Inkjet test equipment
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www.jetxpert.com Innovative Ink Jet Analysis Systems for R&D and Production Presented by: Yair Kipman, President ImageXpert, Inc. Nashua, New Hampshire www .jetxpert.com Tuesday, April 17, 12
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Test equipment for inkjet applications.Drop analysisImage qualityInspection tools
Transcript of Inkjet test equipment
www.jetxpert.com
Innovative Ink Jet Analysis Systems for R&D and
Production
Presented by: Yair Kipman, President
ImageXpert, Inc.Nashua, New Hampshire
www.jetxpert.com
Tuesday, April 17, 12
www.jetxpert.com
Company Description
• ImageXpert Inc. is a world leader in vision-based inspection systems and solutions for digital printer manufacturers, ink formulators and jetted deposition system developers.
• From generalized inspection systems to more specialized systems such as JetXpert for analysis of drops-in-flight or line-scan camera systems for high speed nozzle plate inspection, companies rely on ImageXpert systems in R&D and production.
• Innovative new development for ink jet markets
Tuesday, April 17, 12
www.jetxpert.com
Presentation Outline
• Interactive inspection and measurement systems for use in R&D– Drop watching and analysis of drops-in-flight
(JetXpert)– Image quality of printed materials
• Automated systems for use in Production
– JetXpertOEM: integrated analysis of drops-in-flight– Automated ImageXpert machine vision systems for
product and part inspection• Application highlights:
– Printed electronics, textiles and ceramics
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Machine Vision Systems
• Camera-based full motion system– Non-contact– Automated 2-D and 3-D analysis– Supporting multiple cameras– Additional instrumentation (laser for 3-D)
• Scanner– Works with a variety of materials– Expanded dynamic range for challenging
samples– Transparency hood
• ImageXpert solar for analysis of solar cells • JetXpert for analysis of drops in flight
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Measurement and visualization of drops-in-flightfor inkjet and other frequency-actuated dispensing systems
www.jetxpert.com
Tuesday, April 17, 12
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JetXpert System Overview
• Measures drop volume, velocity, trajectory• Very small footprint (~24” max. dimension) • Single strobe event for imaging of single droplets• 125ns minimum pulse width• Second camera available for visualization of face
plate wetting during firing• Motion option for automated analysis of all jets
across a print head
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JetXpert System Overview
• Fully integrated system includes:– LED strobe, control box, and control software (GUI)– Calibrated digital camera for image capture– ImageXpert software for drop analysis
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Drop Analysis Example (Single event)
Analysis of drops-in-flight:• Radius (mm)• Drop-based volume (pl)• Velocity (m/s)• Trajectory (degrees)
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Ligament-based volume Ligament-based volume (nl):
• Calculated based on the edge points of the ligament or drop stream
• The volume of the ligament or droplet stream is measured based on the rotated 2-D projection (presumption of rotational symmetry down the vertical axis)
• Volume is reported in nanoliters (nl).
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JetXpert options• Automation (motion)
– Enables sequential step and repeat measurement along an entire print head
• Face-plate wetting visualization
– Second camera for visualization of face plate wetting during firing
• Frequency sweep
– Automatically step through a series of user-defined frequencies and assess print head performance
• Ink supply system
– Active gravity meniscus control: meniscus level remains constant while printing
• Ink collection system
• TCP communication
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Motion for Print Head Tuning/Optimization
• For applications that require individual nozzle accuracy such as OLED manufacturing
• One axis of automated motion is used for sequential analysis of each jet on a print head
• Velocity and volume are measured for each jet across a print head
• Jet-drop-outs or misdirected jets can be detected• Data can be used to drive individual nozzle adjustment to
achieve uniform, predictable jetting behavior across head
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Face Plate Wetting Visualization
• 2-camera system configuration includes – One camera for drop-in-flight analysis– Second camera for visualization of face
plate wetting during firing– Easy switching between modes via user
interface
Image series captured with JetXpert of 5 nozzles visualized during firing, HP-45 print head
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Frequency Sweep Capability
• Fluids and print heads operate differently at different firing frequencies
• Fluid manufacturers need to verify that their fluids behave across the range of frequencies specified by the print head manufacturer
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Universal Ink Supply System
• For use in R&D• Single color delivery module• Active gravity meniscus control: meniscus level
remains constant while printing• Suitable for all liquid inks• Fully integrated and available as a stand-alone
system or as an add-on to JetXpert systems
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Ink Collection System
• Designed specifically for JetXpert• Collects ink via gravity feed• Acts as virtual substrate
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Ink Collection System
• Designed specifically for JetXpert• Collects ink via gravity feed• Acts as virtual substrate
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TCP Communication
• Use JetXpert as a server and run it remotely from a Client PC via TCP/IP
• The JetXpert Server listens for and responds to specific pre-defined commands from the Client PC
Client PC
JetXpert Server
JetXpert HWCamera, strobe control
electronics, strobe
TCP/IPcommands
Controls
responses
Images, status,
current settings
Requires:• TCP port on Client PC• Ethernet cable to JetXpert Server• JetXpert TCP Command list
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Print Quality in R&D
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Text Quality
Common features for assessing text quality include:
• Character area• Perimeter length• Edge raggedness• Detection of breaks • Detection of fill-ins
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Line Quality
Common line quality features include:
• Average line width• Edge raggedness• Edge sharpness• Line area• Line darkness
Since line quality is dependent on orientation, both vertical and horizontal lines are usually measured
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Inter-Color Bleed
Inter-color bleed is the unintentional intermixing of adjacent colorants.
Different color combinations often have different quality levels.
Common measurements include comparisons of:
• line width• edge raggedness• edge sharpness
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Automated Systems for Use in Production
• JetXpert OEM• Automated ImageXpert
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JetXpert OEM: Integrated process control
• A self-contained drop-in-flight analysis system specifically designed for integration into ink, printing, and deposition systems
• Very small optical system • Customizable hardware and software
– Hardware options from fully integrated stand-alone units to component kits
– Software options from drop visualization through full droplet analysis
• Available for high volume projects only
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Automated Print Quality Analysis
• Dot quality
• Line quality
• Text quality
• Solid area
• Jet health
• Color bleed
• Satellites
• Graininess
• …
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Application Highlights
• Printed Electronics• Ceramics• Textiles
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Printed Electronics
• 2-D systems can measure lead width, raggedness, spacing, and 3-D systems can measure height profile…
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Ceramics and Textiles
• Print process control (JetXpert)• Materials interaction• Print quality verification
– Line width, edge raggedness– Inter color bleed– Dot quality– Solid area quality– Color registration– Skew/image registration
• Color color color color color
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Summary
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Research &Development
Production(QA/QC)
Benchmarking/Competitive analysis
Use in R&D and Production
ImageXpert systems offer:• Objective, quantitative analysis necessary for
competitive analysis• Flexibility, interactive tools and powerful
algorithms necessary for R&D• Automation, reliability and repeatability
necessary for production
XXi
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Support and Service
• At ImageXpert, we are committed to excellent customer service and support.
• We offer:– Personalized attention– Customization and applications engineering– Production line and R&D service contracts
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Summary
• ImageXpert’s systems can be used for a variety of ink jet and related applications and offer solutions to a variety of industries
• Powerful ImageXpert image analysis software is at the core of all of our systems
• Flexible hardware and software can be configured to best suit a wide range of applications
• All of our systems are expandable and can be upgraded as customer needs change
• ImageXpert is dedicated to providing excellent customer service
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