Digitally active 3-D object creation system
View Patent ↗A method of printing a three-dimensional object is provided. The method comprises providing a plurality of stationary printhead layer groups, each layer group comprising at least one printhead for printing a respective layer of the object; conveying a partially-formed object past the layer groups; and simultaneously printing material from at least one printhead in each layer group, such that a plurality of different layers are printed simultaneously by the layer groups.
1. A method of printing a three-dimensional object, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of stationary printhead layer groups, each layer group comprising at least one printhead for printing a respective layer of said object;
conveying a partially-formed object past said layer groups; and
simultaneously printing material from at least one printhead in each layer group, such that a plurality of different layers are printed simultaneously by said layer groups,
wherein at least one layer group comprises a plurality of printheads.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each printhead in said at least one layer group prints the same material.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one layer group comprises a first printhead which prints a first material and a second printhead which prints a second material in a same layer of said object.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said first and second printheads are maintained at different temperatures.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each layer group is positioned at a different height relative to said conveyor.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a height difference between each layer group and an adjacent layer group is constant.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the height difference is at least one voxel height.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one layer group comprises a plurality of printheads, and said plurality of printheads within said at least one layer group are positioned at the same height relative to said conveyor.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each layer is defined by a plurality of voxels arranged in a regular array and wherein the voxels of each layer are printed so as to be offset by half a voxel relative to the voxels of adjacent layers in a conveying direction and/or a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each layer group is controlled by a control system.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a robot inserts pre-formed objects into the partially-formed object during printing.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pre-formed object is an electrical or mechanical device.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-formed object is a semiconductor device.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one printhead prints electrical connections for the electrical device.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said layer groups create one or more cavities in the partially-formed object during printing, the or each cavity being configured for receiving a pre-formed object from said robot.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printheads extend transversely across said conveyor relative to a conveying direction.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said layer groups are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveyor.