3D Printing Oxygen Supply Control for Low-Adhesion Resin Curing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D printing technologies lack a stable gas supply apparatus, particularly for forming an oxygen-enriched region to reduce adhesion between cured resin and a material tray, and current methods for oxygen preparation are inefficient, costly, and unsuitable for small-scale use.

Innovation Solution

A 3D printing system with a controller communicating with a gas separation apparatus to control the generation and supply of an oxygen-enriched gas, using a nitrogen adsorption module and pressure swing adsorption to separate and regulate oxygen concentration and flow, ensuring stable gas supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional oxygen preparation methods (low temperature distillation, membrane separation, pressure swing adsorption) are used, then oxygen-enriched gas can be obtained, but the equipment is large in size, high in investment cost, high in energy consumption, and complex in operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen-enriched gas supplyVSAvoidgas preparation system
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of oxygen preparation from complex traditional systems and implements it through a simplified gas separation apparatus using pressure swing adsorption technology. The system selectively adsorbs nitrogen from air while allowing oxygen to pass through, obtaining oxygen-enriched gas without requiring large-scale distillation equipment or complex membrane systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable or easily replaceable adsorbent materials (molecular sieves) in the gas separation apparatus. These adsorbents can be regenerated or replaced without requiring complex equipment, reducing investment costs and simplifying maintenance compared to traditional oxygen preparation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Quantity of substance

If traditional oxygen preparation methods are used, then oxygen-enriched gas can be obtained, but the operation is complex and the requirement for cleanliness of input air is strict

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen-enriched gas supplyVSAvoidgas preparation operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gas separation apparatus automatically performs adsorption and desorption cycles using pressure swing, eliminating the need for complex manual operations. The system self-regulates the adsorption process by varying pressure, requiring minimal operator intervention and reducing operational complexity compared to traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If traditional oxygen preparation methods are used, then oxygen-enriched gas can be obtained, but the gas supply is unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen-enriched gas supplyVSAvoidgas supply stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous gas separation through cyclic pressure swing adsorption, where adsorption and desorption processes occur continuously in alternating phases. This ensures stable and continuous oxygen-enriched gas supply without interruption, improving reliability compared to batch processing methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Force

If oxygen-enriched region is formed between resin and material tray, then adhesion force is reduced, but the printing efficiency becomes lower when adhesive force is larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion forceVSAvoidprinting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the gas environment by introducing oxygen-enriched gas between the resin and material tray. This parameter change modifies the adhesion characteristics, reducing adhesion force and facilitating easier peeling of cured resin, thereby improving printing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system provides a stable and efficient oxygen-enriched gas supply, reducing adhesion forces and enhancing printing efficiency by forming an oxygen-enriched region, thus improving the overall performance of 3D printing.

Implementation Method 1

using a nitrogen adsorption module and pressure swing adsorption to separate and regulate oxygen concentration and flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure swing adsorption: Pressure Swing Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4691739A13D printing system and method
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 GUANGZHOU HEIGE ZHIZAO INFORMATION TECH CO LTD
  • EP4691739A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4691739A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4691739A1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present invention discloses a 3D printing system and method. The system includes a 3D printer, a controller, and a gas separation apparatus. The controller connects with the 3D printer, and is configured to control the 3D printer to perform 3D printing. The controller also connects with the gas separation apparatus, and is configured to generate a control instruction according to a preset control policy and send same to the gas separation apparatus. The gas separation apparatus is configured to, based on the received control instruction, separate a target gas from air received from the outside of the gas separation apparatus, so as to transport same to the 3D printer. According to the present invention, the technical problem that there is no stable gas supply apparatus suitable for 3D printing in the related art is solved.