Dimatix MP-2831 Inkjet Printer
The Dimatix inkjet printer is ideal for laboratory, process development, materials evaluation for ink jet printing on surfaces. The DMP-2831 allows the deposition of fluidic materials on an 8x11 inch or A4 substrate, utilizing a disposable piezo inkjet cartridge. This printer can create and define patterns over an area of about 200 x 300 mm and handle substrates up to 25 mm thick with an adjustable Z height. The temperature of the vacuum platen, which secures the substrate in place, can be adjusted up to 60°C. Patterns can be created using the editor program or imported. Additionally, a waveform editor and a drop-watch camera system allows manipulation of the electronic pulses to the piezo jetting device for optimization of the drop characteristics as it is ejected from the nozzle. This system enables easy printing of structures and samples for process verification and prototype creation. The Dimatix MEMS-based cartridge-style printhead that allows users to fill their own fluids and print immediately with the DMP. To minimize waste of expensive fluids, each cartridge reservoir has a capacity of 1.5 ml. Cartridges can easily be replaced to facilitate printing of a series of fluids. Each single-use cartridge has 16 nozzles linearly spaced at 254 microns with typical drop sizes of 1 and 10 picoliters.
| Dimatix MP-2831 Inkjet Printer | |
|---|---|
 Dimatix DMP-2831 Inkjet Printer | |
| Equipment Details | |
| Technology | Lithography |
| Materials Restriction | Metals |
| Sample Size | max 200X300 mm height 25mm |
| Chemicals Used | no volatile toxic allowed |
| Equipment Manual | |
| Overview | System Overview |
| Operating Procedure | SOP |
| Supported Processes | Supported Processes |
Contents
Announcements
March-2024. The Dimatix computer and software have been updated. The update allows the use the new samba cartridges.
LNF offers a "Dimatix Cartridge kit" in the LNF store. This kit contains one cartridge, a cleaning pad, a syringe and a filter. These are the basic components needed to use the printer.
Capabilities
- Substrate rotation alignment using reference marks
- Allows positioning of the print origin to match substrate placement
- Measurement of features and locations
- Inspection and image capture of printed pattern or drops
- Matching drop placement to previously patterned substrate
- Cartridge alignment when using multiple cartridges
- Layer by layer deposition
- User can fill cartridge with own ink
System overview
Hardware details
- Fiducial camera for sample alignment
- Drop watcher for jetting optimization
- Heated stage and heated printhead capabilities
- Two size of drops, 10 pL and 1 pL cartridges
- Especial cartridges for polar solvents
Substrate requirements
The printer will accept any solid flat substrate that has a thickness smaller than 25 mm. Example of substrates: wafers, metal foils, polymer sheets, paper. Substrates can be patterned as the instrument can align and write on already existing structures.
Material restrictions
The Ink Formulation Guidelines are as follows:
- FLUID EVAPORATION
The jetting fluid system must not dry at the nozzle / air interface. Therefore, the fluid must have a low evaporation rate. Aqueous fluids usually perform better with the addition of a humectant such as a glycol to lower evaporation. Solvent systems should be formulated similarly using low evaporation rate high boiling point solvents.
- VISCOSITY
Viscosity should be between 10-12 cPs (1.0x10-2 Pa*s) at operating temperature. The printhead can be heated up to 70ºC to change the working viscosity if the fluid is too viscous. Low viscosity fluids can be jetted, but the operating performance is typically limited. Viscosities up to 30 cPs at jetting temperature have been jetted, but drop velocities may be too slow for some applications.
- SURFACE TENSION
Surface tension should be between 28 and 33 dynes/cm (0.028 - 0.033 N/m). Typically a surfactant is added to water-based fluids to achieve this surface tension range. High surface tension fluids (up to 60 dynes/cm) may be jetted with limited performance.
- SUSPENSIONS
Particles must not settle rapidly or agglomerate.
- FILTERING
In general, a filter is used to remove any large aggregates or particles. Fluids should be filtered through a 0.2 µm filter to remove large aggregates before being loaded to the cartridge. In general, the fluid can be removed from its storage container, and a syringe filter is put on the end of the syringe in front of the needle used to load the cartridge. In general, the particles in the fluid should be 1/100 the size of the nozzle, and the effective diameter of the nozzle is 21.5 µm, so any particle, polymer or aggregate should be less than 0.2 µm.
- DEGASSING
Removal of dissolved gas improves jetting and priming characteristics of most fluids. Degas the fluid before loading into the fluid module. Degassing is especially helpful for aqueous-based fluids.
Supported Processes
The training in this tool is done using the Model 3 fluid provided by Fuji.
Each fluid needs a "jetting curve". To be able to print with a fluid the user must develop the fluid's particular jetting curve.
Standard Operating Procedure
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Checkout procedure
- Read through this page and the Standard Operating Procedure above.
- Practice with your mentor or another authorized user until you are comfortable with tool operation. If your mentor is not an authorized user or you do not know of an authorized user who can train you, proceed to the next step.
- Create a Helpdesk Ticket requesting training.
- A tool engineer will schedule a time for initial training.
- Schedule a checkout session with a tool engineer via the helpdesk ticket system. If this checkout is successful, the engineer will authorize you on the tool.