Pulsed Laser Material Displacement for Precise Droplet Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in precisely depositing or displacing material in various applications, such as printing and additive manufacturing, where precise control over the placement of discrete volumes of material is required, and existing methods lack efficiency in manipulating material streams using radiation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves providing a stream of discrete volumes of material and using a pulsed laser beam to interact with the material, causing displacement by generating vapors, plasma, or chemical reactions, with adjustable parameters like wavelength, energy, and pulse duration to control the displacement trajectory and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pulsed laser beam is used to displace discrete volumes of material, then manufacturing precision and material placement accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for laser systems and parameter control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying laser beam parameters (wavelength, energy, pulse duration) to control material displacement. The processing apparatus adjusts these parameters to achieve precise material placement while managing the complexity of the laser system through controlled parameter variation rather than complex mechanical systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If laser parameters such as wavelength, energy, and pulse duration are adjusted to control displacement, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to parameter optimization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the processing apparatus monitors and adjusts laser parameters based on material displacement outcomes. This feedback loop enables precise control of wavelength, energy, and pulse duration by measuring actual displacement results and optimizing parameters accordingly, reducing the difficulty of parameter optimization through systematic measurement and adjustment.
3Productivity
If a pulsed laser beam interacts with material to generate vapors, plasma, or chemical reactions for displacement, then productivity is improved through selective material manipulation, but loss of substance increases due to vaporization and plasma formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using pulsed laser beams that deliver just sufficient energy to achieve material displacement without excessive vaporization. By controlling pulse duration and energy levels, the system manipulates material selectively while minimizing loss through vaporization and plasma formation, optimizing the balance between productivity and material conservation.
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 approach allows for precise and efficient displacement of material from a stream to specific locations, enabling applications like selective deposition in printing and additive manufacturing, with potential for recycling unused material and improving process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A pulsed laser beam is directed at a first discrete volume of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream
Implementation Method 2
causing displacement by generating vapors, plasma, or chemical reactions
Implementation Method 3
causing displacement by generating vapors, plasma, or chemical reactions
Data Source
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AI summary
A method comprises : providing a first stream of discrete volumes (908b) of material, and directing a pulsed laser beam (912) at a first discrete volume (908b) of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system for achieving such steps are also disclosed.