FFF / FDM printer print head

Abstract

This utility model pertains to additive manufacturing, specifically to print heads for 3D printers using fused deposition modeling (FFF / FDM) technology, and can be used to uniformly cool the layer being formed in the print zone. The objective of this utility model is to create a print head that provides uniform, circular airflow over the layer formation zone with a heated airflow generated by a single fan as air passes through a radiator. This airflow reduces temperature gradients, internal stresses, and warpage of printed parts. The technical result consists of providing uniform, annular airflow over the layer formation zone with a heated airflow around the nozzle circumference, which helps reduce warpage of printed parts and improve the stability of layer formation. The print head comprises a housing with a fan mounted in the upper portion.The housing is designed to accommodate a radiator, thermal barrier, heating block, and nozzle. An annular air duct encircles the nozzle and connects to an outlet slit circumferentially around the nozzle. Airflow generated by the fan passes sequentially through the radiator and annular air duct into the layer formation zone.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of additive technologies, namely to the print heads of 3D printers operating using the FFF / FDM technology of layer-by-layer fusion of thermoplastic material, and can be used in units for the formation and thermal stabilization of the printed layer.

[0002] The closest technical solution is the FFF / FDM printer print head disclosed in patent US10144174B2 “Three dimensional printing apparatus and printing head module”, which contains a print head, a fan and a nozzle guide casing, wherein the air flow generated by one fan passes through the radiator area and is then directed to the nozzle and into the product formation area, simultaneously providing cooling of the feed channel and blowing of the deposited material.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known solution is that the airflow is delivered to the print zone unevenly, predominantly from one side or over a limited area. This results in localized temperature gradients in the layer being formed, leading to uneven cooling of the melt, internal stress, and warping of printed parts. Furthermore, in known solutions, the airflow passing through the radiator is not always distributed symmetrically relative to the nozzle, which reduces the stability of layer formation. The technical result of the utility model is to ensure uniform, circular airflow over the layer formation zone with a heated airflow generated by a single fan as air passes through the print head radiator. This helps reduce temperature gradients, internal stress, and warping of printed parts.

[0004] The problem that the claimed utility model is aimed at solving is to increase the uniformity of cooling of the formed layer in the print head of an FFF / FDM printer by organizing a 360° annular blowing with a heated air flow from a single fan.

[0005] The essence of the utility model is explained by figures, where Fig. 1 shows a general view of the print head with a 360° annular airflow system; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the print head with the location of the radiator, fan, annular air duct and outlet slit; Fig. 3 shows a front view of the print head with the direction of the air flow in the layer formation zone.

[0006] The following designations are used in the figures: 1 - case; 2 - radiator; 3 - fan; 4 - thermal barrier; 5 - heating block; 6 - nozzle; 7 - annular air duct; 8 - outlet slit.

[0007] The technical result is achieved in that in the print head of the FFF / FDM printer, the air flow generated by one fan sequentially passes through the radiator and the annular air duct covering the nozzle, after which it is fed through the outlet slit into the layer formation zone.

[0008] The print head comprises a housing 1, a radiator 2, a fan 3, a thermal barrier 4, a heating block 5, a nozzle 6, an annular air duct 7, and an outlet slit 8. A fan 3, which generates an air flow, is installed in the upper part of the housing 1. A radiator 2 is located in the housing 1, through which the said air flow passes, as a result of which the air is heated to a temperature lower than the temperature of the heating block 5, but higher than the ambient temperature. The air flow then enters the annular air duct 7, which surrounds the nozzle 6 along the circumference, and through the outlet slit 8 is directed into the printing layer formation zone uniformly along a full circle around the nozzle 6.

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the housing 1 is designed to accommodate a radiator 2, a thermal barrier 4, a heating block 5 and a nozzle 6. The fan 3 is fixed in the upper part of the housing 1 in such a way that the air flow created by it is directed through the radiator 2 and then into the annular air duct 7. The annular air duct 7 is designed to encircle the nozzle 6 and is connected to the outlet slit 8, formed along the circumference relative to the nozzle 6. The arrows indicate the direction of the air flow.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 3, the air flow from the annular air duct 7 through the outlet slit 8 is distributed around the nozzle 6 and directed to the layer formation zone.

[0011] The print head operates as follows. When fan 3 is turned on, an airflow is created that passes through heatsink 2, cooling it and simultaneously heating it. The airflow then enters annular air duct 7, is distributed circumferentially around nozzle 6, and is directed through outlet slit 8 onto the freshly deposited layer of material. Because air is supplied by a single fan and blown in a full circle by a heated airflow, more uniform thermal stabilization of the print area is achieved compared to single-sided blowing.

[0012] The proposed design is industrially applicable, as it can be manufactured using known materials and technologies used in the production of 3D printer print heads, and can be used in serial and pilot samples of equipment for additive manufacturing.

Claims

A print head of an FFF / FDM printer comprising a housing in the upper part of which a fan is installed, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate a radiator, a thermal barrier, a heating unit and a nozzle, characterized in that it comprises an annular air duct enclosing the nozzle and connected to an outlet slit formed along a circumference relative to the nozzle, wherein the fan is configured to create an air flow sequentially passing through the radiator and the annular air duct into the layer formation zone.

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