Ink Ejection Head Oscillation Phase Alignment for 3D Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In three-dimensional object printing, the oscillation of an inkjet print head due to robot vibration causes print defects such as misalignment, color unevenness, and color shift when multiple nozzle arrays with different positional relationships are used, leading to deviations in ink landing positions.
Innovation Solution
A printing method that involves a first printing step using one nozzle array, followed by a head position adjustment to align a second nozzle array at the same position as the first, ensuring the robot arm maintains a consistent posture for both arrays, allowing the ink ejection head to scan along the same trajectory, thereby aligning the oscillation phases and reducing print defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple nozzle arrays are used in the inkjet print head, then printing efficiency and coverage are improved, but print defects such as misalignment, color unevenness, and color shift occur due to oscillation phase differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the robot arm's oscillation phase at different positions and orientations before actual printing. Based on these measurements, compensation values are pre-calculated and stored. During printing, the pre-calculated compensation data is applied to adjust the timing or position of ink ejection, thereby compensating for oscillation-induced misalignment and maintaining print quality across multiple nozzle arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors to detect the robot arm's actual position and oscillation phase during operation. This real-time feedback information is used to dynamically adjust the printing parameters for each nozzle array, ensuring that compensation is applied accurately according to the actual oscillation state, thereby maintaining consistent print quality
2Area of stationary object
If the robot arm scans the inkjet print head along a trajectory, then printing coverage is improved, but vibration-induced oscillation causes ink landing position deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-measures and stores the oscillation phase characteristics of the robot arm at various positions along the scanning trajectory. Before actual printing, compensation parameters are calculated based on these pre-measured oscillation patterns, allowing the system to predict and compensate for position deviations at each point along the scan path
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes printing parameters such as ink ejection timing, ejection position, or nozzle selection based on the robot arm's real-time position and oscillation state. By adjusting these parameters in response to measured oscillation, the system compensates for vibration-induced position deviations and maintains accurate ink landing positions
Data Source
AI summary
A printing method using an ink ejection head and a robot to perform printing while the robot arm scans the ink ejection head, the printing method including steps of performing a first printing by ejecting ink from a first nozzle array in a state in which the relative position of a distal end of the robot arm with respect to a proximal end of the robot arm is at a predetermined position, moving the ink ejection head relative to a target object such that a second nozzle array is disposed at the same position as the first nozzle array during the first printing and a relative position of the distal end of the robot arm is at the predetermined position, and performing a second printing while the robot arm scans the ink ejection head relative to the object along the same scan trajectory as during the first printing.