Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle configured to jet a drop of liquid metal therethrough. The 3D printer also includes a light source configured to illuminate the drop with a pulse of light. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The 3D printer also includes a camera configured to capture an image, video, or both of the drop. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to detect the drop in the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to characterize the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Abstract: A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a video of a plurality of drops being jetted through a nozzle of a printer. The method also includes measuring a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the video. The method also includes determining one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture an image, a video, or both of a plurality of drops of liquid metal being jetted through the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to measure a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to determine one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle configured to jet a drop of liquid metal therethrough. The 3D printer also includes a light source configured to illuminate the drop with a pulse of light. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The 3D printer also includes a camera configured to capture an image, video, or both of the drop. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to detect the drop in the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to characterize the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a video of a plurality of drops being jetted through a nozzle of a printer. The method also includes measuring a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the video. The method also includes determining one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture an image, a video, or both of a plurality of drops of liquid metal being jetted through the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to measure a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to determine one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises an oleophobic low adhesion coating having high thermal stability as indicated by less than about 15 percent weight loss when heated to up to 300° C., and wherein a drop of ultra-violet (UV) gel ink or a drop of solid ink exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 45° and sliding angle of less than about 30° with a surface of the coating, wherein the coating maintains the contact angle and sliding angle after the coating has been exposed to a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes.

Abstract: A mixing method and device are disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate having a textured superoleophobic surface comprising providing a silicon substrate; using photolithography to create a textured pattern in the silicon substrate; optionally, modifying the textured silicon surface by disposing a conformal oleophobic coating thereon; and forming an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate from the textured oleophobic silicon material to provide an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate having a textured superoleophobic surface.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises an oleophobic low adhesion coating having high thermal stability as indicated by less than about 15 percent weight loss when heated to up to 300° C., and wherein a drop of ultra-violet (UV) gel ink or a drop of solid ink exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 45° and sliding angle of less than about 30° with a surface of the coating, wherein the coating maintains the contact angle and sliding angle after the coating has been exposed to a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes.

Abstract: A printhead has a nozzle plate, having an array of nozzles through which ink is expelled, a low adhesion, oleophobic polymer coating on a front face of the nozzle plate. A printer has a source of solid ink, a heater arranged to-heat the solid ink and convert it to liquid ink, and a printhead, the printhead having a nozzle plate, having an of nozzles through which ink is expelled, a low adhesion, oleophobic polymer coating on a front face of the nozzle plate, the coating selected to dispel the liquid ink prior to the liquid ink returning to solid form, and a wiper positioned to wipe the front face of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A mixing method is disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.