December 1 - 6, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Symposium Supporters
2024 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit
PM02.04.06

Time Code for Multifunctional 3D Printhead Controls

When and Where

Dec 3, 2024
3:45pm - 4:00pm
Sheraton, Second Floor, Constitution A

Presenter(s)

Co-Author(s)

Jochen Mueller1,Sarah Propst1

Johns Hopkins University1

Abstract

Jochen Mueller1,Sarah Propst1

Johns Hopkins University1
Direct ink writing (DIW), an extrusion-based 3D printing technique, holds substantial potential due to its ability to process a broad range of materials and integrate multifunctional printheads with features such as shape-changing nozzles, in situ curing, material switching, and material mixing. Despite these advancements, incorporating auxiliary controls into Geometry Code (G-Code), the standard programming language for these printers, remains challenging. G-Code’s line-by-line execution requires auxiliary control commands to interrupt the print path motion, causing defects in the printed structure. We propose a generalizable time-based synchronization approach called Time Code (T-Code), which decouples auxiliary control from G-Code, enabling uninterrupted print path enrichment. We demonstrate the method’s effectiveness with both high-end and affordable 3D printers by fabricating functional gradients and parallelizing printhead auxiliary devices for mass customization. Our method reduces defects, enhances print speed, and minimizes the mechanical burden on 3D printers, enabling the rapid creation of complex multimaterial structures.

Keywords

3D printing | additive manufacturing

Symposium Organizers

Grace Gu, University of California, Berkeley
Yu Jun Tan, National University of Singapore
Ryan Truby, Northwestern University
Daryl Yee, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Session Chairs

Ryan Truby
Daryl Yee

In this Session