Rotatable 3D Printer Nozzle for Adjustable Filament Cross-Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D printer spray nozzles have fixed circular internal cross sections, limiting the control over printing speed and precision for different models or parts, as they cannot be adjusted according to varying precision and speed requirements.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printer spray nozzle structure with a rotatable extruder and driving device, featuring a feeding pipeline and external shell, allows for adjustable cross-section areas by rotating regular polygon-shaped channels, enabling precise control of printing speed and precision through motor-driven rotation angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spray nozzle uses a fixed circular internal cross section, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the printing speed and precision cannot be adjusted for different models or parts
Solution Approach 1:
The spray nozzle is divided into two separate rotatable components: the feeding pipeline with its own internal channel cross section, and the extruder with its own internal channel cross section. Both components can be independently rotated to different angles, allowing the overlapping area of their channels to be adjusted. This segmentation enables flexible control of the sprayed filament cross section area without requiring a completely redesignable nozzle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rotational motion to make the previously static spray nozzle dynamic. The feeding pipeline and extruder can both rotate around their respective axes, changing the overlapping area of their internal channels dynamically. This dynamic adjustment allows the cross section area of the sprayed filament to be varied according to different printing requirements, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure and adjustable performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the extruder rotates to adjust cross section area, then printing speed and precision become controllable, but the device complexity increases due to additional driving mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The driving device uses a universal rotating mechanism that can control both the feeding pipeline and extruder rotation. The motor-driven gear system provides a multi-functional solution that adjusts the overlapping area of the internal channels while maintaining structural simplicity. This universal mechanism handles multiple functions (controlling both rotational components) without requiring separate complex drive systems for each part.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the internal channel cross sections are regular polygons instead of circles, then the cross section area can be adjusted by rotation, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs regular polygon shapes (such as triangles or rectangles) for the internal channel cross sections instead of circular shapes. These asymmetric polygonal shapes, when overlapped at different rotational angles, produce varying cross section areas. The polygonal geometry provides discrete stable positions during rotation, making the adjustment mechanism simpler while achieving the desired variability in filament cross section area.
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 adjustable printing speed and precision by controlling the cross-section area of the filament, accommodating different printing purposes and areas, ensuring consistent Z-axis layer heights and optimizing printing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The driving device comprises a driving gear, a driven gear and a motor; wherein the driving gear is mounted inside the external shell, the driven gear is mounted on the extruder; the driving gear is engaged with the driven gear; the motor drives the driving gear; the driven gear is driven by the driving gear, so as to drive the extruder to rotate.
Implementation Method 2
The external shell comprises a heater therein, for heating the materials transported in the feeding pipeline, in such a manner that the materials are in a melted state; the materials transported are ABS or PLA fusible material.
Implementation Method 3
the extruder is rotatable relative to the feeding pipeline, so as to adjust a cross section area of a sprayed filament
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a technical field of 3D printing, and more particularly to a 3D printer spray nozzle structure and a method thereof for controlling speed and precision. According to the present invention, a feeding pipeline is embedded in an external shell, the feeding pipeline and an extruder are coaxially connected; the extruder is driven by a driving device, so as to rotate relative to the feeding pipeline. A rotation angle of the extruder relative to the feeding pipeline is controlled by rotation of a motor, for controlling a filament area actually sprayed by the extrude, in such a manner that printing speed and precision is controlled for suiting different requirements of different printing area. The present invention controls the printing speed and precision, for improving overall printing speed with precision requirements satisfied, and is applicable to 3D printer spray nozzle structure and controlling.