Rotation UV cure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11504887-B2
Application number	US-201916597217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2019
Priority date	Oct 9, 2019
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A system for removing and evenly completing cure of residual collected uncured resin from within a 3D printed part, which includes an enclosure which shields UV electromagnetic radiation from entering a space positioned within the enclosure. The system further includes a rotator device positioned in the space within the enclosure and a 3D printed part positioned within the space and associated with the rotator device.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for removing at least a portion of a residual uncured resin from a 3D printed part and for evenly curing a remaining portion of the residual uncured resin, the system comprising:
an enclosure which shields UV electromagnetic radiation from entering a space positioned within the enclosure, wherein the enclosure has an interior surface made from a material which reflects UV electromagnetic radiation;
a rotator device having three axes of rotation is positioned in the space within the enclosure, such that with the 3D printed part secured to the rotator device, a first rotation of the 3D printed part by the rotator device about the three axes of rotation removes the at least a portion of the residual uncured resin from the 3D printed part; and
a source for emitting UV electromagnetic radiation is positioned within the space of the enclosure, for emitting UV electromagnetic radiation onto the 3D printed part for curing the remaining portion of the residual uncured resin during a second rotation of the 3D printed part about the three axes of rotation by the rotator device, which evenly cures the remaining portion of the residual uncured resin on the 3D printed part.

2. The system of claim 1 , further includes two or more sources for emitting UV electromagnetic radiation positioned within the space of the enclosure, with each of the two or more sources for emitting UV electromagnetic radiation emitting from a different location within the enclosure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotator device further includes a clamp mechanism to secure the 3D printed part to the rotator device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the clamp mechanism engages a portion of the 3D printed part.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D printed part has an opening which extends from an exterior surface of the 3D printed part to a cavity of the 3D printed part.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the cavity is bounded between an interior surface of a first wall member of the 3D printed part and an interior surface of a second wall member of the 3D printed part such that the interior surface of the first wall member and the interior surface of the second wall member are spaced apart from one another.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cavity is further bounded with an at least one wall member which extends between the interior surface of the first wall member and the interior surface of the second wall member.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D printed part is rinsed with a solvent prior to the first rotation, wherein the solvent comprises alcohol.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein with the 3D printed part having been rotated from the first rotation the 3D printed part is removed from the rotator device and rinsed a second time with the solvent.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein with the 3D printed part having been rinsed the second time with the solvent, the 3D printed part is secured to the rotator device with a clamp prior to the second rotation.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the material of the interior surface of the enclosure comprises at least one of polished metal or mirrors.

12. A method for removing residual collected uncured resin trapped within a cavity of a 3D printed part, which has an opening in fluid communication with the cavity and with an exterior of the 3D printed part, the method comprising:
rinsing the 3D printed part with a solvent; and
positioning the 3D printed part in association with a rotator device positioned within a space of an enclosure, which shields UV electromagnetic radiation from entering the space.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the 3D part in association with the rotator device includes securing the 3D printed part to the rotator device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein with the 3D printed part secured to the rotator device, further including rotating the 3D printed part with the rotator device within the space of the enclosure removing the residual collected uncured resin trapped in the cavity.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein with completion of rotation of the 3D printed part by the rotator device, further including rinsing the 3D printed part with the solvent for a second time.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein with having rinsed the 3D printed part with the solvent for the second time the rotator device rotates the 3D printed part for a second time within the space of the enclosure.

17. The method of claim 15 , further includes while rotating the 3D printed part for a second time the 3D printed part is exposed to UV electromagnetic radiation from an UV electromagnetic source positioned within the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17 , with completion of the rotating of the 3D printed part for the second time, further including releasing the 3D printed part from the rotator device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the rotator device includes a clamp mechanism.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein releasing the 3D printed part from the rotator device includes unclamping the 3D printed part from the clamp mechanism.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Backues Jared
• Bernhardt Roger D

Classifications

• B29C64/30

  Auxiliary operations or equipment · CPC title

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• B29C2035/0827

  using UV radiation · CPC title

• B29C35/0805 Primary

  using electromagnetic radiation · CPC title

• B29C71/04

  by wave energy or particle radiation {, e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles (during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08)} · CPC title