Additive Manufacturing Marking Device for Substrate Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in additive manufacturing of buildings or their components lies in accurately positioning the structure or component on a surface, particularly due to environmental conditions and obstacles, which can lead to incorrect placement and collisions with existing reinforcements, requiring time-consuming and error-prone manual measurements or complex marking mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A device with a material dispensing unit that can move in multiple degrees of freedom, equipped with a marking device operatively connected to the conveyor device, allowing for efficient and accurate marking of the printing path on the surface without material output, using a laser or aerosol marking system that can be activated and deactivated based on the printing path, ensuring precise alignment and avoiding collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual measurement and marking methods are used to position the printing path, then the positioning accuracy can be improved, but the time consumption and error probability increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and marking operations with an automated optical marking system. A marking device with a laser or aerosol marker automatically marks the printing path on the substrate based on digital positioning data, eliminating the need for manual measurement and marking while maintaining high positioning accuracy and significantly reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-positioning and self-marking capabilities. The marking device is integrated into the 3D printing system and automatically determines the printing path position based on substrate detection, then autonomously marks the path without requiring external manual intervention, making the system self-sufficient in the positioning and marking process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If a pen marking device is clamped in the material dispensing unit, then the printing path can be marked visually, but the material dispensing unit may collide with obstacles such as reinforcements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting path accuracyVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the marking function from the material dispensing unit by providing a separate, dedicated marking device. This marking device can be independently positioned and controlled, allowing it to mark the printing path from a safe distance without interfering with the material dispensing operation or risking collision with obstacles like reinforcements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The marking device acts as an intermediary between the positioning system and the substrate. It receives positioning information from the control system and translates it into visual marks on the substrate, serving as a mediator that enables accurate path visualization without requiring direct contact between the material dispensing unit and the substrate surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the pen marking device is used to mark the substrate, then the printing path can be visualized, but complex control systems and fastening mechanisms are required to manage vertical movement and marking activation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarking accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The marking device is designed as a multi-functional component that integrates positioning, marking, and activation control into a single unit. It can be positioned vertically to match the substrate surface and automatically activated based on the printing path requirements, eliminating the need for separate complex control systems and fastening mechanisms while maintaining marking accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enables efficient and accurate marking of the printing path, reducing the risk of misalignment and collisions, and allows for automatic adjustment of the printing position based on environmental conditions, thereby improving the precision and safety of the additive manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

The marking device (100) is designed to apply a marking (300) to the substrate (4), wherein the marking (300) visualizes a printing path (8) to be traversed at least in sections on the substrate (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the marking device has at least one dispensing container (104) for dispensing aerosols, liquids or powder substances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerosol: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentEP4494825A1Device for additive manufacturing of structures or components of structures
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 PERI GMBH
  • EP4494825A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4494825A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4494825A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for the additive manufacturing of structures (2) or components (3) of structures (2) on a substrate (4), comprising a material dispensing unit (7) movable in several degrees of freedom, which is suitable for depositing a building material layer by layer in predetermined pressure paths (8) and includes a conveying device (7.1) driven by an actuator (7.2), which is configured to convey the building material to be deposited along a path to an outlet of the material dispensing unit (7), and an actuator assembly (10) configured to move the material dispensing unit (7) over a work surface, as well as a marking device (100) configured to apply a marking (300) to the substrate (4), wherein the marking device (100) is operatively connected to the conveying device (7.1) on the conveying device (7.1) the material dispensing unit (7) and an associated method, a computer program and a marking device for use in one of the above-mentioned devices.