3D Printing Apparatus Nitrogen Sealing and Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rapid prototyping techniques face issues with adhesive drying on printing heads, inefficient powder application, high material waste, and prolonged processing times due to lack of sealing and quantitative powder supply, leading to contamination and reduced print quality.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional object-forming apparatus with a quantitative powder-supplying tank system, heating device for rapid drying, successive liquid-supplying device, dust-proof device, inkjet-print head maintenance system, and print quality detection using ground glass to ensure even powder application, prevent contamination, and maintain print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional ink-jet printing process is used without sealing, then printing operation can be performed, but adhesive dries on printing heads causing blockage and impairment of subsequent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by filling the storage tank and printing head environment with nitrogen gas to prevent adhesive from drying out. This creates a protective atmosphere that maintains adhesive viscosity and prevents blockage of printing heads during idle periods, thereby maintaining reliability without affecting operational ease.
2Productivity
If high printing rate of 8 m/s is used, then rapid prototyping speed is achieved, but turbulence causes powder grains to float in air and print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of printing head movement, adjusting the printing rate based on real-time conditions. The system can vary the printing speed from 8 m/s down to lower speeds to minimize turbulence and improve powder adhesion quality, while still maintaining high overall productivity through optimized printing patterns and multiple passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic printing actions with controlled pauses and variable speed segments. By using periodic deposition patterns rather than continuous high-speed printing, the system allows turbulence to settle between deposition events, improving powder adhesion while maintaining rapid overall build rates.
3Productivity
If conventional powder supply without quantitative control is used, then powder can be supplied continuously, but excessive powder is wasted and delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control in the powder supply system by using sensors to detect the actual amount of powder deposited and the current build state. This information feeds back to the control system, which adjusts the powder supply rate and quantity in real-time to match actual needs, eliminating excessive powder waste while maintaining continuous supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of powder supply from constant flow to variable flow based on real-time measurement. By dynamically adjusting powder supply parameters such as flow rate, particle size distribution, and supply timing according to actual deposition requirements, the system achieves both continuous supply and minimal waste.
4Strength
If model must dry completely before removal, then model strength is sufficient, but several hours of waiting time is required reducing rapid prototyping advantage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a heating device that actively removes moisture from the model during the printing process itself, rather than requiring passive drying after printing completes. This preliminary moisture removal action significantly reduces or eliminates the waiting time before model removal while ensuring sufficient strength through controlled dehydration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition by applying heat to transition water from liquid bound state in the powder matrix to vapor state for removal. This controlled phase transition through heating accelerates the drying process during printing, eliminating the need for several hours of waiting time while maintaining model strength through gradual moisture removal.
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 apparatus reduces material waste, accelerates the 3D object formation process by one-third to half, ensures consistent powder application, prevents contamination, and maintains print quality by controlling powder output and adhesive supply, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device used to heat during the printing of the printing module to accelerate the combination between the adhesive and the construction powder
Implementation Method 2
printing an adhesive with high viscosity on parts of the powder through an ink-jet printing process to make the adhesive and the powder stick together and solidify
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional object-forming apparatus is disclosed, which includes an in-batches powder-rationing tank system, a construction tank system, a printing powder-applying system, a rapid drying heating system, a printing maintenance device, a dust-proof device, a successive liquid-supplying device, a powder auto-filtrating and recycling device, and a print quality detection device.