CVL direct writing for high-definition imaging systems

The possibility of using copper vapour laser (CVL) for a selective deposition printing viscous inks from an ink carrier (transparent substrate) to an image carrier for non-impact high-definition imaging systems was studied. The CVL radiation was focused by a long focused lens on the boundary between transparent substrate and printing viscous inks. The pressure arising in the focusing point ejects ink on the image carrier (paper, plastic, etc). For the laser beam scanning we used th rotating mirror. The transparent substrate and image carrier (plastic card in our case) were moved in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the laser beam scanning. We used the modern inks of five main colors, presently utilized in polygraphic industry ( the black, red, yellow, green and blue). For all the inks we observed the ejection effect, and the printing on plastic cards was obtained. The average threshold energy of the laser beam was 0.2-0.3 Jcm^-2. In our experiments we used CVL (λ = 512, 578 nm) with average power 10 W, pulse duration 20 ns and repetition frequency 10 KHz. It is shown that if one uses CVL with above-mentioned parameters, DMD modulator and laser beam scanning system it is possible to print one standard plastic card per a second.