Stereolithography Light Intensity Control via Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stereolithography devices face challenges in maintaining precise light intensity over their service life due to aging effects on UV light sources and other components, leading to reduced irradiation intensity and imprecise control.
Innovation Solution
A stereolithography device equipped with a light source, a sensor to determine actual light intensity, and a control unit to adapt electric current, ensuring closed-loop control of light intensity, which compensates for aging phenomena and environmental influences, using a digital mirror device and a photodiode sensor for precise measurement and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ageing compensation with fixedly stored characteristic is used to adjust light intensity, then the control method is simple to implement, but the control precision is low due to not accounting for sample variation of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system where a sensor continuously measures the actual light intensity and feeds this information back to a control unit. The control unit compares the actual value with the desired value and adjusts the light source current accordingly. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for pre-stored ageing characteristics and automatically compensates for component variations, resolving the contradiction between implementation simplicity and control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting light intensity deviations and correcting them without external intervention. The control unit continuously monitors the light intensity through the sensor and autonomously adjusts the light source current to maintain the desired intensity level, enabling the system to self-correct for ageing effects and component variations throughout its service life.
2Device complexity
If ageing compensation with fixedly stored characteristic is used, then the system structure is simple, but the light intensity control becomes imprecise over service life
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop feedback system continuously monitors light intensity and automatically adjusts for ageing effects and environmental influences. The sensor detects deviations from the desired light intensity and the control unit compensates in real-time, ensuring stable and reliable light intensity control throughout the device's service life, thereby resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and reliability.
3Device complexity
If no active control is implemented, then the device structure remains simple, but the light intensity varies due to environmental influences and deposits on optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system actively counteracts environmental influences and deposits on optical components by continuously measuring light intensity and adjusting the light source current to maintain constant output. This active compensation ensures light intensity stability despite external factors, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and intensity constancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously compensates for environmental effects and component degradation without external intervention. The sensor and control unit work together to self-adjust the light intensity, maintaining stable operation throughout the service life and eliminating the need for manual recalibration or maintenance.
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 solution maintains a constant light intensity over the device's service life, extending its operational lifespan and ensuring high precision in the 3D printing process by accurately adjusting the light intensity through a closed-loop system.
Implementation Method 1
An ultraviolet light source (e.g. LED) of the stereolithography device is affected by ageing effects
Implementation Method 2
The photopolymer is cured at the locations where the light pattern impinges upon the photopolymer
Implementation Method 3
a sensor for determining an actual value of the light intensity of the emitted light
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a stereolithography device (100) comprising a light source (101) for emitting light to cure a light-curing material (121); a sensor (103) for determining an actual value of the light intensity of the emitted light; and a control unit (105) for adapting the electric current through the light source (101) until the actual value of the light intensity reaches a specified desired value.