JPH05269864A - Three dimensional optical shaping device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a two-dimensional sectional shape by light irradiation with simple controlling mechanism in short processing time. CONSTITUTION:The predetermined masking pattern is formed by driving a liquid crystal panel 11 with a liquid crystal panel driving device 14. Ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet light source 1 is irradiated through the liquid crystal panel 11 on the liquid level 7 of liquid resin 5 in a tank 6 so as to harden only the irradiated part in order to form the thin resin film having the predetermined two-dimensional sectional shape. By laminating the thin resin films to one another, the three-dimensional solid shape having the predetermined shape is produced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus for molding a three-dimensional solid shape by irradiating a liquid resin in a tank with light to cure it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The liquid surface of a liquid resin in a liquid resin tank is irradiated and scanned with ultraviolet light to form a cured resin thin film having a predetermined two-dimensional sectional shape on the liquid surface, and the resin thin films are laminated. As a device for molding a three-dimensional solid shape, a three-dimensional stereolithography device is known.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an example of a conventional three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus. In FIG. 3, the laser light source 1 emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength band in the ultraviolet region. The laser light emitted from the laser light source 1 passes through the optical system 2 and is passed through the galvano mirrors 3, 4
The liquid surface 6 of the liquid resin 6 in the liquid resin tank 5 is irradiated with the light while scanning in the two-dimensional direction, and the liquid resin 6 in this portion is cured. Galvano mirror 3,4 at this time
Are precisely driven and controlled by the galvano-mirror control device 8, scan the laser light in the respective straight line directions orthogonal to each other, and draw a predetermined two-dimensional cross-sectional shape on the liquid surface 7. After the liquid resin 6 in the two-dimensional cross-sectional shape is hardened into a thin film, the lift table 9 provided in the liquid resin tank 5 is moved down by a predetermined pitch by the lift drive device 10. After that, the above-described operation is repeated for the liquid resin 6 that covers the cured resin thin film, so that the resin thin films are laminated to form a predetermined three-dimensional solid shape.

[0004]

In the conventional three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus configured as described above, three-dimensional shape data created by CAD or the like is horizontally sliced at a predetermined interval to obtain the two-dimensional shape data. Regarding the dimensional cross-sectional shape, point-like laser light is two-dimensionally scanned using the galvano mirrors 3, 4. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a very long time for the laser beam to scan one surface of the two-dimensional sectional shape. There is also a problem that complicated control is required to operate the galvanomirrors 3, 4 and the like corresponding to the two-dimensional sectional shape data obtained from the two-dimensional shape data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus capable of forming a two-dimensional cross-sectional shape in a short processing time with a simple control mechanism. ..

[0006]

The three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus according to claim 1 is irradiated with light for curing the liquid resin 6 in the liquid resin tank 5 to cure the liquid resin 6 in a predetermined two-dimensional cross-sectional shape. In a three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus for forming a resin thin film and laminating resin thin films to mold a predetermined three-dimensional solid shape, a liquid crystal panel driving device 14 drives between a light source 1 and a liquid surface 7 of a liquid resin 6. A liquid crystal panel 11 for forming a predetermined masking pattern is provided.

In the three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus according to the second aspect, the masking pattern of the liquid crystal panel 11 is provided on the liquid surface 6 of the liquid resin 6 on the optical path from the light source 1 which irradiates the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6. It is characterized in that optical systems 12 and 13 for forming an image are provided.

[0008]

In the three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus according to the first aspect, the liquid crystal panel driving device 14 forms a masking pattern having a predetermined two-dimensional cross section on the liquid crystal panel 11. The light emitted from the light source 1 is shielded by the liquid crystal panel 11 in a predetermined pattern, and is irradiated onto the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6. Then, only the irradiated portion is hardened into a thin film to obtain a resin thin film having a predetermined two-dimensional cross-sectional shape. Therefore, the two-dimensional pattern shape is collectively formed, so that the processing time is greatly shortened and the control is simplified.

In the three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus according to the second aspect, since the optical systems 12 and 13 are provided on the optical path from the light source 1, the masking pattern of the liquid crystal panel 11 is placed on the liquid surface 7 of the liquid crystal resin 6. It can be projected accurately.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, portions corresponding to those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
The feature of this embodiment is that the liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical systems 12 and 13 are provided on the optical path connecting the light source 1 and the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6. The liquid crystal panel 11 is driven by the liquid crystal panel drive device 14, and a masking pattern having a predetermined two-dimensional cross-sectional shape is formed. The optical systems 12 and 13 are provided before and after the liquid crystal panel 11 on the optical path and uniformly diffuse the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 1 to a predetermined position on the optical path in a predetermined size. The optical systems 12 and 13 can accurately project a pattern having a predetermined two-dimensional cross-sectional shape on the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6. The optical systems 12 and 13 are composed of a plurality of lenses or a diffusion plate that diffuses light.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step 101, a three-dimensional shape input into the computer by CAD or the like is horizontally sliced at predetermined intervals to obtain a two-dimensional cross-sectional shape. Next, in step 102, when the ultraviolet light is emitted from the light source 1 located at a predetermined position, the master of the pattern so that the pattern of the two-dimensional cross-sectional shape obtained in step 101 is projected on the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6. Liquid crystal drive device 1
4 to display on the liquid crystal panel 11.

Next, in step 103, the ultraviolet light masked by the liquid crystal panel 11 is transmitted to the optical system 12,
The liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6 in the liquid resin tank 5 is irradiated with the light passing through 13. Then, only the portion of the upper surface of the liquid resin 6 that is irradiated with ultraviolet rays is cured into a thin film. Then step 104
In which the lifting table 9 provided in the liquid resin tank 5
Is lowered by a predetermined pitch by the lifting drive device 10,
The already cured resin thin film is uniformly covered with the liquid resin 6. At this time, in order to make the liquid surface of the liquid resin 6 uniform, the surface may be prepared by mechanical work.

Thereafter, in order to cure the next two-dimensional cross-sectional pattern into a film on the resin thin film cured in step 103, a new pattern is processed in step 101.
The work of step 104 is repeated.

According to this embodiment, when the two-dimensional cross-sectional area of the liquid surface 6 of the liquid resin 6 is hardened into a thin film, the pattern of the two-dimensional cross-sectional shape is formed on the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6 all at once. This treatment time is greatly shortened because the ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 1 is irradiated. Further, it is possible to form a two-dimensional cross-sectional pattern of ultraviolet light without requiring a complicated control mechanism, and it is possible to easily create various patterns at high speed. Further, the optical systems 12 and 13 can accurately project the pattern light of the desired shape on the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6.

In the above embodiment, the case where the liquid resin 6 which is hardened by ultraviolet rays is used has been described, but a liquid resin which is hardened by white light or infrared light may be used. Also optical system 1
2 and 13 may be omitted. Further, the case where the optical path from the light source 1 to the liquid surface 7 of the liquid resin 6 is linear and the optical systems 12 and 13 and the liquid crystal panel 11 are arranged on this straight line has been described, but a plurality of reflecting mirrors and the like are used. The optical path may be refracted by providing the liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical systems 12 and 13 at arbitrary positions on the optical path. Further, the irradiation of the ultraviolet light from the light source 1 may be stopped or the irradiation may be continuously continued until the resin thin film on one surface is cured and the next pattern light is irradiated.

[0017]

As described above, according to the three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus of the first aspect, the liquid crystal panel for forming a predetermined masking pattern is provided between the light source and the liquid surface of the liquid resin. The light having the two-dimensional cross-sectional pattern can be collectively irradiated onto the liquid surface of the liquid resin, the processing time can be shortened, and the control mechanism can be simplified.

According to the three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus of the second aspect, since the optical system is provided on the optical path from the light source to the liquid surface of the liquid resin, a predetermined two-dimensional pattern is formed on the liquid surface of the liquid resin. The light can be projected accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a conventional three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Light Source 5 Liquid Resin Tank 6 Liquid Resin 7 Liquid Level 11 Liquid Crystal Panels 12 and 13 Optical System 14 Liquid Crystal Panel Driving Device

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A surface of the liquid resin in the liquid resin tank is irradiated with light for curing the liquid resin to form a cured resin thin film having a predetermined two-dimensional cross-sectional shape, and the resin thin films are laminated. A three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus that molds a predetermined three-dimensional shape by providing a liquid crystal panel that is driven by a liquid crystal panel driving device and forms a predetermined masking pattern between the light source and the liquid surface of the liquid resin. A three-dimensional stereolithography device characterized by. 2. An optical system for forming an image of a masking pattern of a liquid crystal panel on the liquid surface of the liquid resin on an optical path from a light source for irradiating the liquid surface of the liquid resin. 3D stereolithography equipment.