Projection 3D Printing for Precise Multi-Material Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing technologies are limited in their ability to print parts with multiple materials, often resulting in poor precision and quality due to reliance on nozzle size and post-processing for coloration, and face challenges with material mixing and support removal.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional printing apparatus and method that allows for the simultaneous supply and projection of multiple printing materials at precise positions, using a light-transmissive material carrying mechanism, optical projection, and a forming platform to cure layers, with optional leveling and cleaning mechanisms to ensure uniformity and separation of cured layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ink-jet nozzles are used to eject resin of different colors into the material tank, then color printing is enabled, but it is difficult to ensure that the resin flows flat in the material tank and printing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The material tank is divided into multiple independent material storage areas, each storing a different color of resin. This segmentation prevents different colors from mixing while allowing each color to be deposited independently and uniformly onto the forming platform, resolving the contradiction between color printing capability and printing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the ink-jet mechanical ejection system with a direct optical projection system. The light source projects through a transparent material carrying mechanism to cure the resin layer by layer, eliminating the mechanical nozzle system that caused flow instability and precision loss while maintaining color printing capability through selective material placement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple nozzles are disposed on one side of a material tank to eject resin of different colors, then multi-color printing is achieved, but printing quality deteriorates due to dependency on liquid ejecting precision
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple nozzles are strategically positioned at different locations around the material tank to deposit different colors of resin. Each nozzle operates independently to deposit its color in specific regions, allowing multi-color printing while maintaining quality through controlled, localized deposition rather than relying on a single complex ejection system.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent material carrying mechanism serves as an intermediary between the nozzles and the forming platform. This mechanism carries the colored resin materials and allows optical projection to pass through, enabling precise control of material placement and curing while maintaining printing quality independent of nozzle ejection precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If photo-curable material is cured layer by layer between a printing reference surface and a model, then three-dimensional objects are formed, but the ability to print parts of various printing materials is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The forming platform is designed with multi-functional capability to handle different types of photo-curable materials. The platform can accommodate various material properties (viscosities, curing speeds, colors) while maintaining the same layer-by-layer curing process, enabling the system to print parts of various printing materials without sacrificing forming precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows adjustment of curing parameters (light intensity, exposure time, wavelength) to accommodate different photo-curable materials. By changing these parameters, the same forming platform can successfully cure different types of resins and materials while maintaining high forming precision, thus achieving multi-material printing capability.
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 high-precision, multi-material printing without material mixing, reduces labor costs, and improves printing efficiency by eliminating the need for post-processing, while utilizing projection-based curing for enhanced edge precision and reduced material usage.
Implementation Method 1
the optical mechanism is configured to project light and expose the printing materials in the carrying area, so that the printing materials are subjected to a photo-curing reaction to form a printing model
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the technical field of three-dimensional forming apparatuses and particularly relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus and a three-dimensional printing method. The three-dimensional printing apparatus includes a material carrying mechanism, a supplying mechanism, a driving mechanism, an optical mechanism and a forming platform mechanism, wherein the material carrying mechanism is provided with a carrying area configured to carry a printing material; the supplying mechanism includes a supplying assembly configured to quantitatively supply a plurality of types of printing materials; and the driving mechanism is configured to realize a relative movement between the carrying area and the supplying assembly, so that the supplying mechanism quantitatively supplies a preset type of printing material at a preset position of the material carrying mechanism. A plurality of materials can be printed on a single layer while avoiding the risk of material mixing, color printing can be realized without the need for subsequent coloring, and the printing of different material performance requirements can also be realized. In the photo-curing technology using a projection manner, the edge of a printed object is directly cured by using a projection plane, therefore the precision of the edge of the printed object depends on the precision of an optical projection image, and thus compared with ink-jet printing, the printing precision is higher.