Systems and Methods for Printing 3-Dimensional Objects from Thermoplastics
AssigneesUniversity of South Carolina, Tighitco, Inc.
InventorsWOUT DE BACKER, Michael Van Tooren, Arturs Bergs
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for producing high quality 3-dimensional prints using various materials. Aspects of the present disclosure may provide particular advantages when used with high temperature thermoplastics (such as polyetherimide (PEI) polymers), such as when using continuous fibers impregnated with a high temperature thermoplastic, or when co-depositing a continuous fiber with a formation material containing a high temperature thermoplastic.
Claims20
A system for printing a three-dimensional object comprising:
- a print head;
- a print bed;
- a heating and cooling implement;
- and
- a controller,
- wherein the heating and cooling implement is in communication with a portion of the print bed, and wherein the heating and cooling implement provides temperature control to adjust a bed temperature to between about 0° C. to about 105° C.
A method for 3D printing an object that comprises a high-melt material, the method comprising:
- feeding the high-melt material to a system for printing a three-dimensional object;
- depositing the high-melt material on a print bed heated to a build temperature;
- allowing the print bed to reach a removal temperature;
- and
- removing the object from the print bed,
- wherein the print bed comprises a bed material and a bed coating applied to a surface of the bed material, and wherein a temperature difference exists between the glass transition temperature of the coating and the glass transition temperature of the high-melt material.
A system for printing a three-dimensional object from a formation material comprising:
- a print head comprising a liquefier and a nozzle;
- a tension monitor configured to measure tension of a fiber prior to the fiber entering the print head;
- a force sensor configured to measure pressure at the nozzle;
- a print bed;
- a heating and cooling implement;
- and
- a controller,
- wherein the heating and cooling implement is in communication with a portion of the print bed, and wherein the heating and cooling implement provides heating or cooling to adjust a bed temperature to between about 30° C. to about 105° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.