Aerosol reverse jet printer

Abstract

The utility model discloses an aerosol reverse jet printer, and relates to the technical field of electronic circuit additive manufacturing. The printer comprises a machine table, a first movement mechanism, an aerosol jet printing head, a second movement mechanism and a workpiece base. The printing direction of the aerosol jet printing head is vertically upward; the workpiece base is erected above the aerosol jet printing head through a second movement mechanism, and the bottom face of the workpiece base is used for fixing a workpiece to be machined. According to the invention, the printing mode of the aerosol jet printer is optimized from a traditional vertical downward ink outlet mode to a vertical upward ink outlet mode, the aerosol airflow is jetted at a high speed and directly deposited on the target surface above the aerosol airflow, and then after the aerosol airflow is jetted at the high speed and impacted on the target surface to rebound, the target surface can be directly deposited on the target surface. The ink is scattered in a mode that the ink is far away from the target surface as much as possible by means of gravity, so that the problem of ink dot splashing in the aerosol jet printing process is relieved, and meanwhile, the mode is beneficial to widening the requirements for conductive paste, printing head design and specific control parameters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing of electronic circuits, and particularly relates to an aerosol reverse jet printer. Background Art

[0002] Aerosol jet printing technology uses the principle of aerodynamics to atomize conductive paste into micro-nano level suspended aerosol particles, then shapes the aerosol airflow by introducing sheath airflow, and finally deposits the shaped aerosol airflow on the target surface. It can be applied in the fields of electronic packaging, microcircuits, embedded components, flexible circuits, antenna sensors, semiconductor chips, medical devices or industrial parts, etc.

[0003] Currently, aerosol jet printers basically adopt a vertically downward printing mode, and directly deposit the aerosol airflow at a high speed on the target surface below it. However, during the actual use process, after the aerosol airflow impacts the target surface at a high speed, splashing ink dots will be generated and scattered on the outer edge of the target path. The splashing of ink dots will not only contaminate the non-printing area, but seriously, it will cause the formed conductive traces to overflow outside the target pattern, resulting in the short-circuit failure of the conductive traces.

[0004] After comprehensive consideration, it is found that the factors causing ink dot splashing are related to the properties of the conductive paste, the design of the print head, and the control parameters of the aerosol airflow and the sheath airflow. There are many factors and it is difficult to regulate due to high technical difficulty. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present utility model is to propose an aerosol reverse jet printer to alleviate the problem of ink dot splashing during aerosol jet printing, and at the same time relax the requirements for raw materials, equipment, and control.

[0006] In some illustrative embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer includes: a machine table, a first motion mechanism, an aerosol jet print head, a second motion mechanism, and a workpiece base; the aerosol jet print head is assembled on the machine table through the first motion mechanism, and its printing direction is vertically upward; the workpiece base is erected above the aerosol jet print head through the second motion mechanism, and the bottom surface thereof is used to fix the workpiece to be processed; the first motion mechanism and the second motion mechanism cooperate to drive the aerosol jet print head and the workpiece to be processed to perform reverse printing operations with linear interpolation motion.

[0007] In some optional embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer further includes: a space calibration system for determining the spatial coordinate relationship between the aerosol jet print head and the workpiece to be processed.

[0008] In some alternative embodiments, the space calibration system includes: a laser scanner, a touch probe, an origin calibration component, and at least two calibration reference spheres; wherein, the laser scanner is used to obtain the spatial coordinates of the target object under the reference of the laser scanner; the touch probe is used to obtain the spatial coordinates of the target object under the reference of the touch probe; the origin calibration component is used to initialize or correct the motion origin of the target object; the calibration reference spheres are used to assist in the spatial calibration of the laser scanner and the touch probe.

[0009] In some alternative embodiments, the laser scanner and the touch probe are assembled on the first motion mechanism through a third motion mechanism.

[0010] In some alternative embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer further includes: an aerosol generator, which is used to provide an aerosol flow to the aerosol jet print head.

[0011] In some alternative embodiments, a plurality of vacuum suction holes are annularly arranged at a position close to the nozzle on the aerosol jet print head, which are used to suck up the sputtered aerosol ink droplets.

[0012] In some alternative embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer further includes: a hood, which is used to cooperate with the machine table to form a closed printing space.

[0013] In some alternative embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer further includes: an exhaust gas recovery system, which is communicated with the printing space through the hood.

[0014] In some alternative embodiments, the first motion mechanism drives the aerosol jet print head to move in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and the second motion mechanism drives the workpiece to be processed to move in the A-axis and C-axis directions.

[0015] In some alternative embodiments, the aerosol jet printer further includes: a cleaning component, which is used to maintain and service the nozzle of the aerosol jet print head.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following advantages:

[0017] By optimizing the printing mode of the aerosol jet printer from the traditional vertically downward ink output mode to a vertically upward ink output mode, the present application directly deposits the high-speed aerosol flow on the target surface above it, and then after the aerosol flow impacts on the target surface and rebounds at high speed, it scatters as far away from the target surface as possible by relying on gravity, thereby alleviating the problem of ink dot splashing during the aerosol jet printing process. At the same time, this mode is also beneficial to relaxing the requirements for conductive paste, print head design, and specific control parameters. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural example of an aerosol reverse jet printer in an embodiment of the present utility model. Specific embodiments

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present utility model clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Apparently, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0020] It should be noted that the technical features in the embodiments of the present utility model can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0021] An aerosol reverse jet printer is disclosed in the embodiments of the present utility model. Specifically, as Figure 1 shown Figure 1 This is a structural example of an aerosol reverse jet printer in an embodiment of the present utility model; the printer includes: a machine table 1, a first motion mechanism 2, an aerosol jet printing head 3, a second motion mechanism 4, and a workpiece base 5; the aerosol jet printing head 3 is assembled on the machine table 1 through the first motion mechanism 2, and its printing direction is vertically upward; the workpiece base 5 is erected above the aerosol jet printing head 3 through the second motion mechanism 4, and the bottom surface thereof is used to fix the workpiece to be processed (not shown); the first motion mechanism 2 and the second motion mechanism 4 cooperate to drive the aerosol jet printing head 3 and the workpiece to be processed to perform reverse printing operations with linear interpolation motion.

[0022] In this application, the printing mode of the aerosol jet printer is optimized from the traditional vertically downward ink output mode to a vertically upward ink output mode, and the aerosol gas flow is directly deposited on the target surface above it at high speed. Then, after the aerosol gas flow impacts the target surface at high speed and rebounds, it scatters as far away from the target surface as possible by relying on gravity, thereby alleviating the problem of ink dot splashing during aerosol jet printing. At the same time, this mode is also beneficial to relaxing the requirements for conductive paste, printing head design, and specific control parameters.

[0023] The linear interpolation motion in the embodiments of the present utility model is a multi-axis coordinated printing motion control technology in the field of 3D printing, which supports the printing head to perform continuous printing operation forming on a plane or three-dimensional surface according to the target pattern. This application will not elaborate on this.

[0024] The workpiece to be processed in the embodiments of the present utility model can be a structural member with the need for a three-dimensional printing surface, so as to realize a three-dimensional circuit on the workpiece through an aerosol reverse jet printer; in addition, the workpiece to be processed can also be a plate, film, structural member, etc. with the need for a planar printing surface, so as to realize a planar circuit on the workpiece through an aerosol reverse jet printer.

[0025] In the embodiments of the present utility model, the first motion mechanism and the second motion mechanism can cooperate to drive the aerosol jet printing head and the workpiece to be processed to perform reverse planar and / or three-dimensional printing operations in linear interpolation motion, and the motion axis system design between the two can be determined according to actual needs.

[0026] In some preferred embodiments, the first motion mechanism in the embodiments of the present utility model can be a three-axis motion mechanism that supports the aerosol jet printing head to move along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and the second motion mechanism can be a two-axis motion mechanism that supports the workpiece to be processed to rotate around the A-axis and C-axis. Thus, the first motion mechanism and the second motion mechanism are combined to form a 3+2 motion axis system of the aerosol reverse jet printer, so as to meet the user's need to select the aerosol jet printing head and the workpiece to be processed to perform reverse planar or three-dimensional printing operations in linear interpolation motion.

[0027] Among them, the A-axis is a rotation axis system with the X-axis as the axis, and the C-axis is a rotation axis system with the Z-axis as the axis.

[0028] The bottom surface of the workpiece base in the embodiments of the present utility model is used to fix the workpiece to be processed, and the fixing method is not limited to clamping fixation, bolt fixation, interference fit, vacuum adsorption, etc.

[0029] In some embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer in the embodiments of the present utility model may further include: a space calibration system 6 for determining the spatial coordinate relationship between the aerosol jet printing head 3 and the workpiece to be processed. Among them, the space calibration system can directly select the corresponding positioning system from the prior art.

[0030] Preferably, a space calibration system 6 is disclosed in the embodiments of the present utility model, which may include: a laser scanner 61, a touch probe 62, an origin calibration component 63, and at least two calibration reference balls (not shown, fixed upside down on the workpiece base and relatively fixed in position with respect to the workpiece to be processed); among them, the laser scanner is used to obtain the spatial coordinates of the target object (such as the calibration reference ball and the workpiece to be processed) under the reference of the laser scanner; the touch probe is used to obtain the spatial coordinates of the target object (such as the calibration reference ball) under the reference of the touch probe; the origin calibration component is used to initialize or correct the motion origin of the target object; the calibration reference ball is used to assist the spatial calibration of the laser scanner and the touch probe.

[0031] Among them, at least the laser scanner, the touch probe, the origin calibration component, and the calibration reference sphere can cooperate with each other to determine the actual coordinate relationship between the print head and the workpiece to be processed.

[0032] Specifically, the laser scanner can obtain the spatial coordinates of the workpiece and the calibration reference sphere in the first reference system (under the reference of the laser scanner); the touch probe can obtain the spatial coordinates of the calibration reference sphere in the second reference system (under the reference of the touch probe); the spatial coordinate relationship between the touch probe and the print head can be determined through the origin calibration component; after obtaining the above coordinate relationship, mapping conversion is performed on the above spatial coordinates, and then the spatial coordinate relationship between the print head and the workpiece to be processed can be determined.

[0033] In the aerosol reverse injection printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, the measurement and detection of the spatial coordinates of the printer are jointly realized by the laser scanner, the touch probe, the origin calibration component, and the calibration reference sphere, which can effectively reduce the errors in the processes of printer installation and assembly, operation movement, etc., and then can accurately and reliably determine the coordinate relationship between the print head and the workpiece to be processed, thereby improving the printing quality and reliability.

[0034] In some embodiments, the laser scanner 61 and the touch probe 62 are assembled on the first motion mechanism 2 through a third motion mechanism 7. Preferably, the third motion mechanism 7 can be a single-axis motion mechanism that moves along the Z axis. Since the laser scanner has high requirements for distance measurement, by realizing the height adjustment of the laser scanner and the touch probe in the vertical direction, the spatial coordinate scanning of workpieces to be processed at different heights can be satisfied.

[0035] Furthermore, when the first motion mechanism is a three-axis motion mechanism of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, and its Y axis is arranged on its X axis, and the Z axis is arranged on its Y axis, the third motion mechanism can be arranged on the Y axis of the first motion mechanism, so as to move independently of the aerosol injection print head on the Z axis and avoid interference. Similarly, when the X axis of the first motion mechanism is arranged on the Y axis and the Z axis is arranged on its X axis, the third motion mechanism can be arranged on the X axis of the first motion mechanism, and the X-axis and Y-axis movements of the laser scanner and the touch probe are also realized by relying on the first motion mechanism.

[0036] In some embodiments, the aerosol reverse injection printer according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include: an aerosol generator 8 for providing an aerosol flow to the aerosol injection print head 3. Among them, the atomization principle of the aerosol generator is not limited to ultrasonic atomization or pneumatic atomization.

[0037] In some embodiments, the aerosol reverse jet printer in the embodiments of the present utility model may further include: a machine cover 9, which is used to cooperate with the machine table 1 to form a closed printing space for the printing area, thereby avoiding the problem that the atmosphere environment in the printing space pollutes the external environment, and at the same time, it can also play a role of shielding and hiding, improving the overall aesthetics of the aerosol reverse jet printer.

[0038] In some embodiments, the aerosol jet printer in the embodiments of the present utility model may further include: an exhaust gas recovery system 10, which is communicated with the printing space through the machine cover 9, and is used to improve the atmosphere environment in the printing space and reduce the concentration of aerosol droplets in the printing space.

[0039] In some embodiments, the aerosol jet printer in the embodiments of the present utility model may further include: a cleaning component 11, which is used to maintain the nozzle of the aerosol jet print head 3. Since the nozzle diameter of the aerosol jet print head is extremely small, after the printing operation, the aerosol remaining at the nozzle can solidify in a short time, thus causing blockage of the jet path. The aerosol remaining on the nozzle of the aerosol jet print head can be removed or the solidification rate of the remaining aerosol can be slowed down through the cleaning component.

[0040] Preferably, the cleaning component may include an inverted sponge impregnated with a cleaning solvent, which can meet the functions of cleaning and moisturizing the nozzle of the aerosol jet print head. When in use, only need to move the nozzle of the aerosol jet print head to contact the sponge. The solvent impregnated in the sponge can be water or a cleaner corresponding to the aerosol raw material.

[0041] In this regard, the embodiments of the present utility model disclose an aerosol reverse jet printer, which can further reduce the splashed ink dots and improve the printing aesthetics on the basis of the foregoing. Specifically, a vacuum adsorption component (not shown) is provided at the aerosol jet print head of the aerosol reverse jet printer, and the splashed ink dots are adsorbed while reverse printing, thereby further reducing the splashed ink dots and improving the printing aesthetics.

[0042] Among them, the vacuum adsorption component can be a ring structure, and its vacuum adsorption holes are opened on its inner ring, aiming at the printing area to adsorb and remove the splashed ink dots.

[0043] Preferably, a plurality of vacuum adsorption holes 12 are annularly arranged at a position close to the nozzle on the aerosol jet print head in the embodiments of the present utility model, which are used to suck the sputtered aerosol ink droplets. This structural design can replace the above-mentioned vacuum adsorption component, thereby achieving the effect of simplifying the design.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol reverse jet printer, characterized in that: include: A machine platform, a first motion mechanism, an aerosol jet print head, a second motion mechanism and a workpiece base; The aerosol jet print head is mounted on the machine platform through the first motion mechanism, and its printing direction is vertically upward; The workpiece base is mounted above the aerosol jet print head through the second motion mechanism, and its bottom surface is used to fix the workpiece to be processed; The first motion mechanism and the second motion mechanism cooperate to drive the aerosol jet print head and the workpiece to be processed to perform a reverse printing operation in a linear interpolation motion.

2. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A spatial calibration system is used to determine the spatial coordinate relationship between the aerosol jet print head and the workpiece to be processed.

3. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The spatial calibration system includes: a laser scanner, a contact probe, an origin calibration component, and at least two calibration reference balls; wherein the laser scanner is used to obtain the spatial coordinates of the target object under the reference of the laser scanner; the contact probe is used to obtain the spatial coordinates of the target object under the reference of the contact probe; the origin calibration component is used to initialize or correct the motion origin of the target object; and the calibration reference ball is used to assist the spatial calibration of the laser scanner and the contact probe.

4. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The laser scanner and the contact probe are mounted on the first motion mechanism via a third motion mechanism.

5. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: An aerosol generator is used to provide an aerosol flow to the aerosol jet print head.

6. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aerosol jet printing head is provided with a plurality of vacuum adsorption holes around the position close to the nozzle, so as to absorb and remove the sputtered aerosol ink droplets.

7. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The machine cover is used to cooperate with the machine platform to form a closed printing space.

8. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 7, characterized in that: Also includes: An exhaust gas recovery system is connected to the printing space through the machine cover.

9. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first motion mechanism drives the aerosol jet print head to move along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions, and the second motion mechanism drives the workpiece to be processed to move along the A-axis and C-axis directions.

10. The aerosol reverse jet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The cleaning component is used to maintain the nozzles of the aerosol jet print head.

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