Search found 41 matches

by aengel
Wed Apr 11, 2018 4:59 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead
Replies: 11
Views: 32721

Re: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead

I have been pleased with the UV led wafer lamps I have purchased. If I am not mistaken, they emit at 380-vis, which is better; they do not generate ozone; they run on a house mains current (110V nominal in the USA); and they are relatively low cost. I have seen these units with power supplies for le...
by aengel
Tue Apr 10, 2018 10:17 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1314814

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Regarding uv curing inkjet compositions for 3d printing with the Xaar 128, Johannes Karl Fink provides some starting formulations. I believe that these are suitable for near-vis curing, 385nm - up. I have tried similar formulations and they work. Some of these formulations have viscosities below 30 ...
by aengel
Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:14 am
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1314814

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Here is an insightful 150 page thesis describing the implementation of a Xaar 128 printhead system. "Development of an Inkjet Printing System on a Flatbed Router" by Dayna Chan. The full text of this thesis is available to the public from the internet servers at the University of Waterloo,...
by aengel
Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:31 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1314814

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

I wonder what's the minimum setup to drive a single head from the computer. No other sensors, valves or motors. I am working on that now. I started a new thread, "Hacking an Inkjet..." here at Ytec3D. I hope to have a minimum setup for the Seiko 510 printhead posted there in about 2 weeks...
by aengel
Sun Apr 08, 2018 7:55 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1314814

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Here are examples of circuit boards to drive the Xaar 128 head. Sometimes there are USB variants for these types of circuit boards. I have been unable to find stock cables to connect these circuit boards together. And I have been unable to find the PrintMon shareware to drive the Xaar. The sales age...
by aengel
Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:27 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead
Replies: 11
Views: 32721

Re: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead

The assembly should be suitable for 3D printing using uv resins. These resins have viscosities in the 8-40 cps range. So far we are progressing with our identification of the chips for the ink jet assembly. Here are the simplified diagrams of the schematics. Now we are commissioning the drawing of t...
by aengel
Wed Apr 04, 2018 4:54 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead
Replies: 11
Views: 32721

Re: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead

Hi Dragonator : Good question, I was not aware you could get a USB or PCI controller for that. PrintMon software and pci-cards and usb cards are available for Seiko, etc. Seiko, Xaar, Fujifilm, maybe Ricoh/Minolta are useful to the 3D enthusiast, as they can jet the uv curing resins suitable for 3D....
by aengel
Sun Apr 01, 2018 2:15 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: HACKING an inkjet printer printhead
Replies: 11
Views: 32721

HACKING an inkjet printer printhead

Inkjet printheads can be divided into 2 groups : The first group, which is useful to 3D printing enthusiasts, are printheads which have wide latitude for ink viscosity. These heads allow inks from 5 cPs to 50 cPs at room temperature, and higher viscosities at elevated temperatures. This group is com...
by aengel
Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:06 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1314814

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Has anyone attempted interfacing this device with RIP shareware such as Onyx Graphics? or in Asia, MainTop? or performance testing shareware such as PrintMon? (Note that PrintMon may only be available for Seiko heads, although I have read hints that it has been adapted to the Xaar as well). Any sugg...
by aengel
Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:01 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1314814

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Very low viscosity uv curing ink ingredients are available from Allnex. They are very easy to formulate and have viscosities at room temperature under 10 cPs. Regarding solvents for inkjet printheads, IPA should be OK, but it must be filtered with a 0.4 micron filter before use. Some workers recomme...