Inductive Nozzle Heating Assembly with Curie Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inductive nozzle heating assemblies for additive manufacturing lack efficient passive temperature control and easy exchangeability of nozzle bodies for different materials and sizes, often requiring resistance wiring and active control of electromagnetic induction.
Innovation Solution
An inductive nozzle heating assembly with a rod-shaped nozzle body of electrically conductive material and an induction coil unit, where the nozzle body has a predetermined Curie temperature, allowing for passive temperature control and easy swapping without direct contact, using eddy currents and hysteresis losses for heating, and featuring multiple heating pieces with varying Curie temperatures for segmented heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If resistance wiring is used for heating the nozzle body, then active control of electromagnetic induction is required, but this increases device complexity and reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces resistance wiring (electrical system) with an induction heating system using an induction coil and magnetic core. The induction coil generates an alternating magnetic field that induces eddy currents in the nozzle body, heating it without direct electrical contact. This substitution eliminates the need for complex wiring connections inside the nozzle, reducing device complexity and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic core as an intermediary between the induction coil and the nozzle body. The magnetic core concentrates and guides the magnetic flux from the induction coil to the nozzle body, enabling efficient heating without direct contact. This intermediary simplifies the heating mechanism and eliminates the need for internal wiring, improving ease of operation while reducing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the nozzle body is designed with internal heating elements, then temperature control is achieved, but exchangeability of nozzle bodies for different materials and sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the heating function from the nozzle body structure. The induction heating system (coil and magnetic core) is designed as a standalone modular unit that can heat different nozzle bodies without being integrated into them. This segmentation allows nozzle bodies to be easily manufactured in different materials and sizes, improving adaptability while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The induction heating system is designed as a universal solution that can heat multiple types of nozzle bodies for different materials and sizes. The magnetic core and induction coil configuration allows the same heating assembly to work with various nozzle geometries, eliminating the need for custom heating elements for each nozzle type. This universality improves adaptability while simplifying manufacturing.
3Productivity
If direct contact between induction coil and nozzle body is made, then heating efficiency is improved, but ease of exchange and cleaning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a magnetic core as an intermediary that enables efficient magnetic coupling between the induction coil and nozzle body without direct physical contact. The magnetic core concentrates the magnetic flux and transfers it to the nozzle body through close proximity coupling, achieving high heating efficiency while maintaining a small air gap. This allows easy exchange and cleaning of nozzle bodies without disassembling heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin magnetic core that provides effective magnetic coupling while maintaining a small separation distance between the induction coil and nozzle body. This thin intermediary structure achieves optimal magnetic flux transfer for efficient heating while preserving ease of nozzle body exchange and cleaning operations.
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
Enables fast and efficient heating with precise temperature control, inherent safety through Curie temperature limits, and easy exchange of nozzle bodies for various materials and sizes, facilitating multiple color and extrusion materials in additive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
inducing a magnetic field in the magnetic core. The magnetic field, when passing through the electrically conductive nozzle, induces eddy currents that heat the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
Eddy currents are induced by the magnetic field in the electrically conductive nozzle, which provide heating thereof
Implementation Method 3
induces eddy currents that heat the nozzle
Implementation Method 4
the rod shaped nozzle body comprises a heating piece having a predetermined Curie temperature, allowing passive control of one or more heated zones within the nozzle body
Implementation Method 5
a continuous or segmented core of material having high magnetic permeability but low electrical conductivity, forming a complete magnetic loop
Data Source
AI summary
An inductive nozzle heating assembly for an additive manufacturing system, comprises a rod shaped nozzle body of electrically conductive material provided with a passageway extending from an inlet end to an outlet end of the rod shaped nozzle body for dispensing an extrudable material. An induction coil unit is provided for magnetic engagement with the rod shaped nozzle body to allow heating thereof, wherein the induction coil unit encloses at least in part the rod shaped nozzle body. The induction coil unit and rod shaped nozzle body are spaced apart and separated by a minimum distance (Lg) larger than zero, and the rod shaped nozzle body comprises a heating piece having a predetermined Curie temperature.