Device, system and method for calibration in three-dimensional model printing

• US 20060111807A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Objet Geometries
• Original Assignee: Objet Geometries
• Inventors: Gothait, Hanan, Bar Nathan, Meir
• Application Number:
  US10/527,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/119
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/188 involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/393 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for three-dimensional model printing. A three-dimensional model printer may, for example, calibrate, optimize, or indicate the need for replacement of or evaluation of one or more printing heads or nozzles of the three-dimensional model printer.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method of three-dimensional printing, the method comprising:

dispensing interface material from a three-dimensional printer;

evaluating one or more nozzles of a printing head of said printer in relation to a property of a portion of the material dispensed by said one or more nozzles; and

determining a property of the material dispensed.

44. The method of claim 43, comprising measuring one or more of a weight, a volume and a height of the material dispensed by said one or more nozzles.

45. New) The method of claim 43, wherein evaluating comprises forming a measuring block of said material and measuring a property of the measuring block, and wherein said property of said measuring block comprises one or more of the weight, the volume and the height of the measuring block.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein determining comprises determining any one or more of a weight, a volume and/or a height of a dispensed interface material.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein evaluating comprises forming a test pattern of said material.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein evaluating further comprises acquiring an image of said test pattern.

49. The method of claim 48, comprising modifying a property of said one or more nozzles in relation to a result of an analysis of the image of said test pattern.

50. The method of claim 43, further comprising modifying a property of one or more printing heads.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein modifying the property of said one or more print heads comprises modifying a voltage of the one or more nozzles.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein modifying the property of said one or more print heads comprises modifying a voltage of the printing head.

53. A method according to claim 43, comprising detecting one or more malfunctioning nozzles of said printing head.

54. The method of claim 53, comprising treating said one or more malfunctioning nozzles.

55. The method of claim 54 comprising providing notification of a need to replace said printing head, if a number of said one or more malfunctioning nozzles is greater than a predefined value.

56. The method according to claim 54, comprising:

analyzing a scatter pattern of said one or more malfunctioning nozzles;

and in relation to a result of the analysis, providing notification of a need to replace one or more printing heads.

57. A three-dimensional model printing apparatus comprising:

one or more printing heads, each printing head comprising one or more nozzles, to dispense said interface material;

a sensor to determine a property of a portion of the dispensed interface material; and

a controller to modify a property of said one or more nozzles or said one or more printing heads, in relation to the determined property of a portion of said dispensed interface material.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the property determined by said sensor may be any one or more of a weight, a volume, a drop volume and a height of the dispensed interface material.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the property modified is any one or more of a volume, a drop volume and a voltage.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, comprising a container to receive interface material dispensed from said one or more nozzles or said one or more printing heads, for determining any one or more of a weight, a volume, a drop volume and/or a height of said dispensed interface material.

61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the controller modifies a property of said one or more nozzles or said one or more printing heads in relation to any one or more of said weight, a volume, a drop volume and a height of said dispensed interface material.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein said controller modifies a voltage or drive voltage of said any one or more nozzles or any one or more of said printing heads.

63. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the portion of the dispensed interface material comprises a measuring block produced by said three-dimensional model printer.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the property of a portion of said dispensed interface material comprises one or more of a weight of said measuring block, a volume of said measuring block and a height of said measuring block.

65. The apparatus of claim 57, comprising an imager to acquire an image of a test pattern formed by the one or more nozzles.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein said result comprises a number of malfunctioning nozzles.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein said result comprises a scatter pattern of malfunctioning nozzles.