Rotating Sleeve Extrusion Head for Compact 3D Printing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D printing heads have a less compact structure due to the nozzle being mounted at the bottom of the feeding portion, which limits the efficiency and accuracy of printing, especially when suspending or resuming the printing process.
Innovation Solution
A device for 3D printing that incorporates a sleeve on the feeding pipe, allowing the discharge port to rotate relative to the feeding pipe, enabling communication or isolation with an opening on the sleeve, facilitating quick suspension or resumption of printing and providing a discharge port with adjustable size and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the nozzle is mounted at the bottom of the feeding portion, then the discharge port is positioned for material extrusion, but the device structure becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is sleeved on the feeding pipe, with the discharge port formed by the sleeve and feeding pipe assembly. This nested configuration allows the discharge port to be integrated within the feeding portion structure, achieving a compact device volume while maintaining functional simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge port is formed by the interaction between the sleeve and feeding pipe in a radial/axial configuration rather than a simple bottom-mounted nozzle. This dimensional reconfiguration enables compact structure without increasing structural complexity
2Loss of time
If the sleeve is made rotatable to enable quick printing suspension, then the response speed to printing suspension improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is designed to be rotatable relative to the feeding pipe, transforming a static discharge port into a dynamic one. This rotational capability allows rapid opening/closing of the discharge port for quick printing suspension and resumption, achieving fast response time while maintaining relatively simple structure through a single moving component
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable sleeve serves multiple functions: it forms the discharge port, enables material extrusion control, and provides quick suspension capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving rapid response
3Manufacturing precision
If the discharge port size is made adjustable to align with cross-sectional contour line, then the printing accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port size is made adjustable through the rotational movement of the sleeve, which can expose different portions of the discharge port opening. This dynamic adjustment capability enables alignment with various cross-sectional contour lines for improved printing accuracy while using a simple rotational mechanism rather than complex adjustment systems
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a device for 3D printing and a control method thereof. The device includes: a feeding pipe, wherein an opening extending along an axial direction of the feeding pipe is disposed on an outer wall of the feeding pipe; a sleeve sleeved on the feeding pipe, wherein a discharge port in communication with the opening is disposed on an outer wall of the sleeve, the sleeve enables to rotate around an axis of the feeding pipe relative to the feeding pipe, to make the discharge port and the opening communicated or no longer communicated. Compared with conventional designs, the device utilizes a sleeve to provide a discharge port and sleeves the sleeve and the feeding pope together, thereby making the structure of the entire device more compact; moreover, printing suspension is realized by rotating the sleeve around the axis of the feeding pipe relative to the feeding pipe.