Multi-Ejection 3D Printer Maintenance Without Stopping Layer Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional printing apparatuses experience a decline in manufacturing efficiency due to ejection abnormalities in the ejection sections, requiring maintenance that disrupts layer formation and prolongs production time.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with multiple ejection sections, a detection system for abnormal ejections, and a control mechanism that allows for real-time maintenance and data regeneration, enabling the normal ejection section to compensate for abnormal ones, thus minimizing interruptions and optimizing production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance is performed on the ejection section when layer formation is in progress, then ejection abnormalities are corrected and reliability is improved, but manufacturing efficiency deteriorates due to interruption of layer formation
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection section is divided into multiple independent ejection sections (first ejection section and second ejection section). When one section experiences an ejection abnormality, the other section can continue operating independently, allowing maintenance to be performed on the abnormal section without completely stopping layer formation. This segmentation enables partial continuation of production during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous layer formation by switching to or utilizing a normal ejection section when an abnormality is detected in one section. The control section manages the transition between ejection sections to ensure that layer formation continues without complete interruption, thereby maintaining productivity while performing necessary maintenance on the abnormal section.
2Productivity
If a single ejection section is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates when maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ejection sections are configured to perform the same ejection function, providing redundancy and flexibility. Each ejection section can serve as a backup or supplement to the others, allowing the system to maintain productivity by switching between sections based on their operational status. This multi-functionality ensures that the layer formation process can continue even when one section requires maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a plurality of ejection sections that eject shaping material on the basis of shaping data, a detection section detecting an ejection state of the shaping material from the ejection section, a maintenance section that performs maintenance of the ejection section, and a control section that controls the ejection section, the detection section, and the maintenance section, in which, when the detection section detects an ejection abnormality of the shaping material in any of the ejection sections, the control section causes the maintenance section to perform the maintenance of the ejection section in which the ejection abnormality is detected, regenerates the shaping data, and causes the ejection section in which the ejection abnormality is not detected to eject the shaping material at a position where the shaping material is to be ejected from the ejection section in which the ejection abnormality is detected.