HIT Research Corp, the research and development arm of HIT Devices Ltd., has been studying the feasibility of utilizing the patented on-demand and temperature-controllable heating device for various applications. One field identified and focused has been the fast growing three dimensional
(3D) printing technology. There are several different methods of 3D printing, but the technology compatible with our device and also most widely used process is known as Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM).
An FDM 3D printer uses a thermoplastic filament, which is heated to its melting
point by a heating device and then extruded through a small hole, layer by layer, to create a three dimensional object. The traditional 3D extruder (or printhead as we refer to) heating section has a discrete heating element and temperature sensor which makes it large and bulky. We integrated
them on a single ceramic substrate so it will be more efficient, compact, lighter and easier to maneuver for the three dimensional head movement.
Unlike many existing printheads which incorporate a substantial size cooling fan or some cooling devices in order to bleed off the excess
heat which is not used for melting the material, the excess heat of the new heating head is minimal and cooling requirement is substantially reduced.
The most significant benefit for the new configuration is the ability to be made into a multi-nozzle line-type printhead due to the
size and thermal efficiency. This will be left for the future report, the preliminary study indicates that there will be a serious impact on the process time when it becomes an actual product.