A new Customer Waveform Tool (CWT) has been launched by Xaar to help its OEM customers deliver Xaar-enabled print systems that save time and are more highly tuned to each customer application. Xaar is a world leader in the development of inkjet technology and the manufacture of piezoelectric drop-on-demand industrial printheads. “End users buying printers that have been developed using the CWT can expect to see a higher degree of print performance. Furthermore, the new CWT will provide more development flexibility and decrease time-to-market for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) developing new printers,” said Xaar. Waveforms are electrical drive signals that are applied to the channel walls inside a printhead to create a movement. This in turn produces the acoustic (pressure) waves used by most of Xaar’s printheads to eject the ink or fluid from the nozzles. The new Customer Waveform Tool enables Xaar’s customers to finely tune these electrical drive signals in-house to produce the best possible jetting characteristics. “OEMs using this tool will see their product development shorten as they will have more control over time needed for this aspect of the product development cycle,” said the company.
“This is an exciting development for Xaar and its OEM partners,” said Alan Mutch, Senior Product Manager at Xaar. “We’re delighted to be able to respond to customer demand with the launch of the CWT. This tool helps our customers to leverage their own technical capabilities and address the needs of their own customers. It also helps them to bring their products to market more quickly. We’re launching the CWT as part of our ongoing commitment to working more closely with, and delivering the very best service to, our global OEM customer base.” The new CWT is available to Xaar’s OEMs and ink partners at two levels: Authorized or Certified. Authorized practitioners can develop and test waveforms for internal use. Xaar will then approve them if external distribution is required. OEM and ink partners who meet certain technical criteria can become Certified Practitioners, which means they’re technically qualified to develop and distribute waveforms as well as delivering service-level CWT support. Xaar added that it will continue to work closely with its partners to ensure quality, consistency and maximum added-value to its customers and markets.