Abstract:
An extruder head has an arrangement of multiple nozzles in the faceplate that avoids aligning the multiple nozzles at angular orientations from the 0°-180° axis and 90°-270° axis intersection at the center of the faceplate. The extruder head includes a housing having a faceplate with a plurality of nozzles that are equally spaced from one another when the nozzles are projected onto a first axis in a plane of the faceplate and the nozzles are equally spaced from one another when projected onto a second axis in the plane of the faceplate that is orthogonal to the first axis. Movement of the extruder head along any angular path from the intersection of the first axis and the second axis in the plane of the faceplate enables at least one nozzle in the plurality of nozzles to not be aligned with any other nozzle.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional object printing system improves the interlayer adhesion of an object. The printing system includes a platform on which a three-dimensional object is built. A material applicator in the printing system expels material to form layers of the object on the platform. The material applicator also includes a heater mounted to an arm that is configured to rotate about the material applicator to position the heater so the heater heats the layer of the object ahead of the material applicator as the material applicator moves relative to the platform.
Abstract:
An apparatus for a lead-free piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a diaphragm, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprising a lead-free piezoelectric material, at least one nozzle, at least one ink chamber, a top electrode, and a drive circuit. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lead-free piezoelectric printhead operated at smaller thicknesses and significantly higher electric fields is disclosed, along with methods of making such printheads.
Abstract:
A method of operating a multi-nozzle extrusion printhead includes operating with a controller a first actuator to produce relative movement between the printhead and an image receiving surface along a predetermined path for one layer of a three-dimensional printed object. The method further includes first printing an outline of a given layer and then printing the interior of the given layer using a plurality of extrusion nozzles. The method further optionally includes extruding material through a portion of the plurality of nozzles and turning on or off individual nozzles to ensure the swaths printed in the interior conform to the profile of the outline.
Abstract:
An apparatus for a lead-free piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a diaphragm, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprising a lead-free piezoelectric material, at least one nozzle, at least one ink chamber, a top electrode, and a drive circuit. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lead-free piezoelectric printhead operated at smaller thicknesses and significantly higher electric fields is disclosed, along with methods of making such printheads.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.
Abstract:
An extruder assembly for a three-dimensional object has an extrusion slot to enable faster three-dimensional object printing with greater precision. The extruder assembly includes an extruder body having an extrusion slot to enable a continuous filament of material to be extruded through the extrusion slot and at least one actuator operatively connected to the extruder body. The at least one actuator is configured to translate the extruder body in a horizontal plane and rotate the extruder body about a rotational axis.
Abstract:
A method for forming piezoelectric transducers for inkjet printheads includes: forming at least one piezoelectric layer on a substrate; forming at least one electrode pattern by depositing a conductive material on an exposed surface of the at least one piezoelectric layer; and forming a plurality of individual piezoelectric elements from the at least one piezoelectric layer before or after the forming of the at least one electrode pattern.
Abstract:
A method and structure for a piezoelectric ink jet printhead. The method can include forming a piezoelectric composite from a liquid sol-gel solution. A first layer of the liquid sol-gel solution can be deposited onto a substrate using, for example, a spin coat process, wherein the substrate may be a printhead diaphragm. The first layer may be partially cured, then a second layer of the liquid sol-gel solution can be deposited onto the partially cured first layer, which is then partially cured. Any number of layers of liquid sol-gel solution can be deposited to result in a piezoelectric composite having a suitable thickness. Subsequently, all of the partially cured layers are fully cured. Printhead processing can continue to form a completed piezoelectric ink jet printhead.
Abstract:
A printhead including a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators includes a plurality of drive electrodes, a plurality of diaphragms, and a single nozzle. Each drive electrode is uniquely paired with one of the diaphragms. In an embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that all drive electrodes for a single actuator always activate simultaneously to eject ink from the single nozzle. In another embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that each drive electrode of the plurality of drive electrodes for a single actuator are individually addressable and may be fired independently of the other drive electrodes of the single actuator.