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Photonic Curing
Photonic Curing is the high-temperature thermal processing of a thin film using pulsed light from a flashlamp. When this transient processing is done on a low-temperature substrate such as plastic, paper or glass it is possible to attain a significantly higher temperature than the substrate can ordinarily withstand under an equilibrium heating source such as an oven.
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Pulseforge® 1200
Photonic Curing Tool for Research and Development
The NovaCentrix PulseForge 1200 photonic curing tool processes high-temperature materials on low-temperature substrates, and is optimized for use in materials and applications development. NovaCentrix has particularly focused on safety from the hazards of outgassing samples and extreme light in the PulseForge 1200 tool design. The sample processing drawer of the PulseForge 1200 is protective of the hazards of extreme light impacting the eyes of users and also operates at slightly less than room pressure with sample off gassing being sent through HEPA filtration before going into the exhaust duct. Based on the same engineering found in the production-capable PulseForge 3200 tools, the process conditions developed with the PulseForge 1200 will be sure to scale straight into pilot and volume production. When combined with NovaCentrix's SimPulse® thermal stack simulation package for predicting the time-temperature history of each layer in a thin film stack during photonic curing, the PulseForge 1200 comprises the ideal R&D platform for photonic curing development.
Design Features.
Key features and a low price point make it ideal for tight lab spaces and budgets.
| Effective with any print method, including inkjet, flexo, gravure, aerosol, screen print, and spin-coat. | PulseForge tools enable the use of new ink materials, including Metalon® ICI copper-oxide reduction inks. | ||
| Can be used with nano and micron-scale ink materials. | Processing times <<1 millisecond. | ||
| Sheet resistances below 10 milliohms/square. | Capable of processing depositions >30 micron. | ||
| Ideal for use with flexible, low-temperature substrates including polymers and paper. | Ability to dry and sinter depositions in excess of 20 microns thick. | ||
| Ability to create custom, composite pulse structures with high precision and accuracy. | User-selected pulse power and energies. | ||
| High-accuracy reflector optics for exceptional (>98% outside of edge effect) uniformity. | Next-generation touch-screen user interface. | ||
| Water-cooled lamps. | Automated, synchronized sample processing stage with multiple operating mode. |
SimPulse Thermal Simulation
Developed especially for PulseForge tools and applicable to all thermal processing methods, this simulation package is standard on the PulseForge 1300. SimPulse is an invaluable design tool for predicting processing results, allowing users to close the loop. Learn more about SimPulse.
Easy-Access Connections
For R&D, it is not just the results that matter, but also how to get there and what is happening to the materials along the way. That’s why the PulseForge 1200 is designed and built with flexible data ports and integrated data processing for optional instrumentation accessories. The data ports provide the user the flexibility to utilize their own custom instrumentation. As a standard accessory, a bolometer for measuring the exposure energy is provided.
Pulse Shaping Capability
The PulseForge 1200 allows the user to optimize processing conditions using pulse shaping. These advanced exposure structures are key to drying and other processes, especially for depositions >10 microns. Pulse shaping is also critical for optimal processing of advanced reacting materials such as the low-cost Metalon ICI copper oxide reduction ink.
| Peak radiant power delivered (kW/cm2) | 4.9 |
| Max radiant energy delivered (J/cm2) | 46 |
| Max voltage to lamp(s) | 480 |
| Effective max linear processing speed (meters/min)* | 30 |
| Curing dimension per pulse (mm)** | 75 x 150 |
| Max area cured per sample (mm)** | 300 x 150 |
| Pulse length range (microseconds)**** | 25–100,000 |
| Pulse length increment (microseconds) | 1 |
| Minimum pulse spacing (microseconds) | 20 |
| Max pulse rate | >kHz |
| Output spectrum (nm) | 200–1500 |
| Uniformity of exposure (point to point) | +/- 2% or better |
*Dependent on pulse conditions
**Excluding edge effect
***Process width can be readily configured from 150mm to over 4800mm
****After 20,000 the additional energy delivered is negligible
1200 Introduction
New Copper Ink for Screen Printing
Printed Electronics Curing Copper Ink in Milliseconds
Enabling Printed Electronics
Pinaffo Pluvinage
Applying Screen Print Ink onto Sample
to Make Conductive Heater Print
Curing Conductive Printed Heater
Finished Product: Printed Conductive
Heater and LED Lamp
Supplies Needed for Printing
Conductive Heater
Supplies Needed for Printed
Electronics Sensor
Printing a Door Sensor for
Smart Home Applications
Photonic Curing of Door Sensor
for Smart Home Applications
Get A PulseForge Pricing Quote
Contact us today for a direct pricing quote from our sales team on our PulseForge tools.
About NovaCentrix
Headquartered in Austin, TX, NovaCentrix offers industry leading photonic curing tools, conductive inks, material and expertise enabling development and production of next generation printed electronic devices.