Adjustable shape changing printing bed for additive manufacturing
AssigneeEhud Giloh
InventorEhud Giloh
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Abstract
Provided is a shape-changing printing bed system and method for use during additive manufacturing, the system comprising: a shape-changing printing bed comprising: an elastic sheet having an inner side and an external side, and a manipulator unit. The elastic sheet has a given size and shape, and the external side of the elastic sheet is configured to cover the manipulator unit. The system further comprises a control system, whereby the control system is configured to control change in size and/or shape of the elastic sheet by controlling change in direction and extent of force applied by the manipulator unit against the inner side of the elastic sheet in at least one coordinate.
Claims16
A shape-changing printing bed system for use during additive manufacturing, the system comprising:
- a shape-changing printing bed comprising:
- an elastic sheet comprising an inner side and an external side;
- and
- a manipulator unit;
- wherein the elastic sheet has a given size and shape, and the external side of the elastic sheet is configured to cover the manipulator unit;
- and
- a control system;
- wherein the control system is configured to control change in the size and/or shape of the elastic sheet by controlling change in direction and extent of force applied by the manipulator unit against the inner side of the elastic sheet in at least one coordinate,
- wherein the manipulator unit comprises at least one inflatable or partly inflatable article having a back surface and a front surface, wherein the front surface is facing the inner side of the elastic sheet, and wherein inflation or deflation of the at least one inflatable or partly inflatable article causes the front surface to change position in one or more of X, Y,Z axes, thereby applying force against the inner side of the elastic sheet in one or more of X, Y and Z axes,
- wherein the inflatable or partly inflatable article comprises at least two separate zones allowing inflation or deflation of each zone independently from one another.
A method for changing shape of a shape-changing printing bed system, said method comprising:
- providing a shape-changing printing bed system, comprising:
- a shape-changing printing bed comprising:
- an elastic sheet comprising an inner side and an external side;
- and
- a manipulator unit;
- wherein the elastic sheet has a given size and shape, and the external side of the elastic sheet is configured to cover the manipulator unit;
- and
- a control system;
- and
- controlling change in direction and extent of force applied by the manipulator unit against the inner side of the elastic sheet in at least one coordinate by the control system, thereby changing shape of the shape-changing printing bed,
- wherein the manipulator unit comprises:
- a fixed core;
- and
- multiple actuators having two opposing fixation ends, each of the multiple actuators being connected to the fixed core via a first fixation end, and each of the multiple actuators being connected to the inner side of the elastic sheet via a second fixation end,
- wherein controlling comprises controlling movement of the multiple actuators at their second fixation ends along one or more of X, Y and Z axes, which causes pushing or pulling force to be applied against the inner side of the elastic sheet, thereby moving the inner side of the elastic sheet along one or more of the X, Y, and Z axes, which results in changing shape of the elastic sheet, and
- wherein the manipulator unit comprises a combination of neighboring actuators and inflatable or partly inflatable articles, wherein controlling comprises controlling application of a first force by the inflatable or partly inflatable articles on a corresponding zone of the inner side of the elastic sheet, while controlling application of a second force by the actuators against the same zone, independently of the application of the first force, thereby changing shape of smaller more specified areas in said zone of the inner side of the elastic sheet by said application of said second force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.