Multi-Material Direct-Write Printing System

This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is an invitation by the University of Ottawa (the “University”) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for a Multi-Material Direct-Write Printing System, as further described in Appendix D (RFP Particulars) Section A (the “Deliverables”).

The University seeks proposals from qualified proponents for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, warranty support, and documentation for a modular, enclosed, laboratory-scale direct-write additive manufacturing printing platform. This system will be employed for research-scale fabrication of printed electronics, functional material patterns, high-viscosity conductive traces, quantum-material and nanomaterial test structures, sensors, small devices, and related three-dimensional or conformal substrates.

The system should incorporate precise motion control, microdispensing, optical process monitoring, alignment assistance, surface height sensing, and localized post-processing within a unified platform. The provided configuration must facilitate researchers in developing and duplicating material deposition workflows that involve functional inks, conductive pastes, adhesives, dielectric materials, and various other research formulations.

The proposed system should encompass, at a minimum, the functional capabilities outlined below. Proponents may propose equivalent or superior configurations provided they adhere to the mandatory requirements and clearly document how their approach fulfills the research objectives.
 

• The proposed system must be a modular desktop or stand-mounted research platform designed for controlled digital manufacturing at micro-scale feature dimensions.
• The system must include the supplied hardware, control computer, software, accessories, calibration tools, safety controls, and starter consumables required for operation after installation and training.
• The platform must be suitable for functional materials research involving printed conductive features, dielectric layers, adhesives, coatings, three-dimensional microstructures, and related printed or hybrid devices.
• The system must provide stable XYZ motion, programmable process control, toolhead alignment, and documented operating parameters sufficient for repeatable research use.
• The system must have a photonic (light-based) annealing element.
• The system must be compliant with applicable institutional safety requirements and all electrical, mechanical, and installation requirements for operation in Canada.

1. Technical, Operational and Organizational Environment

The system will be installed in a university research laboratory and utilized by trained research personnel, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research engineers, and center staff. The proponent must furnish a comprehensive facilities checklist prior to award, including the required footprint, access clearances, electrical service, compressed air, vacuum, exhaust, or filtration requirements, network needs, and any safety restrictions for lasers (or other photonic annealing devices), UV, heated, pressurized, vacuum, or particulate-generating operations.

The proponent must ascertain whether any installation activity requires specialized rigging, ventilation, a laser safety review, compressed gas or air connections, vacuum infrastructure, a dedicated electrical connection, IT approval, or site preparation by the University before delivery.
 

1. Other requirement:

• Training: Comprehensive installation and operator training programs are essential. These programs should encompass a wide range of topics, including safe/standard operation procedures, toolpath configuration, material loading techniques, microdispensing methodologies, optical alignment protocols, surface mapping processes, localized post-processing techniques, calibration procedures, cleaning protocols, routine maintenance schedules, and troubleshooting strategies.
• Software: All necessary licenses for the delivered system are to be accompanied by control and workflow software. The proponent is responsible for identifying any annual licenses, paid updates, or subscription costs.
• Maintenance: The proponent is responsible for identifying routine maintenance tasks, recommended preventive maintenance of once per year, required consumables, wear parts, calibration requirements, and estimated annual operating costs.
• Facilities requirement: The system is to be compatible with installation in a Canadian university laboratory. The proponent is to identify all electrical, compressed air, vacuum, exhaust/filtration, and network requirements before award.
• Instrument inspection and acceptance: Installation acceptance is to include, but not limited to: verification of motion, dispensing, process monitoring, fiducial alignment, surface height measurement or mapping, localized post-processing, safety interlocks, and software operation.
• Repair/Service: The proponent is to provide support services via email, phone, or online meeting within 72 hours, including availability of spare parts, and procedures for both factory and field service.
• Other Special needs to take in considaration: Proponent is to identify requirements for solvent ventilation, inert gas, compressed air, spill control, substrate storage, cleaning solvents, and disposal of contaminated consumables.
• Warranty expectations: A minimum one-year manufacturer warranty for parts and labor/service support is required. Proponent are expected to provided extended warranty option in Appendix C – Pricing.

Mandatory Technical Specifications Requirements:

1.0 - System Configuration and Motion Platform
1.1 - Must be a laboratory-scale, enclosed, computer-controlled additive manufacturing platform capable of precision deposition of functional materials on rigid or flexible substrates.
1.2 - Must provide an XYZ motion platform with a minimum X-Y working area of 100 mm ×100 mm and a Z working range of at least 50 mm.
1.3 - Must provide X-Y positioning accuracy of ±20 micrometres or better and X-Y bidirectional repeatability of ± 5 micrometres or better.
1.4 - Must provide Z-axis positioning accuracy of ± 10 micrometres or better and Z-axis bidirectional repeatability of ± 2 micrometres or better.
1.5 - Must include a mechanical mounting system, toolplate, carriage, or equivalent architecture capable of supporting at least two active processing or inspection modules in the supplied system configuration.
1.6 - Must include a protective enclosure, emergency stop, and interlocked access or equivalent safety controls suitable for the supplied processing modules.
1.7 - Must include a stable base, stand, workstation support, or equivalent installation structure suitable for operation in a university research laboratory.

2.0 - Material Deposition and Localized Post-Processing
2.1 - Must include at least two independently controllable precision microdispensing heads or pumps for functional inks, pastes, and adhesives.
2.2 - Microdispensing system must support controlled deposition increments of 500 picolitres or smaller and provide documented andcapability for repeatable micro-scale dot and trace deposition suitable for printed electronics research.
2.3 - Must support dispensing nozzle, tip, or needle inner diameters of 50 µm or smaller.
2.4 - Must support materials ranging from low-viscosity inks to high-viscosity pastes, with an upper demonstrated viscosity capability of at least 100 Pa•s.
2.5 - Must include substrate or part holding capability for samples at least 100 mm ×100 mm, such as a vacuum chuck, mechanical fixture, or equivalent work-holding method.
2.6 - Must include a photonic annealing element.

3.0 - Vision, Alignment, Mapping, and Calibration
3.1 - Must include at least one optical process-view camera or equivalent monitoring system for live observation of material deposition or localized processing.
3.2 - Must include vision-assisted alignment or fiducial-location capability for registering toolpaths to existing substrate or device features.
3.3 - Must include surface height detection or mapping capability to support deposition on non-flat or height-varying substrates.
3.4 - Must include a documented calibration or alignment method for coordinating multiple toolheads or processing modules relative to a common work coordinate system.

4.0 - Computer, Software, Data,
4.1 - Must include a control computer and software required to operate motion control, material deposition, optical viewing, mapping or height sensing, and localized post-processing functions.
4.2 - Must support programmable toolpaths and import or execution of at least two common manufacturing or design file formats, such as G-code, DXF, STL, Gerber, CSV, or equivalent.
4.3 - Must provide recipe or parameter control for material pressure or flow, valve or dispenser actuation, tool position, process timing, and localized post-processing conditions.
4.4 - Must allow export, recording, or documentation of process settings sufficient to reproduce research experiments.

5.0 - Installation and Training
5.1 - Must include delivery, installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing (FAT and SAT).
5.2 - Must include on-site or in-person operator training for at least two users over a minimum of two (2) business days.
5.3 - Must include operating manuals, maintenance documentation, safety documentation, and control/software documentation in English and/or French.
5.4 - Must include all starter consumables, cables, fixtures, and essential accessories required to operate the delivered system at acceptance.

6.0 - Warranty and Support
6.1 - Must include a minimum one-year manufacturer warranty and remote technical support during the warranty period.

7.0 - Other
7.1 - CSA certification or equivalent is required, as per the Electrical Safety Authority:
https://esasafe.com/electrical-products/recognized-certification-marks/.
If any electrical components do not arrive with an acceptable certification marking, the University must be allowed to open/modify the instrument as required in order to have it CSA Certified. Said inspection/modification, if required, must not void any warranty.

 

Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.