Compact 3D Printer Extrusion Structure for Stable Material Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 3D printer extrusion structures are bulky, heavy, and cause significant space and cost issues, leading to instability and uneven material feeding, making them unsuitable for near-end and ultra-near-end printing.
Innovation Solution
A compact and lightweight 3D printer extrusion structure utilizing a combination of active and driven extrusion gears with an adjustable support mechanism, integrated heat dissipation, and miniaturized components for stable and accurate material feeding, featuring a one-grade reduction gear system and integrated heat dissipation for reduced volume and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional extrusion structures are used, then material feeding is achieved, but the structure becomes bulky and heavy, occupying significant space and causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The extrusion structure is divided into modular components including a housing, motor assembly, gear system, and heat dissipation system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining structural integrity and feeding stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Components are nested within each other to minimize space occupation. The motor is positioned within the housing, the gear system is contained within the housing, and the heat dissipation fins are integrated into the housing structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces weight and space.
2Reliability
If traditional extrusion structures are used, then material feeding is achieved, but the structure occupies significant space and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated housing structure that contains the motor, gear system, and heat dissipation components. This merging eliminates the need for separate housings for each subsystem, significantly reducing overall volume while maintaining feeding stability through coordinated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation system uses vertically oriented fins that extend in the Z-dimension rather than expanding horizontally, allowing efficient heat dissipation without increasing the horizontal footprint of the extrusion structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If single gear feeding is used, then material feeding is achieved, but feeding becomes uneven with poor stability and accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A gear system with an active extrusion gear and a driven extrusion gear is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the motor and the material feed. This gear pair provides mechanical advantage and synchronized motion, ensuring even and accurate material feeding while distributing the mechanical load.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear system parameters including tooth profile, module, and pressure angle are optimized to achieve smooth and even material feeding. The active and driven gears are designed with specific parameter relationships that ensure consistent feed rate and high positioning accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables stable, accurate, and efficient material feeding suitable for miniaturized applications, enhancing user experience and printing quality while reducing the overall size and weight of the extrusion structure.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member 160, wherein the elastic member 160 is arranged at a side of the second end 144 towards the active extrusion gear 130
Implementation Method 2
a heating rod 270, configured to heat the material 101
Implementation Method 3
a first heat dissipation fan 230 and a second heat dissipation fan 280
Data Source
AI summary
A 3D printer extrusion structure, comprising: a housing; a motor provided on the housing; an active extrusion gear provided in the housing and connected to the motor; an adjusting support rotatably connected inside the housing; a driven extrusion gear provided at one end of the adjusting support and rotatably connected to the adjusting support; and an elastic member, the elastic member being connected to an other end of the adjusting support to enable the end of the adjusting support provided with the driven extrusion gear to approach the active extrusion gear, so that the driven extrusion gear works in conjunction with the active extrusion gear to extrude material, wherein the end of the adjusting support provided with the driven extrusion gear extends to the outside of the housing.