3D Printed Shaped Object Ink Density Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 3D printing using inkjet heads, insufficient ink density can lead to undesirable appearance profiles and color tones due to dents and gaps in the color region, which are not adequately addressed by existing methods.
Innovation Solution
The method involves supplementing ink density in the color region with white ink, where necessary, and using the same white ink for both the color and light reflective regions, ensuring uniform thickness and material commonality, with 20% to 70% light transmittance to mitigate color influence and maintain high light reflectance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If only color ink is used to form the color region, then the shaping process is simple, but dents and gaps occur due to insufficient ink density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming a white ink layer before the color ink layer. This preparatory step creates a uniform base that prevents dents and gaps when color ink is applied, ensuring consistent ink density without complicating the overall shaping process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining white ink and color ink in a layered structure. The white ink layer serves as a base material that complements the color ink, together forming a color region with uniform density and appearance without requiring additional supplementary ink steps.
2Reliability
If different inks are used for color region and light reflective region, then each region can be optimized, but the number of inkjet heads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the same white ink for both the light reflective region and as a base layer for the color region. This multi-functional use of white ink allows a single inkjet head to deposit the ink in multiple contexts, eliminating the need for separate inkjet heads for different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses homogeneity by employing the same white ink material for both regions. This ensures consistent material properties throughout the shaped object, allowing uniform processing with a single inkjet head while maintaining optimization for both the light reflective and color regions.
3Manufacturing precision
If opaque white ink is used to supplement color region, then ink density uniformity improves, but color tone deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the light transmittance parameter of the white ink to a specific range (20%-70%). This parameter optimization allows the white ink to supplement ink density effectively while simultaneously permitting sufficient light transmission to preserve the color tone, resolving the contradiction between density uniformity and color quality.
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
This approach prevents deteriorated appearance profiles and color tones, maintains uniform color quality, and commonalizes materials, reducing the number of inkjet heads required.
Implementation Method 1
ink with 20% to 70% light transmittance of visible light may be used as the white ink
Implementation Method 2
a light reflective region arranged on an inner side of the color region
Data Source
AI summary
A shaped object formed by using a layering scheme, the shaped object including: a color region 11 having a uniform thickness from a surface toward an inside of the shaped object; and a light reflective region 12 arranged on an inner side of the color region 11, wherein, at a portion where ink in the color region does not satisfy a predetermined ink density by a sole use of color ink, an ink density of the color region 11 is supplemented with white ink. As the white ink, ink with 20% to 70% light transmittance of visible light is used.