▼This page was part of an MTU course MSE4777 OA and MSE4777 OB/MSE5777/EE4777/EE5777: Open-source 3-D printing

Please leave comments using the talk page. The course runs in the Fall semester. It is not open edit.

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.

Thomas Korejsza (talk) 07:53, 1 December 2015 (PST) Snuchitp (talk) 07:31, 1 December 2016 (PST)

Klbarie (talk) 06:51, 3 December 2015 (PST)

Rushing through

1. Replace T5-belt with chain to increase resolution during changes in direction. (Higher speed around corners).
2. Add faster motors for resolution.
3. Auto support system (brim/raft).
4. Return to home after error then immediately return to known position in gcode and begin printing again.
5. Heat up and extrude out major clog's.
6. Faster travel speed to reduce stringing.
7. Print a second part on top of a first print.
8. Integrated printed parts.
9. Add felt feet strips to reduce noise.
10. Add liquid cooling system instead of fan.
11. Adjusting 3D printing legs and build platform.
12. Retract already printed filament.
13. Retract printed supports.
14. Print fast enough so warping is not an issue

1. Stronger connections at joints Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
2. Tighter belts Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
3. Stronger belts Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
4. Screws instead of belts Dwsweene (talk) 07:14, 4 December 2018 (PST)
5. Efficient G-code paths Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
6. Improve travel speed while printer is not extruding Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
7. Heated beds to prevent part warping Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
8. Printing multiple parts at the same time Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
9. Adhesive on bed that does not dry to allow for quick/clean removal Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
10. Better extruder components to allow for faster, more effective filament extrusion Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
11. Stronger printer structure to prevent printer vibration and improve resolution Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
12. Adjustable printer feet to allow for stable printer surface Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
13. Self correct clogged nozzle by heating, retracting, and re-extruding filament Dwsweene (talk) 07:01, 4 December 2018 (PST)
14. Snap fit parts to allow for quick assembly/disassembly Dwsweene (talk) 07:07, 4 December 2018 (PST)
15. Minimizing plastic in designs Dwsweene (talk) 07:07, 4 December 2018 (PST)
16. Ability to stop, home, and return to previous position left on part Dwsweene (talk) 07:07, 4 December 2018 (PST)
17. Auto calibration Dwsweene (talk) 07:14, 4 December 2018 (PST)
18. Detect bed collisions, re-calibrate, and resume print Dwsweene (talk) 07:14, 4 December 2018 (PST)
19. Multiple heads to extrude multiple filaments colors or even materials on one print Dwsweene (talk) 07:14, 4 December 2018 (PST)
20. Auto leveling bed Dwsweene (talk) 07:14, 4 December 2018 (PST)
21. Do not use processed filament, only scraps of past materialsABStilwell (talk) 07:24, 4 December 2018 (PST)
22. Integrate printer control with slicing software, i.e Cura operates printerABStilwell (talk) 07:24, 4 December 2018 (PST)
23. Integrate printer control with CAD software, i.e soldworks operates printerABStilwell (talk) 07:24, 4 December 2018 (PST)
24. Automatic filament changeover and loadingABStilwell (talk) 07:24, 4 December 2018 (PST)
25. Print many materials in place, to create functional parts without assemblyABStilwell (talk) 07:24, 4 December 2018 (PST)
26. Skip conventional heating, micro head the very end of printer and seal it to environment making it saferABStilwell (talk) 07:24, 4 December 2018 (PST)

The following contributions were made by Srschroc (talk) 20:03, 3 December 2019 (UTC)

1. Vary speed of infill extrusion so that it is faster at the center of the part where tolerance is less important, but slower within x mm of walls.
2. Preheating element for prepping filament for extrusion.
3. Make filament adhere to itself better so there is no need for support material.
4. Develop better adhesive to remove the need for rafts or brims.
5. Automated spatula to remove parts when completed so parts are cycled more quickly.
6. Allow printer to print multiple layers in one section before catching up in the next section. Remove the need to jump back and forth.
7. Print only exterior walls, then pour in filler material for inside density.
8. Multiple extruder nozzles pressed together to make wider flows.
9. Oven-like enclosure to decrease warp of part and increase extrusion speed.

Round two, without real-life constraints Srschroc (talk) 20:54, 3 December 2019 (UTC)

1. Have a block of powder, then light shines from specific angles and where it intersects the powder solidifies.
2. Filament is liquified as a blob, then a balloon inflates in the center to make spherical parts.
3. Describe a part to your printer with your voice, and it prints the object you describe
4. ^This but you only need to think it.
5. Print in strands so fine that you can make fur-like insulation.
6. Make your printer assemble or dismantle instantly for quick use.