Automatic piezo stroke adjustment

A method of calibrating the jetting profile of a jetted fluid material for a jetting system, the jetting system including a jetting dispenser and a control component operatively coupled to the jetting dispenser, the jetting dispenser including a piezoelectric actuation mechanism having a piezoelectric actuator, a valve closure structure, and a mechanical stop positioned at a predetermined distance away from the valve closure structure in a non-impact calibration position, the method comprising:

• applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between the non-impact calibration position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the mechanical stop and an impact calibration position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the mechanical stop;
• generating voltage calibration data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• sensing the position of the valve closure structure as the valve closure structure is moved using a sensing device;
• generating position calibration data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• establishing a master reference point using the voltage and position calibration data;
• and
• using the master reference point to determine wear of at least one of:
• the piezoelectric actuation mechanism and the valve closure structure.

A method of calibrating the jetting profile of a jetted fluid material for a jetting system, the jetting system including a jetting dispenser and a control component operatively coupled to the jetting dispenser, the jetting dispenser including a valve seat, a valve closure structure, a piezoelectric actuation mechanism having a piezoelectric actuator, and a mechanical stop positioned at a predetermined distance away from the valve closure structure in a non-impact calibration position, the method comprising:

• applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between a non-impact position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the valve seat and an impact position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the valve seat;
• generating voltage data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• sensing the position of the valve closure structure as the valve closure structure is moved using a sensing device;
• generating position data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• establishing a reference point using the voltage and position data;
• applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between the non-impact calibration position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the mechanical stop and an impact calibration position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the mechanical stop;
• generating voltage calibration data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• sensing the position of the valve closure structure as the valve closure structure is moved using the sensing device;
• generating position calibration data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• establishing a master reference point using the voltage calibration data and the position calibration data;
• and
• comparing the reference point to the master reference point to determine wear of the valve seat.

A method of operating a jetting system by a user, the jetting system including a jetting dispenser and a control component operatively coupled to the jetting dispenser, the jetting dispenser including a piezoelectric actuation mechanism having a piezoelectric actuator, a valve seat, a valve closure structure, and a mechanical stop positioned at a predetermined distance away from the valve closure structure in a non-impact calibration position, the method comprising:

• receiving input of an operational parameter from a user via the control component, the operational parameter indicative of at least one of:
• a fluid type, a jetting frequency, and a droplet size;
• based at least in part on the operational parameter, determining a master calibration profile by applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between the non-impact calibration position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the mechanical stop and an impact calibration position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the mechanical stop;
• applying the master calibration profile to the jetting system using the control component;
• determining a calibrated jetting profile by applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between a non-impact calibration position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the valve seat and an impact calibration position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the valve seat;
• and
• applying the calibrated jetting profile to the jetting system.

A method of doing maintenance in a jetting system that includes a jetting dispenser and a control component operatively coupled to the jetting dispenser, the jetting dispenser including a valve closure structure, a valve seat, and a piezoelectric actuation mechanism having a piezoelectric actuator, the method comprising:

• applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between a first position and a second position;
• generating voltage data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• sensing the position of the valve closure structure as the valve closure structure is moved using a sensing device;
• generating position data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• and
• using the voltage data and the position data for preventative maintenance of one or more components of the jetting system.

A method of calibrating the jetting profile of a jetting fluid material for a jetting system, the jetting system including a jetting dispenser and a control component operatively coupled to the jetting dispenser, the jetting dispenser including a valve seat, a valve closure structure, and a piezoelectric actuation mechanism having a piezoelectric actuator, the method comprising:

• receiving input from a user of a desired stroke length of the valve closure structure;
• applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between a non-impact position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the valve seat and an impact position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the valve seat;
• generating voltage data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• sensing the position of the valve closure structure as the valve closure structure is moved using a sensing device;
• generating position data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• based, at least in part, on the voltage data and the position data, determine a reference point;
• based, at least in part, on the voltage data and the position data, determining a top voltage corresponding to the position of the valve closure structure resulting in the desired stroke length of the valve closure structure;
• and
• using the reference point and the top voltage to adjust a voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator.

A method of calibrating the jetting profile of a jetted fluid material for a jetting system, the jetting system including a jetting dispenser and a control component operatively coupled to the jetting dispenser, the jetting dispenser including a piezoelectric actuation mechanism having a piezoelectric actuator, a valve closure structure, and a mechanical stop positioned at a predetermined distance away from the valve closure structure in a non-impact calibration position, the method comprising:

• applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to move the valve closure structure between the non-impact calibration position where the valve closure structure is not impacting the mechanical stop and an impact calibration position where at least a portion of the valve closure structure is impacting the mechanical stop;
• generating voltage calibration data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• sensing the position of the valve closure structure as the valve closure structure is moved using a sensing device;
• generating position calibration data as the valve closure structure is moved;
• based, at least in part, on the voltage calibration data and the position calibration data, determining a reference gain indicative of a ratio of the displacement of the valve close structure to the voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator;
• and
• based, at least in part, on the reference gain, determining a wear characteristic of at least one of:
• the piezoelectric actuation mechanism and the valve closure structure.