CN113334767A

CN113334767A - 3D printing method, device, data processing method, system and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN113334767A
Application number: CN202110665839.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 荣左超; 杨增; 徐静
Original assignee: Shanghai Union Technology Corp
Current assignee: Shanghai Union Technology Corp
Priority date: 2021-06-16
Filing date: 2021-06-16
Publication date: 2021-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-16
Also published as: CN113334767B

Abstract

The application discloses a 3D printing method, equipment, a data processing method, a system and a storage medium, which are used for determining the printing height of each sliced layer when a plurality of 3D models are printed based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in the plurality of 3D models, so that the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment is controlled according to the printing height, each solidified layer is printed according to the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data under each printing height, and finally, each solidified layer is accumulated layer by layer to obtain a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model. According to the method and the device, a plurality of 3D models with different process data can be printed in the same printing batch, so that the printing efficiency is improved obviously while the printing precision is ensured.

Description

3D printing method, device, data processing method, system and storage medium

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of additive manufacturing, and in particular, to a 3D printing method, a device, a 3D printing data processing method, a system, and a storage medium.

Background

3D printing is one of the rapid prototyping technologies, which is a technology for constructing an object by using a bondable material such as powdered metal or plastic based on a digital model file and by printing layer by layer. In order to meet the requirement of efficient printing production, a plurality of 3D objects can be printed simultaneously in some embodiments, but in the current 3D printing technology, the same batch can be printed only when the process data of each 3D object is the same.

When different 3D models need to be printed, the 3D models are difficult to be printed in the same printing batch at the same time due to different process data corresponding to the 3D models. In some cases, when a plurality of different 3D models need to be printed, each 3D model needs to be printed separately to meet different printing requirements of process data corresponding to each 3D model, which results in low printing efficiency.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the related art, an object of the present application is to provide a 3D printing method, apparatus, 3D printing data processing method, system and storage medium capable of printing a plurality of 3D models with different process data in the same batch, so as to improve printing efficiency.

To achieve the above and other related objects, a first aspect of the present application discloses a 3D printing method for a 3D printing apparatus, the 3D printing method including: acquiring slice images and process data of slice layers in at least two different 3D models, wherein the process data comprise slice thickness and exposure parameters of the slice images; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different; determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model; controlling the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment according to the printing heights, and printing each curing layer according to the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data under each printing height; and accumulating the solidified layers layer by layer to obtain the 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the exposure parameters comprise exposure time and exposure power.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, further comprising: and (3) enabling the exposure power of each slice image under the same printing height in each 3D model to be equal, and carrying out gray level processing on the slice images with the adjusted exposure power so as to match the exposure intensity required by the slice layers of each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, further comprising: based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model, the slice images at the same printing height are superimposed to simultaneously expose the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the slice image includes a plurality of sub-slice images, each sub-slice image corresponds to a different region in the 3D model, and the step of superimposing slice images at the same printing height based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model includes: and respectively superposing the sub-slice images belonging to the same area under the same printing height, and determining the exposure sequence of each sub-slice image based on the area.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the step of determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: after the print job for each print height is complete, the slice thickness of each 3D model slice layer is analyzed to determine the next print height.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the step of determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: and analyzing the slice thickness corresponding to each slice layer in each 3D model before printing to determine each printing height in the fusion model, so that the 3D printing device prints each solidified layer based on the fusion model to obtain a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model includes: and when the outline of the 3D model exceeds the breadth boundary of the 3D printing equipment or the positions of any two 3D models are overlapped, triggering early warning.

A second aspect of the present application discloses a 3D print data processing method, including: acquiring slice images and process data of slice layers in at least two different 3D models; the process data comprises slice thickness and exposure parameters of each slice image; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different; and determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model so as to control the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment according to the printing height and print each cured layer according to the corresponding slice image and corresponding process data under each printing height.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, further comprising: and (3) enabling the exposure power of each slice image under the same printing height in each 3D model to be equal, and carrying out gray level processing on the slice images with the adjusted exposure power so as to match the exposure intensity required by the slice layers of each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, further comprising: based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model, the slice images at the same printing height are superimposed to simultaneously expose the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the slice image comprises a plurality of sub-slice images, each sub-slice image corresponding to a different region in the 3D model, and the step of superimposing slice images at the same printing height based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model comprises: and respectively superposing the sub-slice images belonging to the same area under the same printing height, and determining the exposure sequence of each sub-slice image based on the area.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the step of determining the print height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: after the print job for each print height is complete, the slice thickness of each 3D model slice layer is analyzed to determine the next print height.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the step of determining the print height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: and analyzing the slice thickness corresponding to each slice layer in each 3D model before printing to determine each printing height in the fusion model, so that the 3D printing device prints each solidified layer based on the fusion model to obtain a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model includes: and when the outline of the 3D model exceeds the breadth boundary of the 3D printing equipment or the positions of any two 3D models are overlapped, triggering early warning.

A third aspect of the present application discloses a 3D print data processing system, comprising: the interface module is used for acquiring slice images and process data of each slice layer in at least two different 3D models; the process data comprises slice thickness and exposure parameters of each slice image; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different; and the processing module is used for determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model, controlling the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment according to the printing height and printing each cured layer according to the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data under each printing height.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module further equalizes exposure powers of slice images at the same printing height in each 3D model, and performs gray scale processing on the slice images with the adjusted exposure powers to match exposure intensities required for the slice layers of each 3D model.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module further superimposes the slice images at the same print height based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model to simultaneously expose the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the slice image comprises a plurality of sub-slice images, each corresponding to a different region in the 3D model, and the processing module superimposes sub-slice images belonging to the same region at the same printing height, and determines the exposure order of each sub-slice image based on the regions.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module analyzes the slice thickness corresponding to each 3D model to determine a next print height after the print job for each print height is completed.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module analyzes slice thicknesses corresponding to the slice layers in the respective 3D models before printing to determine respective printing heights in the fused model, so that the 3D printing device prints the respective cured layers based on the fused model to obtain the 3D object corresponding to the respective 3D models.

A fourth aspect of the present application discloses a 3D printing device for printing at least two different 3D models into a 3D article, the 3D printing device comprising: a container for holding a material to be cured; the energy radiation device is used for radiating energy based on the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data at each printing height so as to cure the material to be cured positioned on the printing reference surface to obtain a corresponding cured layer; a member platform, which is arranged corresponding to the energy radiation direction of the energy radiation device and is used for attaching and carrying the formed curing layer; the Z-axis driving mechanism is used for driving the component platform to move in the Z-axis direction; the control device is used for acquiring slice images and process data of each slice layer in at least two different 3D models; wherein the process data comprises slice thickness and exposure parameters for each of the slice images; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different; and the energy radiation device is used for determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model so as to control the Z-axis driving mechanism to move to each printing height and enable the energy radiation device to radiate energy based on the corresponding sliced image and corresponding process data, so that each solidified layer is accumulated layer by layer on the component platform to obtain the corresponding 3D object.

In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present application, the exposure parameters comprise exposure time and exposure power.

A fifth aspect of the present application discloses a computer-readable storage medium comprising a stored computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, controls an apparatus in which the storage medium is located to perform a 3D printing method as disclosed in the first aspect of the present application.

A sixth aspect of the present application discloses a computer-readable storage medium comprising a stored computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, controls an apparatus on which the storage medium is located to perform a method of 3D print data processing as disclosed in the second aspect of the present application.

In conclusion, the same batch of 3D models with different process data in surface exposure can be printed through the technical scheme, and the printing efficiency is remarkably improved. Further, this application carries out grey scale processing through the exposure power of adjusting each 3D model and to the section image of adjusting exposure power, guarantees the printing precision in order to promote printing efficiency when can realizing each 3D model, prevents that the curing from producing the piece. In addition, the method and the device also allow the exposure of different areas in each 3D model to be carried out in a partition mode when the 3D models with different process data are printed simultaneously so as to improve the forming quality.

Drawings

The specific features of the invention to which this application relates are set forth in the appended claims. The features and advantages of the invention to which this application relates will be better understood by reference to the exemplary embodiments described in detail below and the accompanying drawings. The brief description of the drawings is as follows:

fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a printing method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of 3D models of the present application in one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a data processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a data processing method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the slice image overlay in one embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application is provided for illustrative purposes, and other advantages and capabilities of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that describe several embodiments of the application. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments of the present application is defined only by the claims of the issued patent. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. Spatially relative terms, such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "lower," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein to facilitate describing one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or parameters in some instances, these elements or parameters should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or parameter from another element or parameter. For example, the first 3D model may be referred to as the second 3D model, and similarly, the second 3D model may be referred to as the first 3D model, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first 3D model and the second 3D model are both describing one 3D model, but they are not the same 3D model unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Also, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, species, and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence, or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, species, and/or groups thereof. The terms "or" and/or "as used herein are to be construed as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B or C" or "A, B and/or C" means "any of the following: a; b; c; a and B; a and C; b and C; A. b and C ". An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or operations are inherently mutually exclusive in some way.

As described in the background, when different 3D models need to be printed, it is difficult to simultaneously print the 3D models in the same printing batch because the process data corresponding to the 3D models are different. In some cases, when a plurality of different 3D models need to be printed, each 3D model needs to be separately printed, that is, a 3D model is printed and then a next 3D model is printed, so as to meet different printing requirements of process data corresponding to each 3D model.

Specifically, because only one layer of picture can be exposed in the current surface exposure printing, only one file can be printed at one time, when a plurality of parts need to be printed, the parts need to be placed in the same printed file during pretreatment, which means that the parts use uniform process data.

In some cases, for example, in the process debugging stage of the equipment, different process data are usually required to be tried to print small parts, so as to find the most suitable process data, and the work efficiency is very low because only one process data can be used at a time; in addition, with the development of material technology, the same material can have different performance (such as color and surface quality) under different process data. Therefore, if one device can print different parts by using different process data in one printing operation, the debugging efficiency and the production efficiency are improved.

In view of the above, the present application provides a 3D printing method, so that a plurality of 3D models having different process data can be printed at the same time, the 3D printing method being performed by a 3D printing apparatus.

It should be understood that 3D printing is one of the rapid prototyping techniques, which is a technique for building objects by layer-by-layer printing using bondable material, such as powdered metal or plastic, based on a digital model file. When printing, firstly, the digital model file is processed to realize the import of the 3D model to be printed to the 3D printing device. Here, the 3D model includes, but is not limited to, a 3D model based on a CAD member, which is, for example, an STL file, and the control device performs layout and layer cutting processing on the introduced STL file. The 3D model may be imported into the control device via a data interface or a network interface. The solid portion in the introduced 3D model may be any shape, for example, the solid portion includes a tooth shape, a sphere shape, a house shape, a tooth shape, or any shape with a predetermined structure. Wherein the preset structure includes but is not limited to at least one of the following: cavity structures, structures containing abrupt shape changes, and structures with preset requirements for profile accuracy in solid parts, etc.

3D printing apparatus carries out the mode of layer by layer exposure solidification and each solidification layer of accumulation to photocuring material through energy radiation device and prints the 3D article, and concrete photocuring rapid prototyping technique's theory of operation does: the light curing material is used as raw material, under the control of the control device, the energy radiation device irradiates and carries out layer-by-layer exposure or scanning according to the slice image of each slice layer, and the slice image and the resin thin layer positioned in the radiation area are cured after photopolymerization reaction, so that a thin layer section of the workpiece is formed. After one layer is cured, the worktable moves one layer thick, and a new layer of light-cured material is coated on the surface of the resin which is just cured so as to carry out cyclic exposure or scanning. And (3) firmly bonding the newly cured layer to the previous layer, repeating the steps, and stacking the layers one by one to finally form the whole product prototype, namely the 3D object. The photo-curable material generally refers to a material that forms a cured layer after being irradiated by light (such as ultraviolet light, laser light, etc.), and includes but is not limited to: photosensitive resin, or a mixture of photosensitive resin and other materials. Such as ceramic powders, pigments, etc.

The 3D printing device includes but is not limited to a light-curing printing device such as DLP, LCD and the like. For example, in a DLP device, the energy radiation device includes a DMD chip, a controller, and a memory module, for example. Wherein the storage module stores therein slice images for layering the 3D model. And the DMD chip irradiates the light source of each pixel on the corresponding slice image to the top surface of the container after receiving the control signal of the controller. In fact, the mirror is composed of hundreds of thousands or even millions of micromirrors, each micromirror represents a pixel, and the projected image is composed of these pixels. The DMD chip may be simply described as a semiconductor photo switch and a micromirror plate corresponding to the pixel points, and the controller allows/disables the respective micromirrors by controlling the respective photo switches in the DMD chip to reflect light, thereby irradiating the respective slice images onto the photo-setting material through the transparent top of the container so that the photo-setting material corresponding to the shape of the image is set to obtain a patterned set layer (i.e., a pattern set layer). In practical applications, the energy radiation device may also comprise an LCD light source. For example, in an LCD printing apparatus, the energy radiation device is an LCD panel light source system, taking a liquid crystal panel light source curing LCD as an example. The LCD printing device comprises an LCD liquid crystal screen and a light source, wherein the LCD liquid crystal screen is positioned above the container, and the light source is aligned above the LCD liquid crystal screen. And a control chip in the energy radiation device projects the layered image of the slice to be printed to a printing reference surface through an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the material to be solidified in the container is solidified into a corresponding pattern solidified layer by using a pattern radiation surface provided by the LCD.

It is understood that the image data and the process data of the 3D model are included in the print data of the 3D model. Examples of the image data include, but are not limited to, slice images of slice layers, i.e., slices of the 3D model after slicing, and slice images, i.e., slice images. Moreover, each sliced layer has process data required for printing the sliced layer, such as slice thickness of the sliced layer, exposure parameters required for printing the sliced layer, and the like, and the exposure parameters include, but are not limited to, parameters such as exposure time, exposure power, and the like, so that the 3D object is finally obtained after each sliced layer is printed according to the process data and the sliced image.

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the 3D printing apparatus includes a container 11, a member stage 12, a Z-axis driving mechanism 13, an energy radiation device 14, and a control device 15.

The container 11 is used for containing a light-curing material. In one embodiment, the light curable material includes any liquid or powder material that is easily cured by light, examples of which include: a photocurable resin liquid, or a resin liquid doped with a mixed material such as an additive, a pigment, or a dye. Powder materials include, but are not limited to: ceramic powder, color additive powder, etc. The materials of the container include but are not limited to: glass, plastic, resin, etc. Wherein the volume of the container depends on the type of the 3D printing device. In some implementations, the container is also referred to as a resin vat, a silo, or the like.

The member platform 12 is used for attaching a pattern cured layer cured by irradiation so as to form a 3D object through accumulation of the pattern cured layer. Specifically, the component platform is exemplified by a component plate. The component platform typically takes a preset printing reference surface located in the container as a starting position, and each solidified layer solidified on the printing reference surface is accumulated layer by layer to obtain a corresponding 3D printing component.

It should be understood that the 3D object to be printed may be an object of any shape or configuration. In some embodiments, the 3D object includes a base portion and a body portion, the body portion referring to a portion representing an entity of the 3D object. For example, the body portion of the 3D object may be toothed, spherical, house-like, or any shape with a predetermined configuration. The preset structure includes, but is not limited to, a cavity structure, a structure including a shape mutation, a structure having a preset requirement for profile accuracy in the body portion, and the like. In general, the base portion refers to a portion for connecting a 3D object main body portion and a component platform, and is also referred to as a base portion or the like in some cases. Generally, the base portion is a stack of a horizontal projection plane in the Z-axis. In some embodiments, the base layer portion further comprises a support portion for supporting a body portion of the 3D article. The shape of the base portion is related to the shape of the body portion. In order to keep the 3D object from falling off during printing and to support the main body portion of the 3D object, in some embodiments, the stacking height of the base layer portion in the Z-axis may be determined according to the weight of the 3D object, the area of the horizontal projection plane of the base layer portion, and the like, and the shape of the horizontal projection plane of the base layer portion may be determined by the horizontal projection plane of the main body portion, for example, the horizontal projection plane of the printing layer closest to the base layer portion in the main body portion, or the shape of the cut layer with the largest area in each cut layer of the main body portion, and the like. In some embodiments, in order to be able to support the main body portion, the extent of the horizontal projection plane of the base portion is set to be larger than the extent of the horizontal projection plane of the main body portion, and the shape of the horizontal projection plane of the base portion may be set to be, for example, a rectangle, an ellipse, a polygon, or an irregular shape as needed. In some embodiments, the body portion may be divided into a contoured portion that generally includes a portion that is on the surface of the 3D object after molding and a filled portion that generally includes a portion that is inside the 3D object after molding.

The Z-axis driving mechanism 13 is connected to the component platform 12 for controllably moving the adjustment component platform 12 in a vertical axial direction to adjust the spacing from the printing reference plane for filling the photo-setting material to be set. Wherein, the printing reference surface refers to the initial surface of the light-cured material irradiated. Typically, the printing reference surface is located within the container. For a 3D printing device with a top exposure energy radiation device above a container, the printing reference surface is generally the upper surface of the liquid level of the photocuring material in the container, and for a 3D printing device with a bottom exposure energy radiation device below the container, the printing reference surface is generally the surface of the photocuring material on the bottom layer in the container. In order to accurately control the irradiation energy of each cured layer, the Z-axis driving mechanism needs to drive the component platform to move to a position where the minimum distance between the component platform and the printing reference surface is the layer thickness of the cured layer to be cured. It should be noted that, although fig. 1 illustrates a bottom-exposure 3D printing apparatus as an example, the present application can also be applied to a top-exposure 3D printing apparatus, which is not described herein again.

The energy radiation device 14 is used to irradiate the photocurable material in the container to obtain a pattern cured layer. Specifically, the energy radiation device irradiates the photocuring material in the container according to each layered image in the printing data generated based on the cut three-dimensional model of the 3D object to be printed so as to obtain the 3D object. The three-dimensional model of the pre-printed 3D object comprises a base layer part model corresponding to a base layer part of the 3D object and a main body part model corresponding to a main body part of the 3D object. In some implementation scenarios, the energy radiation device is also often referred to as an optical system.

The control device 15 is connected to the energy radiation device 14 and the Z-axis driving mechanism 13, and is used for controlling the energy radiation device 14 and the Z-axis driving mechanism 13 under the printing operation to adhere and stack the pattern cured layer on the component platform 12 to obtain the corresponding three-dimensional object (i.e. 3D object). The control device 15 is an electronic device including a processor, for example, the control device is a computer device, an embedded device, or an integrated circuit integrated with a CPU.

For example, the control device includes: the device comprises a processing unit, a storage unit and a plurality of interface units. And each interface unit is respectively connected with a device which is independently packaged in 3D printing equipment such as an energy radiation device and a Z-axis driving mechanism and transmits data through an interface. The control device further comprises at least one of the following: a prompting device, a human-computer interaction device and the like. The interface unit determines its interface type according to the connected device, which includes but is not limited to: universal serial interface, video interface, industrial control interface, etc.

For example, the interface unit includes: USB interface, HDMI interface and RS232 interface, wherein, USB interface and RS232 interface all have a plurality ofly, and the USB interface can connect man-machine interaction device etc. and RS232 interface connection Z axle actuating mechanism, HDMI interface connection energy radiation device (optical system). The interface unit is further configured to obtain printing data of the 3D model, such as image data and process data of each 3D model.

The storage unit is used for storing files required by the 3D printing device to print, and the files include but are not limited to: the CPU runs the required program files and configuration files, etc. The memory unit includes a non-volatile memory and a system bus. The nonvolatile memory is, for example, a solid state disk or a usb disk. The system bus is used to connect the non-volatile memory with the CPU, wherein the CPU may be integrated in the memory unit or packaged separately from the memory unit and connected to the non-volatile memory through the system bus.

The processing unit includes: a CPU or a chip integrated with a CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA), and a multi-core processor. The processing unit also includes memory, registers, etc. for temporarily storing data.

For example, after the energy radiation device finishes irradiation to pattern and cure the light-cured material, the processing unit controls the Z-axis driving mechanism to drive the component platform to adjust and move to a new distance position away from the preset printing reference surface, and the exposure process is repeated.

On the other hand, the processing unit may further perform data processing on the acquired at least two different 3D models so as to print out a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to fig. 2, which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a printing method according to the present application, in step S110, slice images and process data of slice layers in at least two different 3D models are obtained.

Wherein the difference is that at least one process data is different, for example, the slice thickness of each 3D model is different, or the exposure parameter of each 3D model is different, or both the slice thickness and the exposure parameter of each 3D model are different. In addition, the difference may also include a difference in shape and size of each 3D model. For example, at least one type of process data may be different for each 3D model, but the shape and size of each slice image of the 3D model may be the same (i.e., 3D models of the same shape and size may be printed using different process data to achieve different effects), or at least one type of process data may be different and the shape and size of each slice image of the 3D model may not be the same.

The number of the 3D models can be 2, 3, 4 and the like, as long as the printing breadth range of the 3D printing equipment is not exceeded. In some embodiments, after the control device obtains each 3D model, the control device may further adjust the placement position of each 3D model based on the size of the 3D printing apparatus, so as to effectively utilize the size and avoid overlapping between different 3D models. Alternatively, the step of adjusting the placement positions of the 3D models may be performed manually by an operator.

In other embodiments, when the number of the 3D models is too large or the positions of the 3D models exceed the width, and the contour of the 3D model exceeds the width boundary of the 3D printing device, an alarm may be triggered to prompt an operator to adjust the 3D model. And/or when the positions of any two identical or different 3D models are overlapped, in order to avoid the printed 3D objects from being overlapped, an alarm can be triggered to prompt an operator to adjust. The alarm may be a warning pattern or language characters displayed on the operation display screen, or may be a warning sound generated by triggering a speaker, or a prompt may be given in the operation display screen and the speaker.

Also, in the present application, for convenience of description, the at least two different 3D models may also be referred to as a plurality of different 3D models, and those skilled in the art should understand that there is an equivalence relationship between the at least two and the plurality.

In an exemplary embodiment, the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power. The exposure time includes a time irradiated by the energy irradiation device when the slice layer is exposed; the exposure power includes the power radiated by the energy radiation device, for example, in the case of a DLP printing apparatus, the exposure power is the brightness of the web, and the exposure power can be realized by adjusting the current of the energy radiation device; as another example, for an LCD printing device, the exposure power is the brightness of the LED light source.

In an exemplary embodiment, continuing to refer to fig. 2, in step S120, a print height of each sliced layer is determined based on a slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model.

Here, since the slice layers in different 3D models have different slice thicknesses, in order to simultaneously print a plurality of 3D models in one print job, each print height needs to be calculated so as to execute a corresponding print job at each print height, so that the energy radiation device radiates the corresponding slice image at each print height, thereby obtaining a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model. Here, when slice images of a plurality of 3D models correspond to one printing height, the energy radiation device radiates the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models at the printing height.

In an example, please refer to fig. 3, which is a schematic diagram of a plurality of 3D models in the present application in an embodiment, here, two 3D models are taken as an example, as shown in the figure, assuming that the slice thickness of each slice layer in model a is 1 and the slice thickness of each slice layer in model B is 1.5, each printing height in the printing process needs to be determined according to each slice thickness in model a and model B, that is, the first printing height is the bottom layer (first layer), at which the energy radiation device needs to simultaneously radiate slice images corresponding to the first layers of model a and model B, that is, slice images corresponding to layers a-1 and B-1 in fig. 3; the second printing height is 1, namely the Z-axis driving mechanism is raised by 1, and the energy radiation device is made to radiate a slice image corresponding to the second layer of the model A at the height, namely a slice image corresponding to the layer A-2 in the figure 3; the third printing height is 1.5, namely the Z-axis driving mechanism is raised by 0.5, and the energy radiation device is made to radiate a slice image corresponding to the second layer of the model B at the third printing height, namely the slice image corresponding to the layer B-2 in the figure 3; the fourth printing height is 2, namely the Z-axis driving mechanism is raised by 0.5, and the energy radiation device is made to radiate a slice image corresponding to the third layer of the model A at the fourth printing height, namely the slice image corresponding to the layer A-3 in the graph 3; the fifth printing height is 3, namely the Z-axis driving mechanism is raised by 1, and the energy radiation device is enabled to simultaneously radiate slice images of the fourth layer of the model A and slice images corresponding to the third layer of the model B at the height, namely slice images corresponding to the layer A-4 and the layer B-3 in the graph of fig. 3, and the like.

In some embodiments, after each layer is printed, the print height of the next layer may be determined to move the Z-axis drive mechanism to the next print height. Here, the control means of the 3D printing apparatus confirms the printing height of the first layer before printing, and confirms the next printing height and the corresponding slice image after printing the first layer.

In a possible embodiment, since the print data of each 3D model includes the slice image of each slice layer of the model, and the slice thickness and exposure parameter corresponding to each slice image, each 3D model can determine the print height corresponding to each slice layer and the slice image and exposure parameter corresponding to the print height based on the slice image and exposure parameter. When the control device reads the plurality of 3D models, the control device may determine a position where the Z-axis drive mechanism should be located in the print job of the first layer based on the print height in each of the 3D models, and cause the energy radiation device to radiate a slice image corresponding to the print height based on the exposure parameter, and when slice images of the plurality of 3D models are referred to at the print height, cause the energy radiation device to radiate slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models. After each layer of printing work is finished, the control device analyzes the printing data of each 3D model to determine the next printing height, the corresponding slice image and the exposure parameter, and the like, so that the printing tasks at all the printing heights are finished, and the 3D object corresponding to each 3D model is obtained.

In other embodiments, printing may be started after confirming each printing height and the corresponding slice image before printing. After acquiring the plurality of 3D models, the control device fuses the plurality of 3D models into one model, so as to print based on the fused model to obtain 3D objects corresponding to the plurality of 3D models, that is, to fuse the plurality of print data packets into one print data packet for printing by the 3D printing device. Specifically, after reading the printing data of each 3D model, the control device sorts and arranges the printing heights to generate a fusion model, and the printing data in the fusion model includes the printing heights to be printed, and the corresponding slice images and exposure parameters. And after the 3D printing equipment prints based on the printing data in the fusion model, the 3D objects corresponding to the 3D models can be obtained.

In some embodiments, the energy radiation device can sequentially radiate slice images corresponding to the 3D models at the same printing height, and continuing to take fig. 3 as an example, in the printing work at the first printing height, the energy radiation device sequentially radiates slice images corresponding to the a-1 layer and slice images corresponding to the B-1 layer; in the printing work of the second printing height, the energy radiation device radiates the slice images corresponding to the A-2 layers; in the printing work of the third printing height, the energy radiation device radiates the slice images corresponding to the B-2 layers; in the printing work of the fourth printing height, the energy radiation device radiates the slice images corresponding to the A-3 layers; in the print job of the fifth print level, the energy radiation device radiates the slice image corresponding to the a-4 layer and the slice image corresponding to the B-3 layer in turn. When a plurality of slice images need to be radiated at the same printing height, the radiation sequence may be configured as required, for example, in the printing work of the first printing height, the slice image corresponding to the a-1 layer may be radiated first and then the slice image corresponding to the B-1 layer may be radiated, and the slice image corresponding to the B-1 layer may be radiated first and then the slice image corresponding to the a-1 layer may be radiated.

In other embodiments, to improve the printing efficiency, the control device may further superimpose the slice images belonging to the same printing height in each 3D model. In order to avoid the mutual influence of the slice images of different 3D models at the same printing height, the placing positions of the 3D models can be adjusted after the 3D models are obtained, or the placing positions of the 3D models can be adjusted at least before the first cured layer is printed, so that the slice images at the printing heights can be determined based on the placing positions of the 3D models, and the slice images at the same printing height can be overlapped.

The 3D printing equipment needs to print the slice layers corresponding to the plurality of 3D models at the same printing height, so that in order to print the slice layers corresponding to the 3D models at the same time, the energy radiation device needs to simultaneously radiate slice images corresponding to the slice layers of the 3D models at the current printing height, and therefore the slice images at the same printing height are overlapped and comprise the pixel point gray values corresponding to the slice images with the breadth sizes corresponding to the 3D models after the placing positions of the 3D models in the breadth of the 3D printing equipment are determined. Since the positions of the 3D models in the frame are determined before the first cured layer is printed, the positions of the 3D models do not affect each other, for example, there is no common situation where pixels are shared between slice images of two or more 3D models. Please refer to fig. 6, which is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of slice image overlay. As shown in the figure, the slice image 61, the slice image 62, and the slice image 63 are slice images of slice layers corresponding to three different 3D models at the same printing height, and after the positions of the 3D models in the breadth are determined by placement, the slice image 61 ', the slice image 62 ', and the slice image 63 ' are obtained correspondingly, and after the three slice images are superimposed, that is, after gray values of corresponding pixel points in the three slice images are added, a superimposed image 64 is obtained, and after the superimposed image 64 is printed, a cured layer including slice images corresponding to the three different 3D models is obtained.

It should be noted that in other image processing fields, image superimposition in some embodiments is weighted superimposition, for example, after a gray value of each pixel point of a first image is multiplied by a weight value of the first image, the gray value of each pixel point of a second image is multiplied by a weight value of the second image, and then the weighted superimposition is added. However, in the present application, in order to ensure the energy intensity radiated by the energy radiation device, the image superposition in the present application is usually a non-weighted superposition, that is, the gray values of the corresponding pixel points in the two images are directly added, in some special cases, for example, in an 8-bit image, if the gray value after adding some pixel points exceeds 255, the gray value is directly set to 255, and the same is true for the images with other bits.

In an exemplary embodiment, the exposure time of each 3D model is different, and the slice images at the same printing height may be superimposed based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model to simultaneously expose the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models. Here, the exposure order of each slice image may be arranged according to the length of the exposure time of each 3D model. For example, if the slice exposure time of the first 3D model is 3s, the slice exposure time of the second 3D model is 5s, and the slice exposure time of the third 3D model is 6s at the same height, a first projection image including slice images of the first 3D model, the second 3D model, and the third 3D model may be projected first when printing the slice, and the exposure time is 3 s; then projecting a second projection image which simultaneously comprises a second 3D model and a third 3D model slice image, wherein the exposure time is 2 s; the final projection contains only the third projection image of the third 3D model slice image with an exposure time of 1 s. The exposure sequence in this example is the exposure sequence of the first projection image, the second projection image, and the third projection image, but is not limited to this in practical application, and may be arranged according to practical needs, and for example, the exposure sequence may be the sequence of the first projection image, the third projection image, and the second projection image, the sequence of the second projection image, the first projection image, and the third projection image, or the sequence of the third projection image, the second projection image, and the first projection image, and the like, and the description thereof will not be repeated here.

In still other cases, for each individual 3D model, zoned exposure may be required when printing one slice layer of each 3D model, e.g., a support portion of the base layer portion, as well as a contour portion and a fill portion in the body portion may be included in the same slice layer of the 3D model. To ensure the shaping accuracy and/or to increase the printing speed, these different portions are not exposed at the same time, for example, in some cases the support portion is first radiation-shaped by projecting a slice image corresponding to the support portion, then the contour portion is radiation-shaped by projecting a slice image corresponding to the contour portion, and then the filling portion is radiation-shaped by projecting a slice image corresponding to the filling portion; for another example, the slice image corresponding to the support portion may be projected for several seconds, and then the slice images corresponding to the support portion and the contour portion may be projected at the same time, and finally the slice image including the support portion, the contour portion, and the filling portion may be projected, so that the support portion is cured first, the support portion and the contour portion are cured at the same time, and the support portion, the contour portion, and the filling portion are cured at the same time. Of course, the exposure sequence in the above example is only an example and not a limitation, and in an actual use process, the exposure sequence of each portion (i.e. the projection sequence of the slice image corresponding to each portion) may be configured according to specific requirements.

Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the slice image comprises a plurality of sub-slice images, each corresponding to a different region in the 3D model. These different regions refer to different parts of the 3D model, such as support parts, contour parts, filling parts, etc. Thus, the sub-slice image is an image corresponding to a region such as the support portion/contour portion/fill portion. The control means may superimpose the sub-slice images belonging to the same region in the slice layer of each 3D model at the same printing height, respectively, and determine the exposure order of each sub-slice image based on the region.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the exposure time of each 3D model is the same, the sub-slice images belonging to the same region in the slice layer of each 3D model may be correspondingly superimposed, and exposed according to the exposure sequence of each region. For example, the sub-slice images belonging to the supporting portion at the same printing height may be superimposed to form a first projection image, the sub-slice images belonging to the outline portion may be superimposed to form a second projection image, the sub-slice images belonging to the filling portion may be superimposed to form a third projection image, and then the first projection image, the second projection image, and the third projection image may be sequentially projected in the order of the first supporting, the second outlining, and the last filling portion, so as to complete the printing of each 3D model slice layer at the printing height.

In another exemplary embodiment, when the exposure time of each 3D model is different, the exposure time of each 3D model and the exposure of different area partitions in the 3D model need to be considered at the same time. The sub-slice images belonging to the same region in each 3D model can be processed into a plurality of projection images according to the corresponding exposure time, the exposure sequence of each region is determined according to the actual situation, and the printing of the whole sliced layer is completed by exposing the next region after the exposure of all the sub-slice images belonging to the same region is completed during the printing. For example, there are A, B, C three 3D models, each of the 3D models includes 3 regions, where the 3 regions of the a model are support portion a1, contour portion a2, and filling portion A3, the 3 regions of the B model are support portion B1, contour portion B2, and filling portion B3, and the 3 regions of the C model are support portion C1, contour portion C2, and filling portion C3. Assuming that a slice layer including sub-slice images corresponding to the supporting portion a1, the contour portion a2, the filling portion A3, the supporting portion B1, the contour portion B2, the filling portion B3, the supporting portion C1, the contour portion C2, and the filling portion C3 needs to be printed at a certain printing height, sub-slice images corresponding to the supporting portion a1, the supporting portion B1, and the supporting portion C1 may be processed into one or more projection images according to respective corresponding exposure times, sub-slice images corresponding to the contour portion a2, the contour portion B2, and the contour portion C2 may be processed into one or more projection images according to respective corresponding exposure times, sub-slice images corresponding to the filling portion A3, the filling portion B3, and the filling portion C3 may be processed into one or more projection images according to respective corresponding exposure times, and then the supporting portion and the contour portion may be exposed first, and finally, printing the whole sliced layer by exposing the filling parts.

In some cases, the exposure parameters in the plurality of 3D models are different.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the energy radiation device sequentially radiates slice images corresponding to the respective 3D models at the same printing height, the exposure parameters corresponding to the respective slice images may be adjusted accordingly. Continuing with the first printing height in fig. 3 as an example, at the first printing height, the slice image corresponding to the a-1 layer and the slice image corresponding to the B-1 layer need to be irradiated, and the exposure parameters required for the slice image of the a-1 layer and the slice image of the B-1 layer are different, the energy radiation device may be made to irradiate the slice image of the a-1 layer according to the exposure parameters corresponding to the a-1 layer, and then the energy radiation device may be made to irradiate the slice image of the B-1 layer according to the exposure parameters corresponding to the B-1 layer.

In another exemplary embodiment, to improve printing efficiency, the print data in each 3D model may be adaptively adjusted so that slice images with different exposure parameters can be printed at the same height at the same time.

In one embodiment, the exposure power of the slice images in each 3D model may be made equal, and the slice images with adjusted exposure power may be gray-scaled to match the exposure intensity required for the slice layer of each 3D model. Wherein, the exposure intensity required by each 3D model can be understood as the energy value provided by the energy radiation device required by the 3D model in the printing process.

Here, it can be understood that the setting of the corresponding exposure parameter for each 3D model is to enable the exposure intensity received by the printing molding surface to reach the optimal molding condition during the printing of the 3D model, so as to ensure the printing quality of the molded 3D object. The exposure intensity of the energy radiation device is determined by parameters of various aspects, such as exposure power, exposure time, gray scale of the projected image, etc., and the exposure power of the energy radiation device influences the brightness of the light source, etc. Therefore, when the slice images corresponding to a plurality of 3D models need to be printed at the same printing height, the exposure power in the printing data of each 3D model can be adjusted to be consistent in order to improve the printing efficiency, and meanwhile, the gray scale of the slice image can be adjusted adaptively in order to meet the exposure intensity required by each 3D model, so that the exposure intensity received by the printing forming surface can still reach the optimal forming condition for each 3D model. In a possible embodiment, the gray-scale value of the slice image in the other 3D models can be scaled down according to the ratio in the "power-gray-scale value curve" of the energy radiation device, based on the maximum exposure power in each 3D model. For example, at a certain printing height, it is necessary to print slice images corresponding to a first 3D model, a second 3D model, and a third 3D model at the same time, where the exposure power corresponding to the slice image of the first 3D model is 1000 μ w (microwatts, also labeled uw in some embodiments), the exposure power corresponding to the slice image of the second 3D model is 800 μ w, and the exposure power corresponding to the slice image of the third 3D model is 500 μ w, then the exposure powers of the slice images in the second 3D model and the third 3D model at the printing height are both made to be 1000 μ w, and the gray values of the slice images in the second 3D model and the third 3D model at the printing height are adjusted, taking the slice image as an 8-bit image as an example, the maximum gray value of the slice image is 255, by searching for a "power-gray value curve", the grayscale value for 800 μ w is 200 and the grayscale value for 500 μ w is 180, then all the grayscale values of the slice images in the second 3D model are multiplied by 200/255 and all the grayscale values of the slice images in the third 3D model are multiplied by 180/255. In the printing process, the energy radiation device radiates energy to the printing and forming surface at the exposure power of 1000 muW, and the gray value of the slice image in the second 3D model is adjusted correspondingly, so that the total energy (namely the exposure intensity) received by the corresponding part of the printing and forming surface is the same as or similar to that before adjustment (namely the exposure power is 800 muW, and the slice image is not subjected to gray value adjustment); similarly, the gray scale value of the slice image in the third 3D model has been adjusted accordingly, so that the total energy (i.e. exposure intensity) received by the corresponding portion of the printing and molding surface is the same as or similar to that before the adjustment (i.e. the exposure power is 500 μ w, when the slice image is not adjusted by the gray scale value). It should be understood that although an 8-bit image is taken as an example in the present embodiment, in the same way for images with other numbers of bits, such as 12 bits and 16 bits, the maximum value 255 of the gray scale may be replaced with a corresponding value. In this embodiment, the exposure power of the slice image in each 3D model is made equal to the maximum exposure power of the other 3D models. In other embodiments, an average value, a median value, or other suitable exposure intensity adjustment value may be set, the exposure power of all the slice images of the 3D model is adjusted to be equal to the exposure intensity adjustment value, and the slice images with the adjusted exposure power are subjected to gray scale processing to match the exposure intensity required for the slice layer of each 3D model.

The "power-gray scale value curves" are data reflecting a correspondence relationship between exposure power and brightness (gray scale value) curves of the energy radiation devices, and each energy radiation device has its own "power-gray scale value curve" because there are different degrees of error between the energy radiation devices. The curve can be obtained by measuring through a power detection device in a manual or automatic measurement manner, for example, the curve can be obtained by detecting the brightness of the energy radiation device under different powers through the power detection device before printing through the 3D printing device, and can also be obtained by detecting through a brightness detection fixture mentioned in the patent with the publication number CN212555058U by the applicant, and the detection method is not the invention point in the present application and therefore is not described herein again.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, since the exposure intensity is related to the exposure time, the exposure power of the slice images in each 3D model can also be made equal, and the exposure time of each slice image with the adjusted exposure power can be adjusted to match the exposure intensity required for each 3D model. Here, when the exposure time is adjusted only and the 3D model with the exposure power changed cannot reach the desired exposure intensity, the gray scale of the slice image may be adjusted adaptively according to the gray scale value of the slice image, that is, the gray scale of the slice image at the exposure time may be adjusted simultaneously to reach the desired exposure intensity.

In some embodiments, the exposure parameters for different sliced layers in each individual 3D model are the same, and the exposure parameters differ between different 3D models. In this case, when it is necessary to print slice images corresponding to a plurality of 3D models at a print height, a processing manner for a slice image of a certain 3D model may be applied to other slice images of the model, thereby improving processing efficiency. For example, the exposure parameters of the slice layers in the first 3D model are the same, the exposure parameters of the slice layers in the second 3D model are the same, the exposure parameters of the slice layers of the first 3D model are different from the exposure parameters of the slice layers of the second 3D model, and assuming that the exposure power of each slice image in the first 3D model is 1000 μ w and the exposure power of each slice image in the second 3D model is 800 μ w, when the corresponding cured layer in the first 3D model and the corresponding slice image in the second 3D model need to be printed simultaneously at a certain printing height, the exposure power of the second 3D model can be set to 1000 μ w, and the gray value of the slice image in the second 3D model at the printing height can be adjusted, and since the exposure parameters of each slice layer in the second 3D model are the same, the exposure power of all slice layers in the second 3D model can be set to 1000 μ w, and the gray value of each slice image is adjusted in the same adjusting mode, so that the processing efficiency is improved.

In still other embodiments, not only are the exposure parameters different between different 3D models, but the exposure parameters of different sliced layers are different for each individual 3D model. Therefore, in these embodiments, since the processing manner of each slice image at different printing heights is different, the slice images at the printing heights need to be processed layer by layer according to different conditions at each printing height, so as to match the exposure intensity required by the slice layer of each 3D model.

Referring to fig. 2, in step S130, the movement of the Z-axis driving system is controlled according to the printing height determined in step S120, and the energy radiation device is controlled to radiate energy to the printing forming surface according to the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data at each printing height determined in step S120, so as to obtain a solidified layer on the printing reference surface.

In step S140, a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model can be obtained on a component platform of the 3D printing apparatus by accumulating each cured layer by layer.

The application also discloses a 3D printing data processing method, wherein the 3D printing data processing method is realized by a 3D printing data processing system, and the data processing system is realized by software and hardware in computer equipment.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to fig. 4, which is a schematic diagram of a data processing system 2 according to an embodiment of the present application, the data processing system includes an interface module 21 and a processing module 22. The interface module 21 determines its interface type according to the connected device, which includes but is not limited to: universal serial interface, video interface, industrial control interface, etc. For example, the interface module 21 may include a USB interface, an HDMI interface, an RS232 interface, and the like. The interface module is connected with the camera device to acquire slice images, process data and the like of each slice layer in at least two different 3D models, and is further connected with the processing module 22 to send the acquired slice images, process data and the like of each slice layer in at least two different 3D models to the processing module. The processing module 22 includes: a CPU or a chip integrated with a CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA), and a multi-core processor. The processing module 22 also includes memory, registers, etc. for temporarily storing data.

The data processing system can be integrated in the 3D printing apparatus and thus connected to other devices of the 3D printing apparatus through the interface module, or the data processing system can be independent of the 3D printing apparatus and connected to other devices of the 3D printing apparatus through the interface module.

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic diagram of a data processing method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown, in step S210, slice images and process data for each slice layer in at least two different 3D models are acquired.

The number of the 3D models can be 2, 3, 4 and the like, as long as the printing breadth range of the 3D printing equipment is not exceeded. In some embodiments, after the data processing system obtains each 3D model, the data processing system may further adjust the placement position of each 3D model based on the size of the 3D printing apparatus, so as to effectively utilize the size and avoid overlapping between different 3D models. Alternatively, the step of adjusting the placement positions of the 3D models may be performed manually by an operator.

In an exemplary embodiment, the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power. The exposure time includes a time irradiated by the energy irradiation device when the slice layer is exposed; the exposure power includes power radiated by the energy radiation device, for example, in the case of a DLP printing apparatus, the exposure power is brightness of a web; as another example, for an LCD printing device, the exposure power is the brightness of the LED light source.

In an exemplary embodiment, continuing to refer to fig. 5, in step S220, a print height of each sliced layer is determined based on a slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model.

Here, since the slice layers in different 3D models have different slice thicknesses, in order to print a plurality of 3D models simultaneously in one print job, each print height needs to be calculated, so that a corresponding print job is performed at each print height, that is, the energy radiation device is made to radiate a corresponding slice image at each print height, so as to obtain a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model. Here, when slice images of a plurality of 3D models correspond to one printing height, the energy radiation device radiates the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models at the printing height.

In some embodiments, after each layer is printed, the print height of the next layer may be determined to move the Z-axis drive mechanism to the next print height. Here, the data processing system of the 3D printing apparatus confirms the printing height of the first layer before printing, and confirms the next printing height and the corresponding slice image after printing the first layer.

In a possible embodiment, since the print data of each 3D model includes the slice image of each slice layer of the model, and the slice thickness and exposure parameter corresponding to each slice image, each 3D model can determine the print height corresponding to each slice layer and the slice image and exposure parameter corresponding to the print height based on the slice image and exposure parameter. When the data processing system reads the plurality of 3D models, the data processing system may determine a position where the Z-axis driving mechanism should be located in the print job of the first layer based on the print height in each of the 3D models, and cause the energy radiation device to radiate a slice image corresponding to the print height based on the exposure parameter, and when a slice image of the plurality of 3D models is referred to at the print height, cause the energy radiation device to radiate a slice image corresponding to the plurality of 3D models. After each layer of printing work is finished, the data processing system analyzes the printing data of each 3D model to determine the next printing height and the corresponding slice image and exposure parameter, and the printing tasks under all the printing heights are finished by analogy so as to obtain the 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

In other embodiments, printing may be started after confirming each printing height and the corresponding slice image before printing. After acquiring the plurality of 3D models, the data processing system fuses the plurality of 3D models into one model, so as to print based on the fused model to obtain 3D objects corresponding to the plurality of 3D models, that is, a plurality of print data packets are fused into one print data packet for printing by the 3D printing device. Specifically, after reading the printing data of each 3D model, the data processing system sorts and arranges the printing heights, thereby generating a fusion model, where the printing data in the fusion model includes the printing heights to be printed, and the corresponding slice images and exposure parameters. And when the 3D printing mixture is printed based on the printing data in the fusion model, obtaining the 3D objects corresponding to the 3D models.

In other embodiments, to improve printing efficiency, the data processing system may further superimpose slice images belonging to the same printing height in each 3D model. In order to avoid the mutual influence of the slice images of different 3D models at the same printing height, the placing positions of the 3D models can be adjusted after the 3D models are obtained, or the placing positions of the 3D models can be adjusted at least before the first cured layer is printed, so that the slice images at the printing heights can be determined based on the placing positions of the 3D models, and the slice images at the same printing height can be overlapped.

The 3D printing equipment needs to print the slice layers corresponding to the plurality of 3D models at the same printing height, so that in order to print the slice layers corresponding to the 3D models at the same time, the energy radiation device needs to simultaneously radiate slice images corresponding to the slice layers of the 3D models at the current printing height, and therefore the slice images at the same printing height are overlapped and comprise the pixel point gray values corresponding to the slice images with the breadth sizes corresponding to the 3D models after the placing positions of the 3D models in the breadth of the 3D printing equipment are determined. Since the positions of the 3D models in the frame are determined before the first cured layer is printed, the positions of the 3D models do not affect each other, for example, there is no common situation where pixels are shared between slice images of two or more 3D models. As shown in fig. 6, a slice image 61, a slice image 62, and a slice image 63 are slice images of slice layers corresponding to three different 3D models at the same printing height, and after the positions of the 3D models in the breadth are determined by placement, a slice image 61 ', a slice image 62 ', and a slice image 63 ' are obtained, respectively, and after the three slice images are superimposed, that is, after gray values of corresponding pixel points in the three slice images are added, a superimposed image 64 is obtained, and after the superimposed image 64 is printed, a cured layer including slice images corresponding to the three different 3D models is obtained.

Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the slice image comprises a plurality of sub-slice images, each corresponding to a different region in the 3D model. These different regions refer to different parts of the 3D model, such as support parts, contour parts, filling parts, etc. Thus, the sub-slice image is an image corresponding to a region such as the support portion/contour portion/fill portion. The data processing system may superimpose sub-slice images belonging to the same region in the slice layer of each 3D model at the same printing height, respectively, and determine an exposure order of each sub-slice image based on the region.

In some cases, the exposure parameters in the plurality of 3D models are different. In some embodiments, when the energy radiation device sequentially radiates the slice images corresponding to the 3D models at the same printing height, the exposure parameters corresponding to the slice images may be adjusted accordingly. Continuing with the first printing height in fig. 3 as an example, at the first printing height, the slice image corresponding to the a-1 layer and the slice image corresponding to the B-1 layer need to be irradiated, and the exposure parameters required for the slice image of the a-1 layer and the slice image of the B-1 layer are different, the energy radiation device may be made to irradiate the slice image of the a-1 layer according to the exposure parameters corresponding to the a-1 layer, and then the energy radiation device may be made to irradiate the slice image of the B-1 layer according to the exposure parameters corresponding to the B-1 layer.

In other embodiments, to improve printing efficiency, the print data in each 3D model may be adaptively adjusted so that slice images with different exposure parameters can be printed at the same height at the same time.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

Furthermore, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

Additionally, the flowcharts and system block diagrams in the figures described above illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present application. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It should be noted that, through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that part or all of the present application can be implemented by software and combined with necessary general hardware platform. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application may be embodied in the form of a software product, and based on this, a computer readable and writable storage medium having a computer program of a 3D printing method stored thereon is provided, where the computer program of the 3D printing method is executed by a processor to implement the steps of the 3D printing method.

In addition, the present application may also provide a computer readable and writable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program of a 3D printing data processing method, the computer program of the 3D printing data processing method being executed by a processor to implement the steps of the 3D printing data processing method described above.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application.

In the embodiments provided herein, the computer readable and writable storage medium may include Read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory, a usb disk, a removable hard disk, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the instructions are transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. It should be understood, however, that computer-readable-writable storage media and data storage media do not include connections, carrier waves, signals, or other transitory media, but are intended to be non-transitory, tangible storage media. Disk and disc, as used in this application, includes Compact Disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

The application is operational with numerous general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. For example: personal computers, server computers, hand-held or portable devices, tablet-type devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

The application may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The application may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer-readable storage media including memory storage devices.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and utilities of the present application and are not intended to limit the application. Any person skilled in the art can modify or change the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, it is intended that all equivalent modifications or changes which can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concepts disclosed in the present application shall be covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A3D printing method, for a 3D printing device, the 3D printing method comprising:

acquiring slice images and process data of slice layers in at least two different 3D models, wherein the process data comprise slice thickness and exposure parameters of the slice images; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different;

determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model;

controlling the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment according to the printing heights, and printing each curing layer according to the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data under each printing height;

and accumulating the solidified layers layer by layer to obtain the 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

2. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power.

3. The 3D printing method according to claim 2, further comprising: and (3) enabling the exposure power of each slice image under the same printing height in each 3D model to be equal, and carrying out gray level processing on the slice images with the adjusted exposure power so as to match the exposure intensity required by the slice layers of each 3D model.

4. The 3D printing method according to claim 2, further comprising: based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model, the slice images at the same printing height are superimposed to simultaneously expose the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models.

5. The 3D printing method according to claim 4, wherein the slice image comprises a plurality of sub-slice images, each sub-slice image corresponding to a different region in the 3D model, and the step of superimposing slice images at the same printing height based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model comprises: and respectively superposing the sub-slice images belonging to the same area under the same printing height, and determining the exposure sequence of each sub-slice image based on the area.

6. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: after the print job for each print height is complete, the slice thickness of each 3D model slice layer is analyzed to determine the next print height.

7. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: and analyzing the slice thickness corresponding to each slice layer in each 3D model before printing to determine each printing height in the fusion model, so that the 3D printing device prints each solidified layer based on the fusion model to obtain a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

8. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting a placement position of each 3D model.

9. The 3D printing method according to claim 8, wherein the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model includes: and when the outline of the 3D model exceeds the breadth boundary of the 3D printing equipment or the positions of any two 3D models are overlapped, triggering early warning.

10. A3D printing data processing method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

acquiring slice images and process data of slice layers in at least two different 3D models; the process data comprises slice thickness and exposure parameters of each slice image; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different;

and determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model so as to control the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment according to the printing height and print each cured layer according to the corresponding slice image and corresponding process data under each printing height.

11. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 10, wherein the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power.

12. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 11, further comprising: and (3) enabling the exposure power of each slice image under the same printing height in each 3D model to be equal, and carrying out gray level processing on the slice images with the adjusted exposure power so as to match the exposure intensity required by the slice layers of each 3D model.

13. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 11, further comprising: based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model, the slice images at the same printing height are superimposed to simultaneously expose the slice images corresponding to the plurality of 3D models.

14. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 13, wherein the slice image includes a plurality of sub-slice images, each sub-slice image corresponding to a different region in the 3D model, and the step of superimposing slice images at the same print height based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model includes: and respectively superposing the sub-slice images belonging to the same area under the same printing height, and determining the exposure sequence of each sub-slice image based on the area.

15. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 10, wherein the step of determining the print height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: after the print job for each print height is complete, the slice thickness of each 3D model slice layer is analyzed to determine the next print height.

16. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 10, wherein the step of determining the print height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model comprises: and analyzing the slice thickness corresponding to each slice layer in each 3D model before printing to determine each printing height in the fusion model, so that the 3D printing device prints each solidified layer based on the fusion model to obtain a 3D object corresponding to each 3D model.

17. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model.

18. The 3D print data processing method according to claim 17, wherein the step of adjusting the placement position of each 3D model includes: and when the outline of the 3D model exceeds the breadth boundary of the 3D printing equipment or the positions of any two 3D models are overlapped, triggering early warning.

19. A 3D print data processing system, comprising:

the interface module is used for acquiring slice images and process data of each slice layer in at least two different 3D models; the process data comprises slice thickness and exposure parameters of each slice image; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different;

and the processing module is used for determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model, controlling the movement of a Z-axis driving mechanism in the 3D printing equipment according to the printing height and printing each cured layer according to the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data under each printing height.

20. The 3D print data processing system of claim 19 wherein the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power.

21. The 3D print data processing system of claim 19, wherein the processing module further equalizes exposure power of slice images at the same print height in each 3D model and grayscales the slice images with adjusted exposure power to match the exposure intensity required for the sliced layer of each 3D model.

22. The 3D print data processing system of claim 19 wherein the processing module further superimposes the slice images at the same print height to simultaneously expose slice images corresponding to multiple 3D models based on the exposure time corresponding to each 3D model.

23. The 3D print data processing system of claim 22, wherein the slice image comprises a plurality of sub-slice images, each corresponding to a different region in the 3D model, the processing module superimposes sub-slice images belonging to the same region at the same print height, respectively, and determines an exposure order of each sub-slice image based on the regions.

24. The 3D print data processing system of claim 19, wherein the processing module analyzes the slice thickness for each 3D model to determine a next print height after a print job for each print height is completed.

25. The 3D printing data processing system according to claim 19, wherein the processing module analyzes slice thicknesses corresponding to the slice layers in the respective 3D models before printing to determine respective printing heights in the merged model, so that the 3D printing device prints the respective cured layers based on the merged model to obtain the 3D object corresponding to the respective 3D models.

26. A 3D printing device for printing at least two different 3D models as 3D objects, the 3D printing device comprising:

a container for holding a material to be cured;

the energy radiation device is used for radiating energy based on the corresponding slice image and the corresponding process data at each printing height so as to cure the material to be cured positioned on the printing reference surface to obtain a corresponding cured layer;

a member platform, which is arranged corresponding to the energy radiation direction of the energy radiation device and is used for attaching and carrying the formed curing layer;

the Z-axis driving mechanism is used for driving the component platform to move in the Z-axis direction;

the control device is used for acquiring slice images and process data of each slice layer in at least two different 3D models; wherein the process data comprises slice thickness and exposure parameters for each of the slice images; wherein at least one process data in different 3D models is different; and the energy radiation device is used for determining the printing height of each sliced layer based on the slice thickness of each sliced layer in each 3D model so as to control the Z-axis driving mechanism to move to each printing height and enable the energy radiation device to radiate energy based on the corresponding sliced image and corresponding process data, so that each solidified layer is accumulated layer by layer on the component platform to obtain the corresponding 3D object.

27. The 3D printing device according to claim 26, wherein the exposure parameters include exposure time and exposure power.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising a stored computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, controls an apparatus in which the storage medium is located to perform the 3D printing method of any of claims 1 to 9.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising a stored computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, controls an apparatus in which the storage medium is located to perform the 3D print data processing method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.