Electrohydrodynamic Jet Deflection for Fiber Speed Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the collection speed of fibers and length of printed fibers in electrohydrodynamic jet printing are laborious, require microscopic imaging, and are not feasible during actual printing, leading to inaccuracies and difficulties in controlling the printing process.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses jet-deflection electrodes to periodically deflect the ink jet, allowing for the calculation of fiber collection speed and length based on the width of a printed motif strip or 3D item, without the need for resolving individual fibers, using standard optical equipment and geometric parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If microscopic imaging and image analysis are used to determine fiber collection speed and length, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and measurement time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces jet-deflection electrodes as an intermediary element that indirectly measures fiber collection speed. Instead of directly imaging and analyzing individual fibers with complex microscopes, the electrodes deflect the ink jet in a controlled manner, and the resulting motif strip width on the substrate serves as a proxy measurement. This intermediary approach simplifies the measurement system while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical imaging system (microscope) with an electrostatic deflection system. By using electric fields to deflect the charged ink jet and measuring the resulting geometric pattern (motif strip width), the system substitutes complex optical measurement with simpler electrical control and geometric calculation.
2Measurement precision
If microscopic imaging is performed to analyze fiber organization, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by encoding measurement information directly into the printing process itself. The jet-deflection electrodes create a motif pattern during normal printing operations, so that measurement data is captured simultaneously with production. This eliminates the need for separate post-printing analysis steps, maintaining both precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous measurement during the printing process rather than requiring intermittent stopping for microscopic analysis. The jet-deflection system operates continuously alongside the printing process, allowing real-time monitoring of fiber collection speed and length without interrupting production flow.
3Productivity
If the substrate translation speed is increased to improve productivity, then printing speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to fiber buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control through jet-deflection electrodes that can actively compensate for high substrate translation speeds. By dynamically adjusting the electrostatic deflection force on the ink jet, the system maintains accurate motif pattern formation even at high printing speeds, preventing fiber buckling and preserving measurement precision across a range of productivity levels.
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
Enables precise and continuous determination of fiber collection speed and length during printing, allowing for real-time control of the printing process and improved fidelity and resolution of printed structures.
Implementation Method 1
one or a plurality of jet-deflection electrodes for deflecting the ink jet by generating an electrostatic field around the jet
Implementation Method 2
The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jetting phenomenon generates a fast moving and fine ink jet, which in EHD jet printing is collected on a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The method for determining the speed of printing of a fiber and the length of a printed fiber comprises: supplying ink to a nozzle; forming an ink drop at the exit of said nozzle; generating an ink jet carrying a net electrostatic charge; deflecting said ink jet periodically by one or a plurality of jet-deflection electrodes; collecting the ink jet on a substrate repetitively forming a printed motif by means of a continuous fiber; determining the width of the printed motif; calculating the speed of printing of fiber from the frequency of the jet-deflection signal and the width of the printed motif; calculating the length of fiber printed in a time interval from the frequency of the jet-deflection signal and from the width of the printed motif.