3D Printer UV Light Absorbing Agent for Color Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Some 3D printing techniques using near-infrared dye (NERD) for fusing build material particles result in off-white parts due to color tint transfer, making it difficult to maintain the original color of the build material.
Innovation Solution
Employing a UV light absorbing agent that is transparent or reflective in the visible spectrum, which absorbs UV light to melt and fuse build material particles without altering their color, potentially combined with a second agent that absorbs IR light or modifies material properties, allowing for the formation of parts with the original color or enhanced properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If near-infrared dye (NERD) is used for fusing build material particles, then the build material particles can be fused together, but the color of the build material particles is altered resulting in off-white parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the near-infrared dye (NERD) that causes color contamination from the build material particles. Instead, a separate light absorbing agent is applied only in the areas requiring fusion, preventing the dye from contaminating the entire build material and thus avoiding off-white coloration in the final part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light absorbing agent as an intermediary substance between the light source and the build material particles. This agent absorbs the light energy and converts it to heat, which then melts and fuses the particles without the need for NERD, thereby preventing color transfer while achieving the desired fusion effect.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a UV light absorbing agent is used to melt and fuse build material particles, then the original color of the build material particles is maintained, but additional complexity is introduced in the printing process
Solution Approach 1:
The light absorbing agent serves multiple functions: it acts as a heat transfer medium to melt particles, serves as a temporary marker for fusion areas, and enables color preservation by replacing NERD. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while achieving the desired outcome.
Solution Approach 2:
The light absorbing agent is applied to the build material particles before the fusion process begins. This preliminary application ensures that the agent is in position to absorb light and generate heat exactly where needed, streamlining the subsequent fusion operation and reducing process complexity.
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
Enables the production of parts with the original color of the build material particles, such as white parts from white materials, without color alteration, and allows for the modification of material properties like surface roughness or conductivity by adjusting the UV and IR light absorption.
Implementation Method 1
a light absorbing agent that has been deposited on the layer of build material particles with the light absorbing agent having been deposited on the layer of build material particles to become heated by absorbing light
Implementation Method 2
cause the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt
Implementation Method 3
The light absorbing agent may also become heated through absorption of the light in the UV wavelength spectrum, which may cause the build material particles upon which the UV light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt and subsequently fuse together
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example, a three-dimensional (3D) printer may include a delivery device to deposit a light absorbing agent onto selected areas of a layer of build material particles, in which the light absorbing agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are around the ultraviolet wavelength range. The 3D printer may also include a light source to apply light onto the selectively deposited light absorbing agent and the layer of the build material particles, in which the light absorbing agent absorbs light around the ultraviolet wavelength range from the applied light and becomes heated to a temperature that causes the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt and to fuse together following cessation of the application of the light.