3D Construction Printer with Detachable Lateral Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D printing technologies for the construction industry face challenges in producing large three-dimensional components due to the weight of the printing platform, which makes it difficult to apply thin layers and results in high material waste and costs, especially when trying to keep the platform stationary and maintain lateral containment.

Innovation Solution

A device with a coupling mechanism that allows a delimiting device to be detachably coupled to the printing frame, enabling vertical adjustment and lateral containment of particulate material, allowing the platform to remain stationary during printing and facilitating easy demolding and material transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the printing platform is moved down during the printing process, then thin layers of particulate material can be applied with precision, but the enormous weight of the printing platform makes this difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayer application precisionVSAvoidprinting platform weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the heavy printing platform down during printing, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the platform stationary and moving the printing frame upward in steps after each layer is applied. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining precision through controlled movement while avoiding the difficulty of moving the heavy platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic adjustment capability to the printing frame, allowing it to be moved vertically in controlled steps after each layer deposition. This dynamic movement of the lighter printing frame instead of the heavy platform enables precise layer application without the mechanical difficulties of moving the platform down.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the printing platform is kept stationary and side walls are printed in particulate material for lateral delimitation, then the platform remains fixed, but a very large amount of material is required forming side walls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform stabilityVSAvoidparticulate material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the lateral delimitation function from the printed particulate material and transfers it to a separate delimiting device made of reusable formwork material. This removes the need to consume large amounts of particulate material for creating side walls, while keeping the platform stationary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The delimiting device made of formwork material can be removed and reused for subsequent printing operations. This recovering of the delimitation structure eliminates the continuous consumption of particulate material that would otherwise be required to form disposable side walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If the printing platform is heavy and stationary, then lateral containment is maintained, but demolding becomes difficult and material transport requires waiting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral containmentVSAvoidproduction cycle speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the system into a stationary printing platform and a movable printing frame assembly. This segmentation allows the platform to remain stationary for reliable lateral containment while the lighter frame with delimiting device can be independently moved for demolding and reused, enabling parallel production cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The printing frame assembly is designed with dynamic movement capability, allowing it to be raised and moved horizontally after printing. This dynamic behavior enables quick demolding and transport of the finished component without moving the heavy platform, thereby increasing production speed while maintaining containment during printing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution enables efficient lateral containment of particulate material, reduces material waste, and allows for faster production cycles by enabling the platform and component to be moved for demolding and preparing a new printing area without waiting for demolding, while preventing damage to the printing frame.

Implementation Method 1

at least one coating device for layer-by-layer application of the particulate material on the printing platform

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMaterial deposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

which are solidified in locally predetermined areas and connected to one another to form at least one three-dimensional component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3260272B1Device for the production of at least one three-dimensional component for the building industry
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 METALLCONCEPT GMBH
  • EP3260272B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3260272B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3260272B1 patent drawingFigure 6a~6c

AI summary

Device (1) for producing at least one three-dimensional component (2) for the construction industry from a plurality of layers of particle material (4) arranged one above the other on a printing platform (3), which are solidified in locally predetermined areas and joined together to form at least one three-dimensional component (2), comprising at least one printing frame (5) on which at least one coating device (6) for applying the particle material (4) layer by layer to the printing platform (3) and at least one print head (7) for dispensing at least one binder at the locally predetermined areas are movably mounted, and a frame (8) on which the printing frame (5) is adjustably mounted at least in the vertical direction (9) in the operating position of the device (1), wherein a coupling device (10, 11) is provided,with which a limiting device (12) for laterally limiting the particle material (4) can be detachably coupled to the at least one pressure frame (5), so that the limiting device (12) can be moved together with the pressure frame (5) when adjusted at least in the vertical direction (9).