How to Realize Temperature & Humidity Monitoring and Control in 3D Printer

3D printing technology is now widely used. In this guide, we describe how to realize temperature & humidity monitoring and control in 3D printer.

Overview Of 3D Printing Technology

1. Origin

Rapid prototyping technology (also known as free forming technology) appeared in the 1990s. Different from the traditional processing technology, this technology does not need machine tools and molds. It is a new manufacturing technology with CAD technology, numerical control technology and material technology as the core. The advent of rapid prototyping technology not only reduces the cost, but also saves manpower. It is an epoch-making innovation in the manufacturing industry. After years of experiments, the key equipment of rapid prototyping technology – rapid prototyping machine has also come out, which has been well applied in the design of new products and test verification, but some disadvantages have also been exposed in the process of use.

For example, due to the characteristics of the mechanism, most of the workpieces made by the rapid prototyping machine are samples, which can not achieve specific functions. In addition, the cost of main accessories such as exciter and concussion mirror is too high to be widely used. 3D printing technology came out under this background.

2. Application

3D printing technology has a wide range of applications. In the real estate industry, this technology can print sand table models with very fine internal structure. Conceptual or privately customized jewelry designed by jewelry companies can be realized through 3D printing technology, which provides technical support for personalized routes. In fashion design, the designed clothes can be printed directly through 3D printer to make the clothes more three-dimensional and overall effect. The application of 3D printing technology in the medical field can make great contributions to the development of medical undertakings, such as printing artificial organs and solving the problem of organ shortage. In education and teaching, the use of 3D printing technology can print out the design and conception vividly for better research and improvement. In the film and television industry, the cartoon modeling and large-scale model designed by this technology are excellent. In addition, 3D printing technology is also applied in the food industry.

Temperature Control Of 3D Printer

1. Heat transfer

The print head of 3D printer has two heat transfer modes: heat conduction and heat convection. In the printing process, the solid printing material is heated into liquid in the heating chamber of the print head and remains molten. It has good viscosity fluidity, suitable wire width and good bonding performance, so as to ensure the quality of the test piece. This is the heat conduction process. In order to complete the printing process smoothly, the test piece meets the standard and avoid the temperature of the heating chamber being too low or too high, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature. When the temperature is too high, it is necessary to turn on the cold air to reduce the temperature, which is the heat convection process.

2. Temperature sensor

Temperature sensor is a device that converts the temperature signal perceived by the outside world into useful electrical signals in the circuit. Temperature sensors include metal thermistors, thermocouples, new integrated temperature sensors, etc. Metal thermistors or thermocouples are commonly used in industrial temperature control systems, and new integrated temperature sensors are mostly used in small temperature measurement circuits.

The temperature sensor selected by 3D printer is related to the printed material. At present, the materials commonly used in 3D printing include PVC, PBS, ABS, etc. the melting temperature of these polymer materials is 100 ~ 280 C. From the perspective of temperature measurement range, the copper resistance is not satisfied, and the temperature measurement range of thermocouple is large, but considering the low temperature measurement, its measurement accuracy is not enough. Therefore, platinum resistance is selected as the temperature control sensor of the print head of 3D printer.

3. Closed loop temperature control system

The temperature control system in 3D printer is very important. It can not only monitor the normal operation of the printer, but also directly related to the printing results and quality. The printing material is heated to the molten state in the heating chamber and extruded from the print head at the beginning of printing. Due to the different melting points of different materials, different temperatures should be set. In addition, in the printing process, the printing material should always be in the molten state, otherwise the printing effect will be affected. If the temperature is too high, the nozzle outlet will become viscous, which will affect the effect of the test piece and even lead to the deformation of the test piece; If the temperature is low, it will speed up the solidification of the material and can not bond well with other materials, or even make the material unable to eject and the printing can not be completed smoothly.

How to Realize Temperature & Humidity Monitoring and Control in 3D Printer

Overview Of 3D Printing Technology

Temperature Control Of 3D Printer

Related Articles：