ECS-W Manual Curved Screen Printing Coater, EWMCSPC

A Manual Curved Screen Printing Coater (also known as a Manual Cylindrical Screen Printer) is a specialized device designed to print onto the surface of objects with a constant radius, such as tubes, rods, and cylinders. While most SOFC/SOEC research focuses on planar (flat) cells, this equipment is the standard tool for developers working on Tubular SOFCs, hollow fiber membranes, or cylindrical electrochemical sensors. It allows for a uniform coating around the circumference of a ceramic tube that would be impossible to achieve with a standard flat-bed printer.

Unlike planar printing where the substrate is static, curved printing requires a synchronized motion between the screen and the rotating substrate: (1) Horizontal Screen Motion: The operator pulls the screen frame horizontally across a set of rails. (2) Substrate Rotation: The cylindrical substrate (e.g., a YSZ tube) sits on adjustable rollers or a mandrel. As the screen moves, friction (often aided by a gear or rack-and-pinion system) causes the tube to rotate at the exact same tangential speed as the screen. (3) Stationary Squeegee: The squeegee is held in a fixed position directly above the "top" (tangent point) of the cylinder. As the screen passes under the squeegee, slurry is forced onto the rotating surface.

References:

M. S. Park, et al., Mechanical and electrical properties of a LiCoO2 cathode prepared by screen-printing for a lithium-ion micro-battery, Electrochimica Acta, 2007, 52, 7895-7902

A. Gören, et al., High performance screen-printed electrodes prepared by a green solvent approach for lithium-ion batteries, Journal of Power Sources, 2016, 334, 65-77