Real-time molten droplet analyzer with spatial modulation in additive manufacturing
US12121971B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2022 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N1/00082
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for determining characteristics of a stream of jetted material in a three-dimensional (3D) printer are disclosed. An example system includes an ejector configured to release molten droplets along a jetting path from the ejector to a build platform. The system also includes an optical sensor positioned adjacent to the jetting path and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to light emanating from the molten droplets. The system also includes an optical mask positioned adjacent to the jetting path. The optical mask includes light-blocking regions and light-passing regions to modulate the electrical signal generated by the optical sensor. The system also includes one or more processing devices to receive the electrical signal from the optical sensor, process the electrical signal to identify characteristics of the molten droplets, and control the 3D printer based on the characteristics. The characteristics include an estimated temperature of the molten droplets.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.