What is INKJET- (PHOTOPOLYMER WIDE AREA HEAD)

 INKJET- (PHOTOPOLYMER WIDE AREA HEAD)

This machine uses a single jet each for a plastic build material and a wax-like support material. which are held in a melted liquid state in reservoirs. The liquids are fed to individual jetting heads which squint tiny droplets of the materials as they are moved in X-Y fashion in the required pattem to form a layer of the object. The Materials harden by rapidly dropping in temperature as they are deposited. After an entire layer of the object is formed by jetting, a milling head is passed over the layer to make it a uniform thickness. Particles are vacuumed away as the milling head cuts and or captured in a filter The process is repeated to form the entire object. After the object is completed, the wax support material is either melted or dissolved away.

The most outstanding characteristic of inkjet systems is the ability to produce extremely fine resolution and surface finishes, essentially equivalent to CNC machines. 

The technique is very slow for large objects.

While the size of the machine and materials are office-friendly, the use of a milling head creates noise which may be objectionable in an office environment.

All thermal phase change inkjets have material limitations and make fragile parts.

 The Application range from concept models to precise casting patterns for industry and the arts, particularly jewelry. 3D Systems is a representative manufacturer of Inkjet RP machines.

The process is based on photopolymers, but uses a wide area inkjet head to layerwise deposit both build and support materials. It subsequently completely cures each layer after it is deposited with a UV flood lamp mounted on the print head.

The support material, which is also a photopolymer, is removed by washing it away in a secondary operation. The low initial system price, approximately $65K, and specifications that are similar to laser-based stereolithography systems costing ten times as much make this an important technology to watch. 

Objet Geometries Ltd., is a representative manufacturer of wide area inkjet RP machines.