MicroPenning

How It Works

Flowable material is loaded into a syringe that is then connected to the writing head of the MicroPen^® system. A pneumatic ram compresses the plunger of the syringe and forces the material into the writing head called the “block”. The writing head consists of a metal double piston cylinder, an A-frame fluidic pathway and micro-capillary writing tip. Flowable material fed into the “block” is pressurized up to 2,000psi and dispensed through the writing tip.

The substrate is mounted on a precision multi-axis table to ensure that the pen tip remains perpendicular to the surface, resulting in precision line writing.

MicroPenning is a computer-controlled process that is guided by a CAD file pattern. Motion control of the stage and substrate is coordinated with the material flow rate to accurately control the thickness of deposition. Because the height of the pen tip is continuously sensed and its force can be controlled to milligram levels, MicroPenning enables deposition on extremely soft surfaces with active topologies—including inflatables such as medical balloons.