Vibrating Scraper Resin Recovery for Additive Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In additive manufacturing processes, significant amounts of unused resin are retained on the foil after each layer is formed, leading to inefficiencies and waste.

Innovation Solution

A reclamation system is implemented to remove and recover unused resin from the foil, utilizing a collection structure and scraper to direct the resin into a containment vessel, which can then be reused or recycled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a reclamation system is implemented to remove and recover unused resin from the foil, then material efficiency and environmental sustainability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunused resin wasteVSAvoidreclamation system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a reclamation system that recovers unused resin from the foil after the additive manufacturing process. The system includes a collection structure that gathers residual resin and a containment vessel that stores it for later reuse or recycling, directly addressing the waste problem while managing the added complexity through systematic organization of the recovery process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The reclamation system extracts and removes unused resin from the foil using a scraper mechanism. This extraction process separates the valuable resin material from the consumable foil, enabling the resin to be recovered and reused, thereby reducing material loss and addressing the contradiction between waste reduction and system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If resin is removed from the foil using a scraper, then resin recovery efficiency is improved, but the foil may be damaged or contaminated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresin recovery efficiencyVSAvoidfoil integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper is equipped with a vibrating head that uses mechanical vibration to loosen and detach the resin from the foil surface. This vibrational mechanism enhances the scraping action, allowing for more effective resin removal while the controlled vibration patterns help prevent excessive mechanical stress or damage to the foil structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The scraping mechanism employs dynamic, oscillating motion rather than static pressure. The vibrating head moves back and forth across the foil surface, creating variable contact forces that effectively remove resin while distributing mechanical stress over time, thereby maintaining foil integrity during the recovery process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 reclamation system effectively recovers a substantial portion of unused resin, reducing waste and enhancing the efficiency of the additive manufacturing process by reusing materials.

Implementation Method 1

removing a second portion of the resin from the foil by a vibrating head of the scraper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12447682B2Reclamation system for additive manufacturing

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A reclamation system for an additive manufacturing apparatus can include a collection structure configured to remove at least a portion of the resin from a foil. A containment vessel can be configured to retain the resin removed from the foil. A drain can direct the resin from the containment vessel to a reservoir.