SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR MICROPLASMA-BASED THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING

摘要

Systems and methods are described for using microplasmas in 3D printing to deposit materials, remove materials, or modify the properties of materials deposited on a given substrate surface. The resulting microplasma-based 3D printing enables the integration of different types of materials into the same 3D printed structure that is not possible with current technology.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for printing three-dimensional (3D) parts, the computer implemented method comprising:
receiving, at one or more processors, a 3D model representative of a physical part; determining, at the one or more processors, a first portion of the 3D model of the physical part to be printed with a first material; developing, at the one or more processors, first instructions to be executed by a first print head to create the first portion of the physical part; determining, at the one or more processors, a second portion of the 3D model of the physical part to be printed with a second material, wherein the first and second portions are adapted to be combined to form at least a portion of the physical part; developing, at the one or more processors, second instructions to be executed by a second print head to create the second portion of the physical part, wherein the second print head operates using microplasma to print the second material to create the second portion of the physical part; wherein the developed first instructions and the developed second instructions are coordinated to allow for the formation of the physical part using coordinated operation of the first print head and the second print head; sending instructions to the first print head to print the first material to create the first portion of the physical part; and sending instructions to the second print head to print the another material to create the second portion of the physical part.