Homebrew PCBs

This is interesting, but what's the benefit of driving the jet head directly
from an MCU?  As I understand it, the real challenge is finding a suitable
way to get the ink to resist the etchant.  If you have a process that allows
you to print an etchable design from an inkjet head, than it seems like it
would be easier to leave the printer fully assembled, since it does a much
better job of printing a pattern than one could do manually.

This being said, I can think of some really cool applications for what
you've done here - I just don't think your work is helpful for PCB
fabrication.

-Andrew

On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 5:43 PM, Henry Liu <henryjliu@...> wrote:

>
>
> Mass market inkjet control was always a goal of these two groups.
>
> I've developed all the high speed timing/drivers/power to use several of
> the
> HP 45 cartridges.
>
> Watch the following initial test video:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d13WRJaKWF8
>
> The HP 45 has 300 nozzles at 600x600dpi that are all fired in 3 stripe
> patterns as a demonstration.
>
> HP 45 cartridges are very interesting for a number of reason:
> -low cost, disposable and super cheap (as low as $5) so burning it out just
> means you throw it out
> -UV curable ink available to print PCBs (I have test results from an UV ink
> manufacturer -> this blows away all other pcb methods. Full cure in 6
> seconds).
> -bulk ink supply using HP C6119A bulk ink cartridge (same interface):
> http://www.addrex.com/hp-c6119a-bulk-black-ink-supply-system.aspx
> -high resolution 3d printing
>
> I have an intellectual property license from HP so can fire HP inkjet heads
> directly. More importantly I can buy unlimited numbers of cables, printer
> stalls and connectors from HP. Sorry can't share the docs due to NDA but I
> will offer a kit soon to integrate these designs into your own printer
> design. You still need FPGA type timing to get it work but I've wrapped it
> into a simple C++ DLL over USB. Right now the interface is simple:
> firenozzles(NozzleArray) where NozzleArray has the 300 nozzles (bit packed
> into 10x 32bit integers). 1=fire nozzle, 0 = off.
>
> I'm open to suggestions to a MCU interface. I was thinking high speed 25mhz
> SPI mode or can do 3Mbps RS232 or strobed 8bit transfer modes. 300
> nozzles*4 colors at 600x600dpi is a LOT of data.
>
> Still lots of work to do but I do have a cost XY gantry already in
> production and will show a complete XY printer shortly.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>


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