Investigation on Fabricating 3D Structures Using Inkjet Printing Technology

Abstract

Recently a rapid prototyping method for building parts layer-by-layer has led to interest in fabrication of electrical circuits and optical devices by inkjet printing. In this study a Java program was developed to control a commercial piezoelectric inkjet printer whose nozzles are about 30 mu m with experiments focusing on the drop positioning and arrangement required to fabricate three-dimensional structure layer by layer. A single nozzle inkjet device whose nozzles are about 100 mu m was also fabricated to study the basic operating parameters affecting the fluid drop formation such as cavity length, viscosity and amplitude voltage.