3D Printing Nozzle Color Consistency via Adaptive Pull-Back Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional printing apparatuses face issues with maintaining consistency in harmonious colors when switching between different forming materials, leading to reduced printing quality and yield due to inconsistent pulling-back amounts during the filament-extruding suspending period.
Innovation Solution
A controller determines individual pulling-back amounts for each forming material based on their respective feeding-in ratios, ensuring that the materials are pulled back in a manner that maintains color consistency by adjusting the pulling-back amounts according to the feeding-in ratios, thereby preventing non-uniform colors in the printed objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If same amounts of two forming materials are pulled away from a same nozzle in the filament-extruding suspending period, then the operation is simple, but the harmonious color of the extruded forming material becomes inconsistent with expectation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the pulling-back operation for each forming material based on its specific feeding-in ratio. Instead of a uniform pulling-back amount, each material receives a customized pulling-back distance proportional to its feeding-in ratio, ensuring that the material composition in the nozzle maintains the desired harmonious color ratio throughout the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pulling-back distance from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on the feeding-in ratio of each forming material. By dynamically adjusting the pulling-back distance according to the feeding-in ratio, the system maintains consistent material composition and color in the extruded material, resolving the color inconsistency problem.
2Manufacturing precision
If different pulling-back amounts are used for different forming materials to maintain color consistency, then the color uniformity is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the feeding-in ratios of different forming materials and using this information to adjust the pulling-back distances. The controller receives feedback on material feeding rates and automatically calculates the appropriate pulling-back amounts to maintain the desired material composition, achieving color uniformity through closed-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and setting the pulling-back distances based on the known feeding-in ratios before the extrusion process begins. This proactive adjustment ensures that the correct material composition is maintained in the nozzle from the start, preventing color inconsistency rather than correcting it during printing.
3Ease of operation
If forming materials are not pulled back in the filament-extruding suspending period, then the system operation is simplified, but material overflows from the nozzle causing quality reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing a controlled pulling-back operation that removes only the necessary amount of material to prevent overflow, rather than completely emptying the nozzle. The pulling-back distance is precisely calculated based on the feeding-in ratio to remove just enough material to maintain proper composition without excessive removal that would waste material or require additional refilling operations.
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 solution ensures consistent color output by adaptively adjusting the pulling-back amounts of different forming materials, preventing material overflow and maintaining uniformity in the printed objects, thus enhancing the overall printing quality and yield.
Implementation Method 1
heat and melt the forming materials by means of a fed material heating structure and the nozzle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
A three dimensional printing apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. A first forming material (20a) and a second forming material (20b) are adapted for being fed into a melting nozzle (120). A controller (130) determines a first pulling-back amount according to a first feeding-in ratio of the first forming material and determines a second pulling-back amount according to a second feeding-in ratio of the second forming material. During a period in which a printing module stops extruding any material, the controller controls a feeding module to pull back the first forming material along a direction which is departing from a melting nozzle and controls the feeding module to pull back the second forming material along the direction which is departing from the melting nozzle.