3D Printing Nozzle Strings Spacing and Density for Powder Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In three-dimensional printing devices, the ejection of curing liquid can cause powder material to soar and attach to nozzles, leading to nozzle clogging and curvature of the flying direction, due to interference between air flows generated by liquid drops.
Innovation Solution
The nozzle density is set to 1200 dpi or lower, and nozzle strings are spaced at least 5 mm apart to prevent powder material attachment by minimizing updraft generation, with alternating nozzle strings used at different times to maintain effective ejection density and prevent nozzle clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle density is increased to improve printing resolution, then the printing precision is improved, but the powder material attachment to nozzles increases due to stronger updraft generation
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection head is divided into multiple nozzle strings with different ejection timings. By segmenting the ejection process across multiple groups of nozzles, the patent reduces the simultaneous ejection density, thereby weakening the updraft effect while maintaining overall printing resolution through the combined output of all nozzle strings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic ejection action by alternating between different nozzle strings in a cyclic manner. Each nozzle string ejects curing liquid in turns rather than simultaneously, creating a periodic ejection pattern that allows air flows to dissipate between ejection cycles, reducing powder material attachment while maintaining printing quality.
2Device complexity
If the nozzle strings are spaced closer together to compact the head unit design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the powder material attachment increases due to air flow interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the nozzle strings into multiple groups that are spaced apart physically, even if the overall head unit remains compact. This segmentation allows each group to operate independently with its own ejection timing, reducing air flow interference between closely spaced nozzle strings.
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing periodic ejection with alternating nozzle strings, the patent allows air flows from one nozzle string to stabilize before the next nozzle string ejects. This temporal separation compensates for the reduced spatial separation, maintaining compact design while preventing powder attachment.
3Productivity
If the ejection frequency is increased to improve productivity, then the printing speed is improved, but the powder material attachment increases due to cumulative updraft effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-frequency ejection process into multiple nozzle strings that operate in alternating cycles. This allows the overall ejection frequency to remain high for productivity, while each individual nozzle string operates at a lower effective frequency that prevents cumulative updraft effects and powder attachment.
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 configuration significantly reduces powder material attachment to nozzles, preventing clogging and maintaining the accuracy of the curing liquid's flying direction, while allowing for a more compact head unit design.
Implementation Method 1
a device that ejects a curing liquid into a powder material to form a thin cured layer having a desired cross-sectional shape
Implementation Method 2
the powder material in the printing tank may soar in the air due to the ejection of the curing liquid
Data Source
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AI summary
A three-dimensional printing device 10 includes a printing tank 50 to accommodate a powder material 200 and including an opening 51a in at least a portion thereof, and an ejector 70 facing the opening 51a of the printing tank 50 to eject a curing liquid to cure the powder material 200 toward the opening 51a. The ejector 70 includes nozzle strings 72 each including nozzles 71 side by side in a first direction X. The nozzles 71 each eject the curing liquid and are located in each of the nozzle strings 72 at a density of 1200 dpi or lower in the first direction X. The nozzle strings 72 are spaced away from each other by a distance of 5 mm or longer in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X.