HYDRAULIC 3D-PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD
The invention is a system and method for printing 3D objects. The method may include providing a disposable cartridge including a build chamber coupled to a storage chamber adapted to hold a build material; seesawing a piston and a platform within the storage chamber and the build chamber, respectively, to transfer the build material between the storage chamber and the build chamber via a feeding path; and curing a layer of the build material onto the platform or onto a cured layer of the build material on the platform until the 3D object is formed. The system may include the cartridge; a movement module coupled to the piston and the platform of the cartridge; and a controller configured to drive the movement module to seesaw the piston and the platform to hydraulically transfer a portion of the printing material to a printing area in order to build the 3D object.
1 . A system for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
a base adapted to receive a cartridge, the cartridge including a body housing a channel, a first chamber, and a second chamber, wherein the channel fluidly communicates the first chamber and the second chamber, the first chamber is adapted to store a printing material, and the second chamber is adapted to receive the printing material;
a controller in communication with a curing light engine and a movement module, wherein:
the movement module is adapted to seesaw a piston and a platform within the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, and to hydraulically transfer a portion of the printing material between the first chamber and the second chamber; and
the curing light engine is adapted to cure with a curing light a layer of the printing material onto the platform or onto a cured layer of the printing material on the platform, in order to build the 3D object.
2 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the channel is adapted to facilitate the hydraulic transfer of the printing material.
3 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the printing material is a non-Newtonian fluid.
4 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the movement module includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm adapted to push or pull the piston and the second arm adapted to push or pull the platform.
5 . The cartridge of claim 3 , wherein a velocity of the first arm is inversely proportional to a cross-sectional area of the first chamber and a velocity of the second arm is inversely proportional to a cross-sectional area of the second chamber.
6 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the movement module includes a single actuator adapted to drive an arm coupled to the piston and the platform.
7 . The cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the arm is adapted to push or pull the piston and the platform synchronously.
8 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a holding frame and a window.
9 . The cartridge of claim 7 , wherein the window includes a substrate coated by a layer such as a gel.
10 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the first chamber or a side wall of the second chamber includes a through-hole, the through-hole adapted to be sealable.
11 . The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the through-hole is adapted to discharge an excess portion of the printing material and to balance the pressure internal and external to the cartridge.
12 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the movement module is adapted to drive the piston to hydraulically actuate the platform to rise a predetermined distance during a predetermined printing interval.
13 . The cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the movement module is adapted to drive the platform to a predetermined position after the predetermined printing interval.
14 . A method for building a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
providing a base adapted to receive a cartridge, the cartridge including a body housing a channel, a first chamber, and a second chamber, wherein the channel fluidly communicates the first chamber and the second chamber, the first chamber is adapted to store a printing material, and the second chamber is adapted to receive the printing material;
seesawing a piston and a platform within the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, to hydraulically transfer the printing material between the first chamber and the second chamber via the channel; and
curing a layer of the printing material onto the platform or onto a cured layer of the printing material on the platform until the 3D object is formed.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the cartridge is disposable.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein seesawing includes actuating the piston and the platform in substantially linear reciprocating directions.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein seesawing includes synchronously pushing or pulling the piston and the platform within the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein seesawing includes driving the piston downward to introduce the build material to a print area between a surface of a window and the platform of the second chamber.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein introducing the printing material hydraulically actuates the platform within the second chamber.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein seesawing includes driving the piston downward to hydraulically actuate the platform to rise a predetermined distance within the second chamber.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the predetermined distance is defined by a position of the platform within the second chamber when a separation force changes.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein seesawing further includes pushing the platform downward to a predetermined position.
23 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
pushing the piston to a lower limit position to hydraulically actuate the platform until a through-hole of the platform is tangential to a lower sealing limit of the platform; and
removing the platform from the second chamber to allow access to the 3D object formed inside the second chamber.