JPH07304105A - Optically shaping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with the adjustment of the interval between a wiping machine and a resin soln. by setting the liquid level of the resin soln. built up on the upper end surface of the wall member constituting a processing tank by surface tension and the surface leveling the liquid level by the wiping machine to the same height. CONSTITUTION:A base plate 1 is positioned under the surface 3a of a resin liquid 3 and the laser beam 14 scanned by a scanning device 11 is condensed on the surface 3a of the resin soln. 3 to cure the resin soln. 3 on the base plate 1 in matching relation to the crosssectional shape of a three-dimensional shaped article. Thereafter, the base plate 1 is allowed to fall to the lower part of the processing tank 7 and, after the resin soln. 3 is cast on the threedimensional shaped article 2, the base plate 1 is again raised to be stopped at a position lower than the position where the resin is previously cured by one layer. When definite force is applied by the control command of a wiping machine, the wiping machine 4 displaced upwardly by a spring is moved along the surface 3a of the resin soln. 3 to level the same. By this constitution, the resin soln. 3 overflows so as to exceed the upper end surface of the processing tank 7 to discharge the excessive resin soln. 3 and the surface 3a of the resin soln. 3 after leveling is always set to a constant position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical molding apparatus for hierarchically curing a resin liquid to form a three-dimensional molded article of an arbitrary shape, and more particularly to three-dimensional molding by smoothing the liquid surface of the resin liquid. The present invention relates to an optical modeling apparatus that shortens the modeling time of an object and improves accuracy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an optical modeling apparatus of this type, for example, an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-115620 is known. This device will be described with reference to FIG. 9. 1 is a base plate, 2 is a three-dimensional object, 3 is a resin liquid, and the resin liquid 3 is cured by irradiating a laser beam from above the outside of the figure to cure the three-dimensional object 2. It is formed sequentially and hierarchically. Then, after the base plate 1 is settled in the processing tank and the resin liquid 3 is laminated on the three-dimensional object 2, and the laser beam irradiation position is raised, the sweeper 4 is moved to the left and right to To smooth the liquid surface.

However, in this technique, as shown in FIG. 10, since the tip of the sweeper 4 has a triangular cross section, the resin liquid wraps 5 behind the advancing direction of the sweeper, resulting in three-dimensional molding. The surface of the object 2 could not be made sufficiently smooth.

In order to improve this point, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-1692
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 23, 23, it is proposed to use a sweeper 4 ′ in which unit brushes formed by bundling a plurality of fibers are distributed in the longitudinal direction in a spaced manner, as shown in FIG. It is said that the optimum values for the brush interval and the fiber material are selected according to the molding conditions.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional device has the following problems. That is, since the photocurable resin liquid such as modified polyurethane methacrylate or epoxy acrylate used in the optical modeling apparatus has a relatively high viscosity, the uncleaned portion 6 as shown in FIG. 12 occurs and the liquid surface is completely smoothed. It takes a long time.

In addition, it is necessary for the sweeper to select the bristle quality, thickness, length, sweep speed, etc. according to the molding conditions, and to optimally adjust the interval between the sweeper and the liquid surface of the resin.
There was also the problem that the setup was troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it eliminates the need for adjusting the distance between the sweeper and the resin liquid surface, thus facilitating setup, while eliminating the stagnation of the resin liquid on the three-dimensional object. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical modeling apparatus capable of smoothing the resin liquid surface.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the optical modeling apparatus of the present invention, an ultraviolet laser beam is stored in a processing tank on the basis of sectional shape data obtained by slicing a three-dimensional object. Means for irradiating the surface layer portion of the curable resin liquid, means for raising and lowering the base plate alternately with the irradiation of this ultraviolet laser beam and introducing the next liquid layer on the cured layer, and for raising and lowering the base plate, the resin liquid surface In an optical modeling apparatus that includes a smoothing sweeper and that hardens a resin liquid one layer at a time on the upper surface of the base plate to form a three-dimensional object, the wall surface of the processing tank rises due to surface tension. The liquid level of the resin solution and the leveling surface of the sweeper were set to have the same height.

In this case, the same height is set so that the surface of the sweeper for smoothing the liquid level of the sweeper and the upper end surface of the processing tank are in sliding contact with each other corresponding to the height of the raised resin liquid. It is preferable to use a step provided between the section and the section.

Further, the surface for smoothing the liquid surface of the sweeper may be formed to have a sharp cross-sectional shape with respect to the traveling direction of the liquid surface of the sweeper.

It is preferable that the working surface (leveling surface) of the sweeper has an L-shaped cross section and the upper surface is V-shaped.

[0012]

In the optical modeling apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, the processing tank is provided with the overflow surfaces of the resin liquid in three or more directions, and the resin liquid overflows in each direction by sweeping the sweeper. . That is, since the resin liquid is discharged along the upper end surface of the processing tank by the sweep of the sweeper, it is possible to always sweep with a constant layer thickness, and the precision of the three-dimensional molded item is improved. Further, it is not necessary to adjust the vertical position of the sweeper.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, the resin liquid staying on the surface of the processing tank due to surface tension is pushed upward and discharged in the left-right direction, and is swept, so that the waiting time for the resin liquid surface to stabilize Can be significantly shortened.

An embodiment of an optical modeling apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

[0014]

First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1
2 is a front view showing the optical modeling apparatus, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main part thereof, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part.

In FIG. 1, 7 is a processing tank containing the resin liquid 3, and the base plate 1 in the tank is moved up and down by a drive unit 8. Further, above the processing tank 7, there is provided a scanning device 11 that guides the laser light 10 excited by the laser light excitation device 9 to the surface of the processing tank 7 while scanning it according to slice data. Below the scanning device 11, a condenser lens 12 that condenses the laser light 14 onto the resin liquid surface 3a is provided.

A CAD data processing device 13 is connected to the driving device 8 and the scanning device 11 and creates base plate driving data and scanning data from the cross-sectional shape data of the three-dimensional object.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a sweeper for sweeping the resin liquid surface 3a, which is provided with a mechanism which is displaced upward by a spring inside when a constant force is applied. Resin surface 3a with sweeper 4
Is swept along the upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tank 7 in which the resin liquid 3 overflows. (Note that 7
a and 7b have the same height. )

That is, in FIG. 3, the sweeper 4 projects at both end sides in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a step Δ is formed between the sweeper 4 and the work surface B for sweeping and smoothing the liquid surface 3a. This step Δ
Is set equal to the height at which the resin liquid 3 rises from both upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tank 7 due to surface tension. The sweeper 4 is driven so that the lower surfaces of the protruding portions B of the sweeper 4 are in sliding contact with the upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tank 7, respectively. The work surface B of the sweeper 4 is a plane that is inclined on the forward side on the left side of the drawing.

This driving is performed by connecting two pins 4b implanted in the upper plate 4a of the sweeper 4 to a head 18 connected to a belt 17 which is reciprocally controlled by a motor 16. . This head 18 has a cylinder for pulling up the work surface B against the bias of the spring 4c so that the work surface B of the sweeper 4 is separated from the resin liquid surface 3a when the sweeper 4 is returned. 1
9 is provided.

Next, the operation of the optical modeling apparatus of this embodiment having the above structure will be described. The base plate 1 is located below the resin liquid surface 3a, the laser light 10 is scanned by the scanning device 11 according to the slice data created by the CAD data processing device 13, and the scanned laser light 14 is focused on the resin liquid surface 3a. Then, the resin liquid 3 is cured on the base plate 1 according to the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional object.

When the curing of the resin is completed for the cross section of the bottom layer, the base plate 1 is driven by the drive unit 8 to the processing tank 7
After the resin liquid 3 is lowered to the bottom and the resin liquid 3 is poured onto the three-dimensional object 2, the base plate 1 is again raised according to the drive data and stopped at a position one layer lower in slice data than the position where the resin was previously cured.

Next, the sweeper 4 sweeps along the resin liquid surface 3a according to a sweeper control command from the CAD data processing device 13. As a result, the resin liquid 3 overflows the upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tank 7 and the excess resin liquid 3 is discharged, so that the resin liquid surface 3a after sweeping is always at a fixed position. The overflowed resin liquid is sent again to the lowermost part of the processing tank 7 by the pump 15.

Thereafter, the laser beam 14 is scanned in accordance with the slice data, and the cured resin having a new cross-sectional shape is formed by superimposing it on the above-mentioned cured cross-sectional shape.

As described above, the lowering of the base plate 1 /
By sequentially repeating the ascending, the sweep of the sweeper 4, and the scanning of the laser light 14, the three-dimensional object 2 having a desired cross-sectional shape can be formed.

According to this embodiment, the sweep can be performed while keeping the interval between the resin liquid surface 3a and the sweeper 4 constant, so that the quality deterioration of the three-dimensional object due to the height deviation can be prevented. In addition, the position adjustment of the height of the sweeper becomes unnecessary.

[0026]

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 4
Is a perspective view showing an optical modeling apparatus of Example 2, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part thereof. As shown in the figure, this embodiment uses a simpler sweeper 4, and the sweeper 4 has a step difference Δ except for the contact portions B with the upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tanks at both ends. Is provided with a work surface b. Here, the step difference Δ is set to a dimension in which the resin liquid 3 rises above the upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tank 7 due to surface tension.
As in the case of the first embodiment, the sweeper 4 is attached to the head (both not shown) via pins and reciprocates.

This embodiment is simpler and cheaper to manufacture than the first embodiment. Then, since the resin liquid staying on the three-dimensional object can be removed both in the outward path and in the return path, Example 1
As described above, it is not necessary to return the laser beam to one of the processing tanks every time the laser beam is scanned, and the efficiency is improved.

[0028]

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 6
8 is a front view showing the optical modeling apparatus of Embodiment 3, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the main parts thereof, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the same main parts. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the work surface of the sweeper 4 has an L-shaped cross section and the upper surface has a V-shaped cross section.

That is, in the figure, the projecting portion B of the sweeper 4 is in sliding contact with the upper end surfaces 7a, 7b of the processing tank 7 on both sides. A step Δ corresponding to the height of the liquid surface rising from the upper end surface 7b of the processing tank 7 is formed on the inner side of the protruding portion B, that is, the working surface b for smoothing the resin liquid surface 3a.

Further, the work surface B of the sweeper 4 and the supporting portion C are bent to have a substantially L-shape. The L-shaped tip portion is sharp with respect to the traveling direction into the resin liquid 3,
The work surface B and the protrusion B are formed. The rear surface of the protruding portion B on the side opposite to the traveling direction of the sweeper 4 becomes an inclined surface and separates from the upper end surfaces 7a and 7b of the processing tank 7 at an angle of θ.

The support portion (c) has a wall thickness at approximately the center on the advancing direction side of the sweeper, and is provided with an inclination so that it becomes thinner toward both ends, and has a V-shape. Then, two pins 4b are planted at the upper end of the support portion C and are engaged and positioned in the holes 18a of the head 18 that reciprocates in the sweeper 4. A spring is provided in the hole 18a of the head to press the sweeper 4 against the upper end of the processing tank 7. A cylinder 19 is provided to lift the sweeper 4 against the spring when the head 18 returns.

In this embodiment, when the resin liquid surface is swept, the resin liquid flows upward and is further swept in the left and right directions, so that very efficient sweeping is possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the protrusions are formed on both sides of the sweeper, but the head that reciprocates the sweeper is a processing tank. In the case of a structure in which a fixed distance is maintained with respect to the upper end surface, protrusions are formed on both sides of the sweeper to keep the height Δ between the resin liquid surface and the work surface for leveling the liquid surface constant. It is not necessary, and the height Δ can be maintained only by the protrusion on one side.

[0034]

As described above, according to the optical modeling apparatus of the present invention, the step Δ is provided between the working surface for smoothing the resin liquid surface of the sweeper and the protrusion on the end side of the working surface. Since the protruding portion of the cleaner and the upper end surface of the processing tank in which the resin liquid overflows are slidably contacted with each other to sweep, the interval between the liquid surface and the work surface of the sweeper can be always constant. Further, it is not necessary to adjust the vertical position of the sweeper, and thus it is possible to form a highly accurate three-dimensional object and shorten the setup time. Further, according to this sweeper, since the resin liquid staying under the surface tension is pushed back upward and leftward and rightward simultaneously with the movement of the sweeper,
The resin liquid surface can be efficiently smoothed, and the waiting time until the resin liquid surface is stabilized can be significantly shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an optical modeling apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a main part of the optical modeling apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the optical modeling apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an optical modeling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the optical modeling apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an optical modeling apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a main part of an optical modeling apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of an optical modeling apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main part of the conventional technique of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second conventional technique.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a problem of the conventional technique of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 base plate 2 three-dimensional object 3 resin liquid 3a resin liquid surface 4 sweeper 4a upper plate 4b pin 4c spring 5 wrap around 6 unswept 7 processing tank 7a, 7b upper end surface 8 drive device 9 laser light excitation device 10 laser light 11 scanning device 12 Condensing Lens 13 CAD Data Processing Device 14 Laser Light 15 Pump 16 Motor 17 Belt 18 Head 18a Hole 19 Cylinder

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A means for irradiating a surface layer portion of a photocurable resin liquid contained in a processing tank with an ultraviolet laser beam based on cross-sectional shape data obtained by slicing a three-dimensional object, and irradiation with this ultraviolet laser beam. And means for introducing the next liquid layer onto the cured layer by alternately raising and lowering the base plate, and a sweeper for smoothing the resin liquid surface after raising and lowering the base plate, and curing the resin liquid layer by layer on the upper surface of the base plate. In the optical modeling apparatus for forming a three-dimensional model, the liquid level of the resin liquid raised by the surface tension from the upper end surface of the wall constituting the processing tank is the same as the leveling surface of the sweeper. An optical modeling apparatus characterized by being set to have a height. 2. The same height is set for a surface of the sweeper that smoothes the liquid surface of the sweeper and a protrusion of the sweeper that slidably contacts the upper surface of the processing tank corresponding to the height of the resin liquid that rises. The optical modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the step is performed by a step provided between the two. 3. The optical modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the surface for smoothing the liquid surface of the sweeper has a sharp cross-sectional shape with respect to the traveling direction on the liquid surface of the sweeper.