Multi-stage wash system for vat polymerization-based 3D printed parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12576594-B2
Application number	US-202318113558-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2023
Priority date	Jan 6, 2020
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

The invention is generally a system for drying, recycling, and washing off residual resin from three-dimensionally (3D) printed objects. Exemplary systems may include a system for washing off residual printing material from a surface of a 3D-printed. In an exemplary embodiment, a chamber is adapted to receive the 3D-printed object and a printing material disruption module is adapted to disrupt a composition of residual printing material on a surface of the 3D-printed object. Additionally, a washing force module may be adapted to apply a washing force field to the 3D-printed object and wash off the residual printing material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for washing off residual printing material from a surface of a three-dimensionally-printed (3D-printed) object, comprising:
a chamber adapted to receive a platform coupled to the 3D-printed object, the chamber including an enclosure adapted to receive the platform in a manner such that receiving the platform substantially seals the enclosure; a printing material disruption module adapted to disrupt a composition of residual printing material on a surface of the 3D-printed object; and a washing force module adapted to apply a washing force field to the 3D-printed object and wash off the residual printing material.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the printing material disruption module disrupts the composition of the residual printing material on the surface of the 3D-printed object by applying heat to the residual printing material.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the printing material disruption module disrupts the composition of the residual printing material on the surface of the 3D-printed object by applying a sonic or ultrasonic frequency to the residual printing material.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the printing material disruption module disrupts the composition of the residual printing material on the surface of the 3D-printed object by applying a solvent to the residual printing material.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the printing material disruption module disrupts the composition of the residual printing material on the surface of the 3D-printed object by altering a viscosity of the residual printing material.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to generate the washing force field by submerging the 3D-printed object in a washing solution.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to generate the washing force field by applying a positive or negative air pressure onto the 3D-printed object.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to generate the washing force field by applying a gravitational force to the 3D-printed object.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to generate the washing force field by applying a centrifugal force to the 3D-printed object.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to alter or modulate the washing force field applied to the 3D-printed object.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to generate the washing force field by aligning the 3D-printed object in a conduit with a flowing liquid.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module is configured to generate the washing force field by way of a non-contact force field that moves the residual printing material away from the surface of the 3D-printed object.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the washing force module includes a nozzle module and wherein the nozzle module pressurizes and directs air through one or more nozzles at a high velocity to remove the residue printing material off from the surface of the 3D-printed object.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the nozzle module pressurizes and directs a liquid through the one or more nozzles at a high velocity to remove the residue printing material off from the surface of 3D-printed.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the nozzle module pressurizes and directs a solvent through the one or more nozzles at a high velocity to remove the residue printing material off from the surface of 3D-printed.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more nozzles are stationary.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more nozzles are adapted to shift a direction of the one or more fluid streams directed through the one or more nozzles.

18 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising actuators that shift the direction of the one or more fluid streams.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a passive control module coupled to the one or more nozzles and adapted to use a momentum of the fluid flowing through the one or more nozzles to shift the direction of the fluid stream.

Assignees

• Sprintray Inc

Inventors

• Mansouri Amir
• Bassir Hossein
• Tian Huijian
• Ye Shukun
• Patel Aayush
• Ye Hang

Classifications

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B08B3/04

  Cleaning involving contact with liquid · CPC title

• B08B3/104

  using propellers · CPC title

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y40/20 Primary

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