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Gugler Gilbert

Assoziierter Professor FH/Co-Leiter Kompetenzzentrum

Main skills

Functional Surfaces and Materials

Thin Films and Surface Treatment

Assoziierter Professor FH/Co-Leiter Kompetenzzentrum

Phone: +41 26 429 68 27

Desktop: MIC_00_057

Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Fribourg
Boulevard de Pérolles 80, 1700 Fribourg, CH

BSc HES-SO en Génie électrique - Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Fribourg

Matériaux

Ongoing

Direct to shape inkjet printing with robots; Innosuisse 52688.1 IP-ENG

Role: Main Applicant

Financement: Innosuisse

Description du projet :

Surface finishing of 3D objects is an important process in industrial manufacturing.

Inkjet printing (non-contact, digital, mask less) can replace standard analogue printing techniques and directly print personalized graphics, functional coatings and even ‘printed electronics’ onto 3D surfaces. Ideal machines for such ‘direct to shape’ DTS printing are combinations of industrial inkjet printheads with robots. Wherever possible the present applications use the combination of static printhead & robot-moved objects. To enable printing onto large and heavy objects it is necessary to combine ‘robot-moved printhead and static object’. While this approach opens many new application areas the accelerated motion of the printhead results in key technical challenges to achieve high printing speed, precision, and reliability.

The DTS-project addresses these key technical issues with the complementary capabilities of the three partners. The iPrint Institute focuses on high distance jetting and printing under accelerated motion of the printhead, using their specifically developed ink-system with dynamic pressure control. Polytype owns specific image processing and correction software and electronics as well as a new device for pitch error correction, and MABI’s robots excel in path control that is essential for inkjet printing.

A DTS demonstrator will be built at the iPrint Center combining the above features from Polytype with a robot from MABI (MAX-100-2.25-P). Sequential targets are the printing of coatings onto flat objects, followed by multi-color graphics onto flat and 3D (automotive) objects, with improved placement and stitching errors.

Research team within HES-SO: Gugler Gilbert , Renner Johannes , Kessler Philip

Partenaires professionnels: Fässler Florian, Polytype AG; Vogel Denis, Mabi Robotics AG

Durée du projet: 01.08.2021 - 31.07.2023

Montant global du projet: 1'200'000 CHF

Statut: Ongoing

Completed

Développement d'un capteur utilisant la polarisation diélectrique pour le suivi de la fermentation et du niveau d'extraction durant la production des vins

AGP

Role: Collaborator

Requérant(e)s: 425 - Oenologie

Financement: HES-SO Rectorat

Description du projet : Aujourd'hui, le suivi de fermentation pour la production du vin est réalisé principalement par la mesure de densité, de manière manuelle ou automatique. Pour la production du vin rouge, une étape déterminante pour la qualité du vin final ' l'extraction des composés d'intérêt présents dans la pellicule du raisin (principalement des polyphénols ou « anthocyanes et tanins ») ' a lieu également pendant la phase fermentaire. Actuellement, à part la dégustation, il n'existe pas d'outil performant d'aide à la décision afin de déterminer le moment d'écoulage à cause de la difficulté d'obtenir des informations fiables d'un milieu complexe par une analyse rapide et simple à manipuler. Afin de développer une alternative analytique sensible pour le suivi du niveau d'extraction et d'avancement de la fermentation, un partenariat interdisciplinaire est formé, regroupant les personnels de HES-CHANGINS et de la HEIA-FR, avec des compétences en procédés oenologiques, analyse chimique, électronique appliquée et spectroscopie. Ensemble, les partenaires du projet ont identifié une approche innovante et prometteuse pour la problématique du suivi de fermentation : l'utilisation de la spectroscopie diélectrique. Ayant la possibilité d'utiliser un large spectre d'ondes électromagnétiques, la spectroscopie diélectrique est une technique couramment employée pour la caractérisation électrique (isolants, matériaux avec une haute capacité de stockage d'énergie, '). Depuis quelques années, l'agro-alimentaire bénéficie également du potentiel offert par cette technique, que ce soit pour l'évaluation de la qualité des fruits ou lors de la pasteurisation du jus de pomme. Comme les tests sont rapides et ne détruisent pas la matière, la spectroscopie s'est avérée un outil expérimental adaptée aux mesures en ligne ainsi qu'au suivi de longue durée. Basée sur l'excitation des dipôles (chaines polymères ou molécules) ou des ions en rapport avec les caractéristiques d'un faible champ électrique externe, cette méthode permet la mesure de la permittivité complexe des matériaux polarisables, chaque composant ayant un moment dipolaire caractéristique. Dans ce contexte, nous proposons le projet «WinE-index» («WineExtraction-index ») pour la mise en place d'une corrélation entre les propriétés diélectriques et d'autres caractéristiques ou propriétés physico-chimiques du jus de raisin en phase de fermentation. L'objectif principal du projet est de proposer une technique permettant de tirer à partir d'une évaluation rapide et non destructive des vrais indicateurs par rapport à la composition du vin, pendant la fermentation. Le défi du projet sera la différentiation entre la réponse diélectrique des marqueurs significatifs (éthanol, anthocyanes et tannins condensés) et l'évaluation de l'impact des éléments externes ayant une grande influence sur les propriétés diélectriques, par exemple, des ions (K+), des acides organiques ou des particules solides. En vue de remplir au mieux notre mission - fournir aux oenologues des indicateurs quantitatifs pour compléter leurs analyses sensorielles, afin de leur apporter une réelle aide à la décision - nous proposons le développement d'un capteur innovant, ayant un fort potentiel de marché. Utilisable offline aussi bien qu'intégrable dans des systèmes en ligne, celui-ci permettra de suivre l'avancement de la fermentation en même temps que le niveau d'extraction.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Research team within HES-SO: Galé Benjamin Claude Bircher Fritz Cléroux Marilyn Kuster Joël Giorgi Luca Roth Samuel Schneuwly Vincent Bourrier Hervé Monnard Jacques Scheurer Laurence Gomez-Von Allmen Sophie Preda Ioana Froidevaux Lucas Bapst Nicolas Sahli Benoît Trevisani Sandro Gugler Gilbert Carrie Natalia Siebert Priscilla Zeng Liming Pernet Arnaud Balestra Gioele Brodard Patricia Mertenat Muriel

Partenaires académiques: 425 - Oenologie; FR - EIA - Institut ENERGY; FR - EIA - Institut IPRINT

Durée du projet: 17.02.2020 - 17.05.2022

Montant global du projet: 219'980 CHF

Statut: Completed

Développement d'une méthode digitale d'activation de surface et déposition du matériel par plasma

AGP

Role: Collaborator

Description du projet : PVD and plasma spraying technics are nowadays widely used. In the last few decades there has been an intense development in non-equilibrium ('cold') plasma surface processing systems at atmospheric pressure. This new trend is stimulated mainly to decrease equipment costs by avoiding expensive pumping systems of conventional low-pressure plasma devices. Cold plasma become a subject of great interest for a wide variety of technologies including surface treatment and thin-film deposition. However, the current techniques are all based on single nozzle or grouped multi-nozzle solutions, no arrays composed of individually addressable single nozzle are available yet. This interdisciplinary project DigitalPlasma aims through an approach combining current inkjet and single addressing array technology to develop novel and innovative digital cold plasma head. The consortium will work on: Single plasma cell, array technology & configuration suitable for digital control Power electronics and switches Control and interface system for jet arrays Plasma on demand with a 2x16 nozzle array as demonstrator Finally, this will all be built into a digital plasma platform to evaluate the feasibility of digital layer deposition with digital plasma. The project combines the specific & complementary expertise of the 2 involved Institutes: iPrint (HEIA-FR) & Systemtechnik (HESSO-Vs).

Research team within HES-SO: Ellert Christoph , Bourguet Florian , Kolly Gaëtan , Bircher Fritz , Filliger Sebastian , Bürgy Olivier , Renner Johannes , Berthouzoz David , Martinet David , Mauron Muriel , Kessler Philip , Arcudi Carmine , Udry Julien , Schneuwly Vincent , Germanier Alain , Roubaty Fabrice , Gugler Gilbert , Brügger Luca , Carrie Natalia , Brodard Patricia , Stefanucci Alfonso , Lapaire Clovis , Blum Remo , Molliet Renata , Trottet Grégory , Mabillard Eric

Partenaires académiques: HES-SO Rectorat; VS - Institut Systèmes industriels; FR - EIA - Institut IPRINT; Gugler Gilbert, FR - EIA - Institut IPRINT

Durée du projet: 01.01.2019 - 29.10.2021

Montant global du projet: 270'000 CHF

Statut: Completed

Additive manufacturing techniques for high voltage capacitors

Role: Main Applicant

Financement: Innosuisse

Description du projet :

Elements of a high voltage capacitor produced by an additive manufacturing technology are being developed in order to meet the industry 4.0 strategy of the company. Intensive technology exploration and innovative research are needed to meet the strategic roadmap.

Research team within HES-SO: Gugler Gilbert

Durée du projet: 28.01.2019 - 31.08.2021

Montant global du projet: 568'760 CHF

Statut: Completed

Smart Large Surfaces 37212.1 IP-ENG

Role: Main Applicant

Financement: Innosuisse

Description du projet :

Technis believe in an non-intrusive use of the smart flooring as a way to secure and provide autonomy for elderly people. Developing a new and digital based manufacturing process would improve the quality of the services provided by Technis and offer innovative products for the future.

Research team within HES-SO: Gugler Gilbert

Durée du projet: 01.09.2019 - 30.06.2021

Montant global du projet: 318'739 CHF

Statut: Completed

2024

Multimaterial inkjet printing of mechanochromic materials

Scientific paper ArODES

Muriel Mauron, Lucie Castens Vitanov, César Michaud, Raphaël Wenger, Nicolas Muller, Roseline Nussbaumer, Céline Calvino, Christoph Weder, Stephen Schrettl, Gilbert Gugler, Derek John Kiebala

The European Physical Journal Special Topics, 2024

Link to the publication

Summary:

Inkjet printing technology achieves the precise deposition of liquid-phase materials via the digitally controlled formation of picoliter-sized droplets. Beyond graphical printing, inkjet printing has been employed for the deposition of separated drops on surfaces or the formation of continuous layers, which allows to construct materials gradients or periodic features that provide enhanced functionalities. Here, we explore the use of multinozzle, drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet technology for the manufacturing of mechanochromic materials, i.e., materials that change their color or fluorescence in response to mechanical deformation. To accomplish this, suitable polyurethane polymers of differing hardness grades were tested with a range of organic solvents to formulate low-viscosity, inkjet-printable solutions. Following their rheological characterization, two solutions comprising “soft” and “hard” polyurethanes were selected for in-depth study. The solutions were imbibed with a mechanochromic additive to yield fluorescent inks, which were either dropcast onto polymeric substrates or printed to form checkerboard patterns of alternating hardness using a laboratory-built, multimaterial inkjet platform. Fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy were used to identify different hardness grades in the dropcast and printed materials, as well as to monitor the responses of these gradient materials to mechanical deformation. The insights gained in this study are expected to facilitate the development of inkjet-printable, mechanochromic polymer materials for a wide range of applications.

Multimaterial inkjet printing of mechanochromic materials

Scientific paper

Gugler Gilbert

The European Physical Journal Special Topics, 2024 , vol. 2024

Link to the publication

Summary:

2022

Individual ignition of RF microplasma array at atmospheric pressure

Scientific paper ArODES

David Martinet, Sebastian Filliger, Alain Germanier, Gilbert Gugler, Christoph Ellert

Plasma Processes and Polymers, 2022, article no. e2200131

Link to the publication

Summary:

Following the trend of miniaturization in semiconductor industry, atmospheric plasma jets in array configuration were developed for cleaning or treatment of workpieces under homogeneous conditions. We describe here first, the development of a small array of five individual identical plasma cells where each cell is ignited and quenched individually, which can be upscaled to several tens or hundreds of cells. The power electronics for ignition of plasma is composed of a multiplexing system with a kHz high-voltage plasma ignition pulse and an RF-supply that can be distributed to each ignited cell to maintain the plasma in the respective cell. Experimental results show an ignition voltage for argon of 1300 V and RF-current per cell of 70 mA.

2024

Printing of use-cases by direct-to-shape inkjet printing with industrial robot

Conference ArODES

Philip Kessler, Johannes Renner, Benoît Sahli, Vincent Schneuwly, Vincent Nidegger, Gilbert Gugler, Florian Fässler, Danijel Tipura

Proceedings of the Advanced Inkjet Technology Conference, 29-31 January 2024, Fribourg, Switzerland

Link to the conference

Summary:

In the initial phase of this project, a single-colour printing system was developed to perform printing tests on 2D surfaces in different orientations and robot workspaces. These test prints were scanned by a microscope and treated by an image processing software, which allowed the statistical characterisation of the drop placement error and its different parameters. An active ink pressure control system was developed, implemented and tested to mitigate the pressure fluctuations caused by the dynamics that occur within the system. Using high precision distance sensors, a correlation between drop placement error and robot path accuracy was proven, confirming the effectiveness of the ink pressure control. In the second phase, a four-colour printing system was developed to test high quality graphic printing and selective coating on an automotive part. This phase involved several considerations, including path generation, correcting positioning errors, ensuring stitching quality, achieving coating uniformity and implementing UV curing on 3D surfaces. The DTS workflow developed in this project was tested and improved on various use cases including automotive parts and furniture.

Smart materials by Inkjet

Conference ArODES

Muriel Mauron, Lucie Castens Vitanov, César Michaud, Raphaël Wenger, Derek Kiebala, Roseline Nussbaumer, Gilbert Gugler, Stephen Schrett

Proceedings of the Advanced Inkjet Technology Conference, 29-31 January 2024, Fribourg, Switzerland

Link to the conference

Summary:

There is growing interest in voxelated matter as it allows to build up tailored made surface functionalization and innovative new gradient materials. Inkjet-based printing is the only method that can create voxelated materials with high precision, digital and extremely versatile through high controlled formation of small pico-liter droplets [1, 2]. In this case the droplet will be the smallest material unit called voxel. The spatially controlled deposition allows to functionalize surfaces, build materials gradients, and combine different materials to generate printed surfaces with new features. In this way, the preparation of surfaces and coatings with a tailored functionalization and performance on demand becomes possible. Through the vehicle of inks with different softness grades which are doped with mechanochromic additive, we have developed a multi-material inkjet platform, which allows to create gradient materials with new performance. The additive has helped to characterize this new kind of materials on one hand and on the other hand it will be the start of creating new smart materials with gradient properties by inkjet. The first drop casting tests of these two inks has proven the mechanochromism by the measurement of the ratio between the intensity of the monomer and the excimer under UV light. The intensity in the mixing zone was measured at different strain. Finally, it was proven that the hardness in the mixing zone could be defined.

2022

Inkjet printing :

Conference ArODES

a new technique for manufacturing solid insulation systems

Ioana Preda, Dominique Rolle, Sebastian Filliger, Natalia Carrie, Gilbert Gugler

Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Dielectrics, 3rd-7th July 2022, Palermo, Italy

Link to the conference

Summary:

This work investigates several dielectric coatings, of different thicknesses, applied over metalized layers. More precisely, acrylate-based dielectric materials were fabricated using two different additive manufacturing techniques: spincoating and inkjet. While microscope imaging showed that uniform layers could be achieved by both techniques, breakdown strength, along with partial discharge measurements showed that microstructural defects were present in the bulk and that the quality of the printed layers decreases as the thickness of the layers increases. Nevertheless, it is shown that lacquer insulating layers, of variable thickness, can be easily obtained by inkjet printing. Even without any process optimization, they exhibit good dielectric properties, which shown their potential for electrical engineering applications.

2021

Investigation of ink-jet printed lacquer systems for coating applications

Conference ArODES

Ioana Preda, Sebastian Filliger, Natalia Carrie, Gilbert Gugler

Proceedings of European Coating Symposium (ECS) 2021, 7-9 September 2021, Brussels, Belgium

Link to the conference

Summary:

This work presents a material screening study conducted while researching an 100% UV lacquer for an ink-jet coating application. In the first part of the study, spin-coating was used for creating a uniform coating of 7 μm over a metallic substrate. The uniformity and the defect-free characteristics of the coating were confirmed by FIB microscopy and by electrical tests, which were found to be a reliable tool for ensuring the preparation of defect-free coatings over metallic substrates. In the second part of the study, the manufacturing process was switched to ink-jet. The best jetting and UV curing parameters were found to ensure good wetting between consecutive coating layers while having sufficient curing. Although thicker coatings of about 20 μm/layer were produced using ink-jet, the defect-free characteristics were conserved up to 50 consecutive layers, confirming that thicker yet uniform coatings could be obtained by ink-jet. The new testing method was helpful during the material screening. Furthermore, we have shown that lacquer systems can be easily obtained by ink-jet printing and could be very useful for electrical engineering applications.

Printing and generating structural colors by means of inkjet technology

Conference ArODES

Nicolas Muller, Pavel Yazghur, Frank Scheffold, Gilbert Gugler

Proceedings of European Coating Symposium (ECS) 2021, 7-9 September 2021, Brussels, Belgium

Link to the conference

Summary:

In the context of Industry 4.0, inkjet technology has the unrivaled advantage of being digital and versatile by its nature. The recent breakthrough in the understanding of structurally colored materials provides new design platforms for pigments in a variety of applications. An appealing approach is the design of photonic pigments for inkjet printing. However, inkjet technology imposes strict limitations with respect to pigment size. Here we show the deposition and the fabrication of photonic pigments by inkjet technology.

Long distance jetting :

Conference ArODES

digital printing on non-planar shapes

Olivier Bürgy, Nicolas Muller, Natalia Carrie, Gilbert Gugler, Yoshinori Domae

Proceedings of European Coating Symposium (ECS) 2021, 7-9 September 2021, Brussels, Belgium

Link to the conference

Summary:

The inkjet printing technology plays a major role in the digital printing field. Having the possibility to digitally and selectively print or coat areas offers a great advantage. Usually inkjet was limited to flat substrates but nowadays with modern printheads and advanced waveform tuning, it is possible to extend the jetting distance and print on non-planar shapes. This paper will compare different printheads and the strategies used to increase the jetting distance.

2019

Selective inkjet coating of printed circuit boards with paraffin wax

Conference ArODES

Johannes Renner, Reto von Arx, Mathieu Soutrenon, Gilbert Gugler, Fritz Bircher

Proceedings ECS (European Coating Symposium) 2019, 8-11 September 2019, Heidelberg, Germany

Link to the conference

Summary:

The protection of PCB’s is done by coating a protective film of wax over the boards. In this work it showed, that inkjet printing is a fast, accurate and economically competitive way to selectively coat PCB’s. The proposed process by 3Diam AG has been developed with the core competences of iPrint and is currently adapted for mass production.

Achievements

PEOPLE@HES-SO
Directory and Skills inventory

Gugler Gilbert

Assoziierter Professor FH/Co-Leiter Kompetenzzentrum

Main skills

Printing and Coating

Surface treatment

Functional Surfaces and Materials

Thin Films and Surface Treatment

Inkjet

Project Management

Industrial Coating Processes

Assoziierter Professor FH/Co-Leiter Kompetenzzentrum

PEOPLE@HES-SO Directory and Skills inventory

Gugler Gilbert

Assoziierter Professor FH/Co-Leiter Kompetenzzentrum

Main skills

Printing and Coating

Surface treatment

Functional Surfaces and Materials

Thin Films and Surface Treatment

Inkjet

Project Management

Industrial Coating Processes

Assoziierter Professor FH/Co-Leiter Kompetenzzentrum

PEOPLE@HES-SO
Directory and Skills inventory