Sealed 3D Printing Chamber Humidity Control for Stronger Layer Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing solutions struggle to produce high-quality objects with reduced structural weaknesses between layers and are not suitable for large-scale production.
Innovation Solution
A printing arrangement that controls environmental parameters, particularly humidity, within a hermetically sealed chamber to maintain a dry environment, using sensors and adjustment means to ensure precise temperature and humidity levels, enhancing filament quality and layer bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, pressure) are controlled in a printing chamber, then printing quality and layer adhesion are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by creating a controlled printing chamber environment with regulated temperature, humidity, and pressure parameters. This controlled atmosphere prevents moisture ingress and maintains optimal conditions for filament printing, thereby improving layer adhesion and printing quality without requiring overly complex external environmental controls
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and pressure parameters within the printing chamber and automatically adjusting these parameters to maintain optimal printing conditions. This closed-loop control system ensures consistent printing quality while managing device complexity through automated regulation
2Strength
If moisture is present in the printing environment, then filament porosity and structural weakness increase, but controlling humidity adds complexity to the printing arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a moisture-controlled environment within the printing chamber by regulating humidity parameters and preventing moisture ingress. This controlled atmosphere protects the filament from moisture absorption, reducing porosity and maintaining filament strength without requiring overly complex moisture removal systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-conditioning the printing chamber environment to maintain optimal humidity levels before printing begins. This preventive approach ensures that moisture does not compromise filament quality during the printing process, thereby maintaining strength without requiring complex real-time moisture intervention systems
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 solution results in objects with lower variance in tensile strength and increased absolute strength, suitable for large-scale production with consistent quality.
Implementation Method 1
heating means for heating the filament to a target filament temperature
Implementation Method 2
first humidity adjustment means adapted to adjust humidity in the printing chamber to a target printing chamber humidity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a printing arrangement (1) for printing an object. The printing arrangement (1) comprises: a printing chamber (10) adapted to provide, during use, a hermetically sealed environment; a first temperature sensor (14a) adapted to measure a temperature of a filament from a filament source (11); first heating means (15a) for heating the filament to a target filament temperature; a printing head adapted to deposit, during use, the heated filament into the printing chamber (10) in accordance with a 3D object model stored in a memory module (16), wherein the printing arrangement (1) further comprises: a first humidity sensor (17) adapted to measure the humidity in the printing chamber (10), and first humidity adjustment means (30) adapted to enable adjustment of the humidity in the printing chamber (10) to a target printing chamber humidity. A method (S100) of printing objects is also disclosed.