TW201532853A - Single-nozzle color feeding method and device for 3D (Three-Dimensional) printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides single-nozzle color feeding method and device for a 3D (Three-Dimensional) printer. The method comprises the following steps: determining a demand amount of bar-type pigment sections with various colors and a printing sequence of all the bar-type pigment sections according to a 3D model; cutting the bar-type pigment sections into a corresponding length according to the demand amount of the bar-type pigment sections with various colors; sequentially conveying the cut bar-type pigment sections into a color pigment pipeline connected with a nozzle of the 3D printer according to the printing sequence of all the bar-type pigment sections; pushing the bar-type pigment sections in the color pigment pipeline to the nozzle of the 3D printer for 3D printing. With the adoption of the method provided by the invention, a single-nozzle printing color 3D model can be realized by using the existing single-nozzle printer, so that the defect that the single-nozzle printer only can print in one color b can be overcome; or the single-nozzle printing color 3D model can be realized by using one nozzle of the existing multi-nozzle printer, so that the defect that the multi-nozzle printer has less printing colors due to few nozzles can be overcome.

Description

Color feeding method and device for single nozzle 3D printer

The invention relates to a color feeding method and device for a single nozzle 3D printer.

3D printing technology, also known as 3D printing technology, refers to the 3D printing machine that can “print” out real objects, and layer-by-layer and superimposed forming methods to generate 3D solids. The most outstanding advantage of 3D printing technology is that it can directly generate objects of any shape from computer graphics without mechanical machining or molds, thus greatly shortening the product development cycle, increasing productivity and reducing production costs.

Existing single-nozzle 3D printers can only produce 3D models of a single color and cannot print color 3D models. Although the existing multi-nozzle 3D printer can print a color 3D model, due to the limitation of the number of nozzles, it is impossible to print a 3D model of sufficient color required by the user.

The object of the present invention is to provide a single-head color feeding method and device for a 3D printer, and to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a single-head color feeding method for a 3D printer, comprising: according to a 3D a model for determining a requirement for one of the strips of color in one of the colors and a printing order of one of the strips of the strip; and according to the demand for each strip of the strip, cutting the strip of paint of the corresponding length, and And sequentially cutting each of the strips of pigmented strips into a color material pipeline according to the printing sequence of each strip of color paint, wherein the color material pipeline is connected to one of the nozzles of the 3D printer; Each strip of paint in the color line is pushed to the head for 3D printing.

Further, in the above method, each strip of paint in the color material pipeline is pushed to the nozzle of the 3D printer for 3D printing, when the nozzle of the 3D printer Before printing a new strip of pigment, remove one of the blended pigments at the front end of the new strip of pigment.

Further, in the above method, in the step of determining the required amount of the strip-shaped pigment segments of each color and the printing order of all the strip-shaped pigment segments according to the 3D model, the demand for the strip-shaped pigment segments of the respective colors includes: the strip The actual amount of print of one of the shaped pigment segments plus the amount of removal of one of the strips of the former colored pigment segments.

Preferably, the step of determining the required amount of the strip pigment segments of each color and the printing order of all the strip pigment segments according to the 3D model comprises: cutting the 3D model from bottom to top into a plurality of layers; using a predetermined calculation The method converts one of the graphics points of each layer into a line segment of the graphic point with various colors and the graphic point, wherein the line segments are printed in a certain order; the line segments connected to the graphic points according to the graphic points of the various colors are Determining the order of printing of the strip of paint of the corresponding color and the amount of demand.

Preferably, the step of determining the printing order and the required amount of the stripe of the corresponding color strip according to the line segments of the plurality of colors printed in a certain order and the line points of the graphic points further comprises: adding an auxiliary line segment near the graphic point And determining a printing order of one of the auxiliary line segments, wherein the auxiliary line segment is composed of auxiliary points; a color of a graphic point adjacent to each of the auxiliary line segments is used as a color of the auxiliary line segment; and the printing is performed according to each of the auxiliary line segments The order and the color determine the order of printing of the strip of paint corresponding to the color and the amount of demand.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-nozzle color feeding device for a 3D printer, comprising: a determining module for determining a demand for one of the strips of paint of each color and each of the strips according to a 3D model a printing sequence of one of the shaped pigment segments; a color material pipe connecting one of the nozzles of the 3D printer, sequentially accommodating each of the strip type pigment segments conveyed to the nozzle; a cutting sorting module, according to the strip of various colors The required amount of the shaped pigment segment is used to cut the strip of pigment of the corresponding length, and the cut strips of the strip are sequentially conveyed to the colorant pipeline according to the printing sequence of the strip of pigment; A push module pushes each strip of paint in the color tube to the head for 3D printing.

Further, in the above device, the method further comprises: a mixed pigment removing module, wherein the mixed pigment of the front end of the new strip type pigment segment is removed before the nozzle of the 3D printer prints a new strip of pigment.

Further, in the above device, the determining module determines the strips of various colors The amount of the shaped pigment segment is determined by the actual amount of printing of one of the strips of pigmented strips plus the removal of one of the strips of the preceding strip of pigment.

Preferably, the determining module comprises: a cutting unit, the 3D model is cut into a plurality of layers from bottom to top; and a graphic point unit converts one of the graphic points of each layer into various types by using a preset algorithm. a line segment connecting the color point to the graphic point, wherein the line segments are printed in a certain order; a first determining unit, the line segment connected to the graphic point according to the graphic points of the respective colors to determine the strip shape of the corresponding color The order of printing of the pigment segments and the amount of demand.

Preferably, the determining module further comprises: an auxiliary point unit, adding an auxiliary line segment near the graphic point, and determining a printing sequence of the auxiliary line segment, wherein the auxiliary line segment is composed of auxiliary points; Point color unit, the color of the graphic point adjacent to each of the auxiliary line segments is used as one color of the auxiliary line segment; a second determining unit determines the corresponding color according to the printing order of each of the auxiliary line segments and the color The order of printing of the strip of paint and the amount of demand.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention determines the required amount of the strip-shaped pigment segments of various colors and the printing order of all the strip-shaped pigment segments according to the 3D model, and cuts the strips of corresponding length according to the demand of the strip-shaped pigment segments of the respective colors. a type of pigment segment, and according to the printing sequence of all the strips of pigment, the cut strips of pigments are sequentially conveyed into the color pipeline connected with the nozzle of the 3D printer, and each of the color pipelines is The strip type pigment segment is pushed to the nozzle of the 3D printer for 3D printing, and no multi-nozzle is needed. As long as the existing single-head printer can be used to print a single nozzle print color 3D model, overcoming the existing single nozzle printer It can only perform the shortcoming of one color printing, or realize the single nozzle printing color 3D model by using one nozzle of the existing multi-nozzle printer, overcoming the shortcomings of the existing multi-spray printer due to the small number of nozzles and printing less colors. There is no need to make major modifications to existing single-jet printers or multi-jet printers.

For your convenience, the review committee can make a further understanding and understanding of the purpose, technical features and effects of the present invention. The embodiments are combined with the drawings, and the details are as follows:

[study]

no

〔this invention〕

1‧‧‧Determining the module

2‧‧‧Spray

3‧‧‧Color pipe

4‧‧‧Cutting Sorting Module

5‧‧‧Pushing module

6‧‧‧ Mixed pigment removal module

9‧‧‧Pigment Pipeline

11‧‧‧Cutting unit

12‧‧‧Graphic point unit

13‧‧‧First Determination Unit

14‧‧‧Auxiliary point unit

15‧‧‧Auxiliary point color unit

16‧‧‧Second determination unit

1 is a flow chart of a color feeding method of a single-head 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a schematic view showing the connection of a color material pipe and a color paint pipe of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the connection of a color material pipe and a shower head according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the present invention; A module diagram of a color feeding device for a single-head 3D printer; and FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a color feeding device for a single-head 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The invention provides a color feeding method for a single-nozzle 3D printer. In the first embodiment, please refer to FIG. 1 , the method includes steps S1 to S3:

Step S1, according to a 3D model to determine a requirement of one of the stripe pigment segments of each color and a printing sequence of one of the stripe pigment segments; specifically, firstly, it is necessary to determine the strip color pigment segments of the various colors of the 3D model. The amount of printing and the order of printing of all the strips of paint, and then the length of each strip of paint can be determined according to the demand of the strips of various colors.

Step S2, according to the required amount of each of the strips of pigments, cutting the strips of pigments of corresponding lengths, and according to the printing sequence of the strips of the strips, cutting the strips of the strips according to the printing sequence of the strips of pigments The sequence is conveyed to a color material pipeline, wherein the color material pipeline is connected to one of the nozzles of the 3D printer; specifically, as shown in the second and third figures, the demand for the strip of color pigments according to various colors is Strips of corresponding lengths are cut in different color trays, and then each strip of paint is placed flat by a pigment tube 9 of each color according to the order of printing of all the strips of paint to be connected to the nozzle 2 of the 3D printer. In the color material pipe 3, the diameter of the color material pipe 3 can be the same as the diameter of each strip of pigmented pieces to ensure the accuracy of the feeding, and the color material pipe 3 can be a straight pipe or a second or third. The circular pipe shown in the figure, in addition, the cutting of the strip-shaped pigment section can be manual cutting, or can be automatically cut by a computer, or a computer controlled mechanical device for cutting, and the cutting time can be cutting and printing while printing. Can be pre-printed, in Not limitation.

In step S3, each strip of paint in the color material pipeline is pushed to the spray head for 3D printing. Specifically, after the strips of color strips are sequentially arranged in the color material pipeline, a propelling block, such as an uncut full strip pigment, may be transported at the rear end of the last strip of the colored pigment in the color material pipeline. Thereby, the forward thrust is applied to each strip of pigment in the color pipeline, so that the strips of the pigments are sequentially pushed to the nozzle of the 3D printer. Here, the abstractions determined in step S1 are The demand for the color of the strip of paint and the printing sequence of all the strips of paint are changed into a real, external, sorting and placement of the plurality of strips of paint by the cutting and sorting in step S2. No multi-nozzle is required, and a single 3D model can be printed with only one nozzle.

Preferably, in step S3, before the nozzle of the 3D printer prints a new strip of pigment, a mixed pigment of the front end of the new strip of pigment is removed. Correspondingly, in step S1, the required amount of the strip pigment segments of the respective colors comprises an actual printing amount of one of the strip-shaped pigment segments plus a removal amount of one of the strip-shaped pigment segments before the strip-shaped pigment segments are mixed. Specifically, since the strips of different colors are initially mixed when the color is melted, when the print head needs to be changed in color, it is necessary to remove the mixed pigment at the front of the new strip type pigment section. Therefore, when the print head needs to change color, for example, the spray head can be moved to a side controlled by a computer, and after the nozzle sprays a certain length of the mixed color material, the mixed color material is pinched off by the clip, and then the nozzle is controlled to be moved. Go back to where you just stopped printing and continue printing with the new strip of paint.

Therefore, the corresponding amount of the strips of pigments of various colors is required not only to take into account the actual amount of printing of the strip of pigment, but also to remove the amount of mixed pigment of the strip of pigment and the former.

Preferably, step S1 can be implemented by the following steps:

Cutting the 3D model from bottom to top into a plurality of layers; converting a graphic point of each layer into a line segment of the graphic point with various colors and the graphic point by using a preset algorithm, wherein the line segments are pressed The printing is performed in a certain order; the line segment connected to the graphic point according to the graphic points of the respective colors determines the printing order of the strip of color paint corresponding to the color and the demand amount. Specifically, a model graphic file, the graphic model has a plurality of triangular planes to form its contour, and each plane is assigned to one of its colors. In this way, as a graphic file, in the above step S1, the 3D model can be cut into multiple layers from bottom to top, and then all the graphic points of each layer can be processed into a certain order by a certain algorithm. The line segment connected to the point of the graph, each segment, according to the original triangle plane, according to the original color of the triangle plane, determine the color of the line segment, and then determine the color of each line segment and the corresponding strip paint segment requirements the amount. The algorithm may be a skeignforge algorithm, and the details of the skeignforge algorithm may be specifically referred to step S1. Of course, the above step S1 can also be implemented by other algorithms.

Better, graphic points and graphics printed in a certain order according to various colors The step of determining the printing order and the required amount of the stripe of the corresponding color of the line segment may further include: adding an auxiliary line segment near the graphic point, and determining a printing sequence of the auxiliary line segment, wherein the auxiliary line segment is Consisting of auxiliary points; the color of the graphic point adjacent to each of the auxiliary line segments is used as one color of the auxiliary line segment; according to the printing order of each of the auxiliary line segments and the color, the strip of color corresponding to the color is determined The order of printing and the amount of demand. Specifically, in the process of processing the line segment connected to the graphic point and the graphic point, a line segment composed of auxiliary points may be added to support the printing structure of the upper layer, or as a necessary filling or cooling of the 3D model. The effect can be selected by comparing the line segment composed of the auxiliary points with the path on the cross-cut data surface of the layer of the 3D model in which the 3D model is located, and selecting the closest graphic point on the path on the cross-cut data surface of the current layer of the 3D model. The color of the line segment that is composed of colors as auxiliary points.

This embodiment does not require multiple nozzles, as long as the single nozzle printer can be used to print a single nozzle print color 3D model, overcoming the shortcomings of the existing single nozzle printer can only perform one color printing, or using existing ones. A single nozzle of a multi-spray printer realizes a single nozzle to print a color 3D model, and overcomes the shortcomings of the existing multi-spray printer because of the small number of printheads, and can separate the cutting from the printing, thus eliminating the need for existing The single-jet printer or multi-spray printer is subject to larger modifications.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the present invention further provides a color feeding device for a single-head 3D printer, comprising: a determining module 1 for determining various colors according to a 3D model. a requirement of one of the one-shaped pigment segments and one printing sequence of each of the strip-shaped pigment segments; a color material pipe 3 connected to one of the nozzles 2 of the 3D printer, sequentially accommodating each of the strips conveyed to the nozzle 2 a pigment segment; a cutting and sorting module 4, according to the required amount of the strip of pigments of various colors, to cut the strip of pigment of a corresponding length, and cutting the strip according to the printing sequence of the strip of paint Each strip of pigmented material is sequentially conveyed to the color material pipe 3; a push module 5 is pushed to the head 2 of the strip of paint in the color material pipe 3 for 3D printing.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the color feeding device of the single-head 3D printer of the embodiment may further comprise a mixed pigment removing module 6 for printing one on each of the nozzles of the 3D printer. The mixed pigment in front of the new strip pigment section is removed prior to the new strip pigment section. Correspondingly, the required amount of the stripe color segments of the various colors determined by the determining module 1 comprises: the actual printing amount of the strip of pigmented strips and the strip of pigment strips and the former (front) strip of paint segments The amount of mixed pigment removed. Specifically, since the strips of different colors are initially mixed when the color is melted, when the print head needs to be changed in color, it is necessary to remove the mixed pigment at the front of the new strip type pigment section. The mixed pigment removal module 6 can be, for example, a computer-controlled clip. When the print head needs to change color, the nozzle can be moved to the clip, and after the nozzle sprays a certain length of the mixed color material, the clip can be used. The mixed color is pinched off, then the nozzle is controlled to move back to where it was just stopped printing, and printing continues with the new strip of paint. Therefore, the corresponding amount of the strips of pigments of various colors is required not only to take into account the actual amount of printing of the strip of pigment, but also to remove the amount of mixed pigment of the strip of pigment and the former.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the determining module 1 of the color feeding device of the single-head 3D printer of the embodiment includes: a cutting unit 11 for cutting the 3D model from bottom to top. a graphics point unit 12, using a preset algorithm to convert one of the graphics points of each layer into a line segment with a graphic point of each color and a graphic point, wherein the line segments are printed in a certain order; The first determining unit 13 determines the printing order and the required amount of the strip of paint of the corresponding color according to the line segment of the graphic points of the respective colors connected to the graphic point.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the determining module 1 further includes: an auxiliary point unit 14, adding an auxiliary line segment near the graphic point, and determining a printing sequence of the auxiliary line segment, wherein the auxiliary line segment is The auxiliary point color unit 15 has a color of a graphic point adjacent to each of the auxiliary line segments as a color of the auxiliary line segment; a second determining unit 16 according to the printing order of each of the auxiliary line segments and The color determines the order of printing of the strip of paint corresponding to the color and the amount of demand.

For further details of the second embodiment, refer to the corresponding parts of the first embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

In summary, the present invention determines the required amount of strip-shaped pigment segments of various colors and the printing order of all the strip-shaped pigment segments according to the 3D model, and cuts the strips of corresponding length according to the demand of the strip-shaped pigment segments of the respective colors. a pigment segment, and sequentially feeding the cut strips of pigments into the color pipeline connected to the nozzle of the 3D printer according to the printing sequence of all the strips of paint, and the strips in the color pipeline The type of pigment is pushed to the nozzle of the 3D printer for 3D printing. No multi-nozzle is needed. As long as the existing single-head printer can be used to print a single nozzle color 3D model, overcoming the existing single-head printer only The disadvantage of being able to print in one color, or The single nozzle printing color 3D model is realized by using one nozzle of the existing multi-nozzle printer, which overcomes the shortcoming of the existing multi-head printer due to the small number of nozzles, and does not require the existing single nozzle printing table. Large modifications are made to the machine or multi-spray printer.

The various embodiments in the present specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on differences from other embodiments, and the same similar parts between the various embodiments may be referred to each other. For the system disclosed in the embodiment, since it corresponds to the method disclosed in the embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant part can be referred to the method part.

A person skilled in the art will further appreciate that the elements and algorithm steps of the various examples described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both, in order to clearly illustrate the hardware and The interchangeability of the software has been generally described in terms of the composition and steps of the examples in the above description. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the solution. A person skilled in the art can use different methods for implementing the described functions for each particular application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of the present invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of the invention as claimed.

Claims (10)

A color feeding method for a single-nozzle 3D printer comprises the steps of: determining a demand for one of the strips of color of one of the colors and printing order of one of the strips of the strip according to a 3D model; The required amount of the shaped pigment segment is used to cut each of the strip-shaped pigment segments of corresponding length; and the cut strips of the strips are sequentially conveyed to a color material pipeline according to the printing sequence of each strip of the colored pigment segments. And wherein the color material pipeline is connected to one of the nozzles of the 3D printer; and the strip of paint in the color material pipeline is pushed to the nozzle for 3D printing. The color feeding method of the single-head 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the step of pushing the strip of paint in the color material pipe to the head of the 3D printer for 3D printing Further, the method further comprises the steps of: removing a mixed pigment of the front end of the new strip type pigment segment before the nozzle of the 3D printer prints a new strip of pigment. A color feeding method for a single-head 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the demand amount of the strip of color pigments of each color comprises: an actual printing amount of one of the strip-shaped pigment segments plus the strip shape The pigment section is mixed with one of the strips of the former. A color feeding method for a single-head 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the required amount of the strip of paint of each color and the order of printing of each strip of the strip of paint are determined according to the 3D model. The steps further include the following steps: Cutting the 3D model from bottom to top into a plurality of layers; converting a graphic point of each layer into a line segment of the graphic point with various colors and the graphic point by using a preset algorithm, wherein the line segments are pressed Printing in a certain order; and the line segment connected to the graphic point according to the graphic points of the respective colors to determine the printing order of the strip of color paint corresponding to the color and the demand amount. The color feeding method of the single-head 3D printer according to claim 4, wherein the line segment connected to the graphic point according to the graphic points of the respective colors determines the printing order of the strip of color paint corresponding to the color and the The step of demanding further includes the steps of: adding an auxiliary line segment near the graphic point, and determining a printing order of the auxiliary line segment, wherein the auxiliary line segment is composed of auxiliary points; the color of the graphic point adjacent to each of the auxiliary line segments As a color of the auxiliary line segment; and the printing order and the color according to each of the auxiliary line segments to determine the printing order and the required amount of the strip of color paint corresponding to the color. A color feeding device for a single-nozzle 3D printer comprises: a determining module, according to a 3D model, determining a requirement of one of the strips of pigments of each color and a printing sequence of one of the strips of the strips; a color material pipeline connecting one of the nozzles of the 3D printer, sequentially accommodating each strip of pigments conveyed to the nozzle; a cutting sorting module, cutting according to the demand of the strip of pigments of various colors Corresponding length of the strip of pigment segments, and according to the strip of paint segments The printing sequence sequentially transports the cut strips of the strips of paint to the color pipeline; and a push module, the strips of the strips in the color pipeline are pushed to the nozzle for performing 3D printing. The color feeding device of the single-head 3D printer according to claim 6, further comprising: a mixed pigment removing module, before the nozzle of the 3D printer prints a new strip of pigment, the removal One of the front ends of the new strip of pigment is mixed with pigment. A color feeding device for a single-head 3D printer according to claim 6, wherein the required amount of the strip of paint of each color comprises: an actual printing amount of one of the strip-shaped pigment segments plus the strip The pigment segment is mixed with one of the strips of the former strip of pigment. The color feeding device of the single-head 3D printer according to claim 6, wherein the determining module further comprises: a cutting unit, the 3D model is cut into a plurality of layers from bottom to top; and a graphic point unit, Converting a graphic point of each layer into a line segment connecting the graphic point of each color with the graphic point by using a preset algorithm, wherein the line segments are printed in a certain order; and a first determining unit, according to various The line segment of the color is connected to the line segment of the graphic point to determine the printing order of the strip of color corresponding to the color and the amount of the demand. The color feeding device of the single-jet 3D printer according to claim 9, wherein the determining module further comprises: An auxiliary point unit, adding an auxiliary line segment near the graphic point, and determining a printing sequence of the auxiliary line segment, wherein the auxiliary line segment is composed of auxiliary points; and an auxiliary point color unit, adjacent to each of the auxiliary line segments Color is used as one color of the auxiliary line segment; and a second determining unit determines the printing order of the strip of color corresponding to the color and the demand according to the printing order of the auxiliary line segment and the color .