JP2014113758A - Three-dimensional molding method and three-dimensional molding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional molding method and a three-dimensional molding apparatus capable of downsizing the apparatus without necessitating a recovery mechanism.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional molding method allows formation of a three-dimensional object of a desired shape. In the method, a solvent 2 for softening a sheet material 1 made of a resin sheet material is applied in predetermined locations 1a, 1b, 1c in the sheet material 1, so that the predetermined locations 1a, 1b, 1c are softened. Then the softened locations of the sheet material 1 are deformed by compression members 3, 4, so that the three-dimensional object of the desired shape can be molded while forming a stepped portion.

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object having a desired shape from a workpiece.

  Conventionally, as a three-dimensional modeling method for creating a three-dimensional solid model, an optical modeling method, a powder modeling method, a cutting RP (Rapid Prototyping) method, a hot melt lamination method, and the like are known. In the stereolithography method, light is applied to a photocurable resin according to a desired three-dimensional cross-sectional shape, and the resin is cured stepwise for each cross-section to form a desired three-dimensional shape. The powder molding method is desired as a composite of powder materials by laying powder materials in layers and repeating layer formation while sintering directly with a high-power laser beam or by adding a binder using an ink jet method. To form a solid. In the cutting RP method, a desired material is formed by cutting or cutting a workable material such as foamed polystyrene (for example, Patent Document 1). The hot melt lamination method forms a desired solid by melting and laminating a thermoplastic resin at a high temperature (for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, the stereolithography method requires a tank for storing a photocurable resin as a material, and the apparatus becomes large. Moreover, in the powder molding method, in order to take out the combined body (solid) embedded in the powder material, it is necessary to provide a recovery mechanism for removing excess powder, and by providing the recovery mechanism, the apparatus is large-sized. It will become. Also in the cutting RP method, it is necessary to provide a recovery mechanism for removing cutting chips generated by a large operating noise for the cutting process, and the apparatus is enlarged by providing the recovery mechanism. In the hot melt laminating method, a high temperature chamber that covers the entire modeling region is required to ensure accuracy, and the apparatus becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that can reduce the size of the apparatus without requiring a recovery mechanism.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is a three-dimensional modeling method for forming a three-dimensional object having a desired shape by applying a solvent for softening the workpiece to the workpiece made of a resin sheet material. A solid body is formed by softening a workpiece and deforming a softened portion of the workpiece.

  The present invention does not require a recovery mechanism, and has an excellent effect that the apparatus can be downsized.

(A)-(h) is explanatory drawing which shows the three-dimensional modeling process which concerns on 1st embodiment. The perspective view which shows an example of a solid | solid. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of provision of the solvent using a droplet discharge head. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the solid modeling process which concerns on 2nd embodiment. The perspective view which shows an example of a solid | solid.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment applied to a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus using the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Drawing 1 (a)-(h) is an explanatory view showing a solid modeling process concerning a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 (a), first, an adhering portion 1a where a solvent 2 is applied to a predetermined place by a solvent applying means (droplet discharging means) (not shown) on a sheet material 1 which is a workpiece made of a resin sheet material. Adhere to. The solvent 2 penetrates into the inside of the adhesion part 1a and softens the adhesion part 1a. Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, the pressure member 3 as the deformation means pushes up the periphery of the adhesion portion 1a until the softening stops after the softening of the adhesion portion 1a starts, and the pressure as the deformation means The member 4 pushes down the periphery of the adhesion part 1a. Thereby, the adhesion part 1a is extended in the direction which cross | intersects the surface of the sheet raw material 1, and a level | step difference part is formed. The solvent 2 in the adhering portion 1a decreases due to vaporization, and the softening stops when all the solvent 2 is vaporized. Here, the place where the pressure members 3 and 4 are in contact with each other is around the attachment portion 1a, but it goes without saying that the portion may include the attachment portion 1a.

  Subsequently, similarly, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the solvent 2 is attached to the attachment portion 1b which is a predetermined place with respect to the sheet material 1. The solvent 2 penetrates into the inside of the attaching part 1b and softens the attaching part 1b. Then, as shown in FIG. 1D, the pressure member 3 pushes up the periphery of the adhesion portion 1b from the start of the softening of the adhesion portion 1b to before the softening stops, and the pressure member 4 becomes the adhesion portion 1b. Press down around. Thereby, the adhesion part 1b is extended in the direction which cross | intersects the surface of the sheet raw material 1, and a level | step difference part is formed.

  Subsequently, similarly, as shown in FIG. 1 (e), the solvent 2 is attached to the attachment portion 1 c serving as a predetermined place with respect to the sheet material 1. The solvent 2 permeates the inside of the adhesion part 1c and softens the adhesion part 1c. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (f), the pressure member 3 pushes up the periphery of the adhesion portion 1c from the start of the softening of the adhesion portion 1c to before the softening stops, and the pressure member 4 becomes the adhesion portion 1c. Press down around. Thereby, the adhesion part 1c is extended in the direction which cross | intersects the surface of the sheet raw material 1, and a level | step difference part is formed.

  Subsequently, similarly, as shown in FIG. 1 (g), the solvent 2 is adhered to the adhering portion 1d which is a predetermined place with respect to the sheet material 1. The solvent 2 permeates the inside of the adhesion part 1d and softens the adhesion part 1d. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (h), the pressure member 3 pushes up the periphery of the adhering portion 1d from the start of the softening of the adhering portion 1d to before the softening stops, and the pressure member 4 becomes the adhering portion 1d. Press down around. Thereby, the adhesion part 1d is extended in the direction which cross | intersects the surface of the sheet raw material 1, and a level | step difference part is formed. In this way, by forming a plurality of step portions on the sheet material 1, for example, map models 1 ', 1' 'as shown in FIG. 2 can be formed.

  In FIG. 1, when forming one stepped surface, the adhesion and pressurization of the solvent 2 are performed twice (FIGS. 1B and 1D, for example). It is not limited to. For example, when forming the map model 1 ′ of FIG. 2, after the solvent 2 is attached on the arc to soften the sheet material 1, the inside of the arc may be pressed to form a disk-like protruding surface. By forming in this way, the number of processing steps can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the solvent 2 may be discharged from a nozzle of a droplet discharge head 21 serving as a droplet discharge means. The droplet discharge head 21 is in a three-dimensional direction (X, Y, and X in the figure) with respect to the sheet material 1 placed on the mounting table 20 by the scanning unit 22 based on the three-dimensional information corresponding to a solid having a desired shape. (Z direction) can be scanned. Further, as shown in the solvents 2a, 2b, and 2c in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the droplet discharge head 21 has a complicated shape by changing the droplet discharge amount or changing the resolution. A solid can be precisely shaped. Here, the resolution refers to an interval between adjacent landing positions formed by ejected droplets landing on the sheet material 1.

  More specifically, the height of the step can be changed by changing the discharge amount from the nozzle. That is, since the softening of the sheet material 1 by the solvent 2 further proceeds when the discharge amount is large, the deformation is easy (the degree of softening is large) even with the same applied pressure, and the deformation amount increases. Utilizing this fact, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the discharge amount of the solvent 2 in the deformed portion is gradually increased toward the outer peripheral side (application position of the solvent 2a in the drawing), and is attached. Press the center of the drawing upward. At this time, since the outer peripheral side is more easily deformed, the solid to be formed can be formed into a bowl-like shape with a steep slope on the outer peripheral side instead of a trapezoidal cross section.

  Further, when the ejection amount is changed, not only the degree of softening but also the width of the softened region is changed depending on the droplet size. Therefore, when it is not desired to change the width of the softened region, it is possible to change only the degree of softening by changing the discharge resolution to discharge different amounts of solvent in the same region without changing the width.

  In the present embodiment, the droplet discharge head 21 and the pressure members 3 and 4 can be scanned in three-dimensional directions (X, Y, and Z directions in the drawing) according to the three-dimensional shape of the target three-dimensional object. It is said. Not only this configuration but also the droplet discharge head 21 and the pressure members 3 and 4 can be scanned in a two-dimensional direction (X and Y directions in the figure), and a mounting table 20 on which the sheet material 1 is placed is shown in the figure. It may be configured to be movable in the Z direction. Any configuration may be used as long as the droplet discharge head 21 and the pressure members 3 and 4 can change the relative positions with respect to the sheet material 1.

  For the sheet material 1, for example, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or the like can be used. When polystyrene is used for the sheet material 1, limonene, acetone or the like can be used as the solvent. When polycarbonate is used for the sheet material 1, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate or the like can be used as the solvent.

Next, a second embodiment applied to a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus using the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
4A to 4D are explanatory views showing a three-dimensional modeling process according to the second embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, a sheet material 11 that is a workpiece made of a rolled resin sheet material is placed on the mounting table 20. And the solvent 12 is made to adhere to the adhesion part 11a, 11b, 11c used as the predetermined place of the sheet | seat raw material 11 by the solvent provision means (droplet discharge means) which is not shown in figure. The solvent 12 penetrates into the attachment portions 11a, 11b, and 11c, and softens the attachment portions 11a, 11b, and 11c. At the adhering portions 11a, 11b, and 11c, softening is started, and at the same time, a part of the stress remaining inside the sheet material is released by rolling at the time of manufacturing the sheet and starts to shrink. At this time, the sheet material 11 is preferably a biaxially rolled (stretched) material in order to reduce the difference in the amount of shrinkage depending on the direction and increase the modeling accuracy.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, a holding member 13 that is a regulating member is installed so as to cover the entire upper surface of the sheet material 11, and the non-adhering portion 11 d to which the solvent 12 is not attached. The holding members 14 and 15 are installed facing the lower surface. When the attachment portions 11a, 11b, and 11c start to soften, the holding members 13, 14, and 15 are held at a predetermined distance while the non-attachment portion 11d is sandwiched between the holding member 13 and the holding members 14 and 15. Raise. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4C, a part of the adhering portions 11a and 11b around the non-adhering portion 11d is stretched in a direction intersecting the surface of the sheet material 11, and the adhering portions 11a and 11b A stepped portion is formed between the non-attached portion 11d. At the same time, the adhering portions 11 a and 11 b start to contract along the surface of the holding member 13 or along the surface of the mounting table 20. Similarly, the adhering portion 11c softens and contracts. And the solvent 12 in the adhesion parts 11a, 11b, and 11c decreases by vaporization, and softening contraction stops when all the solvent 12 vaporizes.

  As shown in FIG. 4D, after the softening / shrinkage of the attachment portions 11a, 11b, and 11c is stopped, the holding members 13, 14, and 15 are separated from the sheet material 11. The sheet material 11 is shaped into a solid shape such that the adhering portions 11a, 11b, and 11c are concave portions and the non-adhering portion 11b is a convex portion. For example, a three-dimensional character 11 ′ as shown in FIG. 5 can be formed.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the solvent 12 is discharged from the nozzles of the droplet discharge head 21 as droplet discharge means, as shown in FIGS. It is good to let them. The droplet discharge head 21 is arranged in a three-dimensional direction (X, Y, and X in the figure) with respect to the sheet material 11 placed on the mounting table 20 by the scanning unit 22 based on the three-dimensional information corresponding to a solid having a desired shape. (Z direction) can be scanned. Further, as shown in the solvents 12a, 12b, and 12c in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the droplet discharge head 21 has a complicated shape by changing the droplet discharge amount or changing the resolution. A solid can be precisely shaped.

  In the present embodiment, the droplet discharge head 21 and the holding members 13, 14, and 15 are arranged in a three-dimensional direction (X, Y, and Z directions in the drawing) together with the mounting table 20 according to the three-dimensional shape of the target three-dimensional object. It was set as the structure which can be scanned. Without being limited to this configuration, the droplet discharge head 21 and the holding members 13, 14, and 15 can be scanned in a two-dimensional direction (X and Y directions in the drawing), and the mounting table 20 on which the sheet material 1 is mounted is illustrated. It may be configured to be movable in the middle Z direction. Any configuration may be used as long as the droplet discharge head 21 and the holding members 13, 14, and 15 can change relative positions with respect to the sheet material 11. Further, in the present embodiment, the placement table 20 on which the sheet material 11 is placed is not moved, but the placement table 20 may be configured to be independently movable. In that case, for example, when the softening of the attachment portion 11 a is started, the mounting table 20 is lowered while the non-attachment portion 11 c is held between the holding members 13, 14, and 15. Thereby, a part of adhesion part 11a, 11b in the softened state around the non-adhesion part 11d is extended below by dead weight, and a level | step difference part is formed.

  For the sheet material (rolled resin sheet) 11, for example, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or the like can be used. When polystyrene is used for the sheet material 11, limonene, acetone, or the like can be used as the solvent. When polycarbonate is used for the sheet material 11, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, or the like can be used as the solvent.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
In a three-dimensional modeling method for forming a solid with a desired shape, a predetermined place is obtained by applying a solvent such as a solvent 2 that softens the workpiece to a predetermined place of the workpiece made of a resin sheet material such as the sheet material 1. Is softened and a soft part of the workpiece is deformed to form a solid.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, a solid body is formed only by deforming the softened portion of the workpiece made of the resin sheet material. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a process for removing unnecessary members such as chips and supporting members, and a collection mechanism for these unnecessary members is not required, and the apparatus can be downsized. Moreover, the loud operating sound like the cutting RP method is not generated.
(Aspect B)
In the three-dimensional modeling method for forming a three-dimensional object having a desired shape, a solvent such as a solvent 12 that softens the workpiece is applied to a predetermined location of the workpiece made of a rolled resin sheet material such as the sheet material 11 to obtain a predetermined shape. The space is softened, the softened portion of the workpiece is deformed, and a three-dimensional object is formed while partially restricting the contraction of at least a part of the softened portion of the workpiece.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, a three-dimensional object is formed simply by partially restricting deformation or shrinkage of the softened portion of the workpiece made of the rolled resin sheet material. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a process for removing unnecessary members such as chips and supporting members, and a collection mechanism for these unnecessary members is not required, and the apparatus can be downsized. Moreover, the loud operating sound like the cutting RP method is not generated.
(Aspect C)
In the three-dimensional modeling method of (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), the amount of solvent applied is changed according to the amount of deformation that deforms the softened part of the workpiece.
According to this, as described in the first or second embodiment, the amount of deformation of the softened portion of the workpiece can be changed by changing the amount of the solvent applied, and a three-dimensional shape having a complicated shape can be obtained. Precise modeling is possible.
(Aspect D)
In a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object having a desired shape, a solvent application unit that applies a solvent such as a solvent 2 that softens the workpiece to a predetermined place of the workpiece made of a resin sheet material such as the material sheet 1; And a deformation means such as pressure members 3 and 4 for deforming a softened portion of the workpiece to which a solvent is applied by the solvent application means in order to form a solid having a desired shape from the workpiece.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, a solid body is formed only by deforming the softened portion of the workpiece made of the resin sheet material. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a process for removing unnecessary members such as chips and supporting members, and a collection mechanism for these unnecessary members is not required, and the apparatus can be downsized. Moreover, the loud operating sound like the cutting RP method is not generated.
(Aspect E)
In a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object having a desired shape, a solvent applying means for applying a solvent for softening the workpiece to a predetermined place of the workpiece made of a rolled resin sheet material such as the raw material sheet 11; Deformation means such as holding members 14 and 15 for deforming a softened portion of the work piece to which a solvent is applied by the solvent application means in order to form a solid having a desired shape from the work piece, and softening of the work piece And a regulating means such as a holding member 13 that partially regulates the shrinkage of the part.
According to this, as described in the second embodiment, a three-dimensional object is formed simply by deforming a softened portion of a workpiece made of a rolled resin sheet material or partially restricting the contraction of the softened portion. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a process for removing unnecessary members such as chips and supporting members, and a collection mechanism for these unnecessary members is not required, and the apparatus can be downsized. Moreover, the loud operating sound like the cutting RP method is not generated.
(Aspect F)
In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to (Aspect D) or (Aspect E), the solvent application unit is a droplet discharge unit such as a droplet discharge head 21 that discharges a solvent such as the solvent 2 or 12 from a nozzle.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the droplet discharge means can change the deformation amount of the softened portion of the workpiece by changing the application amount of the solvent. It is possible to accurately model a solid with a complicated shape.
(Aspect G)
In the three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to (Aspect F), the droplet discharge means may discharge the discharge droplets discharged from the nozzle or the discharge droplets may be covered according to the deformation amount that deforms the softened portion of the workpiece. The interval between adjacent landing positions formed by landing on the workpiece is changed.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the droplet discharge means can change the deformation amount of the softened portion of the workpiece by changing the application amount of the solvent. It is possible to accurately model a solid with a complicated shape.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 Sheet material 1 ', 1''Map model 11' Solid character 2,12 Solvent 3,4 Pressure member 13,14,15 Holding member 20 Mounting stand 21 Droplet discharge head

JP-A-9-216200 JP 9-24552 A

Claims (7)

In the three-dimensional modeling method for forming a solid with a desired shape,
Forming a solid by applying a solvent that softens the workpiece to a predetermined place of the workpiece made of a resin sheet material, softening the predetermined place, and deforming the softened portion of the workpiece. 3D modeling method characterized. In the three-dimensional modeling method for forming a solid with a desired shape,
A solvent for softening the work piece is applied to a predetermined place of the work piece made of a rolled resin sheet material to soften the predetermined place, and the softened portion of the work piece is deformed. A three-dimensional modeling method characterized in that a three-dimensional object is formed while restricting at least a portion of the softened portion to contract. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 1 or 2,
A three-dimensional modeling method characterized by changing an application amount of a solvent in accordance with a deformation amount for deforming a softened portion of the workpiece. In a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a solid with a desired shape,
Solvent application means for applying a solvent for softening the workpiece to a predetermined place of the workpiece made of a resin sheet material;
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising: a deforming unit configured to deform a softened portion of the workpiece to which a solvent is applied by the solvent applying unit in order to form a solid with a desired shape from the workpiece. In a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a solid with a desired shape,
Solvent application means for applying a solvent for softening the workpiece to a predetermined place of the workpiece made of a rolled resin sheet material;
Deformation means for deforming a softened portion of the workpiece to which a solvent is applied by the solvent application means in order to form a solid having a desired shape from the workpiece;
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising: a restricting means for partially restricting the contraction of the softened portion of the workpiece. The three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the solvent application unit is a droplet discharge unit that discharges a solvent from a nozzle. The stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to claim 6.
The droplet discharge means is adjacent to the discharge amount of the discharge droplets discharged from the nozzle or formed by landing the discharge droplets on the workpiece in accordance with the deformation amount for deforming the softened portion of the workpiece. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by changing an interval between landing positions.

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