Modulating a three-dimensional printer system based on a selected mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11260599-B2
Application number	US-201716077054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Jul 28, 2017
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A control system for a three-dimensional printer includes an energy component interface, an agent depositing component interface, and control logic. The control logic controls the operation of an energy component through the energy component interface and an agent depositing component through the agent depositing component, in forming an output object that is specified in a print job. Additionally, in some examples, the control logic can implement a plurality of modes. Each mode, when selected modulate one or more operational parameters of a least one of the energy component or agent depositing component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a three-dimensional printer, the control system comprising:
an energy component interface;
an agent depositing component interface;
control logic to:
control, in forming an output object that is specified in a print job, an energy component using the energy component interface and an agent depositing component using the agent depositing component interface; and
wherein the control logic controls the energy component and the agent depositing component to implement any one of a plurality of modes for the three-dimensional printer, in which each mode, when selected, causes the control logic to modulate one or more operational parameters of at least one of the energy component or agent depositing component based on a set of tolerances specific to a respective mode that vary from a tolerance indicated by the print job.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further to:
alter the implementation of the selected mode based on a parameter of the print job.

3. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the parameter of the print job includes a build material type.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further to:
trigger providing a user interface to enable a user to select any one of the plurality of modes.

5. The control system for the three-dimensional printer of claim 1 , the control system further comprising:
a material depositing component interface, wherein the control logic is further to control, in forming the output object that is specified in the print job, a material depositing component using the material depositing component interface based on the set of tolerances of the selected mode.

6. The control system of claim 5 , wherein the control logic modulates the operational parameters for at least one of the energy component, material depositing component or agent depositing component to a preset range that prioritizes a cosmetic parameter of the print job, based on selection of a mode corresponding to prioritizing the cosmetic parameter of the print job.

7. The control system of claim 5 , wherein the control logic modulates a preset range of operational parameters for at least one of the energy component, material depositing component or agent depositing component to a preset range that prioritizes a layering speed of the material depositing component, based on selection of a mode corresponding to prioritizing the layering speed.

8. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a database to:
store a set of tolerances and a corresponding plurality of settings for each of the plurality of modes, wherein the control logic modulates one or more operational parameters of each of the energy component, the material deposit component and the agent depositing component based on the settings associated with the selected mode.

9. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a mode of the plurality of modes that relaxes a tolerance indicated by the print job so as to prioritize dimensional accuracy in the output object.

10. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a mode of the plurality of modes that relaxes a tolerance indicated by the print job so as to prioritize tensile strength in the output object.

11. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a mode of the plurality of modes that relaxes a tolerance indicated by the print job so as to prioritize vibrancy of color in the output object.

12. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a proof mode of the plurality of modes that relaxes the tolerances indicated by the print job so as to result in a faster overall formation of the output object.

13. The control system of claim 1 , wherein a mode of the plurality of modes overrides a specification in the print job for fresh build material to utilize recycled build material.

14. The control system of claim 1 , wherein a mode of the plurality of modes restricts a range of tolerance for a material strength property of the output object and relaxes a range of tolerance for an aesthetic property of the output object.

15. The control system of claim 1 , wherein material properties of a build material specified to be used limit availability of one of the modes of the plurality of modes from being selected.

16. A control system for a three-dimensional printer, the control system comprising:
an energy component interface;
an agent depositing component interface;
control logic to:
control, in forming an output object that is specified in a print job, an energy component using the energy component interface and an agent depositing component using the agent depositing component interface;
wherein the control logic controls the energy component and the agent depositing component to implement anyone of a plurality of modes for the three-dimensional printer, in which each mode, when selected, causes the control logic to modulate one or more operational parameters of at least one of the energy component or agent depositing component; and

wherein the control logic modulates operational parameters for at least one of the energy component, material depositing component or agent depositing component to a preset range that equally prioritizes a dimensional accuracy parameter, a strength parameter and a cosmetic parameter of the print job, based at least in part on a first mode of the plurality of modes being selected.

17. A method for operating a three-dimensional printer system, comprising:
receiving a print job for an output object;
receiving selection of one of a plurality of modes, each mode comprising a set of tolerances at least one of which varies from a corresponding default tolerance or tolerance specified in the print job;
determining a setting of a plurality of settings, based on a selected mode of a plurality of modes; and
modulating one or more operational parameters of at least one of an energy component, a material depositing component, or agent depositing component, based on the determined setting so as to prioritize one property of the output object over another, different property of the output object based on the selected mode.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein modulating the one or more operational parameters is further based on a parameter of the print job.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the parameter of the print job includes a build material type.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein modulating the one or more operational parameters comprises modulating operational parameters for at least one of the energy component, material depositing component or agent depositing component to a preset range that equally prioritizes a dimensional accuracy parameter, a strength parameter and a cosmetic parameter of the print job, based at least in part on the selected mode.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Verzwyvelt Vanessa
• Shepherd Matthew A
• Barnes Arthur H
• Schalk Wesley R
• Lebron Hector Jose
• Wright Jake

Classifications

• B22F10/36

  of energy beam parameters · CPC title

• B22F10/73

  of powder · CPC title

• B22F2999/00

  Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy · CPC title

• B29C64/393 Primary

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title