Abstract
Inkjet 3D printing has emerged as a transformative manufacturing technique, finding applications in diverse fields such as biomedical, metal fabrication, and functional materials production. However, the rapid and dynamic nature of droplet deposition in inkjet printing introduces significant uncertainties, posing challenges for consistent quality control in terms of repeatability and reproducibility. Currently, process monitoring relies on image-based techniques, which, though effective, exhibit limitations. Existing methods tend to be slow and do not encompass the entirety of data, making it difficult to implement real-time feedback control. In response, we introduce the Zero-Dimensional Ultrafast Sensing (0-DUS) system as a certification tool tailored to assess the quality of drop-on-demand inkjet printing. 0-DUS represents an innovative, cost-effective, and in-situ monitoring approach designed to rapidly and precisely detect and analyze localized droplets. We have successfully designed and implemented the 0-DUS system within a commercial inkjet printer, and present a comparative analysis between sensor-based predictions and ground truth data. Our experimental results demonstrate a detection accuracy exceeding 95%, allowing for an impressive in-situ certification throughput of up to 500 Hz. Consequently, our proposed 0-DUS system meets the stringent quality assurance requirements, thereby expanding the potential applications of inkjet printing across a wide spectrum of industrial sectors.
