Getting Started with Xaar 128
Contents
Getting Started with the Xaar 128=
Background
The Xaar 128 is a piezoelectric inkjet printhead used in large format vinyl sign-making. It *might* be useful in 3d printing, conductive ink, or masking applications. This guide is intended to help others experiment with the Xaar 128 and different materials in hopes that they’ll share their results.
Why piezo? TLDR: Most inkjet printheads are “bubble jet”: They work by superheating a fraction of the ink in a chamber, turning it into gas, which expands to force the remainder of the ink out of a nozzle. Superheating limits the range of materials that can be used in these printheads. Piezoelectric printheads are less common, and since they use a mechanical operation to force fluid out of a nozzle, they don’t have to modify the state of the fluid to operate, and can work with a broader range of materials.
Known Limitations
Xaar approved inks have viscosity around 0-12cps. Higher viscosity fluids are unlikely to work with this printhead.
Parts List
- Xaar XJ128 (Several Models - Guide uses Blue)
- Adapter (one of)
- “GLUX” 30 > 21 pin adapter
- 21 pin 1.0mm FFC
- 1.0mm 30 pin FFC connector (bottom leads) (Mouser) (Amazon)
- FFC to breadboard adapter (Proto-Advantage) (Adafruit)
- “GLUX” 30 > 21 pin adapter
- Relays
- 2 Channel 5V Relay Board (Sunfounder: not rated for 36V)
- 2 x 36V DC power supplies
- Arduino Uno / Mega
- Breadboard, hookup wire, etc.
Adapters
“GLUX” 30 > 21 pin adapter
Provides a 21-pin flat flexible cable (FFC) interface to the Xaar 128 printhead.
| Adapter | Signal | Xaar 128 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VPPH | 3 |
| 2 | VPPH | 3 |
| 3 | VPPL | 4 |
| 4 | GNDL | 5 |
| 5 | GNDH | 2 |
| 6 | GNDH | 2 |
| 7 | nRESET | 7 |
| 8 | nSS2 | 1 |
| 9 | GND | 16 |
| 10 | MOSI* | 8 |
| 11 | VDD | 17 |
| 12 | VDD | 17 |
| 13 | SCK | 19 |
| 14 | GND | 16 |
| 15 | nSS1 | 20 |
| 16 | GND | 16 |
| 17 | READY | 24 |
| 18 | PHO | 25 |
| 19 | nFIRE | 26 |
| 20 | MISO | 27 |
| 21 | CLK | 28 |
| - | nFAULT |
