3D Shaping Apparatus Pipe Routing Radius
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Solution Overview
Problem
In three-dimensional shaping apparatuses, the movement of the shaping head can cause the supply pipe's flow path cross-sectional area to decrease, leading to potential supply failures of shaping liquid due to the bending of flexible cables and pipes, which complicates user convenience and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a casing with a liquid storage unit and a supply pipe system where the second turn-around portion has a larger radius of curvature than the first turn-around portion, ensuring the flow path cross-sectional area remains stable during the movement of the shaping head, and the cables are routed to avoid interference with the shaping stage and user access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the supply pipe is routed together with the flexible cable through the wiring cover, then the cable management is simplified, but the flow path cross-sectional area of the supply pipe decreases due to bending, causing supply failure of shaping liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the supply pipe from the flexible cable routing. The supply pipe is routed independently through a dedicated path (such as a groove or channel) rather than being bundled with the flexible cable in the wiring cover. This segmentation prevents the supply pipe from bending along with the cable, maintaining its flow path cross-sectional area and ensuring reliable shaping liquid supply while keeping cable management simple through the separate wiring cover structure.
2Ease of operation
If the carriage home position is set to allow user access, then user convenience is improved, but cartridge replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic home position system where the carriage can be automatically positioned to different locations based on the operational mode. When cartridge replacement is needed, the system automatically moves the carriage to a position that provides user access to the cartridge. When shaping operation is required, the carriage returns to the shaping position. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by making both user access and cartridge replacement easy at different times without compromising shaping precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a casing having a first connector and a second connector, a shaping stage on which a powder layer is formed, a layer forming unit that forms a powder layer, a first carriage that moves the layer forming unit, a shaping head that discharges a liquid containing a binder onto the powder layer, a liquid storage unit that stores the liquid, a supply pipe that couples the liquid storage unit and the shaping head, a second carriage that moves the shaping head, a first cable that couples the first connector and the layer forming unit, and a second cable that couples the second connector and the shaping head, wherein the supply pipe has a first turn-around portion, the first cable has a second turn-around portion, and a radius of curvature of the first turn-around portion is larger than a radius of curvature of the second turn-around portion.