ArcaJet Printer

This device can be used for production of: RFID tags Biomedical sensors (blood glucose sensors, etc.) Heaters (clothing heaters, heater films, car seat heaters, etc.) Pressure-sensitive and touch circuits Strain gauges Shield circuits Electromagnetic wave absorbing circuits Flexible circuits Light panels using electroluminescent paints

The inks used in this device are based on nanoparticle inks. The particles used in the inks are under 20 nanometer in size, and larger particles can cause serious damage to the head and ink supply systems.

ArcaJet is an inkjet printer capable of printing different conductive and semi-conductive inks. By using this printer different types of electric circuits can be printed on various kinds of substrates that are wettable by colors.

Inkjet printing can be defined as the ability to form a steam of fluid droplets with a desired size along a certain path. Inks used for inkjet printing include a wide range of materials such as metals, ceramics, synthetic polymers, and also biomaterials, like alive cells.

ArcaJet incorporates a three-axis mechanism for the positioning of the head, moving it in a 40×40 cm range and maintaining a user-defined distance between the print head and the substrate. This device is equipped with 4 different heads for various types of inks, and it can print copper, silver, carbon and other conductive inks in multiple layers for various applications. Thickness of the printed layers can be adjusted by changing the color intensity of the print.

To make a circuit in each sub-layer, the sub-layer has to be fixed on the glass surface of the printing chamber, and then the image of the circuit (saved as a JPEG file with 1:1 scale) is printed on the substrate. Each material must be saved as a mask in a separate file. Care must be taken in the design process to overlap the layers properly. Thus, a circuit can easily be printed in no time.

This printer is compatible with oil-based, solvent-based or UV inks. The ink is placed in a special tank and fed to the ink supply system. Selection of the ink must be done carefully, and curing process of the ink needs to be performed based on the type of the ink and the necessary measures.