/Contribute-DIY_Inkjet_Printer

Primary LanguageC++GNU Affero General Public License v3.0AGPL-3.0


DIY Inkjet Printer

An open source inkjet printer built 
without industrial manufacturing.

Button Videos    Button Hackaday       Button Frame    Button Pump    Button Head       Button Firmware    Button GCode



Printing

Possible ways to print with toolhead.


 
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{64,64,64}{𝗚}\textcolor[RGB]{86,86,86}{𝗿}\textcolor[RGB]{99,99,99}{𝗮}\textcolor[RGB]{116,116,116}{𝘆}\textcolor[RGB]{137,137,137}{𝘀}\textcolor[RGB]{157,157,157}{𝗰}\textcolor[RGB]{171,171,171}{𝗮}\textcolor[RGB]{192,192,192}{𝗹}\textcolor[RGB]{220,220,220}{𝗲}}$   
      
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor{Red}{𝗥}\textcolor{Green}{𝗚}\textcolor{Blue}{𝗕}}$   
      
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{0,147,211}{𝗖}\textcolor[RGB]{204,0,147}{𝗠}\textcolor[RGB]{255,241,12}{𝗬}\textcolor[RGB]{220,220,220}{𝗞}}$   
 



Applications

The printhead could be used as an add-on for


 
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{0,147,211}{𝗗𝗼𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀}}$   
      
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{0,147,211}{𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴}}$   
      
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{0,147,211}{𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗲𝘁}}$   
 

 
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{85,170,0}{𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱}}$   
      
   $\huge\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{85,170,0}{𝗕𝗶𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴}}$   
 


$\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{85,170,0}{＊}}$ Components cannot be printed out of SLA resin and seals / connections
      have to be carefully chosen if you want them to be food grade.



Backstory

This is my attempt to build an open source inkjet printer by myself.

I started this project because I wanted to build a binder jetting 3D
printer but couldn't find any open source inkjet printer designs.


Back in 2019 after reading through the build logs
of the Oasis 3D printer I was scouring the internet
for anyone's attempt to build an inkjet printer:

  • Without access to industrial production

  • With simple electronics

  • From scratch

  • At home


After I successfully built some projects I found on the
Reprap Forum & Wiki I started to work on my own.


The first working prototype I built had a PMMA printhead
and was able to print - if everything was aligned perfectly -
with black ink made from thinned out paint.

Afterwards I designed a printhead with internal channels
that could flush out the air through the inbuilt nozzles and
printed it using a SLA 3D printer.


After some testing and creating single / multi printhead
builds I wanted to try printing in four colors, that is $\texttt{\textcolor[RGB]{0,147,211}{𝗖}\textcolor[RGB]{204,0,147}{𝗠}\textcolor[RGB]{255,241,12}{𝗬}\textcolor[RGB]{220,220,220}{𝗞}}$.

While I designed all the required parts, I never got around
to assembling or even trying them out until I attempted to
write the Hackaday building instructions.


At the time I decided to redesigned the project to fit on
an Ender 3, this however also made me realize that the
machine was far too unreliable.


To remedy this, I changed the following:

  • Designed SLA 3D printed piezo pumps
    to replace the piezo printheads

  • Used MOSFETs + higher voltage for
    switching the piezos instead of H-Bridges

  • Used a vacuum duct to carry away excess
    ink that would otherwise block the nozzle
    with large ink drops.


With these changes the printer should be ready to do hour
long prints without failing due to design based problems.