Comparison of micro-dispensing performance between micro-valve and piezoelectric printhead
Comparison of micro-dispensing performance between micro-valve and piezoelectric printhead
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DOI：
10.1007/s00542-009-0905-3
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发表时间：
2009-08
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Jie Sun;J. H. Ng;Y. Fuh;Y. Wong;H. Loh;Qian Xu
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Jie Sun;J. H. Ng;Y. Fuh;Y. Wong;H. Loh;Qian Xu
在微点胶应用中，打印头激活机构、其设计和操作参数被集成在一起以影响液滴生成过程。这些因素使每个打印头在特定制造中具有优于其他打印头的优点和限制。因此，在微级制造上的多个打印头优选地执行多材料分配任务。介绍了两种常用的微型打印头--电磁驱动微阀和压电打印头的工作原理。通过实验对它们的性能进行了表征，并对实验结果进行了分析，以探索最佳的液滴形成条件。在微阀工作参数对微滴形成的影响方面，从微阀工作压力和工作时间两个方面对微阀进行了研究，从压电打印头驱动脉冲的幅值和宽度两个方面对微阀工作参数对微滴形成的影响进行了研究。喷嘴尺寸是两种喷头中的关键设计参数，本文还研究了喷嘴尺寸对点胶能力的影响。为了便于分配器选择，基于成功喷射的液滴尺寸、液滴稳定性、液滴速度和分配粘度来比较两个打印头。其他因素，如化学相容性，确定最佳条件的时间消耗和点胶过程的可靠性也被报道在这种选择中起着至关重要的作用。研究相关参数与点胶性能之间的关系，不仅有利于多材料点胶应用中点胶头的选择，也为生物工程元件制造中多点胶头系统的开发奠定了坚实的基础。
In micro-dispensing applications, printhead activation mechanism, its design and operating parameters are integrated together to affect the droplet generation process. These factors give each printhead advantages and limitations over the others in specific fabrication. Hence, multiple printheads on micro level fabrication are preferred to perform multi-material dispensing task. In this paper, the mechanisms of two commonly used micro printheads, solenoid actuated micro-valve and piezoelectric printhead are discussed. Comprehensive experiments are conducted to characterize their performance and the results are analyzed so as to explore optimal droplet formation condition. With regards to the operational parameters’ influence on droplet formation, micro-valve is investigated in terms of pressure, and operational on time, and piezoelectric printhead is investigated based on pulse amplitude, and width of driving pulse. Nozzle size, a key design parameter in the two printheads, is also studied according to its influence on dispensing capability. To facilitate dispenser selection, the two printheads are compared based on droplet size, droplet stability, droplet velocity, and dispensing viscosity of successful ejection. Other factors such as chemical compatibility, time consumption in determining optimal condition and reliability of dispensing process are also reported to play an essential role in this selection. Our investigation on the relationship between related parameters and dispensing performance will not only benefit dispenser selection in multi-material dispensing application, but also build a solid background to develop multiple printhead system for fabrication of bioengineering components.