Interior-Surface Coloring Filament for 3D Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional 3D printing technologies face challenges in seamlessly transitioning between colors due to wall friction and eddies within the nozzle, leading to color mixing and blurring, which affects the precision and detail of the final 3D objects.

Innovation Solution

A color-application unit positioned upstream of the 3D printer applies color to the interior surface of the filament, which is then surrounded by transparent exterior layers, preventing color from sticking to the nozzle walls and getting caught in eddies, thus allowing for cleaner color transitions and improved color precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If color is applied to the exterior surface of the filament, then the coloring process is simpler, but color mixing and blurring occur due to wall friction and eddies in the nozzle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoloring process simplicityVSAvoidcolor transition precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying color to the exterior surface of the filament, the patent applies color to the interior surface. This inversion of the conventional approach prevents color from contacting the nozzle walls and eliminates the harmful effects of wall friction and eddies, achieving sharp color transitions while maintaining a relatively simple coloring process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If conventional extrusion 3D printing is used, then the printing process is straightforward, but color transitions are blurred due to nozzle dynamics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process simplicityVSAvoidcolor transition sharpness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by applying color to the interior surface rather than the exterior. This allows the filament to be fed through the nozzle in the same straightforward manner, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating color mixing caused by nozzle wall friction and eddies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a color-application unit as an intermediary component positioned upstream of the 3D printer. This intermediary applies color to the interior surface of the filament before it enters the extrusion nozzle, acting as a mediator that enables precise color transitions without modifying the fundamental extrusion process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If color is applied to the interior surface of the filament, then color transition precision is improved, but the coloring process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor transition precisionVSAvoidcoloring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a color-application unit as an intermediary component that applies color to the interior surface of the filament. While this adds a component to the system, it enables precise color transitions by preventing color mixing in the nozzle, and the added complexity is localized to the coloring subsystem rather than the entire 3D printing system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10589458B2Coloring filament for three-dimensionally printing colored objects

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 MAKERBOT IND LLC

AI summary

A filament for use with a printer head of a 3D printer includes an exterior surface and an interior surface having color selectively applied thereto, where the color of the interior surface is visible through the exterior surface, and where the color is applied only to the interior surface such that the color remains substantially isolated from components of the printer head when traveling therethrough.