FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc. announced that it has added support for its versatile and highly scalable Q-Class platform of drop-on-demand inkjet printheads to the range of printheads available for its DMP-3000 and DMP-5000 Dimatix Materials Printers, thereby broadening the scope of the fluid deposition systems to support applications requiring precise large-feature fluid deposition such as conductive and non-conductive patterning and coating large surfaces with functional fluids from UV-curable light-emitting polymers to conductive and dielectric Inks.

The DMP-3000 and DMP-5000 are large format, non-contact, fluid deposition systems capable of jetting a wide range of functional fluids using multiple FUJIFILM Dimatix fluid deposition printheads interchangeably. The DMP-3000 features a printable area of 300 x 300 mm, while the DMP-5000 can print on a variety of surfaces up to 500 x 500 mm. Each deposition system maintains a positional accuracy and repeatability of ± 5 µm and ± 1 µm, respectively – characteristics that make both systems suitable for developing functional fluids, manufacturing processes and low-volume prototypes that require high precision drop placement.

Two series of Q-Class printheads are now available for the large-format DMP systems – the Sapphire QS-256 AAA in 10-, 30- and 80-picoliter native drop sizes, and the Emerald QE-256 AAA with 30- and 80-pl native drop sizes.

All five Q-class inkjet printhead models now supported for materials deposition feature 256 channels arranged in a single row of nozzles. The Sapphire QS-256/10 AAA, QS-256/30 AAA and QS-256/80 AAA feature inert silicon nozzle plates, and the Emerald QE 256/30 AAA and QE-256/80 AAA have durable electro-formed metal nozzle plates.

The Sapphire QS-256 AAA series and Emerald QE-256 AAA printheads deliver superb jetting accuracy combined with support for complex jetting waveforms to enable multi-pulse operation for increased drop volumes over and above native drop sizes at unprecedented throughput rates. Their lightweight, thin-profile design and configurability, plus support for a broad range of ink formulations including aqueous.

The addition of the five Sapphire and Emerald printheads gives DMP-3000 and DMP-5000 users the ability to tap 12 different interchangeable FUJIFILM Dimatix printhead models delivering drop sizes from 1 pl to 150 pl and featuring from 16 to 256 nozzles. These include two 16-jet Dimatix DMC Cartridge-based printheads delivering 1 pl and 10 pl drop sizes using silicon nozzle plates, four models of the 128-jet D-Class and SX3 and SE3 printheads, and the five 256-channel Q-Class Emerald and Sapphire.

FUJIFILM Dimatix' support for interchangeable print heads across the DMP-3000 and DMP-5000 product line combined with Q-class scalability results in a development platform that enables transferring initial research, sample and process developments from laboratory prototypes to production machines using Q-Class printheads in systems other than Dimatix Materials Printers.

The Q-Class printheads also extend the reach of DMP-3000 and DMP-5000 deposition systems to a broad range of industrial and other applications that can benefit from their larger drop sizes. These include large-feature fluid deposition for conductive and non-conductive patterning, filling slots in electronic materials created by laser ablation, and coating large surface areas with a variety of functional fluids from UV-curable light-emitting polymers to conductive and dielectric Inks.

"Adding support for Emerald and Sapphire printheads on our floor-standing Dimatix Materials Printers creates new opportunities for applying inkjet technology to a broad spectrum of applications that were not previously feasible," said Chuck Griggs, Vice President, Applications Engineering of FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.

"The scalability of Dimatix Q-Class printheads, along with their excellent dot placement accuracy, channel-to-channel uniformity, low cross talk, and high productivity, adds an exciting and new dimension to the field of large-feature fluid deposition."

At Drupa 2012 tradeshow in Düsseldorf, Germany, May 3-16, 2012, FUJIFILM Dimatix will show the DMP-3000 Materials Printer equipped with a Q-Class Sapphire printhead jetting a conductive fluid.