control, while electrospinning and electrospray generally use a flow pump for flow control.

Experimental Results:

An experimental platform was set up. The working conditions of the EHD printer vary with different substrate combinations and motion methods. The process flows and process parameters for electrospinning direct writing, EHD drop-on-demand printing, and electrospray deposition are also different. Each processing requires the coordination of the following functions:

1. Combined motion of upper XYZ motion axes, lower XY motion axes, and roll-to-roll motion.

2. Nozzle flow control (pressure controller or precision flow pump).

3. Nozzle voltage control (function generator + high voltage amplifier or high voltage generator).

4. Different parameter inputs.

High Voltage Amplifier Recommendation: ATA-7050

Figure: Specifications of the ATA-7050 High Voltage Amplifier

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