Integrated Heated Ink Circulation for 3D Wax Printing Flow Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D wax printers face issues with high-viscosity, high-temperature phase change materials causing blockages and temperature non-uniformity due to poor fluidity, leading to complex structures, high costs, and inefficient circulation in the circulating ink supply modules.
Innovation Solution
A circulating ink supply system with a heating element and power module to maintain fluidity, combined with a buffer cavity and reflux pump to ensure uniform temperature and circulation, utilizing internal channels for compact design and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional circulating ink supply modules are used for wax 3D printing, then the system can operate with standard circulation capabilities, but the high-viscosity, high-temperature phase change materials cause blockages and temperature non-uniformity due to poor fluidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating element, circulating pump, ink supply cartridge, and ink return cartridge into an integrated circulating ink supply module. This consolidation eliminates the need for complex external connecting pipelines while ensuring uniform temperature distribution and reliable circulation of high-viscosity wax materials throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer cavity as an intermediary component between the ink supply cartridge and ink return cartridge. This buffer cavity accommodates thermal expansion of the wax material and maintains pressure balance, preventing blockages and ensuring smooth circulation of high-temperature phase change materials.
2Speed
If temperature is increased to improve fluidity of wax materials, then the printing material flows better, but temperature non-uniformity causes blockage in the circulating structure
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the circulating module housing, ensuring uniform heat distribution across all components (ink supply cartridge, buffer cavity, ink return cartridge). This integrated heating approach maintains consistent temperature throughout the circulation system, preventing localized blockages while ensuring adequate fluidity for high-speed printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulating pump operates continuously to maintain constant flow of wax material through the heated circulation path. This continuous circulation ensures that temperature uniformity is maintained throughout the system and prevents any portion of the wax from cooling and solidifying, thereby avoiding blockages.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional circulating structures with separate cartridges and external pipelines are used, then the system can handle standard inks, but the structure becomes complex with large space requirements and difficult maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates all circulation components (heating element, pump, supply cartridge, return cartridge) into a single compact module with internal channels. This integrated design eliminates complex external piping, reduces space requirements, and allows the entire module to be easily removed and replaced for maintenance, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining versatility with high-viscosity materials.
4Reliability
If high-temperature heating is applied to maintain fluidity of phase change materials, then the ink remains liquid, but energy consumption increases and temperature control becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated into the circulating module and heats all components (supply cartridge, buffer cavity, return cartridge) simultaneously during circulation. This efficient heat distribution minimizes energy waste and maintains optimal temperature with lower power consumption compared to external heating systems, while ensuring reliable printing of phase change materials.
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 system maintains fluidity and temperature uniformity for high-viscosity inks, preventing blockages and solidification, supporting high-flow printing with a compact, low-cost structure and efficient circulation.
Implementation Method 1
The circulating module is heated by the heating element, so that the high-temperature phase change ink or the high-viscosity ink has good fluidity
Implementation Method 2
a power module, configured to provide kinetic energy for the circulating ink supply system, to make the ink circulate between the circulating module and the inkjet printhead
Implementation Method 3
The phase change material becomes a solid at a melting point, and there is a phase change process when re-heating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention are a circulating ink supply system for 3D ink-jet printing and a control method thereof, wherein the circulating ink supply system comprises an ink-jet printing head, a circulation module, a heating element, and a power module. The circulation module is heated by the heating element to enable high-temperature phase change ink or high-viscosity ink to have better fluidity, and circulation kinetic energy is provided by the power module, so that the circulation module achieves circulation of the fluid. Also disclosed in the present invention is an integrated design of an integrated ink-jet printing circulating ink supply device, wherein most components and modules are arranged in a heating cavity having a heating function, a fluid passage is achieved by heating an internal flow channel of the heating cavity, and by means of heat conduction, it is ensured that the temperature the entire circulation system is uniform and the high-temperature phase change material is in a molten state, thereby achieving high-flow printing. Due to the integrated structural design, the structure is more compact, the cost is low, maintenance is easy, and the heating design is more concise and concentrated, thereby ensuring the temperature uniformity of fluid.