MicroFab: Equipment: Systems

In response to our customers’ requests for a low-cost tool to allow preliminary microdispensing investigations, MicroFab is pleased to announce the introduction of jetlab^® 4. The newest member of our highly successful jetlab® family, leans heavily on the successes of the prior generations. By carefully considering the performance and budget requirements of laboratories exploring ink jet as a solution to their deposition challenges, jetlab^® 4 provides a cost effective work station for research purposes.

jetlab^®4xl & xl-A
Larger Area / Improved Accuracy Printing Platforms

For applications that need a larger printable area, better positional accuracy, and/or specialty printhead assemblies, the jetlab® 4 Low Cost Print Station is now available in the 4xl version. In addition to a printable area of 21 x 26 cm, the increased size of the enclosure and the mounting of the horizontal drop observation camera on the X-Y stage allows the 4xl version to accommodate the PH-04a Polymer Jet High Temperature Printhead and the PH-06 Four Fluid Printhead. Improved positional accuracy and repeatability (25μm / 5μm) is also available, in the 4xl-A version.

jetlab^®4 xl-B Print Station with Ultra Micro-Balance

For applications that require verifiable precision, such as the creation of printed standards for explosives detectors, the jetlab^® 4xl-B integrates an ultra micro-balance with a jetlab^® 4xl Printing Platform. The printhead may be positioned either over the X-Y stages for printing or over the balance for weight measurements. All balance measurement and reporting functions are under the control of the system software. Weight measurement results can be used in the program to control printing of arrays/filled rectangles, including fully automated printing using the standard scripting technology of jetlab^® print stations. Target substrates or objects of up to 50 mm height are supported.

jetlab^®II Table-Top Printing Platform

Based on MicroFab’s highly successful jetlab^® microdispensing and printing platform, the jetlab^® II Table Top Printing Platform has most of the same capabilities but in a much smaller footprint. The jetlab^® II is designed for the laboratory development of jetting processes and fluids and is intended as a tool for MicroFab’s customers and partners to investigate and optimize their specific applications.

jetlab^® Controlled Atmosphere Configurations

Incorporating MicroFab’s highly successful jetlab^® II and jetlab^® 4 microdispensing and printing platforms into an MBRAUN Labmaster ®series glovebox, the Controlled Atmosphere configurations of the jetlab®II and jetlab®4 allow customers to develop precision printing applications using materials and processes that are oxygen or moisture sensitive. Examples include printing electronic and photonic polymers used in displays and RFID tags; printing and post-processing nano-metal aluminum or copper inks as conductive traces or under-bump metallization; printing and fluxless reflow of solder for hermetic package sealing; printing and converting copper-based organo-metallic inks; and printing bacteria-free tissue scaffolds. The jetlab^® II and jetlab^® 4 can be incorporated into a standard laminar flow hood for tissue engineering and other applications.

SphereJet™ Precision Microsphere System

MicroFab has taken three popular ink-jet based microsphere production methods and combined them into a single bench top research platform. Based on MicroFab’s research into ink-jet manufactured drug loaded microspheres, The SphereJet™ system combines drop-on-demand,pressure assisted drop on demand, and continuous ink-jet drop formation. Drop generation rates of up to 50kHz and drop diameters of 20 μm to 100 μm can be achieved. With the SphereJet™ system, researchers can develop new materials and protocols based on the solvent extraction/evaporation method of microsphere manufacturing.

Brochure

VaporJet™ Trace Vapor Detector Calibration System

MicroFab has expanded its developments in vapor generation for olfaction to the generation of vapors for calibrating explosives detectors, or other trace-vapor detectors.

A digitally controlled ink-jet dispenser ejects minute amounts of a dilute standard solution which is rapidly converted into vapor upon deposition onto a heater. The amount of vapor delivered to the detector is controlled by the number of drops (dose mode is specified number of drops) or the frequency of the droplet generation (continuous mode is droplets generated continuously at set frequency).