Trykkhodet

Trykkhodet is a term used in printing technology to describe the component of a printing device that deposits printing material onto a substrate during operation. In inkjet printers, the trykkhodet consists of a manifold feeding one or more nozzles, with each nozzle ejecting droplets of ink through a tiny orifice. Droplet ejection is typically achieved by thermal actuators that rapidly vaporize a small volume of ink to form a bubble, or by piezoelectric actuators that deform the ink chamber to push droplets out. This technology enables control over droplet size, velocity, and placement, contributing to image and text resolution.

In industrial and consumer printers, print heads can be drop-on-demand or continuous and may use various configurations of nozzle arrays, channels, and liquid reservoirs. Print-head design affects factors such as color accuracy, speed, and maintenance requirements. In 3D printing, the related component is often referred to as the print head or hot end, which melts thermoplastic filament and extrudes it through a nozzle to build objects layer by layer. This assembly typically includes a heater block, temperature sensor, and a drive mechanism to feed filament, with nozzle diameters ranging from roughly 0.1 to 0.8 mm.

Maintenance and calibration are important for reliable performance. Print heads can suffer from clogging, wear, or misalignment, leading to gaps, color mixing errors, or poor extrusion in 3D prints. Regular cleaning, careful storage, and periodic replacement are common practices to preserve print quality. See also: inkjet printer, 3D printer, nozzle, extruder.