3D Printer English PapersTSINGHUA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYISSN 1007 -0214 0438 pp24-28Volume 14 Number S1 June 2009Perusing Piezoelectric Head Performance in a New3-D Printing DesignRAHMATI SadeghS

d-up of material allows the creation of complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a SFF technology that employs ink-jet printing technology for processing powder materials. During fabrication, a printer head is used to print a liquid on to thin layers of powder following the object's profile as generated by the system computer.

The quality of the printed object depends on the accuracy and precision of the printer head. Piezoelectric heads have been shown to have better performance than thermal heads, which are commonly used in 3DP machines. Piezoelectric heads can produce smaller droplets with better accuracy and can operate at higher frequencies, which results in faster printing speeds. In addition, piezoelectric heads can handle a wider range of materials and can produce higher-quality color prints.

In this work, we propose a redesign of a 3DP machine using a piezoelectric demand-mode technology head. The demand-mode technology allows for precise control of the droplet size and frequency, resulting in improved accuracy and surface finishing of the printed object. In addition, the use of piezoelectric heads allows for the printing of a wider range of materials, including ceramics, metals, and polymers.

The redesigned machine was tested by printing several objects with different geometries and colors. The results showed that the piezoelectric head produced objects with better accuracy, surface finishing, and color quality compared to the thermal head used in the original machine. The layers created with the new system were between 25 to 150 μm (steps of 25 μm), which is comparable to the layer thickness of the original machine.

In conclusion, the use of piezoelectric heads in 3DP machines can improve the quality of the printed objects by increasing the accuracy, surface finishing, and color quality. The demand-mode technology allows for precise control of the droplet size and frequency, resulting in better performance compared to thermal heads. The redesigned machine can print a wider range of materials, making it a versatile tool for rapid prototyping