Three-Dimensional Calculation of Bubble Growth and Drop Ejection in a Bubble Jet Printer

Abstract

The three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation for the motion of ink both inside and outside the nozzle of a bubble jet printer is numerically solved, for the first time, to predict the bubble behavior and the drop ejection. The results of calculation for three types of ink agreed well with experimental data. The effect of initial bubble pressure, viscosity and surface tension on the volume and the velocity of the drop is numerically investigated. The three-dimensional calculation is very useful to the design of bubble jet printers because it saves a lot of time and cost to make and evaluate prototypes.