3D Printer Oxygen Electrodes for Fast Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 3-D printing process is time-consuming due to the slow curing of polymerizable resins, which limits the efficiency of the printing process.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an oxygen providing device that selectively releases oxygen into predetermined sections of the printing area using an array of electrodes, preventing curing in those sections and allowing for more intense resin curing light to be used in other areas, thereby speeding up the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional resin curing light is used uniformly across the entire printing area, then the curing process is stable and reliable, but the printing process is time-consuming and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different oxygen concentration zones within the printing area. Oxygen is selectively introduced into specific predetermined sections to prevent curing, while other areas remain oxygen-free to allow intense light curing. This spatial differentiation of curing conditions enables simultaneous fast curing in some areas while maintaining process control, thereby increasing overall printing speed without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing area is segmented into multiple zones with different oxygen concentrations. The oxygen providing device divides the curing space into predetermined sections where oxygen is selectively introduced. This segmentation allows different portions of the resin to be cured at different rates and under different conditions, enabling the system to optimize overall printing time by processing multiple zones in parallel with appropriate curing intensities.
2Productivity
If oxygen is introduced into the printing area to prevent curing in predetermined sections, then printing efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the oxygen providing system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses oxygen as an intermediary substance to control the curing process. By introducing oxygen into predetermined sections, the system creates a chemical barrier that prevents photopolymerization in those areas. This intermediary approach allows for simple control mechanisms (oxygen introduction) to achieve complex printing patterns without requiring equally complex light control systems, thereby improving efficiency while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical light control mechanisms with a simpler chemical control system. Instead of using complex mechanical systems to selectively block or modulate light in different areas, the system uses oxygen introduction to chemically prevent curing in predetermined sections. This substitution of chemical control for mechanical control simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining high printing efficiency.
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 the curing time of polymerizable resins, enhancing the overall printing efficiency by allowing for higher intensity light to be used in areas where oxygen is not introduced, thus accelerating the formation of three-dimensional objects.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom structure is transparent and includes oxygen releasing electrodes. The oxygen source located below the bottom structure and the oxygen releasing electrodes. The electronic controller selectively operates areas of the oxygen releasing electrodes thereby releasing oxygen to predetermined locations below the printing area
Implementation Method 2
Objects are printed layer by layer by the 3-D printer by curing portions of a light curable photopolymer layer by layer, one layer at a time, within a printing area of a tank filled with the photopolymer. A curing device, such as an ultraviolet light source, is projected through a transparent substrate or bottom wall of the tank curing each layer of the object
Implementation Method 3
by introducing small amounts of oxygen into predetermined sections of a printing area of a 3-D printer tank during the printing process prevents curing of a polymerizable polymers located within the predetermined sections of the printing area
Data Source
AI summary
A 3-D printer apparatus (three-dimensional printer apparatus) includes a bottom structure of a tank. The tank defines a printing area located above and spaced apart from the bottom structure. The bottom structure includes oxygen releasing electrodes. A resin curing device is configured to selectively provide light to the printing area. The electronic controller controls operation of the resin curing device and the oxygen releasing electrodes. The electronic controller selectively operates areas of the oxygen releasing electrodes thereby releasing oxygen to predetermined locations below the printing area in order to temporarily prevent the polymerization of a polymerizable resin within predetermined locations of the printing area during the printing process.