Application Cases

Experiment Name: Construction of an Inkjet Printing Process Experimental System

Test Equipment:
ATA-7030 high-voltage amplifier, signal source, oscilloscope, syringe pump, laser light source, computer, etc.

Experimental Process:

Figure 1: Overall Framework of the Experimental System

The overall framework of the experimental system used to observe the printing liquid thread is shown in Figures 2 and 2(a). The inkjet printing experimental system mainly consists of two parts: the micro-droplet ejection module and the fusion observation module, which are used to generate micron-sized micro-droplets and synchronously capture the morphological changes during the fusion process of micro-droplets and the liquid thread, respectively. The components and functions of these two modules are described in detail below. The device diagrams of each component are shown in Figure 2(b).

Figure 2: Experimental System Device Diagram:
① Syringe pump,
② Voltage device (2.1 Voltage signal source, 2.2 Oscilloscope, 2.3 Power amplifier),
③ High-speed camera (3.1 Camera, 3.2 Magnifying lens),
④ Laser light source (4.1 Control unit, 4.2 Laser unit, 4.3 Illumination optical system),
⑤ X-Y moving platform

The micro-droplet ejection module uses an electrohydrodynamic printing system, including a syringe pump, a 26G needle, a moving substrate, and a voltage signal source, power amplifier, and oscilloscope voltage device. The syringe pump applies a stable continuous pressure to the syringe, while the voltage device applies a stable voltage between the needle and the substrate. The combined action of these two generates micron-sized droplets at the needle tip. The droplets fall onto the moving substrate under gravity and electric field forces, interacting with it. The droplet size is related to the needle size, electric field strength, and syringe pump pressure. In the experiment, the inner diameter of the needle is 0.25 mm, and the minimum droplet diameter can reach 400 μm.

The voltage device includes a signal source, an oscilloscope, and the ATA-7030 high-voltage amplifier from Xi'an Aigtek, as shown in Figure 2②. The signal source is used to generate voltage signals of specific waveforms, the high-voltage amplifier is used to amplify the voltage, and the oscilloscope is used to measure and display the waveforms. Applying a voltage between the needle and the substrate increases the vertical downward force on the droplet, making it easier for the droplet to separate from the meniscus at the needle tip, thereby achieving smaller droplet sizes. In the experiment, a DC voltage in the range of 1.8–3 kV is used, with the amplification factor fixed at 1000x. The voltage value is adjusted by varying the signal source intensity. The output voltage signal can be quickly controlled using software on the computer.

Test Results:

An experimental system for the inkjet printing process was constructed, and experiments were conducted. The ultimate goal of the inkjet printing process experiment is to obtain the shape of the printed thread and study the fusion phenomenon between micron-sized droplets and the formed stationary liquid thread.

Recommended High-Voltage Amplifier: ATA-7030

Figure: ATA-7030 High-Voltage Amplifier Specifications

This document has been compiled by Aigtek. For more application cases and detailed product information, please stay tuned. Xi'an Aigtek Electronics has become a large-scale instrument and equipment supplier with an extensive product line in the industry. Demo units are available for free trial.