CN108296483B

CN108296483B - Continuous powder deposition printing equipment

Info

Publication number: CN108296483B
Application number: CN201711344139.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 熊孝经
Original assignee: Suzhou Ampro Ltd
Current assignee: Suzhou Beifeng Intelligent Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-14
Filing date: 2017-12-14
Publication date: 2020-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-14
Also published as: CN108296483A

Abstract

The invention provides continuous powder deposition printing equipment, which belongs to the field of 3D printing and comprises an upper shell, a spreading component, a powder material supply device, a printing table and an optical head device, wherein the upper shell is arranged on the printing table, and a processing chamber capable of maintaining non-reactivity or inert atmosphere is formed between the upper shell and the printing table; the spreading component slides relative to the printing table along the direction vertical to the length of the printing table; the powder material can be discharged into the spreading member under the action of gravity or gas pressure; an optical head device is mounted above the upper housing, the optical head device being capable of providing a selectively melting concentrated electromagnetic radiation such that the powdered material is melted. The continuous powder deposition printing equipment provided by the invention has the characteristics of simple structure and convenience in operation, and meanwhile, the spreading component in the continuous powder deposition printing equipment is improved in key points aiming at the conventional continuous powder deposition printing equipment, so that the spreading component can spread a more flat and uniform powder material layer.

Description

Continuous powder deposition printing equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of 3D printing, in particular to continuous powder deposition printing equipment.

Background

The development of equipment for producing metal parts by additive manufacturing or three-dimensional printing has been rapid over the last two decades, such equipment being generally powder dispensing equipment that dispenses a powdered material into a spreading device, and then three-dimensional printing is achieved by spreading the powdered material layer by layer and melting layer by layer on a printing table by means of the spreading device.

The inventor finds in research that the existing continuous powder deposition printing apparatus has at least the following disadvantages: the existing continuous powder deposition printing equipment has a complex structure and is troublesome to operate, and the work effect of a spreading component for spreading a powder material layer is poor.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a continuous powder deposition printing device to solve the problems that the existing continuous powder deposition printing device is complex in structure and troublesome in operation, and a spreading member for spreading a powder material layer is poor in working effect.

The invention is realized by the following steps:

in view of the above objects, the present invention provides a continuous powder deposition printing apparatus including an upper housing, a scattering member, a powder material supply device, a printing table, and an optical head device, the upper housing being mounted to the printing table, the upper housing and the printing table forming a process chamber therebetween, the process chamber being capable of maintaining a non-reactive or inert atmosphere; the spreading member is arranged on the printing table, two ends of the spreading member respectively extend to two opposite sides of the printing table, the spreading member is connected with the printing table in a sliding mode, and the spreading member slides relative to the printing table along a direction perpendicular to the length of the spreading member; the powder material supply device is positioned above the printing table and is positioned on a moving path of the scattering member, and the powder material can discharge powder material into the scattering member under the action of gravity or gas pressure so that the scattering member can scatter the powder material to the upper surface of the printing table when moving relative to the printing table; the optical head device is mounted above the upper housing, and the optical head device is capable of providing concentrated electromagnetic radiation for selective melting so that the powder material is melted.

Further, continuous powder deposit printing apparatus still includes base, sub-casing and footing, the print table install in the footing, the footing can drive the print table along the orientation or keep away from go up the direction of casing and remove, go up the casing install in the base, sub-casing install in the base, the base is located go up the casing with between the sub-casing, the print table is located in the sub-casing.

Further, the base comprises an outer frame, the outer frame is provided with an inner periphery defining a substantially rectangular opening in the middle, two inner rails and two outer rails are symmetrically arranged on the base, the two inner rails are located on two sides of the opening respectively, the two outer rails are located on two sides of the opening respectively, the outer rails are arranged in parallel with the inner rails, and the inner rails are located between the outer rails and the opening.

Further, be provided with vertical adjustment mechanism on the footing, vertical adjustment mechanism includes hydraulic motor and hydraulic means, hydraulic motor drive connection hydraulic means, hydraulic means's output with the bottom of printing table is connected, hydraulic means drives the printing table is along the orientation or keep away from go up the direction of casing and remove.

Furthermore, one end of the spreading member is mounted on the inner rail, the spreading member is connected with the inner rail in a sliding manner, and the other end of the spreading member is connected with the other inner rail through a mounting member.

Furthermore, two ends of the spreading member are connected with the base through the mounting members respectively, one end of each mounting member is connected with the spreading member, the other end of each mounting frame is connected with the inner rail in a sliding manner, each mounting member slides relative to the inner rail along the extending direction of the inner rail, and the two mounting frames are mounted on the two inner rails respectively.

Further, the mounting member includes a carriage device and a driving device, the carriage device is mounted to the inner rail, and the carriage device is slidable relative to the inner rail along an extending direction of the inner rail; the driving device comprises a first magnet and a linear driver, the first magnet is mounted on the outer rail, and the linear driver is in driving connection with the first magnet, so that the first magnet can slide relative to the outer rail along the extension direction of the outer rail; the sliding frame device is provided with a second magnet or is made of a magnetic material, the first magnet is magnetically connected with the second magnet or magnetically connected with the book searching sliding frame device, and the first magnet drives the sliding frame device to move.

Further, spread the component and open the container for rectangular shape top, spread the component and include the container wall that two symmetries set up, the container wall install in the installation component, two the line of symmetry of container wall with interior track is perpendicular, the container wall slope sets up, just the container wall is followed go up the casing orientation the direction of printing platform is inwards inclined, two the container wall interval sets up formation slit or discharge gate.

Further, the powder material supply device comprises a pipeline, a hopper, a valve housing and a flow control valve cylinder, wherein the valve housing is provided with a channel, the hopper is installed above the valve housing, the output end of the hopper is communicated with the channel, the flow control valve cylinder is installed in the valve housing, the flow control valve cylinder is located in the channel, the flow control valve cylinder can selectively enable the channel to be closed or opened, the bottom of the valve housing is installed on the base, one end of the pipeline is communicated with the top of the hopper, and the other end of the pipeline penetrates through the upper housing to be communicated with the outside.

In view of the above object, the present invention also provides a continuous powder deposition printing apparatus including an upper housing, a scattering member, a powder material supply device, a printing table, an optical head device, and a computer, the upper housing being mounted to the printing table, the upper housing and the printing table forming a processing chamber therebetween, the processing chamber being capable of maintaining a non-reactive or inert atmosphere; the spreading member is arranged on the printing table, two ends of the spreading member respectively extend to two opposite sides of the printing table, the spreading member is connected with the printing table in a sliding mode, and the spreading member slides relative to the printing table along a direction perpendicular to the length of the spreading member; the powder material supply device is positioned above the printing table and is positioned on a moving path of the scattering member, and the powder material can discharge powder material into the scattering member under the action of gravity or gas pressure so that the scattering member can scatter the powder material to the upper surface of the printing table when moving relative to the printing table; the optical head device is arranged above the upper shell and electrically connected with the computer, and after receiving CAD signals in the computer, the optical head device can provide concentrated electromagnetic radiation for selective melting so that the powder material is melted.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following beneficial effects:

the continuous powder deposition printing equipment provided by the invention has the characteristics of simple structure and convenience in operation, and meanwhile, the spreading component in the continuous powder deposition printing equipment is improved in key points aiming at the conventional continuous powder deposition printing equipment, so that the spreading component can spread a more flat and uniform powder material layer.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following brief description of the drawings which are needed for practical purposes will be made, and it is obvious that the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a continuous powder deposition printing apparatus provided by an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a continuous spreader mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a continuous spreader mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a spreading member in cooperation with a powder material supply device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a spreading member in cooperation with a powdered material supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a base provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of the driving of the spreading member provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a drive arrangement provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a powder material supply apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a powdered material supply apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic view of a flow control valve cartridge provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a spreading member provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 shows a schematic view of a vertical adjustment mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure: 100-footing; 110-a vertical adjustment mechanism; 111-a hydraulic motor; 112-hydraulic means;

200-an upper shell;

300-a base; 310-inner track; 320-outer rail;

400-a sub-shell; 410-a print station; 420-a build chamber;

500-an optical head device;

600-a supply of powdered material; 610-a hopper; 620-a valve housing; 621-flange; 622-channel; 630-controlling the motor; 640-a flow control valve cartridge; 641-a via hole;

700-spreading members; 710-a container wall; 720-discharge hole;

800-a mounting member; 810-a drive device; 811-motor; 812-a cantilever; 813-threaded shaft; 814-a first magnet; 820-carriage arrangement.

Detailed Description

The development of equipment for producing metal parts by additive manufacturing or three-dimensional printing has been rapid over the last two decades, such equipment being generally powder dispensing equipment that dispenses a powdered material into a spreading device, and then three-dimensional printing is achieved by spreading the powdered material layer by layer and melting layer by layer on a printing table by means of the spreading device. The inventor finds in research that the existing continuous powder deposition printing apparatus has at least the following disadvantages: the existing continuous powder deposition printing equipment has a complex structure and is troublesome to operate, and the work effect of a spreading component for spreading a powder material layer is poor.

In order to improve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a continuous powder deposition printing apparatus including an upper housing, a scattering member, a powder material supply device, a printing table, and an optical head device, the upper housing being mounted to the printing table, the upper housing and the printing table forming a process chamber therebetween, the process chamber being capable of maintaining a non-reactive or inert atmosphere; the spreading member is arranged on the printing table, two ends of the spreading member respectively extend to two opposite sides of the printing table, the spreading member is connected with the printing table in a sliding mode, and the spreading member slides relative to the printing table along a direction perpendicular to the length of the spreading member; the powder material supply device is positioned above the printing table and is positioned on a moving path of the scattering member, and the powder material can discharge powder material into the scattering member under the action of gravity or gas pressure so that the scattering member can scatter the powder material to the upper surface of the printing table when moving relative to the printing table; the optical head device is mounted above the upper housing, and the optical head device is capable of providing concentrated electromagnetic radiation for selective melting so that the powder material is melted.

The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to specific embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings.

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described above with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all of the embodiments. The components of embodiments of the present invention generally described and illustrated in the figures herein may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.

Thus, the above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention presented in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that: like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms indicating an orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected or integral; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the first feature may be present on or under the second feature in direct contact with the first and second feature, or may be present in the first and second feature not in direct contact but in contact with another feature between them. Also, the first feature being above, on or above the second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or merely means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature that underlies, and underlies a second feature includes a first feature that is directly under and obliquely under a second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lesser level than the second feature.

It should be noted that the embodiments and features of the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the continuous powder deposition printing apparatus has a footing 100, and the footing 100 is used to support other parts. The continuous powder deposition printing apparatus further includes an upper case 200, a base 300, a printing table 410, a sub-case 400, a scattering member 700, a powder material supplying device 600, an optical head device 500, and a mounting member 800, the upper case 200 being in the form of a box including a front wall on which an access door of an inspection window is provided, a rear wall opposite to the front wall, opposite side walls connecting the front wall and the rear wall, a top cover, and a bottom wall.

A processing chamber is formed between the print table 410 and the upper housing 200, which can maintain a non-reactive or inert atmosphere; the base 300 includes an outer frame having an inner periphery defining a generally rectangular opening therebetween, and the outer edges of the print table 410 are formed with the inner periphery of the outer frame, in which the upper surface of the print table 410 forms the main operative portion when the generally rectangular print table 410 is received in the opening.

Referring to fig. 3, the sub-housing 400 is fixed under the upper housing 200, the sub-housing 400 has a build chamber 420 therein, the printing table 410 may be gradually lowered into the build chamber 420, after the powder material is spread one layer on the printing table 410, the powder material layer on the printing table 410 may form a new spread layer for spreading the powder material with the outer frame as the printing table 410 is lowered each step, and the powder material gradually lowered into the build chamber 420 includes metal that has been selectively melted in the successive powder material layers by at least one electromagnetic beam to build the metal part and unmelted powder material from the successive layers.

Referring to fig. 1 and 13, the footing 100 is located below the printing table 410, the footing 100 includes a vertical adjustment mechanism 110, the vertical adjustment mechanism 110 can control the printing table 410 to descend or ascend, the thickness of the continuous powder material layer can be controlled by the descending step of the printing table 410, the descending step of the platform and the thickness of the continuous powder material layer are respectively about 20 to 50 μm or more, the vertical adjustment mechanism 110 includes a hydraulic motor 111 and a hydraulic device 112, the hydraulic motor 111 can control the hydraulic device 112, the hydraulic device 112 is connected with the bottom of the printing table 410, and the descending step of the printing table 410 is controlled by the hydraulic motor 111. Of course, the hydraulic motor 111 is only one embodiment of the vertical adjustment mechanism 110, and an electric or hydraulic scissor type lifting device may be used.

The upper case 200 and the sub-case 400, which are coupled to each other, are supported above the footing 100 by front and rear vertical supports, the sub-case 400 is located between the upper case 200 and the supports, the sub-case 400 includes a front wall, a rear wall, and opposite side walls, which are parallel to the respective front, rear, and side walls of the upper case 200, respectively, and the sub-case 400 is coupled to the upper case 200 in an embedded manner such that the periphery of the sub-case 400 closely follows the contour of the opening of the base 300. The sub-housing 400 further comprises a bottom wall through which the hydraulic device 112 extends from the footing 100 to the bottom end of the printing table 410, the hydraulic device 112 being capable of lowering the printing table 410 step by step, and the hydraulic device 112 being further capable of returning the printing table 410 to the initial position after completion of the manufacture of the metal part.

Referring to fig. 13, the hydraulic device 112 comprises a pair of parallel arranged telescopic hydraulic rods, each enclosed in a protective bellows, which can be vertically contracted in a stepwise manner to gradually lower the printing table 410 and the material on the printing table 410 into the build chamber 420 within the sub-housing 400, and which can also be extended for the printing table 410 to be raised back, each under the action of the hydraulic motor 111.

Referring to fig. 9 to 11, the powder material supply device 600 is mounted on the outer frame, the powder material supply device 600 is completely received in the upper case 200, the powder material supply device 600 is located at one side of the outer frame, the powder material supply device 600 includes a hopper 610, a valve housing 620, and a flow control valve cylinder 640, the hopper 610 is used to hold a certain amount of powder material, and the powder material can be periodically dropped into the scattering member 700 through the valve housing 620 in a fixed amount.

The hopper 610 is positioned above the valve housing 620, and a flange 621 is hung from a side of the valve housing 620 away from the hopper 610, the flange 621 being mounted on the outer frame of the base 300, and a gap is formed between the valve housing 620 and the outer frame by the flange 621. The valve housing 620 is provided with a passage 622, the passage 622 is located below the elongated opening at the bottom of the hopper 610, the opening is communicated with the passage 622, the flow control valve cylinder 640 is located in the passage 622, the flow control valve cylinder 640 is rotatably connected with the valve housing 620, the flow control valve cylinder 640 rotates along the axial line relative to the valve housing 620, and the hopper 610 is fixed at the top of the valve housing 620 through a protrusion fixed around the opening. Resilient seals are also provided between the hopper 610 and the valve housing 620, between the boss and the valve housing 620 along each side of the channel 622, so that each resilient seal is located on one side of the flow control valve barrel 640 and provides a seal. The elastic sealing member may be made of elastic material such as rubber or neoprene.

The flow control valve cylinder 640 is provided with a plurality of through holes 641, the plurality of through holes 641 are arranged along the axial line of the flow control valve cylinder 640 at intervals, the axial line of the through holes 641 is perpendicular to the axial line of the flow control valve cylinder 640, the axial lines of the plurality of through holes 641 are arranged in parallel, and the axial line of the through holes 641 passes through the axial line of the flow control valve cylinder 640, so that the flow control valve cylinder 640 can realize or prevent the powder material from flowing from the hopper 610 through the valve housing 620.

A control motor 630 may be further installed in the valve housing 620, the control motor 630 is used for controlling the rotation of the flow control valve cylinder 640, and under the control of the control motor 630, the flow control valve cylinder 640 may be intermittently rotated to alternately open and close the passage 622, wherein the control motor 630 may control the flow control valve cylinder 640 to intermittently rotate in one direction, and may also control the flow control valve cylinder 640 to intermittently rotate back and forth in alternate directions.

The top of the hopper 610 is an open inlet, and the powder material supply device 600 further includes a pipe or other suitable feeding device to communicate the hopper 610 with a powder material supply source outside the upper housing 200 to replenish the powder material into the hopper 610 as needed; as another embodiment of this embodiment, the hopper 610 may have an upper end portion protruding out of the top of the upper housing 200 such that the inlet of the hopper 610 is outside the upper housing 200, thereby facilitating the replenishment of the powder material, and when the hopper 610 is installed, the hopper 610 may be separated from the upper housing 200, or the hopper 610 may be fixed to the upper housing 200 using a coupling member.

Referring to fig. 12, the scattering member 700 is in the form of an elongated open-topped container, the scattering member 700 is disposed in opposite directions along both side walls of the upper housing 200, the bottom of the scattering member 700 is in close contact with the upper surface of the printing table 410, and the scattering member 700 is slidably coupled to the base 300, and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof with respect to the base 300 and the printing table 410, the container includes an open-topped channel having a V-shaped or U-shaped cross section, the container has two container walls 710 disposed in opposite inclinations, the slit or discharge gate 720 being defined between the lower edges of the two container walls 710, the container is movable back and forth between the opposite upper surfaces of the printing table 410 so as to be located below the passage 622 of the valve housing 620 for receiving a quantity of the powdery material permitted to be discharged by the operation of the flow control valve cylinder 640, and when the container is moved toward the powdery material supply means 600, the scattering member 700 may move into a gap formed between the valve housing 620 and the outer frame, and thus the scattering member 700 may receive a certain amount of powder material discharged from the hopper 610.

During the movement of the container containing a quantity of powdered material from one side of the printing table 410 to the other side of the printing table 410, the container is able to lay down a layer of powdered material on the printing table 410, the thickness of which layer is controlled primarily by the narrow spacing between the lower edge of the container wall 710 and the upper surface of the printing table 410, wherein the spacing and layer thickness may be 20 to 50 μm, but up to about 100 μm.

In the case that a capacity sufficient to form a single powder material layer as the scattering member 700 moves from one of opposite sides to the other can be accommodated in the container while the container is in operation, the powder material supply means 600 should be provided at both sides of the base 300 so that the scattering member 700 can be continuously operated; in addition to the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to provide the powder material supply device 600 only on one side of the base 300, the container having a capacity to contain enough powder material to form two successive layers of powder material, while enough powder material to form two layers of powder material will fall into the container each time the powder material supply device 600 is operated. In the above process, before the next powder material layer is formed, each powder material layer should be heated to selectively melt the powder material layer.

Referring to fig. 4 to 8, an inner rail 310 is provided on the base 300, the inner rail 310 extends in parallel with the side wall of the upper housing 200, and a corresponding mounting member 800 supporting the scattering member 700 is provided at each end of the scattering member 700, wherein the mounting member 800 enables the scattering member 700 to reversibly move along between two opposite side walls of the upper housing 200, and in practice, a single mounting member 800 may be provided at one end of the scattering member 700, and the other end of the scattering member 700 is provided on the inner rail 310, at which time, when the mounting member 800 moves the scattering member 700, the other end of the scattering member 700 may slide on the inner rail 310.

As a preferred embodiment of this embodiment, two mounting members 800 may be disposed at two ends of the spreading member 700, and the two mounting members 800 cooperate to move the spreading member 700, so that the spreading member 700 has greater stability and precision, especially when the two mounting members 800 can operate in unison to move the spreading member 700 laterally.

The mounting member 800 includes a driving device 810 and a carriage device 820 capable of sliding along the inner rail 310, the carriage device 820 is mounted on the inner rail 310, the spreading member 700 is mounted on the carriage device 820, the driving device 810 drives the carriage device 820, when mounted, the driving device 810 is located outside the upper housing 200, in a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, two side walls of the upper housing 200 have a magnet material, and the driving device 810 is magnetically coupled to the corresponding carriage device 820 through the side walls of the upper housing 200.

The driving device 810 includes the intentional magnets 814 and linear drivers, wherein the two linear drivers respectively located in the two driving devices 810 can operate in unison, the base 300 is further provided with an outer rail 320, the outer rail 320 is arranged in parallel with the inner rail 310, the intentional magnets 814 are mounted on the outer rail 320, and the unintentional magnets 814 can slide along the outer rail 320, the corresponding carriage device 820 is made of a magnetic material or a second magnet cooperating with the unintentional magnets 814 is provided on the carriage device 820, and the unintentional magnets 814 can move with the second magnet by the side wall of the upper housing 200, so that the carriage device 820 can move with the unintentional magnets 814, and the scattering member 700 can move on the printing table 410 as needed to scatter the powder material.

The driving device 810 may be fixed above the base 300, wherein the magnetic body 814 is supported on the upper surface of the base 300 and can move on the outer rail 320, the driving device 810 is composed of a motor 811 (such as a stepping motor 811), a screw shaft 813 and a cantilever arm 812, the motor 811 has an output shaft connected end to the screw shaft 813, the screw shaft 813 is installed below the base 300, the axis of the screw shaft 813 is parallel to the outer rail 320, the axis of the screw shaft 813 is a predetermined direction of movement of the first magnetic body 814 and is fixed so as not to move along the axis thereof, the screw shaft 813 is rotatably connected to the base 300, the screw shaft 813 can rotate along the axis thereof relative to the base 300, one end of the cantilever arm 812 is screwed with the screw shaft, the other end of the cantilever arm 812 is connected to the magnetic body 814, when the motor 811 drives the screw shaft 813 to rotate, the cantilever arm 812 can move along the axis of the screw shaft 813 relative to the screw shaft 813, thereby moving the magnet 814 and thus the spreading member 700.

In order to implement the above operation, the optical head device 500 is mounted on the top of the upper housing 200 with the output end of the optical head device 500 facing the printing table 410, the optical head device 500 includes a motion system capable of operating at least on an XY coordinate system, and the optical head device 500 is capable of controlling a laser beam irradiated onto the printing table 410 according to a received CAD file, thereby controlling a region where the powder material layers are thermally melted, in accordance with the received CAD file.

Other parts of the machine that can be used with the continuous powder deposition printing apparatus instrument also include:

(a) electronic and computer units including power supplies for electromagnetic radiation sources (such as laser sources), scanner control systems, computer systems, and other general electrical systems required for operation of the entire machine;

(b) a gas/powder unit containing a recirculation filter and a powder feed system through which powdered material is loaded into the continuous powder deposition printing apparatus;

(c) a component associated with a continuous powder deposition printing apparatus to form a process unit in which the component is built under a supplied protective atmosphere;

(d) a glove box in which the construction work including the constructed components can be unloaded under a protective atmosphere and powder recovery and screening are performed; and

(e) water coolers and after-treatment facilities.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A continuous powder deposition printing apparatus comprising an upper housing, a spreading member, a powdered material supply means, a print table and an optical head means, the upper housing being mounted to the print table with a process chamber formed therebetween, the process chamber being capable of maintaining a non-reactive or inert atmosphere; the spreading member is arranged on the printing table, two ends of the spreading member respectively extend to two opposite sides of the printing table, the spreading member is connected with the printing table in a sliding mode, and the spreading member slides relative to the printing table along a direction perpendicular to the length of the spreading member; the powder material supply device is positioned above the printing table and is positioned on a moving path of the scattering member, and the powder material can be discharged into the scattering member under the action of gravity or gas pressure, so that the scattering member can scatter the powder material to the upper surface of the printing table when moving relative to the printing table; the optical head device is mounted above the upper shell and can provide concentrated electromagnetic radiation for selective melting so that the powder material is melted;

the continuous powder deposition printing equipment further comprises a base, a sub-shell and a base foot, wherein the printing table is installed on the base foot, the base foot can drive the printing table to move towards or away from the upper shell, the upper shell is installed on the base, the sub-shell is installed on the base, the base is located between the upper shell and the sub-shell, and the printing table is located in the sub-shell;

the base comprises an outer frame, the outer frame is provided with an inner periphery defining a roughly rectangular opening in the middle, two inner rails and two outer rails are symmetrically arranged on the base, the two inner rails are respectively positioned on two sides of the opening, the two outer rails are respectively positioned on two sides of the opening, the outer rails are arranged in parallel with the inner rails, and the inner rails are positioned between the outer rails and the opening;

one end of the spreading member is mounted on the inner rail, the spreading member is connected with the inner rail in a sliding mode, and the other end of the spreading member is connected with the other inner rail through a mounting member;

or the two ends of the spreading component are respectively connected with the base through the mounting component;

one end of each mounting member is connected with the spreading member, the other end of each mounting member is connected with the inner rail in a sliding manner, the mounting members slide relative to the inner rails along the extension direction of the inner rails, and the two mounting members are respectively mounted on the two inner rails;

the mounting member comprises a carriage device and a driving device, the carriage device is mounted on the inner rail, and the carriage device can slide relative to the inner rail along the extending direction of the inner rail;

the driving device is positioned outside the upper shell and comprises a first magnet and a linear driver, the first magnet is mounted on the outer rail, and the linear driver is in driving connection with the first magnet, so that the first magnet can slide relative to the outer rail along the extension direction of the outer rail;

the sliding frame device is provided with a second magnet or made of a magnetic material, the first magnet is magnetically connected with the second magnet or the first magnet is magnetically connected with the sliding frame device, and the first magnet drives the sliding frame device to move.

2. The continuous powder deposition printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a vertical adjustment mechanism is disposed on the footing, the vertical adjustment mechanism includes a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic device, the hydraulic motor is connected to the hydraulic device in a driving manner, an output end of the hydraulic device is connected to a bottom of the printing table, and the hydraulic device drives the printing table to move in a direction toward or away from the upper housing.

3. The continuous powder deposition printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spreading member is an elongated top-opening container, the spreading member includes two symmetrically arranged container walls, the container walls are mounted to the mounting member, a symmetry line of the two container walls is perpendicular to the inner rail, the container walls are obliquely arranged, the container walls are inwardly inclined in a direction toward the printing table along the upper housing, and the two container walls are spaced to form a slit or a discharge port.

4. The continuous powder deposition printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder material supply device includes a pipe, a hopper, a valve housing, and a flow control valve cylinder, the valve housing is provided with a passage, the hopper is mounted above the valve housing, and an output end of the hopper is communicated with the passage, the flow control valve cylinder is mounted in the valve housing, and the flow control valve cylinder is located in the passage, the flow control valve cylinder can selectively close or open the passage, a bottom of the valve housing is mounted on the base, one end of the pipe is communicated with a top of the hopper, and the other end of the pipe passes through the upper housing to be communicated with the outside.

5. The continuous powder deposition printing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a computer, wherein the optical head device is electrically connected to the computer, and wherein the optical head device is capable of providing the focused electromagnetic radiation for selective melting after receiving the CAD signal from the computer, so that the powder material is melted.