3D Printing Wood Material Coating and Recycling System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3D printing technologies for forming volume bodies, particularly in the furniture industry, face challenges in cost-effectiveness and industrial applicability, with existing methods often relying on expensive synthetic resins and lacking efficient material recycling and processing systems.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that utilize a storage and suction system for processing wood materials, including wood foam, dust, and flour, with energy-activated binders and additives, and incorporate a coating and finishing unit for post-processing, enabling the formation of solid structures with enhanced properties through layer-by-layer application and machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If wood materials (dust, flour, foam) are used instead of synthetic resins for 3D printing, then cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness are improved, but material handling and processing complexity increases due to electrostatic charges and adhesion issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost-effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A coating unit applies a coating material to the wood particles before deposition. This coating material acts as an intermediary that reduces electrostatic charges and improves adhesion between wood particles and the build platform, enabling effective processing of wood-based materials without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes physical parameters of the wood materials by applying coatings that modify surface properties, reducing electrostatic charges and improving flow characteristics. This allows natural materials to be processed effectively in the 3D printing system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a storage and suction system is implemented for wood materials, then material recycling and processing efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial processing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage unit and suction device are integrated into a unified system where waste material is suctioned directly back to the storage unit for reuse. This merging of functions creates an efficient closed-loop system that improves productivity while managing complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers waste wood material through the suction device and returns it to the storage unit for reuse. This recovery mechanism improves material utilization and productivity by minimizing waste and reducing the need for continuous material replenishment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Manufacturing precision

If coating and finishing units are added for post-processing, then surface quality and adhesion are improved, but manufacturing time and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coating unit applies coating material to particles before they are deposited in the 3D printing process. This preliminary coating action ensures proper adhesion and surface quality from the outset, reducing or eliminating the need for separate post-processing steps and saving manufacturing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach enables cost-effective production of durable and visually appealing three-dimensional solid bodies by efficiently recycling and processing wood materials, improving adhesion, surface quality, and reducing electrostatic charges, thus enhancing the industrial applicability of 3D printing in the furniture industry.

Implementation Method 1

a suction device is provided which collects material generated during machining on a machine tool and which is fed to the storage unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

The activation component is excited by the application of energy, for example, hot air, laser light, or UV radiation. This causes the base material or any added adhesive to be partially or completely melted and develop an adhesive effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

The present invention relates to a device and a method for creating three-dimensional solid bodies... layer-by-layer formation of bodies falls within the field of additive manufacturing processes

Methodology Applied
Scientific Effect3D Printing: 3D Printing

Data Source

PatentEP3129209B1Device and method for producing three-dimensional objects
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 HOMAG GMBH
  • EP3129209B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3129209B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3129209B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device and to a method for producing three-dimensional objects. Said three-dimensional objects may, in particular, be items used in furniture and component manufacturing. The device comprises a machining tool (16) for the machining of workpieces, preferably by material-removable, a feed mechanism (3a) for supplying an additional material, for example in part wood material, such as foamed wood, wood flour, sawdust or the like, a metal or mineral paste, or plastic, and an application unit (9, 12a-12c) for forming three-dimensional objects from the material supplied by the feed mechanism (3a).