DOD (Drop on Demand) printing technology is an on-demand inkjet printing method that is widely used in various industrial and commercial printing fields. Its core principle is on-demand inkjet, that is, ink droplets are sprayed only where they need to be printed. This is different from Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) technology, where ink droplets are continuously sprayed and selectively printed by electric field deflection.
Ink droplet generation can be divided into thermal ink jet and piezoelectric ink jet. Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) means that ink is heated rapidly by heating elements to form bubbles, and the bubbles expand to squeeze the ink out of the nozzle.
Piezoelectric Inkjet (PIJ) uses piezoelectric crystals to deform under voltage, squeezing ink and ejecting it from a nozzle. The size and injection frequency of the ink drop can be controlled by adjusting the voltage, pulse width and other parameters, so as to achieve high precision printing.
1.The print head moves according to the set print path, and then drops the material onto the print bed in a point-like way, the point-like ink.
2.When it drops, it sticks together.
3. After the completion of the first layer, the scraper is swept over the top of the first layer to give it a flat, smooth surface, which is essential for the precision of the stacking of the next layer.
4. Reduce the layer thickness of the printing platform by one unit, and then repeat the above steps until the part is completed.
5. Remove the part from the printing bed and immerse it in the liquid solution to dissolve the support material.
Post-treatment (e.g. polishing) to improve the appearance and mechanical properties of parts.
DOD printing has many advantages, including:
High accuracy: DOD technology enables very high print resolution and is suitable for printing tasks that require fine patterns and text.
Low waste: Ink is only sprayed where it is needed, reducing ink waste.
Multi-material adaptability: Multiple types of inks can be used, including water-based inks, solvent-based inks, UV-curable inks, etc., for different printing media.
Flexibility: Suitable for a variety of application scenarios, such as label printing, packaging printing, electronic product marking, etc.
DOD printing has a wide range of applications, and its applications in the field of smart cards are reflected in the following aspects:
Personalized customization: Smart cards usually require personalized information, such as financial cards: such as credit cards, debit cards, etc., need to print the cardholder's name, photo, card number, expiration date and other personalized information. DOD printing technology can efficiently and accurately print this personalized information to meet the needs of different users.
High-resolution image printing: Smart cards often need to print high-resolution images, such as ID cards, driver's licenses, employee cards, etc., need to print cardholders' photos, company logos, etc. DOD printing technology provides high-quality image printing, ensuring clear images and accurate colors.
Security features: Smart cards need to have certain anti-counterfeiting features. DOD printing technology can print small text, complex patterns and special inks (such as UV ink, fluorescent ink, etc.), increasing the anti-counterfeiting ability of the card.
Multi-material adaptability: Smart cards come in a variety of materials, including PVC, PET, ABS, etc. DOD printing technology can adapt to the printing needs of different materials to ensure stable and reliable printing results.
Rapid production: DOD printing technology has the characteristics of rapid response and efficient production, which is suitable for the personalized printing needs of large-scale smart cards, shortening the production cycle and improving production efficiency.
Low cost: DOD printing technology inkjet on demand, reducing ink waste and reducing printing costs. At the same time, the maintenance cost of DOD printing equipment is relatively low, further reducing overall operating costs.
PIOTEC's FPL6061 Bank card DOD Printing personalized data writer is perfectly compatible with DOD printing modules.
（DOD printing modules）
The device can be configured as a single DOD module unit, including a corona unit (software for energy, height adjustment), a DOD printing unit, and a UV curing unit.
The device can be expanded with two sets of DOD modules, which can increase the duplex printing speed to 6000UPH.
The device can also be configured for black/white monochrome printing, which can be expanded to support YMCK color printing with a resolution of up to 1200DPI;
The device can support the front and back of the card printing, single-side printing speed of 6000UPH; Double-sided printing speed is 3000UPH.
（The black numbers and white company information in this sample card are printed by DOD）
Based on years of technology accumulation, PIOTEC is currently developing a new generation of flexible personalized bank card devices. compatible with write magnetic, contact data writing, non-connected data writing and DOD printing and other functions, which will be available soon to better meet customer needs.
With the continuous expansion of smart card applications and technological progress, DOD printing technology has a broad application prospect in the field of smart card. Possible future directions include:
Higher print resolution and speed: Meet the needs of higher quality and larger volumes of printing.
More anti-counterfeiting technology integration: Combine more anti-counterfeiting technology, such as holograms, invisible ink, etc., to improve the security of smart cards.
Intelligence and automation: Integrate more intelligence and automation functions to improve production efficiency and print quality.
In short, the application of DOD printing technology in the field of smart cards not only improves the personalization and security of smart cards, but also greatly improves production efficiency and reduces costs, and has broad application prospects.
