MultiFab: A Machine Vision Assisted Platform for Multi-material 3D Printing

摘要

We have developed a multi-material 3D printing platform that isrnhigh-resolution, low-cost, and extensible. The key part of our platformrnis an integrated machine vision system. This system allows forrnself-calibration of printheads, 3D scanning, and a closed-feedbackrnloop to enable print corrections. The integration of machine visionrnwith 3D printing simplifies the overall platform design and enablesrnnew applications such as 3D printing over auxiliary parts. Furthermore,rnour platform dramatically expands the range of parts thatrncan be 3D printed by simultaneously supporting up to 10 differentrnmaterials that can interact optically and mechanically. The platformrnachieves a resolution of at least 40 μm by utilizing piezoelectricrninkjet printheads adapted for 3D printing. The hardware is low costrn(less than $7,000) since it is built exclusively from off-the-shelfrncomponents. The architecture is extensible and modular – adding,rnremoving, and exchanging printing modules can be done quickly.rnWe provide a detailed analysis of the system’s performance. We alsorndemonstrate a variety of fabricated multi-material objects.