JP2000330468A - Manufacture of model and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly obtain a fluid model having the strength and rigidity necessary for experiment of the fluid model by packing an alloy fused at temperature below the softening point of the material of a container into the container and smoothing the surface of the container to a prescribed surface roughness. SOLUTION: A container manufacturing process P1 is the process for making the container having the same external shape as the design shape of the fluid parts stated by CAD data D by using an SLS molding apparatus for carrying out modeling by partially sintering material powder. This container is called an unpacked container M1. A liquid material packing process P2 is the process of pouring the fused fusible alloy into the unpacked container M1 and cooling the alloy to solidify. The unpacked container M1 into which the fusible alloy is poured is called a packed container M2. A surface smoothing process P3 is the process of smoothing the surface of the packed container M2 to the prescribed surface roughness by polishing or coating the surface. The surface of the packed container M2 is smoothed in the manner described above, by which the inertia model M3 is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a model, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus suitable for manufacturing a fluid model used for testing the performance of a hydraulic machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for rapidly and easily realizing three-dimensional data of a computer is generally called rapid prototyping (RP). An optical molding method in which a liquid synthetic resin is exposed to light to cause a photochemical reaction to partially solidify,
Irradiating powder with laser beam to partially sinter
The LS method and the like are well known. Details of the RP are described in, for example, "Laid Manufacturing System" (Takeo Nakagawa / Yoji Marutani / Industry Research Committee).

Generally, in RP, molding is performed by stacking a large number of thin layers having a thickness of 10 μm to 1 mm, so that a complicated shape can be created without changing the process. For this reason, attempts have been made to use the RP for producing a model for a fluid experiment. In the design and development of hydraulic machines such as pumps and turbines, several models of blades, rotors and impellers are prototyped, and experiments are performed to evaluate their performance. Conventionally, these fluid models have been machined out of a metal bulk material (lumps) by machining, but this method required a manufacturing period of several weeks to several months. If the fluid model can be made with RP, the development period of the hydraulic machine can be significantly reduced.

However, the material used for the RP generally has a sufficient tensile strength (maximum stress generated until the material is broken by the tension) and a Young's modulus (stress generated by a slight tension) to be used as a fluid model. (Elongation ratio), so in a fluid experiment in which a large-diameter rotor or impeller made of RP is rotated in water, the performance of the fluid model is far from the actual product due to deformation of the fluid model. There was a risk of the model breaking and destroying the experimental equipment. Therefore, it was necessary to take measures such as reducing the diameter of the fluid model or reducing the rotation speed, and thus it was not possible to accurately evaluate the performance under the operating conditions under which the hydraulic machine was actually used.

[0005] To solve this problem, a method of replacing the resin material used in the RP with a metal by casting has been used. A method often used is a method called vanishing model casting (investment casting). In this method, the RP
The molded object made in step is buried in casting sand, and molten metal is poured from above. Then, the heat decomposes the modeled object into a gas, or melts and soaks into the sand, and the shape of the modeled object is directly replaced with metal.

[0006] In the optical shaping method and the SLS method, the cost required for processing is almost proportional to the volume of the formed object. The method of replacing the material by casting is advantageous in reducing the production cost of the model, because the volume of the model can be reduced by hollowing out the inside of the model. A related known example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-19 / 1995.
No. 5141 shows a method of rapidly making a mold by manufacturing a model using a stereolithography method, immersing it in ceramic slurry, sprinkling with refractory particles, and then melting and removing the model. I have. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-20
No. 0483 shows a method of forming a one-piece crust by stereolithography and filling it with a low-melting-point material to form a disappearance pattern that does not damage the mold when precision casting of metal.

[0007]

In the above-mentioned prior art, in the method of making a fluid model directly using RP, a practical method having sufficient strength and rigidity (apparent tensile strength / Young's modulus in a composite material or the like) is required. Could not make a typical model. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, in the method of replacing a resin material with a metal by casting, a molded article made of the resin material is decomposed or melted, so that the metal is heated to a temperature of 600 ° C. or more. Equipment was needed. Also, since the sand grains are transferred to the surface of the model, the surface roughness becomes a problem when used as a fluid model, and the surface must be polished later. Therefore, quickness and simplicity have been impaired.

[0008] The present invention relates to the strength and strength required for a fluid model experiment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a model manufacturing method and a device capable of quickly and easily forming a rigid fluid model.

[0009]

The object of the present invention is to provide a model manufacturing method in which a container is manufactured by an SLS method, and a method of filling the container with an alloy melted at a temperature lower than the softening point of the material of the container. The problem can be solved by comprising a material filling step and a surface smoothing step of smoothing the surface of the container to a predetermined surface roughness.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow chart exemplifying a process flow according to a model manufacturing method according to the present invention. The flow diagram includes a container manufacturing process P1, a liquid material filling process P2, and a surface smoothing process P3, and describes a design shape of a fluid component. From the CAD data D, the completed model M3 is manufactured simply and quickly. The outline of each step is as follows.

In the container manufacturing step P1, a container having the same outer shape as the design shape of the fluid part described by the CAD data D is used by using an SLS modeling device for performing the shaping by partially sintering the material powder. This is the process of making. This container is called an unfilled container M1. The liquid material filling step P2 is a step of casting the molten fusible alloy into the unfilled container M1, cooling, and solidifying. A container in which the unfused metal is cast into the unfilled container M1 is referred to as a filled container M2. The surface smoothing step P3 is a step of polishing or painting the surface of the filled container M2 to smooth the surface to a predetermined surface roughness.
The surface roughness of the filled container M2 depends on the processing resolution of the SLS molding apparatus and the material powder, but is usually 0.1 mmR.
a. On the other hand, in the fluid model used for the hydraulic experiment, the surface smoothing step P3 is almost always performed, for example, a surface roughness of 0.3 μmRa or less may be required.
Is required. When the surface of the filled container M2 is smoothed, a completed model M3 is obtained. Here, "Ra" is the center line average roughness, which is defined in JIS B0601. Hereinafter, each of the steps P1 to P3 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a detailed process of the container producing process P1. In the figure, a data receiving process P11
Is a step of receiving CAD data D, which is a solid model, from a connected computer and converting it into external shape data D1, which is a surface model. The container shape creating step P12 is a step of offsetting the outer shape data D1 to create inner shape data D2, and combining these to create container shape data D3.

Next, the material powder mixing step P13 will be described.
When the container shape data D3 is created, an unfilled container M1 of that shape is created using the SLS molding apparatus, and the unfilled container M1 has a molten material of the fusible alloy in the liquid material filling step P2 of FIG. Is cast into the unfilled container M1. For this reason, it is necessary to consider the affinity between the material of the unfilled container M1 and the fusible alloy. Generally, the affinity between the resin and the metal is very small, so that the easily fused gold melt does not adhere to the unfilled container M1.
Due to the effect of the surface tension of the fusible alloy, such a container M1
In some cases, a gap may be formed between the metal and the fusible alloy. FIG. 12A shows this state, in which a gap V is formed between the container M1 formed in a layered form by the SLS method and the filled fusible alloy F. The formation of the gap V causes the surface of the completed model M3 to peel off. For these issues,
It is effective to use a metal powder S2 such as copper as the material powder S as a molding material of the SLS method, or to mix the metal powder S2 with the material powder S. Generally, the affinity between a metal such as copper and the easy-fusion gold F is very large. Therefore, if the unfilled container M1 is made using the metal powder S2 or the material powder S containing the metal powder S2, the solidified easy-fusion metal is filled with the unfilled container M1.
As a result, the completed model M3 can be formed without any voids as shown in FIG. 12B, and the surface can be prevented from peeling off.

Although the affinity between clean copper and easy-fusion gold F is high, the affinity is low when the copper surface is oxidized. The copper surface oxidizes over time,
In order to avoid such a problem, a small amount of flux powder S3 is mixed with the material powder S. Fluxes such as borax, pine tar, and the like have the property of reducing and removing metal oxides.
1 is secured. Therefore, the resin powder S1, the metal powder S2, and the flux powder S3 are mixed at a predetermined ratio to provide the material powder S used in the SLS modeling process P13. This is the material powder mixing step P13 in FIG. In this step, instead of mixing the flux powder S3 with the material powder S, a method of cleaning the inside of the unfilled container M1 and coating the flux therewith can be used.

The next SLS molding process P14 is performed in the unfilled container M1 having the shape described by the container shape data D3.
Is a step of using an SLS modeling apparatus. S
FIG. 3 shows the structure of the SLS modeling apparatus A used in the LS modeling step P14. The SLS modeling apparatus A includes a container A1 for holding the material powder S, a recoater A2 for flattening the surface of the material powder S, a recoater driving device A3 for turning the feed screw A81 to reciprocate the recoater A2, A laser head A4 for irradiating the surface with a laser beam, a scanner A5 for rotating the feed screw A83 (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) and the feed screw 82 to scan the laser head A4 back and forth, left and right, and supporting the material powder S and the formed object Elevator A6,
The system includes an elevator driving device A7 that moves the elevator A6 up and down, and a control device A9 that controls the entire operation of the SLS modeling device A. The recoater driving signal X1 is a signal for operating the recoater driving device A3 and supplying power. The scanner / laser drive signal X2 is a signal for controlling the scanning path of the laser head A4 and blinking of the laser beam and supplying power. Elevator drive signal X
A signal 3 controls the operation of the elevator A6 and supplies power.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the SLS printing apparatus. SL
The S shaping device A irradiates the surface of the flattened material powder S while scanning it with a laser beam,
The material powder S is sintered to form a layer having the cross-sectional shape of the modeled object W described by the container shape data D3. Then, a plurality of layers are stacked to produce a modeled object W having a desired three-dimensional shape.

For this purpose, first, upon receiving the container shape data D3, the control device A9 generates three-dimensional data having a three-dimensional shape of the modeled object W based on the data. Next, in order to perform the lamination, the intersection of the three-dimensional data and the horizontal plane at the height of each layer is calculated, and the cross-sectional shape of the modeled object W is calculated.
Then, a recoater drive signal X1, a scanner / laser drive signal X2, and an elevator drive signal X3 are automatically generated for each layer. Thus, the SLS modeling apparatus A operates so as to repeat the following procedures (1), (2), and (3), and stacks layers. In the procedure (1), the material powder S is put on the elevator A6 or the shaped object W, and the recoater A2
Is reciprocated to flatten the surface of the material powder S. In step (2), the surface of the material powder S is irradiated with a laser beam from the laser head A4. The scanner A5 causes the laser head A4 to scan along the cross section of the object W. The material powder S is sintered by this laser beam to form a thin layer. In the procedure (3), the elevator A6 is lowered by the thickness of the layer, and preparations are made for stacking a new layer on the model W. By such an operation, the unfilled container M1 is finally manufactured.

Next, the detailed steps of the liquid filling step P2 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 5, the unsintered powder removing step P21 is a step of removing the material powder S left inside the unfilled container M1 and the material powder S adhered to the unfilled container M1 by washing or blowing air. This step cleans the container M1
One is made. The fusible alloy melting step P22 is a step of heating and melting the fusible alloy F so as not to exceed the softening point of the material of the unfilled container M1, thereby providing the fusible gold melt F1. In the easy-fusion gold casting step P23, the easy-fusion gold melt F1 is cast into the cleaned container M11 and the unsolidified container M
This is the process of making No. 12. In the fusible alloy cooling step P24, the unsolidified container M12 is cooled, and the filled fusible alloy melt F is filled.
This is a step of coagulating No. 1. By this step, a filled container M2 having sufficient strength and rigidity is produced.

Next, a detailed process of the surface smoothing process P3 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the surface smoothing step P3 includes a polishing step P3a or a coating step P3.
b, or a combination thereof. The polishing step P3a is a step of shaving the surface of the filled container M2 with a file, abrasive paper, or the like, or polishing it with a buff or the like to which an abrasive is applied, to produce a completed model M3. In this case, the outer shape of the unfilled container is made larger than the outer shape at the time of completion so as to allow for the shaving margin. Polishing the surface of a fluid model has conventionally been performed normally, but in this method, a file or abrasive paper must be pressed against the outside of the fluid model to rub it. Therefore, in the case of a closed-type fluid component in which it is difficult to reach the flow path, the polishing process P3a in which the work is divided into many stages from rough cutting to finish cutting is a serious operation.

On the other hand, the coating process P3b
This is a step of making a completed model M3 by painting the surface of the filled container M2. In this case, the unfilled container M
The outer shape of item 1 is made smaller than the outer shape at the time of completion, just as much as the coating allowance. Here, a paint called a surfacer is used. In this method, a spray gun or the like can be used to apply the surfacer,
The operation is simple even with closed-type fluid components. Alternatively, the filled container M2 may be immersed in a surfacer and then pulled up to allow the surfacer to adhere to the surface and then left for a while to drop the surplus surfacer down. The surfacer applied to the surface of the filled container M2 fills a step on the surface of the filled container M2 by surface tension,
Thereafter, it hardens to form a strong film. Since the surfacer for this is a kind of synthetic resin, it has a high affinity with the surface of the filled container M2 mainly made of resin. Two substances having high affinity are easy to adhere to each other and are hard to be separated.
In the conventional fluid model made of metal, the surfacer peeling became a problem due to the low affinity between the paint, which is a synthetic resin, and the metal, which is the material of the model,
Although it was difficult to smooth the surface of the model by coating, in the model manufacturing method P according to the present invention, peeling of the surfacer is unlikely to occur. Can be.

In the model manufacturing method according to the present invention, a model is manufactured by the steps described in detail above. Next, this method will be described more specifically with reference to examples of fluid parts. The fluid components shown here are the blades of a Kaplan turbine used for hydroelectric power generation. FIG. 7 shows the appearance of a turbine having five blades B mounted around a hub H, and FIG. 8 shows the blades excluding the shank portion B1. The shape of B is shown. The shank portion B1 is a portion for attaching the blade B to the hub H, and is threaded. The fillet portion B2 is a portion connecting the entire blade B to the shank portion B1, and is made thicker than the blade portion B3. The blade portion B3 is a portion that receives power from the flow of water and is made thin so as not to hinder the flow. The edge portion B4 is an edge portion of the blade portion B3, and is made particularly thin. Also,
FIG. 9 schematically shows the shape of the blade B described by the CAD data. In order to evaluate the performance of the blade B, an experiment is performed using a reduced model. The dimensions shown in FIG. 9 are the dimensions of the reduced model, and the actual product has a size about 20 times that of the reduced model. In the experiment, the blade B was attached to the hub H, and the blade B
Rotate at a rotation speed of 00 rotations. Therefore, a reduced model usually requires a strength of 50 MPa or more and a rigidity of 50 GPa or more.

FIG. 10 schematically shows a cross section of an unfilled container M1 made from CAD data D, and is a cross-sectional view of a closed container cut along a wide surface thereof. The unfilled container M1 is provided with a gate T1 for pouring the easily-fused gold melt F1. If bubbles remain inside the model, a trouble occurs when the model is rotated. Therefore, a taper T2 is provided to prevent bubbles from remaining. Unfilled container M1
May be deformed by the weight of the fusible gold melt F1. Therefore, a support T3 is provided inside as needed.

The unfilled container M1 is made of a material powder S
It is molded in a form buried inside. Therefore, when the shaping is completed, it is necessary to excavate the unfilled container M1 from the material powder S to remove the unsintered material powder S. The material powder S that has entered the interior is spun out with the unfilled container M1 upside down. To remove the attached material powder S, a method of washing with water containing a surfactant and drying in a vacuum is effective.

When the unfilled container M1 thus produced is held vertically and the easy-fusion gold melt F1 is poured from the gate T1, the hollow portion V0 in FIG. 10 is filled with the easy-fusion gold melt. Easy fusible alloy is a generic term for alloys having a melting point lower than tin (melting point is about 240 ° C.), and an example of the composition is shown in FIG. Some of these alloys have melting points lower than the softening point of the material powder S. If such an alloy is used, a filled container M2 can be made without damaging the unfilled container M1. Among these fusible alloys, Newton's alloy and wood alloy contain bismuth. While many metals shrink during solidification, bismuth and antimony have the property of expanding, especially bismuth. Therefore, the volume of the fusible gold melt F1 containing about 50% of bismuth hardly changes during solidification. When casting a thin flat blade, etc., if the metal in the vicinity of the gate T1 solidifies first, the accuracy of the thickness of the blade portion B3 may deteriorate, so it is necessary to devise a cooling method.・
If easy fusion gold containing antimony is used, such considerations need not be taken.

Next, the features of the model manufacturing method and the created model other than those described above will be listed. First, it is also possible to spray water directly on the outer surface of the unfilled container M1 into which the easy-fusion gold has been poured, and to quench it. As a result, the time required for solidifying the easily-fused gold melt can be saved, which is useful in shortening the time required for manufacturing the model.

Some fusible alloys contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and antimony. But,
If the used finished model M3 is heated, the filled easy fusion metal can be easily collected. Therefore, there is no worry that a large amount of metal waste is generated.

The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the solid fusible alloy are 5 to 20 times that of the resin. Therefore, the completed model M3 filled with the easy fusion metal has greater strength and rigidity than the model made of resin, and even when used as it is in a fluid experiment, the risk of deformation and breakage is small. Also R
Since the volume formed by P becomes small, the production cost of the model is also reduced. Compared to the method of shaving a model from a metal bulk material, the time required to make the model is reduced to 1/10 or less,
In addition, costs can be reduced to less than one fifth.

The completed model M3 has a structure in which the Young's modulus inside is larger than the surface. In such a structure, destruction due to the pressure gradient applied to the surface is unlikely to occur. In a fluid machine, a phenomenon called cavitation, in which a negative pressure is generated by a fast flow and bubbles are generated on the surface of a fluid component, may be a problem. When cavitation occurs, due to the shock wave generated when the bubbles disappear,
Very high pressure is applied to a small part of the surface of the fluid component. This corrodes the surface of the fluid component and, in severe cases, damages the fluid component. Such a phenomenon is called cavitation corrosion. Cavitation corrosion is typical of failures due to pressure gradients on surfaces. On the other hand, in the fluid model manufactured by the model manufacturing method of the present invention, the cavitation corrosion hardly occurs because the Young's modulus of the material inside is larger than the surface. Therefore, it is possible to perform an experiment in a fast flow in which cavitation occurs for a long time.

In the model manufacturing method of FIG. 1 described above,
The unfilled container M1 is filled with the easy fusion metal. However, when the finished model M3 does not require much strength and rigidity, a sufficient tensile strength and Young's modulus are used instead of the easy fusion metal. Container M1 not filled with non-metallic material
Of course, it is also possible to fill in. Recently, very high tensile strength has been developed in composite materials of resin and inorganic materials.
Some have a Young's modulus. When such a non-metallic material is used, the problem of affinity with the resin sintered product is greatly reduced, so that it is not necessary to mix the metal powder S2 or the flux powder S3 with the material powder S. The material powder mixing step P13 is unnecessary.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the construction of a filling container manufacturing apparatus E in which the container preparing step P1 and the liquid filling step P2 of FIG. 1 are automated. The control apparatus E1, the container transporting apparatus E2, the cleaning apparatus E3, An object filling device E4 and a cooling device E5 are provided. The control device E1 is a kind of CAD / CAM device,
Container transport device E2, cleaning device E3, liquid material filling device E
4. Control the operation of the cooling device E5.

When receiving the CAD data D, the control device E1 automatically executes the data receiving step P11 and the container shape creating step P12 in FIG. 2 to generate the container shape data D3. Then, the container shape data D3
An SLS printing apparatus drive signal X4 is sent. SLS molding machine A
Starts the operation when the control device A9 receives the drive signal X4, and produces an unfilled container M1 having a three-dimensional shape described by the container shape data D3. When the unfilled container M1 is completed, the control device E1 sends a container transport device drive signal X5 to the container transport device E2. However, at the time of molding by the SLS molding apparatus A, it is assumed that the metal powder and the flux powder are mixed in the material S when necessary.

The container transporting device E2 has an extendable manipulator E21. When the drive signal X5 is received, the manipulator E21 is extended, takes out the unfilled container M1 from the SLS modeling device A, and transports it to the cleaning device E3. When the unfilled container M1 is sent to the cleaning device E3, the control device E1 sends a cleaning device drive signal X6 to the cleaning device E3. The cleaning liquid is filled in the cleaning device E3, and the unfilled container M1 is moved by the lowering of the manipulator E21.
Is submerged in the washing solution. The cleaning device E3 includes an ultrasonic vibration device E31, and upon receiving the cleaning device drive signal X6, operates the ultrasonic vibration device E31 to vibrate the cleaning liquid. As a result, the material powder S adhering to the unfilled container M1 is washed away, and the cleaned container M11 is removed.
And Thereafter, the container transport device E2 pulls up the cleaned container M11 from the cleaning liquid, allows it to dry naturally, and transports the cleaned container M11 to the liquid filling device E4 with the gate T1 facing upward. When the cleaned container M11 is sent to the liquid filling device E4, the control device E1 sends a liquid filling device driving signal X7 to the liquid filling device E4. Upon receiving the liquid material filling device drive signal X7, the liquid material filling device E4 pours the easily fused gold melt or the nonmetallic material into the cleaned container M11. Thereby, the unsolidified container M12 is produced.

FIG. 14 shows the structure of the liquid material filling device E4. The liquid material filling device E4 has a tank E41 for holding the fusible gold melt F1.
And a heater E42 for heating and melting the easy fusion metal F,
Solenoid valve E operated by liquid material filling device drive signal X7
43. The fusible gold melt F1 is maintained at a temperature somewhat lower than the softening point of the material of the cleaned container M11. The volume of the fusible gold melt F1 discharged from the solenoid valve E43 is controlled by the liquid material filling device drive signal X7 so as to be slightly smaller than the volume of the inner shape of the unfilled container M1. Therefore, the easily fused gold melt F1 does not overflow from the gate T1 of the cleaned container M11.

When the meltable gold melt is cast, the container transport device E2 transports the unsolidified container M12 to the cooling device E5. When the unsolidified container M12 is sent to the cooling device E5, the control device E1 sends a cooling device drive signal X8 to the cooling device E5. The cooling device E5 is a kind of a blower and operates in response to the cooling device drive signal X8 to air-cool the unsolidified container M12 from the outer surface to solidify the fusible gold melt. Thereby, the filled container M2 is manufactured. By such an operation, the model manufacturing apparatus E automatically manufactures the filled container M2 from the CAD data D, and the model manufacturing process can be significantly saved.

When casting the fusible melt into the cleaned container M11, the cooling of the fusible melt is performed.
With the solidification, a transient temperature distribution and a flow occur inside the cleaned container M11. The transitional temperature distribution and the flow depend on the conditions for pouring the fusible gold melt and the shape of the cleaned container M11. And may form voids inside. Therefore, the controller E1 of FIG. 13 is provided with a thermal fluid simulator, and by predicting the temperature distribution and the flow of such a fusible alloy melt, a gap generated by the fusible melt being entrained with air is avoided. ,
It is desirable to optimally control the temperature and flow rate of the fusible gold melt. For this purpose, it is effective to increase the time from the time when the meltable fusible melt is poured into the container M11 to the time when it is solidified, and the temperature of the meltable fusible melt may be increased.
On the other hand, if the temperature of the fusible gold melt is increased, the material of the cleaned container M11 may be softened. That is, the fusible gold melt has an optimal temperature, which also depends on the shape of the fluid model. Therefore, for example, when manufacturing a thin and flat fluid model that is easy to cool the easily fused gold melt,
The temperature of the fusible gold melt is raised somewhat, or the flow rate is increased, so that no void is formed inside the filled container M2.

[0036]

According to the present invention, a large model having high strength and rigidity can be produced in a short time, at a low cost, with good accuracy, and hardly broken while taking advantage of the simplicity and quickness characteristic of RP. In addition, there is an effect that a model in which surface peeling does not easily occur can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a model manufacturing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing details of a container manufacturing step P1.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of an SLS printing apparatus A;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the operation of the SLS printing apparatus A.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a liquid material filling step P2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of a surface smoothing step P3.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an appearance of a water wheel.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the appearance of a blade B;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of a blade B described by CAD data D.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a cross section of an unfilled container M1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an easy fusion gold.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing a part of a cross section of the filled container M2.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a filling container manufacturing apparatus E according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a structural example of a liquid material filling device E4.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A SLS modeling device D CAD data D3 Container shape data E Model making device E1 Control device E2 Container transport device E3 Cleaning device E4 Liquid material filling device E5 Cooling device F Easy fusion F1 Easy fusion molten M1 Unfilled container M11 Cleaned Container M12 Unsolidified container M2 Filled container M3 Complete model P1 Container manufacturing process P11 Data receiving process P12 Container shape forming process P13 SLS modeling process P2 Liquid material filling process P21 Unsintered powder removing process P22 Easy fusion gold melting process P23 Easy fusion Gold casting process P24 Easy fusion cooling process P3 Surface smoothing process P3a Polishing process P3b Coating process T1 Gate T2 Taper T3 Support S Material powder S1 Resin powder S2 Metal powder S3 Flux powder

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kikuo Umegaki 7-2-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Pref. Hitachi, Ltd. Power and Electricity Development Division (72) Inventor Noriyuki Sadaoka 7-2, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture No. 1 Hitachi, Ltd. Power and Electricity Development Division (72) Inventor Ryuichiro Iwano 7-2-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Power and Electricity Development Division (72) Inventor Hayano Seiji 3105-1 Higashi Naganuma, Inagi City, Tokyo F-term in Aspect Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C032 BB01 4F213 AA49 AC04 WA22 WB01 WL03 WL10 WL22 WL26 WL96 4K018 AA03 AB01 AB02 AB03 AB04 AB10 AC01 CA44 EA51 JA07 JA09 JA16 JA27 JA29 KA70

Claims (12)

[Claims] An outer shape is determined from a design shape of a model, a container having the outer shape is generated by repeating partial sintering of powder, and a curable liquid that does not damage the material of the container is formed inside the container. A method for producing a model, comprising filling a product, curing the product, and integrating the product with the container to produce a model. 2. The method for manufacturing a model according to claim 1, wherein the material of the container is a synthetic resin, a ceramic, or a composite material thereof, and the curable liquid material is based on a softening point of the material of the container. A metal which is also molten at a low temperature. 3. The model manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the material of the container is a metal or a composite material thereof, and the temperature of the curable liquid material is lower than the softening point of the material of the container. A method for producing a model, characterized in that the metal is molten in step (1). 4. The model manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the material of the container is a synthetic resin, ceramic, or a composite material thereof, and the curable liquid material is a synthetic resin or a composite material thereof. A model production method characterized by being an uncured material. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a metal powder is mixed with the powder before sintering the powder forming the container. 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein a flux powder is mixed with the powder before sintering the powder for forming the container. . 7. The model manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the molten metal contains bismuth or antimony. 8. The model manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a strength member for supporting an outer wall of the container is provided inside the container. 9. The model manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein an outer shape determined from the design shape is larger than the design shape, and the outer surface of the container after filling and curing the liquid material is polished to a predetermined surface. A model manufacturing method characterized by smoothing to a roughness. 10. The method of manufacturing a model according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape determined from the design shape is smaller than the design shape, and the outer surface of the container is painted and smoothed to a predetermined surface roughness. A model production method characterized by the following. 11. A shape determining means for determining an external shape from a design shape of a model, a container generating means for generating a container having the external shape by repeating sintering of powder, and cleaning the container generated by this means. Washing means, filling means for filling the liquid material into the container washed by this means,
A cooling device for cooling the container filled with the liquid material by this means to harden the liquid material. 12. The model manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the container is configured to transport the container from the container generating unit to the cleaning unit, from the cleaning unit to the filling unit, and further from the filling unit to the cooling unit, and the container. Control means for controlling operations of the generating means, the cleaning means, the filling means, the cooling means, and the transporting means so as to automatically generate a container filled and cured with a liquid material. Model making equipment.