Abstract
We designed an FFF printer with a heated print bed and a special bath arranged in the build volume. The bath can be filled with e.g. a mineral oil up to the nozzle height. As an object gets printed, the printed object gets submerged in the oil by lowering the print bed down into the oil, or in an alternative embodiment, by increasing the oil level. The mineral oil can transfer heat well and has a high surface energy. The oil will get heated up by the heated print bed. Because the oil has a high heat capacity (compared to air) and transfers the heat well, the oil functions like a heated chamber in that it keeps the print at a fixed temperature for an extended period of time. This allows the crystalline structures in the plastic to relax, making the final print more tough and improving layer adhesion.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
van Kessel, Jaime and Dulek, Ruben, "Fused Filament Fabrication printer with integrated bath", Technical Disclosure Commons, (June 15, 2020)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/3335