Airflow assisted printhead for high-resolution electrohydrodynamic jet printing onto non-conductive and tilted surfaces

Abstract

Electrohydrodynamic jet printing (e-jet printing) is a growing high resolution (<20 μm) printing technology. It is cost effective for small scale and highly customized feature production and it is compatible with a large range of materials. Conventional e-jet is generally restricted to surfaces with high flatness, therefore limiting the application of e-jet in research and industry. This paper will present an airflow assisted e-jet printhead that incorporates the use of airflow within the printhead to direct electrohydrodynamically generated ink droplets onto non-conductive and tilted surfaces. The printhead runs in open loop yet achieves consistent printing performance across large changes in standoff height (800 μm) between the printhead and printing surface. The printhead is able to print <20 μm droplets, which surpasses traditional inkjet technology. In conclusion, this printhead design has the potential to enable e-jet printing to be applied in unprecedented application areas.