Detecting three-dimensional (3d) part lift and drag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021362402-A1
Application number	US-201917256683-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 23, 2019
Priority date	Jan 23, 2019
Publication date	Nov 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for detecting three-dimensional (3D) part drag includes a layer deposition device, and a sensor to detect a change in a process parameter associated with the operation of the layer deposition device within a 3D part build region of a 3D printing device on which a part is built, the change in a process parameter indicating part drag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for detecting three-dimensional (3D) part drag, comprising:
a layer deposition device; and a sensor to detect a change in a process parameter associated with the operation of the layer deposition device within a 3D part build region of a 3D printing device on which a part is built, the change in a process parameter indicating part drag.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the layer deposition device comprises an energy emitting device, a build material spreader roller, or combinations thereof.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the layer deposition device comprises a build material spreader roller; the sensor detects a change in a slew torque of the build material spreader roller; and the change in the slew torque of the build material spreader roller indicates part drag.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the layer deposition device comprises a build material warming lamp; the sensor detects a change in a temperature-related parameter of the build material; and the change in the temperature of the build material indicates part drag.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the temperature-related parameter of the build material comprises a pulse-width modulation used to control the activation of the build material warming lamp, the pulse-width modulation defining how the build material warming lamp reacts to a change in temperature of the build material.

6 . A method of detecting three-dimensional (3D) part drag, comprising:
activating a layer deposition device at a 3D part build region of a 3D printing device on which a part is built; and with a sensor, detecting a change in a process parameter associated with the operation of the layer deposition device, the change in a process parameter indicating part drag.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the layer deposition device comprises a build material spreader roller, the method comprising:
with the sensor, detecting a change in a slew torque of the build material spreader roller, the change in the slew torque of the build material spreader roller indicating part drag.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the layer deposition device comprises a build material warming lamp, the method comprising:
with the sensor, detecting a change in a temperature-related parameter of the build material, the change in the temperature-related parameter of the build material indicating part drag.

9 . The method of claim 6 , in response to a determination that the sensor detects a change in a process parameter, taking a remedial action to correct the part drag.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the remedial action comprises, with an ablation laser, removing protrusions from the part along an x,y plane of the build region, tagging the part as a confirmed draggable part, abandoning the build of a layer of the part, abandoning the build of the part, initiating a new build of the part, adjusting a layer thickness of a deposited layer, adjusting a printing parameter of an agent deposited on the build region, adjusting torque output by the build material spreader roller, or combinations thereof.

11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein detecting a change in a process parameter associated with the operation of the layer deposition device comprises observing violations of an upper control limit (UCL) and a lower control limit (LCL).

12 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code to, when executed by a processor:
activate a layer deposition device at a 3D part build region of a 3D printing device on which a part is built; detect a change in a process parameter associated with the operation of the layer deposition device, the change in a process parameter indicating part drag; and taking a remedial action to correct the part drag.

13 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the process parameter comprises a warming parameter of a build material warming lamp, a slew torque of the build material spreader roller, or combinations thereof.

14 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein:
the layer deposition device comprises a build material spreader roller; the computer readable medium comprising computer usable program code to, when executed by the processor:
detect, with a sensor, a change in a slew torque of the build material spreader roller, the change in the slew torque of the build material spreader roller indicating part drag.

15 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein:
the layer deposition device comprises a build material warming lamp; the computer readable medium comprising computer usable program code to, when executed by the processor:
detect a change in a temperature of a build material, the change in the temperature of the build material indicating part drag.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Kothari Sunil
• Heiles Tod
• Bockman Luke
• Dispoto Gary J
• Khan Md Abdullah Al Hafiz

Classifications

• B33Y30/00 Primary

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

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title