3D Printing Ink Volume Control for Color Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet printing techniques for fabricating three-dimensional objects face issues with color consistency and accuracy, particularly in layer overlap regions, leading to unwanted darker tones or color loss, which degrades the appearance of miniature dioramas and other detailed structures.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that adjust the ink volume in overlap regions of layers using a combination of coloring and transparent inks, reducing the ink volume in overlap areas to maintain color tone consistency and prevent darkening or loss, allowing for continuous color layers with partial overlap to accelerate the fabrication process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the colored parts in respective layers are made continuous with no overlap, then color accuracy is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving high-accuracy position adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidposition adjustment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of overlap regions from non-overlap regions. Specifically, the ink volume in overlap regions is reduced to a smaller volume than in non-overlap regions, creating localized color correction where needed. This allows the system to maintain continuous colored parts for manufacturing efficiency while correcting color accuracy only in the specific overlap areas where darkening occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the colored parts in respective layers overlap, then manufacturing speed is improved, but color tone accuracy deteriorates due to visual darkening in overlap regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabrication speedVSAvoidcolor tone accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces ink volume specifically in overlap regions while maintaining normal ink volume in non-overlap regions. This localized adjustment allows continuous colored parts to overlap for faster manufacturing while preventing unwanted darkening in the overlap areas, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and color tone accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the ink volume parameter in overlap regions to a smaller volume than in non-overlap regions. This parameter modification directly addresses the darkening issue in overlap areas while maintaining the overlapping structure for manufacturing speed, effectively resolving the contradiction between productivity and color tone accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the ink volume is reduced in overlap regions, then color tone consistency is improved, but ink consumption increases due to need for additional transparent ink layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor tone consistencyVSAvoidink consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material approach by combining coloring ink with transparent ink. The transparent ink layers are applied over the reduced-volume coloring ink in overlap regions to achieve the desired color tone consistency. This composite approach allows color correction while managing ink consumption through strategic layering rather than uniform application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The approach ensures a pleasant color tone across the three-dimensional object by regulating ink volume in overlap regions, preventing darkening and color loss, thus enhancing the visual quality and speed of the fabrication process.

Implementation Method 1

an inkjet head device that discharges an ultraviolet-curable resin ink and a coloring ink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInkjet printing:

Implementation Method 2

an ultraviolet irradiator that irradiates the discharged ink with ultraviolet light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet curing: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10065376B2Three-dimensional object fabrication device, three-dimensional object fabrication method, and three-dimensional object

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO LTD

AI summary

A three-dimensional object fabrication device, a three-dimensional object fabrication method, and a three-dimensional object decorated in any desired colors are provided. In the three-dimensional object, second colored regions of the layers overlap each other, and a discharged ink volume of a coloring ink per unit volume is reduced to a smaller volume in the second colored region than in a first colored region adjacent to the second colored region.