Large area laser printing system and method

A method of operating a system in which a laser assisted deposition system is configured to print individual dot-like portions of a material from a donor substrate onto a receiving substrate and a vacuum shuttle is configured to be positionable between the laser assisted deposition system and the donor substrate, the method comprising:

• positioning the vacuum shuttle adjacent to a portion of the donor substrate by translating the vacuum shuttle laterally along a first axis parallel to the receiving substrate within a dispensing area of the system;
• translating a supporting assembly in which the vacuum shuttle is supported laterally along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and parallel to the receiving substrate, wherein the supporting assembly comprises a plurality of rails and a plurality of rollers that are supported by the plurality of rails;
• applying, via a vacuum inlet in the vacuum shuttle, a vacuum suction to a vacuum channel formed in a bottom side of a perimeter defining a central opening of the vacuum shuttle so as to cause the vacuum shuttle to engage the donor substrate by suction and hold the donor substrate taught against the bottom side of the vacuum shuttle;
• and
• printing the dot-like portions of the material from the donor substrate onto the receiving substrate using a laser of the laser assisted deposition system by directing a laser beam produced by the laser through the central opening of the vacuum shuttle onto the donor substrate.