Abstract:
A printing device for dispending material on a heated substrate is provided. The device may include a printing head having one or more nozzles and a heat shield that partially masks a side of the printing head that faces the heated substrate when printing so as to reduce heat transfer from the substrate to the printing head. The shield includes a slot aligned with the one or more nozzles to enable passage of material from the one or more nozzles to the heated substrate.
Abstract:
Inkjet head cleaning and storage includes cleaning an orifice plate by inserting a tip of a shaped wiper into a slit of a printing mask, such that one or more shoulders of a handling end of the shaped wiper are in contact with respectively one or more edges of the slit. The shoulders of the shaped wiper facilitate the tip applying a predetermined pressure to an orifice surface during wiping. Preventing sediment buildup during extended periods of non-printing includes placing at least the orifice plate of the printing head in a protecting liquid that avoids evaporation of the volatile liquid from the nozzles. An innovative “night plate” can be used to seal the slit of a printing mask and ink purged from the printing head used to fill a gap between the printing head and the mask, thereby covering at least the orifice plate with purged ink.
Abstract:
Inkjet head cleaning and storage includes cleaning an orifice plate by inserting a tip of a shaped wiper into a slit of a printing mask, such that one or more shoulders of a handling end of the shaped wiper are in contact with respectively one or more edges of the slit. The shoulders of the shaped wiper facilitate the tip applying a predetermined pressure to an orifice surface during wiping. Preventing sediment buildup during extended periods of non-printing includes placing at least the orifice plate of the printing head in a protecting liquid that avoids evaporation of the volatile liquid from the nozzles. An innovative “night plate” can be used to seal the slit of a printing mask and ink purged from the printing head used to fill a gap between the printing head and the mask, thereby covering at least the orifice plate with the purged ink.
Abstract:
A system for forming a product with different size particles is disclosed. The system comprises at least one print head region configured to retain a first group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a first portion of the product with a first material and a second group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a second portion of the product with a second material. The described system may also comprise a processor configured to regulate the first group of print heads and the second group of print heads to distribute the first material and the second material. A method of making an object by ink jet printing using the disclosed system is also disclosed.
Abstract:
Ti ink compositions for printing, such as ink jet printing, are disclosed. The ink compositions comprise a liquid dispersion of Ti hydride powder having a mean particle size of less than 10.0 microns; a liquid carrier, and at least one surfactant. Methods of making and using the disclosed inks are also disclosed. For example, a finished Ti product can be produced by printing the disclosed ink composition, such as by ink jet printing, to form a green article, heating the green article to dehydrogenate it and form a Ti containing part. The method may further comprise sintering the Ti containing part to produce a sintered Ti product. In an embodiment, the method comprises printing one or more support materials for the ink composition, that comprises solid particles of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a polymer, or combinations thereof.
Abstract:
Ti ink compositions for printing, such as ink jet printing, are disclosed. The ink compositions comprise a liquid dispersion of Ti hydride powder having a mean particle size of less than 10.0 microns; a liquid carrier; and at least one surfactant. Methods of making and using the disclosed inks are also disclosed. For example, a finished Ti product can be produced by printing the disclosed ink composition, such as by ink jet printing, to form a green article, heating the green article to dehydrogenate it and form a Ti containing part. The method may further comprise sintering the Ti containing part to produce a sintered Ti product. In an embodiment, the method comprises printing one or more support materials for the ink composition, that comprises solid particles of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a polymer, or combinations thereof.
Abstract:
A printing device for dispending material on a heated substrate is provided. The device may include a printing head having one or more nozzles and a heat shield that partially masks a side of the printing head that faces the heated substrate when printing so as to reduce heat transfer from the substrate to the printing head. The shield includes a slot aligned with the one or more nozzles to enable passage of material from the one or more nozzles to the heated substrate.
Abstract:
A system for forming a product with different size particles is disclosed. The system comprises at least one print head region configured to retain a first group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a first portion of the product with a first material and a second group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a second portion of the product with a second material. The described system may also comprise a processor configured to regulate the first group of print heads and the second group of print heads to distribute the first material and the second material. A method of making an object by ink jet printing using the disclosed system is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.
Abstract:
An ink composition for use as a support ink in three dimensional (3D) printing processes comprises a dispersion of solid particles in liquid carrier, compatible with an inkjet print head, wherein after removing the liquid carrier, the solid particles serve as support material for a Three Dimensional (3D) printed object, wherein the support material is separable from the 3D printed object.