[vacpress]

publitime- i have the exact same question, and this is what I know so far.

1-there are companies that make CNC gantry type machines with an inkjet head. these are for sign printing, packaging, etc.

2-there are even companies that put inkjet heads on the end of a robot arm to print on 3d surfaces

3-there are generic print drivers and inkjet driver board setups to do all this.

4-I have no idea where to start looking for more info

5-I havent seena ny prices listed, so im assuming its probably in the 2000-5000 range to start with a preengineered system

the idea of hacking an inkjet head to print would be amazing. i would love it. LOVE. I would pay hundreds of dollars even to see such a thing done. I have considered trying it myself and even have 2 or 3 inkjets sitting around waiting for me to own an oscope, logic analyzer, and FINALLY a working PIC programmer to start such a thing. I bet there is information out there about all this, I just have been busy with other projects first.

I will donate a working inkjet to anyone "qualified" who is willing to try this. by qualified I mean you should at least know how to program a PIC chip and realize that controlling an inkjet head will require some decent electronics skills and lots of time and research. I will donate lots of other parts to such a project - i have literally dozens of dead and or working surplus printers available to me. my parets own a repair company that sees hundreds of printers a month...


the thought of putting a inkjet head on a gantry really appeals to me, and i know its possible... another interest I have is to make my own additive rapid prototyping machine using an inkjet head and either 2-part epoxy type glue, plaster and water, or some other ink-jet deliverable system...

please come back and let us know what you find!