3D Printer Print Head Dual Nozzle Positioning and Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printers face challenges in simultaneously controlling and maintaining both 3D and 2D nozzles due to their differing relative coordinates, which hinders precise positioning and leads to issues like nozzle jamming from dried ink.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printer design with a maintenance station and positioning sensors allows for single-action initial positioning of both nozzles, enabling precise movement and maintenance, using a print head with integrated 3D and 2D nozzles and a common positioning point with offsets, and a compensation movement to align the 2D nozzle with the maintenance station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate positioning is used for 3D nozzle and 2D nozzle, then each nozzle can be positioned independently, but the device complexity increases and positioning efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the positioning of 3D nozzle and 2D nozzle into a single positioning action by establishing a common positioning point on the print head. The positioning sensor detects this common point, and the control system calculates the positions of both nozzles based on pre-stored offset values, eliminating the need for separate positioning operations for each nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The common positioning point serves multiple functions: it acts as the reference point for positioning both the 3D nozzle and the 2D nozzle, simplifies the positioning process to a single action, and enables the system to handle both nozzles through one positioning operation, thereby improving efficiency and reducing complexity.
2Productivity
If 2D nozzle is not maintained, then printing can continue without interruption, but the 2D nozzle may jam due to dried ink
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary maintenance actions for the 2D nozzle by automatically moving it to the maintenance station during non-working status. The maintenance station provides cleaning and wetting functions to prevent ink drying before it causes jamming, ensuring continuous reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The 2D nozzle performs self-maintenance through the automated maintenance station that cleans and wets the nozzle during idle periods, allowing the system to maintain itself without external intervention and ensure continuous operation.
3Ease of repair
If 2D nozzle is moved to maintenance station, then maintenance can be performed, but the positioning precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning calculations using pre-stored offset values between the common positioning point and the 2D nozzle. This preliminary action ensures that when the 2D nozzle is moved to the maintenance station, its position is precisely determined in advance, maintaining positioning accuracy during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning sensor provides feedback on the common positioning point's location, and the control system uses this feedback along with pre-stored offset values to calculate and adjust the 2D nozzle's position, ensuring precise positioning even when the nozzle is being moved to the maintenance station.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method of the 3D printer includes: controlling a print head (12) to move toward a printing home location (I0) and utilizing a positioning sensor to sense a positioning point (L0) of the print head (12); performing initial positioning simultaneously to a 2D nozzle (122) and a 3D nozzle (121) based on the positioning point (L0) and location offsets among the positioning point (L0), the 2D nozzle (121) and the 3D nozzle (122); starting printing after the initial positioning is completed; controlling the print head (12) to move toward a maintenance station (3) when entering a non-work status and utilizing the positioning sensor to sense the positioning point (L0) of the print head (12); controlling the print head (12) to perform a compensation movement according to the location offset (C1, P1) between the location point and the 2D nozzle, so as to move the 2D nozzle (122) into the maintenance station (3) precisely.