Ohmic-Heated 3D Printhead Layout to Prevent Dough Clogging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printers face issues with clogging due to overbaked zones when used for breadmaking or doughy products that solidify under heat, as the fluid product tends to solidify at heated walls, causing adhesion and clogging.
Innovation Solution
A printhead design with parallel, non-conductive small walls and conductive central walls that generate an electrical potential difference for controlled ohmic heating, combined with a cooling system to maintain the dough flexible and prevent solidification at the walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating members (resistive elements) are incorporated in the printhead for chocolate, then the product can be heated and maintained at printing temperature, but the fluid product tends to solidify at the heated walls causing adhesion and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented from the wall structure by introducing lateral walls that are thermally insulating but structurally integrated. This creates distinct thermal zones: heated central region for product maintenance and insulated wall regions preventing solidification.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the printhead cavity have different thermal properties: the central region is heated to maintain product temperature, while the wall regions are thermally insulated to remain cool and prevent product solidification. This local differentiation of thermal quality resolves the contradiction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the product is heated to prevent solidification, then the product remains fluid, but overbaked zones appear at the walls where the product solidifies due to rigidification
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is segmented into heated and non-heated zones using lateral walls. This segmentation allows the central product region to be heated for fluidity while wall regions remain cool to prevent overbaking and solidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral walls act as thermal intermediaries that block heat transfer from the heated central region to the wall regions. This intermediary structure prevents direct thermal contact that would cause overbaking at the walls.
3Productivity
If heating is applied to the product in the printhead, then the product can be printed, but the heated walls cause adhesion of the product leading to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The printhead cavity exhibits local thermal quality differentiation: the central region is heated to enable product printing, while the wall regions are thermally insulated to remain cool and prevent product adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harm of heat-induced adhesion is converted into benefit by using the same heating mechanism to create a temperature gradient that benefits printing in the center while preventing adhesion at the insulated walls.
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 printhead effectively limits overbaking at the walls, maintaining dough flexibility and preventing clogging while ensuring thorough baking, with improved layer cohesion and reduced risk of solidification.
Implementation Method 1
each large wall comprises a central wall and two lateral walls on either side of the central wall, where each lateral wall is produced from an electrically non-conductive material, and where the two central walls face each other, are produced from an electrically conductive material, and are intended to be electrically connected to an electricity generator that generates an alternating current and a difference in electrical potential between them
Implementation Method 2
the printhead comprises a cooling system arranged at the rear of the large walls with respect to the cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A printhead for a 3D printer includes two large walls and two small walls that define between them a right-angled parallelepipedal cavity. Each small wall is produced from an electrically non-conductive material, and each large wall includes a central wall and two lateral walls on either side of the central wall. Each lateral wall is produced from electrically non-conductive material. The two central walls: face each other, are produced from an electrically conductive material, and are electrically connected to an electricity generator that generates an alternating current and an electrical potential difference between them.