CN212422185U

CN212422185U - Calibration device, calibration system and 3D printing equipment

Info

Publication number: CN212422185U
Application number: CN202020252560.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赖永辉
Original assignee: Shanghai Union Technology Corp
Current assignee: Shanghai Union Technology Corp
Priority date: 2020-03-04
Filing date: 2020-03-04
Publication date: 2021-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-04

Abstract

The application discloses calibration device, calibration system and 3D printing apparatus, calibration device detachably installs on 3D printing apparatus's scraper device, 3D printing apparatus still includes optical system, wherein, calibration device includes: the bracket mechanism is used for assembling the calibration device on the scraper device; the driving assembly is arranged on the bracket mechanism and used for driving the bracket mechanism to move along the length direction of the scraper device; and the measuring component is arranged on the support mechanism and is used for moving in a printing reference plane radiated by the optical system under the driving of the driving component so as to acquire the calibration information of the optical system. This application is through setting up drive assembly, gimbal mechanism and measuring component on calibration device for calibration device can obtain calibration device's demarcation information through drive assembly and measuring component through gimbal mechanism demountable installation on scraper device, has solved among the prior art and has used the problem that calibration plate is not convenient for carry installation and operation.

Description

Calibration device, calibration system and 3D printing equipment

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of 3D printing, in particular to a calibration device, a calibration system and 3D printing equipment.

Background

3D printing is one of the rapid prototyping technologies, which is a technology for constructing an object by using bondable materials such as powdered metal, plastic, and resin, etc. in a layer-by-layer printing manner, based on a digital model file. The 3D printing apparatus manufactures a 3D object by performing such a printing technique. The 3D printing equipment has wide application in the fields of dies, customized commodities, medical jigs, prostheses and the like due to high forming precision.

At present, a 3D printing device commonly used generates deviation after a galvanometer system of the 3D printing device is used for a certain time, so that distortion is generated on a focusing plane, the distortion is more obvious when the breadth is larger, and the influence on the size precision of a formed part is larger. Therefore, in order to improve the dimensional accuracy of the molded part, the galvanometer needs to be calibrated to eliminate dimensional deviation caused by distortion. The commonly used calibration mode at present is to set up a calibration plate matched with the working breadth for further calibration. With the increase of types of 3D printing devices, the preparation of a separate calibration plate for each type of 3D printing device for printing breadth is complicated and error-prone, and is not convenient for technicians to carry when performing door calibration.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the related art, an object of the present application is to provide a calibration device, a calibration system and a 3D printing apparatus, which are used to solve the problem that the calibration plate is inconvenient to carry, install and operate in the prior art.

To achieve the above and other related objects, the present application provides a calibration device detachably mounted on a doctor device of a 3D printing apparatus, the 3D printing apparatus further including an optical system, wherein the calibration device includes: the bracket mechanism is used for assembling the calibration device on the scraper device; the driving assembly is arranged on the support mechanism and used for driving the support mechanism to move along the length direction of the scraper device; and the measuring component is arranged on the support mechanism and is used for moving in the printing reference plane radiated by the optical system under the driving of the driving component so as to acquire the calibration information of the optical system.

In some embodiments, the drive assembly comprises: driving motor, hold-in range and gyro wheel mechanism, driving motor drive gyro wheel mechanism rotates to drive hold-in range transmission in the gyro wheel mechanism.

In some embodiments, the carriage mechanism includes a first assembly for assembling the drive motor and roller mechanism.

In some embodiments, the bracket mechanism further comprises a second assembly forming a first assembly with the drive assembly; the first mounting member is adapted to be removably mounted to the scraper device.

In some embodiments, the measurement assembly comprises: the displacement sensor is arranged on the support mechanism and used for detecting position information of the calibration device during movement along the scraper device; wherein the calibration information includes the location information.

In some embodiments, the displacement sensor is a magnetic scale.

In some embodiments, the measurement assembly comprises: the light sensing component is used for acquiring light sensing information of the light spot radiated by the optical system; wherein the calibration information includes the light induction information.

In some embodiments, the bracket mechanism comprises: and the third assembly is used for fixing the light sensing component at the joint of the support mechanism and the printing reference surface.

In some embodiments, the light sensing component is a light sensing device or a light sensing array composed of a plurality of light sensing devices.

In some embodiments, the light sensing component is a spot position detection device.

In some embodiments, the bracket mechanism further comprises: and the second assembling part is structurally matched with the scraper device and is used for being detachably arranged on the scraper device.

The present application further provides a calibration system for calibrating an optical system in a 3D printing apparatus, the calibration system includes: a scraper device which is arranged on the printing reference surface radiated by the optical system in a spanning mode and moves along the printing reference surface; the calibration device as described above; and the control device is connected with the scraper device, the optical system and the calibration device and comprises a calibration unit which calibrates the optical system based on the acquired calibration information.

In some embodiments, a second displacement sensor is provided on the blade device for detecting positional information in the printing reference plane when the blade device is moved.

In some embodiments, the second displacement sensor is a magnetic scale.

In some embodiments, the scraper device has a projection that mates with a mounting component of the indexing device.

The application also provides a 3D printing apparatus, includes: the optical system is used for providing light spot energy and selectively curing the material to be molded through light spot scanning; a container for containing the material to be molded; wherein the surface of the contained material is a printing reference surface; the calibration system as described above, the optical system is calibrated by using the calibration system.

In some embodiments, the number of the optical systems is plural, wherein at least two optical systems share the calibration system to calibrate each of the optical systems; alternatively, each optical system is individually configured with the calibration system to calibrate each optical system.

To sum up, calibration device, calibration system and 3D printing apparatus of this application have following beneficial effect: through set up drive assembly, gimbal mechanism and measuring component on calibration device for calibration device can obtain calibration device's demarcation information through drive assembly and measuring component through gimbal mechanism demountable installation on scraper device, has solved among the prior art and has used the problem that calibration plate is not convenient for carry installation and operation.

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 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a 3D printing apparatus in an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a doctor blade device in a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a control device in a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the calibration system of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the calibration device of the present application.

Fig. 6a to 6c are schematic structural diagrams illustrating an exemplary calibration apparatus according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 7a to 7b are schematic views illustrating an assembly structure of the doctor blade device and the calibration device in the calibration system of the present application in one embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a calibration process of the calibration system of the present application in one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present application when using an optical sensor device for calibration at calibration points.

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.

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.

Generally, a 3D printing apparatus prints a three-dimensional object by exposing and curing a material layer of a photocurable material layer by layer and accumulating the cured layers. The photo-curable material generally refers to a material that forms a cured layer after being irradiated by light (e.g., ultraviolet light), and includes but is not limited to: photosensitive resin, or a mixture of photosensitive resin and other materials. Examples of such other materials include ceramic powders, pigments, and the like. The optical system in the printing equipment can scan on the material layer by utilizing laser, and the material layer is solidified at the corresponding position of the material layer according to each pixel point in the pattern of the cross section layer, so that the cross section of the constructed object consistent with the pattern of the cross section layer is obtained.

Please refer to fig. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment, wherein the 3D printing apparatus at least includes: a container 1, an optical system 2, a Z-axis moving mechanism 3 with a member table 4, a control device 5, a doctor device (not shown), and the like.

The container 1 is used for containing a light-curable material, wherein the light-curable material includes any liquid material or powder material which is easy to be cured by light, and the liquid material includes: a photocurable resin liquid, or a resin liquid doped with a mixed material such as ceramic powder or a color additive. 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. The solidified material layer corresponding to the surface of the light solidified material contained by the container is used for a cross-section layer in the component object printed by the 3D printing equipment. For this reason, the surface of the light-curable material also becomes a printing reference surface irradiated by the optical system. The optical system 2 is disposed at an upper portion of the 3D printing apparatus, and is configured to provide spot energy and selectively cure a material to be molded through spot scanning. In some embodiments, the optical system may include a light source such as a laser generator, a lens assembly, and a vibrating mirror assembly. The lens group is used for changing the light path of laser and adjusting the focusing position of the laser beam, the vibrating lens group is used for converting the received cross section layer pattern into a path for drawing points and connecting points, the laser beam is controlled to irradiate the printing reference surface from the opening of the container according to the drawn points and path, the printing reference surface is scanned in a two-dimensional space, and the light-curing material scanned by the light beam is cured into a corresponding pattern curing layer. In a specific example, the mirror group may include two mirrors for changing an optical path to project the laser beam onto the target curing plane, and one of the mirrors may be used to adjust the beam to move in the X-axis direction, and the other mirror may be used to adjust the beam to move in the Y-axis direction.

The control device 5 is an electronic device including a processor, for example, a computer device, an embedded device, or an integrated circuit integrated with a CPU. For example, referring to fig. 3, which is a schematic structural diagram of a control device in a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the control device includes: a processing unit 51, a storage unit 52 and a plurality of interface units 53.

And each interface unit is respectively connected with a device which is independently packaged in 3D printing equipment such as an optical system and a Z-axis moving mechanism and transmits data through an interface. The apparatus further comprises at least one of: 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. RS232 interface connection detection device and Z axle moving mechanism, HDMI interface connection optical system.

The storage unit is used for storing the file package required by the 3D printing equipment. The file package describes the layered three-dimensional model, 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 optical system finishes irradiation to pattern and cure the light-cured material, the processing unit controls the Z-axis moving 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.

After the devices and mechanisms are assembled, or after the 3D printing apparatus is used for a period of time, a galvanometer (also called a scanning mirror group) of the optical system may deviate, thereby causing a distortion in the shape of the printed three-dimensional object, and finally affecting the dimensional accuracy of the formed part. Therefore, it is necessary to calibrate the optical system to eliminate the dimensional deviation due to the deviation of the optical system.

The application provides a calibration system. The calibration system is used for calibrating an optical system in the 3D printing equipment. Please refer to fig. 4, which is a schematic structural diagram of an exemplary calibration system according to the present disclosure. As shown, the calibration system comprises a doctor blade device 11 and a control device 13 on the 3D printing apparatus, and a calibration device 12 detachably mounted on the doctor blade device, wherein the control device 13 connects the doctor blade device 11, the calibration device 12 and the optical system 2 in the 3D printing apparatus. The control device 13 comprises a calibration unit (not shown) for calibrating the optical system based on the acquired calibration information.

The calibration means 12 is detachably mounted on the scraper means 11. Please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic structural diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a calibration apparatus according to the present disclosure. As shown, the calibration device includes a support mechanism 121, a drive assembly 122, and a measurement assembly 123. The support mechanism 121 is used for assembling the calibration device on the scraper device; the driving assembly 122 is arranged on the bracket mechanism 121 and used for driving the bracket mechanism 121 to move along the length direction of the scraper device; the measuring component 123 is disposed on the support mechanism 121, and is configured to move in a printing reference plane irradiated by the optical system under the driving of the driving component 122 to obtain calibration information of the optical system.

The support mechanism 121 includes a support body and a plurality of assembling components for assembling the driving component and the measuring component. The support body is of an integrally formed structure or a splicing structure, and the support body and all components assembled on the support body are driven by the driving component to integrally move.

In some embodiments, in order to maintain the calibration device moving along the scraper device during calibration in a stable manner, with as little falling, drifting or the like as possible, the holder mechanism comprises a second mounting part cooperating with the scraper device structure, the second mounting part being adapted to be detachably mounted on the scraper device, such that the holder mechanism mounts the calibration device on the scraper device by means of the second mounting part.

For example, please refer to fig. 6a to 6c, which are schematic structural diagrams of an exemplary embodiment of the calibration device of the present application. Fig. 6a is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a calibration device; FIG. 6b is a front view of the calibration device shown in FIG. 6 a; fig. 6c shows a left side view of the calibration arrangement shown in fig. 6 a. As shown in fig. 6a, the calibration device 61 includes a driving motor 311, a timing belt 312, a roller mechanism 313, a first assembly 321, a second assembly 322, a third assembly 323, a second assembly 325, a magnetic scale 331, and a light sensing component 332. Correspondingly, the first assembly 321, the second assembly 322, the third assembly 323 and the second assembly part 325 constitute the bracket mechanism 121 in fig. 5. The driving motor 311, the timing belt 312, and the roller mechanism 313 constitute the driving assembly 122 of fig. 5, wherein the roller mechanism 313 includes a driving pulley 3131, a driven pulley 3132, and a driven pulley 3133. The magnetic scale 331 and the photo-sensing part 332 constitute the measuring unit 123 in fig. 5.

Wherein the second fitting part 325 comprises a groove structure having a groove body shape matching the beam body structure of the mounting beam in the scraper device. In some embodiments, the beam structure of the doctor apparatus comprises a projection which cooperates with the groove structure of the second mounting member to enable the indexing means to be removably arranged on the doctor apparatus. For example, the beam body structure is T-shaped, and the shape of the groove body of the groove structure is matched with the shape of the protruding part in the T-shaped structure. When assembling, the protruding part on one side of the beam body is inserted into the groove body in the second assembling component, so that the second assembling component can move along the beam body along with the whole bracket body.

Wherein, to limit the displacement of the driving assembly, the shape of the slot body is a structure with a small mouth and a big inside, as shown in fig. 6 c. Correspondingly, the bulge of the mounting beam is narrower on the side close to the beam body and wider on the side of the outer edge.

The drive assembly 122 includes a drive member and a driven member. The driving unit is a unit that converts electric energy into kinetic energy through energy conversion, and examples thereof include a driving motor and the like. The driven part is a part for converting the kinetic energy provided by the driving part into a part which can be used for the calibration device to move along the scraper device in two directions integrally, and examples of the parts include: the device comprises a roller mechanism, a synchronous belt wound on the roller mechanism and the like.

The driving motor drives the roller mechanism to rotate so as to drive the synchronous belt on the roller mechanism to transmit. Wherein the driving motor includes but is not limited to: stepper motors, servo motors, linear motors, etc.

In some embodiments, the driving motor is provided with a sensor inside, for example, a sensor for measuring the number of rotation turns of the driving motor is provided inside, and the sensor is used for obtaining the movement displacement of the calibration device based on the number of rotation turns of the driving motor.

The roller mechanism may include a drive wheel and a driven wheel. In operation, the driving wheel of the roller mechanism moves under the driving of the driving motor, and simultaneously drives the driven wheel to move through the transmission force of the synchronous belt, so as to drive the support mechanism to move on the scraper device.

Correspondingly, the bracket mechanism comprises a first assembly for assembling the drive motor and the roller mechanism. The support body is provided with an assembly hole, and a rotating shaft of the driving motor penetrates through the assembly hole to be connected into a shaft center hole of the driving wheel of the rolling mechanism and drive the driving wheel to rotate. The first assembly component comprises at least one shaft body, and one end of the shaft body is fixed on the bracket body to form a state approximately perpendicular to the bracket body. The shaft body is penetrated through a shaft center hole of the driven wheel. Wherein the number of the shaft bodies is the same as that of the driven wheels. When the number of the shaft bodies is multiple, the shaft bodies are dispersedly fixed on the bracket body.

Taking fig. 6a as an example, a driving motor 311 and a roller mechanism 313 are mounted on the first assembly 321, wherein the roller mechanism 313 includes a driving pulley 3131, a driven pulley 3132 and a driven pulley 3133, the driving motor 311 is fixed on the first assembly 321 by, for example, a bolt, and a rotating shaft of the driving motor passes through a mounting hole of the first assembly. A driving pulley 3131 of the roller mechanism 313 is mounted on a rotation shaft of the driving motor, a driven pulley 3132 and a driven pulley 3133 are symmetrically fixed below a side of the driving pulley 3131 mounted on the first assembly 321 by, for example, bolts, and a timing belt is disposed on the roller mechanism to perform force transmission. In actual operation, when the driving motor 311 drives the driving pulley 3131 to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in fig. 6a, the driven pulley 3132 moves in an X direction as shown in fig. 6a on the doctor apparatus by the timing belt connecting the driving pulley 3131 and the driven pulley 3132, and then another driven pulley 3133 mounted on the first assembly 321 also moves in the X direction as shown in the drawing, and contracts the timing belt between the driving pulley 3131 and the driven pulley 3133, thereby achieving a moving operation of the calibration apparatus along the doctor apparatus.

In other embodiments, to increase the controllability of the movement of the drive assembly on the mounting beam, to reduce measurement inaccuracies due to slippage of the timing belt and the mounting beam in the drive assembly, the holder mechanism further comprises a second assembly forming with the drive assembly a first mounting part for detachable mounting on the doctor apparatus. Correspondingly, the mounting beam of the scraper device is provided with an assembly gap so as to be matched with the first assembly part for use.

Taking fig. 6a as an example, the first assembly 321 is connected with the second assembly 322 by a bolt, for example, as shown in fig. 6a, the second assembly may be L-shaped, and forms a first assembly part with the driven wheel 3132 and the driven wheel 3133 while the second assembly 322 is mounted on the first assembly 321, when the calibration device is mounted on the scraper device, the second assembly 322 passes through a mounting gap on a mounting beam of the scraper device, so that the driven wheel 3132 and the driven wheel 3133 are in contact with the mounting beam of the scraper device, and the bracket mechanism is moved on the scraper device by a driving force of the synchronous belt.

The measuring component 123 is configured to detect a position of the light beam emitted by the optical system in the printing reference surface during movement of the calibration device, and send the measured light beam and the position of the light beam in the printing reference surface to the control device in the 3D printing apparatus, so that the control device can complete calibration.

Here, the measuring unit 123 measures a light spot formed by the light beam on the printing reference surface according to the angle of the light beam radiated by the optical system, and measures the actual position of the calibration device in the printing reference surface.

Here, the measuring device 123 includes at least a light sensing part for acquiring light sensing information of a spot irradiated by the optical system.

The light sensing part refers to a device capable of sensing light energy of a light source such as laser and converting the light energy into an electrical signal. The light sensing component is connected with the control device, and when the light beam irradiates on the light sensing component, the light sensing component converts light energy into light sensing information and outputs the light sensing information to the control device. The light sensing component may comprise a single light sensing device, a light sensing array, or a spot position detection device. The light sensing array is formed by arranging a plurality of light sensing devices. The spot Position detecting Device is a Device capable of sensing light energy of a light source such as a laser and obtaining Position information based on the light energy, such as a PSD (Position Sensitive Device), a CCD (Charge-coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, a laser Position finding sensor, and the like. In order to reduce the light interference of the light sensing component, a light-transmitting plate is covered on the light sensing component. The light-transmitting plate is provided with a light-transmitting hole. The light-transmitting plate can be made of opaque materials or materials with weak light transmission capacity, and the light sensing device is difficult to receive light energy which enables the light sensing device to generate light sensing signals except the light-transmitting hole. In addition, the aperture of the light hole is smaller than the diameter of the light spot, so that the light spot position detection can be conveniently carried out by using a low-cost photoelectric sensor. Similarly, the light sensation array is provided with a light-transmitting plate, and the light-transmitting plate is provided with light-transmitting holes corresponding to the light sensation devices, and the aperture of each light-transmitting hole is smaller than the diameter of each light spot.

In addition, due to the influence of the energy of the light spot radiated by the optical system, the power density that the light sensing component can bear needs to be considered when selecting the light sensing component. One way is to reduce the power density radiated by the optical system. In another mode, the light sensing component further comprises a light attenuation lens, which can reduce light energy transmitted through the light hole to protect the light sensing component from normal operation.

Wherein, the light induction information may only represent the induction of light radiation and may also represent the intensity of the induced light radiation. For example, the light sensing part includes a photodiode, and when a light beam is irradiated onto the photodiode, the light sensing part outputs light sensing information indicating that light irradiation is sensed. For another example, the light sensing component includes a charge coupled device, and when the light beam irradiates the photodiode, the light sensing component outputs light sensing information including a light irradiation intensity value. And the light sensing component transmits the output light sensing information to the calibration device. Alternatively, the light sensing information may be position information output based on the acquired light sensing information.

In order to maintain the light sensing component on the printing reference surface, the bracket mechanism further comprises a third assembly, and the third assembly is used for fixing the light sensing component at the joint of the bracket mechanism and the printing reference surface, so that the sensing plane of the light sensing component is on the actual printing surface, namely the sensing plane of the light sensing component is flush with the printing reference surface. The third assembly may be fixedly connected to the bracket body, or may be configured to slide on the bracket body, so that the light sensing component provided on the third assembly is flush with the printing reference surface to obtain light sensing information.

Taking fig. 6a as an example, the third assembly 323 is provided as a member having an L-shaped structure, one end of which is connected to the first assembly 321 by, for example, a bolt, and the other end of which is provided with the light sensing member 332, so that a sensing plane of the light sensing member 332 is flush with a printing reference plane to acquire light sensing information. In addition, in some examples, the third assembly may further be provided with a plurality of bolt holes so as to adjust the distance between the third assembly and the printing reference surface according to actual requirements when the third assembly is connected by bolts.

The measuring assembly 123 further comprises a displacement sensor arranged on the holder means for detecting position information of the calibration means during movement along the doctor apparatus. In some embodiments, the displacement sensor is a magnetic scale to provide more accurate positional information of the calibration device during movement of the calibration device along the doctor device in the print datum. In some embodiments, after the first mounting portion is mounted on the blade device, the displacement sensor may be mounted on the second assembly directly or indirectly via other means, such as a mounting portion of a U-shaped structure, etc., so as to detect the position information of the calibration device in the printing reference plane.

For example, the displacement sensor is a speed sensor for measuring the moving speed of the calibration device, and the control device then determines the distance of the calibration device from the initial position to the current position based on the speed information provided by the displacement sensor to obtain the position information of the calibration device during its movement along the doctor blade device. In another example, the displacement sensor directly measures displacement, and displacement measurement and position positioning can be realized according to the number of electromagnetic waves detected by electromagnetic induction.

Taking fig. 6c as an example, after the second assembly 322 of the calibration device passes through the assembly gap on the scraper device to complete the assembly between the driving component and the scraper device, the magnetic scale 331 can be disposed at the end of the second assembly 322 by means of a U-shaped member through, for example, a bolt, so as to detect the position information of the calibration device moving along the direction of the scraper.

In a specific example, as shown in fig. 6a-6c, the calibration device 61 includes a driving motor 311, a timing belt 312, a roller mechanism 313, which constitute a driving assembly, wherein the roller mechanism 313 includes a driving wheel 3131, a driven wheel 3132, and a driven wheel 3133; a first assembly member 321, a second assembly member 322, a third assembly member 323, and a second assembly member 325 that constitute a bracket mechanism; and a magnetic scale 331 and a photosensitive member 332 constituting a measuring unit.

In this example, the first assembly 321 is mounted with a driving motor 311 and a roller mechanism 313, wherein the driving motor 311 is fixed to the first assembly 321 by, for example, bolts and a rotation shaft of the driving motor passes through a mounting hole of the first assembly. A driving pulley 3131 of the roller mechanism 313 is mounted on a rotation shaft of the driving motor, a driven pulley 3132 and a driven pulley 3133 are symmetrically fixed below a side of the driving pulley 3131 mounted on the first assembly 321 by, for example, bolts, and a timing belt is disposed on the roller mechanism to perform force transmission.

Further, second assembly 322 is connected to first assembly 321 by, for example, bolts, and as shown, second assembly may be L-shaped, constituting a first fitting part with driven pulley 3132 and driven pulley 3133 while second assembly 322 is mounted to first assembly 321.

In cooperation with the scraper device, in order to increase the controllability of the movement of the driving assembly on the mounting beam, and reduce the inaccurate measurement caused by the slipping of the synchronous belt and the mounting beam in the driving assembly, the second assembly 322 passes through the assembly gap on the mounting beam of the scraper device, so that the driven wheel 3132 and the driven wheel 3133 are in contact with the mounting beam of the scraper device, and the support mechanism is driven to move on the scraper device by the driving force of the synchronous belt. In addition, in order to maintain the calibration device moving along the scraper device during calibration in a stable manner, and to minimize dropping, drifting, etc., the second mounting member 325 comprises a groove structure, which cooperates with a protrusion in the scraper device, so that the calibration device can be detachably mounted on the scraper device.

After the second assembly 322 of the calibration device passes through the assembly gap on the scraper device to complete the assembly between the driving assembly and the scraper device, a magnetic scale 331 is disposed at the end of the second assembly 322 by means of a U-shaped member through, for example, a bolt, for detecting the position information of the calibration device moving in the direction of the scraper.

The third assembly 323 is connected to the first assembly 321 by, for example, a bolt, and as shown in the figure, the third assembly 323 is provided as a member having an L-shaped structure, one end of which is connected to the first assembly 321 by, for example, a bolt, and the other end of which is provided with the light sensing member 332, so that a sensing plane of the light sensing member 332 is flush with a printing reference plane to acquire light sensing information.

In actual operation, when the driving motor 311 drives the driving pulley 3131 to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in fig. 6a, the driven pulley 3132 moves in an X direction as shown in fig. 6a on the doctor apparatus by the timing belt connecting the driving pulley 3131 and the driven pulley 3132, and then another driven pulley 3133 mounted on the first assembly 321 also moves in the X direction as shown in the drawing, and contracts the timing belt between the driving pulley 3131 and the driven pulley 3133, thereby achieving a moving operation of the calibration apparatus along the doctor apparatus. In addition, during the movement of the calibration device along the doctor blade device, the magnetic scale 331 acquires position information of the calibration device, the light sensing part 332 acquires light sensing information, and the acquired position information and light sensing information are transmitted to the control device as calibration information so that it calibrates the optical system of the 3D printing apparatus based on the calibration information.

In addition, a second displacement sensor can be arranged on the scraper device and used for detecting the position information of the scraper device in the printing reference surface when the scraper device moves. In some embodiments, the second position sensor is a magnetic scale to provide more accurate position information of the doctor blade device in the print datum.

For example, the displacement sensor is a speed sensor for measuring a moving speed of the blade device, and then the control device determines a distance between the blade device from the initial position to the current position based on the speed information provided by the displacement sensor to obtain position information during the movement of the blade device along the printing reference surface. In another example, the displacement sensor directly measures displacement, and displacement measurement and position positioning can be realized according to the number of electromagnetic waves detected by electromagnetic induction.

Please refer to fig. 7a to 7b, which are schematic views illustrating an assembly structure of the doctor blade device and the calibration device in the calibration system of the present application in one embodiment. Fig. 7a is a schematic perspective view showing the assembly of the doctor blade device and the calibration device, and fig. 7b is a front view showing the assembly of the doctor blade device and the calibration device. As shown, the calibration device 71 includes a first fitting portion 712 and a second fitting portion (not shown), and the scraper device 72 includes a mounting beam 721 having a projection (not shown). In operation, the calibration device is assembled with the mounting beam 721 of the doctor apparatus by means of the first assembly portion 712 and is engaged with the projection of the doctor apparatus by means of the second assembly portion, so that the calibration device 71 can be moved along the doctor apparatus 72 by the driving of the driving assembly 713.

It should be noted that the connection mode and the shape structure of the above components are only examples, and those skilled in the art may make modifications and variations according to the needs of users and actual situations, and are not described herein again.

When the calibration device is assembled on the scraper device to perform calibration operation, the calibration unit in the control device calibrates the optical system of the 3D printing equipment according to the calibration information acquired from the calibration device and the scraper device.

The calibration unit comprises at least one of a CPU or a chip integrated with the CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA) and a multi-core processor. The processor of the calibration unit may be shared with the processor in the control device or may be provided independently, or the calibration unit may provide calibrated hardware and software for the optical system of the 3D printing apparatus by means of a hardware circuit provided by the control device.

The calibration unit calibrates the optical system based on actual position information corresponding to the acquired light sensing information and calibration position information corresponding to the actual position information. The calibration unit is preset with position information of each calibration point in the printing reference plane, and controls the light sensing device to acquire light sensing information when the optical system radiates a light spot to a corresponding calibration point or radiates a light spot according to a corresponding calibration point, and calibrates the optical system by using actual displacement position information of the light sensing device in the printing reference plane or actual deflection position information of a galvanometer of the optical system when the light sensing information is acquired. For this reason, in some calibration methods, the calibration position information is position information of a calibration point in the printing reference plane, and is expressed by (x)₀，y₀) To indicate. In other calibration modes, the calibration position information refers to a galvanometer calibration point (x) in the optical system₀，y₀) Deflection angle information of galvanometer when radiating light spot, using (alpha)₀，β₀) To indicate. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the two above are known in terms of the corner relationship of a right triangle in spaceWhen one of the calibration position information is used for calibrating the other calibration position information, the other calibration position information can be obtained through calculation.

Please refer to fig. 8, which is a diagram illustrating a calibration process of the calibration system of the present application in one embodiment. As shown in the figure, the doctor device 81 is moved in the X direction shown in the figure in the printing reference plane by the aforementioned timing belt mechanism, and the calibration device 82 is mounted on the doctor device 81 by the aforementioned bracket mechanism and moved along the doctor device 81 under the driving of the aforementioned driving assembly, that is, moved in the Y direction shown in the figure in the printing reference plane, so that the calibration device can be arbitrarily moved in the printing reference plane. In this example, the blade device is moved from the position a to the position C in the X direction shown in the figure, and the calibration device 82 is moved from the position D to the position E in the Y direction shown in the figure. When the scraper device 81 moves from the position A to the position C along the X direction, the position information of the scraper device can be obtained through a magnetic grid ruler arranged on the scraper device, and further the position information of a calibration device, namely a light-sensitive component, which is assembled on the scraper device in the X direction is obtained, when the calibration device 82 moves from the position D to the position E along the Y direction, the position information of the light-sensitive component can be obtained through the magnetic grid ruler arranged on the calibration device, and further the position information of the light-sensitive component in the Y direction is obtained, and therefore the actual position information of the light-sensitive component in a printing reference plane can be obtained. Alternatively, in the case where the light-sensing component of the calibration device 82 is a spot position detector, since the spot position detector can output current spot position information based on the received spot radiation energy, the spot position detector can directly acquire actual position information of the light-sensing component within the printing reference plane.

Based on the description of the calibration structure, the working process of the calibration system will be described by taking the example that the measuring component comprises the magnetic grid ruler and the light sensing device. When the control device controls the optical system to the preset calibration point position (x)₀，y₀) When the light spot is radiated, the working process of the calibration system is described by taking the example that the calibration position information and the actual position information are both represented by position data in orthogonal coordinates. Wherein the actual position information of the light-sensing part in the printing reference plane when sensing the light-sensing information can be obtained fromThe magnetic grid ruler on the scraper device and the magnetic grid ruler on the calibration device.

Please refer to fig. 9, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present application when the optical sensor device is used for calibration at the calibration point. As shown, wherein the solid dots represent the nominal point location C (x)₀，y₀) The cross line indicates the actual position information A (x)₁，y₁). In one embodiment, the calibration device moves in the printing reference plane by means of the driving component and the scraper device to acquire the actual position information of the light spot in the printing reference plane through the magnetic grid ruler on the scraper device and the magnetic grid ruler on the calibration device, and the calibration system determines the offset between the actual position information in the printing reference plane and the corresponding calibration position information to calibrate the optical system. When the control device controls the optical system to the preset calibration point position C (x)₀，y₀) When radiating light spots, the calibration device controls the light-sensitive device to be at the corresponding calibration point C (x)₀，y₀) The vicinity moves to make the light-sensitive device coincide with the light spot position, and actual position information A (x) of the light-sensitive device is obtained₁，y₁). Upon acquiring the actual position information A (x)₁，y₁) And the corresponding calibration position information C (x)₀，y₀) The control means calculates the actual position information A (x)₁，y₁) And nominal position information C (x)₀，y₀) And storing the obtained offset and the corresponding calibration position information in a calibration file. And traversing the positions of the calibration points by the calibration system according to the mode to obtain the offset of the galvanometer in each calibration point position in the printing amplitude of the optical system. Wherein the light sensing device comprises a light sensing device or a light sensing array, and the calibration device can control the light sensing device to move in a manner of obtaining the actual position information A (x) of the light spot position, i.e. the light sensing device or the light sensing array₁，y₁): the light sensing device traverses the whole area (for example, 1cm × 1cm area) with the calibration point as the center to obtain light sensing information, and analyzes the position information corresponding to all the light sensing information obtained during the traversal to obtain the actual position of the center of the light spotInformation A (x)₁，y₁). The control device can determine (Δ x, Δ y) as corresponding calibration position information C (x)₀，y₀) The amount of offset of (c). Wherein Δ x ═ x₁-x₀),Δy＝(y₁-y₀)。

In another embodiment, the control device is configured to calibrate the optical system by moving the position of the light spot irradiated by the optical system so that the light sensing device outputs corresponding light sensing information at a calibration position, and determining an offset between actual position information of the optical system and corresponding calibration position information. When the control device controls the optical system to the preset calibration point position C (x)₀，y₀) When radiating a light spot, the calibration position information and the actual position information can also be both represented by position data in a declination coordinate, namely a calibration point position C (x)₀，y₀) Can be corresponding to the deflection angle coordinate (alpha) of the galvanometer in the optical system₀，β₀). The working process of the calibration system is as follows: the control device controls the optical system to calibrate the position (alpha)₀，β₀) The light spot is radiated by the declination angle, and the light sensing device moves to the corresponding angle (alpha) under the driving of the calibration device₀，β₀) Index point position C (x)₀，y₀). For the reasons already described, the actual position of the light spot on the printing reference surface is a (x)₁，y₁) The control device controls the optical system to finely adjust the deflection angle of the galvanometer so that the galvanometer is (alpha)₁，β₁) The deflection angle is radiated to C (x) where the light sensing device is positioned₀，y₀) Location. The control device calculates the actual position information (alpha)₁，β₁) And nominal position information (alpha)₀，β₀) And storing the obtained offset and the corresponding calibration position information in a calibration file. And traversing the positions of the calibration points by the calibration system according to the mode to obtain the offset of the galvanometer in each calibration point position in the printing amplitude of the optical system. Wherein the light sensing device comprises a light sensing device or a light sensing array, and the control device can control the optical system to move in the following way to obtain the galvanometer cursorFixed position (alpha)₀，β₀) Actual deviation in irradiation: the light sensing device is positioned in the printing reference plane and corresponds to (alpha)₀，β₀) Angular index point position C (x)₀，y₀) The optical system is controlled by a control device to (alpha)₀，β₀) Traversing the whole area (for example, 1cm multiplied by 1cm area) for obtaining the light sensing information, and analyzing the deflection angle information of the galvanometer corresponding to all the light sensing information obtained during the traversing to obtain the position C (x) of the light spot center at the calibration point position₀，y₀) Deflection angle information (alpha) corresponding to time₁，β₁) And determining therefrom the galvanometer-oriented calibration position (alpha)₀，β₀) The actual deviation upon irradiation is (Δ α, Δ β), where Δ α ═ α₁-α₀),Δβ＝(β₁-β₀)。

In addition, in order to improve the efficiency of moving the light sensing device in the printing reference plane to acquire light sensing information, the light sensing device may be configured to include a light sensing array composed of a plurality of light sensing devices, and one of the light sensing devices in the light sensing array may be defined as a reference light sensing device. In this case, since the light sensing array includes a plurality of light sensing devices, when the light sensing array is moved, the position of the center of the light spot can be calculated based on the positional relationship information between the light sensing device and the reference light sensing device by acquiring the light sensing information from any one of the light sensing devices. The embodiment using the light sensing array to calibrate at the calibration point is similar to the embodiment using a single light sensing device to calibrate at the calibration point, and is not described herein again.

The utility model provides a calibration system sets up drive assembly, gimbal mechanism and measuring component through adopting on calibration device for calibration device can set up on scraper device through gimbal mechanism detachably, and independently remove on scraper device through drive assembly to and obtain calibration device's demarcation information through measuring component, make calibration system based on the technical scheme that information was markd carries out optical system is markd to demarcation information, solved among the prior art use calibration board be not convenient for carry installation and operation, and the calibration precision is not high, the uniformity is poor problem.

The application also provides a 3D printing device, the 3D printing device comprises an optical system, a container and the calibration system.

Wherein the optical system is used for providing light spot energy and selectively solidifying the material to be molded through light spot scanning. Wherein the material to be molded is a light-cured material. The photocurable material includes any liquid material that is readily photocurable, examples of which include: a photocurable resin liquid, or a resin liquid doped with a mixed material such as ceramic powder or a color additive. In some embodiments, the optical system may include a light source such as a laser generator, a lens assembly, and a galvanometer. In a specific example, the galvanometer may include two mirrors for changing an optical path to project the laser beam onto the target curing plane, and one of the mirrors may be for adjusting the beam to move in the X-axis direction and the other mirror may be for adjusting the beam to move in the Y-axis direction.

The container is used for containing a material to be formed, and the surface of the contained material is a printing reference surface. Wherein the materials include, but are not limited to: a photocurable resin, or a mixture of a photocurable resin and another material such as a coloring material or ceramics. In SLA-based printing devices the printing reference plane is the level of the material to be shaped.

The 3D printing equipment utilizes the calibration system to calibrate the optical system. Specifically, the control device controls the optical system to radiate a light spot in a printing reference plane, the calibration device moves in the printing reference plane under the driving of the driving component to acquire calibration information, the calibration information comprises light induction information and position information thereof, and the control device calibrates the optical system based on actual position information corresponding to the acquired light induction information and calibration position information corresponding to the actual position information.

In one example, when the control device controls the optical system to a preset calibration point position C (x)₀，y₀) When radiating light spots, the calibration device controls the light-sensitive device to be at the corresponding calibration point C (x)₀，y₀) The vicinity is moved to make the light-sensitive device coincide with the light spot position, andactual position information A (x) of the light-sensing device₁，y₁). Upon acquiring the actual position information A (x)₁，y₁) And the corresponding calibration position information, the control device calculates the actual position information A (x)₁，y₁) And nominal position information C (x)₀，y₀) And storing the obtained offset and the corresponding calibration position information in a calibration file.

In another example, when the control device controls the optical system to a preset index point position C (x)₀，y₀) When radiating a light spot, the calibration position information and the actual position information can also be both represented by position data in a declination coordinate, namely a calibration point position C (x)₀，y₀) Can be corresponding to the deflection angle coordinate (alpha) of the galvanometer in the optical system₀，β₀). The working process of the calibration system is as follows: the control device controls the optical system to calibrate the position (alpha)₀，β₀) While the calibration device controls the light sensing device to move to the corresponding angle (alpha)₀，β₀) Index point position C (x)₀，y₀). For the reasons already described, the actual position of the light spot on the printing reference surface is a (x)₁，y₁) The control device controls the optical system to finely adjust the deflection angle of the galvanometer so that the galvanometer is (alpha)₁，β₁) The deflection angle is radiated to C (x) where the light sensing device is positioned₀，y₀) Location. The control device calculates the actual position information (alpha)₁，β₁) And nominal position information (alpha)₀，β₀) And storing the obtained offset and the corresponding calibration position information in a calibration file.

In practical applications, the number of the optical systems of the 3D printing apparatus may be plural, in which case at least two optical systems may share one calibration system to calibrate each optical system. Alternatively, each optical system may be individually calibrated by using its corresponding calibration system.

The utility model provides a 3D printing apparatus, through adopting demountable installation on the scraper device and borrow its drive assembly along scraper device autonomous movement and borrow its calibration device who marks information by its measuring device, make the calibration system based on the technical scheme that information carries out the demarcation to optical system marks has solved among the prior art and has used the calibration board not convenient for carry installation and operation and mark the problem that the precision is not high, the uniformity is poor.

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. Calibration device, wherein the calibration device is detachably mounted on a doctor device of a 3D printing apparatus, the 3D printing apparatus further comprising an optical system, wherein the calibration device comprises:

the bracket mechanism is used for assembling the calibration device on the scraper device;

the driving assembly is arranged on the support mechanism and used for driving the support mechanism to move along the length direction of the scraper device; and

and the measuring component is arranged on the support mechanism and is used for moving in the printing reference plane radiated by the optical system under the driving of the driving component so as to acquire the calibration information of the optical system.

2. The calibration arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes: driving motor, hold-in range and gyro wheel mechanism, driving motor drive gyro wheel mechanism rotates to drive hold-in range transmission in the gyro wheel mechanism.

3. The calibration device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the bracket mechanism comprises a first assembly for assembling the drive motor and the roller mechanism.

4. The calibration apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bracket mechanism further comprises a second assembly component forming a first assembly part with the drive assembly; the first mounting member is adapted to be removably mounted to the scraper device.

5. Calibration arrangement according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the measurement assembly comprises: the displacement sensor is arranged on the support mechanism and used for detecting position information of the calibration device during movement along the scraper device;

wherein the calibration information includes the location information.

6. The calibration device according to claim 5, wherein the displacement sensor is a magnetic scale.

7. The calibration arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly comprises: the light sensing component is used for acquiring light sensing information of the light spot radiated by the optical system;

wherein the calibration information includes the light induction information.

8. The calibration device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the bracket mechanism comprises: and the third assembly is used for fixing the light sensing component at the joint of the support mechanism and the printing reference surface.

9. The calibration device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light sensing component is a light sensing device or a light sensing array formed by a plurality of light sensing devices.

10. The calibration device according to claim 7, wherein the light sensing component is a light spot position detection device.

11. The calibration device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bracket mechanism further comprises: and the second assembling part is structurally matched with the scraper device and is detachably arranged on the scraper device.

12. A calibration system for calibrating an optical system in a 3D printing device, the calibration system comprising:

a scraper device which is arranged on the printing reference surface radiated by the optical system in a spanning mode and moves along the printing reference surface;

calibration apparatus according to any one of claims 1-11; and

the control device is connected with the scraper device, the optical system and the calibration device and comprises a calibration unit, and the calibration unit calibrates the optical system based on the acquired calibration information.

13. The calibration system according to claim 12, wherein a second displacement sensor is provided on the doctor blade device for detecting position information in the printing reference plane when the doctor blade device is moved.

14. The calibration system of claim 13, wherein the second displacement sensor is a magnetic scale.

15. The calibration system of claim 12, wherein the scraper device has a protrusion that mates with a mounting component of the calibration device.

16. A3D printing apparatus, comprising:

the optical system is used for providing light spot energy and selectively curing the material to be molded through light spot scanning;

a container for containing the material to be molded; wherein the surface of the contained material is a printing reference surface;

a calibration system according to any one of claims 12-15, wherein the optical system is calibrated using the calibration system.

17. The 3D printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the number of the optical systems is plural, wherein at least two optical systems share the calibration system to calibrate each of the optical systems; alternatively, each optical system is individually configured with the calibration system to calibrate each optical system.