Concave FDM Filament Cross Section for Shorter Drying Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
FDM filaments used in 3D printing are hygroscopic, leading to moisture absorption that affects print quality with issues like bubbles, extrusion problems, and poor adhesion, necessitating lengthy and energy-intensive drying processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of filaments with a concave cross section, featuring reflex interior angles, which increases the surface area and reduces drying time, thereby improving moisture removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filaments are dried in an oven at typical temperatures (40-50°C) for typical drying times (4-6 hours), then moisture absorption is reduced and print quality is improved, but energy consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filament cross-section is segmented into multiple regions with different thermal properties. The concave shape creates regions with different surface areas and heat transfer characteristics, allowing different parts of the filament to dry at different rates, thereby reducing overall drying time while maintaining print quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric dimension of the filament cross-section from a standard circular shape to a concave shape. This dimensional change increases the surface area to volume ratio, enhancing moisture evaporation rates and reducing drying time without compromising the filament's structural integrity or print quality
2Reliability
If filaments are dried in an oven at typical temperatures (40-50°C) for typical drying times (4-6 hours), then moisture absorption is reduced and print quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filament cross-section is segmented into multiple regions with different thermal properties. The concave shape creates regions with different surface areas and heat transfer characteristics, allowing different parts of the filament to dry at different rates, thereby reducing overall drying time while maintaining print quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the filament cross-section to a concave shape, which alters the surface area to volume ratio. This parameter change enhances the efficiency of moisture evaporation during drying, reducing the energy required and time needed while maintaining print quality
3Ease of manufacture
If filaments have a standard circular cross section, then manufacturing is simple, but surface area is limited and drying time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The filament cross-section is segmented into multiple regions with different thermal properties. The concave shape creates regions with different surface areas and heat transfer characteristics, allowing different parts of the filament to dry at different rates, thereby reducing overall drying time while maintaining print quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric dimension of the filament cross-section from a standard circular shape to a concave shape. This dimensional change increases the surface area to volume ratio, enhancing moisture evaporation rates and reducing drying time without compromising the filament's structural integrity or print quality
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 concave cross section filaments significantly reduce drying time, enhancing print quality by minimizing moisture absorption and ensuring better adhesion and mechanical integrity of printed objects.
Implementation Method 1
the filament has a cross section with a concave shape... increased surface area... reduced drying time... moisture removal efficiency
Implementation Method 2
Most filaments used in FDM are hygroscopic, which means that they can absorb moisture from the air
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a 3D item (910) by means of fused deposition modelling using a 3D printer (100). The method comprises the step of layer-wise depositing a 3D printable material to provide the 3D item (910) comprising layers (920) of 3D printed material (921). The 3D printable material is a filament (200) comprising a thermoplastic material. The filament (200) has an axis of elongation (210). Perpendicular to the axis of elongation (210), the filament (200) has a cross section with a concave shape. The filament (200) may have a filament center portion (241) and a plurality of filament extensions (242), wherein the filament center portion (241) has a filament center axis that coincides with the axis of elongation (210) of the filament (200), and wherein each filament extension (242) has an extension length and extends from the filament center portion (241) in an extension direction perpendicular to the filament center axis. The use of the aforementioned filament (200) results in a reduced drying time, which in turn makes the method a less energy- and time-consuming process.