当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, Berlin, 10115, Germany
摘要：
A 3D printing apparatus comprises a housing 202, a movable seal 204 – or piston - partitions the housing into first 206A and second 206B fluidically isolated chambers, and a nozzle 208 in fluid connection with the second chamber. The first chamber comprises a gas having a pressure P1 and the second chamber comprises a printing material 210 (eg. a liquid photopolymer). When the 3D printing apparatus is exposed to an external environment having a pressure P2 less than the pressure P1, the pressure difference exerts a force on the seal thereby extruding the printing material through the nozzle. The nozzle preferably comprises a temperature control module 218 and a curing device such as an ultra-violet light source 220; the pressure P1 may be less than 1atm such that the apparatus may operate at pressures lower than atmospheric pressure, such as in outer space. A system for positioning a satellite component – such as a folded solar panel, or a stowed antenna - comprising the 3d printing apparatus arranged to print an elongate structure to move a printing platform 212 away from an attachment point on the apparatus to deploy the satellite component such as by unfolding or unrolling of the component. A method of operating the apparatus is further provided.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A 3D printing apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a seal arranged movably inside the housing such that the seal partitions the
housing into first and second chambers that are fluidically isolated from each
other; and
a nozzle in fluid connection with the second chamber;
wherein the first chamber comprises a gas having a pressure Pi;
wherein the second chamber comprises a printing material; and
wherein when the 3D printing apparatus is exposed to an external environment
having a pressure Pz being less than the pressure P: of the gas in the first chamber,
the gas in the first chamber exerts a force on the seal which in turn exerts a force on
the printing material thereby extruding the printing material out of the second
chamber through the nozzle.
2. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a temperature
control module, optionally wherein the temperature control module comprises a
Peltier module.
3. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the temperature control module is
arranged to control the temperature of the printing material being extruded from the
nozzle in a range of from -50 °C to 150 °C, optionally in a range of from -20 °C to
150 °C.
4, A 3D printing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing material
comprises & liquid photopolymer.
5. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the gas comprises a noble
gas, optionally wherein the gas comprises one or more of neon, argon, krypton,
and/or xenon.
6. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the pressure P: of the gas is
less than 1 atm.
7. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising a printing platform for
receiving printing material extruded out of the second chamber through the nozzle.
8. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the printing platform is positioned
adjacent to the nozzle.
9. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 7 or claim 8, comprising a motor arranged to rotate
the 3D printing apparatus with respect to the printing platform.
10. A 3D printing apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising a linear pushing
mechanism arranged to move the printing platform away from the nozzle.
11. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the linear pushing mechanism
comprises one or more motor driven wheels.
12. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising a curing device for curing
printing material extruded out of the second chamber through the nozzle.
13. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the curing device comprises an
ultraviolet light source.
14. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the curing device comprises
an opaque screen for shading at least a portion of the nozzle from the ultraviolet
light source.
15. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising a sealing element for
reversibly sealing an end of the nozzle.
16. A 3D printing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sealing element comprises a plug.
17. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising a first inlet in fluid
connection with the first chamber for introducing the gas having a pressure Pi: into
the first chamber.
18. A 3D printing apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising a second inlet in fluid
connection with the second chamber for introducing the printing material into the
second chamber.
19. A system for positioning a satellite component, the system comprising a 3D printing
apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 18 and a satellite component attached
between the printing platform and a fixed attachment point, wherein the 3D printing
apparatus is arranged to print an elongate structure, and wherein printing of the
elongate structure is arranged to move the printing platform away from the fixed
attachment point to position the satellite component.
20. A system of claim 19, wherein positioning the satellite component comprises
unfolding or unrolling the satellite component.
21. A system of claim 19, wherein the satellite component comprises a folded solar
panel, and wherein printing of the elongate structure is arranged to move the
printing platform away from the fixed attachment point to unfold the folded solar
panel.
22. A system of claim 19, wherein the satellite component comprises a stowed antenna,
and wherein printing of the elongate structure is arranged to move the printing
platform away from the fixed attachment point to unfold or unroll the stowed
antenna.
23. A system of any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the printed elongate structure is a
cylinder,
24. A method of 3D printing comprising the steps of
providing an 3D printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18;
introducing a gas having a pressure P: into the first chamber;
introducing a printing material into the second chamber;
exposing the apparatus to an environment having a pressure Pz being less
than the pressure Pi: of the gas in the first chamber, such that the gas in the
first chamber exerts a force on the seal, which in turn exerts a force on the
printing material, thereby extruding the printing material out of the second
chamber through the nozzle.
25. A method of claim 24, comprising controlling the temperature of the printing material
being extruded from the nozzle in a range of from -50 °C to 150 °C, optionally in a
range of from -20 °C to 150 °C.