阅读说明：本技术 打印机细丝馈送监测 (Printer filament feed monitoring ) 是由 D.沙马 于 2019-03-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了3D打印机中的细丝馈送监测器以及修复打印错误的方法。该方法可以包括由光学传感器检测从动齿轮的运动。响应于确定细丝馈送滚轮的旋转运动已经超过预定阈值,打印错误可以由连接到光学传感器的控制器来检测,该预定阈值可以基于检测到的从动齿轮的运动来确定。可以由控制器生成并执行命令以修复打印错误。(A filament feed monitor in a 3D printer and a method of repairing printing errors are provided. The method may include detecting movement of the driven gear by an optical sensor. In response to determining that the rotational movement of the filament feed roller has exceeded a predetermined threshold, a printing error may be detected by a controller connected to the optical sensor, the predetermined threshold may be determined based on the detected movement of the driven gear. Commands may be generated and executed by the controller to fix printing errors.)

1. A method of repairing a printing error in a 3D printer, the method comprising:

detecting, by an optical sensor, a movement of the driven gear;

detecting, by a controller connected to the optical sensor, the printing error in response to determining that rotational motion of a filament feed roller has exceeded or fallen below a predetermined threshold, wherein the rotational motion is determined based on the detected motion of the driven gear; and

executing a command to repair the printing error.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, that a printing mode of the 3D printer comprises squeezing out; and

determining, by the controller, a filament feeding condition based on the detected motion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the filament feed conditions include a filament feed motion and a filament feed rate.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a lack of filament in the filament extruder based on the determined filament feed condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion of the driven gear corresponds to the motion of the filament feed roller and the motion of the filament feed roller is transmitted to the driven gear by a gear set interconnected to the filament feed roller and the driven gear.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the gear set is interconnected to the filament feed roller by a guide gear, and the gear set includes an intermediate gear engaged with the guide gear and the driven gear.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is executed to pause printing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is executed to heat a hot end of an extruder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the commands are executed to control a drive rate of a drive motor and movement of a tool head based on the determined filament feed conditions, and wherein rotational movement of the filament feed roller is driven by the drive motor.

10. A method of repairing a printing error in a 3D printer, the method comprising:

detecting, by an optical sensor, a movement of the driven gear;

detecting, by a controller connected to the optical sensor, the printing error in response to determining that rotational motion of a filament feed roller has fallen below a predetermined threshold, wherein the rotational motion is determined based on the detected motion of the driven gear; and

executing a command to repair the printing error.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, that a printing mode of the 3D printer comprises squeezing out; and

determining, by the controller, a filament feeding condition based on the detected motion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the filament feed conditions include a filament feed motion and a filament feed rate.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a nozzle blockage condition in the filament extruder based on the determined filament feed condition.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the motion of the driven gear corresponds to the motion of the filament feed roller and the motion of the filament feed roller is transmitted to the driven gear by a gear set interconnected to the filament feed roller and the driven gear.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the gear set is interconnected to the filament feed roller by a guide gear, and the gear set includes an intermediate gear engaged with the guide gear and the driven gear.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the command is executed to pause printing.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the command is executed to heat a hot end of an extruder.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the commands are executed to control a drive rate of a drive motor and movement of a tool head based on the determined filament feed conditions, and wherein rotational movement of the filament feed roller is driven by the drive motor.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the print error is detected based on a determination that the rotational motion has changed in detection.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the print error is detected based on a determination that the rotational motion has stopped.

21. A filament feed monitor in a 3D printer, comprising:

a filament feed roller;

a gear set comprising a guide gear and a driven gear, wherein the gear set is coupled to the filament feed roller by the guide gear; and

an optical sensor directed at a sensor-facing surface of the driven gear, wherein the optical sensor is connected to a controller for communication, wherein:

the guide gear is coupled to the filament feed roller to receive rotational motion through transmission of the gear set for magnification at the tail gear, the 3D printer includes a drive motor for driving rotational motion of the filament feed roller, and the optical sensor detects motion of the sensor-facing surface, wherein the controller is connected to the drive motor to control rotational motion of the filament feed roller based on the detected motion of the sensor-facing surface.

22. The filament feed monitor of claim 22, wherein the gear set includes an intermediate gear engaged with the guide gear and the driven gear.

23. The filament feed monitor of claim 22, wherein the gear set comprises a gear ratio of approximately 13.3.

24. The filament feed monitor of claim 22, wherein the idler gear and the driven gear each comprise a compound spur gear.

25. The filament feed monitor of claim 21, wherein the controller is connected to the optical sensor by one of a two-wire link communication protocol and a half-duplex communication protocol.

Background

The present invention relates generally to the field of additive manufacturing (additive manufacturing) and in particular to material handling and conditioning in melt filament fabrication.

Disclosure of Invention

Aspects of the invention are directed to methods of monitoring and repairing printing errors in a 3D printer for filament feeding. In various aspects, the method may include detecting, by an optical sensor, movement of the driven gear. In response to determining that the rotational movement of the filament feed roller has exceeded or fallen below a predetermined threshold, a printing error may be detected by a controller connected to the optical sensor, which may be determined based on the detected movement of the driven gear. Commands may be generated and executed by the controller to fix printing errors.

In an embodiment, the method may include determining that the printing mode of the 3D printer includes extrusion. The filament feeding condition may be detected based on the detected movement of the driven gear.

In an embodiment, the filament feed conditions may include a filament feed motion and a filament feed rate.

In an embodiment, a lack of filament in the filament extruder may be detected based on the determined filament feeding conditions.

In an embodiment, a nozzle blockage condition in the filament extruder may be detected based on the determined filament feeding conditions.

In an embodiment, the motion of the driven gear may correspond to the motion of the filament feeding roller, and the motion of the filament feeding roller may be transmitted to the driven gear through a gear set interconnected to the filament feeding roller and the driven gear.

In an embodiment, a gear set may be interconnected to the filament feed roller by the guide gear, wherein the gear set may include an intermediate gear engaged with the guide gear and the driven gear.

In various embodiments, commands may be executed to pause printing, heat the hot end of the extruder, or control the drive rate of the drive motor and the motion of the tool head based on the determined filament feed conditions, wherein the rotational motion of the filament feed roller may be driven by the drive motor.

In various embodiments, a printing error may be detected based on determining that the rotational motion has changed in direction. Alternatively, a printing error may be detected based on determining that the rotational motion has stopped.

In one aspect, the filament feed monitor may comprise: a filament feed roller; a gear train including a guide gear and a driven gear, wherein the gear train may be coupled to the filament feed roller by the guide gear; and an optical sensor directed toward a sensor-facing surface of the driven gear, wherein the optical sensor may be connected to the controller for communication. The guide gear may be coupled to the filament feed roller to receive rotational motion by transmission through the gear set for amplification at the driven gear. The 3D printer may include a drive motor for driving the rotational motion of the filament feed roller. The optical sensor may detect movement of the sensor-facing surface, wherein the controller may be connected to the drive motor to control the rotational movement of the filament feed roller based on the detected movement of the sensor-facing surface.

Drawings

The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The figures are not drawn to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

Fig. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of a printer during an intermediate step of a method of printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A and 2B depict first and second views, respectively, of a filament motion sensor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart of the operational steps of the filament motion sensor assembly during an intermediate step of a method of printing according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein for the purpose of describing and illustrating the claimed structures and methods that may be implemented in various ways, and are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments in any way. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of one or more embodiments, the practical application and technical improvements to the technology found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. As described, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.

References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include one or more particular features, structures, or characteristics, but it is to be understood that such particular features, structures, or characteristics may be common or different for each disclosed embodiment of the invention herein. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to any one particular embodiment by themselves. Likewise, when one or more particular features, structures, or characteristics are described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such one or more features, structures, or characteristics in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "vertical", "parallel", and any derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosed structures and methods as oriented in the drawing figures. The terms "overlying," "atop," "positioned on top of," or "positioned on top of" mean that a first element, such as a first structure, is present on a second element, such as a second structure, wherein an intermediate element, such as an interface structure, may be present between the first element and the second element. The term "directly contacting" means connecting a first element, such as a first structure, to a second element, such as a second structure, without any intervening layers at the interface of the two elements.

The following detailed description may contain certain process steps or operations known in the art, which may be combined for clarity and illustration purposes, in order not to obscure the disclosure of embodiments of the invention. In some instances, certain process steps or operations known in the art may not be described in detail and/or may not be described at all. It should be understood that the following disclosure of embodiments of the present invention relatively focuses on the distinguished elements, features, structures or characteristics of the elements.

Fused filament fabrication (also known as fused deposition modeling) is an additive manufacturing process in which molten material is extruded for layered deposition in printing or building three-dimensional (3D) objects. This process can be implemented, for example, by a 3D printer in rapid prototyping or production. The printer may include a tool head or print head that includes an extrusion assembly having a nozzle for extruding material. The material may comprise, for example, thermoplastic filaments, which may be supplied from a spool or reel and loaded into the printhead by a filament feeding mechanism at a feed rate. The filaments may be heated in an extrusion assembly for extrusion through an outlet of a nozzle.

Under certain operating conditions, printer failure or error may be caused, for example, by nozzle blockage or improper filament feeding, which often results in the object to be printed being incomplete or defective. For example, under certain operating conditions, improper filament feeding may result from improper heating of the hot end of the extrusion assembly, which may prematurely liquefy the filaments in the assembly and cause an increase in backpressure that may lead to printer failure. Under other operating conditions, for example, nozzle clogging may be caused by improper heating of the hot end, which may cause previously liquefied filaments to solidify near the outlet of the nozzle and may lead to printer failure. Additionally or alternatively, nozzle clogging may be caused by improperly heating the hot end, resulting in insufficient heating of the filament, such as to a particular melting point or temperature, resulting in an inability to liquefy the filament. In another example, improper filament feeding may be caused by inconsistencies in filament diameters. In other examples, nozzle blockage may be caused by: filament impurities or contaminants, interaction of the filaments with heterogeneous filament residues, such as may be left in the assembly by other filaments, excessive filament moisture, such as may be absorbed from the environment by certain types of thermoplastic filaments, or the like.

Such printer failures may thus cause undetected problems during printer operation due to improper filament feed motion tracking or monitoring. For example, in a conventional 3D printer, the filament counter or metering device may include an incremental rotary encoder that may be implemented as a filament feed motion monitor. Given the relatively low speed or feed rate at which the filament may travel or be loaded into the printhead during operation of the printer, the motion measurement resolution of the encoder may not be sufficient to effectively detect faults. Such a deficiency may cause the detection response time of the filament counter apparatus to be too long, resulting in failure to detect a printer malfunction during operation.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices and methods for monitoring filament feed motion and filament feed rate in a 3D printer during printer operation to detect improper filament feed and prevent printing errors. The apparatus may include a filament motion sensor assembly having an optical sensor and a gear set. In embodiments, the apparatus and method may be implemented to detect instances of extrusion nozzle blockage and improper filament feeding during printer operation to prevent incomplete or defective object printing. The gear train may be arranged to connect to a filament feed roller of a filament feed mechanism of the printer. The gear train may include a guide gear for interconnection to the filament feed roller for transmitting and amplifying rotational motion of the roller through the gear train to a driven gear for measurement by the optical sensor. An amplified rotational movement may be provided for measurement through the sensor-facing surface of the driven gear.

Advantageously, the apparatus and method according to the preferred embodiments may be economically implemented in 3D printers to provide improved filament feed monitoring during printer operation. In embodiments, filament feed monitoring may provide high motion measurement resolution sufficient to effectively detect printing errors with minimal false detection response time, as may be caused by extrusion nozzle blockage or improper filament feeding. False detection response times can be minimized by finite continuous (as opposed to incremental) filament feed motion tracking as provided by preferred embodiments of the present invention. To this end, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to improve operational efficiency, reliability, and throughput and to reduce the likelihood of waste from incomplete or defective object printing.

Fig. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of a printer 100 during an intermediate step of a method of printing according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 100 may include a table 102 interconnected to a tool head 104, a print bed 108 interconnected to a print table 110, an interior 112, and a filament motion sensor assembly 105.

The printer 100 represents an automated manufacturing device. In embodiments of the present invention, printer 100 may comprise, for example, a 3D printer. In an embodiment, the printer 100 may, for example, implement an additive manufacturing process, such as a melt filament preparation process, to print the item 106. The tool head 104 may be spatially disposed above the print bed 108 within the interior 112, as depicted in fig. 1. The item 106 may be a 3D printed part, item, or object. The item 106 may be printed on or along a surface of the print bed 108, which may face the tool head 104 during printer operation, as depicted in fig. 1. The printer 100 may implement a spatial orientation and positioning system to control the spatial orientation and positioning of the tool head 104 via the tool table 102, the print bed 108 via the print table 110, or both during printer operation. The spatial orientation and positioning system may include, for example, controllers, instruments, actuators such as drives and motors, and the like. The spatial orientation and positioning of the tool head 104, print bed 108, or both, may be achieved with respect to one or more vertically oriented axes, such as the X, Y and Z axes of a three-dimensional cartesian coordinate system, as depicted in fig. 1.

In various embodiments of the present invention, printer 100 may include, for example, a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a polar 3D printer, and a robotic arm type 3D printer.

The tool station 102 represents the spatial orientation and positioning system of the printer 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tool table 102 may support the tool head 104 for spatial orientation and positioning within the interior 112 during printer operation. The tool station 102 may include, for example, a mount or carriage that supports the tool head 104. The mount may be attached to, for example, a motorized XY stage, a motorized Z-axis stage, or the like, to move with the tool head 104 along or about the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, as shown in fig. 1.

The tool head 104 represents the extrusion components that may be implemented in the melt filament preparation process performed by the printer 100 during operation. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tool head 104 may include, for example, a filament feed mechanism and an extrusion nozzle. In an embodiment, the filament feed mechanism may include, for example, a drive motor such as a stepper motor or a brushless Direct Current (DC) electric motor, a drive controller such as a drive circuit or microcontroller, and a filament feed roller such as a pinch roller or roller. The drive motor may be interconnected to the filament feed roller and may be controlled by a drive controller to drive or actuate the filament feed roller during operation. In an embodiment, the extrusion nozzle may comprise, for example, an inlet, a heating element such as a liquefier, and an outlet. In an embodiment, the filament may be drawn and supplied from a spool or reel, for example, during operation of the printer, and loaded into the tool head 104 by a filament feeding mechanism at a feed rate to be fed into the extrusion nozzle through an inlet, heated by a heating element, and subsequently extruded through an outlet of the nozzle. The extruded filaments may be formed and deposited in layers on or along the surface of print bed 108 to print item 106. In an embodiment, the filaments may comprise thermoplastic filaments, for example. The thermoplastic filaments may be composed of materials such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyphenylsulfone (PPSF), Polycarbonate (PC), and the like. The spool may be attached to a frame of the printer 100.

Print bed 108 represents a build surface upon which extruded filaments may be deposited for supporting print items 106. In embodiments of the present invention, print bed 108 may include, for example, a print bed, build plate, print sheet, and the like. The surface of print bed 108 facing tool head 104 may receive extruded filaments during printer operation.

The tool station 110 represents part of the spatial orientation and positioning system of the printer 100. In embodiments of the present invention, the print table 110 may support the print head 108 for spatial orientation and positioning within the interior 112 during printer operation. The print station 110 may include, for example, a mount or surface that supports the print head 108. The mount may be connected to, for example, a motorized XY table, a motorized Z-axis table, or the like, to move along or about the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis with the print bed 108 and the item 106, as shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 2A and 2B depict first and second views, respectively, of a filament motion sensor assembly 105 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The filament motion sensor assembly 105 may include an optical sensor 212 and a gear set 204.

The filament motion sensor assembly 105 provides functionality to the printer 100 and may be equipped, for example, as a filament feed monitor, a filament counter, a filament feed rate tracker, or the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, a filament motion sensor assembly 105 may be implemented relative to the tool head 104 to monitor the filament feed motion and filament feed rate of the printer 100 during printer operation. In an embodiment, the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may be implemented to detect instances of extrusion nozzle blockage and improper filament feeding of the filament 201 relative to the tool head 104 during printer operation to prevent incomplete or defective printing by objects of the printer 100.

Referring to fig. 2A, the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may be implemented relative to the filament feed roller 203 of the tool head 104. The filament feed roller 203 may operate in conjunction with an adjacent idler roller 205. During operation of the printer, the filament feed roller 203 may be driven to rotate about the axis 202 in a filament feed direction, such that a filament, such as filament 201, can be fed to an extrusion nozzle of the tool head 104 at a feed rate, as described with reference to fig. 1. It is also possible to drive the filament feed roller 203 in the reverse direction to enable the filament 201 to be retracted. In an embodiment, the feed rate of the filament 201 may correspond to the tangential velocity of the filament feed roller 203. For example, the peripheral or tangential velocity of the dots located around the circumference of the filament feed roller 203 may be approximately 0.2 millimeters per second, for example, and thus the feed rate of the filament 201 may be correspondingly approximately 0.2 millimeters per second. In general, the feed rate may vary, for example, based on the material properties of the filament 201, the desired material properties of the item 106 at the completion of printing, and so forth.

In an embodiment of the invention, a gear set 204 may be arranged in connection with the filament feed roller 203 and driven by the filament feed roller 203. In an embodiment, the gear set 204 may include, for example, an input or lead gear 206, an intermediate gear 208, and an output or driven gear 210. In an embodiment, the guide gear 206 may be interconnected to the filament feed roller 203 for rotation therewith, for example, to transmit the rotational motion of the filament feed roller 203 to the intermediate gear 208 and the driven gear 210. In an embodiment, additionally, the guide gear 206 may be connected with the filament feed roller 203, for example, to rotate correspondingly during printer operation. In an embodiment, the guide gear 206 may mesh with an intermediate gear 208, which intermediate gear 208 may in turn mesh with a driven gear 210. In an embodiment, rotational motion input to the gear set 204 at the lead gear 206 may be transmitted and amplified for output at the driven gear 210 for measurement by the optical sensor 212. In an embodiment, amplified rotational movement of the filament feed roller 203 may be provided for measurement, for example, by the sensor-facing surface 217 of the driven gear 210, as depicted in fig. 2B.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide gear 206 may comprise a spur gear, for example. In an embodiment, the intermediate gear 208 and the driven gear 210 may each comprise a compound spur gear, for example. The compound spur gear may for example comprise two coupled and coaxially arranged spur gears. The dimensions of the coupling and the coaxially arranged spur gear may differ. In an embodiment, the intermediate gear 208 and the driven gear 210 may, for example, comprise a coaxially arranged spur gear 207 and a coaxially arranged spur gear 209, respectively. In an embodiment, the guide gear 206, the intermediate gear 208, and the driven gear 210 may rotate about parallel axes. In an embodiment, additionally, the guide gear 206, the intermediate gear 208, and the driven gear 210 may comprise any other type of gear, depending on the arrangement of the rotational axis of each gear accordingly.

The rotational motion input to the gear set 204 by the filament feed roller 203 and transmitted through the gear set 204 may be amplified according to the total gear ratio of the gear set 204, or the speed ratio of the gear set 204. In an embodiment of the present invention, the speed ratio of the gear set 204 may be specified based on a first ratio, for example, defined based on the radius of the guide gear 206 relative to the radius of the filament feed roller 203. In an example, the first ratio may be 1.3 to 1, i.e. the radius of the guide gear 206 may be 1.3 times the radius of the filament feed roller 203. In an embodiment, the gear ratio of the gear set 204 may also be specified based on a second ratio, for example, defined based on the radius of the intermediate gear 208 relative to the radius of the coaxially arranged spur gear 207. In an example, the second ratio may be 3.2 to 1, i.e. the radius of the intermediate gear 208 may be 3.2 times the radius of the coaxially arranged spur gear 207. In an embodiment, the gear ratio of the gearset 204 may also be specified based on a third ratio, for example defined based on the radius of the driven gear 210 relative to the radius of the coaxially arranged spur gear 209. In an example, the second ratio may be 3.2 to 1, i.e., the radius of the intermediate gear 210 may be 3.2 times the radius of the coaxially arranged spur gear 209. In an embodiment, the second ratio and the third ratio may be equal. In an embodiment, the speed ratio of the gear set 204 may be approximately 13.3, for example. In an example, this may be calculated as the product of the first ratio, the second ratio and the third ratio, i.e. 1.3 times 3.2 approximately equals 13.3. Where the feed rate of the filament 201 may be approximately equal to 0.2 millimeters per second, for example in the previous example, this results in a tangential velocity at a point located around the circumference of the driven gear 210 of approximately 2.66 millimeters per second. Additionally, the gearset 204 can be designed to include a different number of gears, such as the lead gear 206, the intermediate gear 208, or the driven gear 210, resulting in different gear ratios or speed ratios that can be determined by design.

Referring to fig. 2B, an optical sensor 212 may be implemented relative to a sensor-facing surface 217 of the driven gear 210 in order to monitor the filament feed motion and filament feed rate of the filament 201 to detect extrusion nozzle blockage and improper filament feed conditions during printer operation. In embodiments of the present invention, instances of extrusion nozzle blockage and improper filament feeding may be detected based on the relative rotational movement of the sensor-facing surface 217 of the driven gear 210. In an embodiment, the relative rotational motion may include, for example, a change in the amplified rotational motion of filament feed roller 203 output by driven gear 210. For example, the change may include a reversal in the direction of the rotational motion, an increase or decrease in the rotational motion, or a lack of rotational motion. In an embodiment, the optical sensor 212 may be positioned adjacent to the sensor facing surface 217 of the driven gear 210. In an embodiment, the optical sensor 212 may include, for example, a sensor housing 214 and a sensor interface 216. In an embodiment, the sensor housing 214 may include, for example, an optical sensor and an optical error detection controller.

In an embodiment of the invention, the optical sensor may be implemented to generate data for monitoring the filament feed motion and the filament feed rate of the filament 201. In an embodiment, the generated data for monitoring the filament feed motion and the filament feed rate may comprise, for example, rotational motion data corresponding to an amplified rotational motion of the filament feed roller 203. In an embodiment, the optical sensor may include, for example, a light source, a light detector, and an optical sensor controller. In an embodiment, the light source may comprise, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED), light amplification by stimulated emission of a radiation (laser) light source, or the like. For example, the light source may include an infrared diode, an infrared laser, or a laser diode. In embodiments, the light detector may include, for example, a camera, an image sensor, a light detector, a photovoltaic cell, and the like. For example, the light detector may include a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. In an embodiment, the optical sensor controller may comprise, for example, an integrated circuit. For example, the optical sensor controller may include an image processing chip, a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip, and the like. In an embodiment, the optical sensor may comprise and be implemented as an optical mouse sensor, for example. In an embodiment, the optical sensor may be implemented as an optical mouse sensor, such as a PAW3204 mouse sensor developed by PixArt imaging of new bamboo, taiwan. In an embodiment, the optical sensor may comprise a resolution of 800 Dots Per Inch (DPI), for example. In general, the optical sensor may be selected according to design, for example based on the varying amplitude of the amplified rotational motion of filament feed roller 203 output by driven gear 210.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an optical error detection controller may be implemented in communication with the optical sensor to monitor the filament feed motion and filament feed rate of the filament 201 to detect extrusion nozzle blockage and improper filament feed conditions during printer operation. In an embodiment, the optical error detection controller may communicate with the optical sensor via a two-wire link communication protocol, a half-duplex communication protocol, or the like. In an embodiment, the optical error detection controller may also be implemented in communication with a drive controller of the filament feeding mechanism of the tool head 104 to control actuation of the optical sensor 212 or the filament feeding roller 203 by the drive motor. In an embodiment, the optical error detection controller may comprise a microcontroller, for example. For example, the optical error detection controller may include a central processing unit, memory, and programmable input/output (I/O) peripherals. In an embodiment, the optical error detection controller may be implemented by a controller, such as an "Atmega 16" CMOS 8-bit microcontroller developed by Atmel corporation of san jose, ca.

In embodiments of the present invention, the optical error detection controller may also be implemented in communication with a drive motor connected to the tool head 104 to control the movement and speed of the tool head 104.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor interface 216 may be implemented to provide an interface between an optical sensor of the sensor housing 214 and a sensor-facing surface 217 of the driven gear 210. In an embodiment, the sensor interface 216 may include, for example, a hole, an aperture, a window, and the like.

Fig. 3 depicts a flow chart of the operational steps of the filament motion sensor assembly 105 during an intermediate step of a method of printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

At step 302, the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may determine a current print mode of the printer 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the printing mode may include, for example, an extrusion mode and a travel mode. In an embodiment, the extrusion mode may correspond to a retractable mode and the travel mode may correspond to a non-retractable mode. The extrusion mode may include, for example, the following modes: the filament 201 may be drawn and supplied from a spool of the printer 100 during printer operation, for example, and loaded into the tool head 104 by a filament feeding mechanism at a feed rate to be fed into the extrusion nozzle through an inlet, heated by a heating element, and subsequently extruded through an outlet of the nozzle. The travel patterns may include, for example, the following patterns: the tool head 104 may not be pulled from and supplied to the spool of the printer 100 during printer operation (e.g., during travel of the tool head 104 between print points or areas relative to the item 106). During the run mode, the filament 201 may be loaded or fed into the tool head 104. In the travel mode, the filament 201 may be retracted a predetermined distance, e.g., approximately 1mm, by back driving the drive motor and correspondingly back actuating the filament feed roller 203.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the print mode of the printer 100 may be determined, for example, based on data received by the optical error detection controller of the optical sensor 212 from the drive controller of the filament feeding mechanism of the tool head 104. In an embodiment, the received data may include, for example, steps and directional inputs generated by a drive controller of the tool head 104 that actuate a drive motor of the filament feed mechanism to drive the filament feed roller 203. In an embodiment, for example, the retraction may correspond to an associated amplified rotational movement of filament feed roller 203.

At step 304, the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may determine filament feed conditions with respect to the filament 201. In embodiments of the present invention, the filament feed conditions may be based on a filament feed motion and a filament feed rate, which may be monitored in response to determining that the current printing mode of the printer 100 includes an extrusion mode. In an embodiment, the filament feeding condition may be determined based on filament motion data, which may be generated by the optical sensor 212 based on a rotational motion of the sensor-facing surface 217. In an embodiment, the optical error detection controller of the optical sensor 212 may receive filament movement data to monitor the filament feed movement and filament feed rate of the filament 201.

In embodiments of the present invention, the filament movement data may include, for example, X-direction movement data and Y-direction movement data, as generated by the optical sensor 212 while tracking the rotational movement of the sensor-facing surface 217. In an embodiment, the rotational motion of the filament feed roller 203 may be determined based on X-direction movement data and Y-direction movement data. In an embodiment, the measurement resolution provided by the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may be determined and adjusted based on, for example, the distance of the sensor interface 216 from the axis of rotation (not shown) of the driven gear 210. For example, the distance may be reduced to provide higher measurement resolution in revolutions per second of the sensor-facing surface 217. The measurement resolution provided by the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may be selected based on the rotational motion of the filament feed roller 203 and the amplified rotational motion of the filament feed roller 203 as provided at the sensor-facing surface 217.

At step 306, the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may detect a print error. In embodiments of the present invention, printing errors may include, for example, filament feed motion and filament feed rate errors that may be caused or result in partial or complete nozzle blockage, filament starvation, etc. In an embodiment, a print error may be detected, for example, based on filament motion data relative to the determined print mode (e.g., at step 302). In an embodiment, a print error may be detected in response to determining that the printer 100 has been set to the squeeze mode. In an embodiment, a print error may be detected in response to determining that the amplified rotational motion of filament feed roller 203 at sensor-facing surface 217 has exceeded or fallen below a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be determined based on normal rotational movement of filament feed roller 203 during the extrusion mode. For example, too high of a rotational movement or lack of a rotational movement may indicate a lack of a filament, and too low of a rotational movement may indicate a nozzle blockage. In an embodiment, a print error may be detected in response to determining that the rate of change of the amplified rotational motion of filament feed roller 203 has exceeded or fallen below a predetermined threshold. For example, when a stepper motor is used to drive filament feed roller 203 rotating about axis 202, nozzle blockage may result in intermittent drive motor jump (i.e., acceleration in amplified rotational movement of filament feed roller 203).

At step 308, the filament motion sensor assembly 105 may generate a command for execution based on the detected print error. In an embodiment of the present invention, the command may be generated by an optical error detection controller of the optical sensor 212. In an embodiment, the command may be communicated to a drive controller of the filament feeding mechanism of the tool head 104 for execution. In an embodiment, a command may be executed to pause printing during printer operation. In embodiments, commands may additionally be executed to, for example, communicate a warning to a user interface of printer 100. In embodiments, the command may additionally be executed to communicate an alert to the user device, for example over the following network: such as an intranet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as the internet, etc. In general, commands may be generated to prevent incomplete or defective object printing.

In embodiments of the present invention, commands may be executed to regulate or enable heating of the hot end of the tool bit 104. For example, the hot end may be heated to a predetermined temperature to ensure that the filaments at the hot end are properly liquefied. The hot end may be heated, for example, in response to determining that the rotational motion has fallen below a predetermined threshold. A rotational movement below a predetermined threshold may, for example, indicate a nozzle blockage. In an embodiment, in response to determining that the rotational movement has exceeded the predetermined threshold, the hot end may be heated to a predetermined temperature to ensure proper liquefaction of the filaments at the hot end. A rotational movement above a predetermined threshold may for example indicate a lack of filaments.

In an embodiment of the invention, commands may be executed to control the drive rate of the drive motor based on the filament feed conditions. In an embodiment, commands may also be executed to control the movement of the tool head 104 based on filament feed conditions. For example, commands may be executed to decrease the filament feed rate and the motion (i.e., velocity) of the tool head 104 to account for changes in the extrusion rate that may occur due to the decreased filament feed rate.

The description of the various embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application and technical improvements to the technology found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated, but fall within the scope of the appended claims.