Shutter Mechanism for 3D Printing Resin Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional printing apparatuses face issues with photo-curable resin adhering to optical devices through the opening, leading to inefficient curing and potential blockage of light, especially when a transparent plate is used to prevent scattering, which attenuates light and allows resin to adhere.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional printing apparatus with a shutter mechanism that automatically opens and closes in conjunction with the tank's sliding motion on a slide guide, ensuring the opening is fully covered by the tank, preventing resin from adhering to optical devices and maintaining efficient light irradiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a transparent plate is used to close the opening to prevent resin scattering, then resin scattering is prevented, but light is attenuated and resin can still adhere to the plate
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is made movable between open and closed positions, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the opening state based on operational requirements. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the opening to be closed during non-operational periods to prevent resin scattering, while remaining open during operation to allow full light transmission without attenuation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a transparent plate is used to close the opening, then resin scattering is prevented, but resin adheres to the plate and blocks light
Solution Approach 1:
The movable shutter design allows the opening to remain open during the printing process, eliminating the risk of resin adhesion to a closed plate that would block light. The shutter only closes when the tank is removed, preventing resin scattering during non-operational periods while maintaining reliable light transmission during operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a shutter with sensor and motor is used to automatically open and close, then resin scattering is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is mechanically linked to the tank positioning mechanism through the slide guide, allowing it to automatically open when the tank is in place and close when the tank is removed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate sensors and motors, preventing resin scattering while maintaining simple device architecture.
4Illumination intensity
If the shutter is opened when tank is placed on base, then light transmission is enabled, but resin can enter through gap and adhere to optical device
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter opens in advance before the tank is fully positioned on the base, ensuring that the opening is completely covered by the tank before light transmission begins. This preliminary action prevents resin from entering through any potential gaps while maintaining efficient light transmission during the printing process.
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 effectively prevents photo-curable resin from adhering to optical devices, ensuring efficient curing and reducing light attenuation, while eliminating the need for sensors and motors, thus enhancing operational reliability and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid photo-curable resin stored inside a tank is irradiated with light so as to cure the photo-curable resin
Data Source
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AI summary
A three-dimensional printing apparatus (1) includes a base (11) including an opening (21), a tank (12) placed on the base and storing a liquid photo-curable resin (23), an optical device ((13) including a light source that emits light and arranged to irradiate the resin inside the tank with light emitted from the light source through the opening, a shutter (15) that covers the opening in an openable and closable manner, a slide guide that guides sliding of the tank so that the tank is slidable between a preparation position located outside of a region over the opening and an installation position located over the opening, and an interlocking device (17) that opens and closes the shutter in conjunction with sliding of the tank so that the shutter is opened when the tank is located over the entire opening, and the shutter is closed when the tank is not located over at least a portion of the opening.