Abstract: Nozzles for an additive manufacturing device and methods for improving wettability of the nozzles are disclosed. The method may include subjecting the nozzle to a surface treatment. The surface treatment may include contacting a surface of the nozzle with one or more surface modifying agents. The surface modifying agents may include one or more of an oxidizing agent, an acid, a base, or combinations thereof. The one or more surface modifying agents may increase an oxygen content of the surface of the nozzle. An inner surface of the nozzle may have a water contact angle of greater than 1° and less than about 90°. The inner surface of the nozzle may be free or substantially free of a coating.

Abstract: A printer having a pump which includes an inner cavity which retains a liquid metal printing material, and a nozzle, where the nozzle is configured to eject a plurality of liquid metal drops, an actuation coil configured to supply a pulse to the liquid metal to generate an electromagnetic force upon the liquid metal, where the actuation coil supplies a pulse at a first time varying current pulse, where the electromagnetic force causes the nozzle to eject a drop of liquid metal. The actuation coil also supplies a pulse at a second time varying current pulse, where the electromagnetic force is not sufficient to eject a drop of liquid. A method for metal jetting in a printer is also disclosed where differences between the temperature in an upper portion of the pump and the temperature in a lower portion of the pump are minimized.

Abstract: A dross extraction implement for a printer is described. The dross extraction implement includes a cylindrical portion having a first section along a length of the cylindrical portion of the extraction implement having a first diameter and a second section along a length of the cylindrical portion of the extraction implement having a second diameter, where the first section is adjacent to the second section. The dross extraction implement is configured to be advanced into and retracted from an inner cavity of an ejector in the printer. A printer using the dross extraction implement and a method of using is also described.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.

Abstract: A sensor array assembly including a first sensor array, a second sensor array and a mounting substrate. The first sensor array includes a first process direction width and a first photosite, while the second sensor array includes a second process direction width and a second photosite. The first and second sensor arrays are separately secured on the mounting substrate. The first photosite is in precision alignment with the second photosite.

Abstract: Nozzles for additive manufacturing and methods for improving wettability of the nozzles are disclosed. The nozzle may include a body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface may define an inner volume of the nozzle, and may have a water contact angle of greater than 1° and less than about 90°. The method may include subjecting the nozzle to a surface treatment. The surface treatment may include plasma treating a surface of the nozzle such that free radicals, polar functional groups, or a combination thereof are formed at the surface of the nozzle.

Abstract: Nozzles for an additive manufacturing device and methods for improving wettability of the nozzles are disclosed. The method may include subjecting the nozzle to a surface treatment. The surface treatment may include contacting a surface of the nozzle with one or more surface modifying agents. The surface modifying agents may include one or more of an oxidizing agent, an acid, a base, or combinations thereof. The one or more surface modifying agents may increase an oxygen content of the surface of the nozzle. An inner surface of the nozzle may have a water contact angle of greater than 1° and less than about 90°. The inner surface of the nozzle may be free or substantially free of a coating.

Abstract: A method of assembling a plurality of linear arrays from a silicon wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface having at least a first linear array of sensor/emitter elements and a second linear array of sensor/emitter elements, each arranged parallel relative to a first direction, and a sacrificial portion positioned between the first linear array of sensor/emitter elements and the second linear array of sensor/emitter elements.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.

Abstract: An imaging blanket comprises a base comprising an elastic polymer and sulfur. A barrier layer is on the base and a surface layer is on the barrier layer. The surface layer comprises an elastomer and a platinum catalyst.

Abstract: A method of assembling a plurality of linear arrays from a silicon wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface having at least a first linear array of sensor/emitter elements and a second linear array of sensor/emitter elements, each arranged parallel relative to a first direction, and a sacrificial portion positioned between the first linear array of sensor/emitter elements and the second linear array of sensor/emitter elements.

Abstract: A sensor array assembly including a first sensor array, a second sensor array and a mounting substrate. The first sensor array includes a first process direction width and a first photosite, while the second sensor array includes a second process direction width and a second photosite. The first and second sensor arrays are separately secured on the mounting substrate. The first photosite is in precision alignment with the second photosite.

Abstract: A multi-nozzle extrusion printhead includes a chamber with an inlet to receive an extrusion material and a plurality of outlets fluidly coupled to the chamber. The printhead also includes a plurality of valves that control flow of extrusion material through the fluid outlets to nozzles in the printhead. Each valve includes a member and an electromechanical actuator configured to move the member to a first position to block a flow of the extrusion material through one of the fluid outlets and nozzles and to a second position to enable the flow of the extrusion material through the fluid outlet and nozzles.

Abstract: A cooling system comprising of a coolant manifold, a heat sink configured to fit in the coolant manifold, a plurality of cooling fins formed in the heat sink, and a coolant configured to flow through the coolant manifold to the heat sink. Diamond shaped pin fins associated with the heat sink create a series of divergent fluid paths for the cooling fluid that helps to create turbulence and improved heat transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus for a lead-free piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a diaphragm, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprising a lead-free piezoelectric material, at least one nozzle, at least one ink chamber, a top electrode, and a drive circuit. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lead-free piezoelectric printhead operated at smaller thicknesses and significantly higher electric fields is disclosed, along with methods of making such printheads.

Abstract: An apparatus for a lead-free piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a diaphragm, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprising a lead-free piezoelectric material, at least one nozzle, at least one ink chamber, a top electrode, and a drive circuit. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lead-free piezoelectric printhead operated at smaller thicknesses and significantly higher electric fields is disclosed, along with methods of making such printheads.

Abstract: An apparatus for a lead-free piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a diaphragm, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprising a lead-free piezoelectric material, at least one nozzle, at least one ink chamber, a top electrode, and a drive circuit. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lead-free piezoelectric printhead operated at smaller thicknesses and significantly higher electric fields is disclosed, along with methods of making such printheads.

Abstract: A method for forming piezoelectric transducers for inkjet printheads includes: forming at least one piezoelectric layer on a substrate; forming at least one electrode pattern by depositing a conductive material on an exposed surface of the at least one piezoelectric layer; and forming a plurality of individual piezoelectric elements from the at least one piezoelectric layer before or after the forming of the at least one electrode pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for a lead-free piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a diaphragm, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprising a lead-free piezoelectric material, at least one nozzle, at least one ink chamber, a top electrode, and a drive circuit. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lead-free piezoelectric printhead operated at smaller thicknesses and significantly higher electric fields is disclosed, along with methods of making such printheads.