System for real time monitoring for defects in an object during three-dimensional printing using a terahertz sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printer comprising:
- a printhead configured with a plurality of inkjets to eject material;
a transmitter oriented to direct an electromagnetic signal in a range of about 300 GHz to about 3000 GHz towards material ejected by the printhead;
a receiver oriented to generate data corresponding to reflections from the material ejected by the printhead of the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the transmitter; and
a controller operatively connected to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to operate the transmitter and receive data generated by the receiver, and to identify defects within an object being formed with the material ejected by the printhead with reference to the data received from the receiver and data corresponding to a prior production of the object with ejected material.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus detects defects in an object during three-dimensional printing of the object. The apparatus uses a terahertz sensor to generate data corresponding to the thickness of an object being formed at a plurality of locations on the surface of a layer of the object. These thickness data are compared to thickness data for locations of the corresponding layer from a previous build of the object. If a difference in thickness exceeds a predetermined threshold, a defect is detected.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A printer comprising:
-
a printhead configured with a plurality of inkjets to eject material; a transmitter oriented to direct an electromagnetic signal in a range of about 300 GHz to about 3000 GHz towards material ejected by the printhead; a receiver oriented to generate data corresponding to reflections from the material ejected by the printhead of the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the transmitter; and a controller operatively connected to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to operate the transmitter and receive data generated by the receiver, and to identify defects within an object being formed with the material ejected by the printhead with reference to the data received from the receiver and data corresponding to a prior production of the object with ejected material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An apparatus comprising:
-
a transmitter oriented to direct an electromagnetic signal in a range of about 300 GHz to about 3000 GHz towards material ejected by a printhead; a receiver oriented to generate data corresponding to reflections from the material ejected by the printhead of the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the transmitter; and a controller operatively connected to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to operate the transmitter, receive data generated by the receiver, and identify defects within an object being formed with the material ejected by the printhead with reference to the data received from the receiver and data corresponding to a prior production of the object with ejected material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification