3D Curved-Surface Printing with Curvature-Based Pass Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional object printing on curved surfaces with varying curvatures faces challenges in maintaining printing speed without conspicuous errors, as existing methods struggle to manage overlapping widths and angles effectively, leading to visible seams and increased printing time.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional object printing apparatus with a liquid ejecting head and a moving mechanism that adjusts relative positions and postures to perform multiple passes with varying overlapping widths and angles, specifically increasing the overlapping width on regions with smaller curvatures to minimize errors and reducing it on regions with larger curvatures to enhance speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the overlapping width between adjacent passes is increased to prevent printing errors on surfaces with small curvature, then the printing error becomes less conspicuous, but the printing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different overlapping widths for different regions based on their curvature characteristics. Specifically, the overlapping width is set to be larger in regions with small curvature (where printing errors would be conspicuous) and smaller in regions with large curvature (where errors are less visible). This regional differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region independently rather than using a uniform overlapping width throughout the entire printing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the overlapping width variable rather than fixed. The overlapping width is dynamically adjusted according to the curvature of each region being printed. This allows the printing system to adapt the overlapping width in real-time based on the local surface geometry, thereby preventing printing errors in critical regions while maintaining efficient printing speed in regions where errors are less conspicuous.
2Device complexity
If the overlapping width is set uniformly across all regions, then the printing process is simple, but printing errors become conspicuous at portions with small curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality through curvature-based regional classification. The printing surface is divided into multiple regions according to their curvature characteristics, and each region is assigned an appropriate overlapping width. This approach maintains relative simplicity in the printing process while significantly improving printing quality in regions with small curvature where errors would otherwise be conspicuous.
3Manufacturing precision
If the angle between ejection directions in adjacent passes is increased, then the printing error at seams is reduced, but the overlapping width must be increased which slows down printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the angle between ejection directions based on the curvature of the printing region. In regions with small curvature where seam errors would be conspicuous, a larger angle between ejection directions is used to reduce visible errors. In regions with large curvature where errors are less visible, a smaller angle is used to maintain faster printing speed. This regional differentiation resolves the contradiction between seam error reduction and printing speed.
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 approach allows for improved printing speed without making errors conspicuous, by strategically adjusting overlapping widths and angles based on curvature, thus optimizing image quality and reducing printing time.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid toward a three-dimensional work having a curved surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a three-dimensional object printing apparatus, in which a printing operation for a workpiece includes: a first pass in which liquid is ejected toward a first region of the workpiece; a second pass in which the liquid is ejected toward a second region that partially overlaps the first region of the workpiece; a third pass in which the liquid is ejected toward a third region of the workpiece; a fourth pass in which the liquid is ejected toward a fourth region that partially overlaps the third region of the workpiece, the curvature of a surface including the first region and the second region is larger than the curvature of a surface including the third region and the fourth region, and an overlapping width between the first region and the second region is smaller than an overlapping width between the third region and the fourth region.