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Linear technology crucial to printer technology
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05/03/2007
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Linear motors have proved critical in the design of high-speed digital printers.
Nick Campbell of Inca Digital Printers, told delegates at last week’s ‘Linear Motion Masterclass’ in Cambridge that a linear motor-based positioning system delivers both speed and accuracy.
They are able to deliver speeds up to 3.5m/s and deposit separate jets of ink just 40 microns apart.
“Print head technology evolves very quickly,” he said. “The motion system you put around it soon becomes obsolete too.”
Campbell said that Inca’s products must be redesigned about every three years – so time to market is critical.
“We must get designs out as soon as we can,” he said.
‘Speculative design’ is also common within Inca.
“While we are procuring parts, we will design another approach to the problem,” he said. “It’s nice to have something that you can fall back on.”
He added that help from suppliers was “essential” in the development of new products.
“We need a good relationship with suppliers – especially when we need to get the thing to work,” he said.
* The ‘Linear Motion Masterclass’ was the first of Eureka’s Design Days. To learn more about future events, click on the Design Days website here.
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Author
Lou Reade
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