Hydraulic Construction Platform Adjustment for 3D Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current construction platform adjustment mechanisms in three-dimensional printers are complex, time-consuming, and occupy significant space, with low precision and high costs due to manual or motor-driven screw adjustments, leading to issues with maintaining parallel relationships between the platform and printing heads.
Innovation Solution
The use of oil cylinders with solenoid valves and a hydraulic oil system simplifies the adjustment process, reduces space requirements, and enhances precision by controlling the adjustment mechanism through a control circuit, allowing for accurate parallel alignment of the construction platform with the printing heads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual screw adjustment or motor-driven gear adjustment is used, then the construction platform can be adjusted, but the adjustment process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic cylinders with solenoid valves to replace manual screw adjustment and motor-driven gear adjustment mechanisms. The hydraulic system allows for automated, rapid, and precise adjustment of the construction platform's position and parallelism, significantly reducing both the complexity and time required for adjustment operations.
2Ease of operation
If motors and gear groups are used for adjustment, then the construction platform can be adjusted, but the volume of elements increases and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinders provide a compact adjustment mechanism that replaces the bulky motors and gear groups. The hydraulic system achieves the same adjustment functionality with significantly reduced volume, allowing for more efficient use of space within the three-dimensional printer structure.
3Ease of operation
If motors and gear groups are used for adjustment, then the construction platform can be adjusted, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic adjustment system with solenoid valves provides a cost-effective alternative to motor-driven gear systems. The simpler hydraulic components require less precision manufacturing and assembly, reducing overall production costs while maintaining effective adjustment capability.
4Ease of operation
If manual screw adjustment is used, then the construction platform can be adjusted, but the adjustment precision is not accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinders provide precise control of the construction platform's position through controlled hydraulic pressure. The solenoid valves enable accurate positioning by precisely controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid, achieving adjustment precision that exceeds manual screw adjustment capabilities.
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
This solution reduces adjustment time, simplifies the mechanism, lowers costs, and improves the precision and stability of the construction platform alignment, preventing collisions and ensuring successful printing by maintaining the adjusted condition due to incompressible hydraulic oil.
Implementation Method 1
when the solenoid valves are closed, the oil cylinders can still maintain adjusted condition because of the incompressibility of the hydraulic oil
Implementation Method 2
the oil cylinders can be reset to the lowest initial positions through the springs
Data Source
AI summary
A three dimensional printer includes a spray head, a transmission mechanism, a construction platform, an adjustment device of the construction platform, a plurality of oil cylinders, an oil tank and a sensor. The spray head is disposed opposite to the construction platform, and the transmission mechanism is connected to the spray head for driving the spray head to move at a horizontal displacement plane. The oil cylinders are disposed at the construction platform for adjusting the construction platform to be parallel to the horizontal displacement plane. Hydraulic oil is stored in the oil tank, and each oil cylinder is connected with the oil tank through an oil pipe. The sensor is disposed at the spray head for sensing a plurality of vertical distances between the spray head and the oil cylinders. Therefore, the adjustment process and mechanism are simplified, and the advantages of enhancing the precision of the adjustment are achieved.