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Fluid Micro-Reservoirs Array Design with Auto-Pressure Regulation for High-Speed 3D Printers
1Faculty of Engineering, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel. einatm@ariel.ac.il.
Micromachines
|November 9, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a novel micro-reservoir array for inkjet print heads, significantly increasing nozzle count and enabling high-speed 3D printing. The innovative design ensures auto-regulated pressure, independent of fluid levels, for enhanced performance.
Area of Science:
- Engineering
- Materials Science
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Printing speed is a critical factor in the advancement of three dimensional (3D) printing.
- Inkjet-based printing heads face limitations in speed due to the finite number of nozzles.
- Maintaining uniform pressure across numerous nozzles in inkjet print heads is a significant engineering challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel method for practically increasing the number of nozzles in inkjet print heads without limit.
- To develop a system that dramatically enhances printing speed for 3D printing applications.
- To address the complexity of uniform pressure regulation in high-nozzle-count print heads.
Main Methods:
- Dividing fluid reservoirs into an array of micro-reservoirs, each supporting a small number of jetting chambers.
- Implementing a unique micro-reservoir structure with auto-pressure regulation, independent of fluid level.
- Utilizing a specifically shaped wedge within the micro-reservoirs to auto-compensate gravitational and capillary forces.
Main Results:
- Achieved autonomous, constant pressure regulation within each micro-reservoir segment, irrespective of fluid level.
- Demonstrated a method to overcome the limitations of uniform pressure distribution in high-density nozzle arrays.
- Validated the auto-compensation mechanism based on the balance of gravity and capillary forces.
Conclusions:
- The proposed micro-reservoir array offers a scalable solution for inkjet print head enlargement.
- This technology has the potential to significantly increase printing speed, enabling faster 3D printing.
- The auto-pressure regulation feature simplifies the design and improves the reliability of high-speed inkjet systems.
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