Additive Manufacturing Nozzle Diffusion Room for Clogging Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nozzles used in additive manufacturing with multiple holes for ejecting powdered material are prone to clogging due to small cross-sections, leading to uneven distribution and potential blockages.
Innovation Solution
The nozzle design includes a first passage with a conical inner surface and a second passage surrounding it, forming a diffusion room with a longer distance between inner surfaces, which diffuses the material and fluid before ejection, reducing drag and preventing clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large number of holes are used in the nozzle to eject powdered material, then the distribution of ejected material becomes more uniform, but the cross section of each hole becomes small and clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle passage is segmented into multiple functional zones: a diffusion room with multiple supply paths, a main passage, and an ejection hole. This segmentation allows the material flow to be divided and distributed through different routes, preventing clogging while maintaining uniform ejection. The diffusion room specifically divides the incoming material into multiple streams that recombine in the main passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a simple linear passage to a three-dimensional structure with a diffusion room that extends in the radial direction. The distance between the inner surface and outer surface in the diffusion room is designed to be longer than in the ejection hole, creating a volumetric diffusion space rather than a narrow channel, which prevents clogging while maintaining material distribution.
2Reliability
If the nozzle passage is designed with a longer diffusion room, then material distribution becomes more uniform and clogging is suppressed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion room is nested within the nozzle body, with the main passage surrounded by the diffusion room structure. The conical surface is nested within the cylindrical outer surface. This nested arrangement allows the complex diffusion functionality to be integrated within the existing nozzle geometry without requiring separate external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusion room serves multiple functions simultaneously: it diffuses material to prevent clogging, distributes material uniformly through multiple supply paths, and maintains structural integrity as part of the nozzle body. The conical surface both guides material flow and provides structural support for the passage walls.
3Manufacturing precision
If the passage cross section is reduced to increase material ejection precision, then the material distribution improves, but the amount of material ejected per unit time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion room performs preliminary diffusion and distribution of material before it reaches the ejection hole. By pre-distributing the material through multiple supply paths and allowing it to diffuse in the expanded space, the material is better prepared for ejection, enabling precise distribution without requiring a reduced ejection hole cross section.
Solution Approach 2:
The main passage acts as an intermediary between the diffusion room and the ejection hole. It collects and redistributes material from the diffusion room's multiple supply paths, maintaining flow velocity and pressure while ensuring uniform distribution into the ejection hole, thus preserving both precision and ejection rate.
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 design ensures even distribution of material and gas, suppressing clogging and increasing the amount of material ejected per unit time, enhancing the efficiency and speed of additive manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusion room spaced apart from the end portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction and configured to supply the powder and the fluid to the second passage
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle includes a nozzle member includes a first passage, a second passage surrounding the first passage and configured to eject powder and fluid from an end portion, a diffusion room apart from the end portion and configured to supply the powder and the fluid to the second passage, and a supply path to supply the powder and the fluid to the diffusion room. A first inner surface of the nozzle member includes a first curved surface in a conical shape having a diameter decreasing toward the end portion. A second inner surface of the nozzle member includes a second curved surface in a conical shape having a diameter decreasing toward the end portion. The second passage is formed between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The diffusion room is formed between the first inner surface and the second inner surface.