Adjustable 3D Printing Head Shutter Nozzle Length

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional 3D printing heads struggle to balance printing efficiency and accuracy, as they are either low in efficiency with small-diameter nozzles for high accuracy or low in accuracy with large-diameter nozzles for high efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A 3D printing head with a discharge port that is continuously adjustable in length, controlled by a shutter mechanism, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the nozzle's length to match the cross-sectional contour of the print object, enhancing both printing efficiency and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a small-diameter nozzle is selected for high printing accuracy, then printing accuracy is improved, but printing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidprinting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the discharge port length adjustable rather than fixed. The drive apparatus enables the discharge port to dynamically change its length between a first length (for high accuracy) and a second length (for high efficiency), allowing the system to adapt to different printing requirements and resolve the contradiction between accuracy and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the discharge port length. By adjusting the discharge port length between different values, the system can optimize for either accuracy (shorter length) or efficiency (longer length) depending on the printing task, thus resolving the technical contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a large-diameter nozzle is selected for high printing efficiency, then printing efficiency is improved, but printing accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidprinting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the discharge port length adjustable rather than fixed. The drive apparatus enables the discharge port to dynamically change its length between a first length (for high accuracy) and a second length (for high efficiency), allowing the system to adapt to different printing requirements and resolve the contradiction between accuracy and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the discharge port length. By adjusting the discharge port length between different values, the system can optimize for either accuracy (shorter length) or efficiency (longer length) depending on the printing task, thus resolving the technical contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a fixed-shape nozzle is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different print objects deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle structure complexityVSAvoidadaptability to print object contour

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed discharge port into an adjustable one. The drive apparatus enables the discharge port to change its length dynamically, allowing the nozzle to adapt to different print object contours and requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the universality principle by designing the discharge port to perform multiple functions through length adjustment. The same discharge port structure can serve different printing needs (high accuracy, high efficiency, different contours) by changing its length, reducing the need for multiple specialized nozzles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11104070B23D printing head, 3D printing device and control method of 3D printing head

Publication Date: 2021.08.31 HUANG WEIDONG

AI summary

A 3D printing head, a 3D printing device and a control method of the 3D printing head are provided. The 3D printing head includes a feeding pipe, provided with an opening at its bottom; a shutter, disposed at the opening and slidably connected to the bottom, where the opening includes a region occluded by the shutter and a region not occluded by the shutter, and the region not occluded by the shutter forms a discharge port of the 3D printing head, where the discharge port includes a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end define a length of the discharge port; and a drive apparatus, used to drive the shutter sliding at the opening to adjust the length of the discharge port. The 3D printing head makes it possible to take both printing efficiency and printing accuracy into account.