EA035734B1 - Multi-nozzle and multi-functional 3d printer and printing head trereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to 3D printing using FDM technology, in particular, to creation of a multi-nozzle and multi-functional printer and its printing head. The objective of the invention is to create a 3D printer for manufacture of three-dimensional forms, having a multi-nozzle and multi-functional printing head. The technical result is an increased functionality of the printing head that can use various types of printing material, various diameters and various colors, without stopping the printing process of three-dimensional forms, which allows obtaining products with better qualities and properties and with increased productivity. The technical result is achieved by provision of a 3D printer comprising a multi-nozzle printing head carrying assembled extruders along the radius that have a heating element and a nozzle, clamping mechanisms and fittings to feed plastic, the printing head being rotatable on support bushings, on the shaft for moving the nozzles during the printing process on materials with various properties, depending on the program of layer-by-layer product creation. Also used to extrude plastic is a gear wheel common for all extruders and having the shape of a cylinder tapered on both sides, wherein the gear wheel can move freely in a longitudinal groove on the side of the printing head housing.

Description

The invention relates to 3D-ne4amu using FDM technology, in particular to the creation of a multi-nozzle and multifunctional printer and its print head.

Known three-layer three-dimensional printer containing a shell, a platform for lifting the printer, a nozzle mechanism, a transverse movement mechanism along the X axis and a transverse movement mechanism along the Y axis; the nozzle mechanism is located on the upper side of the body and is driven by the X-axis transverse movement mechanism for horizontal movement in the X-axis direction, the nozzle mechanism is driven by the Y-axis transverse movement mechanism for horizontal Y movement, the printer lifting platform is located below the nozzle mechanism and can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction, the nozzle mechanism includes an upper end support and a plurality of nozzles, the nozzles are attached to the lower side of the upper end support, a plurality of feed holes are formed in the upper end support in the vertical direction, and the feed holes are configured to correspond to the nozzles and communicate with the corresponding nozzles; and many nozzles are located together, the size of the 3D printer is reduced, multiple nozzles can perform multi-color model printing, and a model with a large number of circular arc slopes or hollow decorative elements can be printed (CN 106064479A, class B29C 67/00, B33Y 30 / 00, 2016-11-02).

The disadvantages of this device include the complexity of the design, uneven printing, in addition, the possibility of using the print head is limited by the location of the nozzles.

A device with a plurality of nozzles for a 3D printer is known, which belongs to the field of 3D printing. Silent multi-piece device contains a nozzle module and a nozzle switching module, and the nozzle module contains working nozzles and non-working nozzles, the nozzle switching module contains a fan-shaped nozzle frame, a driven shaft, a transmission belt, a suspension frame and a drive mechanism, working nozzles and non-working nozzles are fixed on the nozzle frame in the form of a fan, and the drive mechanism drives the driven shaft, which drives the fan-shaped nozzle frame to allow it to rotate in the fan-shaped plane. Interference between the nozzles is prevented by using the rotation mode of the nozzle frame, and nozzle switching can be realized using only one motor, so that the silent multi-nozzle device is simple in structure and has a low failure rate and low cost. Numerous nozzles, of different model, can be mounted on the fan-shaped nozzle frame, so that the silent multi-nozzle device is easy to install and has a wide range of applications. The nozzle frame can move laterally along the screw, and the drive mechanism is located above the screw and drives the nozzle frame to rotate through the belt and the driven shaft, so that the mass of the nozzle end is reduced, the inertia is reduced and the printing accuracy is improved (CN 106426928A, class B29C 64 / 209, B33Y 30/00, publ. 02.22.2017).

The disadvantage of this device is the complexity of the design, the bending of the plastic when feeding for printing.

The closest to the proposed technical essence and the achieved effect, as well as to its method of operation, is a 3D printer having an extruder containing a plurality of feeders and rotating reusable nozzles. In particular, an extruder for a 3D printer in the form of a fused filament includes multi-case devices and numerous rotary nozzles. Therefore, the 3D printer can use different materials, realize different colors, and easily change nozzle diameters. Multi-body feeders and multiple rotary nozzles are driven by a single motor; hence the production and operating costs for the printer can be reduced. (KR 101430582 B1, class В29С 67/00, publ. 08.21.2014).

The disadvantages of the analogue are the unreliable mechanism for feeding the plastic into the extruder; in the process of changing the nozzles, build-ups are formed on the product, since the nozzles are not located in the printing plane.

The objective of the invention is to create a 3D printer for the manufacture of three-dimensional forms, which has a multifunctional print head.

The technical result is expressed in an increase in the functionality of the print head, which can use different types of printing material, different diameters and different colors, without stopping the process of printing three-dimensional forms, which allows you to get products with better qualities and properties and increase productivity.

The technical result is achieved in that the claimed 3D printer includes a multi-nozzle print head, on which the assembled extruders are fixed along the radius, having a heating element and a nozzle, clamping mechanisms and fittings for supplying plastic; the print head has the ability to rotate on support sleeves on the shaft to move the nozzles during the printing process, with different material properties, depending on the product layer-by-layer program.

The essence of the invention is illustrated by the following drawings:

in fig. 1 shows a general view of a 3D printer;

in fig. 2 is a general view of the print head assembly from above;

in fig. 3 is a side sectional view of a printhead assembly;

- 1 035734 in Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a longitudinal groove and a gear on the print head;

in fig. 5 is a view of the print head housing with a gear wheel.

FIG. 1 shows a 3D printer, which includes a frame (1) on which vertical guides (2) and screw shafts (3) are attached, designed to move the frame (4) along the vertical plane. Guides are attached to the frame (4) along which the movable beam (5) moves in the horizontal plane, on which the guide (6) is rigidly fixed, along which the movable carriage (7) slides, on which the printhead (8) is assembled. The print head (8) consists of a U-shaped bracket (10) and the main body element (9). The U-shaped bracket (10) is a bent plate, to which the movable carriage (7), the bracket (11), the stepper motors (20) and (21) are fixed on the countersunk screws. The body (9) has the form of a cylinder sector up to 90 °, on which the extruders (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e) are arranged uniformly along the radius, having a heating element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e) and a nozzle ( 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e), hold-down mechanisms (19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 19e) and fittings for plastic supply (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e), respectively, also on the cylindrical side of the body (9 ) there is a longitudinal groove (24) around the entire circumference of the sector. The housing (9), connected to the shaft (13) by a splined connection, rotates on the support bushings (12) in the bracket (11) due to the efforts of the stepper motor (20), the shaft of which rotates the worm (22) and transfers the rotation to the worm wheel (23) keyed to the shaft (13). Also, a stepper motor (21) is attached to the U-shaped bracket (10), the shaft of which rotates a gear wheel (18), which has the shape of a cylinder with a taper on both sides and is located in a longitudinal groove (24) on the cylindrical side of the housing (9).

FIG. 2-5 shows a printhead (8) having a housing (9) mounted on a U-shaped bracket (10), and the housing (9) is made in the form of a segment on which the extruders assembled (14a, 14b, 14c are fixed along the radius) , 14d, 14e), which have heating elements (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e) and nozzles (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e), pressure mechanisms (19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 19e) and fittings for plastic feed (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e), respectively, and the housing (9) is connected to the shaft (13) by a splined connection and has the ability to rotate on the support bushings (12) in the bracket (11) due to the efforts of the stepper motor ( 20), fixed on the bracket (10), the shaft of which rotates the worm (22) and transfers the rotation to the worm wheel (23), connected by a key connection to the shaft (13), and a stepper motor (21) is also fixed to the U-shaped bracket (10), the shaft which rotates the gear wheel (18) located in the longitudinal side groove (24) of the housing (9).

In some versions of the print head (8), it has the ability to rotate on the support bushings (12) along the axis (13) in one direction or the other and has the form of a cylinder sector up to 90 °. In some versions of the print head (8), a gear wheel (18) has the shape of a cylinder with a taper on both sides.

In some versions, the pressure mechanisms (19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 19e) are fixed to the body (9) by means of a spring mechanism and have a round head in the form of a coil on the side.

The multi-nozzle and multifunctional print head of a 3D printer works as follows.

The ends of the printed material of various physical properties, colors and diameters are unwound from spools and threaded into fittings 17a to 17e to feed the plastic all the way into extruders 14a-14e, respectively, depending on the required 3D printing task. The print head (8) of the 3D printer, fixed on the U-shaped bracket (10) and the bracket (11), moves in the longitudinal direction along the movable beam (5) along the guide (6) on the carriage (7) to the specified point of coordinates 3D- product print, set by the product layer-by-layer software. At the beginning of the 3D printing process in the housing (9), one of the extruders 14a-14e is placed opposite the pressure mechanism (19) and the gear (18), which rotates with a stepper motor (21), a pulling force of the plastic wire from the coil to the extruder is created for extrusion molten plastic heated by the heated element (15) through the nozzle (16). If in the process of creating three-dimensional forms it is necessary to change the physical properties, color or thickness of the printed material, then the housing (9), connected to the shaft (13) by a splined connection, rotates on the support bushings (12) in the bracket (11) due to the efforts of the stepper motor ( 20), the shaft of which rotates the worm (22) and transmits the rotations to the worm wheel (23), connected by a keyed connection to the shaft (13), and the required extruder from 14a14e, into which the required material was filled, is set up opposite the gearwheel (18). In this case, the gear wheel (18) remains in the same position in the longitudinal groove (24) on the cylindrical side of the housing (9) when changing the extruders and the conical shape of the gear wheel (18) allows it to pass along the groove without resting on the clamping mechanism (19), in this case, the motor (21) is switched off until the extruder is set in working positions.

Claims (6)

CLAIM 1. Multi-nozzle and multifunctional 3D printer, including: a frame (1) on which vertical guides (2) and screw shafts (3) are fixed, intended for movement - 2 035734 of the frame (4) along the vertical plane, to which the guides are attached, along which a movable beam (5) is installed with the ability to move in the horizontal plane, on which the guide (6) is rigidly fixed, along which the movable carriage (7 ), on which the print head (8) is installed, characterized in that the print head (8) has a housing (9) mounted on a U-shaped bracket (10), the housing (9) is made in the form of a segment on which extruders are fixed along the radius assembled, having heating elements and nozzles, clamping mechanisms and fittings for supplying plastic, respectively, and the body (9) is connected to the shaft (13) by a splined connection and is designed to rotate on the support bushings (12) in the bracket (11) due to efforts stepper motor (20) fixed on the bracket (10), the motor shaft (20) is configured to rotate the worm (22) and transmit rotation to the worm wheel (23) connected by a keyed connection with a shaft (13), a stepper motor (21) is also attached to the U-shaped bracket (10), the shaft of which rotates a gear wheel (18) located in the longitudinal side groove (24) of the housing (9). 2. Multi-nozzle and multifunctional 3P printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the print head (8) has the ability to rotate on the support sleeves (12) along the axis (13) in one direction and the other and has the form of a cylinder sector up to 90 ° ... 3. Multi-nozzle and multifunctional 3P printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the gear wheel (18) has the shape of a cylinder with a taper on both sides. 4. The print head (8), having a housing (9) mounted on a U-shaped bracket (10), characterized in that the housing (9) is made in the form of a segment on which the assembled extruders with heating elements are fixed along the radius and nozzles, pressure mechanisms and fittings for supplying plastic, respectively, with the body (9) connected to the shaft (13) by a splined connection and made with the possibility of rotation on the support bushings (12) in the bracket (11) due to the efforts of the stepper motor (20), fixed on the bracket (10), the motor shaft (20) is made with the possibility of rotation of the worm (22) and transmission of rotation to the worm wheel (23), connected by a key connection to the shaft (13), and a stepping motor is also fixed to the U-shaped bracket (10) (21), the shaft of which rotates the gear wheel (18) located in the longitudinal side groove (24) of the housing (9). 5. The print head according to claim 4, characterized in that the print head (8) has the ability to rotate on the support bushings (12) along the axis (13) in one direction and the other and has the form of a cylinder sector up to 90 °. 6. The print head according to claim 4, characterized in that the gear wheel (18) is in the form of a cylinder with a taper on both sides.