Abstract:
A method of printing a three dimensional object in three dimensions using a starter substrate and rotational positioning is provided. The three dimensional printing method includes obtaining a starter substrate, coupling the starter substrate onto a rotating spindle, rotating the starter substrate about a rotational axis of the rotating spindle, and depositing material onto the starter substrate.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to 3D printing and specifically a method of 3D printing using a starter substrate and rotational positioning. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    3D printing is a quickly growing segment for inventors and tinkerers. The existing machines are very slow and expensive. Current consumer 3D printers start at a plane “Z”=0 and build the product in all 3 axes until the finished product at “Z” height is complete. For solid objects, most of the printed portion is not visible to a user and is just “filler” for support and stability to arrive at the end product, adding to excess cost and manufacturing time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a first stage in one embodiment of 3D printing using a starter substrate and rotational positioning. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a second stage in one embodiment of 3D printing using a starter substrate and rotational positioning. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a final stage in one embodiment of 3D printing using a starter substrate and rotational positioning. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic flowchart of an embodiment of a method of printing an object in 3D. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0009]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
         [0010]    The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure is described in relation to a 3D printing method utilizing a starter substrate  100 , and a rotational and scanning material deposition process. 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrates an embodiment of a first stage ( FIG. 1 ), a second stage ( FIG. 2 ), and a final stage ( FIG. 3 ), of a 3D printing method for forming a 3D printed object  10  using a starter substrate  100  and rotational positioning. The 3D printing can be accomplished by an additive process. Material  300  can be extruded through a 3D printing device  400  and deposited on the starter substrate  100  layer upon layer to form the 3D printed object  10 . The 3D printing station includes a chamber  550 , and a 3D printing device  400  and a spindle  200  housed in the chamber  550 . The 3D printing station can be printed 
         [0013]    The starter substrate  100  is coupled to a rotating spindle  200  and can be placed beneath the 3D printing device  400 . The starter substrate  100  can have an identification code indicating a type of starter substrate  100  for the 3D printing device  400  to print. Each starter substrate  100  can have a different identification code depending on characteristics of the starter substrate  100 . For example, one starter substrate  100  can be a ring, another a head, and each will have a different identification code. The identification code can aid in automating the 3D printing device  400  and can allow adjustments to give options for the 3D printed object  10  such as color or features. 
         [0014]    The 3D printing device  400  extrudes material  300  onto the starter substrate  100  at different positions on the starter substrate  100 . The material  300  can be mass placement  320  housed in the extruder  420  of the 3D printing device  400  and/or colorant  310  housed in the color applicator  410  of the 3D printing device  400 . The 3D printing device  400  can move along a direction x substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the rotating spindle  200 , the rotating spindle  200  can move along the rotation axis, or both. The 3D printing device  400  can also move along a direction z substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. This allows the material  300  to be deposited over some or the entire starter substrate  100  at different positions while the starter substrate  100  is rotating or fixed. 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of printing an object  10  in 3D. The method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining the method. Each block shown in  FIG. 4  represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the method. Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocks is illustrative only and the order of the blocks can change according to the present disclosure. Additional blocks can be added or fewer blocks may be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The method can begin at block  510 . 
         [0016]    In block  510 , the starter substrate  100  is obtained. The starter substrate  100  can be any shape and has a defined geometry. The starter substrate  100  serves as the bulk of the unseen object. In one embodiment, the starter subject  100  is symmetrical. The method continues to block  520 . 
         [0017]    In block  520 , the starter substrate  100  can be attached to a rotating spindle  200 . The method continues to block  530 . 
         [0018]    In block  530 , the starter substrate  100  can be rotated about the rotational axis of the rotating spindle  200 , if necessary. The rotational axis of the rotating spindle can be horizontal or substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The starter substrate  100  can be rotated in a clockwise direction, a counterclockwise direction, or both directions by the rotating spindle  200 . The rotating spindle can also be moved in and out along the rotation axis. The block continues to block  540 . 
         [0019]    In block  540 , material  300  is deposited on the starter substrate  100  at a position on the starter substrate  100  after the rotating spindle  200  has rotated the starter substrate  100  to a desired position or while the rotating spindle  200  is rotating the starter substrate  100 . The material  300  deposited can be a mass placement and/or a colorant. The 3D printing device  400  can be used to deposit the material  300  onto the starter substrate  100 . The 3D printing device  400  can be configured to move along a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. Thus, the rotation spindle  200 , the 3D printing device  400 , or both can move along a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis. The 3D printing device  400  comprises a color applicator  410  housing the colorant  320  and an extruder  420 . The method continues to block  550 . 
         [0020]    In block  550 , if the 3D printed object  10  is complete, the method ends. Otherwise, the process returns to block  530  and the process continues until the 3D printed object  10  is complete. The material  300  deposited on the starter substrate  100  can be about 50% or less than the total volume of the 3D printed object  10 , such as less than 20%. 
         [0021]    The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.