Three dimensional object printing
View Patent ↗A three dimensional object creation system prints objects layer by layer. A conveyor conveys a substrate relative to an arrangement of printheads having multiple groups of printheads. Each group of printheads prints a respective layer of multiple materials over the previous layer such that the system prints the entire three dimensional object in a single pass.
1. A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system comprising a conveyor for conveying a substrate relative to an arrangement of printheads, the arrangement of printheads comprising a first group of printheads for printing a first layer onto said substrate, and at least one next group of printheads for printing a next layer onto a previous layer, the next group of printheads being arranged downstream of a previous group with respect to the conveying direction; wherein at least one group of printheads prints a layer comprising at least two materials and wherein the system prints the three dimensional object in a single pass.
2. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 1 wherein at least two groups of printheads operate simultaneously.
3. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 1 wherein each layer is substantially continuous.
4. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 1 wherein the object comprises more than 100 layers.
5. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 1 further comprising an object incorporation device that incorporates at least one object into the product being printed whilst the at least one arrangement of printheads prints the product.
6. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 5 wherein the at least one object comprises an inorganic semiconductor.
7. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 5 wherein at least one group of printheads prints electrical connections to at least one object incorporated in the products.
8. A three dimensional object creation system according to claim 1 wherein at least one group of printheads is offset from the next previous group of printheads in a direction away from said substrate by a layer thickness.