JP2005342998A - Member molding machine and member molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a member molding machine capable of imparting welding strength between respective laminated layers of a molding material. <P>SOLUTION: The member molding machine 1 is equipped with a resin extruder 10 having an extrusion head 11 capable of extruding a molten molding material S, a work table 20 for receiving the molding material S extruded from the extrusion head 11 and an NC processing machine capable of reducing the molding material S solidified on the work table 20. The fluidized molding material S is extruded to the surface of the work table 20 from the resin extruder 10 while relatively moving the extrusion head 11 of the resin extruder 10 with respect to the work table 20 and, after the molding material S is laminated and solidified so as to become a lumpy state having a volume similar to the outer shape of a member ready to be molded simultaneously with including the whole of the member ready to be molded, the molding material S is reduced by the NC processing machine to mold a member U. A pressing ball 152 for pressing the molding material S extruded from a nozzle 15 is turnably held in the nozzle 15 of the extrusion head 11 of the resin extruder 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a member forming apparatus and a member forming method for forming a member by extruding and solidifying a fluidized forming material and then reducing the forming material.

  The existing equipment is effectively used to realize low-cost and easy molding of the member. The fluidized molding material is extruded from the extruder onto the work table and includes all the members to be molded. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a member forming apparatus that forms a member by stacking and solidifying so as to form a lump with a volume approximating the outer shape of the machine, and then cutting and the like with a machining head of an NC machine tool to reduce the molding material. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in the above member molding apparatus, the distance between the extruder that extrudes the fluidized molding material and the work table from which the molding material is extruded is long, so the molding material that is extruded from the extruder onto the work table. In this case, no pressure other than its own weight is applied during lamination, and it is simply placed on a laminate made of a molding material that has already been laminated on a work table. It is difficult to obtain sufficient welding strength without adhesion.
International Publication No. 97/24217 Pamphlet

An object of this invention is to provide the member shaping | molding apparatus and member shaping | molding method which can provide strong welding strength between each layer of the laminated molding material.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an extrusion means capable of extruding a fluidized molding material, a work table for receiving the molding material extruded from the extrusion means, and the solidified molding material are reduced. All the members to be molded by extruding the fluidized molding material from the extrusion means onto the work table while moving the extrusion means relative to the work table. And forming the member by reducing the molding material by the reducing means after the molding material is laminated and solidified so as to form a lump with a volume approximating its outer shape. And a member molding apparatus further comprising pressing means for pressing the molding material extruded from the extrusion means onto the work table. That.

  Further, in order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the fluidized molding material is extruded while being moved so as to include all of the members to be molded, and at the same time, it becomes a lump with a volume approximating its outer shape. A member molding method for forming the member by reducing the molding material after being laminated and solidified, wherein the molding is fluidized with respect to a laminate made of the molding material already laminated. There is provided a member forming method for extruding while pressing a material.

  In the present invention, when the molding material is extruded and laminated from the extruder onto the work table, the molding material is extruded while being pressed by the pressing means. As a result, the newly laminated molding material comes into close contact with the laminate made of the molding material already laminated on the work table, so that a strong welding strength is provided between the layers of the laminated molding material. It becomes possible to do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a schematic view showing a resin extruder and a work table in a member molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a nozzle of the resin extruder shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an NC processing machine and a work table in the member forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a member molding apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a resin extruder 10 (extrusion unit) having an extrusion head 11 capable of extruding a molten molding material S, and the extrusion head. 11 is provided with a work table 20 that receives the molding material S extruded from 11 and an NC processing machine 30 (reducing means) that can reduce the molding material S solidified on the work table 20. While the head 11 is moved relative to the work table 20, the fluidized molding material S is extruded from the extrusion head 11 onto the work table 20, and all of the members U to be molded are included and at the same time approximate to the outer shape. An apparatus for forming the member U by stacking the molding material S so as to form a bulky volume, solidifying the molding material S, and then reducing it by the NC processing machine 30 .

  Examples of the molding material used in the member molding apparatus 1 include a thermoplastic resin material such as an ABS resin material. Moreover, as the member U shape | molded by this member shaping | molding apparatus 1, vehicle parts, such as an intake manifold used for a motor vehicle, a cylinder cover head, etc. can be illustrated, for example, only manufacture of the prototype of the said vehicle parts. It is also possible to apply to a variety and small-quantity production.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the resin extruder 10 of the member molding apparatus 1 includes an extrusion head 11 that can extrude a molten molding material S, and a gantry 18 that supports the extrusion head 11. The gantry 18 is driven by a not-shown actuator in a plane direction substantially parallel to the work table 20 (XY plane direction in FIG. 1) and a direction substantially perpendicular to the work table 20 ( The extrusion head 11 can be moved in the Z-axis direction in FIG.

  The extrusion head 11 of the resin extruder 10 is disposed so as to be rotatable within the hopper 12 into which a molding material is charged, a heating cylinder 13 that melts (fluidizes) the molding material that has been charged, and the heating cylinder 13. A screw 14 for extruding the molten molding material S, a nozzle 15 for discharging the molding material S extruded by the screw 14 toward the work table 20, and a motor 16 for supplying a rotational force to the screw 14 via a belt 17. The molding material supplied from the hopper 12 is melted in the heating cylinder 13, and the molten molding material S can be pushed out from the nozzle 15 onto the work table 20 by the screw 14. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inside of the nozzle 15 of the extrusion head 11 extends in a substantially hemispherical shape and is opened by a discharge port 151 formed at the tip thereof. 152 (pressing means) is held so as to be able to rotate 360 ° in any direction. A gap having a predetermined interval is formed between the pressing ball 152 held in this way and the inner wall surface of the nozzle 15, and the molding material S pushed out to the nozzle 15 by the rotation of the screw 14 has the gap It is possible to discharge from the discharge port 151 of the nozzle 15 toward the work table 20.

  The pressing ball 152 is accommodated in the nozzle 15 so that a part of the pressing ball 152 protrudes from the discharge port 152 of the nozzle 15 toward the work table 20 side. When extruding S, the pressing balls 152 can be laminated while pressing the molding material S against the laminate T made of the molding material S already laminated on the work table 20. .

  In this way, by pressing the molding material S against the laminate T with the pressing balls 152 and laminating, the molding material can be applied to the laminate T made of the molding material S already laminated on the work table 20. Since S can be adhered, a strong welding strength can be imparted between the layers of the laminated molding material S.

  The pressing ball 152 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel having a spherical diameter of about 6 mm, the surface thereof is processed by a satin finish, and a coating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene or the like is formed thereon. Has been.

  In this way, a molding material that passes between the pressing ball 152 and the inner wall surface of the nozzle 15 by applying a satin finish to the surface of the pressing ball 152 to make the surface of the pressing ball 152 uneven. Since the pressing force can be applied to S by the rotation of the pressing ball 152 in addition to the pressing force due to the rotation of the screw 14, the molding material S can be easily supplied onto the work table 20.

  Further, by forming a coating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene on the surface of the pressing ball 152, it is possible to prevent the molten molding material S from adhering to the pressing ball 152.

  Further, by forming the pressing ball 152 from a metal material, the temperature of the molding material S heated and melted by the heating cylinder 13 can be kept warm.

  The inner wall surface of the nozzle 15 is formed with a recess capable of rotatably holding the ball bearing 152, and six ball bearings 153 are interposed between the pressing ball 152 and the inner wall surface of the nozzle 15. Yes. Of these ball bearings 152, three of the ball bearings 152 are arranged substantially uniformly on the concentric circle, and the remaining three ball bearings 152 are also substantially evenly arranged on the other concentric circles. Has been placed.

  Each ball bearing 153 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel having a spherical diameter of about 3 mm whose surface is processed smoothly, and a coating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene or the like is formed thereon.

  As described above, by interposing the ball bearing 152 between the pressing ball 152 and the inner wall surface of the nozzle 15, the pressing ball 152 can be smoothly rotated in the nozzle 15.

  Further, by forming a coating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene on the surface of the ball bearing 153, it is possible to prevent the molten molding material S from adhering to the ball bearing 153.

  Furthermore, by configuring the ball bearing 153 with a metal material, the temperature of the molding material S heated and melted by the heating cylinder 13 can be kept warm.

  Returning to FIG. 1, below the extrusion head 11 supported by the gantry 18, a plate-like work table 20 on which the molten molding material S is extruded and stacked from the nozzle 15 of the extrusion head 11 is provided. This work table 20 can reciprocate in the X-axis direction between a work area of the resin extruder 10 and a work area of an NC processing machine 30 described later by an actuator (not shown).

  The NC processing machine 30 of the member forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a processing head having a tool 32 such as an end mill or a drill for performing predetermined processing such as cutting or drilling on the solidified laminate T as shown in FIG. 31 and a gantry 33 that supports the processing head 31. The gantry 33 of the NC processing machine 30 is in a plane direction substantially parallel to the work table 20 (XY line in FIG. 4) by an actuator (not shown) in the same manner as the gantry 18 included in the resin extruder 10 described above. It is possible to move the machining head 31 in a plane direction) and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the work table 20 (Z-axis direction in FIG. 4). Although not particularly shown, the NC processing machine 30 is provided on the side of the above-described resin extruder 10 in the X-axis direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4), and is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. 20 can be positioned below the extrusion head 11 of the resin extruder 10 and below the processing head 31 of the NC processing machine 30.

  Next, the member shaping | molding method concerning this embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, when a molding material such as an ABS resin material is supplied to the hopper 12 of the extrusion head 11 in a state where the work table 20 is positioned below the resin extruder 10, the molding material is 190 to 210 in the heating cylinder 13. After being heated and melted at a temperature of ° C., it is pushed out by the rotation of the screw 14 to reach the inside of the nozzle 15, and further passes through the gap between the pressing ball 152 and the inner wall surface of the nozzle 15, and works from the discharge port 151. It discharges toward the table 20, and extrusion of the molding material S by the resin extruder 10 is started.

  In this state, the tip of the extrusion head 11 is in contact with the work table 20, and therefore, the molding material pushed out from the discharge port 151 by the pressing ball 152 partially protruding from the discharge port 151 of the press head 11. S is pressed with a predetermined pressing force. When the molding material S is an ABS resin material, for example, it is pressed at about 0.98 to 1.96 [N].

  When extrusion of the molding material S starts, the gantry 18 scans the extrusion head 11 with respect to the work table 20 based on the control data according to the shape of the member U to be molded, and includes all of the members U. At the same time, the molding material S is laminated so as to form a lump with a volume approximating its outer shape. During the scanning of the extrusion head 11, the pressing ball 152 is kept in close contact with the laminate T made of the molding material S already stacked on the work table 20, and the pressing ball 152 causes a predetermined pressing force. The molding material S is pushed out from the extrusion head 11 while.

  As described above, when the molding material S is extruded from the resin extruder 10 onto the work table 20 and laminated, the molding material S is pushed out while being pressed by the pressing balls 152, so that it has already been laminated on the work table. Since the newly laminated molding material S is in close contact with the laminate T made of the molding material, a strong welding strength can be imparted between the layers of the laminated molding material S. Incidentally, when a member having the same welding strength as that of 10 [MPa] when laminated without pressing is laminated and molded according to this embodiment while being pressed, the welding strength is improved to about 20 [MPa]. did.

  Further, since the pressing ball 152 is rotatably held in the nozzle 15, the pressing ball 152 rotates smoothly with the scanning of the extrusion head 11, and is pressed against the molding material S that is pushed out while moving. It is possible to apply an accurate pressing force without sliding.

  Furthermore, since the surface of the pressing ball 152 is subjected to a satin finish, in addition to the pressing force generated by the rotation of the screw 14, the pressing force generated by the rotation of the pressing ball 152 passes through the nozzle 15. The molding material S can be stably supplied onto the work table S.

  Next, when the laminated body T laminated by the resin extruder 10 includes all of the members U to be molded and at the same time becomes a lump with a volume approximating the outer shape, the extrusion of the molding material S is finished, and the work The table 20 moves from the work area of the resin extruder 10 to the work area of the NC processing machine 30, and the laminate T is positioned below the processing head 31.

  When the laminated body 20 on the work table 20 is sufficiently solidified, the NC processing machine 31 performs a cutting process or the like with the tool 32 based on the machining data according to the shape of the member U to be formed. And the member U is formed.

  As described above, in the member molding apparatus 1 and the member molding method according to the present embodiment, when the molding material S is extruded from the resin extruder 10 onto the work table 20 and laminated, the molding material S is pressed by the pressing balls 152. Since the newly laminated molding material S comes into close contact with the laminated body T made of the molding material already laminated on the work table by pushing out while pressing. Strong welding strength can be imparted between the respective layers.

  Moreover, in the member shaping | molding apparatus 1 and member shaping | molding method which concern on this embodiment, it suppresses that a void (space | gap) is formed in the laminated body T by pushing out the molding material S by pressing the ball 152 for a press. I can do it.

  Further, in the conventional member molding apparatus, when the molding material S is laminated, the extruder and the work table are separated from each other. Therefore, the molding material S is easily misaligned with respect to the laminate T, and the molding material S Is liable to be deformed by dripping from the laminated body T by its own weight, and it is difficult to obtain a desired shape. In contrast, in the member molding apparatus and member molding method according to the present embodiment, the molding material S is extruded while the extrusion head 11 is always in close contact with the uppermost layer of the laminate T. The material S can be accurately laminated.

  Further, in the conventional member forming apparatus, since the extruder and the work table are separated from each other, it takes a long time for the molding material S to be exposed to the atmosphere from the extruder to the work table. The temperature of the material S varies, and accordingly, the welding strength between the layers of the laminated molding material S varies. In the member molding apparatus and the member molding method according to this embodiment, the extrusion head 11 is a laminate. Since the molding material S is extruded while being always in close contact with the uppermost layer of T, it is possible to suppress variations in the welding strength due to the ambient temperature.

  The embodiment described above is described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the member forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the resin extruder 10 is configured to move the extrusion head 11 by the gantry 18, so that the extrusion means is moved relative to the work table. In the present invention, the invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, by fixing the extrusion head 11 of the resin extruder 10 and making the work table 20 movable in the XYZ directions, the pushing means is moved relative to the work table. You may make it do.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a resin extruder and a work table of a member molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a nozzle of the resin extruder shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an NC processing machine and a work table of the member forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Member shaping | molding apparatus 10 ... Resin extruder 11 ... Extrusion head 12 ... Hopper 13 ... Heating cylinder 14 ... Screw 15 ... Nozzle 151 ... Discharge port 152 ... Pressing ball 153 ... Ball bearing 16 ... Motor 17 ... Belt 18 ... Stand 20 ... Work table 30 ... NC processing machine 31 ... Processing head 32 ... Tool 33 ... Stand base S ... Molding material T ... Laminated body U ... Member

Claims (9)

An extrusion means capable of extruding the fluidized molding material;
A work table for receiving the molding material extruded from the extrusion means;
A reduction means capable of reducing the solidified molding material, at least,
A volume that approximates the outer shape of the molding material, including all the members to be molded, by extruding the fluidized molding material onto the work table while moving the pusher relative to the work table. A member molding apparatus for molding the member by reducing the molding material by the reducing means after laminating and solidifying the molding material so as to form a lump of
A member molding apparatus further comprising pressing means for pressing the molding material extruded from the extrusion means onto the work table.   The member forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit is provided in a nozzle of the extruding unit that discharges the fluidized molding material onto the work table. The pressing means includes a pressing sphere rotatably held in the nozzle,
The member forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the pressing sphere protrudes from a tip of the nozzle.   The member forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a surface of the pressing sphere is finished with a satin finish.   The member shaping | molding apparatus of Claim 3 or 4 with which the coating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene is formed in the surface of the said spherical body for a press.   The member molding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a ball bearing is rotatably disposed between an inner wall surface of the nozzle and the pressing sphere.   The member forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a coating layer containing polytetrafluoroethylene is formed on a surface of the ball bearing. Extruding the fluidized molding material while moving it, including all of the members to be molded, and at the same time laminating and solidifying so as to form a lump with a volume approximating its outer shape, and then reducing the molding material A member forming method for forming the member by:
A member molding method for extruding a fluidized molding material while pressing the fluidized molding material against a laminate made of the molding material already laminated.   The member molding method according to claim 8, wherein the fluidized molding material is extruded while pressing the fluidized molding material against the laminated body at a tip of an extrusion means capable of extruding the fluidized molding material.

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