3D Printer Pneumatic Extruder Prevents Dripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing technologies face challenges in preventing unwanted dripping of print material from the nozzle during and after printing operations, especially due to the fluid nature of materials like melted chocolate or plastisol, which affects the precision and quality of the printed objects.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printer design incorporating a pneumatic system with a solenoid valve and pneumatic piston mechanism that controls air pressure to push and pull the print material through the extruder nozzle, using pressurized air to prevent dripping by applying back pressure when printing stops and resuming flow as needed, along with a heating system for temperature control and a mechanical system for precise material placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressurized air is used to push print material through the extruder during printing, then material flow is maintained, but unwanted dripping occurs when printing stops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pneumatic system with a solenoid valve to control air pressure in the extruder. During printing, pressurized air pushes material through the nozzle. When printing stops, the solenoid valve cuts off air pressure, allowing a spring mechanism to create negative pressure that prevents dripping. This pneumatic control resolves the contradiction by dynamically adjusting pressure conditions based on printing state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between positive pressure (during printing) and negative pressure (when stopped) using a solenoid valve and spring mechanism. This dynamic pressure adjustment allows the system to maintain material flow when needed while preventing dripping when printing stops, resolving the precision-flow contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If heating is applied to maintain material temperature, then material remains fluid for deposition, but material may drip uncontrollably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines heating with pneumatic pressure control. The heating element maintains material temperature for fluidity and easy deposition, while the pneumatic system (solenoid valve + spring) independently controls pressure to prevent dripping. This separation of temperature control and pressure control resolves the contradiction between ease of deposition and print precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system independently controls two parameters: temperature (via heating element) and pressure (via pneumatic system). By maintaining optimal temperature for fluidity while dynamically adjusting pressure to prevent dripping, the system achieves both easy deposition and high precision, resolving the contradiction.
3Productivity
If continuous pressurized air is used to maintain material flow, then printing productivity is improved, but material waste increases due to unwanted dripping
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic system with solenoid valve provides pressurized air only when needed during active printing, then switches to negative pressure to prevent dripping. This on-demand pneumatic control maintains high printing speed while eliminating material waste from unwanted dripping, resolving the productivity-material waste contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic control of the solenoid valve to switch between positive pressure (during printing) and negative pressure (when stopped). This periodic pressure adjustment maintains productivity during printing while preventing material waste during idle periods, resolving the contradiction.
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 solution effectively prevents unwanted dripping of print materials, ensures precise material deposition, and maintains the shape of materials like melted chocolate by controlling temperature, resulting in improved print quality and precision in forming three-dimensional solid objects.
Implementation Method 1
the first air path allows pressurized air to push the print material from the printer cartridge to the extruder syringe barrel of the extruder
Implementation Method 2
When the printing operation stops, the second air path allows pressurized air to prevent any unwanted dripping of the print material out of the nozzle of the extruder
Implementation Method 3
After being melted within the extruder, the filament exits the extruder in its molten form via the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional (3D) printer is disclosed. The 3D printer can print viscous material such as plastisol, polymer clay, melted sugar and melted chocolate. The 3D printer utilizes an extruder that can prevent dripping of viscous material from a nozzle. The 3D printer includes a control circuit for controlling the movement of the extruder and the air flow within a pneumatic system.