Printer Nozzle Fast-Moving Path Optimization for Stringing Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 3D printing methods, such as FFF, face challenges in minimizing stringing issues during fast nozzle movements, especially with flexible materials, as retraction methods are ineffective due to material viscosity and gravity, leading to poor print quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining an optimal fast-moving path for a printer nozzle by calculating the shortest path outside polygons on a horizontal plane, considering start and end positions, and adjusting for intersection points and pseudo security areas to minimize extraneous material deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If retraction method is used to address stringing problem, then stringing is eliminated for common hard materials, but retraction is ineffective for flexible materials due to low hardness and gravity effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach from material-dependent retraction to path-dependent optimization by calculating optimal fast-moving paths that minimize exposure time and distance outside polygons. This parameter change in the control strategy makes the solution effective for flexible materials where retraction fails.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent stringing through retraction (active prevention), the patent inverts the approach by minimizing the fast-moving path length outside polygons (passive minimization), thereby reducing the opportunity for stringing to occur regardless of material properties.
2Productivity
If fast movement is used to improve printing efficiency, then productivity increases, but stringing occurs due to gravity and viscosity causing material overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of optimal fast-moving paths before printing, determining the shortest paths outside polygons in advance. This preliminary action allows fast movement to proceed with minimized stringing risk, maintaining both speed and quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the nozzle to skip quickly through non-printing areas by following optimized fast-moving paths that minimize the distance and time spent outside polygons, thereby rushing through the harmful phase where stringing occurs while maintaining productivity.
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
This approach significantly reduces stringing and improves print quality by ensuring the fast-moving path is as short as possible outside the printing area, effectively addressing the limitations of traditional retraction methods with flexible materials.
Implementation Method 1
due to the effect of gravity and the viscosity coefficient of the material itself, some molten materials in the nozzle overflows from the nozzle and generates a thin line
Implementation Method 2
due to the effect of gravity and the viscosity coefficient of the material itself, some molten materials in the nozzle overflows from the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and storage media for controlling a fast-moving path of a printer nozzle. In some embodiments, a method for controlling fast movement of a printer nozzle includes the following steps. (1) Obtaining a start position and an end position. The start position is a position of a fast-moving start point of the printer nozzle, and the end position is a position of a fast-moving end point of the printer nozzle. (2) Determining an optimal fast-moving path on a horizontal plane corresponding to a slice of a print target according to the start position and the end position, so that a length of the fast-moving path outside a polygon in the slice is the shortest. (3) Controlling the printer nozzle to move relative to a base of the printer according to the optimal fast-moving path on the horizontal plane.