The manufacturer of piezo-based drop-on-demand inkjet technologies says its new Ultra High Viscosity Technology for 3D printing provides an opportunity for small batch turnaround and mass customisation.
“Xaar’s Ultra High Viscosity Technology is providing manufacturers with an array of new and practical production possibilities, offering the chance to print without limits and drive creativity,” according to the Cambridge, UK-based company.
“The growing role and capability of inkjet printheads is presented in Xaar’s latest White Paper, titled, ‘Pushing the boundaries of inkjet technology with high viscosity printing’. It looks at the historical background to the limitation of inkjet technology’s use and highlights how the latest printhead innovations are enabling a much wider range of fluid viscosities to be printed at around 100 centipoises (cP) at jetting temperature, equating to approximately 1000cP at ambient temperature.
“This capability is increasing the relevance and practicability of inkjet technology across a variety of new printing, coating, advanced and additive manufacturing applications. It is rapidly becoming the manufacturing technology for Additive Manufacturing and 3D printing, as well as for personalisation, coating and other innovative print and manufacturing processes.”
Mike Seal, Xaar’s head of advanced applications, technologies and fluids said: “Ultra High Viscosity Technology offers a wide range of new 3D and Additive Manufacturing possibilities which are really as wide as the customer can think of. We’re giving people a new tool to create better products and with Ultra High Viscosity transforming 3D printing by enabling extra material properties that aren’t possible with other inkjet printheads.”
Xaar said Ultra High Viscosity is providing an opportunity for manufacturers to transition to inkjet, giving a digital advantage of small batch turnaround and mass customisation, opening up a number of new client sectors without the need for wasteful and cost-inefficient minimum order quantities.
“With inkjet technology the only difference between your final prototype and your product, is just the number you produce,” Seal added. “From enabling 3D printing on a truly industrial scale, to the mass customisation of 3D printed parts, we are excited to show customers how Xaar’s Ultra High Viscosity Technology can take them from an initial conversation through to full commercialisation.”
Xaar’s White Paper can be downloaded here
