Three-dimensional printer apparatus having electro-osmotic lubricant flow
A three-dimensional printing system is provided that includes a tank, a textured substrate connected to the tank, and at least one electrode. The tank contains a liquid photopolymer resin and a lubricant. The textured substrate is configured to allow light to pass through into the liquid photopolymer resin. The at least one electrode is configured to control a flow of the lubricant on the textured substrate.
1 . A three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a tank containing a liquid photopolymer resin and a lubricant;
a textured substrate connected to the tank, the textured substrate being configured to allow light to pass through into the liquid photopolymer resin; and
at least one electrode,
the at least one electrode being optically transparent and being configured to control a flow of the lubricant on the textured substrate.
2 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the textured substrate comprises a first substrate that is optically transparent and a second substrate formed on a surface of the first substrate, and
the second substrate includes a textured surface facing the liquid photopolymer resin.
3 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 2 , wherein
the textured substrate includes at least one pillar.
4 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 3 , wherein
each of the at least one pillar is formed directly on the surface of the first substrate.
5 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 3 , wherein:
the at least one electrode includes a plurality of electrodes, and
each of the at least one pillar is one of the plurality of electrodes.
6 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 2 , wherein
the first substrate is formed of a glass material.
7 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 2 , wherein
the second substrate is formed of polydimethylsiloxane.
8 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one electrode includes at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, and
the at least one positive electrode and the at least one negative electrode each overlay the surface of the first substrate on opposite sides of the second substrate.
9 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , further comprising
at least one of a pump and a reservoir configured to supply the lubricant to the tank.
10 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , further comprising
at least one sensor configured to detect an amount of the lubricant in a portion of the textured substrate.
11 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the lubricant is an oil that includes an additive with a higher sensitivity to electroosmosis than the oil.
12 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one electrode includes electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the textured substrate.
13 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the lubricant is in contact with the at least one electrode.
14 . The three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one electrode is provided on the first substrate and is spaced apart from the second substrate.
15 . A three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a tank containing a liquid photopolymer resin and a lubricant;
a textured substrate connected to the tank, the textured substrate being configured to allow light to pass through into the liquid photopolymer resin;
at least one electrode; and
at least one of a pump and a reservoir configured to supply the lubricant to the tank, the at least one electrode being configured to control a flow of the lubricant on the textured substrate.
16 . A three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a tank containing a liquid photopolymer resin and a lubricant;
a textured substrate connected to the tank, the textured substrate being configured to allow light to pass through into the liquid photopolymer resin;
at least one electrode; and
at least one sensor configured to detect an amount of the lubricant in a portion of the textured substrate,
the at least one electrode being configured to control a flow of the lubricant on the textured substrate.