ABSTRACT
If one loads up a drop generator with fluid, switches on the drive, and then observes no drops being ejected or that the drop ejection is unstable, there are a number of things to check in order to troubleshoot a malfunctioning drop ejector. This chapter provides a list of aspects of the system to check if drop ejection is either not occurring at all or is happening in an unreliable or suboptimal manner. (See Figure 6.1.)
6.1 CLOGGED NOZZLES
Assuming that the fluid is otherwise well-designed, a dust particle blocking the nozzle ejection hole is the most common cause for a failure to eject fluid. This problem can be minimized by operating with the largest diameter nozzles allowed by the particular application and exercising clean handling procedures for the fluid and the interior of the drop generator.
