Water Soluble Support Removal Apparatus for Rapid Prototyping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional immersion parts washers, used for removing water soluble support material from rapid prototype parts, are costly, environmentally inappropriate, and pose health risks, making them unsuitable for office settings where rapid prototype machines are often operated.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated support material removal apparatus that heats and agitates an aqueous cleaning solution using a retention tank, manifold assembly, heating element, and microprocessor to efficiently dissolve water soluble support materials, featuring a portable, low-cost design with minimal components and versatile operation for various part shapes and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional immersion parts washer is used to remove water soluble support material, then the support material can be removed, but the device becomes costly, environmentally inappropriate, and poses health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of support material removal from the harmful conventional parts washer system. It uses only water as the cleaning medium, eliminating the need for toxic solvents and chemicals while maintaining effective support material removal through mechanical agitation and water flow
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, hazardous cleaning chemicals with inexpensive, environmentally benign water. The water can be easily disposed of or recycled without environmental concerns, making the process both economical and eco-friendly while achieving the same cleaning objective
2Reliability
If a conventional immersion parts washer is used, then support material removal is achieved, but the purchase, maintenance and operation costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive specialized parts washer equipment and chemicals with simple, inexpensive components. Water serves as the cleaning medium, eliminating the need for costly chemical inventories, specialized containment systems, and expensive equipment while maintaining effective support material removal
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the core cleaning function from the expensive conventional parts washer system, retaining only the essential water-based cleaning mechanism while eliminating costly components, chemical systems, and complex equipment required by traditional parts washers
3Reliability
If a conventional immersion parts washer is used, then support material can be removed, but it is inappropriate for office settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses water instead of toxic chemicals, making it suitable for office environments where employee safety and environmental concerns are paramount. The benign nature of water allows the equipment to be placed in general office areas without special ventilation or safety infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the harmful chemical components from the cleaning system, extracting only the essential water-based cleaning function. This transformation makes the equipment adaptable to office settings by eliminating the need for special safety infrastructure, ventilation systems, and chemical handling protocols
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 apparatus effectively removes water soluble support materials from rapid prototype parts in an office setting, ensuring efficient operation, safety, and minimal downtime, while being economical and durable, thus addressing the limitations of conventional immersion parts washers.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element mounted within the retention tank for heating the aqueous cleaning solution to a predetermined temperature set point
Implementation Method 2
a manifold assembly comprising a plurality of nozzle heads in hydraulic communication with the discharge side of a pump, collectively configured for agitating an aqueous cleaning solution
Implementation Method 3
a pump mounted exterior to the retention tank and having an intake positioned to receive the aqueous cleaning solution from within the retention tank and an outlet in communication with the manifold assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The support removal apparatus comprising in combination a retention tank having a manifold assembly comprising a plurality of nozzle heads in hydraulic communication with the discharge side of a pump, collectively configured for agitating an aqueous cleaning solution comprised of sodium or potassium hydroxide, sodium or potassium carbonate, and water; a heating element mounted within the retention tank for heating the aqueous cleaning solution to a predetermined temperature set point; a basket strainer mounted within the retention tank in hydraulic communication with the intake side of the pump to mitigate passage of small rapid prototype parts and residual support material therethrough and into the pump and manifold assembly; a work surface mounted atop the retention tank and having a movable lid fitted with a basket for containing small rapid prototype parts; a thermocouple for maintaining the temperature within a tolerable range for optimum removal of support material; a level indicator to ensure adequate solution level in the retention tank for operability of the pump and heating element; a cabinet having interface controller mounted on an exterior panel thereof for setting timer and heat functions; and a microprocessor having capabilities for making minute adjustments to the heating element via feedback from the thermocouple and controlling operation of the pump and heating element for a pre-set time interval.