Inkjet Head Speed Control for 3D Printing Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing on three-dimensional objects faces challenges with large gap distances between the printing medium and the inkjet head, leading to significant shifts and variations in ink droplet landing positions, making high-precision printing difficult due to increased entering angles and potential atomization.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus adjusts the moving speed of the inkjet head during the main scanning operation based on the gap distance to maintain an entering angle of 45 degrees or less, ensuring precise ink droplet landing and preventing atomization by optimizing the speed according to the gap distance at each position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gap distance between the inkjet head and medium is increased, then the printing apparatus can handle three-dimensional objects of various shapes, but the landing position precision of ink droplets deteriorates due to increased entering angles and shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The inkjet head moving speed is dynamically adjusted based on the gap distance. When the gap distance is large, the moving speed is reduced to maintain a small entering angle (≤45 degrees), preventing landing position shifts and atomization. This dynamic speed control resolves the contradiction between handling three-dimensional objects and maintaining printing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The entering angle is controlled as a key parameter by adjusting the inkjet head moving speed according to the gap distance. By maintaining the entering angle at 45 degrees or less through speed adjustment, the system achieves both large gap distance capability and high landing position precision.
2Productivity
If the inkjet head moving speed is increased, then the printing productivity is improved, but the entering angle increases causing landing position shifts and atomization
Solution Approach 1:
The inkjet head moving speed is dynamically adjusted based on real-time gap distance measurements. In regions with small gap distances, higher speeds are used for productivity, while in regions with large gap distances, speeds are reduced to maintain precision. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different moving speeds are applied to different regions of the medium based on local gap distance characteristics. The controller adjusts the speed according to the specific gap distance at each printing position, allowing high productivity in suitable regions while maintaining precision in challenging regions with large gaps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for high-precision printing even at large gap distances by controlling the inkjet head's speed to minimize shifts and variations in the landing position, maintaining ink droplet alignment and preventing atomization.
Implementation Method 1
carrying out printing through an inkjet method with respect to a medium
Implementation Method 2
the flying direction of the ink droplet discharged from the nozzle has a component in a moving direction of the inkjet head at the time of discharge according to the law of inertia
Data Source
AI summary
To more appropriately carry out printing at high precision even when a gap distance is large. A printing apparatus includes an inkjet head, a main scan driver, and a controller, where the controller sets a moving speed of the inkjet head according to a gap distance, and sets the moving speed in a main scanning operation so that an entering angle at a time of landing of the ink droplet on a medium becomes smaller than or equal to 45 degrees with respect to at least a position where the gap distance becomes the largest in a region of the medium to become a target of the main scanning operation.