Printer unit for a 3D-printing apparatus and method
A printer unit ( 100 ) for a 3D-printing apparatus for deposition of a printing material, as well as a method of 3D printing, is provided. The printer unit comprises a printer head ( 105 ) comprising a nozzle ( 110 ). The printer head is resiliently suspended in the printer unit in a vertical direction by at least one resilient means ( 120 ), allowing a vertical movement of the printer head during deposition of the printing material. The suspended printer head in its equilibrium is positionable above the underlying material at a vertical distance (Δz 1 ) before deposition. During deposition of printing material, the at least one resilient means is configured to become biased by a vertical force (F 3 ) on the nozzle from the printing material on the underlying material, such that the printer head moves from its equilibrium into a position at a desired vertical distance (Δz 1 ) from the underlying material.
1. A printer unit for a 3D-printing apparatus for deposition of a printing material, comprising
a printer head comprising a nozzle arranged to deposit, in a vertical direction (z) and on an underlying material, at least one filament of a printing material supplied to the nozzle,
wherein the printer head is resiliently suspended in the printer unit in the vertical direction by at least one resilient means, allowing a vertical movement of the printer head during deposition of the printing material,
wherein the suspended printer head in its equilibrium is positionable above the underlying material at a vertical distance (Δz 1 ) before deposition,
wherein during deposition, the at least one resilient means is configured to become biased by a vertical force (F 3 ) on the nozzle, the vertical force resulting from the printing material being deposited onto the underlying material, such that the printer head moves from its equilibrium in a direction away from the underlying material and into a position at a desired vertical distance (Δz 2 ) above the underlying material, and
wherein the printer unit further comprises a first actuator configured to at least partially impede the vertical movement of the printer head.
2. The printer unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient means comprises at least one spring.
3. The printer unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a first control unit configured to control the force constant (k) of the resilient means.
4. The printer unit according to claim 1 , wherein the force constant of the at least one resilient means is determined as a function of at least one of
a viscosity of the printing material, and
a flow rate of the deposition of the printing material.
5. The printer unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is configured to block the vertical movement of the printer head.
6. The printer unit according to claim 5 , wherein the first actuator is operable by at least one of electromagnetism, hydraulics and air pressure.
7. The printer unit according to claim 6 , wherein the first actuator comprises at least one damping means.