System for printing binding agents

Abstract

Systems for fabricating a three-dimensional article including a printhead; and a controller configured to operate the printhead using one or more voltage waveforms, wherein: one or more non-ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms can be different than one or more ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for fabricating a three-dimensional article comprising:
 a printhead; and   a controller configured to operate the printhead using one or more voltage waveforms, wherein:
 one or more non-ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms are different than one or more ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ejecting pulses comprise:
 two or more ejecting pulses comprising:
 a positive pulse; and 
 a negative pulse. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the positive pulse has a greater peak voltage than the negative pulse. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the positive pulse is longer than the negative pulse. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a peak voltage of the one or more ejecting pulses is greater than a peak voltage of the one or more non-ejecting pulses.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the peak voltage of the one or more ejecting pulses is at least three times greater than the peak voltage of the one or more non-ejecting pulses.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the system further comprises:
 a dispenser for dispensing powder; and 
   the controller is further configured to:
 before operating the printhead, operate the dispenser to dispense the powder; and 
 operate the printhead using the one or more ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms to eject fluid through the printhead onto the powder, as dispensed. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printhead comprises a piezoelectric printhead. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional article is edible. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printhead comprises a nozzle having a diameter of less than or equal to 50 micrometers. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fabricating a three-dimensional article using a printhead and a controller, the method comprising:
 operating the printhead using one or more voltage waveforms, wherein:
 one or more non-ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms are different than one or more ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more ejecting pulses comprise:
 two or more ejecting pulses comprising:
 a positive pulse; and 
 a negative pulse. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the positive pulse has a greater peak voltage than the negative pulse. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the positive pulse is longer than the negative pulse. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a peak voltage of the one or more ejecting pulses is greater than a peak voltage of the one or more non-ejecting pulses.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the peak voltage of the one or more ejecting pulses is at least three times greater than the peak voltage of the one or more non-ejecting pulses.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 before operating the printhead, operating a dispenser to dispense powder; and 
 operating the printhead using the one or more ejecting pulses of the one or more voltage waveforms to eject fluid through the printhead onto the powder, as dispensed. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the printhead comprises a piezoelectric printhead. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the three-dimensional article is edible. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the printhead comprises a nozzle having a diameter of less than or equal to 50 micrometers.