ECS-W Semi-Automatic Horizontal Squeegee Screen Printing Coater (Max. 250*350 mm), EWSAHSSPC

A Horizontal Squeegee Screen Printing Coater refers to a semi-automatic or automatic screen printer where the squeegee assembly moves in a precise, linear horizontal path across the screen. In electrochemical laboratories, this is the standard configuration for moving beyond manual hand-printing to achieve the highly repeatable layer thicknesses required for SOFC electrolytes and battery electrodes. Unlike manual printing, where the angle and pressure of the stroke vary with the operator's fatigue, a horizontal squeegee machine ensures that every cell in a batch is identical.

The machine utilizes a dual-rail or overhead gantry system to guide the squeegee and flood bar. (1) Horizontal Stroke: The squeegee is driven by a pneumatic cylinder or a servo motor. It travels at a constant, programmed speed (e.g., 50-200 mm/s) across the mesh. (2) Constant Pressure: Most horizontal units use a "pressure balance" system. Even if the substrate (like a Ni-YSZ support) has slight surface variations, the squeegee maintains a constant downward force to ensure uniform slurry infiltration. (3) Automatic Flood Cycle: After the printing stroke, the squeegee lifts and the flood bar descends. It moves back across the screen horizontally, redistributing the SPAN or YSZ slurry to keep the mesh from drying out.

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