Carriage Synchronization Controller for 3D Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Three-dimensional (3D) printers face challenges in increasing printing speed while avoiding catastrophic collisions between carriages, which can damage the printer.

Innovation Solution

A synchronization controller is coupled to multiple carriages in a 3D printing system to coordinate their movements, ensuring that the first carriage delivers material, the second carriage spreads it, and the third carriage applies agents, all while avoiding collisions by controlling their perpendicular and co-axial movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple carriages operate simultaneously to perform different tasks (material delivery, spreading, fusing, agent application), then printing productivity is improved, but the risk of catastrophic collisions between carriages increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidcollision avoidance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization controller continuously monitors the positions of all carriages and adjusts their movements in real-time based on feedback signals. This closed-loop control system ensures that carriages maintain safe distances and coordinate their actions to prevent collisions while maximizing printing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A synchronization controller acts as an intermediary between multiple carriages, coordinating their movements and resolving potential conflicts. This central control mechanism manages the complex interactions between carriages performing different tasks, ensuring safe operation while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If carriages move at high speeds to increase printing efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the severity of potential collisions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidcollision damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization controller proactively prevents collisions by calculating predicted positions of all carriages and adjusting their trajectories before conflicts occur. This anticipatory control approach allows high-speed operation while eliminating the harmful effect of collisions through preventive coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If carriages operate independently to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but coordination between carriages deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol systemVSAvoidmovement coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the control functions of multiple carriages into a single synchronization controller that manages all carriage movements centrally. This unified control approach maintains simple individual carriage designs while achieving sophisticated coordination through the integrated control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11298882B2Carriage synchronization of a multi-carriage three-dimensional printer

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 PERIDOT PRINT LLC

AI summary

An example three-dimensional printing system includes a first carriage, a second carriage, and a synchronization controller. The synchronization controller is coupled to the first carriage and the second carriage to synchronize movements of the first carriage and the second carriage. The synchronization controller is to avoid interference between the first carriage and the second carriage.