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?Meteor Inkjet Ltd 2024
Inkjet Meets Robotics
A perfect match for direct-to-shape applications

Ceramic Tiles Commercial Print D��cor
Books Functional Glass Labels & Packaging Pharmaceuticals
Direct-to-Shape 3D & AM Automation & Robotics Signs & Displays Textiles
Meteor��s customers offer
industrial systems in a
wide range of markets

Why automate manual manufacturing processes?
Decreasing labour availability due to an aging population
Greater consistency and efficiency in task performance
Rising costs associated with human labour
Dangerous jobs completed by machines instead of people
Automating tasks to free people for creative or cognitive work

Examples of inkjet as a manufacturing process
Automotive/Aerospace maskless painting
Graphics on 3D injection moulded parts
Direct-to-shape decoration
Functional coatings on 3D surfaces
Bioprinting
? Audi, Ingolstadt
https://tinyurl.com/m6zvn6hf
? On Labs LightSpray
? UNSW Sydney

Two fundamental approaches
part-on-end effector
? Ideal for parts with rotational symmetry
? Challenging for large or heavy parts
printhead-on-end effector
? Suitable for large or heavy parts
? Presents a variety of inkjet-related challenges
Video courtesy of Jetron
Video courtesy of ProFactor

Printhead-on-end effector challenges
Fluid supply and Jetting
? Constantly changing acceleration and printhead orientation
? Highly viscous materials are required for desired ��hold-up�� time
? High rate of deposition leads to pressure instability
? Long throw distance -> high jetting velocity needed
Image data preparation
? Path generation for the robot (swath separation)
? Handling of tight-radius curves
? ��Fix-ups��
Pixel mapping onto complex 3D surfaces
? Print clock generation
? Feedforward or feedback?
? Non-ideal mechanical behaviour such as vibration

Jetting Performance
? Throw distance may be bigger than ideal to
keep head clear of surface features
? Jetting velocity and straightness are important
? Application may require a high-throughput
? Latency in start-up region (no-jetting -> jetting)
? Evaluate jetting performance in representative
environment

path
Image data workflow example
robot control
graphics design,
3D visualisation,
placement
flattening and
rasterising
colour space
conversion to
CMYK,
linearisation
and screening
for inkjet
swath
separation of
image
job queuing,
loading of
image swaths to
hardware
image data
buffering,
motion
synchronisation,
jetting
stitching strategy,
overprinting/interleaving
robot path
planning
Pre-processing Printing
position

Traditional printing
? Printing with motion in a single axis
? Media is flat, or can be treated as flat for the
purpose of determining pixel position
? Encoder on transport (e.g. belt) used to
generate a ��print clock��
Printing on complex 3D surfaces
? Robotic printing with motion in multiple axes (6
degrees of freedom)
? Each axis requires an encoder
? Tool Centre Point (TCP) and frame of reference are
important

Pixel placement
? Simple method: use a fixed frequency
print clock which assumes that the
robot moves at a constant speed
? Advanced method: generate a print
clock by determining the robot��s speed
in the direction of print, based on
periodic updates from the robot
controller
Real-time corrections
? Banding caused by deviations in robot
motion can be reduced by adjusting the
print clock using robot feedback
? Image data can be transformed to
offset deviations in the path
? Density can be dynamically adjusted
Robot Controller
Printhead
HDC
PCC
Position
Image Data

Testing
Test rig for paint application Printing automotive part

MetIndustrial
? Ready-to-use DFE for manufacturing
processes
? lncludes Meteor��s powerful PrintEngine at its
core
? Responds to the motion of the industrial
application rather than controlling it, easing
integration with existing manufacturing
processes
? Suitable for both prototype and production
environments
? Works seamlessly with Meteor printhead drive
electronics

Summary
? Printhead-on-end-effector is very
challenging application of inkjet technology
? There are already some great examples of
the technology working
? There is still a lot of work to do:
? Materials
? Fluid supply
? Image processing workflow
? Robot path planning
? Pixel mapping
? Real-time corrections

Meteor has customers in over 45 countries worldwide

The heart of industrial printing
? Color management software and technology
? Mapping brand colors to extended color gamut inksets
? 3D packaging visualization software
? Photorealistic mockups and automatic rendering
? Complete DFE with inline RIP for high-speed digital presses
? Software components for manufacturers of digital printers
? Printhead drive electronics and software
? Industrial inkjet development tools and services
? Digital Front End for desktop to high-speed inkjet
? Harlequin? prepress workflow for label and narrow web
? All-In-One PDF editor for labels and packaging
? Cloud-based enterprise workflow automation

?Meteor Inkjet Ltd 2024
enquiries@meteorinkjet.com
+44 34 5844 0012
www.linkedin.com/company/meteor-inkjet
www.meteorinkjet.com
@Meteor_Inkjet

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Inkjet Meets Robotics - A perfect match for direct-to-shape applications

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