Visual Feedback Based Droplet Size Regulation in Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing

Electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing is a recent micro-manufacturing technique that uses electrostatic force to draw out ink from a conductive nozzle onto a conductive substrate. While the advantages (high speed and resolution, flexibility) of e-jet printing over ink jet printing and other microfabrication methods are abundant, precise control of the process is necessary for successful commercialization of the technology. This paper shows how visual feedback through image processing may be used to regulate the volume of printed droplets for increased manufacturing precision.