Limitation of energy wavelengths applied during 3d printing

Abstract

In one example of the disclosure, a system for limitation of energy wavelengths applied during 3D printing includes an energy source to provide energy to a target zone during a 3D printing operation. The system includes a filter chamber through which the energy is to pass before arriving at the target zone. The system includes a filter chamber control component to selectively modify the contents of the filter chamber to limit the wavelengths of energy that can pass through the filter chamber based upon type of the target zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to limit wavelengths of energy applied to a target zone during 3D printing, comprising:
 an energy source to provide energy to a target zone during a 3D printing operation;   a filter chamber through which the energy is to pass before arriving at the target zone; and   a filter chamber control component to selectively modify the contents of the filter chamber to limit wavelengths of energy that can pass through the filter chamber based upon type of the target zone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target zone is a printing agent applied over a build material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the printing agent is to be applied via an inkjet ejection process. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the printing agent is a fusing agent applied over a build material, and wherein the application of the fusing agent and the provision of energy is to fuse the build material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the printing agent is a detailing agent applied over a build material, and wherein the application of the detailing agent is to modify a degree of coalescence of a portion of the build material onto which the detailing agent has been delivered or has penetrated. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chamber control component is to selectively control filling or emptying of the filter chamber with a filter material, the filter material having predetermined energy filtering characteristics. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of printing agents are applied during a printing operation, and wherein the filter chamber control component is to selectively modify the contents of the filter chamber in accordance with the types of printing agents. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wavelength selection component to receive data indicative of the type of the target zone and to obtain data indicative of energy absorption properties of the target zone, and wherein the filter chamber control component is to modify the contents of the filter chamber based upon the obtained data. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of filter chambers through which energy from the energy source can pass through to the target zone, where each filter chamber is associated with a different filter material having predetermined filtering characteristics and is selectively controllable to be independently filled or emptied of its associated filter material. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chamber is a filter chamber that is transparent to the energy source. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chamber is connected to a pump which is connected to a filter material content storage vessel, and wherein the pump is controllable to either fill the filter chamber with filter material from the filter material content storage vessel or to empty the contents of the filter chamber into the filter material content storage vessel. 
     
     
         12 . A 3D printer, comprising:
 a first apparatus to form a layer of build material on a build platform;   a second apparatus to selectively apply a pattern of printing agent to the formed layer of build material;   an electromagnetic radiation source to apply electromagnetic radiation to the layer of build material;   a wavelength selection apparatus, including
 a filter chamber through which the electromagnetic radiation is to pass before arriving at the printing agent, 
 a wavelength selection component to, responsive to receipt of data indicative of a type of agent, obtain data associated with the printing agent indicative of electromagnetic absorption profile of the fusing agent; and 
 a filter chamber control component, to selectively modify the contents of the filter chamber in accordance with the obtained data. 
   
     
     
         13 . The 3D printer of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the wavelength selection apparatus includes multiple filter chambers, each associated with a different filter material having predetermined filter characteristics; and   wherein the wavelength selection component is to determine, based on the determined filter characteristics, which of the filter chambers should be filled with its associated filter material, and the filter chamber control component is to control the filling of a filter chamber with its associated filter material.   
     
     
         14 . The 3D printer of  claim 12 , wherein the printing agent has a color that is one from the set of a red color and a purple color, and the filter material is CH 4 . 
     
     
         15 . A method to restrict wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation applied to a printing agent during 3D printing, the method comprising:
 utilizing an energy source to emit a set of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation towards a printing agent during a 3D printing operation;   receiving data indicative of a type of the printing agent;   accessing a database that includes the printing agent and identified wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation stored in association with the printing agent; and   utilizing the identified wavelengths to selectively modify fluid filler material of a filter chamber to restrict wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that pass through the filter chambers to arrive at the printing agent.