In a method of depositing a fibroin structure, a fibroin ink is generated. The fibroin ink is aerosol jet printed onto a substrate. To prepare the ink, a plurality of biologically-generated silk cocoons are each cut into at least two pieces of raw silk and are degummed to remove sericin, leaving fibroin fibers. The fibroin fibers are dissolved into a lithium bromide solution. The salt is removed by placing the fibroin/salt solution in a dialysis membrane tube and submerging it in deionized water. The fibroin solution is centrifuged to remove impurities therefrom, leaving fibroin ink. The fibroin ink is atomized into a fibroin ink aerosol, which is directed to a print nozzle. A focusing gas sheath is directed around the print nozzle to deposit fibroin onto a surface.

In a method of depositing a fibroin structure, a fibroin ink is generated. The fibroin ink is aerosol jet printed onto a substrate. To prepare the ink, a plurality of biologically-generated silk cocoons are each cut into at least two pieces of raw silk and are degummed to remove sericin, leaving fibroin fibers. The fibroin fibers are dissolved into a lithium bromide solution. The salt is removed by placing the fibroin/salt solution in a dialysis membrane tube and submerging it in deionized water. The fibroin solution is centrifuged to remove impurities therefrom, leaving fibroin ink. The fibroin ink is atomized into a fibroin ink aerosol, which is directed to a print nozzle. A focusing gas sheath is directed around the print nozzle to deposit fibroin onto a surface.

An image formation device includes a transfer member and a first portion to receive an electrically charged, image-receiving holder onto the transfer member. A second portion downstream from the first portion is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric carrier fluid onto the electrically charged, image-receiving holder to form at least part of an image. A charge source is to emit airborne charges to charge the ink particles to move, via attraction relative to the image-receiving holder, through the carrier fluid to become electrostatically fixed relative to the image-receiving holder. A liquid removal unit is to remove at least the carrier fluid from at least a surface of the image-receiving holder. A transfer station is to transfer the ink particles of the image and the image-receiving holder together from the transfer member to an image formation medium.

A method for printing a strain sensor on a component using an aerosol ink, the method including depositing the aerosol ink on the component using a print head, the aerosol ink comprising chromium containing particles, and monitoring a printing environment parameter associated with printing environment conditions to confirm the printing environment parameter is within a predetermined environmental range of a printing environment parameter baseline value while depositing the aerosol ink on the component using the print head, the printing environment parameter baseline value a predetermined preferred printing environment parameter value within the predetermined environmental range, the monitoring including monitoring an atmospheric composition of the printing environment.

A method for printing a strain sensor on a component using an aerosol ink, the method including depositing the aerosol ink on the component using a print head, the aerosol ink comprising chromium containing particles, and monitoring a printing environment parameter associated with printing environment conditions to confirm the printing environment parameter is within a predetermined environmental range of a printing environment parameter baseline value while depositing the aerosol ink on the component using the print head, the printing environment parameter baseline value a predetermined preferred printing environment parameter value within the predetermined environmental range, the monitoring including monitoring an atmospheric composition of the printing environment.

An aerosol jet printhead comprising an in-line static mixer can mix multiple aerosol streams for co-deposition from a single nozzle. A printhead was designed, fabricated, and tested, demonstrating in-plane functionally graded films. The inline mixing printhead can be used with a compact aerosol jet deposition system.

A method for fine adjustment of the position of ink drops printed by at least one printing head (12) of a printing device, the printing head (12) being a two-dimensional printing head (12) comprising a plurality of nozzles (30). In one method step, an ink drop is dispensed at a plurality of nozzles (30) of the at least one printing head (12) simultaneously to print an image, preferably at all nozzles (30) of the printing head (12). In another method step, the printed image is captured by a camera (20), wherein the camera (20) captures the pattern of dots printed by the printing head (12) and the captured pattern is compared to a pattern (36) of the nozzles (30) of the printing head (12). In a further method step, the dispensation of an ink drop from at least one nozzle (30) is modified in terms of timing with respect to the dispense of ink drops from the other nozzles (30) of the printing head (12) for the subsequent printing process if a deviation has been detected between the pattern (36) of dots printed by the printing head (12) and the nozzle pattern (36). Furthermore, a printing device is provided.

A method for fine adjustment of the position of ink drops printed by at least one printing head (12) of a printing device, the printing head (12) being a two-dimensional printing head (12) comprising a plurality of nozzles (30). In one method step, an ink drop is dispensed at a plurality of nozzles (30) of the at least one printing head (12) simultaneously to print an image, preferably at all nozzles (30) of the printing head (12). In another method step, the printed image is captured by a camera (20), wherein the camera (20) captures the pattern of dots printed by the printing head (12) and the captured pattern is compared to a pattern (36) of the nozzles (30) of the printing head (12). In a further method step, the dispensation of an ink drop from at least one nozzle (30) is modified in terms of timing with respect to the dispense of ink drops from the other nozzles (30) of the printing head (12) for the subsequent printing process if a deviation has been detected between the pattern (36) of dots printed by the printing head (12) and the nozzle pattern (36). Furthermore, a printing device is provided.

A printing apparatus includes a liquid ejector configured to eject liquid droplets towards a medium. A particle delivery device is configured to deliver particles to the medium. The particles are configured to combine with at least some of the liquid droplets and change at least one property of the liquid droplets. The particle delivery device is configured to deliver the particles after or substantially simultaneously as the liquid droplets are ejected. A curing device is configured to cure the combination of the liquid droplets and the particles onto the medium. A controller is configured to independently control the liquid ejector and the particle delivery device.

A printing apparatus includes a liquid ejector configured to eject liquid droplets towards a medium. A particle delivery device is configured to deliver particles to the medium. The particles are configured to combine with at least some of the liquid droplets and change at least one property of the liquid droplets. The particle delivery device is configured to deliver the particles after or substantially simultaneously as the liquid droplets are ejected. A curing device is configured to cure the combination of the liquid droplets and the particles onto the medium. A controller is configured to independently control the liquid ejector and the particle delivery device.