Develop New Inkjet Applications Via Integrated Uv-Led Curing | ImageXpert

2 days ago
4 min read

Author: Kyle Pucci | pucci@imagexpert.com

At ImageXpert, we design inkjet development platforms with one goal in mind: enabling users to develop, validate and scale applications with confidence. In this context, curing is no longer a downstream step. In advanced functional and industrial applications, even small changes in UV dose, wavelength or timing can determine whether a printed layer performs as intended—or fails later during testing or scale-up.

Collaborative Success

Traditionally, curing has been treated as a secondary consideration in inkjet R&D, often handled using stand-alone lamps or externally controlled units. However, as applications become more demanding, this separation can limit development accuracy and process understanding.

To overcome this, ImageXpert has partnered with IST INTECH to bring fully integrated UV-LED curing directly into our JetXpert printing platforms. By embedding it within the core system architecture, ImageXpert enables users to treat curing as a fully controllable and optimisable process parameter—alongside jetting, motion and fluid behaviour.

Adjustable Operating Window

A defining strength of ImageXpert equipment is flexibility. Our platforms are built to support a wide range of applications, allowing users for example to evaluate different fluid chemistries and viscosities, jetting and long-term reliability, layer application and thicknesses, print process speeds and quality seamlessly. All towards end-use requirements—and within a single system.

The integration of a modular UV-LED solution extends this flexibility towards investigating curing processes. Users can explore a wide operating window of output levels ranging from approximately 3–28 W/cm² using a single adjustable lamp head. This enables rapid comparison of curing strategies directly within the ImageXpert platform. Lower-power pinning can also be simulated through software control or via integration of compact pinning units. Arc lamps can be integrated additionally when required.

As Kyle Pucci, Director of Applications Engineering at ImageXpert, explains:

“When our customers are first getting started with a new inkjet application, there are so many things to learn in the jetting and printing process, including the right way to cure their material for top performance. The ability to avoid committing to a fixed curing setup early on—and instead adapt it as development progresses—gets a tremendously positive response from users.”

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Fully Integrated, Open Architecture

ImageXpert platforms are built around an open and fully integrated control architecture. The curing system is not an add-on—it is embedded within the same control environment as the printheads and motion system.

This means lamp settings, triggering and output levels can be managed directly through the ImageXpert user interface, providing the same level of programmability and synchronisation as every other process parameter. Complex, multi-step processes can be developed dynamically, with curing precisely aligned to jetting and substrate movement.

Multi-Wavelength Capability

To support the broad application scope of ImageXpert equipment, multiple wavelengths—including 365nm, 385nm, 395nm and 405nm—can be configured within a single system.

This capability allows users to work with advanced and specialised chemistries, including those requiring multi-wavelength exposure for optimal cure depth and adhesion. Where formulations extend beyond LED capabilities, ImageXpert platforms can also integrate Arc lamp solutions, enabling hybrid curing approaches within the same machine.

Matching System Configuration And Understanding Dose

Another key advantage of the JetXpert inkjet development platforms is scalability. Avoiding the inefficiencies associated with oversized or daisy-chained lamps ensures that development results are highly representative of production conditions. Platforms can be configured in fine width increments, ensuring that curing is closely matched to the printed area.

For reliable process development, a strong emphasis on real-world curing conditions is placed — particularly the concept of dose. While intensity (W/cm²) describes lamp output, delivered dose (J/cm²)—a function of intensity and exposure time—is what determines whether a chemistry fully cures. By integrating curing into the ImageXpert platform, users can evaluate dose under true process conditions, accounting for print speed, lamp positioning and exposure dynamics. Reducing the risk of incomplete cure, adhesion failure or long-term durability issues during scale-up.

A Clearer Path To Production

A core strength of ImageXpert equipment is the ability to bridge development and production. Through our collaboration with IST INTECH, the same curing platform can be used across different system sizes, ensuring continuity of process parameters.

This enables customers to move seamlessly from PrintLab or Print Station platforms into customised production or pre-production systems—without re-engineering the curing process. The result is reduced development risk, faster time-to-market and simplified system specification.

Supporting Development Of New Inkjet Applications

ImageXpert platforms are increasingly used for advanced applications where tight process requirements and performance is critical to functionality—not just visual appearance.

Applications such as advanced coatings, adhesives, functional materials and biomedical materials require precise control from the earliest development stage. By combining ImageXpert’s flexible platform with integrable print process add-ons such as curing, or pre-treatment or print quality inspection tools, users can fine-tune print processes during initial trials and establish robust, scalable processes.

Enabling Progress Through Collaboration

At ImageXpert, we believe that innovation happens through close collaboration. By working with partners such as IST INTECH, we integrate specialist technologies directly into our platforms to solve real process challenges.

This approach ensures that curing parameters can be defined, measured and optimised early in development—removing barriers to innovation and enabling confident progression to production.

Demonstrated Performance – Seeing Is Believing

The capabilities of ImageXpert equipment with integrated curing have been demonstrated at leading industry events, including RadTech North America, the European Coatings Show and the Printed Electronics event LOPEC in Munich.

ImageXpert continues to work closely with ink developers, formulators and system integrators, helping them explore new applications, optimise processes and scale with confidence using fully integrated inkjet development systems.

Connect with our team for your live demonstrations using ImageXpert platforms equipped with print process Add-Ons, such as LED curing—allowing faster, more reliable qualification of new applications.

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