3D Printer Diverter with Storage Bin for High-Speed Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 3D printers have limited storage capacity for printing material and are unable to meet the demand for high-speed printing operations, as they have a fixed volume for melting plastic.
Innovation Solution
A print head assembly for a 3D printer that includes a heat conduit, a heating element, a diverter with a center column and radial extension walls, and a nozzle. The diverter stores melted print material in a storage bin, allowing for continuous supply during high-speed printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a straight-through heater is used to increase printing speed, then the printing speed is improved, but the capacity of the heater is fixed and cannot meet the demand for large supply of hot-melt plastic
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter creates a storage bin that accumulates melted print material before it is needed for printing. This preliminary accumulation of molten plastic in the storage bin allows the system to rapidly dispense material during high-speed printing operations without being limited by the slower melting rate of the straight-through heater alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The diverter structure extends radially outward from the feeding channel with extension walls that have a length greater than the radius of the feeding channel. This three-dimensional configuration creates additional storage volume within the print head assembly, transforming the limited linear space into a multi-dimensional storage solution that can hold sufficient molten plastic for high-speed printing.
2Productivity
If the area of the heater wall is increased to increase the plastic melt rate, then the printing speed is improved, but the volume of plastic melted is fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The storage bin created by the diverter allows melted plastic to be accumulated in advance. This preliminary melting and storage capability decouples the melting rate from the dispensing rate, enabling the system to maintain high printing speeds by dispensing pre-melted plastic from the storage bin rather than being limited to the instantaneous melting capacity of the heater.
Solution Approach 2:
The diverter is positioned within the throat of the print head assembly, and the storage bin is formed within the existing structural constraints of the print head. This nested configuration allows the storage bin to utilize the internal space of the print head assembly efficiently, creating additional storage volume without significantly increasing the overall external dimensions of the print head.
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 increases the supply of hot-melt plastic, enhancing the printing speed and capacity of 3D printers by allowing for the storage and efficient discharge of melted material.
Implementation Method 1
When the print material enters said feeding channel, said heating element carries out heating and transfers heat to the print material and melts it
Implementation Method 2
the melted print material is diverted through said shunt and stored in said storage bin
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a diverter for a 3D printer and a 3D printer using the same, comprising a heat conduit, a heating element provided on the outer periphery of the heat conduit, a diverter, and a nozzle provided below diverter, and a feeding channel is provided inside the heat conduit, and a throat is provided between the outlet of the feeding channel and the nozzle, the diverter disposed in the throat and the nozzle, the diverter also having a storage bin provided within the diverter for diverting and storing melted print material, the nozzle including an outlet, and when the print head assembly performs a printing operation, the melted print material stored within the storage compartment being discharged through the outlet.