3D Printer Head Nozzle With Central Element For Ridge Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
3D printing technologies, particularly FDM, often produce objects with imperfections such as ridges and stepped structures due to material deposition, which affect structural integrity and aesthetics, and existing solutions require additional processing steps to address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A printer head with a nozzle design featuring an ellipsoid or spherical element downstream of the opening, which obstructs the central flow of printing material, causing it to flow around the element and form a hollow tube that collapses post-deposition, reducing bulging and the need for additional processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional FDM deposition method is used, then printing speed and cost-efficiency are improved, but surface quality deteriorates with ridges and stepped structures
Solution Approach 1:
A hollow tube is introduced as an intermediary element between the nozzle and the build platform. The hollow tube receives printing material from the nozzle and channels it to the deposition point, allowing the material to be deposited in a controlled manner that prevents ridge formation while maintaining fast printing speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow tube is pre-positioned and maintained in a retracted state during normal operation. When ridge prevention is needed, the hollow tube is extended into the printing material flow path in advance to reshape the depositing material before it reaches the build platform, eliminating the need for post-processing
2Manufacturing precision
If methods for smoothing surfaces are applied, then surface quality is improved, but process complexity increases with extra processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow tube performs the surface smoothing function automatically during the normal printing process. By extending the hollow tube into the material flow, the system self-regulates the deposition process to prevent ridge formation, eliminating the need for separate smoothing or post-processing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow tube serves as a mediator that modifies the printing material flow in real-time during deposition. This intermediary element reshapes the material as it exits the nozzle, providing built-in surface quality improvement without requiring additional external processing equipment or steps
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 printer head reduces the occurrence of ridges and bulges in 3D-printed objects, enhancing their stability and aesthetics without requiring extra processing steps, thus saving time and cost.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle, during operation of the printer head, allows a flow of printing material along the principal axis, through the opening and around the element
Data Source
AI summary
A printer head (100) for a 3D-printing apparatus, comprising a nozzle (110) arranged to extrude a printing material along a principal axis (A) of the nozzle. The nozzle comprises an opening (120) having a first area (130) for allowing a flow of printing material there through, and an element (140) arranged centrally with respect to the opening in a plane perpendicular to the principal axis of the nozzle. The element has a cross-sectional second area (150) parallel to the first area, wherein the second area, in a projection on the first area in a direction along the principal axis, is defined by the first area, such that the nozzle, during operation of the printer head, allows a flow of printing material through the opening and around the element.