Toward the Control of the EP3D Printed Surface

Abstract

The extension of electrophotographic (EP) printing into the additive manufacturing space has been seen as a natural step for this technology; however, the selfinsulating nature of the process has prevented the creation of structures beyond a limited number of layers where surface defects are evident. This paper examines two control strategies for EPbased threedimensional (EP3D) printing that minimize the surface defects to obtain the accurate reproduction of the intended 3D geometry. The strategies rely not on material deposition control but rather on progressively compensating layer after layer for irregularities forming on the surface. This represents an important step toward the development and future commercialization of EP3D printing.