Inkjet Printing For Functional Materials

Notion Systems is a leading supplier of industrial ink jet printing systems for functional materials. The n.jet inkjet platform from Notion Systems is used to produce printed circuit boards, semiconductor components, OLED & QLED displays, sensors, as well as high-precision optical 3D parts. Notion Systems relies on decades of expertise, bringing precise inkjet systems to clients, and scaling up digital printing processes from laboratory to industrial production.

The n.jet semicon series offers a wide range of options for frontend, as well as backend processes in the semiconductor industry. The platform comes with integrated edge handling for any substrate type or wafer size, integration with the MES system (e.g., SECS-GEM), and state-of-the-art pre- and post-processing modules. Our nozzle replacement strategies and full process control improve yield and process stability. The system can be combined with high-precision dispensing units that further enlarge the window of processable materials within the same platform.

Applications:

• Photo resist printing
• Deposition of sensor active inks
• Chip packaging
• Printing of dielectrics, conductives, resists & adhesives

The production of optical lenses with an n.jet 3D system is much more cost-effective than the production of lenses in conventional manufacturing processes. The additive manufacturing process saves more than 30 production steps and reduces waste by up to 90%.

Main Features:

• Multi material jetting
• High viscosity jetting
• Supports all major printheads
• Drop watch & drop formation analysis
• Full access to all jetting parameters
• Open slicer interface
• Optional inert atmosphere

The Notion Systems n.jet soldermask is an inkjet system that prints soldermask and legend contact-free and digitally. The inkjet printing process replaces a number of conventional process steps, is very easy to maintain, reduces waste water and energy consumption and thus makes electronics production more ecological and economical. Furthermore, Notion Systems inkjet technology can be used to create structures that open up new possibilities in printed circuit board production.

Specific advantages:

• Better solder mask adhesion
• No mask in holes
• No mask on pads
• High repeatability
• Small and reliable dams
• Adjustable thickness
• Naturally delivers "bump profile“ of dams
• No traps for chemicals or dirt
• Wider base of dams means better adhesion

Based on the n.jet soldermask, Notion Systems offer a system for processing UV-curable etch resist. The system can be used for different etch resist applications in PCB production or micro-etching. The Notion Systems etch resist process is a three-step digital printing process that can improve yield and quality, and reduce manufacturing costs. The process steps are pre-treatment, inkjet direct printing of etch resist and in-situ UV drying as well as etching/cleaning.

Specific advantages:

• Very good line-space definitions x and y direction
• Typical L/S-distance <70 µm
• Excellent adhesion to copper, stainless steel, brass and other metals

The n.jet roll2roll system is used in the area of printed electronics production. Functional inks are applied with high precision to print antennas, sensors or touch displays on PET film. Further fields of application are medical technology or battery or fuel cell production.

Specific advantages:

• High-precision printing - also possible on both sides
• High throughput speeds
• Modular role to role systems:
  • Unwinding and rewinding systems, including web control
  • Roll buffer
  • Pre-processing e.g. plasma cleaning
  • Fully integrated n.jet printing system
  • Integration of UV or thermal drying
• Cooperation with leading automation manufacturers

The n.jet display series for RGB and TFE printing can be used as a stand-alone system for R&D purposes, or as a fully integrated production cluster, including automation and pre- and post-treatment.

Most current OLED displays are manufactured using evaporation gases in a vacuum chamber; working with masking technologies and consuming a lot of OLED materials, which are very expensive. With the development of the n.jet display series, OLED can now be manufactured using ink-jet printing, which is a direct print, mask free, fast and cost-effective process.

The n.jet display series prints functional layers in various steps of display production, and for various display technologies. These include rigid, flexible, OLED, OLED and LCD displays.

In addition to its unparalleled precision, the platform complies with the highest demands of process environment and process stability. Specifically developed features, like the no.mura printing technology, solve long-standing challenges and enable an efficient, additive use of the valuable materials involved in the manufacturing of next generation displays.