JP2013067115A - Three-dimensional shaping apparatus and three-dimensional shaping method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ejection defects caused by bubbles mingling into resin to avoid shaping defects.SOLUTION: The three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes: a shaping plate 40 for placing a shaped article; a shaping material-ejecting means for ejecting a shaping material; a head part 20 for supporting the shaping material-ejecting means; a control means 10 for controlling ejection of the shaping material by the shaping material-ejecting means while transferring the head part 20; a degassing module 52 for degassing gas contained in the shaping material by coming in contact with the shaping material of liquid state; a replaceable shaping material cartridge 47 for storing the shaping material; and a foreign material-collecting filter 51, arranged in a transporting pathway 46 of the liquid shaping material passing from the replaceable shaping material cartridge 47 to the shaping material ejecting means, for collecting a foreign material from the shaping material, wherein the degassing module 52 is arranged after the foreign material-collecting filter 51 and before the shaping material-ejecting means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method for producing a three-dimensional model with a dispenser.

  Conventionally, three-dimensional data, which is basic data of a modeled object, is set to an arbitrary posture on a computer screen, and each cross section cut by a plurality of surfaces parallel to the height direction based on the set posture. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus that generates data and performs three-dimensional modeling by sequentially laminating resins on the basis of two-dimensional data related to each layer to generate a three-dimensional model of a three-dimensional model.

  In the field of rapid prototyping (RP), which is used for prototyping in product development, an additive manufacturing method capable of three-dimensional molding is used. As the additive manufacturing method, additive manufacturing method slices the three-dimensional CAD data of the product and creates the original data of manufacturing by superimposing the thin plates, and the material such as powder, resin, steel plate, paper, etc. A prototype is created by stacking layers. As such a layered modeling method, an inkjet method, a powder method, an optical modeling method, a sheet lamination method, an extrusion method, and the like are known. Among these, the inkjet method injects liquefied resin and then cures the layer by irradiating with ultraviolet light (UV) or cooling to form a shaped object.

  In a method of spraying and laminating a resin such as an inkjet method, a discharge nozzle for discharging the resin is provided as a dispenser. The discharge nozzle uses a piezo electrode to deform the discharge nozzle tip 23a as shown in FIG. 14 to apply pressure to the resin droplet DL and discharge it.

Special table 2003-535712 gazette

  However, if air is mixed in the resin discharged from the dispenser, a defective resin discharge occurs. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, even if the discharge nozzle tip 23a is deformed by the piezo electrode, the air bubbles AH are compressed, so that the resin droplet DL is not discharged. There is a problem that a predetermined resin cannot be discharged, such as a resin having a droplet smaller than the original droplet.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method that can prevent ejection defects caused by air bubbles mixed in a resin and avoid modeling defects.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the modeling material is discharged on the modeling plate 40 while scanning in at least one direction, and is cured. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus that performs modeling by generating slices having a predetermined thickness in the height direction in layers by repeating the operation, and stacking the slices in the height direction. The modeling plate 40 for placing, the modeling material discharging means for discharging the modeling material, the head part 20 supporting the modeling material discharging means, and the modeling material discharging while moving the head part 20 The control means 10 for controlling the ejection of the modeling material by the means, the deaeration module 52 for contacting the liquid modeling material and degassing the gas contained in the modeling material, and the exchange for storing the modeling material Formula construction The foreign material collection filter 51 for collecting the foreign material from the molding material cartridge 47 and the liquid molding material conveyance path 46 communicated from the modeling material cartridge 47 to the modeling material discharge means. The deaeration module 52 can be disposed after the foreign matter collecting filter 51 and before the modeling material discharging means. Thereby, it deaerates from the liquid of modeling material, the undischarge of the modeling material from the modeling material discharge means and the defect of a modeling object are avoided, and precise modeling can be implement | achieved.

  Moreover, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on a 2nd side surface, the said deaeration module 52 is comprised with the hollow fiber 60, and the inside of the said hollow fiber 60 can be made into a negative pressure. Thereby, the modeling material is brought into contact with the surface of the negative pressure hollow fiber, and the gas component is allowed to permeate therein, whereby the gas component of the modeling material can be efficiently separated.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the third aspect, the hollow fiber 60 can be connected to the degassing negative pressure generating pump 63 while closing one end of the hollow fiber 60 and opening the other end. Thereby, the inside of a hollow fiber can be made into a negative pressure efficiently.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to further include a deaeration pressure release valve 62 for opening one end of the hollow fiber 60 opened at a predetermined timing. As a result, gas is not stagnated in the hollow fiber, a regular gas flow is generated, liquefaction inside the hollow fiber is prevented, and a decrease in the deaeration rate can be avoided.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the foreign matter collecting filter 51 and the deaeration module 52 can be provided in the head unit 20. Thereby, the deaeration module can be reduced in size by disposing the deaeration module in the subsequent stage of the foreign matter collecting filter, and the arrangement in the head unit can be realized.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the foreign matter collecting filter 51 and the deaeration module 52 can be modularized. Thereby, the modularized foreign matter collecting filter and the deaeration module can be replaced at the same time, and workability during maintenance can be improved.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the seventh aspect, a plurality of the modeling material cartridges 47 can be provided. As a result, a large amount of modeling material can be stored to increase the continuous operation time, and the modeling material can be stably supplied even during replacement of one modeling material cartridge. In addition, when such a modeling material cartridge is replaced, a large amount of gas is prevented from being mixed into the modeling material, thereby enabling highly reliable modeling.

  Further, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the curing unit 24 for curing the modeling material is further provided, and the head unit 20 supports the curing unit and the control unit 10. However, it is possible to control the ejection of the modeling material by the modeling material ejection unit and the curing by the curing unit 24 while moving the head unit 20.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the horizontal drive means for reciprocating the head unit 20 in the horizontal direction, and the relative relationship between the head unit 20 and the modeling plate 40 in the height direction. Vertical driving means for moving the position, and the control means 10 reciprocally scans the head portion 20 in one direction by the horizontal driving means, and the modeling material is ejected by the modeling material discharging means. It can be discharged onto the plate 40, and the molded object can be cured by the curing means 24.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the modeling material supports the model material MA to be a final modeled object and the projecting portion from which the model material MA projects, and is finally removed. And a support material SA. The modeling material discharge means includes a model material discharge nozzle 21 for discharging the model material MA and a support material discharge nozzle 22 for discharging the support material SA in one direction. A plurality of them can be arranged.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling method according to the eleventh side surface, by repeatedly discharging the modeling material on the modeling plate 40 while scanning the modeling material in at least one direction and curing it, in the height direction. A three-dimensional modeling method for forming a slice by generating slices having a predetermined thickness in layers and stacking the slices in the height direction. The step of supplying the modeling material to the material conveyance path 46 and the foreign material collecting filter 51 provided on the modeling material conveyance path 46 supplement the foreign material contained in the modeling material, and in the modeling material And crushing the gas component contained in the molding material, and passing the modeling material through a deaeration module 52 provided at the subsequent stage of the foreign matter collecting filter 51 on the conveying path 46 of the modeling material, The step of degassing the hollow fiber 60 contained in the air module 52 by bringing the hollow fiber 60 having a negative pressure inside into contact with the modeling material and taking in the gas component in the modeling material into the hollow fiber 60; A step of discharging the degassed modeling material onto the modeling plate 40 by a modeling material discharging means for discharging the modeling material. Thereby, it deaerates from the liquid of modeling material, the undischarge of the modeling material from the modeling material discharge means and the defect of a modeling object are avoided, and precise modeling can be implement | achieved.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling method according to the twelfth aspect, the deaeration module 52 is constituted by the hollow fiber 60, and the inside of the hollow fiber 60 can be set to a negative pressure. Thereby, the modeling material is brought into contact with the surface of the negative pressure hollow fiber, and the gas component is allowed to permeate therein, whereby the gas component of the modeling material can be efficiently separated.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling method according to the thirteenth aspect, the hollow fiber 60 can be connected to the degassing negative pressure generating pump 63 while closing one end and making the other end open. Thereby, the inside of a hollow fiber can be made into a negative pressure efficiently.

  Furthermore, according to the three-dimensional modeling method according to the fourteenth aspect, a deaeration pressure release valve 62 for opening one end of the hollow fiber 60 opened at a predetermined timing can be provided. As a result, gas is not stagnated in the hollow fiber, a regular gas flow is generated, liquefaction inside the hollow fiber is prevented, and a decrease in the deaeration rate can be avoided.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on a modification. It is a top view which shows a mode that a head part is moved to XY direction. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a head part. It is a top view which shows a mode that a modeling material is discharged with the head part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removes the surplus part of modeling material with a roller part. It is a block diagram which shows the conveyance path | route of resin. It is the perspective view which looked at the modeling material discharge nozzle of the head part of FIG. 4 from the back. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a deaeration module. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of FIG. It is sectional drawing of FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the hollow fiber of FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a conveyance path of a 3D modeling apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a schematic cross section which shows a mode that resin is discharged from a dispenser using a piezoelectric electrode. It is a schematic cross section which shows a mode that non-discharge occurs when the bubble is contained in resin in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method. Is not specified as below. Further, the present specification by no means specifies the members shown in the claims to the members of the embodiments. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, and are merely explanations. It's just an example. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and the plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing.
Example 1

  In FIG. 1, the block diagram of the three-dimensional modeling system 100 which concerns on Example 1 of this invention is shown. Here, an example applied to an inkjet three-dimensional modeling apparatus will be described as an example of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. This three-dimensional modeling system 100 manufactures an arbitrary modeled object by ejecting and curing a modeling material in a fluidized state by an ink jet method, and laminating them. As the modeling material, a model material MA constituting a final modeled object and a support material SA that is modeled and finally removed to support the projecting portion from which the model material MA projects are used.

  A three-dimensional modeling system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a setting data creation device 1 (computer PC in FIG. 1) that sends modeling data and setting data that are modeling conditions to the three-dimensional modeling device 2, and the three-dimensional modeling device 2. Is done. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 2 includes a control unit 10, a head unit 20, and a modeling plate 40. The head unit 20 includes a model material discharge nozzle 21 that discharges the model material MA and a support material discharge nozzle 22 that discharges the support material SA as modeling material discharge means. Further, by scraping off the excess from the discharged modeling material, the thickness of the uppermost layer of the modeling object at the time is optimized, and the roller portion 25 for smoothing the surface of the modeling material, and modeling The head unit 20 is also provided with a curing means 24 for curing the material. Further, the head portion 20 is scanned back and forth in the horizontal direction in order to discharge the modeling material from the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 to an appropriate position on the modeling plate 40 in a liquid or fluid state by an ink jet method. XY direction drive as horizontal drive means for scanning in the X direction and Y direction orthogonal to the X direction, and vertical drive means for moving the relative position in the height direction between the head portion 20 and the modeling plate 40 A unit 31 and a Z-direction drive unit 32 are provided. Here, the Y direction is an arrangement direction in which a plurality of orifices of the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle are arranged, and the X direction is a direction orthogonal to the Y direction in a horizontal plane.

When the computer PC receives the input of the basic data of a three-dimensional shaped object, for example, model data designed by three-dimensional CAD, etc., it first converts this CAD data into, for example, STL (Stereo Lithography Data) data. Further, setting data for generating cross-sectional data obtained by slicing the STL data into a plurality of thin cross-sectional bodies and transmitting the slice data to the 3D modeling apparatus 2 in a batch or in units of each slice layer It functions as the creation device 1. At this time, corresponding to the determination of the posture on the modeling plate 40 of model data (actually, STL data after conversion) designed by three-dimensional CAD or the like, the model formed by the model material MA in this posture is supported. The position where the support material SA is provided is set for the necessary space or location, and slice data corresponding to each layer is formed based on these data. The control unit 10 includes a roller rotation speed control unit 12 and a discharge control unit 13. When the roller main body 26 individually collects the model material MA or the support material SA, the roller rotation speed control unit 12 determines whether the roller rotation speed control means 12 is a roller according to the physical characteristics of the model material MA or the support material SA discharged from each discharge nozzle. The rotational speed of the main body 26 can be changed. The control means 10 takes in the cross-sectional data from the computer PC and controls the head unit 20, the XY direction driving unit 31, and the Z direction driving unit 32 according to the data. Under the control of the control means 10, the XY direction drive unit 31 is operated, and the model material MA and the support material SA as modeling materials are formed as droplets from the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 of the head unit 20. By discharging to an appropriate position on the modeling plate 40, a cross-sectional shape based on the cross-sectional data given from the computer PC is modeled. Then, the model material MA, which is one of the modeling materials discharged onto the modeling plate 40, is at least cured to be changed from a liquid or fluid state to a solid and cured. This action creates a cross section or slice. Note that the slice data may be generated on the 3D modeling apparatus 2 side, but in that case, the modeling parameters that the operator must determine such as the thickness of each slice layer are 3D modeling from the computer PC side. Must be sent to device 2.
(slice)

  Here, the “slice” is a stacking unit in the z direction of the modeled object, and the number of slices is a value obtained by dividing the height by the stacking thickness. Actually, as a requirement for determining the thickness of each slice, the minimum unit discharge amount that can be discharged from each discharge nozzle, the variation due to the eccentricity of the roller of the roller unit 25 in the vertical direction, and the like can be set. The thickness is determined. The value set based on such a viewpoint is set as the minimum value of the slice, and thereafter, the user obtains the modeling object, for example, each slice amount can be finally determined from the viewpoint of modeling accuracy and modeling speed. . In other words, if the user chooses to give priority to modeling accuracy, each slice amount is determined by the above-described minimum slice value or a value in the vicinity thereof, while if the modeling speed is given priority, the minimum modeling accuracy is maintained. Each slice amount can be determined. Or, as another method, a method of letting the user select the ratio of modeling accuracy and modeling speed sensuously, or by letting the user input the maximum allowable modeling time, some combinations of modeling time and modeling accuracy Can be displayed as candidates, and the conditions that the user prefers can be selected.

  In addition, the modeling action for one slice data is that the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 are at least in the forward or backward path when the head unit 20 is reciprocated in the X direction (main scanning direction of the head unit 20). The modeling material is ejected from the molding material in a liquid or fluid state by an ink jet method, and the surface of the uncured modeling object is smoothed at least in the forward path or the return path in a state where the modeling object discharged on the modeling plate 40 is uncured. In order to make the roller part 25 act, a series of steps of curing the modeled object is performed at least once by irradiating the smoothed surface of the modeled object with light of a specific wavelength from the curing means 24. Of course, this number is automatically changed according to the thickness of the slice data and the required modeling accuracy. There. If the modeling material used for modeling is cured at a predetermined temperature, in the present invention, the curing means 24 can be a cooling or heating means, and if it can be naturally cured, the curing means is omitted. You can also

On the other hand, the maximum thickness formed once on the modeling plate 40 is discharged from the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 at least in the forward path or the return path, and is a cross section after landing of the discharged liquid droplets. The shape is determined by the unit discharge amount capable of retaining a substantially circular shape.
(Modeling plate 40)

  The modeling plate 40 can be moved up and down by the Z-direction drive unit 32. When one slice is formed, the Z-direction drive unit 32 is controlled by the control means 10, and the modeling plate 40 is lowered by a distance corresponding to the thickness of one slice. Then, by repeating the same operation as described above, a new slice is stacked on the upper side (upper surface) of the first slice. A thin object is formed by laminating several thin slices produced in this way.

  In addition, when the modeled object has a so-called overhang shape that protrudes in the XY plane from a modeled part positioned below in the Z direction (that is, the height direction), when the modeled object is converted into data on the computer PC If necessary, an overhang support part shape is added. In other words, a modeled object having an overhang shape is a modeled object having a part (overhang part) in which a slice of a new model material is molded on an upper surface of a part where a slice of the model material already formed does not exist. is there. And the control means 10 models overhang support part SB based on the shape of the overhang support part simultaneously with modeling of model material MA which comprises the last molded article. Specifically, the overhang support portion SB is formed by discharging a support material SA different from the model material MA from the support material discharge nozzle 22 as a droplet. After the modeling, the target three-dimensional modeled object can be obtained by removing the support material SA constituting the overhang support part SB.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the head unit 20 is moved in the horizontal direction, that is, the XY direction by the head moving means 30. The head unit 20 is supported by an X-direction moving rail 43 that is a pair of X-direction (main scanning direction) guide mechanisms that are arranged vertically in the drawing. On the base side that supports the head unit 20, a drive unit (not shown) in the X direction is provided along one X-direction moving rail 43. In addition, a Y-shaped moving rail 44 for moving the head unit 20 in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction) is provided on a portal frame on which the head unit 20 is placed on the X-direction moving rail 43. A drive unit (not shown) for driving the head unit 20 along the Y-direction moving rail 44 is placed. With these driving units, the head unit 20 can move in the X and Y directions.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the modeling plate 40 is moved in the height direction, that is, the Z direction by the plate lifting / lowering means (Z direction driving unit 32). Thereby, the relative height of the head part 20 and the modeling plate 40 can be changed, and three-dimensional modeling becomes possible. More specifically, the head unit 20 first discharges the model material MA and the support material SA as modeling materials from the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 to appropriate locations based on the slice data by the head moving unit 30. Therefore, the model material MA and the support material SA are discharged from a plurality of orifices that are reciprocated in the X direction and are provided in the discharge nozzles 21 and 22, respectively, and extend in the Y direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the width in the Y direction of each discharge nozzle 21, 22 is smaller than the width in the Y direction that can be formed on the modeling plate 40, and the width in the Y direction of the model data for modeling Is larger than the total length of the orifice extending in the Y direction, the reciprocating operation in the X direction at a predetermined position of each discharge nozzle 21, 22 is followed by shifting each discharge nozzle 21, 22 in the Y direction by a predetermined amount, The model material MA and the support material SA are repeatedly ejected to appropriate locations based on the slice data together with the reciprocal scanning in the X direction, thereby generating a modeled object corresponding to all set modeling data. .

In addition, in the example of FIG. 1, the plate raising / lowering means which raises / lowers the modeling plate 40 is used as the Z direction drive part 32, However, it is not restricted to this example, Like 3D modeling apparatus 2 'shown in FIG. It is also possible to employ a Z-direction drive unit 32 ′ that fixes the 40 side in the height direction and moves the head unit side in the Z direction. Further, the movement in the XY direction may be performed by fixing the head portion side and moving the modeling plate side. Further, as described above, the shift in the Y direction of the head unit 20 is not necessary if the width of each nozzle is substantially the same as the width of the modeling plate 40 in the Y direction. Even in this case, for example, for the purpose of increasing the resolution in the Y direction of the modeled object determined by the interval between the orifices provided in the nozzles, each of the orifices becomes an orifice at the time of the previous modeling by shifting the head part 20 in the Y direction. And may be shifted so that it is located between the orifice and the orifice.
(Control means 10)

  The control means 10 controls the discharge pattern of the modeling material. That is, the head member 20 is reciprocally scanned in the X direction while the model material MA and the support material SA are ejected onto the modeling plate 40 by the modeling material ejecting means in at least one of the reciprocal scanning in the X direction. Then, after the modeling material is discharged onto the modeling plate 40 by the modeling material discharging unit and at least one of the outward path and the return path, the model material MA and the support material SA are cured by the curing unit 24. Then, a slice is generated, the modeling plate 40 and the head unit 20 are moved in the height direction, and modeling is performed by repeating the stacking of slices. Although the details will be described later, the surface of the modeling material is smoothed by the roller unit 25 after the modeling material is discharged onto the modeling plate 40 by the modeling material discharge unit and the surface of the modeling material is set by the curing unit 24. Before curing, at least one of the outward path and the return path is performed.

  The control means 10 discharges either the modeling material MA or the supporting material SA in one reciprocating scan in the X direction, and smoothes the surface of the modeling material by the roller unit 25 and removes the excess material. Then, after further curing by the curing means 24, the other modeling material that was not discharged is discharged in the next and subsequent reciprocating scans, and the surface of the modeling material is smoothed and cured. By performing these series of steps at least once, one slice is generated. Needless to say, the series of steps corresponding to one slice of data includes repeating a plurality of times depending on, for example, the final surface accuracy and modeling time required by the user. As a result, either the model material MA or the support material SA can be cured individually by smoothing and curing the surface of the model material MA or the support material SA, and then discharging the other. There is an advantage that mixing at the SA interface can be effectively avoided.

In this example, the model material MA is discharged first and then the support material SA is discharged. However, the support material may be discharged first, and then the model material may be discharged. Also, in this example, one of the modeling materials is discharged first, and after this is cured, the other modeling material is discharged and cured, and the model material and the support material are separately discharged and cured. Explained how to do. However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and the model material and the support material can be discharged simultaneously.
(Modeling material)

As described above, as the modeling material, the model material MA that becomes a final modeled object and the support material SA that supports the projecting portion from which the model material MA projects and is finally removed are used.
(Curing means 24)

As the model material MA, a light curable resin, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin can be used. In this case, the curing unit 24 is a light irradiation unit that emits light including a specific wavelength at which the material of the model material MA reacts and cures, and is an ultraviolet irradiation unit such as an ultraviolet lamp. As the ultraviolet lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, an LED or the like can be used. In this example, the support material SA is also an ultraviolet curable resin. In the case of using an ultraviolet curable resin that is cured with ultraviolet rays having the same wavelength, the same ultraviolet irradiation means can be used, and an advantage that a light source can be shared is obtained.
(Model material MA)

  A thermoplastic resin can also be used as the model material MA. In this case, the curing unit 24 serves as a cooling unit. When using a thermoplastic resin for both the model material and the support material, by adopting a model material whose melting point is higher than the melting point of the support material, the molded object is higher than the melting point of the support material after the completion of lamination, The support material can be melted and removed by heating and keeping the temperature lower than the melting point of the model material. Furthermore, one of the model material and the support material can be a photo-curing resin, and the other can be a thermoplastic resin.

Alternatively, a material that can be cured by a chemical reaction with the curing material can be used as the model material. Further, the model material may be mixed with a liquid modifier as necessary in order to adjust the jetting characteristics such as viscosity and surface tension. Also, the injection characteristics can be changed by adjusting the temperature. Other examples of the model material include an ultraviolet photopolymer, an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, and urethane.
(Support material SA)

As the support material SA, basically, the same material as the model material described above can be used. However, it is desirable to add a removable material to a material similar to the model material from the viewpoint that the support material is finally a material that can be easily removed. Therefore, specifically, water swelling gel, wax, thermoplastic resin, water-soluble material, soluble material and the like can be used. For the removal of the support material SA, a method such as separation using a thermal expansion difference, which is dissolved by power washing such as aqueous solution, heating, chemical reaction, water pressure washing, or electromagnetic wave irradiation, depending on the properties of the support material, can be used as appropriate. .
(Head 20)

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the head unit 20 of the inkjet three-dimensional modeling apparatus. The head unit 20 shown in this figure is provided with a dedicated discharge nozzle that individually discharges the model material MA and the support material SA as a modeling material discharge means. Specifically, a model material discharge nozzle 21 for discharging the model material MA and a support material discharge nozzle 22 for discharging the support material SA are provided in parallel with each other. Each discharge nozzle is provided with two nozzle rows 23, and these nozzle rows 23 are arranged so as to be shifted by a half nozzle as shown in the plan view of FIG. 5, thereby improving the resolution. The nozzle rows 23 arranged in the offset state are arranged so that the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 are aligned on the same line, thereby matching the resolution of the model material and the support material. I am letting.

  In the head unit 20, a support material discharge nozzle 22, a model material discharge nozzle 21, a roller unit 25, and a curing unit 24 are provided from the left. Each discharge nozzle discharges an ink-shaped modeling material in the manner of a piezoelectric element type ink jet print head. The modeling material is adjusted to a viscosity that can be discharged from the discharge nozzle.

  In the example of FIG. 4, after the head portion 20 discharges the model material MA first, the support material SA is discharged. In addition, the head unit 20 discharges the modeling material on the outward path (left to right in the figure), and on the return path (right to left in the figure), scrapes excess resin from the outermost surface of the modeling material by the roller unit 25 to achieve smoothing. Thereafter, the smoothed resin is cured by the curing means 24.

Further, the head unit 20 shown in the example of FIG. 4 is divided into an ejection head unit 20A provided with an ejection nozzle and a recovery / curing head unit 20B provided with a roller unit and a curing means. Between the discharge head unit 20A and the recovery / curing head unit 20B, a rail guide 45 through which a Y-direction moving rail 44 for moving the head unit 20 is provided. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the head unit 20 reciprocates in the Y direction along the Y direction moving rail 44. Further, both ends of the Y-direction moving rail 44 are supported by the head moving means 30. The head moving means 30 reciprocates in the X direction along a pair of X direction moving rails 43 provided in parallel along the top and bottom of the modeling plate so as to straddle the modeling plate 40 in the vertical direction. Thereby, the head unit 20 can move to an arbitrary position on the XY plane on the modeling plate.
(Surplus resin recovery mechanism)

The head unit 20 further includes a surplus resin recovery mechanism for recovering the excessively discharged resin. That is, in the inkjet type three-dimensional molding machine, in order to perform accurate modeling, extra modeling material such as model material and support material is discharged, and the surplus amount of resin discharged on the modeling plate 40 is Modeling is performed while collecting with the surplus resin recovery mechanism. Such a surplus resin recovery mechanism is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. The surplus resin recovery mechanism shown in this figure presses the surface of the discharged model material MA and support material SA in an uncured state, removes surplus portions of the modeling material, and smoothes the surface of the modeling material The roller unit 25 is used. The example of FIG. 6 shows a state in which the surface of the discharged model material MA is leveled by the roller body 26 in an uncured state.
(Roller part 25)

  The roller unit 25 includes a roller main body 26 that is a rotating body, a blade 27 that is disposed so as to protrude from the surface of the roller main body 26, a bus 28 that stores a modeling material scraped off by the blade 27, and a bus 28. And a suction pipe 29 for discharging the modeling material accumulated in the container. The roller body 26 is rotatably supported, and the uncured resin is pressed while rotating, so that the surplus portion is scraped and collected while leveling the surface of the resin. The roller body 26 is rotated counterclockwise (clockwise in FIG. 6) with respect to the traveling direction of the head portion 20, and scrapes off the uncured modeling material. The modeling material thus scraped up adheres to the roller body 26 and is carried to the blade 27, and then scraped off by the blade 27 and guided to the bus 28. For this reason, the blade 27 is disposed at a position behind the roller body 26 with respect to the traveling direction when the roller body 26 abuts on the resin surface, and is fixed in a downward gradient toward the bus 28. Similarly, the bath (bath) 28 is also disposed on the same side as the blade 27 with respect to the roller body 26 and is disposed below the blade 27. The suction pipe 29 is connected to a pump, and sucks and discharges the modeling material accumulated in the bus 28. In this example, the outer shape of the roller body 26 is about φ20 mm, and the rotation speed is about 10 rotations / s.

  The roller portion 25 scrapes off when the head portion 20 advances from the right to the left in the drawing. In other words, when the model material MA and the support material SA are discharged from the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 to the appropriate positions based on the slice data while the head portion 20 advances from the left to the right, respectively. The roller portion 25 does not contact the modeling material, and similarly, illumination from the light source of the curing means 24 is not performed. In the illustration of the main scanning direction from the left to the right of the head unit 20 in the figure, the main scanning direction as a return path from the right to the left after at least the modeling material is discharged from the nozzles 21 and 22 in the forward path. Then, the above-described scraping operation of the roller unit 25 is performed, and at least the curing means 24 as a light source for irradiating light for curing the model material MA is also operated.

  The light source of the curing unit 24 is disposed forward of the model material discharge nozzle 21 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 with respect to the traveling direction. Therefore, even when the light source is turned on, the light is discharged and smoothed by the roller unit 25. The flowable resin before irradiation is not irradiated. On the other hand, it is of course possible to turn off the light source of the curing means 24 except when it is actively required. On the other hand, a plurality of curing means may be provided. For example, a first curing unit and a second curing unit are provided as the curing unit, and the resin after discharge is preliminarily cured by the first curing unit, and then the resin is further cured by the second curing unit. Thus, by making a hardening means multistage structure, the hardening ability of resin can fully be exhibited. In such a case, if the first curing means remains in preliminary curing and sufficient fluidity still remains in the resin after passing through the first curing means, the roller after the preliminary curing by the first curing means The excess resin may be scraped off at the portion, and then cured by the second curing means. That is, it is not always necessary that all the curing means be disposed on the next stage side of the roller portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the roller portion 25 is disposed in front of the curing means 24, on the left side in the figure, with respect to the traveling direction of the head portion 20. As a result, after the uncured modeling material is scraped off by the roller unit 25 first, the curing means 24 cures the modeling material. With such an arrangement, the modeling material can be scraped and cured in the same pass, and the advantage of being able to be processed efficiently is obtained.

  The basic concept of the arrangement of the support material discharge nozzle 22, the model material discharge nozzle 21, the roller unit 25, and the curing means 24 along the X-axis direction is as follows. Considering the forward direction of the head unit 20 in the main scanning direction as a base, one of the support material discharge nozzle 22 and the model material discharge nozzle 21 may be positioned in front of the other. With respect to such a nozzle layout, the roller unit 25 and the curing means 24, when it is desired to perform the action of the roller in the forward path, in the forward travel direction, behind the support material discharge nozzle 22 and the model material discharge nozzle 21 When the roller unit 25 and the curing means 24 are arranged in this order and the action of the rollers is to be performed in the return path, the roller unit 25 and the support material discharge nozzle 22 and the model material discharge nozzle 21 are moved backward in the direction of travel of the return path. What is necessary is just to arrange | position in order of the hardening means 24.

  Moreover, in the said Example, after discharging resin for becoming a new uppermost layer from the head part 20, with respect to the resin layer of the uncured uppermost layer in the middle of modeling, the excess resin by the roller part 25 of After scraping, a method of irradiating UV light for curing at least the uppermost resin layer by the curing means 24 was adopted.

  However, in addition to this configuration, the curing means can be configured in multiple stages as described above. For example, after a resin for forming a new uppermost layer is discharged from the head unit 20, the uppermost layer including the surplus resin layer is once irradiated with light by the curing unit 24, and then the uncured state of the uppermost layer in the middle of modeling is irradiated. There is also a method in which the upper resin layer is scraped off by the roller portion 25 and then irradiated with UV light for curing at least the uppermost resin layer by the curing means 24 again. In this case, the curing means 24 is provided with a pair of curing means in the head portion 20 in the front-rear direction sandwiching the support material discharge nozzle 22 and the model material discharge nozzle 21 in the X direction, that is, the main scanning direction of the head portion 20. Thus, the above-described irradiation can be performed twice.

In this case, the first irradiation and the second irradiation are combined to finally achieve the desired degree of curing of the resin, so the resin after the first irradiation is not in a cured state, For the subsequent scraping operation by the roller portion 25, the semi-cured state is flowable. For this reason, also in this case, the state of the uppermost layer before scraping off the resin by the roller portion 25 is expressed as an uncured state or a flowable state.
(Resin route)

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a transport path 46 of a resin that is a modeling material. As shown in this figure, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a foreign matter collecting filter 51, a modeling material cartridge 47, and a deaeration pressure release valve 62. The foreign matter collecting filter 51 collects foreign matters contained in the resin. For example, a 10 μm mesh filter can be used as the foreign matter collecting filter 51.

  The modeling material cartridge 47 is connected to an individual conveyance path 46 for each resin. Here, as the modeling material cartridge 47, a model material cartridge 47A and a support material cartridge 47B are prepared for the model material and the support material, respectively, and the model material conveyance path 46A and the support material conveyance path 46B are provided. Each is connected. In addition, it is preferable to prepare a plurality of model material cartridges 47A and support material cartridges 47B. Thereby, even if one modeling material cartridge 47 becomes empty during modeling, the resin can be quickly supplied from the other modeling material cartridge 47. In the example of FIG. 7, two model material cartridges 47 </ b> A and two support material cartridges 47 </ b> B are connected, and each modeling material cartridge 47 is connected to the resin transport path 46 via an electromagnetic valve 49. Furthermore, each resin conveyance path 46 is connected to the supply pump 50, and is connected to the head unit 20 via the supply pump 50. The model material conveyance path 46A is connected to the model material discharge nozzle of the head unit 20 via the model material supply pump 50A. The support material conveyance path 46B is connected to a support material discharge nozzle via a support material supply pump 50B.

Moreover, the head part 20 is provided with the foreign material collection filter 51, the deaeration module 52, the reserve tank 48, and the discharge nozzle for every resin. In the example of FIG. 7, the foreign matter collecting filter 51, the deaeration module 52, and the reserve tank 48 are disposed in the discharge head unit 20 </ b> A provided with the discharge nozzles in the head unit 20. Here, a model material foreign matter collecting filter 51A, a model material deaeration module 52A, a model material reserve tank 48A, a model material discharge nozzle are provided for the model material, and a support material foreign matter is provided for the support material. A collection filter 51B, a support material deaeration module 52B, a support material reserve tank 48B, and a support material discharge nozzle are provided. In the drawing, the model material passes from the model material discharge head through the model material conveyance path 46A from the top to the bottom, that is, through the model material foreign matter collecting filter 51A, the model material degassing module 52A, and the model material reserve tank 48A. Discharged. Similarly, the support material also passes from the support material discharge head through the support material conveyance path 46B from above, that is, through the support material foreign matter collecting filter 51B, the support material degassing module 52B, and the support material reserve tank 48B. Discharged.
(Measures against air bubbles)

  In a dispenser that injects resin, if air is mixed in the resin, droplets cannot be generated normally. If air is present in the resin, the pressure that should be used to extrude the liquid acts as a force that compresses the air. As a result, normal droplets cannot be generated, and no droplets are emitted from the discharge nozzle. Nausea. In addition to bubbles in the resin, as a characteristic of the droplet generation process by the dispenser, negative pressure is applied to the resin, causing cavitation, and the air dissolved in the resin is bubbled to cause undischarge. There is also.

  In general, factors that cause bubbles or dissolved gas to be mixed into the resin include (1) the case where it is already mixed in the resin itself, (2) the case where it is mixed when inserting / removing the modeling material cartridge, and (3) the transport of the resin. When mixing through a tube in the path, there are three possible cases. Therefore, it is preferable to take measures against mixing bubbles or the like in each case.

  First, (1) in the case where the resin itself is already mixed, it is conceivable to take measures to remove air in the resin manufacturing process and in the process of filling the molding material cartridge with the resin. Next, regarding (2) the case that is mixed when the modeling material cartridge is inserted / extracted, it is conceivable to improve the insertion / extraction structure of the modeling material cartridge to make it difficult for air to enter. And (3) About the bubble mixed through the tube in the conveyance path | route of resin, it is possible to suppress as much as possible that resin retains in a conveyance path | route for a long time.

  However, even if such countermeasures are taken, bubbles and dissolved gas may remain in the resin, causing discharge failure of the discharge nozzle and causing poor molding. As a countermeasure for this, assuming that bubbles exist in the resin with a certain probability, an operation called purging that automatically releases the air staying in the vicinity of the discharge nozzle to the outside together with the resin is automatically performed during modeling. Can be considered. Specifically, in the purge process, a pump (not shown) connected to each of the reserve tanks 48A and 48B raises the pressure in each of the reserve tanks 48A and 48B in the maintenance mode in which the pump is periodically shifted during modeling. This is performed by discharging the air accumulated in the vicinity of the discharge nozzle to the outside together with the resin. However, frequent purging operations wastes resin. For this reason, it is necessary to make the time interval for purging as long as possible.

On the other hand, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, by taking a random scan of the head portion with each layer of modeling material to be stacked, measures are taken so that the influence is not accumulated even if several discharge nozzles fail to discharge. It is also possible. However, in applications where higher modeling accuracy is required, even if several of these discharge nozzles fail to discharge, the accuracy of the model is affected, and in some cases, it is regarded as defective.
(Deaeration module 52)

On the other hand, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with a degassing module 52 for degassing the gas in the resin, in front of the modeling material discharging means in the resin transport path 46. Thereby, bubbles can be eliminated from the resin, and molding defects caused by ejection defects caused by the bubbles can be reduced.
(Arrangement position of the deaeration module 52)

  This deaeration module 52 is preferably arranged after the foreign matter collecting filter 51. The foreign matter collecting filter 51 collects foreign matters mixed in the resin and also has an effect of finely decomposing bubbles contained in the resin. Therefore, by disposing the deaeration module 52 at the subsequent stage of the foreign matter collection filter 51, the bubbles finely decomposed by the foreign matter collection filter 51 can be reliably deaerated, and the effect of deaeration can be enhanced.

  Further, the deaeration module 52 can be disposed at any position as long as it is on the resin conveyance path 46, but is preferably provided in the head unit 20 as described above. By mounting the deaeration module 52 on the head unit 20 that moves in the X and Y directions on the modeling plate, it is possible to suppress the resin from staying for a long time, which is a countermeasure for the above-described bubble mixing factor (3). Become.

  Furthermore, by arranging the deaeration module 52 after the foreign matter collecting filter 51, measures against the air bubble mixing factor (2) are taken. According to the research and development by the present inventors, it has been clarified that the air bubbles mixed when inserting and removing the modeling material cartridge are larger in size than the above (1) and (3). In order to remove such large bubbles, a large deaeration module is required. However, it is difficult to incorporate a large deaeration module into the head part, which leads to an increase in the size of the device itself. On the other hand, it has been found that the bubbles in the resin are finely pulverized when passing through the foreign matter collecting filter. Therefore, by disposing the deaeration module 52 at the subsequent stage of such a foreign matter collection filter 51, air bubbles finely crushed by the foreign matter collection filter 51 are degassed, so that a relatively small deaeration is achieved. The module 52 can also effectively remove bubbles, and can be mounted on the head unit 20.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the head portion 20 of FIG. 4 as viewed from the back of the modeling material discharge nozzle. In the example of this figure, the foreign substance collection filter 51 and the deaeration module 52 are prepared for the support material and the model material, respectively, and are fixed to the fixing plate 65 inside the head portion 20. In addition, the attitude | position which has arrange | positioned the foreign material collection filter 51 and the deaeration module 52 is upside down with the block diagram of FIG. This is to prevent air from staying in the foreign matter collecting filter 51 as much as possible. Specifically, for the model material transport tube 66A that transports the model material, the model material degassing module 52A and the model material foreign matter collecting filter 51A are connected from the inflow side to the outflow side. Similarly, for the support material transport tube 66B for transporting the support material, the support material degassing module 52B and the support material foreign matter collecting filter 51B are connected from the inflow side to the outflow side. Further, each of the model material degassing module 52A and the support material degassing module 52B is connected to the model material degassing path 57A and the support material degassing path 57B, respectively. Further, the model material degassing path 57A and the support material degassing path 57B are connected to a common degassing path 57 as shown in FIG. The deaeration path 57 has its tip branched, one connected to the deaeration negative pressure generating pump 63, and the other connected to the deaeration pressure release valve 62. By sucking the degassing path 57 by the degassing negative pressure generating pump 63, the inside of the degassing path 57 can be set to a negative pressure. Further, by periodically opening the deaeration pressure release valve 62, an air flow is generated in the deaeration path 57.
(Details of deaeration module 52)

Here, FIG. 9 is an external view of the deaeration module 52, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing its internal structure, FIG. 11 is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the hollow fiber 60. The deaeration module 52 shown in these drawings shows a model material deaeration module 52A, but the support material deaeration module 52B has the same configuration. The model material deaeration module 52A has resin outlets as openings for connecting to the model material transport path 46A on the upper and lower surfaces of the deaeration module body case 53 having a cylindrical outer shape in FIG. 55 (upper surface) and the resin inlet 54 (lower surface) are opened. The model material deaeration module 52A connects the resin inlet 54 and the resin outlet 55 to the model material transport path 46A, and flows the model material MA from the lower side to the upper side in the center in the figure while flowing to the model material MA. The contained bubbles are discharged from the deaeration pressure port 56 opened on the side surface.
(Hollow fiber 60)

  Inside the deaeration module main body case 53, the hollow fiber 60 is helically arranged as shown in FIG. The hollow fiber 60 is a semipermeable membrane and has a hollow inside, and is communicated with a deaeration path 57 that is made negative by a deaeration negative pressure generating pump 63. With this configuration, when the model material MA, which is a resin, is brought into contact with the outer surface of the hollow fiber 60, bubbles inside the resin are formed on the inner surface side of the hollow fiber 60 in which the internal pressure is negative as shown in FIG. AH and dissolved gas are attracted, and only these gas components pass through the semipermeable membrane and move into the hollow fiber 60, whereby the bubbles AH and dissolved gas in the model material MA can be removed. By adopting a hollow fiber structure in this way, the area where the liquid resin is in contact with the semipermeable membrane is greatly increased and the deaeration rate is improved compared to the conventional deaeration module with a flat membrane structure. Can be made.

  Further, the deaeration path 57 in the hollow fiber 60 not only has a negative pressure, but also causes an air flow inside the path. In particular, the substance that passes through the semipermeable membrane contains not only an air component but also a vaporized resin component. For this reason, if the state without air flow is continued for a long time, the liquefied resin may be generated again inside the hollow fiber 60. In other words, the vaporized resin component starts to aggregate when the amount of saturated vapor is exceeded. As a result, the intake function of the degassing path is lowered, and the gas cannot be sufficiently moved from the semipermeable membrane, and the degassing efficiency is significantly reduced. To do. Therefore, in this embodiment, an air flow is generated in the deaeration path 57 so that the vaporized component does not stay in the deaeration path for a long time.

On the other hand, in order to generate an air flow in the deaeration path, for example, a method of constantly flowing air is also conceivable. However, this method has a problem that the deaeration route becomes complicated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the air flow is not always generated, but the deaeration path 57 is intermittently opened to the atmospheric pressure, and the air flow is temporarily generated. This method can be easily realized by providing the deaeration pressure release valve 62 in the deaeration path 57. The deaeration pressure release valve 62 shown in FIG. 7 opens the opened end of the hollow fiber 60 at regular intervals, for example, once every 15 seconds.
(Intermediate pipe 58)

On the other hand, the resin inlet 54 communicates with an intermediate pipe 58 that extends to the middle along the cylindrical central axis of the deaeration module main body case 53. The end face of the intermediate pipe 58 is closed, while a plurality of opening windows 58a are provided on the circumferential side of the intermediate pipe 58. Further, since the spiral hollow fiber 60 is disposed around the intermediate pipe 58, the model material MA discharged radially from the opening window 58a into the deaeration module main body case 53 is a hollow disposed around the intermediate pipe 58. The surface of the yarn 60 is brought into contact with a large area. One end edge of the hollow fiber 60 is also closed, and the other end edge is opened and communicates with the deaeration pressure port 56. Furthermore, the open end side of the hollow fiber 60 is isolated from the closed end side of the other end by a sealing material 59. As a result, the model material MA is prevented from flowing into the degassing path 57 side, and it is avoided that bubbles AH and the like degassed from the model material MA are eluted again to the resin side as will be described later. In order to prevent the model material MA discharged from the opening window 58a from flowing directly to the resin outlet 55 without touching the hollow fiber 60, a spiral shape extends from the upper part of the opening window 58a to the closed end face of the intermediate pipe 58. The space between the inner surface of the hollow fiber 60 is separated and divided by the second sealing material 59B.
(Deaeration route 57)

The deaeration pressure port 56 communicates with the deaeration path 57 as shown in FIG. 7, and the tip thereof is connected to the deaeration negative pressure generating pump 63. The deaeration passage 57 is sucked by the deaeration negative pressure generating pump 63, so that the hollow fiber 60 has a negative pressure from the deaeration pressure port 56 through the deaeration route 57. Further, the deaeration path 57 is branched and connected to the deaeration pressure release valve 62.
(Degassing procedure of the degassing module 52)

  Here, a procedure for degassing the model material MA by the degassing module 52 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, the flow of the model material MA is indicated by a solid line arrow, and the flow of air to be deaerated is indicated by a broken line arrow. The model material MA flowing from below into the center of the deaeration module main body case 53 from the resin inlet 54 is discharged radially from the intermediate portion to the side surface and is brought into contact with the wall surface of the hollow fiber 60 arranged in a spiral shape. The When the model material MA touches the wall surface of the hollow fiber 60, the bubbles AH dissolved in the resin of the model material MA pass through the wall surface of the hollow fiber 60 and move into the hollow fiber 60. As a result, the bubbles AH that have moved into the hollow fiber 60 are sucked into the deaeration path 57 that has been made negative by the deaeration negative pressure generating pump 63 and exhausted from the deaeration pressure release valve 62. On the other hand, the degassed resin of the model material MA moves from the gap between the hollow fibers 60 to the upper resin outlet 55 and is discharged from the deaeration module 52. In this way, while the resin is introduced from the center of the bottom surface of the degassing module 52, the gas components are extracted from the side surfaces by separating the bubbles AH and the like, and only the degassed resin component is discharged from above.

In addition, although the deaeration module using a semipermeable membrane hollow fiber was used in the above example, a deaeration module is not limited to this structure, Other known deaeration modules can be utilized suitably. The degassing method is not limited to the method using the above principle, and it goes without saying that a known method can be adopted.
(Example 2)

  Moreover, the arrangement position of the deaeration module is not limited to the above example. What is necessary is just to arrange | position to the front | former stage of a modeling material discharge nozzle in the back | latter stage of the foreign material collection filter 51, for example like Example 2 shown in FIG. 13, the reserve tank 48A for model materials which is a reserve tank for modeling materials, and support material A model material degassing module 52A and a support material degassing module 52B may be provided after the reserve tank 48B, respectively. According to this configuration, since the deaeration module is arranged at a position closer to the nozzle discharge port, it is possible to reduce a portion where air may flow in, and to reduce the deaeration effect of the modeling material supplied to the nozzle. It can be further increased.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method of the present invention can be suitably used for three-dimensional modeling in which an ultraviolet curable resin is laminated by an inkjet method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Three-dimensional modeling system 1 ... Setting data creation apparatus 2, 2 '... Three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 ... Control means 12 ... Roller rotational speed control means 13 ... Discharge control means 20 ... Head part; 20A ... Discharge head unit; 20B ... Recovery / curing head unit 21 ... model material discharge nozzle 22 ... support material discharge nozzle 23 ... nozzle row; 23a ... discharge nozzle tip 24 ... curing means 25 ... roller section 26 ... roller body 27 ... blade 28 ... bus 29 ... suction pipe 30 ... Head moving means 31... XY direction drive unit 32, 32 ′ Z direction drive unit 40... Modeling plate 43. X direction movement rail 44 ... Y direction movement rail 45 ... Rail guide 46. 46B ... Support material conveyance path 47 ... Modeling material cartridge; 47A ... Model material cartridge; 47B ... Support Material cartridge 48 ... Reserve tank; 48A ... Model material reserve tank; 48B ... Support material reserve tank 49 ... Solenoid valve 50 ... Supply pump; 50A ... Model material supply pump; 50B ... Support material supply pump 51 ... Foreign matter Collecting filter 51A ... Foreign material collecting filter for model material; 51B ... Foreign material collecting filter for support material 52 ... Deaeration module 52A ... Deaeration module for model material; 52B ... Deaeration module for support material 53 ... Deaeration module body Case 54 ... Resin inlet 55 ... Resin outlet 56 ... Deaeration pressure port 57 ... Deaeration path; 57A ... Deaeration path for model material; 57B ... Deaeration path for support material 58 ... Intermediate pipe; 58a ... Opening window 59 ... Sealing material; 59B ... Second sealing material 60 ... Hollow fiber 62 ... Deaeration pressure release valve 63 ... Degassing negative pressure generating pump 65 ... Fixed plate 66 A ... Model material transport tube; 66B ... Support material transport tube MA ... Model material SA ... Support material SB ... Overhang support AH ... Bubble DL ... Droplet PC ... Computer

Claims (14)

On the modeling plate (40), by repeating the operation of discharging the modeling material while scanning it in at least one direction and curing it, a slice having a predetermined thickness in the height direction is generated in layers, and the slice Is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that models by stacking in the height direction,
The modeling plate (40) for placing the modeled object;
Modeling material discharge means for discharging the modeling material;
A head portion (20) for supporting the modeling material discharge means;
Control means (10) for controlling the ejection of the modeling material by the modeling material ejection means while moving the head portion (20),
A degassing module (52) for contacting the liquid modeling material and degassing the gas contained in the modeling material;
Exchangeable modeling material cartridge (47) that stores modeling material,
A foreign matter collecting filter (51) for collecting foreign matters from the modeling material, which is disposed in a transport route (46) of the liquid modeling material communicated from the modeling material cartridge (47) to the modeling material discharge means. )When,
With
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the deaeration module (52) is disposed after the foreign matter collecting filter (51) and before the modeling material discharging means. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1,
The deaeration module (52) is composed of a hollow fiber (60),
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized in that the inside of the hollow fiber (60) has a negative pressure. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2,
Closing one end of the hollow fiber (60),
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by being connected to a deaeration negative pressure generating pump (63) while the other end is an open end. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising a deaeration pressure release valve (62) for opening one end of the hollow fiber (60) opened at a predetermined timing. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the foreign matter collecting filter (51) and the deaeration module (52) are provided in the head portion (20). The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 5,
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the foreign matter collecting filter (51) and the deaeration module (52) are modularized. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising a plurality of the modeling material cartridges (47). The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
It comprises a curing means (24) for curing the modeling material,
The head unit (20) supports the curing unit, and the control unit (10) moves the head unit (20) while discharging the modeling material by the modeling material ejection unit and curing unit (24 The three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by controlling the curing by). The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
Horizontal driving means for reciprocating the head portion (20) in the horizontal direction;
Vertical driving means for moving the relative position in the height direction of the head portion (20) and the modeling plate (40);
With
The control means (10) reciprocally scans the head portion (20) in one direction with the horizontal driving means, and causes the modeling material discharge means to discharge the modeling object onto the modeling plate (40). A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the modeled object is cured by the curing means (24). A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The modeling material
Model material (MA) that will be the final model,
Supporting the projecting portion where the model material (MA) projects, and the support material (SA) finally removed,
Including
The modeling material discharge means is
A plurality of model material discharge nozzles (21) for discharging the model material (MA) and a plurality of support material discharge nozzles (22) for discharging the support material (SA) are arranged in one direction. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by this. On the modeling plate (40), by repeating the operation of discharging the modeling material while scanning it in at least one direction and curing it, a slice having a predetermined thickness in the height direction is generated in layers, and the slice Is a three-dimensional modeling method for modeling by laminating in the height direction,
Supplying the modeling material from the exchangeable modeling material cartridge (47) for storing the modeling material to the conveying path (46) of the modeling material;
The step of supplementing the foreign material contained in the modeling material through the foreign material collecting filter (51) provided on the transport path (46) of the modeling material and pulverizing the gas component contained in the modeling material When,
On the transport path of the modeling material (46), the modeling material is passed through a deaeration module (52) provided at a subsequent stage of the foreign matter collecting filter (51), and included in the deaeration module (52). A step of degassing the hollow fiber (60) by bringing a gas component in the modeling material into contact with the modeling material with the hollow fiber (60) having a negative pressure inside, and
Discharging the degassed modeling material onto the modeling plate (40) by a modeling material discharging means for discharging the modeling material;
3D modeling method characterized by including. A three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 11,
The deaeration module (52) is composed of a hollow fiber (60),
A three-dimensional modeling method characterized in that the inside of the hollow fiber (60) has a negative pressure. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 12,
Closing one end of the hollow fiber (60),
A three-dimensional modeling method characterized by being connected to a degassing negative pressure generating pump (63) while the other end is an open end. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 13,
A three-dimensional modeling method comprising a deaeration pressure release valve (62) for opening one end of the hollow fiber (60) opened at a predetermined timing.

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