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)
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