System and method for operating a three-dimensional printer to compensate for radial velocity variations
First Claim
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1. A three-dimensional object printer comprising:
- a circular platen configured to rotate about a center of the platen;
a first actuator operatively connected to the platen, the first actuator being configured to rotate the platen about the center of the platen;
a radial arm that extends from a position opposite the center of the platen to a position opposite a circumferential edge of the platen, the radial arm being parallel to a planar surface of the platen that rotates about the center of the platen;
at least one printhead mounted to the radial arm, the at least one printhead being configured to eject material onto the platen as the platen rotates past the at least one printhead, the at least one printhead being further configured with a linear array of inkjets, the inkjets in the linear array are separated from one another by a same distance;
a second actuator operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the second actuator being configured to move the at least one printhead along the radial arm; and
a controller operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the first actuator, and the second actuator, the controller being configured to;
operate the first actuator to rotate the platen at different angular velocities with respect to a distance of the at least one printhead from the position opposite the center of platen and to operate the second actuator to move the at least one printhead along the radial arm at different speeds with respect to the distance of the at least one printhead from the position opposite the center of the platen; and
operate the at least one printhead to eject material toward the platen as the platen rotates past the at least one printhead and the at least one printhead moves along the radial arm.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional object printer is configured to enable the density of material ejected by at least one printhead onto a rotating platen near its circumferential edge to be approximately the same as the density of the material ejected onto the rotating platen near the center of the platen.
9 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional object printer comprising:
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a circular platen configured to rotate about a center of the platen; a first actuator operatively connected to the platen, the first actuator being configured to rotate the platen about the center of the platen; a radial arm that extends from a position opposite the center of the platen to a position opposite a circumferential edge of the platen, the radial arm being parallel to a planar surface of the platen that rotates about the center of the platen; at least one printhead mounted to the radial arm, the at least one printhead being configured to eject material onto the platen as the platen rotates past the at least one printhead, the at least one printhead being further configured with a linear array of inkjets, the inkjets in the linear array are separated from one another by a same distance; a second actuator operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the second actuator being configured to move the at least one printhead along the radial arm; and a controller operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the first actuator, and the second actuator, the controller being configured to; operate the first actuator to rotate the platen at different angular velocities with respect to a distance of the at least one printhead from the position opposite the center of platen and to operate the second actuator to move the at least one printhead along the radial arm at different speeds with respect to the distance of the at least one printhead from the position opposite the center of the platen; and operate the at least one printhead to eject material toward the platen as the platen rotates past the at least one printhead and the at least one printhead moves along the radial arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification