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Printing with the CERES system

This is an overview of the complete printing process with the CERES system. This is intended as a general guideline, but more information are available in other sections of the manual.

Prerequisites

In order to create a print with the system, the following prerequisites need to be met:

Prepare printing chamber

Instructions on how to prepare the printing chamber are found here.

Screenshot

The printing chamber is assembled and placed in the system

Prepare probe

Instructions on how to prepare the probe are found here.

Screenshot

Correct filling of the probe

Prepare system

After probe preparation the tip needs to be filled with the ionink and the laser aligned on the cantilever. In order to perform these operations, follow the Prepare System workflow.

After this step the system is ready to print.

Create a printfile

Creation of printfile is performed with the VCG. Using this MATLAB application, one can define structures starting from a list of built-in scripts that can be combined together.

The design of printfiles can follow different principles. Please refer to the following section for a detailed explanation of the design rules.

3D printing

Iontip calibration

Before proceeding with any print, the iontip pressure-diameter characteristic needs to be calibrated. This calibration allows for precise prediction of the resulting voxel diameter when applying a specific pressure. This calibration is necessary for each tip because, due to variabilities in each tip shape, the real ink flow at the tip cannot be known a priori.

In order to calibrate the iontip it is required to print a calibration pillar or a calibration array, created with the VCG, using the 3D Printing workflow. After the print, the log files should be fetched (see below) and loaded in the Tip Calibration app to obtain the calibration curve.

Printing

Once the printfile(s) has been designed, it can be printed using the 3D Printing workflow. In case precise alignment of the structures is required, please first calibrate the relative position of the iontip and the camera with the Iontip offset calibration. This will allow to use the top camera view to place structures on a specific spot on the substrate (with a precision of 2-6 micrometers).

It is advised to place structures on the substrate following a left -> right, top -> bottom arrangement.

Logs

Once a print job is finished, the software generates log files. These files can be opened using the MATLAB app LogViewer. For some more info on how to interpret log files please refer to the Troubleshooting section.

Post-processing of prints

After a print session finishes, the sample can be unloaded safely from the Printing chamber. Afterward, soak the substrate for 3min in water followed by 3min in Isopropanol (IPA). The substrate can then be carefully removed from the IPA to dry.