FDM 3D Printer Localized Heating for Engineering Plastics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional FDM three-dimensional printers using engineering plastics require large, expensive equipment and high energy consumption for high-temperature printing, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies due to the need for extensive preheating and cooling times, and often result in shrinkage and reduced adhesive strength of printed objects.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional printer design that uses a stainless steel nozzle and a hard anodized aluminum printing plate with localized heating, including an aluminum core and silicon thermal plate, to minimize energy consumption and prevent shrinkage, while allowing for the use of both commodity and engineering plastics without additional sheets, and optimizing printing parameters for improved adhesive strength and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional FDM three-dimensional printers use engineering plastics with high melting temperatures, then the durability and thermal resistance of printed objects are improved, but the energy consumption and equipment size increase due to the need for high-temperature printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies localized heating through a heater that contacts only the nozzle and immediate surrounding areas, rather than heating the entire chamber. This localized approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining the high temperatures needed for engineering plastic printing, resolving the contradiction between durability improvement and energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into targeted zones (nozzle and immediate chamber) rather than uniform whole-chamber heating. This segmentation allows precise temperature control where needed, reducing overall energy consumption while ensuring proper melting and adhesion of engineering plastics
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional FDM three-dimensional printers completely seal the chamber and heat the inside to 180°C for a long time, then shrinkage of plastic is prevented and stacking strength between layers is improved, but the preheating time and cooling time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-heats only the nozzle and immediate chamber area before printing begins, rather than heating the entire chamber. This preliminary localized heating prepares the critical printing zone quickly, reducing preheating time while still preventing shrinkage and ensuring proper layer adhesion
Solution Approach 2:
The heating is concentrated in the nozzle and immediate chamber area where it is most needed, rather than uniformly heating the entire chamber. This local quality approach achieves the necessary temperature conditions for preventing shrinkage and improving stacking strength with significantly reduced heating time
3Reliability
If conventional FDM three-dimensional printers use large-sized equipment to maintain high temperature throughout the chamber, then the ambient temperature is maintained for sufficient adhesive strength, but the equipment cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains high temperature only in the nozzle and immediate chamber area where adhesive strength is critical, rather than heating the entire large chamber. This localized heating approach ensures sufficient adhesive strength between layers while using smaller, less expensive equipment with lower maintenance costs
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 enables the efficient printing of engineering plastics with high melting temperatures, reducing energy consumption, preventing shrinkage, and enhancing adhesive strength between layers, while allowing for the use of both types of plastics without additional sheets, resulting in a more cost-effective and efficient printing process with improved product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first aluminum core coupled to the first nozzle to heat the filament introduced from the first introduction hole
Implementation Method 2
provided with a thermal plate configured to generate high-temperature heat, and having an upper surface to which a ceramic paper is attached, the thermal plate locally applies heat to an upper side of the printed object
Implementation Method 3
the silicon thermal plate locally applies heat to a lower side of the printed object
Implementation Method 4
a cooling part provided on the nozzle part to cool the nozzle part
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a three-dimensional printer of a fused deposition modeling and software setting values thereof, which blocks transmitting calories of a nozzle upwards and simultaneously heats a lower aluminum output plate at a high temperature to locally transfer heat in a sandwich form to where an output proceeds, such that it is possible to realize miniaturization of engineering plastic printing at low energy, prevent the shrinkage of a printed object, and maximize adhesive strength between layers, wherein the three-dimensional printer is further provided with a nozzle made of SUS having excellent heat resistance to use an engineering plastic filament having a high melting temperature and obtain optimal quality within a numerical range of predefined software setting values, wherein the output plate is provided with a hard anodized aluminum plate so that both commodity plastic and engineering plastic material can be used without a need to attach an additional special sheet.