Search found 110 matches

by Wonko
Sat Apr 08, 2017 8:43 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Using a zcorp printer and modifing it for a different print head
Replies: 5
Views: 14946

Re: Using a zcorp printer and modifing it for a different print head

The software has to be rewritten from scratch. None of the ZCorp stuff will work anymore. I am using a Teensy 3.5. They are fast enough with plenty of resources and they are tolerant to 5V TTL level, which is what the Xaar head and all the motor drivers want. It's amazing to see the entire huge PC m...
by Wonko
Sat Apr 01, 2017 10:19 am
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Using a zcorp printer and modifing it for a different print head
Replies: 5
Views: 14946

Re: Using a zcorp printer and modifing it for a different print head

Xaar says in their documentation that their head will last 4 Billion drops (4.0E09). One drop is 80pl (pico liters) or 8.0E-11. 4E9 * 8E-11 = 0.32 liters. 0.32 liters is not very much at all, so either this is a very low estimate, or the 4 billion drops are counted per nozzle. So let's multiply 0.32...
by Wonko
Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:08 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Using a zcorp printer and modifing it for a different print head
Replies: 5
Views: 14946

Re: Using a zcorp printer and modifing it for a different print head

My ZCorp machine still has the Canon heads. Impossible to come by, and a super short lifetime. The whole Xaar idea is basically a way to replace the head of this machine eventually. But I got sidetracked, and started to build a much smaller machine, which would be terrific, if I had a few month or s...
by Wonko
Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:40 am
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Diy inkjet PC software
Replies: 6
Views: 15500

Re: Diy inkjet PC software

For my controller, I wrote a simple language that includes primitive compression. The host software would write a stream to an SD card, and the controller would read the commands from the same card, controlling the motors and filling the buffers as described. This was my original ad hoc command set,...
by Wonko
Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:23 am
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1313321

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

You probably fried the head. It says several time in the manual that you *must* apply voltages in a predefined order. IIRC it was ~RESET to GND, then 5V, then 35V and then release RESET. You also *must* shut down the chip in the reverse order. If you do it in a different order (and you are describin...
by Wonko
Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:48 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1313321

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Sure. Purified water should work. For a test print, get paper that changes color when it gets wet. The Xaar drops are pretty tiny, and you won't see water drops on regular paper. I tested my setup for hours because I thought it wasn't printing. In the end, I tried black ink, only to realize that I w...
by Wonko
Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:49 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1313321

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Answers: 1. I have never tried to achieve the firing rates, simply because my transport is too slow. But a fast CPU, preferably suing hardware SPI, is needed 2. I recommend using the Teensy. They are much more powerful in every aspect. 3. Yes, that's where I order them. No complaints. BTW: adapter b...
by Wonko
Tue Mar 14, 2017 9:26 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1313321

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

Hi Moriarty. I did finish a related project with the Xaar head recently, but I am not in the position to publish the result. Sorry. All that was written here pretty much contains all the information needed to make the head work very easily. It's a fantastic head that is very easy to control, fast, a...
by Wonko
Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:17 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead
Replies: 365
Views: 1313321

Re: Hacking the Xaar 128 printhead

The pinout is the same for all XJ128 heads, no matter if 80 or 40 pl, wetting or non-wetting. There is no way to determine in software which head is installed.
by Wonko
Sun Feb 19, 2017 11:28 pm
Forum: 3DP printing
Topic: Oasis 3DP printer
Replies: 41
Views: 123885

Re: Oasis 3DP printer

Hmm. SVG, a vector format? Your inkjet cartridges create a 2 dimensional raster of dots, so any image format would probably be more appropriate. There are slicers out there that generate images, GIFs for example (lossless compression in 1 bit or more). And there are a bunch of simple OpenSource read...