printheads

Printhead refers to a device component in printing systems that deposits ink, toner, or other materials onto a substrate to form text, images, or patterns. In inkjet printers, the printhead contains an array of microscopic nozzles and the actuating elements that eject droplets in response to digital print data. Printheads may operate as drop-on-demand systems, producing droplets only when required, or as continuous-jet systems that emit a constant stream of droplets with some directed to the page.

Common types are thermal inkjet and piezoelectric inkjet. Thermal inkjet printheads use miniature heating elements to rapidly vaporize ink and create a bubble that propels a droplet from the nozzle. Piezoelectric printheads drive droplets by deforming a crystal or ceramic piezo element with an electric signal, generating a pressure pulse. Some industrial and broad-format printers also use continuous inkjet designs.

Construction and use: A typical printhead comprises a nozzle plate with many tiny orifices, ink channels, a reservoir, and electronic drivers. In high-speed or multi-color systems, several printheads are mounted on a single carriage or fixed platform to increase throughput and color fidelity. In addition to traditional inkjets, the term printhead is used in 3D printing for the heated extruder head that deposits filament.

Maintenance and replacement: Printheads are consumables subject to clogging, drying, and wear. Regular priming and cleaning help preserve quality. Many consumer units use replaceable printhead cartridges, while others integrate the head as a serviceable module or a fixed element replaced as a unit.

Performance: Key metrics include droplet size, firing frequency, resolution, color alignment, and usable lifespan.