Butterfly Valve Flow Control for 3D Printing Stringing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current three-dimensional shaping apparatuses face challenges in accurately controlling the discharge amount and timing of shaping materials, leading to issues like stringing, incomplete stopping of material flow, and inaccurate shape formation due to delayed or excessive material delivery.
Innovation Solution
A shaping material supply device equipped with a butterfly valve in the flow path for precise control of discharge initiation and stopping, along with a suction section for quick material cessation and a purge section for efficient nozzle clearing, ensures accurate flow regulation and minimizes stringing by allowing for precise control over the shaping material flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If material discharge is stopped by moving the nozzle away from the deposition position, then the shaping process can be completed for a region, but the material flow cannot be immediately stopped and discharge timing is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates material discharge control from nozzle movement control. The valve independently controls material flow in the flow path, while the nozzle can move to different deposition positions. This segmentation allows material discharge to be stopped immediately by closing the valve without waiting for nozzle movement, resolving the timing delay problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is positioned upstream in the flow path to control material discharge before it reaches the nozzle. By preliminarily controlling the material flow at the valve location, the system can stop material discharge immediately when needed, without the delay associated with moving the nozzle away from the deposition position.
2Manufacturing precision
If material discharge is stopped by moving the nozzle, then regional shaping can be completed, but the discharged material amount cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives information about the shaping progress and adjusts the valve opening degree accordingly. By implementing feedback control, the system can precisely regulate the material discharge amount based on the actual shaping requirements, ensuring accurate material deposition without excess or deficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve opening degree is dynamically adjusted during the shaping process. Instead of fixed discharge rates, the system can change the valve opening degree in real-time to match the varying material requirements at different stages and positions of the shaping process, achieving precise discharge amount control.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle remains at the deposition position after material discharge stops, then material may accumulate, but moving the nozzle away causes stringing between disposed and remaining material
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the material flow control function from the nozzle assembly and places it in the valve positioned upstream in the flow path. By taking out the flow control function from the nozzle, the system can stop material discharge at the valve location while the nozzle remains positioned, preventing both stringing and material accumulation issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary between the material source and the nozzle. It mediates the material flow by controlling discharge independently of nozzle position, allowing the nozzle to remain at the deposition position without causing stringing, while the valve prevents material accumulation by stopping flow before it reaches the nozzle.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a three-dimensional shaping apparatus comprising a nozzle having a discharge port through which a shaping material is discharged, and a flow rate regulation mechanism that includes a butterfly valve provided in a flow path upstream of the discharge port.