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 with the second chamber, the first chamber is adapted to store a printing material and house a piston, and the second chamber is adapted to receive the printing material and house a platform;
a movement module coupled to the piston and the platform;
a curing light engine external to the cartridge; and
a controller in communication with the curing light engine and the movement module, the controller configured to:
drive the movement module to seesaw the piston and the platform within the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, and hydraulically transfer a portion of the printing material between the first chamber and a printing area between a surface of a window and the platform of the second chamber; and
cure with a curing light from the curing light engine 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 system of claim 1 , wherein the printing material is a non-Newtonian fluid.
3 . The system 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.
4 . The system 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.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the movement module includes a single actuator adapted to drive an arm coupled to the piston and the platform.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the arm is adapted to push or pull the piston and the platform synchronously.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a holding frame and window.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the window includes a substrate coated by a layer such as a gel.
9 . The system 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.
10 . The system 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.
11 . The system 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.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the movement module is adapted to drive the platform to a predetermined position after the predetermined printing interval.