Marking Additive Particles for Permanent 3D Printed Object Markings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for marking 3D printed objects are prone to removal or damage, and struggle with achieving high contrast markings due to the physical properties of the materials, limiting the size and precision of markings that can be printed.

Innovation Solution

Development of particles with a polymer resin and a marking additive that changes color when exposed to light, allowing for direct marking of 3D printed objects by altering their optical properties, enabling secure and permanent markings without the need for additional printing or etching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current marking methods are used on 3D printed objects, then markings can be applied to the object surface, but the markings are prone to removal or damage and lack permanence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking permanenceVSAvoidmarking process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The marking additive is incorporated into the polymer resin during particle manufacturing before the 3D printing process. This preliminary incorporation ensures the marking capability is built into the material itself, eliminating the need for separate marking operations and ensuring permanent markings that cannot be removed or damaged separately from the object.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The marking function is integrated directly into the 3D printed object through the marking additive embedded in the polymer resin. The object itself performs the marking function when exposed to light, eliminating the need for external marking systems or additional processing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Illumination intensity

If traditional marking methods are used, then markings can be applied to 3D printed objects, but achieving high contrast markings is difficult due to material physical properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking contrastVSAvoidmarking process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The marking additive is specifically designed to change color when exposed to light of a particular wavelength. This photochromic or thermochromic property enables high contrast markings by creating a visible difference between marked and unmarked areas, solving the contrast problem inherent in traditional marking methods on 3D printed objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional marking methods are used, then markings can be applied to 3D printed objects, but the size and precision of markings are limited by material physical properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking precisionVSAvoidmarking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical or physical marking methods with an optical/chemical approach using light-exposed marking additives. This substitution enables higher precision markings by using light fields instead of mechanical contact, allowing for smaller and more precise markings without the limitations of material physical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If marking is performed after 3D printing, then markings can be added to completed objects, but the process requires additional printing or etching steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking speedVSAvoidmarking process steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the marking function with the 3D printing process by incorporating the marking additive into the polymer resin used during printing. This combination eliminates the need for separate marking operations, reducing both the number of process steps and the overall time required to produce marked objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution allows for quick and precise marking of 3D printed objects with high contrast and small font sizes, providing more permanent and secure markings compared to existing methods, with the ability to write markings at speeds up to 8 meters per second.

Implementation Method 1

a marking additive that allows selective portions of the 3D object to change color when exposed to a light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotochromism: Photochromism

Implementation Method 2

controlling, by the processor, a laser to expose portions a surface of 3D printed object in accordance with the marking instructions to change a color of the portions of the surface of 3D printed object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotochemical reaction: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS12103237B2Particles comprising marking additives for selective laser sintering-based additive manufacturing systems

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A particle and a method for producing the same is disclosed. For example, the particle includes a polymer resin that is compatible with a three-dimensional (3D) printing process to print a three-dimensional (3D) object and a marking additive that allows selective portions of the 3D object to change color when exposed to a light, wherein the marking additive is added to approximately 0.01 to 25.00 weight percent (wt %).