Laser Material Displacement for Precise Droplet Trajectory Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in precisely depositing or displacing material in various fields, such as printing and additive manufacturing, where precise control over the placement of discrete volumes of material is necessary, 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 directing a pulsed laser beam to interact with the material, causing displacement by creating an impulse force through temperature increase, vaporation, or chemical reactions, with adjustable parameters like wavelength, energy, and pulse duration to control the displacement trajectory and location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional methods are used to deposit or displace material in printing and additive manufacturing, then material placement is achieved, but precision and control over discrete volumes of material are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of material placementVSAvoidefficiency of material manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical material manipulation systems with a radiation-based system. A pulsed laser beam is used to interact with discrete volumes of material in a stream, causing temperature increase, vaporization, or chemical reactions that generate impulse forces to displace material. This substitution enables precise control over material placement while maintaining high processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes adjustable parameters of the pulsed laser beam including wavelength, energy, and pulse duration to control the displacement of material. By varying these parameters, the system can precisely control the trajectory and location where material is deposited or diverted, achieving both high precision and efficiency in material manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If material is displaced using radiation interaction, then precise control over material trajectory is achieved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over material trajectoryVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pulsed laser beam system serves multiple functions: it heats material to increase temperature, vaporizes material to create impulse forces, and induces chemical reactions. This multi-functionality allows a single radiation-based system to achieve precise trajectory control without requiring multiple separate mechanical manipulation devices, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If pulsed laser beam is used to interact with material stream, then material displacement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial displacement precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pulsed laser beams rather than continuous radiation, delivering energy in discrete time intervals synchronized with the material stream. This periodic action allows precise energy delivery to individual discrete volumes of material, achieving high displacement precision while minimizing overall energy consumption by avoiding continuous irradiation of the entire material stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 controlled displacement of material streams, enabling efficient deposition or diversion of material in printing and additive manufacturing systems, with the potential for recycling or reuse of displaced material, and flexibility in targeting multiple locations.

Implementation Method 1

directing a pulsed laser beam 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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

causing displacement by creating an impulse force through temperature increase, vaporation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11712752B2Material displacement

Publication Date: 2023.08.01 HP INDIGO BV

AI summary

According to some examples in the disclosure, a method may comprise providing a first stream of discrete volumes of material; and directing a pulsed laser beam 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. An apparatus and a system are also disclosed.