A printhead for an inkjet printer has a wafer that defines a plurality of nozzle chambers and ink supply channels in fluid communication with the nozzle chambers to supply the nozzle chambers with ink. An ink ejection port is associated with each nozzle chamber. A series of actuators is associated with each nozzle chamber and is radially positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber. The actuators are operable so that, when activated, they are displaced into the nozzle chamber to generate an ink meniscus at the ink ejection port and, when deactivated, return to an original position resulting in the necking and breaking of the ink meniscus to eject an ink drop.