Heated 5-Axis Printing Fixture for Faster Drying and Stage Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 3D printing using 5-axis stages, the challenge is to prevent printing compounds from running during substrate movement, especially when using conductive inks, as indirect heating of the printing chamber can dry out materials before they reach the substrate, and existing solutions do not effectively allow for faster movement speeds.
Innovation Solution
A heated fixture for 5-axis stages comprising a base, stand, temperature sensor, and temperature controller, which thermally couples a heater to the substrate to maintain optimal drying conditions, enabling faster movement speeds while preventing the printing compound from running.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If indirect heating of the printing chamber is used to prevent printing compound from running, then the printing compound can be prevented from running, but the ambient environment dries out the printing compound before it reaches the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is extracted from the printing chamber environment and applied locally to the substrate through a heated fixture. This separates the heating action from the ambient environment, allowing controlled heating at the substrate level without drying the printing compound in transit.
Solution Approach 2:
A heated fixture serves as an intermediary between the heating source and the substrate. This intermediary device delivers thermal energy directly to the substrate surface, enabling controlled heating without exposing the printing compound to a hot ambient environment that would cause premature drying.
2Reliability
If the substrate is heated to prevent printing compound from running, then the printing compound can be prevented from running, but the movement speed of the 5-axis stage must be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is pre-heated before printing begins, establishing optimal drying conditions in advance. This preliminary heating action allows the printing compound to dry quickly upon deposition, enabling faster stage movement speeds without risking compound running.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature of the substrate is actively controlled and adjusted to optimize the drying rate of the printing compound. By changing the temperature parameter, the system achieves reliable compound stabilization while permitting higher movement speeds, as the heated substrate rapidly evaporates solvent from the deposited material.
3Productivity
If faster movement speeds of the 5-axis stage are used to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but the printing compound may run during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The heated fixture maintains continuous heating of the substrate throughout the printing process, ensuring constant drying conditions. This continuous thermal action allows the substrate to rapidly dry each layer as it is deposited, enabling faster stage movement without interrupting the drying process, thus maintaining both high productivity and reliable compound stabilization.
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 heated fixture ensures efficient drying of printing compounds, allowing for faster movement speeds of the 5-axis stage without prematurely drying the materials, thereby improving the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
The body is thermally coupled to the support surface and the heater is thermally coupled to the body, such that thermal energy generated by the heater is exchanged with the printing substrate via the body and the support surface
Implementation Method 2
The temperature sensor is configured to measure a first temperature related to a second temperature of the printing substrate
Implementation Method 3
The temperature controller configured to modulate electrical power supplied to the heater based on the first temperature measured by the temperature sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A heated fixture for a multi-axis stage to improve drying of the printing compound and to enable faster movement speeds of the stage. The fixture includes a base that attaches to a multi-axis stage of a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a stands supporting a printing substrate and a heater, a temperature sensor, and a temperature controller.