This page was part of an MTU course MSE4777 OA and MSE4777 OB/MSE5777/EE4777/EE5777: Open-source 3-D printingPlease leave comments using the talk page. The course runs in the Fall semester. It is not open edit.Read more...
Broad and/or obvious patent claims for 3-D printing technology may hamper the open-source 3-D printing community's ability to innovate. Previous work on an algorithm protected 3-D printing materials. This page is part of a MTU Open Source 3-D Printing class project to investigate 3-D printing concepts using TRIZ and is presented here as a defensive publication of prior art to help identify obvious 'inventions' for 3-D printing.
Examiners: The ideas on this page dated Dec 3, 2015 and Nov 29, 2016 were developed by university students with less than a semester of formal 3-D printing experience (or by an instructor in class) and thus should be considered unpatentable because of obviousness to any person skilled in the art of additive manufacturing.
Appropedians: This page is open edit. Please fee free to add ideas and sign them below with ~~~~ or to use any of the ideas to built better open-source 3-D printers.
  1. design prints to reduce travel time Erik Bain (talk) 07:49, 1 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:54, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  2. keep motors running at full speed Erik Bain (talk) 07:52, 1 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:54, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  3. use multiple hot ends to keep printing continuous Erik Bain (talk) 07:52, 1 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:54, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  4. quick automated calibration check at start of printing to ensure quality prints Erik Bain (talk) 06:59, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:06, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  5. force sensors in hot end for auto-leveling and calibration Erik Bain (talk) 06:59, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:06, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  6. bulk group of printers printing simultaneously Erik Bain (talk) 06:59, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:06, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  7. Running a current through connecting rods so printer knows when printer head is disconnected and can stop printing Erik Bain (talk) 07:05, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:06, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  8. continuous printing prevents jamming of hot end Cleyton (talk) 07:10, 3 December 2015 (PST) Erik Bain (talk) 07:48, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  9. stores extra energy to conserve power Cleyton (talk) 07:12, 3 December 2015 (PST) Erik Bain (talk) 07:48, 3 December 2015 (PST)
    1. flywheel
  10. insulated hot end-less energy, faster printing Erik Bain (talk) 07:16, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:17, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  11. automatic adhesion (gluing or otherwise) Erik Bain (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  12. automatic starting of next part in QueueErik Bain (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  13. SMS text when part is done Erik Bain (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  14. remote monitoring via phone app Erik Bain (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST) Cleyton (talk) 07:19, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  15. dual size heads, large for infill, small for border Cleyton (talk) 07:21, 3 December 2015 (PST) Erik Bain (talk) 07:47, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  16. printer sleep mode to save power when not printing Cleyton (talk) 07:38, 3 December 2015 (PST) Erik Bain (talk) 07:47, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  17. enclosed printing space for fumes, safety Erik Bain (talk) 07:46, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  1. Auto bed scraper when print finishes MatthewPollack (talk) 07:53, 1 December 2016 (PST)


  1. Automate removal and start of new prints Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  2. Modify fan to not activate while the hot end is heating up Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  3. Auto leveling Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  4. Auto calibration Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  5. Automate loading and unloading of new rolls of filament Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  6. Add monitor of print from a distance Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  7. Add alarms for common failures Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  8. Add recyclebot automation for failed prints Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  9. Create controlled environment to reduce energy for maintaining hot end temp Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  10. Increase travel speed and acceleration for travel Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  11. Utilize dual end extruder so larger filament can be used with infill and finer filament can be used for walls Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  12. Utilize multi-color filament extruder/hot end for printing in many different colors at once
  13. Make hot end lighter Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  14. Use faster motors for printing Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  15. Add control of print from a different location Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  16. Add multiple extrusion heads for simultaneous printing of the same part Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  17. Link multiple printers together for simultaneous printing Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  18. Add multi-use print head (ex. router/laser cutter in addition to plastic extruder) Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  19. Make very smooth and lubricated connecting rod ends & travel rods Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  20. Automate application of lubricant Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  21. Change location of extruder motor & filament for less energy required to extrude Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  22. Make printers specifically sized to reduce travel time Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  23. Filament diameter checker to reduce possibility of printing errors Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  24. Alarm for when filament is running low Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  25. Auto-optimize placement of parts for faster printing in multi-part printing Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  26. Use factory-type model for assembly (When assembling in large groups have one person do specific assembly step and then give to next person) Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  27. Optimize slicer to place maximum number of parts on build plate possible Reis G.M. Jones (talk) 07:13, 4 December 2018 (PST)


  1. maximize print speedBtrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  2. robot arm to remove print and clean bed Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  3. multi filament print head Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  4. self lubricating rodsBtrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  5. self lubricating connection ends Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  6. some way to absorb energy from the print head as it changes directions and re apply it in the new direction Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  7. trip light to detect print failing Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  8. rod connection sensor Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  9. hot end vibration sensor Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  10. bed adhesion sensor Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  11. power failure sensor Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  12. power surge sensorBtrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  13. assembly robot for printers Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  14. dual powered printer, battery and wall Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  15. filament loader Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  16. filament sensor Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  17. fusing filament machine, connects the end of one spool to the next Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  18. Light sensor on print head to detect when not parallel to print bed Btrevett (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Authors Reis G.M. Jones, Erik Bain, Brad Revett, Cleyton M. Cavallaro
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 7 pages link here
Impact 134 page views
Created December 1, 2015 by Erik Bain
Modified February 6, 2023 by Felipe Schenone
Cite as Reis G.M. Jones, Erik Bain, Brad Revett, Cleyton M. Cavallaro (2015–2023). "Obvious 3D printer technology based on 20. Continuity of useful action". Appropedia. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
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