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DESIGN, ASSEMBLY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITE ...

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Inkjet printing (IP) 27 is based on the 2D inkjet printer technique of depositing tiny<br />

ink drops onto a substrate. In this process, as shown in Figure 2.10, the ink is replaced<br />

with thermoplastic build material and waxy support material that are melted and held in<br />

separate heated reservoirs. These materials are each fed to an inkjet printing head that can<br />

move in the X-Y plane and squirt tiny droplets of material to required locations. The<br />

printed materials instantly cool and solidify to bond to layer underneath. After each layer<br />

is printed, a milling head is used to smooth the surface. Particles resulting from this<br />

cutting operation are vacuumed away. The elevator then lowers the build platform and<br />

the part so that the next layer can be built. After this process is complete, the part can be<br />

removed and the waxy support material may be melted away.<br />

Figure 2.10 Schematic of the ink-jet printing (custompartnet.com).<br />

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