3D Printer Carrier Medium Light Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing devices, such as those using the CLIP process, require significant space due to the need for a projector to be at a distance from the synthetic resin bath to expose a large area, limiting the installation space for optical components.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printing device that uses a carrier medium with coupling-in and coupling-out deflection structures, such as holographic optical elements, to distribute light over a larger area without increasing the distance between the lighting device and the synthetic resin bath, allowing for enlarged exposure areas without additional space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the projector is placed at a distance from the synthetic resin bath to expose a large area, then the exposure area is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
A carrier medium with holographic optical elements is introduced as an intermediary between the lighting device and the synthetic resin bath. This mediator distributes light over a large area through diffraction and internal reflection, enabling large exposure area without requiring the lighting device to be positioned at a distance, thus resolving the space contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optical diffraction and internal reflection to transform one-dimensional light propagation into two-dimensional light distribution across the carrier medium surface. This dimensional transformation allows the lighting device to illuminate a large area without increasing the vertical distance, effectively solving the space-area 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
Enables the expansion of the printing area without increasing installation space, allowing for more efficient use of space and improved precision in 3D printing by distributing light through a carrier medium, which can include holographic elements for efficient light guidance and deflection.
Implementation Method 1
a carrier medium, which is designed to transmit a coupled light as a light guide by means of internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
a coupling-in deflection structure, which is designed to couple light with the predetermined wavelength, which falls from the lighting device onto the coupling-in deflection structure, into the carrier medium
Implementation Method 3
a coupling-out deflection structure, which is designed and arranged to couple out the coupled-in light with the predetermined wavelength, which falls on the decoupling deflection structure, as an exposure pattern from the carrier medium
Implementation Method 4
a lighting device, which is designed to radiate the light onto the coupling-in area
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a 3D printer (10) for photopolymerizing a photosensitive plastic resin (14) using a lighting pattern. The 3D printer (10) comprises a plastic resin bath (12) for the photosensitive plastic resin (14) and a lifting device (34), said photosensitive plastic resin (14) being polymerizable on the lifting device (34) using light with a specified wavelength. Furthermore, a carrier medium (20) is provided which has a coupling region (22) and a decoupling region (24), and a lighting device (18), which emits light onto the coupling region (22), said coupling region (22) having a coupling deflection structure (30), couples the light with the specified wavelength, which is incident on the coupling deflection structure (30) from the lighting device (18), into the carrier medium (20) in the direction of the decoupling region (24). The decoupling region (24) is arranged below the plastic resin bath (12) and has a decoupling deflection structure (32) which couples the coupled light with the specified wavelength out of the carrier medium (20) as a lighting pattern onto the photosensitive plastic resin (14) of the plastic resin bath in order to photopolymerize the plastic resin.