Microfluidic active mixing nozzle for three-dimensional printing of viscoelastic inks
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsJennifer A. Lewis, Thomas J. Ober
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a device for three-dimensional ink deposition from an impeller-driven active mixing microfluidic printing nozzle. The device is configured to receive a material property associated with the plurality of fluids and receive a structure property of the printing nozzle. The device then determines a threshold relation between a rotating speed Ω of an impeller in the nozzle and a volumetric flow rate Q of fluids that flow through the nozzle based on the material property of the plurality of fluids, the structure property of the printing nozzle. Based on the threshold relation, the device then determines an actual volumetric flow rate of the fluids and actual rotation speed of the impeller.
Claims20
A device for three-dimensional ink deposition from an impeller-driven active mixing microfluidic printing nozzle, the device comprising:
- a microfluidic printing nozzle comprising:
- a mixing chamber;
- and
- an impeller rotatably disposed in the mixing chamber to mix a plurality of fluids to form a mixed ink;
- an electronic controller in electrical communication with the printing nozzle, the controller configured to:
- receive a material property associated with each of the plurality of fluids;
- receive a structure property of the printing nozzle;
- receive a predetermined volumetric flow rate Q of the plurality of fluids in the mixing chamber;
- determine a threshold rotating speed Ω of the impeller based on the material property of the plurality of fluids, the structure property of the printing nozzle, and the predetermined volumetric flow rate Q;
- introduce the plurality of fluids into the mixing chamber at the predetermined volumetric flow rate;
- and
- rotate the impeller with a rotating speed higher than the threshold rotating speed Ω to mix the plurality of fluids, thereby forming the mixed ink.
A method for three-dimensional ink deposition from an impeller-driven active mixing microfluidic printing nozzle, the method comprising:
- providing a microfluidic printing nozzle comprising:
- a mixing chamber;
- and
- an impeller rotatably disposed in the mixing chamber to mix a plurality of fluids to form a mixed ink;
- receiving by a controller in electrical communication with the printing nozzle:
- a material property associated with each of the plurality of fluids;
- a structure property of the printing nozzle;
- a predetermined volumetric flow rate Q of the plurality of fluids in the mixing chamber;
- determining a threshold rotating speed Ω of the impeller based on the material property of the plurality of fluids, the structure property of the printing nozzle, and the predetermined volumetric flow rate Q;
- introducing the plurality of fluids into the mixing chamber at the predetermined volumetric flow rate;
- and
- rotating, under control of the controller, the impeller with a rotating speed higher than the threshold rotating speed 106 to mix the plurality of fluids, thereby forming the mixed ink.
A device for three-dimensional ink deposition from an impeller-driven active mixing microfluidic printing nozzle, the device comprising:
- a microfluidic printing nozzle comprising:
- a mixing chamber;
- and
- an impeller rotatably disposed in the mixing chamber to mix a plurality of fluids to form a mixed ink;
- an electronic controller in electrical communication with the printing nozzle, the controller configured to:
- receive a material property associated with the plurality of fluids;
- receive a structure property of the printing nozzle;
- receive a predetermined rotating speed Ω of the impeller;
- determine a threshold volumetric flow rate Q of the plurality of fluids in the mixing chamber based on the material property of the plurality of fluids, the structure property of the printing nozzle, and the predetermined rotating speed of the impeller;
- introduce the plurality of fluids into the mixing chamber at volumetric flow rate lower than the threshold volumetric flow rate Q;
- and
- rotate the impeller at the predetermined rotating speed Ω to mix the plurality of fluids thereby forming the mixed ink.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.