WO2019113949A1

WO2019113949A1 - Laser scanning system and method for light curing

Info

Publication number: WO2019113949A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/116516
Authority: WO
Inventors: 周宏志; 梁银生
Original assignee: 吴江中瑞机电科技有限公司
Priority date: 2017-12-15
Filing date: 2017-12-15
Publication date: 2019-06-20

Abstract

A laser scanning system and method for light curing. The system comprises: a powder bed on which a powder layer can be deposited; a plurality of laser modules, wherein each laser module generates a laser beam (1, 2) for curing a powder material on the powder bed, and the laser beams (1, 2) respectively correspond to different scanning regions in each powder layer; and a laser scanner for separately guiding each laser beam (1, 2) along a straight scanning path to cure the corresponding scanning region, wherein adjacent scanning regions of different laser beams (1, 2) overlap, and the following condition is met: in the same powder layer, the laser beam generated by the same laser module has at least two scanning paths of different lengths, and/or at least two vertically corresponding scanning paths respectively located in adjacent powder layers have different lengths. The invention prevents the concentration of over-cured locations on a single line or a single surface, thereby increasing the strength of finished products.

Description

Light curing laser scanning system and method

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a light curing laser scanning system and method.

Background technique

Light curing 3D printing technology has the advantages of high molding precision, good surface finish, high material utilization rate, fast forming speed, hollow and fine structure, etc. It is the most in-depth research, the most mature technology and the most widely used one. Method, the market share has reached as high as 70%.

The principle of photocuring 3D printing technology is to scan the surface of the liquid photosensitive resin by computer-controlled laser emission beam, and the thin layer of resin in the scanned area is photopolymerized to solidify to form a thin layer of the part. Move down a certain distance, apply a new layer of liquid resin on the surface of the cured resin, and perform the next layer of scanning processing, and repeat until the entire product is manufactured.

In the prior art, a single laser module is used to realize a single curing line by line. Although the molding quality is high, the molding time is long and the efficiency is low. In order to improve the curing efficiency, two laser modules can be used to divide the two scanning areas for curing. The two scanning areas have an overlapping area, and the overlapping area is usually divided from the middle of the entire scanning area along the middle line, and the problem is at least Including: overlapping areas are over-cured, and because the over-cure position is concentrated in the line direction, the middle line direction is easy to form a relatively fragile cut surface, resulting in low strength, affecting the quality of the finished product.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a photocurable laser scanning system and method that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

The embodiment of the present application discloses a light curing laser scanning system, including:

a powder bed on which a powder layer can be laid;

a plurality of laser modules, each of the laser modules to generate a laser beam for solidifying the powder material on the powder bed, each laser beam corresponding to a different scanning area in each of the powder layers;

The laser scanner is configured to separately guide each laser beam to solidify corresponding scanning regions along a linear scanning path, and different laser beams form overlapping regions between adjacent scanning regions, and satisfy:

In the same powder layer, the laser beam generated by the same laser module has at least two scanning paths of different lengths, and/or

In the adjacent powder layers, at least one of the upper and lower corresponding scanning paths has different lengths.

Preferably, in the above photocuring laser scanning system,

In the same powder layer, the overlapping regions of adjacent scanning regions are along a non-linear direction, or a line that is not perpendicular to the direction of the scanning path, and/or

In the adjacent powder layers, the overlapping regions of the scanning regions do not correspond at least partially up and down.

Preferably, in the above-mentioned photo-curing laser scanning system, in the same powder layer, each of the scanning regions respectively comprises a plurality of linear scanning paths in a row.

Preferably, in the above-described photo-curing laser scanning system, the linear scanning path between adjacent rows is discontinuous.

Preferably, in the above-described photo-curing laser scanning system, in the same powder layer, the overlapping points of the scanning paths in adjacent rows are discontinuous.

Preferably, in the above-described photo-curing laser scanning system, the overlapping edges of each scanning area are non-linear.

Preferably, in the above-described photo-curing laser scanning system, two laser modules are included.

The present application also discloses a photo-curing laser scanning method, in which a plurality of laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning region along a straight scanning path, different The laser beam is formed with overlapping regions between adjacent scanning regions, and at least one adjacent overlapping region of the same powder layer is staggered.

The present application also discloses a photo-curing laser scanning method, in which a plurality of laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning region along a straight scanning path, different The laser beam is formed with an overlap region between adjacent scanning regions, and at least a portion of the upper and lower adjacent overlapping regions are staggered in the horizontal direction.

The present application also discloses a photo-curing laser scanning method, in which a plurality of laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning region along a straight scanning path, different The laser beam is formed with an overlapping area between adjacent scanning areas, and at least one adjacent overlapping area of the same powder layer is staggered, and satisfies: at least part of the upper and lower adjacent overlapping areas in the upper and lower adjacent powder layers Interlaced in the horizontal direction.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages that the invention avoids the over-cure position concentrated on one line or one surface by staggering the overlapping positions of the scanning areas, thereby improving the strength of the finished product.

DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only It is a few embodiments described in the present application, and other drawings can be obtained from those skilled in the art without any creative work.

1 is a schematic view showing the principle of a photo-curing laser scanning method according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a schematic view showing the principle of a photo-curing laser scanning method according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic view showing the principle of a photo-curing laser scanning method according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of a photo-curing laser scanning method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

This embodiment discloses a light curing laser scanning system, including:

a powder bed on which a powder layer can be laid;

In operation, each laser module independently generates a laser beam, and the laser beam is photocured in a corresponding scanning area, each scanning area includes a scanning path in a row, and the laser beam completes a scanning path in a horizontal direction. After that, move to the next line to photo-cure the next scan path. After the layer is formed, continue to photo-curing the next layer of powder until the product is printed.

In the present case, two laser modules are preferably provided to double the efficiency of achieving single photocuring. In other embodiments, three or more laser modules may be used for simultaneous photocuring. After the plurality of scanning areas are superimposed, the entire molding surface is formed, which can greatly improve the light curing efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment of the present invention, two laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in the same powder layer: a laser beam 1 scanning region and a laser beam 2 scanning region. Each of the laser beams individually solidifies the corresponding scanning zone along a linear scanning path.

An overlap region is formed between the two scanning regions, and overlapping regions between the different rows are alternately arranged.

In the present embodiment, the overlapping regions of all the rows are staggered, that is, in the different vertical directions (perpendicular to the scanning path direction) in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the two laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in the same powder layer: a laser beam 1 scanning region and a laser beam 2 scanning region. Each of the laser beams individually solidifies the corresponding scanning zone along a linear scanning path.

An overlapping area is formed between the two scanning areas, and overlapping areas between adjacent lines are alternately arranged.

Different from the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the overlapping regions are periodically distributed along the row line direction, that is, the overlapping regions of the first row and the third row are located at the same vertical line position (the scanning path length is the same). The overlapping areas of the 2nd row and the 4th row are located at the same vertical line position.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the third embodiment of the present invention, two laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning along a straight scanning path. Zones, different laser beams form overlapping regions between adjacent scanning zones.

In the upper and lower adjacent powder layers, at least a portion of the vertically adjacent overlapping regions are staggered in the horizontal direction.

In this embodiment, all the overlapping regions (the pattern filling portions in the figure) are staggered.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, two laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning along a straight scanning path. Zones, different laser beams form overlapping regions between adjacent scanning zones.

In this embodiment, unlike Embodiment 3, the overlapping regions are periodically arranged in different layer directions.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the requirements of the scan path satisfy both the implementation one and the third embodiment, or the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment, or the second and third embodiments, or the second and fourth embodiments.

It should be noted that, in this context, relational terms such as first and second are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply such entities or operations. There is any such actual relationship or order between them. Furthermore, the term "comprises" or "comprises" or "comprises" or any other variations thereof is intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device that comprises a plurality of elements includes not only those elements but also Other elements, or elements that are inherent to such a process, method, item, or device. An element that is defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of additional equivalent elements in the process, method, item, or device that comprises the element.

The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present application, and it should be noted that those skilled in the art can also make several improvements and retouchings without departing from the principles of the present application. It should be considered as the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

A light curing laser scanning system, comprising:

a powder bed on which a powder layer can be laid;

a plurality of laser modules, each of the laser modules to generate a laser beam for solidifying the powder material on the powder bed, each laser beam corresponding to a different scanning area in each of the powder layers;

The laser scanner is configured to separately guide each laser beam to solidify corresponding scanning regions along a linear scanning path, and different laser beams form overlapping regions between adjacent scanning regions, and satisfy:

In the same powder layer, the laser beam generated by the same laser module has at least two scanning paths of different lengths, and/or

In the adjacent powder layers, at least one of the upper and lower corresponding scanning paths has different lengths.
The photocurable laser scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

In the same powder layer, the overlapping regions of adjacent scanning regions are along a non-linear direction, or a line that is not perpendicular to the direction of the scanning path, and/or

In the adjacent powder layers, the overlapping regions of the scanning regions do not correspond at least partially up and down.
The photocurable laser scanning system according to claim 1, wherein each of said scanning regions comprises a plurality of linear scanning paths in a row in the same powder layer.
The photocurable laser scanning system according to claim 3, wherein said linear scanning path between adjacent rows is discontinuous.
The photocurable laser scanning system according to claim 3, wherein in the same powder layer, the overlapping points of the scanning paths in adjacent rows are discontinuous.
The photocurable laser scanning system according to claim 3, wherein the overlapping edges of each of the scanning regions are non-linear.
The photocurable laser scanning system according to claim 1, comprising two laser modules.
A photocuring laser scanning method is characterized in that: a plurality of laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning region along a straight scanning path, different The laser beam is formed with overlapping regions between adjacent scanning regions, and at least one adjacent overlapping region of the same powder layer is staggered.
A photocuring laser scanning method is characterized in that: a plurality of laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning region along a straight scanning path, different The laser beam is formed with an overlap region between adjacent scanning regions, and at least a portion of the upper and lower adjacent overlapping regions are staggered in the horizontal direction.
A photocuring laser scanning method is characterized in that: a plurality of laser beams respectively have different scanning regions in each powder layer, and each laser beam individually solidifies a corresponding scanning region along a straight scanning path, different The laser beam is formed with an overlapping area between adjacent scanning areas, and at least one adjacent overlapping area of the same powder layer is staggered, and satisfies: at least part of the upper and lower adjacent overlapping areas in the upper and lower adjacent powder layers Interlaced in the horizontal direction.