Patent Publication Number: US-2018050492-A1

Title: 3d printing system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing, enable objects to be generated on a layer-by-layer basis. 3D printing techniques may generate a layer of an object by selectively solidifying a portion of a layer of a build material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       Examples will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a volume of build material in which a 3D object has been generated using a 3D printing system according to one example; 
         FIG. 2  is a side-view illustration of a section of a layer of build material according to one example; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a 3D printing system controller according to one example; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram outlining an method of controlling a 3D printing system according to one example; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5D  are illustrations of where height measurements may be taken according to one example; and 
         FIGS. 6A to 6D  are illustrations of height measurements according to one example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some 3D printing techniques selectively solidify portions of a layer of build material using various techniques. 
     For example, some 3D printing systems selectively apply, for example using a printing mechanism, a coalescing agent on a layer of build material in a pattern corresponding to a layer of the object being generated. By applying energy to the whole, or a substantial portion, of the layer of build material those portions of the build material on which coalescing agent is deposited absorb sufficient energy to cause the temperature of those portions to rise such that coalescence, and subsequent solidification, of the build material occurs. Those portions of the build material on which no coalescing agent is deposited do not absorb sufficient energy to cause coalescence, and hence do not solidify. 
     Other 3D printing systems may apply a binder agent to a layer of build material to cause solidification of selective portions of build material. Yet other 3D printing systems may operate in a different manner. 
     The term ‘build material’, as used herein, refers to any material suitable for use by a 3D printer to generate 3D objects. The exact nature of the build material may be chosen based on criteria that may include, for example: the solidification mechanism used by the 3D printing technique used; and the properties of a generated 3D object. 
     The term ‘build material’ is generally used herein to refer to unsolidified build material. 
       FIG. 1  shows an illustration of the contents of a 3D printing system build module, hereinafter referred to as a build volume  100 , after a 3D printing process has been performed by a 3D printing system (not shown). For clarity the build module itself is not shown, however the build module may be a suitable container in which a 3D printing system may generate a 3D object. For example, the build module may include side walls and a movable floor. A 3D printing system may form successive layers  102   a  to  102   n  of an unsolidified build material  104  on and above the movable floor and may selectively solidify portions thereof  106  to generate a 3D object, for example in the manner described above. The thickness of each layer of build material may vary depending on the type of 3D printing system used and configuration parameters, but may in some examples be in the region of about 50 to 200 um. 
     In some examples build material may be in the form of a dry powder. In other examples the build material may be in the form of a paste, a gel, a slurry, or the like. 
     According to one example a suitable build material may be a powdered semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. One suitable material may be Nylon 12, which is available, for example, from Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Another suitable material may be PA 2200 which is available from Electro Optical Systems EOS GmbH. 
     In other examples other suitable build material may be used. Such materials may include, for example, powdered metal materials, powdered plastics materials, powdered composite materials, powder ceramic materials, powdered glass materials, powdered resin material, powdered polymer materials, and the like. 
     Some kinds of build materials, some as powder-based build materials, contract when they are solidified, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For example, when a portion of a powdered build material on which a coalescing agent has been exposed to sufficient energy the build material particles coalesce, the portion of build material becomes denser and occupies less space. In one example, a formed layer of unsolidified build material may have a thickness of about 100 microns, although in other examples a formed layer of unsolidified build material have a greater or lesser thickness. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view illustration through a portion of a layer  102   x  of the build volume  104  of  FIG. 1 . The layer  102   x  comprises a portion  104  of lower density unsolidified build material, and a portion of higher density solidified build material  106 . It can be clearly seen that the portion of solidified build material  106  has contracted compared to the portion of unsolidified build material  104 . In  FIG. 2  it can be seen that contraction occurs vertically, but contraction may also occur horizontally. 
     The degree of contraction may be influenced by multiple factors that may include, for example: the quantity of coalescing agent on a portion of build material; the spatial distribution, or density, of coalescing agent on a portion of build material; the temperature reached by build material on which coalescing agent has been deposited; the temperature uniformity on a portion of build material; and the degree of packing (and hence the proportion of air) of a formed layer of build material. The process of generating a 3D object using a 3D printing system may also affect the degree of contraction over time. For instance, as temperature within the 3D printer changes this may affect the size of drops of coalescing agent deposited on a layer of build material. This may in turn affect the amount of energy absorbed thereby, and hence may affect the degree of contraction. Also, the amount of energy emitted by an energy source may vary over time, which may also affect the degree of contraction. 
     To ensure the quality of objects generated by 3D printing systems, such as the 3D printing systems described above, it is useful to ensure that the degree of contraction of solidified portions of layers of build material is carefully controlled whilst a 3D object is generated by a 3D printing system. For example, it may be beneficial to maintain a substantially constant degree of contraction whilst a 3D object is generated. By substantially is meant within acceptable an acceptable range, as described in more detail below. The acceptable degree of contraction may vary depending on the 3D printing system and the build material used. In one example, an acceptable degree of contraction may be between about 40% and 60% of unsolidified build material. In one example the degree of contraction may be around 50%. In other examples, however, a higher or lower degree of contraction may be acceptable. 
     In another example, it may be beneficial to be able to vary the degree of contraction of different layers of build material, whilst a 3D object is generated. For example this may enable the degree of contraction in some layers to be controlled within a first acceptable range, and may enable the degree of contraction in other layers to be within a second acceptable range. For example, this may enable some layers to have different properties, such as different mechanical properties, from other layers. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic diagram of a 3D printing system  300  according to one example. It will be appreciated that, for ease of explanation, not all elements of a complete 3D printing system are shown. 
     The 3D printing system  300  comprises a build module  302  in which a 3D object may be generated. In some examples the build module  302  may be removable from the 3D printing system  300 , for example to enable the build module  302  to be removed from the 3D printing system  300  and be transported to an external processing unit (not shown). An external processing unit may, for example, be used to separate a generated 3D object from unsolidified build material, and may, in some examples, prepare a mix of fresh build material and unsolidified build material used in a previous 3D printing process to generate a build material mix suitable for use in subsequent 3D printing processes. 
     The system  300  also comprises a build material distributor  304  to enable a layer of build material to be formed within the build module  302 . The build material distributor  304  may comprise, for example, a wiper or a roller mechanism to form a substantially uniform layer of build material using build material from a build material supply (not shown). 
     The system  300  also comprises an agent distribution module  306  to distribute one or multiple agents onto a formed layer of build material. The agent distribution module  306  may, for example, comprise one or multiple printheads, such as thermal inkjet or piezo printheads, to print one or multiple kinds of agents. In one example the agents are in fluid form. 
     In one example the agent distribution module  306  comprises an array of printhead nozzles that span, or substantially span, the width of the build module  302 , in a page-wide array configuration. In another example the agent distribution module  306  may comprise one or multiple printheads on a movable carriage that may scan across the width of the build module  302 . In one example the agent distribution module  306  may be controllable to selectively distribute at least a coalescing agent, or fusing agent, onto a formed layer of build material. In another example the agent distribution module  306  may be controllable to selectively distribute, in addition to a coalescing agent, other agents that may be used in the generation of a 3D object, such as a coalescence modifier agent, colouring agents, gloss agents, and so on. 
     In one example, the system  300  also comprises an energy source  308  to apply energy to formed layers of build material, such that portions of those layers on which coalescing agent has been deposited may coalesce and solidify. In one example the energy source  300  may apply energy to the whole, or substantially the whole, surface of formed layers of build material. In one example, the energy source  300  is a fixed energy source, for example positioned above the build module, to apply a determined level of energy to formed layers of build material. In another example, the energy source  300  may be a movable energy source, for example installed on a moveable carriage, that is movable over the surface of formed layers of build material to apply energy thereto. In a further example the energy source  300  may comprise a fixed and a movable energy source. In other examples the energy source  308  may not be present. 
     The system  300  also comprises a build material measurement module  310  to determine a degree of contraction of a portion of solidified build material. In one example the build material measurement module  310  may comprise one or multiple height sensors that are suitable for accurately determining small height differences between a portion of unsolidified build material and a portion of solidified build material. For example, such a height sensor may need to accurately measure differences in the order of a few hundred microns, with an accuracy of a few microns. In this way, the degree of vertical contraction of a solidified portion of a build material may be determined. 
     In one example, a height sensor used in the build material measurement module  310  may be an optical sensor based on commonly available, and relatively cheap, CD or DVD pickups. Such height sensors are generally well known and are suitable for accurately measuring small differences in height. In other examples, other kinds of sensors, such as laser sensors, may be used. 
     The system  300  further comprises a 3D printing system controller  312  to control the operation of the 3D printing system  300 . The controller  312  comprises a processor  314  coupled to a memory  316 . The memory  316  stores printer control computer readable instructions  318  that, when executed by the processor  312 , control the general operation of the 3D printing system  300  as described herein. The memory  316  further stores build material layer measurement instructions  320  that, when executed by the processor  312 , control elements of the 3D printing system to determine a degree of contraction of solidified portions of a layer of build material in accordance with examples described herein. The memory  316  further stores printer parameter control instructions  322  that, when executed by the processor  312 , modify parameters of the 3D printing system to enable the degree of contraction of solidified build material to controlled, in accordance with examples described herein. 
     Operation of the 3D printing system  300 , according to one example, will now be described with additional reference to the flow diagram of  FIG. 4 . 
     At  402 , the controller  312  controls the 3D printing system  300  to form a layer of build material, for example with the build material distributor  304 . 
     At  404 , the controller  312  controls the 3D printing system  300  to selectively solidify portions of the formed layer of build material, as previously described. For example, the selected portions may be solidified in accordance with 3D printing data representing a model of one or multiple 3D objects to be generated within the build volume  100 . The 3D printing data may, for example, define which portions of layers of build material are to be solidified, for example, in accordance with slices of a 3D object model. 
     At  406 , the controller  312  controls the 3D printing system  300  to determine the degree of contraction of a portion of build material that was solidified at  404 , as described below in greater detail. 
     At  408 , the controller  312  determines whether the determined degree of contraction is within an acceptable range or limits. If the controller  312  determines that the degree of contraction is within an acceptable range it controls the 3D printing system  300  to continue forming and selectively solidifying portions of formed layers of build material to form a 3D object. If, however, the controller  312  determines that the degree of contraction is not within an acceptable range the controller  312  takes, at block  410 , an appropriate corrective action such as modifying one or multiple operating parameters of the printing system, as described in greater detail below. In one example an acceptable range may be within about +/−10% of a reference contraction level. In other examples a higher or lower range may be acceptable. The corrective action aims to ensure that portions of solidified build material in subsequently processed layers of build material have a degree of contraction with an acceptable range. 
     In one example, if at  408  it is determined that the degree of build material contraction is above or below a predetermined threshold an alert may be issued or the 3D printing build process may be stopped or interrupted to indicate, since such a condition may be indicative of a quality issue with the object being generated. The predetermined threshold may be above the acceptable range of contraction. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a series of examples of how the controller  312  controls the build material measurement module  310  to measure the height of a portion of build material that includes a portion of build material that was solidified. 
     In one example, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the measurement module  310  can be controlled to take multiple height measurements along a single line  502  that transects a portion of a layer of build material  500  that includes a portion  504  of solidified build material. The spatial interval between separate height measurements may any suitable distance. In one example the spatial interval may be between about 0.5 cm and 5 cm, although in other examples other spatial intervals may be used. 
     In another example, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the measurement module  310  can be controlled to take multiple height measurements along a multiple lines  502   a  to  502   n  that each transect a portion of a layer of build material  500  that includes a portion  504  of solidified build material. 
     The taking of multiple height measurements along a single line, or along multiple lines, enables an average height measurement to be determined. 
     In another example, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the measurement module  310  can be controlled to take multiple height measurements along a first line  502   a  that transects a portion of a layer of build material  500  that includes a portion  504  of solidified build material, and to take multiple height measurements along a second line  502   b  that transects a portion a layer of build material  500  that does not include any solidified build material. 
     In another example, as shown in  FIG. 5D , the measurement module  310  is controlled to take multiple height measurements along a multiple lines  502   a  to  502   n,  some of which transect a portion of a layer of build material  500  that includes a portion  504  of solidified build material, and some of which that do not include a portion of solidified build material. 
     In one example, the measurement module  310  may comprise a single height sensor that may be positioned on a movable carriage, so that it may be positioned and moved relative to a layer of build material to enable height measurements to be taken from an appropriate portion of a layer of build material. In another example, the measurement module  310  may comprise multiple height sensors, for example spaced apart from one another, to enable height measurements to be taken from suitable portions of a layer of build material. In another example the measurement module  310  may be attached to the carriage on which the agent distributors are installed. 
     The taking of height measurements from both a portion of solidified build material and a portion of non-solidified build material enables the degree of contraction of a portion of solidified build material to be compared with the height of a portion of non-solidified build material, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6A to 6D . 
       FIG. 6A  shows a height profile obtained from multiple spaced measurements made by the measurement module  310  for a portion of a layer of build material that comprises non-solidified and solidified build material. As can be seen, the height H NS  represents the measured height of non-solidified build material  500  (shown in  FIG. 6B ), and height H S  represents the measured height of solidified build material (shown in  FIG. 6B ). A reference height H REF , that represents an expected level of contracted, is also shown. 
     It can be seen in  FIG. 6A  that the portion of solidified build material  504  has contracted by more than the reference height H REF . Contraction beyond the reference level H REF  may be indicative of too much energy having being absorbed by build material on which a coalescing agent has been deposited. This may be a result, for example, of a higher amount energy having being applied, of energy having been applied for too long a period of time, or by excess coalescing agent having been deposited. Other causes may include problems with the build material, such as insufficient build material packing density. 
     In  FIGS. 6C and 6D  it can be seen that the portion of solidified build material  504  has contracted by less the reference height H REF . Contraction less than the reference height H REF  may be indicative of too little energy having been absorbed by build material on which a coalescing agent has been deposited. This may be a result, for example, of a lower amount of energy having been applied, of energy having been applied for a too short a period of time, or by insufficient coalescing agent having been deposited. Other causes may include problems with the build material, such as excessive build material packing density. 
     Accordingly, if the controller  312  determines that contraction beyond the reference level has occurred, the printer parameter control instructions  322  may modify one or multiple operating parameters of the  3   d  printing system to reduce the degree of contraction of portions of future layers of build material to be processed. 
     In one example, the controller  312  decreases the amount of energy emitted by the energy source  308 . The amount of energy decrease may, for example, be based on a lookup table or may be derived iteratively by adjusting the amount of energy applied to different layers of build material and determining which energy level causes the reference level of contraction. 
     In one example, the controller  312  decreases the length of time that energy is emitted by the energy source  308 . Again, the length of time decrease may, for example, be based on a lookup table or may be derived iteratively by adjusting the amount of energy applied to different layers of build material and determining which energy level causes the reference level of contraction. 
     In one example, the controller  300  may reduce the quantity of coalescing, or fusing, agent applied to a portion of build material to be solidified. For example, this may be achieved by modifying data used to control the agent distribution module  306 , or adding an offset, to reduce the quantity, or the density, of coalescing agent deposited. The decrease in quantity or density may be based on a lookup table or may be derived iteratively by adjusting the quantity, or density, of agent applied to different layers of build material and determining which quantity, or density, causes the reference level of contraction. 
     Similarly, if the controller  300  determines that contraction less than the reference level has occurred, the printer parameter control instructions  322  may modify one or multiple operating parameters of the 3d printing system to increase the degree of contraction of portions of future layers of build material to be processed. 
     In one example, the controller  300  increases the amount of energy emitted by the energy source  308 . The amount of energy increase may, for example, be based on a lookup table or may be derived iteratively by adjusting the amount of energy applied to different layers of build material and determining which energy level causes the reference level of contraction. 
     In one example, the controller  300  increases the length of time that energy is emitted by the energy source  308 . Again, the length of time increase may, for example, be based on a lookup table or may be derived iteratively by adjusting the amount of energy applied to different layers of build material and determining which energy level causes the reference level of contraction. 
     In one example, the controller  300  may increase the quantity of coalescing, or fusing, agent applied to a portion of build material to be solidified. For example, this may be achieved by modifying data used to control the agent distribution module  306 , or adding an offset, to increase the quantity, or the density, of coalescing agent deposited. The increase in quantity of density may be based on a lookup table or may be derived iteratively by adjusting the quantity, or density, of agent applied to different layers of build material and determining which quantity, or density, causes the reference level of contraction. 
     In one example, the controller  300  may adjust multiple printer operating parameters, for example, by modifying both the amount of energy applied whilst at the same time modifying the quantity, or density, of coalescing agent deposited. 
     In this way the controller  312  helps ensure that a desired degree of contraction occurs for each layer of build material that comprises solidified build material. This is turn helps produce high quality 3D objects from such 3D printing systems. 
     It will be appreciated that example described herein can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are examples of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement examples described herein. Accordingly, some examples provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as claimed in any preceding claim and a machine readable storage storing such a program. 
     All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
     Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.