ABSTRACT
Abstract
An electrophotographic three dimensional printer system, including at least one electrophotographic (EP) printing module employing multi-material EP printing technology. The printer system may also include one or more additional printer modules employing different patterning and deposition technology, such as powder bed and jetted binder technology. The EP printing module may be used to create a 3D object derived from a composite toner material that may comprise an engineering material treated with a triboelectric material. The composite toner material may be designed to undergo a post printing treatment wherein a triboelectric material may be separated from an engineering material and the engineering material may undergo a change.
Description
PRIORITY
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/775,279, entitled âElectrographic Multi-material 3D printer,â filed Dec. 4, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to systems and apparatuses for electrophotographic, multi-material three-dimensional (3D) printing.
BACKGROUND
Three-dimensional (3D) printing has generated a high degree of interest in the potential for a faster and more economical manufacturing approach since the first patents were granted over 30 years ago. To date, however, that potential has largely gone unfulfilled. Today, the majority of 3D printers are used to make demonstration parts or nonfunctional prototypes, most from a plastic material that is chosen primarily for compatibility with the printer rather than the materials requirement of the final part.
Among the issues preventing wider acceptance of 3D printing as a real manufacturing method is the requirement of specific applications for specific materials compatible with these applications. Another issue is the need for enhanced precision in some sections of a part compared to the bulk of the part. With current technology, the need for enhanced precision forces the choice of a 3D printing technology capable of providing the required precision, which typically results in slower build rates than less precise methods. These slower build rates can have a significant cost impact on the final part if applied to the total volume of the part. The solution to both problems is the ability to employ printing techniques that are optimized for the materials needed for the application and for the precision needed for specific voxels within the part.
While jetted binder 3D printers are arguably the most efficient technology for creating a 3D printed object, one of its attributes, the ability to deposit relatively thick layers, limits its usefulness when precise thin layers are needed. Electrophotographic (EP) printing, while rapidly depositing large areas of powder, is restricted to layer thicknesses in the range of a few microns to a few tens of microns. The trade-off is that printed resolution is significantly finer than is possible with jetted binder printing.
While EP based 3D printers have been the subject of significant study and development, the approach has not been commercially deployed in significant breath. EP technology in 3D printing applications, as suggested above, offers limited deposition rates, which limit the economic practicality. Notwithstanding the relatively slow build rates possible with pure EP technology, EP based 3D printers face two other challenges which have limited their practicality. Specifically, EP technology's inability to employ multiple engineering materials, such as ceramics, metals and high-performance polymers presents a sever limitation in manufacturing applications. The other issue affecting the practicality of EP technology for 3D printing applications is the inability to accurately and reliably transfer printed layers to a stack more than around 1 mm thick.
SUMMARY
The basis for the present disclosure is fundamental color electrophotographic (EP) technology adapted to the use of engineering ceramic, metal and polymer materials for object creation. The printing materials (composite toners) may be engineering material treated with a coating of triboelectrically active material, such that the treated powder may be used as a toner. The coating of triboelectric material may also be engineered, with respect to volume and composition to act as a binder. The binder nature may allow the treated powder to be formed into a predetermined shape with sufficient robustness to be submitted to a secondary process such as sintering, in the manner of conventional ceramic and powder metallurgy processing. The triboelectric material may be decomposed during a heat treatment or sintering step and thus removed from the final object. The triboelectrically treated powder may further comprise one of two classes of materials: robust materials and fugitive materials.
Robust materials may be those that survive a high temperature post processing step, either maintaining their original chemical and physical properties, or as the products of a chemical or physical transformation associated with the high temperature process. Robust materials may consolidate as individual grains of the original or product material and fuse together in a solid-state or reactive liquid aided sintering.
Fugitive material are those that may be present as a robust mass at low temperatures to act as a temporary support or form holding material for robust materials until the robust materials are fixed in predetermined positions in contact with the fugitive material. Fugitive materials may remain in place until robust materials are endowed with sufficient strength and rigidity to maintain the predetermined configuration without the support of fugitive materials. The fugitive materials may be removed from the 3D printed object before, during or after a high temperature post processing step. The fugitive materials are designed be removed from the object at specific points in the creation process depending of factors such as the composition of robust material and intended post printing steps. The fugitive materials may also be designed to be removed from the object in the gaseous state prior to the full consolidation of the robust materials, thus allowing removal of the fugitive materials from a cavity within the structure of the 3D printed object with no communication to the outside or with only a tortuous communication with the outside. A fugitive material may also be designed to be removed leaving virtually no residue.
In one embodiment, a fugitive material may be converted from a rigid supporting material to a gas or colloidal suspension by the application of heat. In alternative embodiments, the conversion of a fugitive material from solid to gas or colloidal suspension may be accomplished by the application of electromagnetic radiation such as visible, UV, infrared or X-ray radiation, or by particle beams such as electrons. In another alternative embodiment, a fugitive material may be removed by conversion to a liquid. Conversion to a liquid may be accomplished by the application of a predetermined thermal flux or by the action of a solvent.
The EP 3D printer may be a multi-material capable EP module which may be designed to be included in a 3D printer system with one or more other printer modules. The one or more printer modules included in a 3D printer system may employ multi-material EP printing technology as described in the present disclosure. The one or more additional printer modules may employ different patterning and deposition technology, such as powder bed and jetted binder technology. In some embodiments, each of the multiple materials an EP printer module may apply to the creation of a 3D object may derive from a composite toner material that may comprise an engineering material treated with a triboelectric material. The composite toner material may be designed to undergo a post printing treatment wherein a triboelectric material may be separated from an engineering material and the engineering material may undergo a change. The change may be a change in apparent or absolute density, or a change in stoichiometry, or a change in crystallography, or a change in appearance or a change in some combination of the preceding properties. The engineering materials may be ceramic or metallic or polymeric in nature. The engineering materials may further be of crystalline or amorphous nature, or a combination of crystalline and amorphous.
In some embodiments, a single pass multi toner EP system comprising a plurality of complete individual EP engines may interface to a single receiver substrate. A receiver substrate may comprise a continuous belt of a composite nature to provide the conditions to affect a traditional electrostatic transfer of a toner material pattern from an optical photo conductor of an EP engine onto a non-conductive or semi conductive surface of a receiver substrate. A receiver substrate may further form a continuous loop, interfacing with each of the plurality of EP engines, such that each of a plurality of EP engines may transfer a predetermined toner pattern onto a receiver substrate. A receiver substrate may be driven continuously and sequentially into communication with each of the plurality of EP engines such that each one of the plurality of EP engines may sequentially transfer a toner pattern onto a single printed layer. After a toner pattern from the last one of a plurality of EP engines has been transferred onto a single unfused printed layer on a receiver substrate the receiver substrate may transport an unfused printed layer to a fusing apparatus to consolidate and set an unfused layer into a printed layer.
A printed layer may be transported via a receiver substrate to a transfer station where a printed layer may be transferred to a build plate of an assembly station or to the top of a stack of previously transferred printed layers.
A receiver substrate of the present disclosure may interface with a transfer loop, comprised of a composite material appropriate for selectively maintaining and canceling electrostatic adhesive forces that may hold a layer of electrophotographic composite toner materials in position on the transfer loop. A transfer loop may be comprised of several sections for modification of a printed layer of electrophotographic composite toner powder in preparation for transferring the printed layer to build station. During the interaction between the receiver substrate and the transfer loop, the printed layer will be transferred to the transfer loop.
A printed layer is created by deposition of composite toner material onto a receiver substrate from one or more of a plurality of EP engines. Transfer of composite toner powder from an EP Engine may be performed in a manner known in the art of EP printing, that is by providing a charge on a substrate opposite to the charge on the composite towner powder. Each EP Engine may deposit a predetermined portion of a printed layer, each in sequence as the plurality of EP Engines are positioned along a portion of a receiver substrate. In one embodiment, each EP engine may deposit a predetermined pattern of composite toner powder directly on an exposed surface of a receiver substrate, such that no portion of the printed layer is thicker than the thickness of a single layer of composite toner powder. In an alternative embodiment, each EP Engine may be controlled such that each subsequent EP Engine may deposit a predetermined pattern on a previously deposited pattern or directly on a receiver substrate surface. Predetermined composite toner patterns from each of the plurality of EP Engines may be coordinated such that a completed printed layer may be of uniform thickness. A printed layer may comprise a layer of one or more printed objects. In a printed layer with deposited composite materials for a plurality of printed parts, depositions for each printed part may be spaced apart from adjacent depositions for others of the plurality of printed objects. Space between adjacent printed object layers may be filled with a composite toner material designed to facilitate separation of adjacent printed objects.
After a printed layer has been fully created by deposition of composite toner powders from a plurality of EP Engines, it may be transported to a fuser to fuse composite toner powders together in a consolidated mass. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to compress the composite toner powder to an apparent density of >40% of the theoretical density of the composite toner powder. Compaction of the composite toner powder may be accomplished before, during or after fusing the composite toner powder, depending on the nature of the materials comprising composite towner powders.
In some embodiments, compaction of composite toner may be accomplished during engagement between a receiver substrate and a transfer loop. A compaction device may comprise drive wheels for a receiver substrate and a transfer loop wherein the drive wheels also serve as calender rolls, applying compaction pressure to the toner through the receiver substrate and transfer loop. This embodiment may also be provided with a fusing device within the receiver substrate/transfer loop interface.
In another embodiment, compaction of the composite toner may be accomplished by a compaction device located in coordination with a receiver substrate prior to interface of the receiver substrate with a transfer loop. A compaction device can include a roller, made up of a hardened metal material designed as a cylindrical tube. In other embodiments, the compaction device can include a compliant pressure cuff, or another device configured to apply a controlled pressure orthogonal to the plane of the deposited composite toner material and a carrier device. The compaction device can also include a settling device configured to provide vibration. The vibration of the compaction device can improve the distribution and compaction of the composite toner powder. In some embodiments, the compaction device can be configured to compact composite toner powder to a high density of at least 40% of the theoretical density of the composite toner powder.
A receiver substrate and a transfer loop may interface by being brought into parallel alignment separated by a thickness of a printed layer. As a printed layer is caused to move into an interface between receiver substrate and transfer loop by movement of the receiver substrate to which it is attached, the printed layer is brought into contact with the transfer loop on a surface of the printed layer opposite of its contact with the receiver substrate.
Transfer of a printed layer from receiver substrate to transfer loop may be accomplished by removing the charge holding the printed layer to the receiver substrate and providing a charge to the transfer loop that is biased in magnitude and sign to attract the composite powder. A printed layer is caused to move through and out of an interface between a receiver substrate and a transfer loop by coordinated movement of the receiver substrate and the transfer loop. After a printed layer is caused to move out of an interface between a receiver substrate and a transfer loop, it may be caused to move, by movement of the transfer loop to a transfer device where the printed layer may be caused to transfer from the transfer loop to a build plate or to a stack of previously transferred printed layers.
In an alternative embodiment the multi-material EP 3D printer may comprise a plurality of EP engines, a receiver substrate and a conditioning loop. A conditioning loop and a receiver substrate may interface by being brought into parallel alignment separated by a thickness of a printed layer. As a printed layer is caused to move into an interface between receiver substrate and conditioning loop by movement of the receiver substrate to which it is attached, the printed layer is brought into contact with the conditioning loop on a surface of the printed layer opposite of its contact with the receiver substrate.
A conditioning loop may comprise a continuous loop of flexible material. A conditioning loop material may comprise, but is not limited to, a metal, a metal alloy or a composite material. A conditioning loop may be provided with a compaction device and a fusing device.
In embodiments comprising a conditioning loop, a printed layer can be transferred directly from a receiving substrate to a build plate or a stack of previously transferred printed layers. A printed layer may be caused to transit the interface between a receiving substrate and a conditioning loop by coordinated movement of the receiving substrate and a conditioning loop. A printed layer may be transferred from a receiving substrate to a build plate or a stack of previously transferred printed layers by a transfer apparatus. A transfer apparatus can comprise a predetermined location on a receiver substrate and a transfer device.
Components comprising the multi-material EP Printer can be coordinated by a print station control unit which may be directed by a central computer unit. A central computer unit may coordinate the actions of a plurality of print stations and an assembly apparatus.
Printing techniques such as electrophotography are capable of printing large areas with very high precision very rapidly but are limited to printing very thin layers. The relatively low mass deposition rate of electrophotography and added complexity of electrophotographic systems render them unattractive for 3D printing where all voxels on an object are formed electrophotographically. In some embodiments, the printer module may be incorporated in a
PRIORITY
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/775,279, entitled âElectrographic Multi-material 3D printer,â filed Dec. 4, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to systems and apparatuses for electrophotographic, multi-material three-dimensional (3D) printing.
BACKGROUND
Three-dimensional (3D) printing has generated a high degree of interest in the potential for a faster and more economical manufacturing approach since the first patents were granted over 30 years ago. To date, however, that potential has largely gone unfulfilled. Today, the majority of 3D printers are used to make demonstration parts or nonfunctional prototypes, most from a plastic material that is chosen primarily for compatibility with the printer rather than the materials requirement of the final part.
Among the issues preventing wider acceptance of 3D printing as a real manufacturing method is the requirement of specific applications for specific materials compatible with these applications. Another issue is the need for enhanced precision in some sections of a part compared to the bulk of the part. With current technology, the need for enhanced precision forces the choice of a 3D printing technology capable of providing the required precision, which typically results in slower build rates than less precise methods. These slower build rates can have a significant cost impact on the final part if applied to the total volume of the part. The solution to both problems is the ability to employ printing techniques that are optimized for the materials needed for the application and for the precision needed for specific voxels within the part.
While jetted binder 3D printers are arguably the most efficient technology for creating a 3D printed object, one of its attributes, the ability to deposit relatively thick layers, limits its usefulness when precise thin layers are needed. Electrophotographic (EP) printing, while rapidly depositing large areas of powder, is restricted to layer thicknesses in the range of a few microns to a few tens of microns. The trade-off is that printed resolution is significantly finer than is possible with jetted binder printing.
While EP based 3D printers have been the subject of significant study and development, the approach has not been commercially deployed in significant breath. EP technology in 3D printing applications, as suggested above, offers limited deposition rates, which limit the economic practicality. Notwithstanding the relatively slow build rates possible with pure EP technology, EP based 3D printers face two other challenges which have limited their practicality. Specifically, EP technology's inability to employ multiple engineering materials, such as ceramics, metals and high-performance polymers presents a sever limitation in manufacturing applications. The other issue affecting the practicality of EP technology for 3D printing applications is the inability to accurately and reliably transfer printed layers to a stack more than around 1 mm thick.
SUMMARY
The basis for the present disclosure is fundamental color electrophotographic (EP) technology adapted to the use of engineering ceramic, metal and polymer materials for object creation. The printing materials (composite toners) may be engineering material treated with a coating of triboelectrically active material, such that the treated powder may be used as a toner. The coating of triboelectric material may also be engineered, with respect to volume and composition to act as a binder. The binder nature may allow the treated powder to be formed into a predetermined shape with sufficient robustness to be submitted to a secondary process such as sintering, in the manner of conventional ceramic and powder metallurgy processing. The triboelectric material may be decomposed during a heat treatment or sintering step and thus removed from the final object. The triboelectrically treated powder may further comprise one of two classes of materials: robust materials and fugitive materials.
Robust materials may be those that survive a high temperature post processing step, either maintaining their original chemical and physical properties, or as the products of a chemical or physical transformation associated with the high temperature process. Robust materials may consolidate as individual grains of the original or product material and fuse together in a solid-state or reactive liquid aided sintering.
Fugitive material are those that may be present as a robust mass at low temperatures to act as a temporary support or form holding material for robust materials until the robust materials are fixed in predetermined positions in contact with the fugitive material. Fugitive materials may remain in place until robust materials are endowed with sufficient strength and rigidity to maintain the predetermined configuration without the support of fugitive materials. The fugitive materials may be removed from the 3D printed object before, during or after a high temperature post processing step. The fugitive materials are designed be removed from the object at specific points in the creation process depending of factors such as the composition of robust material and intended post printing steps. The fugitive materials may also be designed to be removed from the object in the gaseous state prior to the full consolidation of the robust materials, thus allowing removal of the fugitive materials from a cavity within the structure of the 3D printed object with no communication to the outside or with only a tortuous communication with the outside. A fugitive material may also be designed to be removed leaving virtually no residue.
In one embodiment, a fugitive material may be converted from a rigid supporting material to a gas or colloidal suspension by the application of heat. In alternative embodiments, the conversion of a fugitive material from solid to gas or colloidal suspension may be accomplished by the application of electromagnetic radiation such as visible, UV, infrared or X-ray radiation, or by particle beams such as electrons. In another alternative embodiment, a fugitive material may be removed by conversion to a liquid. Conversion to a liquid may be accomplished by the application of a predetermined thermal flux or by the action of a solvent.
The EP 3D printer may be a multi-material capable EP module which may be designed to be included in a 3D printer system with one or more other printer modules. The one or more printer modules included in a 3D printer system may employ multi-material EP printing technology as described in the present disclosure. The one or more additional printer modules may employ different patterning and deposition technology, such as powder bed and jetted binder technology. In some embodiments, each of the multiple materials an EP printer module may apply to the creation of a 3D object may derive from a composite toner material that may comprise an engineering material treated with a triboelectric material. The composite toner material may be designed to undergo a post printing treatment wherein a triboelectric material may be separated from an engineering material and the engineering material may undergo a change. The change may be a change in apparent or absolute density, or a change in stoichiometry, or a change in crystallography, or a change in appearance or a change in some combination of the preceding properties. The engineering materials may be ceramic or metallic or polymeric in nature. The engineering materials may further be of crystalline or amorphous nature, or a combination of crystalline and amorphous.
In some embodiments, a single pass multi toner EP system comprising a plurality of complete individual EP engines may interface to a single receiver substrate. A receiver substrate may comprise a continuous belt of a composite nature to provide the conditions to affect a traditional electrostatic transfer of a toner material pattern from an optical photo conductor of an EP engine onto a non-conductive or semi conductive surface of a receiver substrate. A receiver substrate may further form a continuous loop, interfacing with each of the plurality of EP engines, such that each of a plurality of EP engines may transfer a predetermined toner pattern onto a receiver substrate. A receiver substrate may be driven continuously and sequentially into communication with each of the plurality of EP engines such that each one of the plurality of EP engines may sequentially transfer a toner pattern onto a single printed layer. After a toner pattern from the last one of a plurality of EP engines has been transferred onto a single unfused printed layer on a receiver substrate the receiver substrate may transport an unfused printed layer to a fusing apparatus to consolidate and set an unfused layer into a printed layer.
A printed layer may be transported via a receiver substrate to a transfer station where a printed layer may be transferred to a build plate of an assembly station or to the top of a stack of previously transferred printed layers.
A receiver substrate of the present disclosure may interface with a transfer loop, comprised of a composite material appropriate for selectively maintaining and canceling electrostatic adhesive forces that may hold a layer of electrophotographic composite toner materials in position on the transfer loop. A transfer loop may be comprised of several sections for modification of a printed layer of electrophotographic composite toner powder in preparation for transferring the printed layer to build station. During the interaction between the receiver substrate and the transfer loop, the printed layer will be transferred to the transfer loop.
A printed layer is created by deposition of composite toner material onto a receiver substrate from one or more of a plurality of EP engines. Transfer of composite toner powder from an EP Engine may be performed in a manner known in the art of EP printing, that is by providing a charge on a substrate opposite to the charge on the composite towner powder. Each EP Engine may deposit a predetermined portion of a printed layer, each in sequence as the plurality of EP Engines are positioned along a portion of a receiver substrate. In one embodiment, each EP engine may deposit a predetermined pattern of composite toner powder directly on an exposed surface of a receiver substrate, such that no portion of the printed layer is thicker than the thickness of a single layer of composite toner powder. In an alternative embodiment, each EP Engine may be controlled such that each subsequent EP Engine may deposit a predetermined pattern on a previously deposited pattern or directly on a receiver substrate surface. Predetermined composite toner patterns from each of the plurality of EP Engines may be coordinated such that a completed printed layer may be of uniform thickness. A printed layer may comprise a layer of one or more printed objects. In a printed layer with deposited composite materials for a plurality of printed parts, depositions for each printed part may be spaced apart from adjacent depositions for others of the plurality of printed objects. Space between adjacent printed object layers may be filled with a composite toner material designed to facilitate separation of adjacent printed objects.
After a printed layer has been fully created by deposition of composite toner powders from a plurality of EP Engines, it may be transported to a fuser to fuse composite toner powders together in a consolidated mass. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to compress the composite toner powder to an apparent density of >40% of the theoretical density of the composite toner powder. Compaction of the composite toner powder may be accomplished before, during or after fusing the composite toner powder, depending on the nature of the materials comprising composite towner powders.
In some embodiments, compaction of composite toner may be accomplished during engagement between a receiver substrate and a transfer loop. A compaction device may comprise drive wheels for a receiver substrate and a transfer loop wherein the drive wheels also serve as calender rolls, applying compaction pressure to the toner through the receiver substrate and transfer loop. This embodiment may also be provided with a fusing device within the receiver substrate/transfer loop interface.
In another embodiment, compaction of the composite toner may be accomplished by a compaction device located in coordination with a receiver substrate prior to interface of the receiver substrate with a transfer loop. A compaction device can include a roller, made up of a hardened metal material designed as a cylindrical tube. In other embodiments, the compaction device can include a compliant pressure cuff, or another device configured to apply a controlled pressure orthogonal to the plane of the deposited composite toner material and a carrier device. The compaction device can also include a settling device configured to provide vibration. The vibration of the compaction device can improve the distribution and compaction of the composite toner powder. In some embodiments, the compaction device can be configured to compact composite toner powder to a high density of at least 40% of the theoretical density of the composite toner powder.
A receiver substrate and a transfer loop may interface by being brought into parallel alignment separated by a thickness of a printed layer. As a printed layer is caused to move into an interface between receiver substrate and transfer loop by movement of the receiver substrate to which it is attached, the printed layer is brought into contact with the transfer loop on a surface of the printed layer opposite of its contact with the receiver substrate.
Transfer of a printed layer from receiver substrate to transfer loop may be accomplished by removing the charge holding the printed layer to the receiver substrate and providing a charge to the transfer loop that is biased in magnitude and sign to attract the composite powder. A printed layer is caused to move through and out of an interface between a receiver substrate and a transfer loop by coordinated movement of the receiver substrate and the transfer loop. After a printed layer is caused to move out of an interface between a receiver substrate and a transfer loop, it may be caused to move, by movement of the transfer loop to a transfer device where the printed layer may be caused to transfer from the transfer loop to a build plate or to a stack of previously transferred printed layers.
In an alternative embodiment the multi-material EP 3D printer may comprise a plurality of EP engines, a receiver substrate and a conditioning loop. A conditioning loop and a receiver substrate may interface by being brought into parallel alignment separated by a thickness of a printed layer. As a printed layer is caused to move into an interface between receiver substrate and conditioning loop by movement of the receiver substrate to which it is attached, the printed layer is brought into contact with the conditioning loop on a surface of the printed layer opposite of its contact with the receiver substrate.
A conditioning loop may comprise a continuous loop of flexible material. A conditioning loop material may comprise, but is not limited to, a metal, a metal alloy or a composite material. A conditioning loop may be provided with a compaction device and a fusing device.
In embodiments comprising a conditioning loop, a printed layer can be transferred directly from a receiving substrate to a build plate or a stack of previously transferred printed layers. A printed layer may be caused to transit the interface between a receiving substrate and a conditioning loop by coordinated movement of the receiving substrate and a conditioning loop. A printed layer may be transferred from a receiving substrate to a build plate or a stack of previously transferred printed layers by a transfer apparatus. A transfer apparatus can comprise a predetermined location on a receiver substrate and a transfer device.
Components comprising the multi-material EP Printer can be coordinated by a print station control unit which may be directed by a central computer unit. A central computer unit may coordinate the actions of a plurality of print stations and an assembly apparatus.
Printing techniques such as electrophotography are capable of printing large areas with very high precision very rapidly but are limited to printing very thin layers. The relatively low mass deposition rate of electrophotography and added complexity of electrophotographic systems render them unattractive for 3D printing where all voxels on an object are formed electrophotographically. In some embodiments, the printer module may be incorporated in a system of a plurality of printer modules to form a multi-method 3D printer system. In this way, printed layers designed to be relatively thick (greater than Ë20 μm) but relatively low resolution, may be created with a printer module provided with printing technology well suited for printing layers thicker than Ë20 μm, such as powder bed and jetted binder technology. The layers may also be less than Ë20 μm thick and/or require high precision.
In some embodiments, the multi-materials and multi-method printer system is a system of printer modules, the printer modules being directed by a central computer system to coordinate the modules as necessary to deposit the proper material at the required precision to a single build location, while maximizing the overall build rate.
A multi-material, multi-method printer system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/595,265, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent app. 62/742,505, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the major components of the multi materials EP printer in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the major components of an alternative embodiment of the multi materials EP printer in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of an EP printer included in a multi method printer system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of transfer device in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a transfer device in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 6 is an illustration of a transfer device in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of a transfer device in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computer control system of a multi-method printer system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a print station control system of an EP printer in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention is described with reference to the attached figures, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawn to scale and they are provided merely to illustrate the instant invention. Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of the invention. One having ordinary skill in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. The invention is not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordance with the invention.
Definitions
To improve ease of understanding throughout this disclosure, certain definitions are provided below:
Printer moduleâA patterning and deposition system capable of creating a printed object on a carrier device.
Transfer deviceâAn apparatus for moving a printed layer from an EP printed module to an assembly apparatus.
Assembly apparatusâA system capable of receiving printed objects from a plurality of transfer modules in such a way as to assembly printed layers and printed parts according to a predetermined design.
Printed partâA stack of printed layers, fused together to form a part conforming to a predetermined design.
Printed LayerâA layer one voxel thick comprising one or more printed objects, the printed objects conforming to the requirements of a specific printed part design
Printed objectâA layer of a single material, a single voxel thick and the horizontal design conforming to the design of predetermined location within a printed part.
Previously transferred objectsâAn assembly of printed objects, all but the topmost creating completed printed layers; the top most layer may not have all of the printed objects required by the printed part design.
The multi-material electrophotographic 3D printer of embodiments of the inventions is designed to create printed objects, printed layers and printed parts using combinations of materials not typically associated with electrophotographic (EP) printing. These materials may be high performance engineering materials designed specifically to meet the engineering requirements of the final printed part. These materials may include ceramic and metals as well as organic materials that may not exhibit triboelectric properties necessary for conventional EP printing. In addition to not possessing triboelectric properties, these materials may not be fusible in the manner of traditional EP materials, and thus not fixable in a robust mass by conventional EP fusers. These materials must be presented to the EP printer engine as a powder of controlled particle size, typically in the range of from 2 μm to 10 μm and must possess triboelectric properties tailored to the requirements of the EP engine's developer. While powders of the appropriate size are readily available in the desired material compositions, they may not possess the required triboelectric properties. In order to make otherwise non-triboelectric material usable in an EP printing process, the powders of the desired material may be coated with a triboelectric material suitable for the developer of the EP engine. Such coatings may be applied by techniques such as powder bed atomic layer deposition, or by molecular layer deposition, or by other techniques for coating powders that are known in the art. These triboelectrically enabled powders are referred to as composite powders.
There are a wide range of triboelectric materials that are appropriate for powder coating and cover the range of triboelectric charge from strongly positive to strongly negative. Examples of practical materials with positive charges include nylon, acrylic and quartz. Practical negatively charged triboelectric materials include silicones, Teflon (PTFE), vinyl and polypropylene.
Powder coatings may also impart fusing or adhesive properties to powders of otherwise non-fusible material to allow for fixing a layer of loose powder to a robust mass. Since many triboelectric materials are low melting point organic materials, it is possible and desirable for the triboelectric coating to also provide the fusing/adhesive property to allow fixing of the powder to a robust mass.
The multi-material, multi method 3D printer of embodiments of the invention comprises an arrangement of a plurality of printer modules. Each printer module may comprise a mechanism for creating a precise and robust printed object. Each 3D printed object may be comprised of a predetermined material and conform to a predetermined set of physical requirements. Each one of the plurality of printer modules may communicate with one of a plurality of transport modules. Each one of the plurality of transport modules may comprise a carrier device upon which an associated printer module may form a 3D printed object or a printed layer. Each transport module may additionally comprise a transfer mechanism to transfer a printed object to an assembly apparatus. The assembly apparatus may comprise a build station and may additionally comprise a positioning apparatus to accurately position the assembly apparatus with respect to transfer mechanism.
A plurality of printed objects, each from the ones of a plurality of printer modules may be transferred to the assembly apparatus to form a 3D printed layer. A plurality of 3D printed layers may be sequentially stacked one upon the other to form one or a plurality of multi-material 3D printed parts.
The build station may be associated with a positioning apparatus for positioning the assembly apparatus relative to any designated one of the plurality of the transfer mechanisms.
Three-Dimensional Electrophotographic Printer
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate three-dimensional multi-materials electrophotographic printer in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Each of the components function in coordination with the rest of the components as directed by a computer control system 10 , illustrated in FIG. 8 and discussed in further detail hereinafter. In some embodiments, the computer system is directed by a CAD program which may contain all the information necessary for the central processing unit 300 to cause the plurality of components of the 3D multi-material, multi-method 3D printer to create the predetermined multi-material 3D printed part to be constructed.
The print stations incorporated in the multi-material multi-method 3D printer system may be chosen for their capability to create printed objects of required physical characteristics in a predetermined material. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of printer modules incorporated in the printer system may be based on EP technology. FIG. 9 illustrates the logical association of the central processing unit to the individual components of an EP printer module in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, as disclosed in further detail hereinafter.
Each of the printer modules may be controlled by dedicated print station controller 310 and each printer control module may be coordinated by central processing unit 300 to create printed objects in a sequence appropriate for assembling printed layers and printed parts.
As shown in FIG. 1 , the EP printer module comprises components to create a 3D printed object from a plurality of composite toner materials, conforming to a predetermined physical specification. An EP printer module may create a 3D printed layer on a receiver substrate 30 . An EP multi-material printer module comprises a plurality of EP printer engines 20 a - 20 c . Each one of the plurality of EP printer engines comprises a photoconductor drum 21 , a developer 22 , a drum cleaner 24 , a discharge device 25 , a charge inducer 25 and a imager 28 . The listed components of each one of the plurality of EP printer engines is configured in a traditional arrangement of EP printer engines. Each of the plurality of EP printer engines may also comprise a reservoir of composite toner 23 . Each of the reservoirs of composite toner 23 of the plurality of EP printer engines may be a different material. Each of the composite toners may be designed to be compatible with post printing processing designed to produce the final properties of all of the composite toners utilized in a multi-method printer system.
In the case of an EP printer module of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , print station controller 310 may act on specific layer instructions from central processing unit 300 to create a printed layer of predetermined materials and patterns by controlling the actions of the components of the EP printer module. Specifically, print station controller 310 directs the actions of each of the plurality of EP engines to create a unique pattern of the composite toner with which each of the plurality of EP engines is loaded, and transfer the unique patterns to receiver substrate 30 . In a first step, print station controller 310 may direct imager 28 of EP engine 20 a to create an electrostatically charged pattern on photoconductive drum 21 . As print station controller 310 causes photoconductor drum 21 to rotate past developer 22 , appropriately charged triboelectric composite powder may be attracted to and deposited on the charged pattern on the photoconductor drum 21 of EP Engine 20 a . As drum 21 of EP Engine 20 a is further rotated by print station controller 310 to a point where a pattern of composite powder 23 approaches receiver substrate 30 , print station controller 310 may cause receiver substrate 30 to advance in the same direction as the rotation of photoconductor drum 21 and at the same speed as the tangential movement of photoconductor drum 21 so that the pattern of composite powder may be transferred to receiver substrate 30 . The transfer of the pattern of composite powder from photoconductor drum 21 to receiver substrate 30 may be affected by the charge induced in receiver substrate 30 by primary charge device 50 in the manner common to standard PE printers.
Once an unconditioned pattern 40 is deposited on receiver substrate by a first PE engine 20 a , print station controller 310 may cause a pattern of composite powder to be formed one the photoconductor drum 21 of EP engine 20 b in the same manner as the pattern of composite powder was formed on photoconductor 21 of EP engine 2 a . Print station controller 310 may cause receiver substrate 30 and photoconductor 21 of EP engine 2 b to advance to a point where index points on the pattern of composite powder 38 on photoconductor drum 21 of EP engine 20 b and the pattern of unconditioned powder 39 on receiver substrate 30 are aligned in a direction orthogonal to receiver substrate 30 . As print station controller 310 causes both the receiver substrate and the photoconductor drum 21 of EP 2b to advance at the same speed, the pattern of composite powder 38 on photoconductor drum 20 of EP engine 2 b is transferred to open areas of the pattern of unconditioned powder 39 on receives substrate 30 . The transfer of the pattern of composite powder 38 from photoconductor drum 21 to receiver substrate 30 may be effected by the charge induced in receiver substrate 30 by primary charge device 50 in the manner common to standard PE printers. The pattern of composite powder 38 from EP engine 20 b may be such there is no overlap with the pattern of composite powder 38 formed on the photoconductor drum 20 of EP engine 20 a.
Patterns of unconditioned powder
39 , 40 from each of one of the plurality of EP engines 20 may be generated and transferred to receiver substrate 30 in the same manner as those from EP engines
20 a and 20 b until a complete printed layer, comprised of the materials required for the given printed layer are present in the predetermined voxels within the printed layer.
Each of the plurality of EP printer engines 20 may create and transfer an image to a receiver substrate 30 in a manner normally employed in EP printers. A receiver substrate 30 may be comprised of electrically semi-conductive composite material. Primary charge device 50 can be electrically biased with a potential having a magnitude and sign that electrostatically attracts the layers of composite toners 23 from the surface of photoconductive drums 21 . Receiver substrate 30 may be a continuous loop, defined at a proximal end by drive wheel 66 and at a distal end by lower compaction device 62 . The length of receiver substrate 30 closest to the plurality of EP engines moves from the drive wheel 66 toward lower compaction device 62 . The position of receiver substrate 30 may be coordinated by central processing unit 300 and print station controller 310 relative to each of the plurality of EP printer engines 20 such that each of the plurality of EP printer engines deposits a printed object coordinated in a predetermined manner with printed objects of every other EP engines comprising an EP printer module 1 , as shown in FIG. 3 .
With reference back to FIG. 1 , after each of the plurality of EP printer engines deposits its predetermined portion of a printed layer, completing the deposition of all the composite toners of a printed layer, the receiver substrate may move the printed layer toward a compaction device. A compaction device may be comprised of lower compaction device 62 , and upper compaction device 60 . Lower compaction device 62 and upper compaction device 60 may be superposed in the manner of calender rolls. Lower compaction device 62 may act on an unconditioned pattern 40 of composite toner 23 through the thickness of receiver substrate 30 . Upper compaction device 60 may act on an unconditioned pattern of composite toner 40 through the thickness of transfer loop 35 . The coordinated interaction of upper compaction device 60 and lower compaction device 62 , acting through the thicknesses of receiver substrate 30 and transfer loop 35 , may compress the plurality of composite toners 23 to a density of greater than 40% of the theoretical density of composite toners 23 . A compaction device may also comprise a thermal device to fuse the fusible portion of composite toners 23 .
Transfer loop 35 may comprise an electronically semiconducting, composite material the same as, or similar to receiver substrate 30 . Transfer loop 35 moves in coordination with receiver substrate 30 , separated from receiver substrate 30 by the predetermined thickness of printed layer 45 between lower compaction device 62 and transfer drive 68 . Around lower compaction device 62 , transfer loop 35 applies pressure to the compacted portion of printed layer 45 .
Conditioning apparatus 54 may further condition printed layer 45 to facilitate transfer from receiver substrate 30 to transfer loop 35 . <figure-callout id="54" label="Conditioning apparatus" filenames="
CLAIMS
Claims ( 19 )
What is claimed is:
1. A three dimensional (3D) printing system comprising:
a plurality of printing modules, wherein at least one of the printing modules comprises an electrophotographic (EP) printing module;
a transfer device to transfer an object to each of the plurality of printing modules;
a plurality of controllers, each of the plurality of controllers coupled to one of the plurality of printing modules; and
a computer coupled to the plurality of controllers to control the deposition of materials on the object in the plurality of printing modules
wherein the EP printing module comprises:
a plurality of EP printer engines, and
a lower compaction device and an upper compaction device.
2. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the EP printing module is configured to deposit a plurality of composite toner materials on the object.
3. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of EP printer engines comprises:
a photoconductor drum;
a drum cleaner;
a discharge device;
a charge inducer; and
an imager.
4. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the EP printing module comprises a receiver substrate.
5. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the receiver substrate comprises an electrically semi-conductive composite material.
6. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of EP printer engines comprises a reservoir of composite toner.
7. The 3D printing system of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of EP printer engine is electrically biased with a potential having a magnitude and sign that electrostatically attracts a layer of the composite toner.
8. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the receiver substrate is a continuous loop.
9. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the receiver substrate comprises a drive wheel at a proximal end and the lower compaction device at a distal end, and wherein the receiver substrate moves from the drive wheel toward the lower compaction device.
10. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the position of the receiver substrate is controlled by the computer.
11. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the lower compaction device acts on an unconditioned pattern of composite toner through a thickness of the receiver substrate, and the upper compaction device acts on an unconditioned pattern of composite toner through a thickness of a transfer loop.
12. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the EP printing module further comprises a transfer loop.
13. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , further comprising a conditioning apparatus to transfer from the receiver substrate to a transfer loop.
14. The 3D printing system of claim 4 , wherein the transfer device further comprises a conditioning loop.
15. The 3D printing system of claim 14 , wherein the conditioning loop comprises at least one of the lower compaction device or the upper compaction device to compress composite toner of an unconditioned pattern.
16. The 3D printing system of claim 15 , wherein the lower compaction device acts on the unconditioned pattern of composite toner through a thickness of the receiver substrate and the upper compaction device acts on unconditioned pattern of composite toner through a thickness of the conditioning loop.
17. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of printing modules uses a different deposition and patterning technique.
18. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of printing modules is removable.
19. The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of printing modules is exchangeable with a different one of the plurality of printing modules.
US16/692,477
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2018-12-04
2019-11-22
Electrophotographic multi-material 3d printer
JP2021530262A
JP7190093B2
( en )
2018-12-04
2019-11-22
3D printing system
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Electrophotographic multi-material 3D printer
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International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2019/055061 dated Jan. 2, 2020, 12 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2019/062839 dated Feb. 7, 2020, 14 pages.
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