Design of electronics for a high-resolution, multi-material, and modular 3D printer

Abstract

Electronics for a high-resolution, multi-material, and modular 3D printer were designed and implemented. The driver for a piezoelectric inkjet print head can fire its nozzles with one of three droplet sizes ranging from 6 pL to 26 pL at approximately 10 kHz. The system developed for curing photopolymer materials is low-power, low-cost, and safe, using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes instead of a gas-discharge lamp. Fabrication cost is less than $10,000, but the printer's 600 DPI resolution is comparable to that of industrial 3D printers. Printed objects exhibit detailed features and a gradual transition between materials with different mechanical properties. The printer's modular design allows modification of the printer to employ different fabrication technologies.