3D Printing Resin Heating With Guided Hot Air Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV curing methods for 3D printing face challenges with non-uniform heating, high energy consumption, and inefficient temperature control due to low thermal diffusivity and uneven temperature distribution, particularly affecting the viscosity of UV adhesives.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printing apparatus with a tank, transparent plates, a gas channel, and a heater system that uses heated air to uniformly heat the photocurable resin, enhancing heating efficiency and reducing viscosity through a fluid guider and duct configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If hot air is used to heat the entire system, then the UV adhesive can be heated, but it takes a long period of time to warm up and consumes a lot of energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the heater directly adjacent to the curing glass where the UV adhesive is located, rather than heating the entire system. This localized heating approach concentrates thermal energy precisely where needed, reducing overall energy consumption while achieving the required temperature for the UV adhesive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat-resistant transparent plate as an intermediary between the heater and the curing glass. This intermediary component efficiently transfers heat from the heater to the curing glass and UV adhesive while protecting the heater from direct exposure to the UV curing process, thereby improving heating efficiency and reducing energy waste.
2Temperature
If hot air is used to heat the entire system, then the UV adhesive can be heated, but it requires equipping a housing with a heat insulation design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by concentrating heating functionality at the specific location of the curing glass through a localized heater, eliminating the need for comprehensive heat insulation housing. This approach reduces structural complexity while maintaining effective temperature control where it is most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heating function from the overall system housing and isolates it as a separate, localized component positioned directly at the curing glass. This extraction eliminates the requirement for a complex heat-insulated housing structure, simplifying the overall device design while preserving heating effectiveness.
3Temperature
If a polyester film heater is attached around the curing glass to heat the glass, then the glass can be heated, but glass exhibits a low thermal diffusivity and an uneven temperature distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat-resistant transparent plate as an intermediary between the heater and the curing glass. This intermediary has superior thermal diffusivity compared to glass, enabling more uniform heat distribution across the curing glass surface while maintaining the heating function. The intermediary plate effectively mediates the thermal transfer process, overcoming the low thermal diffusivity of glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the system by introducing a material with different thermal properties (the heat-resistant transparent plate) between the heater and the curing glass. This parameter change improves thermal diffusivity and achieves more uniform temperature distribution, directly addressing the manufacturing precision issue.
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 achieves uniform heating of the photocurable resin, reducing energy consumption and eliminating the need for heat insulation, while accelerating curing and minimizing release time and force.
Implementation Method 1
The heater is thermally connected to the gas channel to heat a gas in the gas channel
Implementation Method 2
The fluid guider is configured to guide the heated gas to the gas channel
Data Source
AI summary
A 3D printing apparatus including a base plate, a transparent plate, a fluid space, a molding container, a heater, a fluid guider and a light engine is provided. The fluid space is disposed between the base plate and the transparent plate. The molding container has an accommodating space and the base plate is disposed in the accommodating space. The heater is configured to heat a fluid. The fluid guider is configured to guide the heated fluid into the fluid space. The light engine is configured to project a pixelated light on the base plate.