Extruder Head with Adjustable Specification Elements for Complex 3D Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extruder heads for 3D printing of structural parts lack flexibility in extruding building materials, particularly concrete, with limited degrees of freedom in shaping and positioning, which restricts the creation of complex structural elements like walls and ceilings with varying thicknesses and integrated features like slots and channels.
Innovation Solution
The extruder head features a controllable nozzle with adjustable specification elements and setting apparatuses that allow for variable and continuous adjustment of the strand cross-section shape and size, enabling horizontal discharge and deposition without damaging existing strands, and an integrated system for precise movement and control of the extrusion process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the extruder head uses a fixed nozzle design, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability for creating complex geometries is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The extruder head employs dynamically adjustable specification elements (at least one adjustable periphery-defining element and one adjustable inner element) that can be continuously positioned to create varying strand cross-section shapes. This dynamic adjustability enables the same nozzle structure to adapt to multiple geometry requirements without physical reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the strand cross-section by adjusting the positions of specification elements relative to the discharge opening. By varying parameters such as width, height, and shape characteristics through continuous positioning, the system achieves diverse geometries from a single nozzle design, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the extruder head discharges vertically, then gravity assists material flow, but the ability to deposit on existing strands without damage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The extruder head enables dynamic discharge direction adjustment through its configurable specification elements and setting apparatus. The system can transition from vertical discharge (benefiting from gravity) to horizontal or angled discharge configurations, allowing deposition onto existing strands at various orientations. This dynamic reconfigurability maintains operational ease while significantly improving deposition flexibility and adaptability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the extruder head has fixed cross-section dimensions, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the manufacturing precision for varying thicknesses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The extruder head incorporates dynamically adjustable specification elements including periphery-defining elements and inner elements that can be continuously positioned to vary strand cross-section dimensions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise control over thickness variations without requiring multiple fixed-nozzle configurations, achieving high manufacturing precision while keeping the adjustment mechanism relatively simple and integrated.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle interior is segmented into functional zones defined by periphery-defining elements and inner elements. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of different cross-section parameters (width, height, shape) by positioning individual elements, enabling precise control over varying thicknesses while maintaining a modular and manageable adjustment mechanism structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If the extruder head is designed for horizontal discharge, then deposition quality is improved, but the ease of operation for vertical positioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extruder head employs dynamic reconfigurability through its adjustable specification elements and setting apparatus, allowing the discharge orientation to be changed from horizontal to vertical or intermediate angles. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to achieve high deposition quality through horizontal discharge when needed, while maintaining ease of operation for vertical positioning through the same reconfigurable mechanism, thus resolving the contradiction between deposition quality and operational ease.
Data Source
AI summary
An extruder head for extruding a strand of building material for 3D printing of a structural part. The extruder head has an extruder nozzle with a discharge opening for discharging the strand of building material out of the extruder head in a discharge direction, a specification element designed to be variably adjustable for variably settably specifying at least a part of a strand cross section of the strand of building material being discharged, and a setting apparatus designed for variably setting the at least one specification element. The setting apparatus is designed and arranged such that the extruder head, in a first extent direction which differs from the discharge direction, extends below the discharge opening, in the case of a maximum opening height, by at most the maximum opening height, and/or, in at least one second extent direction differing from the discharge direction, extends to the side of the discharge opening, in the case of a maximum opening width, by at most the maximum opening width.