Devices and methods for passive fiber control
AssigneeUniversity of North Texas
InventorsYijie Jiang, Nava Raj Khatri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is an insert adapter for direct ink writing printers (DIW) and methods of fiber alignment in direct ink writing. The insert adapter is sized to fit snugly inside a print barrel DIW 3D printer. The adapter includes channels. The DIW printer with insert adapter, can be used in a passive method for microfiber alignment in DIW printing. The method includes feeding a non-Newtonian ink including microfibers through the print barrel such that the ink flows into the channels of the insert adapter before exiting through a print nozzle, causing the microfibers to align along the direction of ink flow.
Claims9
A method for microfiber alignment in direct ink writing 3D printing, comprising:
- inserting an insert adapter into a print barrel of a direct ink writing 3D printer, wherein the insert adapter comprises a static helicoid channel forming threads and a center post, wherein the static helicoid channel forming threads and the center post are configured to align a plurality of microfibers present in a non-Newtonian ink;
- feeding the non-Newtonian ink comprising microfibers through the print barrel such that the ink flows into the channels of the insert adapter before exiting through a print nozzle;
- and
- wherein a shear force of the non-Newtonian ink passing along the channels causes the microfibers to align along the direction of ink flow;
- wherein the static helicoid channel has threads and wherein there is a constant pitch between threads, and wherein the pitch is about 3 mm to 11 mm;
- wherein the non-Newtonian ink comprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and wherein the microfibers comprises glass fibers (GF).
A method for microfiber alignment in direct ink writing 3D printing, comprising:
- inserting an insert adapter into a print barrel of a direct ink writing 3D printer, wherein the insert adapter comprises a static helicoid channel forming threads and a center post, wherein the static helicoid channel forming threads and the center post are configured to align a plurality of microfibers present in a non-Newtonian ink;
- feeding the non-Newtonian ink comprising microfibers through the print barrel such that the ink flows into the channels of the insert adapter before exiting through a print nozzle;
- and
- wherein a shear force of the non-Newtonian ink passing along the channels causes the microfibers to align along the direction of ink flow;
- wherein the static helicoid channel has threads and wherein there is a gradually decreasing pitch between threads;
- and
- wherein a starting pitch is about 2.5 times to 1.5 times larger than an ending pitch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.