Additive Manufacturing Nozzle with Segmented Rings for Variable Road Widths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional additive manufacturing nozzles can only reliably produce roads with a limited range of widths, requiring separate nozzles or multiple print heads to achieve different road widths, which leads to delays and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle design featuring an inner ring, an outer ring, and at least one annular recessed groove allows for the production of roads with varying widths from a single nozzle, maintaining good surface quality by guiding the extruded material effectively for both narrow perimeter and wide interior roads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional nozzles are used, then the nozzle structure is simple, but the road width is limited to a narrow range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad width rangeVSAvoidnozzle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle tip is segmented into multiple concentric rings (inner ring, outer ring, intermediate ring) with recessed grooves between them. This segmentation allows different portions of the nozzle to guide material flow for different road widths, enabling a single nozzle to produce variable road widths while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the nozzle tip have different geometries optimized for different functions. The inner ring region produces narrow roads, the intermediate ring region produces medium-width roads, and the outer ring region produces wide roads. Each local region has tailored dimensions and profiles to achieve specific road width characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple nozzles or print heads are used to achieve different road widths, then road width variety is improved, but equipment cost and printing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad width varietyVSAvoidprinting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A single nozzle is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating multiple rings and recessed grooves that enable production of different road widths (narrow, medium, wide) from one component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized nozzles or print heads, reducing equipment costs and setup time while maintaining the ability to produce varied road widths throughout the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple nozzles or print heads are used to achieve different road widths, then road width variety is improved, but equipment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad width varietyVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The functionality of multiple separate nozzles (each optimized for specific road widths) is merged into a single integrated nozzle structure with multiple rings and recessed grooves. This consolidation reduces the total number of components, simplifies the printing system, and lowers equipment costs while preserving the capability to produce different road widths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables the production of stable roads with different widths from a single nozzle, reducing printing time and equipment costs while maintaining high surface quality and z-axis lamination strengths.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element for heating the consumable material in the flow channel to a temperature at which the consumable material is flowable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a tip pipe for extruding the flowable material received from the flow channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtrusion: Extrusion

Data Source

PatentUS11273596B2Print head nozzle for use with additive manufacturing system

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 STRATASYS INC

AI summary

A nozzle for printing three-dimensional parts with an additive manufacturing system, the nozzle comprising a nozzle body having an inlet end and a tip end offset longitudinally from the inlet end, a tip pipe for extruding a flowable material, an inner ring extending circumferentially around the tip pipe at the outlet end, an outer ring extending circumferentially around the inner ring, at least one annular recessed groove located circumferentially between the inner ring and the outer ring.