Systems and methods for supporting and conveying a substrate

A system, comprising:

• a substrate floatation table having a support surface, the substrate floatation table comprising a plurality of gas float passages and a plurality of gas conveyance passages arranged in the support surface to support and transport a substrate;
• a printing system comprising a bridge disposed across the substrate floatation table;
• a printhead assembly movably mounted on the bridge;
• and
• a gripper system disposed along the substrate floatation table to grip the substrate.

A system, comprising:

• a substrate floatation table having a support surface, the substrate floatation table comprising a plurality of gas float passages and a plurality of gas conveyance passages arranged in the support surface to support and transport a substrate, each of the plurality of gas float passages extending in a direction perpendicular to the support surface and each of the plurality of gas conveyance passages extending in a direction that is not perpendicular to the support surface;
• a gas supply fluidly coupled to the plurality of gas float passages and the plurality of gas conveyance passages;
• a first controller to control gas flow from the gas supply to the gas float passages;
• a second controller to control gas flow from the gas supply to the gas conveyance passages;
• a printing system comprising a bridge disposed across the substrate floatation table;
• a printhead assembly movably mounted on the bridge;
• and
• a gripper system disposed along the substrate floatation table to grip the substrate.