Robotic Inkjet Printing on 3D Surfaces

Inkjet printing provides a level of accuracy unmatched by traditional paint and fluid applications. Southwest Research Institute has developed a suite of tools to enable inkjet 3D printing that can be applied to robotics and other printing platforms. SwRI’s CAD-to-path and Scan-N-Plan capabilities allow for automated robot manipulation of inkjet printing hardware. A closed-loop control system of cameras, distance sensors, and accelerometers accurately locate the printer to the surface and previously printed swaths. Combing all this with fluid control algorithms, the technology is capable of applying colorful, high-resolution graphics, or even conductive circuits directly on an existing 3D surface without stencils, stickers, or masking. Clients can expect smoother, vibrant, and thinner coatings printed in virtually any color, and made up of different liquids such as UV inks, solvent inks, aqueous inks, conductive pigment inks, adhesives. Detailed and colorful graphics can be applied in hours, making for quick changeovers regardless of the project.
For more information, visit www.swri.org/i....