Cleaning Device for 3D Printed Objects with Mobile Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning three-dimensional objects with openings, recesses, and channels are ineffective in removing unsolidified powdery building material from these complex geometries, as superficial fluid flow fails to reach and remove material from internal surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a mobile arm that employs vibration, fluid introduction, and suction modes to target and remove powdery building material from openings, recesses, and channels, using a vibration exciter to dislodge material and a suction device to collect it, with control systems for precise operation and mode sequencing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fluid is applied to the object surface, then surface cleaning is achieved, but material inside openings, recesses, and channels remains unaffected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through a vibration exciter that contacts the object surface and transmits vibrational energy to dislodge powdery build-up material from openings, recesses, and channels. This vibration mechanism enables material removal from internal geometries that fluid alone cannot reach, thereby resolving the contradiction between surface cleaning effectiveness and overall cleaning completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by introducing a suction device that creates negative pressure to extract powdery material from the object's openings, recesses, and channels. This pneumatic approach complements the vibration method and enables complete material removal from internal surfaces, addressing the limitation of surface-only cleaning.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple cleaning modes are implemented, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device integrates multiple cleaning modes (vibration mode with vibration exciter, fluid introduction mode with spray nozzle, and suction mode with suction device) that can be selectively activated based on the specific cleaning requirements of different object regions. This multi-functional design allows a single device to handle various cleaning scenarios effectively, improving cleaning effectiveness while managing device complexity through purposeful integration rather than redundant components.
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
The method and device effectively remove unsolidified powdery building material from intricate object features, improving cleaning efficiency by using targeted vibrations and fluid flows to dislodge and suction to collect material, ensuring thorough cleaning of internal surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration exciter designed and configured to excite the object to vibrations by structure-borne sound in a vibration mode
Implementation Method 2
excite the object to vibrations by structure-borne sound in a vibration mode
Implementation Method 3
a suction device which is configured and designed to generate a suction flow by which unconsolidated powdery build-up material is extracted from the object
Implementation Method 4
a fluid introduction device designed and configured to introduce or flow at least one fluid in a controlled manner into at least one opening and/or at least one recess and/or at least one channel opening
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for cleaning at least one three-dimensional object (3), which in particular has at least one opening, a recess and/or a channel penetrating the object (3), in a cleaning device (1), wherein the object (3) has been produced by layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a powdered build-up material in the course of a build process, from surrounding, unsolidified powdered build-up material (20), wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: the object (3) is held or clamped in a holding or clamping device (28) of the cleaning device (1), and the object (3) is cleaned of the surrounding, unsolidified powdered build-up material (20) by means of a tool.at least part of which is guided by a mobile arm (10) of a handling device (12) of the cleaning device (1) which is controlled manually or by a control (32), wherein at least part of the tool means can be guided by the mobile arm (10) into different positions relative to the object (3) in order to perform at least one cleaning mode at each of the positions.