Msc: Mechanical Engineering TU/e - Flow pressure dynamics modeling in a print head

Your assignment

Within an inkjet print head, numerous fluid (micro-) channels are embedded to supply ink from the inlet to the thousands of driving ejection elements that form tiny (picoliter) droplets used to make a print. The ink flowing into the print head causes complex pressure dynamic effects that need to be controlled accurately for proper droplet formation with consistent volume, each drop after drop in a kHz fashion. Starting and stopping effects, but also slight changes in coverage on paper will change the flow and so the pressure (dynamics) at the nozzle.

Several mechanisms are present in the print head to control the pressure, such as flow restrictions, pressure damping devices, and (parallel) balancing structures over all the nozzles. Within our company, several basic fluid dynamics computational models exist to help  designing these elements, but these are generally very simplistic or lumped element based, and/or assume only simplified laminar conditions.

In this assignment, you will explore the fundamental physics behind the pressure dynamics in a print head, and further extend our basic models, where found to be appropriate. From this, you will extract requirements for a proper print head design. By making (sub-set of a print head) prototypes, you will verify and confirm your model-based designs by means of conceptual experiments. This assignment will be carried out at CPP R&D.

Your profile

You are currently studying at the TU/e Mechanical Engineering in the Micro Thermo Fluids or Microsystems department and ready for your final MSc graduation assignment. You think it is a challenge to perform your MSc. graduation assignment externally at a high-tech company as Canon Production Printing in Venlo. You are proactive, eager to learn what it means to carry out a project in an industrial environment and likes to explore a possible impact of your work in the Canon product portfolio.

What’s in it for you?

• A challenging assignment with skilled coaching
• Internship/ Graduation compensation of €500,- per month
• Travel cost compensation if you don’t have an ‘OV-weekcard’
• The possibility to network with professionals inside and outside your field of expertise, thanks to our diversity of disciplines which you will work with.

Waar staan wij voor?

Wij ontwikkelen en produceren hightech printproducten en workflow software voor de commerciële printing markt als onderdeel van Canon, wereldwijd marktleider in beeldtechnologieën. Met ongeveer 3300 werknemers verspreid over drie continenten en ons hoofdkantoor in Venlo, Nederland, innoveren we om hoogwaardige oplossingen te creëren die kleur toevoegen aan de wereld. Geleid door de Kyosei filosofie - samen leven en werken voor het algemeen belang – is onze cultuur gebouwd op openheid, collegialiteit, vertrouwen en stabiliteit. We stellen onze mensen in staat om te groeien, initiatief te nemen en impact te maken.

Met onze bedrijfswaarden samenwerking, innovatie en eigenaarschap, streven we ernaar het beste in elkaar naar boven te halen, grenzen te verleggen en ons gesterkt te voelen om eigenaarschap te nemen in ons werk.

Meer informatie over Canon Production Printing is beschikbaar op cpp.canon.