Object generation temperature measurement
OwnerXavier Vilajosana, Pere Tuset +1inventors
InventorsXavier Vilajosana, Pere Tuset, Diego Javier Mostaccio
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Abstract
In some examples, a method comprises sensing a temperature of a plurality of sub-regions of a portion of a layer of build material in an object generation apparatus. A frequency distribution of sub-region temperatures may be derived therefrom and it may be determined whether the frequency distribution is bimodal. If the frequency distribution is not bimodal, a build material temperature zone is identified. If however the frequency distribution is bimodal, a fusing build material temperature zone and a non-fusing build material temperature zone are identified. The method may further comprise determining a nominal temperature of the at least one identified temperature zone.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- sensing the temperature of a plurality of sub-regions of a portion of a layer of build material in an object generation apparatus;
- deriving a frequency distribution of sub-region temperatures;
- determining if the frequency distribution is bimodal;
- identifying, when the frequency distribution is not bimodal, a build material temperature zone;
- identifying, when the frequency distribution is bimodal, a fusing build material temperature zone and a non-fusing build material temperature zone;
- the method further comprising determining a nominal temperature of the at least one identified temperature zone.
An object generation apparatus comprising:
- a print bed to support a build material;
- a temperature control apparatus to control the temperature of at least a portion of build material arranged on the print bed;
- an energy source to cause selective fusing of the build material;
- a temperature sensor, to determine temperatures for pixels representing sub-regions of at least a portion of a layer of build material arranged on the print bed;
- and
- a processor to:
- derive a frequency distribution of pixel temperatures;
- determine if the frequency distribution is bimodal;
- identify, when the frequency distribution is not bimodal, a build material temperature zone;
- identify, when the frequency distribution is bimodal, a fusing build material temperature zone and a non-fusing build material temperature zone;
- and
- determine a nominal temperature of the at least one identified temperature zone.
A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor and comprising instructions to:
- determine, from an indication of the temperature of a plurality of sub-regions of build material in an object generation apparatus, a frequency distribution of sub-region temperatures;
- identify whether the frequency distribution is indicative of two temperature zones within the build material, or indicative of one temperature zone, the temperature zones being indicative of one of fusing build material or non-fusing build material;
- determine a nominal temperature value of the at least one identified temperature zone;
- and
- generate an output to control a temperature control device such that at least one nominal temperature value tends towards a predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.