Traversing Irradiation Region for Uniform Additive Manufacturing Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing systems face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively generating three-dimensional objects due to complexities and expenses associated with large-scale print modules and heaters, particularly in achieving uniform heating and fusing of build materials.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a configuration where the print module traverses along the shorter axis and the heater extends along the longer axis, allowing independent control of the heater's traversing rate and radiant heat profile, with a sensor for temperature feedback to optimize heating cycles and minimize equipment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large-scale heater is used to heat the entire build platform, then uniform heating can be achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented between a stationary heater that remains fixed and a traversing irradiation region that moves across the build platform. This divides the heating system into a permanent infrastructure component and a mobile delivery component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining uniform heating coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system transitions from a static large-scale heater to a dynamic traversing irradiation region. The irradiation region moves across the build platform during heating cycles, allowing a smaller, simpler heater to achieve uniform heating by sequentially treating different areas rather than requiring simultaneous heating of the entire platform.
2Device complexity
If a traversing irradiation region is used, then equipment costs and complexity are reduced, but heating uniformity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The traversing irradiation region continuously moves across the build platform during heating cycles, ensuring that all areas receive heat treatment without interruption. This continuous traversal maintains heating uniformity by systematically covering the entire build area, preventing hot or cold spots that might occur with intermittent or localized heating approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors positioned beneath the build platform provide real-time feedback on heating conditions. This feedback enables the system to monitor and adjust the traversing irradiation region's performance, ensuring uniform heating is achieved across the build platform despite the dynamic nature of the heating approach.
3Productivity
If the print module and heater traverse simultaneously, then production time is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heating and printing operations are segmented into independent functional modules with separate control systems. The stationary heater and traversing print module operate independently, allowing their movements and processes to be controlled separately. This independence enables simultaneous operation while maintaining precise temperature control through dedicated heating cycle data and print module trajectory coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically coordinates the traversing print module with the stationary heater's irradiation region. By independently controlling the print module's movement path and speed while maintaining the heater's stationary position, the system achieves both high productivity through parallel operation and precise temperature control through separate optimization of each module's operational parameters.
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 configuration reduces complexity and costs while achieving efficient and uniform heating and fusing of build materials, enhancing the production of three-dimensional objects with improved mechanical properties and surface finishes.
Implementation Method 1
the heater is to direct radiant heat onto the build platform
Implementation Method 2
Energy may also be applied to cause melting, so that regions of the build material may fuse to form portions of an object
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed additive manufacturing apparatus (10), (22), (34) comprising: a heater (18), (36) to direct radiant heat onto an irradiation region (20) of a build platform (12), at least part of the heater (18), (36) being moveable to cause the irradiation region (20) to traverse over the build platform (12); a coating module (14) moveable relative the heater (18), (36) to traverse the build platform (12) to apply a build material onto the build platform (12); and a print module (16) moveable relative the heater (18), (36) to traverse the build platform (12) to selectively eject a print agent onto the build material.