Print quality evaluation of Drop-on-Demand (DoD) inkjet printer by rear-cut ‘W’ waveform design

Abstract

One of the challenges in inkjet technology is the reduction of residual vibration and crosstalk that can result in the appearance of satellites and ligaments in the produced droplets, which affects the overall printing quality. This study evaluated the print quality produced by comparing basic waveform with several actuating waveforms, particularly in the application of the grayscale method or the multi-pulse-ejection method. Print quality was compared using a microscope to evaluate the appearance of ejected droplet on a printing surface. This study measured aspect ratio to illustrate the circularity of the droplets. Based on the findings in this study, the waveform design with adjustments made to the rear wave from the preliminary vibration is proved effective in improving print quality. The average of aspect ratio obtained approached 1, means almost perfect circular, which was 0.997, with the lowest standard deviation of 0.0151.

Keywords

• Print quality
• DoD inkjet printer
• waveform design
• aspect ratio
• circularity
• James Lam, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong