Elastic Membrane 3D Printer for Bottom-Up Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bottom-up photo-curing 3D printing technologies face limitations such as mechanical stress, suction effect, and reduced precision due to non-elastic membranes, leading to slow and unstable printing processes, especially for larger objects.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an independent elastic membrane system resting on a rigid support, allowing for tilting movement and adhesive components to reduce mechanical stress and suction effect, enhancing precision and object detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a non-elastic membrane is used in bottom-up photo-curing 3D printing, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but mechanical stress and suction effect increase leading to reduced printing precision and stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional non-elastic membrane with an elastic membrane that can deform under mechanical stress and suction effects. This elastic membrane allows the system to accommodate the forces generated during layer detachment without compromising printing precision, while still maintaining structural simplicity and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the membrane from non-elastic to elastic, fundamentally altering its mechanical properties. This parameter change enables the membrane to dynamically respond to varying forces during the printing process, maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and printing accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the extraction plate moves continuously with tilting movement, then layer detachment is achieved, but the printing process becomes slow and mechanically unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical tilting movement system with a stationary extraction plate and an elastic membrane system. The membrane's elasticity substitutes for the mechanical tilting action, allowing layer detachment through material deformation rather than mechanical motion, thereby eliminating the slow and unstable tilting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elasticity to the membrane system, allowing it to adaptively respond to forces during layer formation and detachment. This dynamic behavior replaces the static, continuous mechanical tilting movement, enabling faster and more stable printing without compromising layer detachment capability.
3Ease of operation
If silicone materials are used for the elastic membrane, then flexibility and non-stick properties are improved, but operational life is reduced due to mechanical stress and resin absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the elastic membrane, combining silicone base material with reinforcement layers or coatings. This composite structure maintains the flexibility and non-stick properties of silicone while adding mechanical strength and resistance to resin absorption, thereby extending the membrane's operational life under repeated mechanical stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies protective coatings or reinforcement layers to the silicone membrane before use, creating a protective barrier that cushions against mechanical stress and reduces resin absorption. This beforehand cushioning protects the underlying silicone material, extending its operational life while maintaining flexibility.
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 solution reduces mechanical stress, increases printing accuracy, and extends the operational life of silicone materials, enabling the production of both small and large cross-section objects with improved reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
curing of a particular type of polymer due to exposure to light radiation
Implementation Method 2
independent elastic membrane system
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns an apparatus for 3D printing of bottom-up photo-curing type, comprising a light source (26) above which a tank (10) containing a photo-curing liquid material (24) is placed inside which it is immersed an extraction plate (25), which is equipped with moving means with alternating rectilinear motion, along a direction perpendicular to the bottom of said tank (10) from a position at a distance from the bottom of said tank (10) equal to the thickness of a layer obtainable by photo-curing of said photo-curing liquid material (24), the bottom (14) of said tank (10) being constituted by an elastic membrane (23) transparent to the radiation of said light source (26), said tank (10) being positioned in correspondence with a hole (13) of a support plate (12), said hole being provided with a rigid support (11), transparent to the radiation of said light source (26), wherein said rigid support (11) is provided with means for displacing with respect to said hole (13), from a position in which said rigid support (11) occupies said hole (13), and is in contact with elastic membrane (23), to a position in which said rigid support (11) deviates from said hole (13) and from said elastic membrane (23), characterised in that between said elastic membrane (23) and said rigid support (11) means are placed apt to increase adherence between said elastic membrane (23) and said rigid support (11).The invention additionally concerns a method of use of said apparatus for 3D printing.