3D printing liquefier nozzle flexure for improved ironing
An apparatus, system and method for providing a liquefier nozzle flexure to at least enable ironing of a 3D print, to thereby improve print quality. The apparatus, system and method may include: a controllable print head for providing the 3D print; a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print; and the liquefier nozzle flexure mounted between the print head and the liquefier that allows a distance between the print head and the liquefier to vary when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
1 . A system for ironing of a 3D print, comprising:
a controllable print head for providing the 3D print;
a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print;
a cantilevered liquefier nozzle flexure mounted between the controllable print head and the liquefier to change a distance between the print head and the liquefier by flexing when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle flexure comprises a load cell.
3 . A system for ironing of a 3D print, comprising:
a controllable print head for providing the 3D print;
a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print;
a flexure having an adjustable stiffness mounted between the controllable print head and the liquefier to adjustably change a distance between the print head and the liquefier by variably flexing when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
4 . The system of claim 3 further comprising a roller to adjust the flexure stiffness.
5 . The system of claim 4 further comprising an actuator to linearly move the roller.
6 . The system of claim 5 further comprising a computer control system operatively coupled to the actuator to control the actuator automatically.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the computer control system is configured to alter the adjustable stiffness of the flexure via the actuator by executing a print plan.
8 . The system of claim 3 , wherein a decreased change in the distance between the print head and the liquefier corresponds to an increase in the adjustable stiffness.
9 . The system of claim 3 , wherein an increased change in the distance between the print head and the liquefier corresponds to a decrease in the adjustable stiffness.
10 . A system for ironing of a 3D print, comprising:
a controllable print head for providing the 3D print;
a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print;
a pneumatic flexure having an adjustable stiffness mounted between the controllable print head and the liquefier to pneumatically change a distance between the print head and the liquefier when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
11 . The system of claim 10 further comprising an actuator to provide the pneumatic change in the distance between the print head and the liquefier.
12 . The system of claim 11 further comprising a computer control system operatively coupled to the actuator to control the actuator automatically.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the computer control system is configured to alter the adjustable stiffness of the pneumatic flexure via the actuator by executing a print plan.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the actuator utilizes a servomechanism or servomotor to apply a variable force to the pneumatic flexure to adjust the stiffness.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator to apply a variable force to the pneumatic flexure to adjust the stiffness.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is applied voltage thereto to expand a size of the piezoelectric actuator to apply the variable force to the pneumatic flexure.
17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein an increase in the pneumatic change corresponds to an increased stiffness to the adjustable stiffness.
18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein a decrease in the pneumatic change corresponds to an decreased stiffness to the adjustable stiffness.
19 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the flexure is configured to be turned off by pinning the flexure to a stationary, non-flexing part of the print head.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the flexure is turned off manually or automatically and the flexure may be turned on or off prior to a print or during a print.