3D Printing Nozzle Top Surface Heating for Gap Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional printing techniques, such as FDM, often result in uneven surfaces due to circular nozzle discharge holes, leading to noticeable roughness and reduced printing quality due to gaps between printing lines.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that determine the top surface area of a three-dimensional object and use a nozzle module to heat printing materials on this surface, filling gaps between lines to smooth the surface, utilizing specific printing information to control the nozzle's movement and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a circular nozzle discharge hole is used for printing, then the printing process is simple and fast, but the cross-section of the printed line is circular which creates large gaps between lines and results in uneven surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a second heating pass over the top surface area after the initial printing is complete. The controller identifies the top surface area from sliced object data and directs the nozzle to heat this region again, allowing the printing material to flow and fill gaps between lines, thereby smoothing the surface before final cooling and solidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter dynamically by heating the top surface area again after printing. The controller increases the temperature of the printing material in the top surface region, causing it to soften and flow into gaps between printing lines, then allows it to cool and solidify, transforming the surface from rough to smooth.
2Productivity
If printing lines are arranged in a strip shape to form the object surface, then the printing process is efficient, but large gaps are formed between printing lines causing noticeable roughness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of gaps between printing lines into a beneficial outcome. By heating the top surface area again after printing, the printing material softens and naturally flows to fill the gaps that were originally harmful, transforming them into smooth transitions between lines and improving overall surface quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle heats printing material again over the top surface area, then gaps between printing lines are reduced and surface is smoothed, but additional heating time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the gap-filling smoothing action as a preliminary follow-up step immediately after the main printing process. By identifying the top surface area in advance from sliced object data and executing the second heating pass without interrupting the main printing workflow, the process efficiently completes the smoothing operation with minimal additional time.
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 effectively reduces the visibility of gaps between printing lines, resulting in a smoother top surface and improved printing quality.
Implementation Method 1
driving the nozzle module to move above the top surface area again according to the first printing information to heat a plurality of printing materials located on the top surface area
Data Source
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AI summary
A three-dimensional printing method and a three-dimensional printing device are provided. The three-dimensional printing method includes the following steps: obtaining printing information of a plurality of sliced objects and determine an top surface area of the three-dimensional object according to the printing information; obtaining first printing information of the top surface area in the printing information; driving a nozzle module according to the printing information to print the three-dimensional object. In the process of printing the three-dimensional object, the method further includes: driving the nozzle module to move above the top surface area again according to the first printing information to heat a plurality of printing materials located on the top surface area after the top surface area is printed such that the plurality of printing materials are heated to a molten state to fill gaps between the plurality of printing materials.