3D Printing Head Speed Control for Smooth Closed Contours
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
3-D printing technologies often result in non-smooth junctions between the start and end points of closed-contour structures, leading to bumps on the printed objects and reduced printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A 3-D printing method and apparatus that control the printing head to move along a closed printing path with varying speeds and feeding-in ratios, where the second moving speed is less than the first and the first feeding-in ratio is greater than the second, to prevent incomplete curing and ensure smooth junctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printing head moves at a constant high speed along the closed printing path, then the printing efficiency is improved, but the junction between start and end points becomes non-smooth causing bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by varying the printing head's moving speed along the closed printing path. The speed is adjusted to be slower at the end point and start point regions to ensure smooth material deposition and proper curing, while maintaining higher speed in intermediate regions to preserve printing efficiency. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction between constant high-speed printing and smooth junction formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the motion parameters (speed and feeding-in ratio) of the printing head during the printing process. By modifying these parameters at different segments of the closed printing path, particularly reducing speed and adjusting feeding-in ratio near the junction points, the patent achieves smooth transitions without bumps while maintaining overall printing efficiency through parameter optimization rather than uniform slow printing.
2Manufacturing precision
If the printing head moves slowly to ensure smooth junctions, then the printing quality is improved, but the printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different speed and feeding-in ratio settings for different segments of the closed printing path. Only the critical regions (near end point and start point) receive special attention with slower speeds and adjusted feeding ratios, while the majority of the path maintains higher speed. This localized approach ensures smooth junctions where needed without unnecessarily extending the overall printing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the closed printing path into multiple regions with different motion characteristics. The path is divided into high-speed intermediate segments and low-speed junction segments, allowing the printing head to optimize speed for each segment's requirements. This segmentation enables smooth junction formation in critical areas while maintaining high productivity in non-critical areas, reducing total printing time compared to uniformly slow printing.
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
This approach prevents the occurrence of gaps and bumps between printed objects, enhancing the overall printing quality by ensuring accurate completion of closed-contour structures.
Implementation Method 1
a building material is made into filaments thereby, and then the building material after being heated and melted is stacked layer by layer on a forming platform
Implementation Method 2
prevent incomplete curing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A three-dimensional (3-D) printing apparatus and a three dimensional printing method are provided. The three dimensional printing method includes following steps. A closed printing path of a closed-contour structure is obtained, wherein the closed printing path includes a printing start point and a printing end point. A printing head is controlled to move from the printing start point and along a front segment of the closed printing path according to a first moving speed, and the printing head is controlled to simultaneously extrude a building material. After the printing head moves along the front segment of the closed printing path, the printing head is controlled to move to the printing end point along a rear segment of the closed printing path according to a second moving speed, and the printing head is controlled to simultaneously extrude the building material. The second moving speed is less than the first moving speed.