System and method for removing three-dimensional printed parts from a platen using inductive heating and gravity
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object facilitates removal of the three-dimensional object from the platen on which the object was formed. The method includes rotating the platen from a horizontally level position to a position at an angle to the level position to enable gravity to urge the three-dimensional object away from the platen and inductively heating the platen to melt support material at the boundary of the object and the platen to release the three-dimensional object from the platen.
1. A printer for manufacturing a three-dimensional object comprising:
a plurality of ejectors configured to eject drops of material;
a track;
a platen positioned opposite the plurality of ejectors, the platen being oriented at a first position that is horizontally level and the platen being operatively connected to a motive force that is configured to move the platen along the track;
an inductive heater positioned to heat the platen; and
a controller operatively connected to the platen, inductive heater and the plurality of ejectors, the controller being configured to:
operate the plurality of ejectors to eject the drops of material towards the platen and form layers of material with reference to digital image data of the three-dimensional object to produce the three-dimensional object on the platen;
rotate the platen to a second position that enables gravity to urge the three-dimensional object off of the platen;
operate the inductive heater to heat the platen and release the three-dimensional object from the platen; and
operate the motive force to move the platen along the track at an angle with respect to the first position so the operation of the inductive heater enables the three-dimensional object to fall from the platen.
2. The printer of claim 1 further comprising:
an actuator operatively connected to the platen; and
the controller being operatively connected to the platen through the actuator, the controller being further configured to operate the actuator to rotate the platen to a position that is at an angle to the first position to enable gravity to urge the three-dimensional object towards an edge of the platen.
3. The printer of claim 2 , the controller being further configured to:
operate the actuator to rotate the platen to the second position that is at about at a forty-five degree angle to the first position.
4. The printer of claim 2 , the controller being further configured to:
operate the actuator to rotate the platen to the second position that is up to a one hundred and eighty degree angle to the first position.
5. The printer of claim 2 further comprising:
a wiper configured to move across the platen after the platen has been rotated to the second position;
another actuator operatively connected to the wiper, the actuator being configured to move the wiper across the platen; and
the controller is further configured to operate the other actuator to move the wiper across the platen and remove melted material from the platen when the platen is in the second position.
6. The printer of claim 2 further comprising:
a sensor positioned to detect removal of the three-dimensional object from the platen; and
the controller is operatively connected to the sensor, the controller further configured to operate the actuator to return the platen to the first position in response to the sensor detecting removal of the three-dimensional object from the platen.
7. The printer of claim 2 , the controller being further configured to:
operate a first group of ejectors in the plurality of ejectors to eject wax onto the platen to form a wax base on the platen; and
operate a second group of ejectors in the plurality of ejectors to eject material onto the wax base to form the three-dimensional object, the wax base having a footprint that is larger than a footprint of the three-dimensional object.
8. The printer of claim 1 further comprising:
a wiper that extends across the track; and
the controller is further configured to move the platen on the track past the wiper to clean the platen as the platen passes the wiper.
9. The printer of claim 8 , the track being further configured to rotate the platen one hundred eighty degrees to enable the platen to support a building of another object; and
the controller is further configured to move the platen along the track to rotate the platen through the one hundred and eighty degrees.