JP2015202596A - Molding material, molding device, and mechanism of supplying molding material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a molding material, a molding device, and a mechanism of supplying a molding material, which can improve both of use efficiency of energy and molding accuracy.SOLUTION: A molding material 10 is used for a molding device that includes a tape conveyance mechanism (feed mechanism) for conveying the molding material 10 to a molding position, and a melting mechanism for heating and melting the molding material 10 conveyed to the molding position by a heating medium. The molding material is a tape material having a rectangular cross-sectional view, in which pluralities of first grooves 110 and second grooves 120 are formed as recessed in a thickness direction of the tape on a tape surface 10A to be heated by the melting mechanism.

Description

  The present invention relates to a modeling material, a modeling apparatus, and a modeling material supply mechanism.

Conventionally, a modeling apparatus (so-called 3D printer) that generates a three-dimensional modeled object based on input data is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a substrate and a dispensing head, and these substrate and dispensing head are relatively movable. A solid rod, which is a modeling material, is supplied to the dispensing head, the solid rod is heated to the melting point in the dispensing head, and is dispensed from the nozzle of the dispensing head in a flowing state.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-158228

  By the way, in the apparatus as described in Patent Document 1, a solid rod used as a modeling material is supplied into a dispensing head, melted in the head, and a molten material is dispensed to a predetermined position, thereby three-dimensional modeling. Shape objects. In such a configuration, it is necessary to continue heating in order to maintain the state in which the modeling material is reliably melted. At this time, a part of the thermal energy given to the modeling material is thermally diffused, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the energy utilization efficiency.

On the other hand, if the thermal energy applied to the modeling material is reduced in order to reduce the thermal diffusion, the thermal energy may be insufficient and the modeling material may not be maintained in a properly melted state in the head. . In this case, a predetermined amount of modeling material cannot be stably supplied, and there is a possibility that modeling accuracy may be lowered.
From the above, with the conventional technique as described in Patent Document 1, it has been difficult to achieve both energy utilization efficiency and modeling accuracy.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a modeling material, a modeling apparatus, and a modeling material supply mechanism that can improve both energy use efficiency and modeling accuracy.

  The modeling material of the present invention is used in a modeling apparatus including a feeding mechanism that transports a modeling material to a modeling position and a melting mechanism that heats and melts the modeling material conveyed to the modeling position by the feeding mechanism with a heating medium. It is a shaped material to be produced, and is a tape-shaped material having a rectangular shape in cross section, and is characterized in that a plurality of grooves that are concave in the tape thickness direction are provided on the surface heated by the melting mechanism.

In the present invention, a plurality of grooves are formed on the surface to be heated and melted by the modeling material melting mechanism. With such a configuration, it becomes easy to selectively melt the thick portion where no groove is formed. That is, the heating medium does not easily hit the bottom surface portion of the groove (the surface of the thin wall portion where the groove is formed) with respect to the thick portion. Further, since the thin portion has a smaller dimension in the thickness direction than the thick portion, the heat transfer property in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction is small. For this reason, it is possible to suppress heat conduction from the thick part that has received a sufficient amount of heat to be melted to the other thick part provided around the thick part. Therefore, by selectively melting only the thick portion that has received a sufficient amount of heat, the amount of modeling material melted can be adjusted appropriately, and the modeling accuracy can be improved.
In addition, since the groove is provided around the thick part, the heating medium hits from the surface of the thick part (surface perpendicular to the tape thickness direction) and the side surface of the thick part (surface adjacent to the groove). Can be efficiently melted and energy utilization efficiency is improved.
Further, when the modeling material is replaced, the modeling material can be easily cut along the groove only by applying a slight stress, and the modeling material can be easily handled.

The modeling material of this invention WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said groove | channel is provided along the tape width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the said modeling material.
In the present invention, grooves are formed along the tape width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. In such a configuration, the strength in the thin portion where the groove is formed can be reduced as compared with the thick portion where the groove is not formed. Thereby, it becomes easy to cut | disconnect modeling material along a tape width direction, for example, when changing modeling material, the handling of modeling material becomes easy.

In the modeling material of the present invention, it is preferable that the grooves are provided in a lattice shape.
In the present invention, the grooves are formed in a lattice shape. That is, the surface of the tape-shaped modeling material is configured in a mesh shape by the grooves. In such a configuration, since the modeling material can be melted in units of thick parts formed in a mesh shape, the amount of modeling material melted can be adjusted more appropriately, and the modeling accuracy can be further improved. it can.

In the modeling material of the present invention, the groove has a side surface portion substantially along the tape thickness direction and a bottom surface portion continuous to the side surface portion, and the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion are in the tape thickness direction. In a cross-sectional view, it is preferable to continue with a concave curved surface in the direction toward the bottom surface.
In the present invention, the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion are continuous with a concave curved surface in a sectional view in the tape thickness direction. In such a configuration, when the modeling material is curved (deformed) in the direction in which the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion approach or separate from each other, for example, the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion in a planar shape intersect with the side surface at a predetermined angle. Concentration of stress on the continuous portion of the portion and the bottom portion can be suppressed, and tearing and folding of the continuous portion can be suppressed.

In the modeling material of the present invention, the side surface portion may be inclined with respect to the tape thickness direction in a direction away from the bottom surface portion as it goes to the side opposite to the bottom surface portion in the tape thickness direction. preferable.
In this invention, a side part inclines with respect to a tape thickness direction in the direction away from a bottom face part as it goes to the opposite side to a bottom face part in a tape thickness direction. That is, the surfaces of the side surfaces intersect with each other so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to a virtual plane orthogonal to the tape thickness direction, and the mutually facing side surfaces constituting the groove are directed in a direction away from the bottom surface in the tape thickness direction. Accordingly, the facing distance is increased. In such a structure, the curvature in the continuous part of a side part and a bottom part becomes small, and stress concentration can be suppressed more reliably.

The modeling material of this invention WHEREIN: It is preferable that the dimension in the said tape thickness direction of the said groove | channel is a dimension of the range of 10% or more of the maximum dimension in the said tape thickness direction of the said modeling material, and 20% or less.
In the present invention, by setting the dimension of the groove to 10% or more of the maximum dimension of the modeling material, the modeling material can be easily cut along the groove as described above.
On the other hand, by setting the dimension of the groove to 20% or less of the maximum dimension of the modeling material, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the modeling material at the groove forming position. For example, when a groove of 20% or more is formed, there is a possibility that the modeling material is torn at the position where the groove is formed during normal handling, such as when the modeling material is conveyed to the modeling position. On the other hand, in this invention, since the fall of the intensity | strength of the modeling material in the formation position of a groove | channel can be suppressed, the tear at the time of conveyance of the said modeling material can be suppressed, and modeling material can be supplied appropriately.

In the modeling material of the present invention, the interval dimension in the arrangement direction of the plurality of grooves is larger than the dimension in the arrangement direction of the melting range in which the modeling material is melted by the melting mechanism in a plan view seen from the tape thickness direction. Is preferably small.
In the present invention, the interval in the arrangement direction of the grooves is smaller than the dimension of the melting range in the arrangement direction. That is, the size of the thick part is smaller than the size in the melting range. In such a configuration, at least one of the thick portions is included in the melting range. Therefore, one or more thick portions can be reliably melted by one heating and melting, and the amount of modeling material melted can be adjusted more accurately.

In the modeling material of the present invention, it is preferable that the modeling material has flexibility, and an aspect ratio of a tape thickness dimension and a tape width dimension in a sectional view is 10 or more.
In the present invention, the aspect ratio (tape width dimension / tape thickness dimension) is 10 or more. Here, when the aspect ratio is less than 10, it can be considered that the tape thickness dimension is too large with respect to the tape width dimension and the tape width dimension is too small with respect to the tape thickness dimension. In the former case, the flexibility of the modeling material is insufficient, and the conveyance handling property of the modeling material by the feeding mechanism is deteriorated. In the latter case, twisting or the like occurs, and conveyance handling properties deteriorate. On the other hand, by setting the aspect ratio to 10 or more as described above, the conveyance efficiency of the flexible modeling material can be improved, and the modeling material can be efficiently conveyed to a desired modeling position. Can do.

The modeling material of this invention WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said modeling material is comprised with the metal.
In the present invention, a metal material can be used as the modeling material. Here, by using a metal modeling material, a high-strength model can be modeled. On the other hand, since a metal material has a higher melting point than a resin material, it is necessary to apply more heat energy than when a resin material is used, and energy loss due to thermal diffusion may increase. On the other hand, in the present invention, as described above, the energy utilization efficiency can be improved, so that an increase in energy loss due to thermal diffusion can be suppressed even when a metal material is used.

  The modeling apparatus of the present invention includes a feeding mechanism that transports a modeling material to a modeling position on a stage, a melting mechanism that heats and melts the modeling material conveyed to the modeling position by the feeding mechanism with a heating medium, and the modeling A moving mechanism for moving the position relative to the stage, and the modeling material is a tape-shaped material having a rectangular shape in cross-sectional view, and at least one of a pair of surfaces orthogonal to the tape thickness direction, A plurality of grooves that are concave in the tape thickness direction are provided, and the melting mechanism heats and melts the surface of the modeling material on which the plurality of grooves are provided with the heating medium.

In this invention, modeling material is fuse | melted by conveying modeling material to the modeling position on a stage, and heating the conveyed modeling material. Thereby, for example, the tip of the melted modeling material is laminated at the modeling position. And the modeling position with respect to a stage is moved by a moving mechanism, the lamination position of modeling material is changed one by one, and the modeling object of a desired shape can be modeled by repeating said modeling processing.
In addition, the modeling position on the stage in the present invention includes not only the predetermined position on the stage as the modeling position but also the predetermined position in the modeled object modeled on the stage as the modeling position.
In the present invention, it is only necessary to locally heat the modeling material at the modeling position, and it is not necessary to melt the entire modeling material or to keep the molten state. Therefore, compared with the structure which extrudes the modeling material of a molten state, for example, the required thermal energy can be lessened and energy efficiency can be improved.
Further, similarly to the invention related to the modeling material, by forming a plurality of grooves on the surface to be heated of the modeling material, the heating efficiency of the modeling material and the utilization efficiency of energy can be improved, and the modeling material Therefore, it is possible to appropriately adjust the melting amount of the material and to improve the modeling accuracy.

In the modeling apparatus of the present invention, the melting mechanism has a melting range in which the modeling material is melted in a plan view as viewed from the tape thickness direction, and an interval dimension in the arrangement direction of the plurality of grooves is the plane. In view, it is preferable that the size of the melting range is smaller than the dimension in the arrangement direction.
In the present invention, the interval in the arrangement direction of the grooves is smaller than the dimension of the melting range in the arrangement direction. That is, the size of the thick part is smaller than the size in the melting range. In such a configuration, at least one of the thick portions is included in the melting range. Therefore, one or more thick portions can be reliably melted by one heating and melting, and the amount of modeling material melted can be adjusted more accurately.

The modeling material supply mechanism of the present invention includes a feeding mechanism that transports a modeling material to a modeling position and a modeling mechanism that includes a melting mechanism that heats and melts the modeling material conveyed to the modeling position with a heating medium. Is a tape-shaped material having a rectangular shape in cross section, and at least one of a pair of surfaces orthogonal to the tape thickness direction is provided with a plurality of grooves that are concave in the tape thickness direction. A storage unit that stores the modeling material, the storage unit being supplied from the storage unit and transported to the modeling position by the feeding mechanism, the heating medium of the pair of surfaces of the modeling material The modeling material is stored so that the surface heated by the step 1 becomes the one surface.
In the present invention, the surface (hereinafter also referred to as the first surface) on which the groove of the modeling material supplied from the storage unit and conveyed to the modeling position on the stage by the feeding mechanism is heated with the heating medium. That is, the modeling material can be conveyed to the feeding mechanism such that the first surface of the modeling material conveyed by the feeding mechanism faces the side heated by the heating medium at the modeling position. Therefore, by supplying the modeling material using the modeling material supply mechanism of the present invention, the modeling material can be supplied so that the first surface of the modeling material is heated by the melting mechanism. The amount of melting of the material can be adjusted appropriately, and the modeling accuracy can be improved.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the modeling apparatus of this embodiment. The perspective view which shows schematic structure of the modeling material of this embodiment. The perspective view which shows schematic structure of the tape surface of the modeling material of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the tape surface of the modeling material of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the cassette of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the gas supply part of this embodiment. The figure which shows the front-end | tip shape of the nozzle in a heat-resistant syringe. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the air volume distribution of heating gas, and the shape of the tape surface. The figure which shows the structural example of the rocking | swiveling part for scanning a gas supply part in a tape width direction. The flowchart which shows the modeling method (modeling process) of the molded article using the modeling apparatus of this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the process in which a molded article is formed by modeling process in this embodiment. The figure which shows schematic structure of the modeling apparatus in other embodiment. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the intensity distribution of the irradiation spot by a laser irradiation mechanism, and the shape of a tape surface. The figure which shows schematic structure of the modeling apparatus in other embodiment. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the current density distribution of the plasma arc by a discharge mechanism, and the shape of a tape surface. The figure which shows schematic structure of the modeling apparatus in other embodiment. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the heat probe shape of a press shaping mechanism, and the shape of the tape surface. The perspective view which shows the storage structure of the modeling material in other embodiment.

Hereinafter, a modeling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Schematic configuration of modeling equipment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a modeling apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the modeling apparatus 1 (laminated modeling apparatus) includes a stage 2, a modeling head 3, a moving mechanism 4, and a controller 5.
The modeling apparatus 1 is an apparatus that models a three-dimensional structure by stacking modeling materials on the stage 2 in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the modeling data input from the data output device such as a personal computer to the controller 5. is there. Specifically, the controller 5 controls the movement mechanism 4 based on the modeling data to move the modeling head 3 to a predetermined modeling position P. The controller 5 controls the modeling head 3 to melt and laminate the modeling material 10 at the modeling position P on the stage 2.
Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.

[Configuration of stage 2]
The stage 2 is a pedestal for modeling a modeled object, and includes, for example, a plane on which the modeled object is placed.

[Configuration of modeling head 3]
The modeling head 3 is provided so as to be movable by the moving mechanism 4 with respect to the stage 2 and includes a tape transport mechanism 6 and a hot air blowing mechanism 7 corresponding to the melting mechanism of the present invention, as shown in FIG. ing.
[Configuration of Tape Transport Mechanism 6]
The tape transport mechanism 6 constitutes the feed mechanism of the present invention, and transports the modeling material 10 to the modeling position P on the stage 2. The tape transport mechanism 6 includes a cassette 61 that stores the modeling material 10 and a delivery unit 62 that transports the modeling material 10 supplied from the cassette 61 to a predetermined modeling position P on the stage 2.

(Configuration of modeling material 10)
Here, the modeling material 10 stored in the cassette 61 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the modeling material 10 used in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the modeling material 10 has a flat cross section having a short side (tape thickness dimension) a ₁ and a long side (tape width dimension) b ₁ , and an aspect ratio (b ₁ / a ₁ ) of 10 or more. It is configured in a thin-walled shape (tape shape). Examples of such a modeling material 10 include metals and resins. In FIG. 2, the direction of the modeling material 10 along the tape width direction is the X1 direction, the transport direction by the tape transport mechanism 6 is the Y1 direction, and the direction along the tape thickness direction is the Z1 direction.

Here, when the aspect ratio is less than 10, the conveyance handling property of the modeling material 10 is deteriorated. In other words, when the tape thickness dimension a ₁ is increased with respect to the tape width dimension b ₁ , the flexibility of the modeling material 10 is reduced, so that the conveyance efficiency in the delivery roller pair 621 and the drive roller pair 622 described later is reduced. Handling performance (easy transport) is reduced. Moreover, in this embodiment, the surface of the modeling material 10 on the stage 2 side (tape back surface 10B) and the upper surface of the modeling object at the modeling position P (or the surface of the stage 2) using the flexibility of the modeling material 10. And abut. Therefore, when it does not have sufficient flexibility, a gap is generated between the upper surface of the modeling object (or the surface of the stage 2) and the tape back surface 10B of the modeling material 10 at the modeling position P. Adhesiveness when melted and laminated decreases. Further, even when the tape thickness dimension a ₁ is sufficiently small, if the tape width dimension b ₁ is small, the modeling material 10 may be twisted during transport, and transport handling properties are deteriorated.
In contrast, by setting the aspect ratio to 10 or more as described above, the conveyance efficiency of the flexible modeling material 10 can be improved, and the modeling material is efficiently conveyed to a desired modeling position. be able to.

Examples of such a modeling material 10 include metals and resins.
When a metal is used as the modeling material 10, the strength of the modeled object obtained by modeling becomes higher than that of the resin. On the other hand, the modeling material 10 needs to be transported to the modeling position P on the stage 2 and is required to be flexible. In the building material 10 made of metal, it is preferable that the tape thickness in order to secure the flexibility and a ₁ ≦ 0.1 mm. When the tape thickness dimension is a ₁ > 0.1 mm, the modeling material 10 is difficult to bend, and it is difficult to transport the modeling material 10 to a desired modeling position P during conveyance.
As described above, the tape width dimension b ₁ is set in consideration of the transport handling property. When the tape thickness dimension a ₁ is 0.1 mm, the tape width dimension is preferably 1 mm or more. Although it depends on the set value of the tape thickness dimension a _1, the set value of the tape width dimension b ₁ is more preferably 5 mm ≦ b ₁ ≦ 15 mm. With the tape-shaped modeling material 10 formed in the dimensions a ₁ and b ₁ as described above, sufficient flexibility can be maintained, and deterioration in handling properties due to twisting or the like can be suppressed.

When using the metallic modeling material 10, it is more preferable to use Mg. For example, Mg has a smaller specific gravity than Al or the like (Mg specific gravity is 1.7 with respect to Al specific gravity 2.7), and the modeling material 10 can be reduced in weight.
Further, the metallic modeling material 10 is preferably subjected to a flame retardant treatment or an incombustible treatment so that oxidation does not occur when heated to the vicinity of the melting point. A well-known technique can be used as a flame-retardant treatment or an incombustible treatment.
The metal modeling material 10 as described above can be manufactured in a large amount and at a low cost by cutting one formed by rolling or extruding, for example.

On the other hand, when resin is used as the modeling material 10, the melting point is lower than that of metal, the gas heating temperature in the hot air blowing mechanism 7 described later can be set low, and the heating mechanism can be further simplified. When such a resinous modeling material 10 is used, it is preferable that the tape thickness dimension is a ₁ ≦ 1 mm and the tape width dimension is 5 mm ≦ b ₁ . The resinous molding material 10 is easy to ensure flexibility as compared with metal and can increase the thickness dimension. However, when the tape thickness dimension is a ₁ > 1 mm, the flexibility is insufficient and the handling property is lowered. . Further, when the tape width dimension is 5 mm> b ₁ , twisting is likely to occur, and handling properties are deteriorated. From the above, it is preferable to configure the modeling material 10 so that the aspect ratio becomes 10 or more in the range of the dimensions a ₁ and b ₁ as described above.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the modeling material 10 by enlarging only the tip portion in the Y1 direction of the tape-shaped modeling material 10. In FIG. 3, a part of the tape is omitted in the tape width direction (X1 direction).
As shown in FIG. 3, the modeling material 10 has a plurality of first surfaces corresponding to the grooves of the present invention on the tape surface 10 </ b> A (the surface opposite to the stage 2 when transported onto the stage 2). A groove 110 and a second groove 120 and a plurality of convex portions 130 that are divided by the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 and arranged in a mesh shape are formed. In the modeling material 10, the position where the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 are formed is the thin portion 101 and the convex portion 130 is formed in a plan view as viewed in the direction opposite to the Z1 direction (the tape thickness direction). The position is the thick portion 102.
By the way, in this embodiment, heated gas (heating medium) is sprayed by the hot air blowing mechanism 7 with respect to the tape surface 10A of the modeling material 10 conveyed to the modeling position P, and the modeling material 10 is heated and melted. That is, it can be said that the molding material 10 has the grooves 110 and 120 formed on the tape surface 10 </ b> A that is the surface on which the heating medium hits.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an example of a cross section near the tape surface 10 </ b> A of the modeling material 10. FIG. 4 shows a cross section when cut in the Y1Z1 plane and viewed in the X1 direction.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first groove 110 has an open end 111 on the tape surface 10A side, and the tape width direction (X1) orthogonal to the tape thickness direction (Z1 direction) and the transport direction (Y1 direction). Direction). The first groove 110 has a pair of side surface portions 112 along the Z1 direction and a bottom surface portion 113 continuous with the side surface portion 112.

The side surface portion 112 is inclined with respect to the tape thickness direction in a direction away from the bottom surface portion 113 as it goes to the opposite side of the bottom surface portion 113 in the tape thickness direction. In other words, as shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the side surface portion 112 intersects the X1Y1 surface orthogonal to the tape thickness direction so as to form an obtuse angle α. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the opposing side surface portion 112 has a dimension of the first groove 110 in the Y1 direction (that is, a pair of the side surface portions 112) in the Z1 direction from the bottom surface portion 113 side toward the opening end 111 side. Each of them is inclined so that the distance between them increases.
The bottom surface portion 113 has a concave curved surface shape in a direction from the opening end 111 toward the bottom surface portion 113. The bottom surface portion 113 is the curved surface and smoothly continues to the end portion of each side surface portion 112 on the bottom surface portion 113 side.

  The first groove 110 configured in this manner is curved in a direction crossing the Y1 direction in the cross-sectional view of the Y1Z1 surface when the modeling material 10 is transported by the tape transport mechanism 6 (the tape surface 10A side in the Y1Z1 surface). Alternatively, when the tape back surface 10B side is curved so that it is convex, it is possible to prevent the portion where the side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113 are continuous from breaking due to stress concentration. That is, when the planar side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113 are continuous, stress tends to concentrate on the continuous portion between the side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113, and the continuous portion may be torn, In the present embodiment, such an inconvenience can be avoided by the above configuration.

Here, the depth dimension a ₂ of the first groove 110 shown in FIG. 4 (the dimension from the opening end 111 to the bottom surface 113 at the center position of the first groove 110 in the Y1 direction) is 0.1a ₁ ≦ a ₂ ≦ 0.2a ₁ is preferable. In other words, when the difference between the thickness dimension a1 and the depth _{a 2,} i.e., the thickness of the thin portion 101 of each groove 110, 120 are formed to the _{a 3, 0.8a 1 ≦ a 3} ≦ 0.9a ₁ is preferable.
By setting a ₃ ≦ 0.9a ₁ , the strength in the thin portion 101 can be reduced, and the modeling material 10 can be easily cut by a slight stress intentionally applied by the user.
Here, when 0.8a ₁ > a ₃ , there is a risk that the modeling material 10 may be torn during normal transport in the tape transport mechanism 6 due to a decrease in strength in the thin portion 101. On the other hand, by making 0.8a ₁ ≦ a ₃ , it is possible to suppress the modeling material 10 from being torn during normal conveyance.
From the above, by setting the thickness dimension a ₃ of the thin-walled portion 101 to 0.8a ₁ ≦ a ₃ ≦ 0.9a ₁ , it is possible to suppress tearing of the modeling material 10 during normal conveyance and to apply a slight stress. Thus, the modeling material 10 can be easily cut.

Such plurality of first grooves 110, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, are formed at predetermined intervals b ₂ in the Y1 direction. The size _{b 3} of the groove 110 in the Y1 direction, can be exemplified be 20% of the 10 of the predetermined interval _{b 2.} In the present embodiment, for example, the predetermined interval b ₂ is set to 30 μm, and the dimension b ₃ of the first groove 110 is set to 1 to 6 μm.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second groove 120 has an opening end 121 on the tape surface 10 </ b> A, a pair of side surface portions 122 along the Z <b> 1 direction, and a bottom surface portion 123 that continues to the side surface portion 122 with a curved surface. . The second groove 120 is formed along the transport direction (Y1 direction) perpendicular to the tape thickness direction (Z1 direction), a plurality of second grooves 120, except that it is formed at a predetermined interval b ₂ in the X1 direction Is basically the same as the first groove 110. That is, the modeling material 10 is configured to be easily cut along the Y1 direction in the thin portion 101 where the second groove 120 is formed. In addition, when the modeling material 10 is curved in a cross-sectional view of the X1Z1 surface, it is possible to suppress tearing at the continuous portion between the side surface portion 122 and the side surface portion 122.

As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusions 130 are formed in a lattice shape by a plurality of first grooves 110 and second grooves 120, so that they are divided from each other and arranged in a mesh shape. The convex portion 130 is surrounded by a pair of side surface portions 112 of the first groove 110 and a pair of side surface portions 122 of the second groove 120 at a surface portion 131 which is a surface on the tape surface 10A side. The surface portion 131 has in a plan view of the tape thickness direction, a dimension of one side b ₂ a square shape.

  Such first grooves 110 and second grooves 120 are formed, for example, by performing laser processing, etching processing, or the like on the tape surface 10A. Moreover, when using the material which deform | transforms with external stress, for example, a metal, as a forming material of the modeling material 10, a metal material is pressed with the roller by which the unevenness | corrugation was formed on the surface, and the unevenness | corrugation of a roller surface is transcribe | transferred to the surface of the said metal material. Thus, the first groove 110, the second groove 120, and the protrusion 130 can be formed.

  In addition, since the unevenness | corrugation is formed in 10A of tape surfaces, the modeling material 10 has a surface area increased compared with the case where the said unevenness | corrugation is not formed. Here, as will be described in detail later, the modeling material 10 is heated and melted by blowing hot air as a heating medium from the tape surface 10A side by the hot air blowing mechanism 7. Thus, heating efficiency can be improved by increasing the surface area of the tape surface 10A to which the heated gas is sprayed.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the tape back surface 10B of the modeling material 10 is a smooth surface on which no groove is formed. For example, in this embodiment, the tape back surface 10B is a mirror surface. Such a tape back surface 10B can be formed by bringing a member having a mirror surface into contact with the tape back surface 10B and transferring the mirror surface when the molding material 10 is molded by rolling or extrusion. When the modeling material 10 is laminated by heating the modeling material 10 from the tape surface 10A side by melting the tape back surface 10B from the tape surface 10A side, and the tape back surface 10B, The contact area can be increased, and the bonding area with the laminate can be increased. Moreover, when the contact area increases, the heat transferability between the laminate and the modeling material 10 can be improved, and the portion of the laminate that contacts the modeling material 10 is more reliably melted. be able to. Therefore, the adhesion between the laminate and the modeling material 10 can be improved. In particular, the adhesiveness can be further improved by making the tape back surface 10B a mirror surface.

(Configuration of cassette 61)
Next, the cassette 61 of the tape transport mechanism 6 will be specifically described.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the cassette 61 of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette 61 corresponds to the modeling material supply mechanism of the present invention, and includes a case 611, a bobbin 612, and a pinch roller 613.
The case 611 corresponds to the storage unit of the present invention, and has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an internal space. The bobbin 612, the modeling material 10 wound around the bobbin 612, and the pinch roller 613 are stored therein.
In addition, a delivery port 611A is provided in a part of the case 611 (in this embodiment, a corner of a rectangular parallelepiped), and the modeling material 10 housed inside is taken out from the delivery port 611A.

The bobbin 612 is a shaft-like member, and is rotatably supported on surfaces facing each other in the case 611. One end of the modeling material 10 described above is fixed to the bobbin 612, and the modeling material 10 is wound along the peripheral surface of the bobbin 612. More specifically, the tape-shaped modeling material 10 is the tape surface of the modeling material 10 in which the tape back surface 10B (the surface facing the stage 2 when transported onto the stage 2) is wound around the bobbin 612. It is wound around the bobbin 612 concentrically with the tape back surface 10B facing the bobbin 612 so as to be in close contact with 10A, and is stored in a roll shape.
In such a configuration, for example, the volume occupancy is higher than when a modeling material having a circular cross-section such as a thread shape or an elliptical cross-section is wound around the bobbin 612. Therefore, in the case where the modeling material 10 of the present embodiment is used when winding the modeling material having a circular cross section or an elliptical cross section and the tape-shaped modeling material 10 of the present embodiment on the bobbin by the same amount, Compared to the case where a modeling material having a circular cross section or an elliptical cross section is used, the volume can be reduced, the size of the cassette 61 can be reduced, and the number of turns on the bobbin 612 is also reduced, so that manufacturing efficiency is also good. It becomes. Further, in the case where the size of the cassette 61 is defined, when the tape-shaped modeling material 10 of the present embodiment is used, the volume occupation ratio is large, and therefore, when the modeling material having a circular cross section or an elliptical cross section is used. In comparison, more modeling material 10 can be stored in the cassette 61. Moreover, since the unevenness | corrugation is formed in 10 A of tape surfaces, the peelability between the modeling materials 10 laminated | stacked on roll shape can be improved, and the conveyance defect by the modeling materials 10 sticking together can be suppressed.

  The pinch roller 613 is provided in the vicinity of the delivery port 611A, and the modeling material 10 guides the conveyance direction. A pair of pinch rollers 613 is provided, and the modeling material 10 is sandwiched between the pair of pinch rollers 613 and guided to the delivery port 611A. Moreover, the modeling material 10 is inserted | pinched by the pinch roller 613, the slackness of the wound modeling material 10 can be suppressed, and the runability (conveyance) of the modeling material 10 sent out from the delivery port 611A improves.

Further, the cassette 61 is provided with positioning portions such as locking pins and guide projections (not shown) on the exterior portion of the case 611, for example, and by positioning these positioning portions at predetermined positions in the modeling head 3, the cassette 61 61 can be attached to the modeling head 3.
The cassette 61 is attached to the upstream side of the transport path of the modeling material 10 transported by the tape transport mechanism 6. The cassette 61 is attached to the modeling head 3 so that the tape surface 10A on which the lattice-like grooves of the modeling material 10 conveyed along the conveying path are directed to the side heated by the heated gas at the modeling position P. It has been. That is, the cassette 61 is arranged on the transport path so that the tape back surface 10B faces the stage 2 side and the tape front surface 10A faces the side opposite to the stage 2 (heated side) at the most downstream modeling position in the transport path. It is attached to the upstream side (upstream side of the delivery part 62). Thereby, modeling material 10 can be supplied so that tape surface 10A of modeling material 10 may be heated.

(Configuration of sending unit 62)
As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery unit 62 faces the tape back surface 10 </ b> B of the modeling material 10 provided from the cassette 61 toward the stage 2, and the tape surface 10 </ b> A on which the grooves 110 and 120 are formed is opposite to the stage 2. It sends out to the modeling position P on the stage 2 toward the side.
The delivery unit 62 includes a delivery roller pair 621 configured by a pair of delivery rollers 621A and 621B, a drive roller pair 622 configured by a drive roller 622A and a driven roller 622B, and a guide unit 623. In this embodiment, an example in which one delivery roller pair 621 is provided is shown. However, two or more delivery roller pairs 621 may be provided, the delivery roller pair 621 is not provided, and only the drive roller pair 622 is provided. It is good. Furthermore, although an example in which only one driving roller pair 622 is provided is shown, a configuration in which two or more driving roller pairs are provided may be used.

  The pair of delivery rollers 621 sandwiches the modeling material 10 by the delivery rollers 621A and 621B and guides the conveyance of the modeling material 10. Here, the pair of delivery rollers 621 conveys the modeling material 10 while curving the modeling material 10 to the opposite side to the curl of the modeling material 10 delivered from the cassette 61 (winding direction around the bobbin 612). . Thereby, it becomes possible to correct the curl of the modeling material 10.

The drive roller pair 622 draws the modeling material 10 and sends it out toward the modeling position P. Specifically, the drive roller pair 622 includes a drive roller 622A that is rotationally driven by a drive amount of a motor or the like, and a driven roller 622B that follows the drive of the drive roller 622A (the motor drive force is not transmitted). . The driving roller 622A and the driven roller 622B can transport the modeling material 10 at a constant speed.
Here, the driving roller 622A is preferably in contact with the tape back surface 10B of the modeling material 10. Thereby, the said modeling material 10 is urged | biased by the driving roller 622A with the curl of the modeling material 10, the slip at the time of conveyance etc. can be suppressed, and conveyance efficiency can be improved.
The drive roller 622A may be in contact with the tape surface. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which drives both a pair of roller which comprises the drive roller pair 622 as a drive roller. In this case, the curl of the modeling material 10 can be more reliably corrected by slightly increasing the rotational speed of the drive roller in contact with the tape back surface 10B with respect to the drive roller in contact with the tape surface.

Here, it is good also as a structure which drives both a pair of roller which comprises the drive roller pair 622 as a drive roller. In this case, the driving roller 622A is also in contact with the tape back surface 10B of the modeling material 10. Thereby, the said modeling material 10 is urged | biased by the drive roller with the curl of the modeling material 10, and the slip etc. at the time of conveyance can be suppressed more reliably.
In addition, when both of the pair of rollers are drive rollers, the drive roller in contact with the tape back surface 10B is slightly increased in rotational speed with respect to the drive roller in contact with the tape surface, thereby reducing the curl of the modeling material 10 It can be corrected.

For example, the guide portion 623 is configured in a leaf spring shape from a highly durable metal material whose surface is subjected to wear resistance treatment, and includes guide walls (not shown) at both ends along the transport direction.
The guide portion 623 guides the conveyance of the modeling material 10 to the modeling position P on the stage 2 by removing the slack of the modeling material 10 and correcting the conveyance direction of the modeling material 10.
The modeling material 10 guided by the guide portion 623 is biased and brought into contact with the modeling position P by bending, and a portion heated by a hot air blowing mechanism 7 described later is melted and stacked at the modeling position P.

[Configuration of Hot Air Spraying Mechanism 7]
As shown in FIG. 1, the hot air blowing mechanism 7 includes a compressor 71, a gas supply unit 72, and a duct 73, and the tape surface 10A on which the grooves 110 and 120 of the modeling material 10 are formed. The modeling material 10 is heated and melted by blowing heated gas from the side opposite to the stage 2.
[Configuration of Compressor 71]
The compressor 71 is a device that has a compression space (not shown) for compressing a gas to a high pressure and supplies the gas to the gas supply unit 72 by the pressure. As the gas, it is preferable to use an inert gas. By using the inert gas, the modeling material 10 can be prevented from being deteriorated when the modeling material 10 is heated.
Further, a dehumidifying agent for removing moisture in the gas is provided inside the compressor 71, and the gas supplied from the compressor 71 is dehumidified. Therefore, even when air is used as the gas, the dehumidified heated air is blown onto the modeling material 10, and the reaction between the modeling material 10 and water can be suppressed.

The compressor 71 is connected to the duct 73, and the air sucked by the duct 73 is introduced into the compression space.
In this embodiment, when an inert gas is used as the gas, it is preferable to maintain the stage 2 on an inert gas atmosphere. Specifically, at least the stage 2, the modeling head 3, and the moving mechanism 4 of the modeling apparatus 1 are stored in a sealed modeling chamber, and the modeling chamber is maintained under an inert gas atmosphere. As a result, the inert gas is sucked by the duct 73, and the inert gas can always be sprayed onto the modeling material 10.
Note that when air is used as the gas, it is not necessary to maintain an inert gas atmosphere, and the modeling chamber may not be provided.

(Configuration of gas supply unit 72)
The gas supply unit 72 heats and supplies the gas supplied from the compressor 71 to the modeling position P. Here, the gas supply unit 72, as from the upstream side toward the downstream side of the build material 10 heated gas blown from the gas supply unit 72 is conveyed along the conveying direction, the conveying direction D ₁ and the law In a plane including the line direction D ₂ , the stage 2 is disposed at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the normal direction D ₂ of the stage 2. As the inclination angle θ, for example, 0 ° <θ ≦ 45 ° is preferable. Thereby, the heating gas does not go to the upstream side of the modeling material 10, and the disadvantage that the modeling material 10 other than the modeling position P is melted can be avoided.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the gas supply unit 72.
As shown in FIG. 6, the gas supply unit 72 includes a heat-resistant syringe 721, a core 722, a heater coil 723, a temperature sensor 724, and the like.
The heat-resistant syringe 721 is formed in a cylindrical shape such as a cylindrical shape. The heat-resistant syringe 721 is preferably configured using, for example, heat-resistant glass or heat-resistant metal. In addition, it is preferable that the outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant syringe 721 is covered with a heat insulating material in order to reduce heat diffusion and prevent burns.
The base end portion of the heat-resistant syringe 721 is connected to the compressor 71, and the gas supplied from the compressor 71 is introduced into the heat-resistant syringe 721 from the base end portion. The tip of the heat-resistant syringe 721 (the end facing the stage 2) constitutes a nozzle that is formed in a shape whose cylindrical diameter decreases toward the tip, and heated gas is released to the tip of the nozzle. A nozzle opening 721A is provided.

For example, a ceramic core 722 is disposed on the central axis of the heat-resistant syringe 721, and a heater coil 723 is wound around the core 722. The heater coil 723 is heated by passing an electric current under the control of the controller 5 to heat the gas introduced into the heat-resistant syringe 721. As the heater coil 723, for example, a heating wire of nickel chrome or iron chrome aluminum can be used, and high-temperature heating at 1000 ° C. or higher is possible. Therefore, even when a metal material is used as the modeling material 10, melt lamination can be performed.
The temperature sensor 724 is provided at the nozzle-side tip of the core 722, and measures the temperature of the heated gas released from the nozzle opening 721A. The temperature sensor 724 is electrically connected to the controller 5 and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the measured temperature to the controller 5. As a result, the controller 5 can control the voltage applied to the heater coil 723 based on the measured temperature to release the heating gas having a desired temperature from the nozzle opening 721A.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the tip shape of the nozzle opening 721A in the heat-resistant syringe 721. As shown in FIG.
The tip shape of the nozzle opening 721A is preferably a shape in which turbulent flow or the like is unlikely to occur in the discharged heated gas and the heated gas is appropriately blown to the desired modeling position P.
Examples of such an opening shape of the nozzle opening 721A include a circular shape as shown in FIG. 7A or an elliptical shape as shown in FIG. 7B.
In the nozzle shape as shown in FIG. 7A, the heated gas can be locally blown to a part of the tape-shaped modeling material 10 in the tape width direction, and a modeled object can be formed with high accuracy. It becomes. In this case, the opening diameter dimension A is preferably set to 0.05 mm ≦ A ≦ 2 mm, for example.
On the other hand, in the case of the nozzle shape as shown in FIG. 7B, for example, it is possible to spray a heated gas over a wide range of the modeling material 10, which is suitable for modeling a modeled object at a high speed. In this case, if the short diameter dimension of the nozzle opening is B and the long diameter dimension is C, it is preferable to set, for example, 0.1 mm ≦ B ≦ 1 mm and C ≦ 10B.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between the air volume distribution of the heated gas and the convex portion 130 of the modeling material 10. FIG. 8A shows the air volume distribution on the tape surface 10 </ b> A of the modeling material 10 of the heated gas released from the nozzle opening 721 </ b> A. In FIG. 8A, the horizontal axis indicates the distance from the center position corresponding to the center of the nozzle opening 721A, and the vertical axis indicates the air volume. FIG. 8B is a plan view schematically showing the protrusions 130 arranged in a mesh shape in a plan view in the tape thickness direction.
In FIG. 8, a case where the opening shape of the nozzle opening 721A is a circular shape as shown in FIG. 7A will be described as an example.
Further, in order to simplify the following description, FIG. 8 illustrates a case where hot air is blown along the Z1 direction, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the tape surface 10A. Actually, although the air volume distribution of hot air changes according to the inclination of the gas supply unit 72, the influence of the change in the air volume distribution due to the inclination is negligible.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the air volume of the heated gas is maximized at the center position O corresponding to the center of the nozzle opening 721A. Then, the air volume decreases from the center position O toward the outside. This air volume distribution is a distribution that substantially follows the Gaussian distribution, for example, with respect to the distance from the center position O.
FIG. 8B shows a range S corresponding to a range in which the air volume is equal to or greater than the half value of the maximum value in FIG. This range S is a range in which the modeling material 10 can be appropriately melted within the range S (hereinafter also referred to as a melting range S). In this melting range S, the air volume, wind speed, temperature, etc. of the heated gas are set so that the modeling material 10 can be appropriately melted.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the melting range S includes a plurality of convex portions 130, that is, thick portions 102. In this embodiment, the dimension of the convex part 130 and the dimension of the melting range S are set so that, for example, nine convex parts 130 are included. That is, the dimension b2 of the convex part 130 and the dimension b3 of each of the grooves 110 and 120 are set so that a desired number of convex parts 130 are included with respect to the dimension of the melting range S.
In such a configuration, the convex portion 130 disposed outside the convex portion 130 to be melted in the melting range S is thermally conductive by the grooves 120 and 130 provided between the convex portion 130 to be melted. Be inhibited. Thereby, the convex part 130 to be melted and all or a part of each of the grooves 120 and 130 surrounding the circumference can be selectively melted. That is, the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be set to an amount corresponding to the number of convex portions 130 included in the melting range S, and the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be adjusted more reliably. In addition, since the plurality of convex portions 130 are included in the melting range S, even when the number of the convex portions 130 included in the melting range S varies, the difference in the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be reduced. .

  When the opening shape of the nozzle opening 721A is an ellipse as shown in FIG. 7B, the air volume distribution corresponding to the short system direction of the ellipse is a distribution substantially following the Gaussian distribution. Further, in the major axis direction, both end portions similarly have a distribution substantially following the Gaussian distribution. Thus, when using the nozzle opening part 721A which has an oval-shaped opening, it is preferable to set the said melting range so that the some convex part 130 may be included in a melting range in a minor axis direction.

By the way, in this embodiment, a part in the tape width direction is melted by spraying a heated gas to a part of the tape width dimension with respect to the tape-shaped modeling material 10, and a modeled object is modeled. In this case, by making the gas supply unit 72 scannable in the tape width direction, the tape-shaped modeling material 10 can be consumed without waste.
FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of an oscillating unit for scanning the gas supply unit 72 in the tape width direction.
In the example of FIG. 9, a swinging part 725 is provided at the base end part of the gas supply part 72. The swinging portion 725 in a plan view as viewed from the normal direction D ₂ of the stage 2, parallel to the tape feeding direction D ₁ at the shaping position P, and the normal line of the stage 2 in a plan view as viewed from the tape width direction and a pivot shaft 726 that is inclined with respect to the direction _{D 2} (see FIG. 1). The swing shaft 726 is pivotally supported by the main body (not shown) of the modeling head 3 so that the heat-resistant syringe 721 can swing along the tape width direction orthogonal to the tape transport direction. As the swinging operation of the gas supply unit 72 by the swinging unit 725, for example, the swinging shaft 726 is swung by transmitting power from a power source such as a stepping motor. By controlling the operation of the power source by the controller 5, the heated gas can be blown to a predetermined position in the tape width direction.
In addition, as a rocking | fluctuation part which rock | fluctuates the gas supply part 72, it is not limited above, Any other structure may be used. For example, in the modeling head 3, the gas supply unit 72 may be configured to be movable in the tape width direction, and may be configured to be moved back and forth in the tape width direction by a separately provided moving mechanism.

(Configuration of duct 73)
The duct 73 is provided with a gas inlet in the vicinity of the modeling position P, and is discharged from the gas supply unit 72 and collects the heated gas after being sprayed on the modeling material 10.
In the present embodiment, since the gas supply unit 72 blows the heated gas from the upstream side in the transport direction toward the downstream side, the duct 73 is preferably disposed on the downstream side of the gas supply unit 72.
The duct 73 is connected to the compressor 71, and sucks the base body by the gas suction force of the compressor 71. In such a configuration, the heated gas is circulated and utilized by the compressor 71, the gas supply unit 72, and the duct 73, and energy efficiency is improved.

  Here, the flow path cross-sectional area of the suction port of the duct 73 is preferably larger than the opening area of the nozzle opening 721 </ b> A of the gas supply unit 72. In such a configuration, more gas than the sprayed heated gas can be collected in the duct 73, and the collection efficiency of the heated gas can be improved.

[Configuration of moving mechanism 4]
The moving mechanism 4 moves the modeling head 3 with respect to the stage 2 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and transports the modeling material 10 of the tape transport mechanism 6 in the modeling head 3 (modeling position). P) and the hot gas spraying position of the hot air spraying mechanism 7 are moved to a desired position. That is, the moving mechanism 4 moves the modeling position P with respect to the stage 2.
As a specific configuration, for example, a column movable on a Y guide laid along the Y-axis direction, a slider provided with an X guide provided on the column and extending in the X-axis direction, and moved along the X guide An example is a configuration in which a ram having a Z guide along the Z direction is provided and the modeling head 3 is provided so as to be movable along the Z guide of the ram. Moreover, it is good also as a structure etc. which can move the modeling head 3 in a three-dimensional space by connecting a some arm member and controlling the connection angle of an arm.
Moreover, in this embodiment, although the structure which moves the modeling head 3 with respect to the stage 2 by the moving mechanism 4 is illustrated, it is not limited to this, For example, as a structure etc. which move the stage 2 with respect to the modeling head 3 Good. Furthermore, the stage 2 may be moved along the Z direction, and the modeling head 3 may be moved along the XY axes.

[Configuration of controller 5]
The controller 5 includes a storage unit such as a memory, an arithmetic circuit with a CPU, and the like, and controls the overall operation of the modeling apparatus 1. Various programs and various data for controlling the modeling apparatus 1 are recorded in the storage circuit. The arithmetic circuit of the controller 5 functions as a data acquisition unit 51, a movement control unit 52, and a modeling control unit 53 as shown in FIG. 1 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit. In the present embodiment, each functional configuration is an example realized by cooperation of an arithmetic circuit that is hardware and a program (software). For example, an integrated circuit (hardware) having each function is combined. It is good also as a structure implement | achieved by this.
For example, the data acquisition unit 51 acquires modeling data from an external device such as a personal computer that is communicably connected to the controller 5. The controller 5 may include a drive device that reads a recording medium, and may directly acquire modeling data from the recording medium mounted on the drive device.
The movement control means 52 controls the movement mechanism 4 based on the modeling data and moves the modeling head 3.
The modeling control unit 53 controls the modeling head 3. Specifically, the modeling control means 53 controls the operation of the drive roller pair 622 of the delivery unit 62, the compressor 71, the gas supply unit 72, and the duct 73, and melts and laminates the modeling material 10 at the modeling position P to form a modeled object. Is shaped.

[Method for Manufacturing Modeled Object by Modeling Apparatus 1]
Next, a modeling method of a modeled object using the modeling apparatus 1 as described above will be described based on the drawings.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a modeling method (modeling process) of a modeled object using the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a process in which a model is formed by the modeling process.
In order to model a modeled object with the modeling apparatus 1, first, the data acquisition means 51 of the controller 5 acquires modeling data (step S1). Specifically, the data acquisition means 51 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or modeling data input from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the controller 5 based on the operation of the operator. Data for modeling, data for modeling acquired via a communication line such as the Internet, and the like are acquired.

Next, the movement control means 52 analyzes the cross-sectional shape of the modeling object from the modeling data, and moves the modeling head 3 to the modeling position P corresponding to the modeling object section as shown in FIG. 11 (step S2).
Specifically, the moving mechanism 4 and the swinging portion 725 of the gas supply unit 72 are positioned so that the front end portion of the modeling material 10 conveyed by the tape conveyance mechanism 6 is located at the modeling position P indicated based on the modeling data. To control.

Thereafter, the modeling control means 53 controls the modeling head 3 and the like, melts and laminates the modeling material 10 at the modeling position P, and forms a modeled object as shown in FIG. 11 (step S3).
Specifically, the modeling control means 53 controls the compressor 71 to introduce gas from the compressor 71 to the gas supply unit 72 so that the flow rate is set in advance.
Further, the modeling control unit 53 refers to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 724 and applies a voltage to the heater coil 723 so that the detected temperature becomes a temperature near the melting point of the modeling material 10. As a result, a heating gas having a temperature around the melting point of the modeling material 10 from the side of the tape surface 10A where the grooves 110 and 120 are formed in a part in the tape width direction at the tip of the modeling material 10 from the nozzle opening 721A. The modeling material 10 is melted and laminated at the modeling position P.

Thereafter, the modeling control means 53 determines whether or not the modeling processing of the modeled object based on the modeling data is completed (Step S4).
If “No” is determined in step S4, the process returns to step S2 and step S3, and the movement of the modeling head 3 and the melt lamination of the modeling material are repeated.
At this time, the movement control means 52 controls the swing part 725 of the gas supply part 72 to move the heating gas blowing position of the gas supply part 72 along the tape width direction, and moves the moving mechanism 4. The position of the modeling head 3 is controlled so that the spray position of the heated gas becomes the modeling position P based on the modeling data.
Further, the modeling control means 53 drives the driving roller 622A of the tape transport mechanism 6 when the spraying position of the heated gas is scanned by the swinging part 725 and the modeling material 10 is melted and stacked along the tape width direction. By doing so, the modeling material 10 is sent to the modeling position P. In addition, the modeling control unit 53 controls the delivery unit 62 to drive the drive roller pair 622 to send out the modeling material 10 by a predetermined amount. Since the modeling material 10 delivered by the delivery unit 62 has flexibility, it is bent by its own weight and is urged against the modeling position P. At this time, since the modeling material 10 is sent out with the mirror-like tape back surface 10B side toward the stage 2 side, when there is a laminate already laminated at the modeling position P on the stage 2, The tape back surface 10B comes into contact. Thereafter, similarly to step S3, the modeling material 10 is melted and stacked on the modeling position P.
And if it determines with "Yes" in step S4, a modeling process will be complete | finished.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
In the present embodiment, the modeling material 10 has the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 formed on the tape surface 10A to which the heated gas is sprayed at the modeling position P. In such a configuration, it becomes easy to selectively melt the thick portion 102 where the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 are not formed. That is, with respect to the thick portion 102, the bottom portions 113 and 123 (the surface of the thin portion 101) of the grooves 110 and 120 are less likely to be heated and heated. For this reason, only the thick part 102 (convex part 130) which is included in the melting range S and directly contacts with the heated gas can be melted more reliably, and the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be adjusted more reliably. Moreover, since the thin part 101 has a small dimension in the thickness direction with respect to the thick part 102, heat transfer in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction is small. Therefore, the thin portion 101 can suppress heat conduction from the thick portion 102 that has received a sufficient amount of heat to melt to another thick portion 102 provided around the thick portion 102. From the above, by selectively melting only the thick part 102 that has received a sufficient amount of heat, the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be appropriately adjusted, and the modeling accuracy can be improved.
Moreover, since a groove is provided around the thick portion 102, the heated gas hits from the surface (surface portion 131) and side surfaces (side portions 112, 122) of the thick portion 102, and the thick portion 102 is efficiently melted. Energy utilization efficiency can be improved.
Further, when the modeling material 10 is replaced, the modeling material 10 can be easily cut along the first groove 110 and the second groove 120 only by applying a slight stress, and the modeling material 10 can be easily handled. In particular, the first groove 110 along the tape width direction makes it easy to cut the modeling material 10 along the tape width direction, and the handling easiness when the modeling material 10 is replaced can be improved more suitably. .

  In the present embodiment, the tape back surface 10B of the modeling material 10 is a surface smoother than the heated tape surface 10A, for example, a mirror surface. Thereby, when laminating the modeling material 10 by heating and melting the modeling material 10 from the tape surface 10A side, the contact area between the already stacked laminate and the tape back surface 10B, that is, the bonding area is increased. Can be made. Moreover, when the contact area increases, the heat transferability between the laminate and the modeling material 10 can be improved, and the portion of the laminate that contacts the modeling material 10 is more reliably melted. be able to. Therefore, the adhesion between the laminate and the modeling material 10 can be improved.

  In addition, you may form a groove | channel on the tape back surface 10B similarly to the tape surface 10A. In this case, it is preferable to form grooves on the tape back surface 10B so as to overlap the grooves 110 and 120 formed on the tape surface 10A in a plan view as viewed in the tape thickness direction. With such a configuration, the strength in the thin portion 101 can be more reliably reduced, and the modeling material 10 can be more easily cut.

In the present embodiment, the modeling material 10 has grooves (first grooves 110 or second grooves 120) formed in a lattice shape. In such a configuration, the thick portion 102 is formed in a mesh shape, and the modeling material 10 can be melted in units of the mesh-shaped thick portion 102. Therefore, the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be adjusted more appropriately. , The modeling accuracy can be further improved.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the lattice-like grooves are provided along the transport direction (Y1 direction) and the tape width direction (X1 direction). Thereby, as above-mentioned, while being able to cut | disconnect the modeling material 10 easily along a tape width direction, the improvement of the modeling precision by adjustment of a fusion amount can be aimed at.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the dimension and space | interval (protrusion part 130 of each convex part 130) are included so that the some thick part 102 (convex part 130) formed of the grid | lattice-like groove | channel may be included in the melting range S. Tape width direction (X1 direction) and transport direction (Y1 direction) dimensions) are set. Thereby, even if the number of thick portions 102 (convex portions 130) included in the melting range S varies, the difference in the melting amount of the modeling material 10 can be reduced. A decrease in modeling accuracy can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the first groove 110 has the side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113 in a direction toward the bottom surface portion 113 in the tape thickness direction in a cross-sectional view in the transport direction (Y1 direction) and the tape thickness direction (Z1 direction). It is continuous with a concave curved surface. In such a configuration, when the modeling material 10 is curved (deformed) in a direction in which the side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113 approach or separate from each other, for example, the side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113 formed in a planar shape are at a predetermined angle. Compared to the crossing configuration, the stress concentration in the continuous portion can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress tearing or breaking of the continuous part due to the stress concentration.
Moreover, in this embodiment, a pair of side surface part 112 inclines with respect to the tape thickness direction in the direction where distance becomes large as it goes to the opposite side to the bottom face part 113 in the tape thickness direction. In such a structure, the curvature of the continuous part of the side part 112 and the bottom part 113 can be made small, and thereby stress concentration can be more reliably suppressed.
The second groove 120 is the same as the first groove 110 described above.

In the present embodiment, by setting the dimension _{a 2} of the thickness (largest dimension) of the building material 10 _{a 1} of 10% or more of the grooves 110 and 120, can be reduced strength in the thin portion 101, the groove build material 10 It can be easily cut along.
On the other hand, by 20 percent or less thickness (largest dimension) _{a 1} building material 10 dimensions _{a 2} of each groove 110 and 120, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the strength at the thin portion 101.
As described above, when the user intentionally applies force, the modeling material 10 can be easily cut, and the modeling material 10 can be prevented from being torn during normal conveyance.

In this embodiment, the arrangement interval b ₂ in the first groove 110 is smaller than the size of the melting range S in the arrangement direction. In such a configuration, at least one of the thick portions 102 is included in the melting range S in the arrangement direction (Y1 direction). Therefore, the one or more thick portions 102 can be more reliably melted in one heating and melting, and the amount of melting of the modeling material 10 can be more reliably adjusted.

In the present embodiment, the tape-shaped modeling material 10 has flexibility, and an aspect ratio (a ₁ / b ₁ ) that is a ratio between the tape thickness dimension a ₁ and the tape width dimension b ₁ is 10 or more. . For this reason, the flexibility of the modeling material 10 can be sufficiently ensured, and deterioration of the transport handling property of the modeling material 10 due to twisting, bending, or the like can be suppressed. Therefore, the conveyance efficiency of the modeling material 10 can be improved, and the modeling material 10 can be efficiently conveyed to the desired modeling position P.

Here, a metal material can be used as the modeling material 10. By using the metal modeling material 10 in this manner, a high-strength model can be modeled. On the other hand, since a metal material has a higher melting point than a resin material, it is necessary to apply more heat energy than when a resin material is used, and energy loss due to thermal diffusion may increase.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, the use efficiency of energy can be improved by using the modeling material 10 as mentioned above. Therefore, even when a metal material is used, an increase in energy loss due to thermal diffusion can be suppressed.

The modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a stage 2 on which a model is modeled, a tape transport mechanism 6 that transports the modeling material 10 to a predetermined modeling position P on the stage 2, and a modeling material that has been transported to the modeling position P. The hot air blowing mechanism 7 that blows and melts a heated gas on the 10 tape surface 10A and the modeling head 3 in which the hot air blowing mechanism 7 is incorporated are moved so that the modeling position P is located at a desired position based on the modeling data. And a moving mechanism 4 to be moved.
In such a configuration, it is only necessary to locally heat the modeling material 10 at the modeling position P, and it is not necessary to melt the entire modeling material 10 or to keep the melted state. Therefore, compared with the structure which extrudes the modeling material of a molten state, for example, the required thermal energy can be lessened and energy efficiency can be improved.
As described above, by using the modeling apparatus 1 and the modeling material 10, the amount of melting of the modeling material 10 can be appropriately adjusted, and the modeling accuracy can be suitably improved. Further, the energy utilization efficiency in the modeling apparatus 1 can be improved.

  In the modeling apparatus 1 including the cassette 61 of the present embodiment, the tape surface 10A on which the grooves 110 and 120 of the modeling material 10 supplied from the delivery port 611A of the case 611 and conveyed to the modeling position on the stage 2 is formed. Heated with heated gas. That is, the modeling material 10 is conveyed to the tape conveyance mechanism 6 so that the tape surface 10A of the modeling material 10 conveyed by the sending unit 62 of the tape conveyance mechanism 6 faces the side heated by the heated gas at the modeling position P. be able to. Therefore, as described above, the amount of melting of the modeling material 10 in the modeling apparatus 1 can be appropriately adjusted, and the modeling accuracy can be suitably improved. Further, the energy utilization efficiency in the modeling apparatus 1 can be improved.

[Other Embodiments]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
In the said embodiment, although the modeling apparatus 1 provided with the hot air blowing mechanism 7 which used heating gas as a heating medium was illustrated as a melting mechanism which fuse | melts the modeling material 10, this invention is not limited to this. For example, you may employ | adopt the mechanism which melts the modeling material 10 with the laser irradiation mechanism which irradiates a laser beam, the discharge mechanism which generate | occur | produces discharge, etc. Moreover, you may employ | adopt the mechanism which makes a high temperature probe contact | abut and heats and melts a contact part. That is, various melting mechanisms capable of locally heating and melting the modeling material 10 through a heating medium such as heated gas, heated solid (wire, etc.), light (electromagnetic wave), and charged particles (electrons and plasma). Can be used.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a modeling apparatus that includes a laser irradiation mechanism as a melting mechanism and uses laser light as a heating medium.
As shown in FIG. 12, the modeling apparatus 1A is configured in the same manner as the modeling apparatus 1 of the above embodiment except for the modeling head 3A. The modeling head 3A includes a laser irradiation mechanism 7A and a detector 8 (light receiving unit).
The laser irradiation mechanism 7 </ b> A collects the laser light output from the laser light source and forms an image of the irradiation spot on the modeling position P of the modeling material 10. The laser irradiation mechanism 7 </ b> A is configured to be able to scan a laser beam irradiation spot along the tape width direction of the modeling material 10. The laser irradiation mechanism 7A melts the modeling material 10 at the irradiation spot.
The detector 8 receives the laser beam reflected at the modeling position P, and outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of received light to the controller 5. The modeling control means 53 of the controller 5 refers to a signal corresponding to the amount of received light input from the detector 8 and adjusts the intensity of the laser light.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between the intensity distribution of the irradiation spot and the convex portion 130 of the modeling material 10. FIG. 13A shows the intensity distribution of the irradiation spot on the tape surface 10 </ b> A of the modeling material 10. FIG. 13B is a plan view schematically showing the protrusions 130 arranged in a mesh shape in a plan view in the tape thickness direction.
The laser light emitted from the laser irradiation mechanism 7A has an intensity distribution substantially following the Gaussian distribution as shown in FIG. In molding apparatus 1A, with respect to the center position O of the intensity of the laser light is maximized, the range in which the intensity is more than half, that is, the range is irradiated spot corresponding to the half-width E _50, FIG. 13 (B) This is the melting range S shown. Also in this modified example, a predetermined number of convex portions 130, that is, thick portions 102 are included in the melting range S.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a modeling apparatus that includes a discharge mechanism as a melting mechanism and uses charged particles (plasma) as a heating medium.
As shown in FIG. 14, the modeling apparatus 1B is configured in the same manner as the modeling apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment except for the modeling head 3B. The modeling head 3B includes a discharge mechanism 7B.
As shown in FIG. 14, the discharge mechanism 7B includes a plasma generator 71B, an arc power source 72B, and a scanning mechanism 73B that scans the plasma generator 71B and the arc power source 72B in the tape width direction.

The electrode 711B of the plasma generator 71B is connected to the high potential side of the arc power source 72B. The earth shield case 712B that houses the electrode 711B can be switched between a ground state and a high potential state by a trigger switch 713B. The earth shield case 712B is housed in the housing case 714B, and a plasma generating gas is supplied into the earth shield case 712B, and a shield gas is supplied between the earth shield case 712B and the housing case 714B.
In the discharge mechanism 7B configured as described above, when the trigger switch 713B is set to the ground state, pilot discharge is generated between the electrode 711B and the earth shield case 712B, and a plasma state is formed by the plasma generation gas. The plasma arc is converged in a torch shape by the shielding gas. The discharge mechanism 7B applies the generated plasma arc to the modeling material 10 to melt the modeling material 10.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between the current density distribution of the plasma arc and the convex portion 130 of the modeling material 10. FIG. 15A shows the current density distribution of the plasma arc on the tape surface 10 </ b> A of the modeling material 10. FIG. 15B is a plan view schematically showing the convex portions 130 arranged in a mesh shape in a plan view in the tape thickness direction.
The plasma arc formed by the discharge mechanism 7B has an intensity distribution substantially following the Gaussian distribution as shown in FIG. In the modeling apparatus 1B, a range in which the current density becomes half value (50%) or more with respect to the center position O where the current density is maximum is a melting range S shown in FIG. Also in this modified example, a predetermined number of convex portions 130, that is, thick portions 102 are included in the melting range S.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a modeling apparatus that includes a press modeling mechanism as a melting mechanism and contacts a high-temperature solid as a heating medium.
As illustrated in FIG. 16, the modeling apparatus 1 </ b> C is configured in the same manner as the modeling apparatus 1 of the above embodiment except for the modeling head 3 </ b> C. The modeling head 3C includes a pressing modeling mechanism 7C.
As shown in FIG. 16, the press modeling mechanism 7 </ b> C includes a heat probe 71 </ b> C, a heating unit 72 </ b> C, a press drive unit 73 </ b> C, a joint unit 74 </ b> C, and a scan drive unit 75 </ b> C. The press modeling mechanism 7 </ b> C causes the contact portion 711 </ b> C at the tip end portion of the heated heat probe 71 </ b> C to contact the modeling material 10 at the modeling position P, and is heated and melted.

The heat probe 71 </ b> C is a metal member, and is configured in a tapered shape with a cross-sectional area that decreases toward the stage 2 side. The contact portion 711C facing the modeling position P of the heat probe 71C is a flat surface, and is formed in, for example, a circular shape.
The heating unit 72 </ b> C heats the heat probe 71 </ b> C under the control of the controller 5.
Press drive portion 73C along the heat probe 71C in the axial direction (along the normal direction D ₂ of stage 2) is moved forward and backward.
The joint portion 74C connects the proximal end portion of the heat probe 71C and the pressing drive portion 73C via a heat insulating material.
The scanning drive unit 75C moves the heating unit including the heat probe 71C, the heating unit 72C, the pressing drive unit 73C, and the joint unit 74C along the tape width direction of the modeling material 10.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between the tip portion of the heat probe 71 </ b> C and the convex portion 130 of the modeling material 10. FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a tip portion of the heat probe 71C. FIG. 17B is a plan view schematically showing the convex portions 130 arranged in a mesh shape in a plan view in the tape thickness direction.
As described above, the contact portion 711C has, for example, a circular shape, and the range in which the circular contact portion 711C contacts is the melting range S shown in FIG. Also in this modified example, a predetermined number of convex portions 130, that is, thick portions 102 are included in the melting range S.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the nine convex portions 103, that is, the thick portions 102 are included in the melting range S is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and one or more convex portions 103 (thick portions 102) are included. ). Note that the larger the number of convex portions 103 included in the melting range S, the smaller the volume per one thick portion 102 with respect to the melting range S. For this reason, when the position shift of the edge part of the fusion | melting range S arises and the thick part 102 which should be contained in the fusion | melting range S is not contained in the fusion | melting range S, the number of the convex parts 103 contained in the fusion | melting range S is set. As the amount increases, the melting error can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the modeling material 10 has the first groove 110 along the tape width direction and the second groove 120 along the transport direction, that is, the configuration in which the grooves are formed in a lattice shape. This invention is not limited to this, You may employ | adopt the structure which has only the groove | channel along one predetermined direction, and the structure which has a groove | channel along each of three or more directions.
For example, the second groove 120 may not be provided, and only the first groove 110 along the tape width direction may be provided. Even in such a configuration, by having the first groove 110, the modeling material 10 can be easily cut along the 110th, and the handling at the time of replacing the modeling material 10 can be facilitated as described above. .
Also, for example, by forming grooves along each of the three directions, a triangular thick portion can be formed in a plan view in the thickness direction.

In the said embodiment, although each groove | channel 110,120 of the modeling material 10 illustrated the structure in which a side part and a bottom face part continue with a curved surface, this invention is not limited to this, The above-mentioned is mentioned only to either one. The configuration may be adopted. For example, in the modeling apparatus 1, at the time of conveyance, the curve is usually not curved in the tape width direction but curved in the conveyance direction. Therefore, a configuration in which the side surface portion 112 and the bottom surface portion 113 are continuous with a curved surface is employed only in the first groove 110 formed along the tape width direction, and the planar side surface portion 112 is disposed in the second groove 120. A configuration may be adopted in which the bottom portion 113 and the bottom portion 113 intersect with each other. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress tearing of the modeling material 10 that is curved along the conveyance direction during normal conveyance.
Moreover, about any groove | channel, it is good also as a structure where a planar side part and a bottom face cross | intersect. In this case, even if the stress is concentrated on the continuous portion of the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion, the groove in the tape thickness direction is determined according to the elasticity and rigidity of the modeling material 10 so that the modeling material 10 is not torn. It is preferable to appropriately set the thickness dimension and the width dimension of the groove in the direction orthogonal to the thickness direction.

In the said embodiment, although the range of the airflow value more than half value was illustrated with respect to the maximum value as the melting range S by the hot air spray mechanism 7, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the range in which the amount of heating by hot air is at least half the maximum value may be used.
In the above-described embodiment, the gas supply unit 72 is inclined and configured to be able to scan in the tape width direction. For this reason, the blowing direction of the hot air from the nozzle opening 721A is inclined with respect to the tape surface 10A of the modeling material 10 and changes. Therefore, for example, depending on the spraying direction, for example, the spraying amount and the heating amount may be adjusted, and the melting range S may be made substantially constant according to the spraying direction.

  As the modeling material 10, a tape-shaped material having a rectangular cross section with an aspect ratio of 10 or more is illustrated, but the modeling material 10 is not limited thereto. For example, a tape-shaped material having an aspect ratio of less than 10 is used as long as it has sufficient flexibility depending on the material of the modeling material 10 and the conveyance handling property of the modeling material 10 in the tape conveyance mechanism 6 is good. May be.

  In the said embodiment, although the modeling material 10 was set as the structure accommodated in the cassette 61 which can be attached or detached with respect to the modeling head 3, it is not limited to this, A part of housing | casing of the modeling head 3 is replaced with the case 611. The modeling material supply mechanism that supplies the modeling material 10 may be configured integrally with the modeling head 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the modeling material 10 may be held in a roll shape by winding the modeling material 10 around the shaft core 614. In this case, the mounting hole 615 is provided along the central axis of the shaft core 614, and the shaft core 614 around which the modeling material 10 is wound is formed by, for example, inserting a locking pin provided in the modeling head 3 into the mounting hole 615. Can be attached to the modeling head 3. In addition, by providing the flange portions 616 that hold both end edges of the modeling material 10 in the tape width direction at both ends in the axial direction of the shaft core 614, loosening of the modeling material 10 can be prevented.

  In addition, the specific structure for carrying out the present invention can be appropriately changed to other structures and the like within a range in which the object of the present invention can be achieved.

  1, 1A, 1B, 1C ... modeling apparatus, 2 ... stage, 4 ... moving mechanism, 6 ... tape transport mechanism (feeding mechanism), 7 ... hot air spraying mechanism (melting mechanism), 7A ... laser irradiation mechanism (melting mechanism), 7B ... Discharge mechanism (melting mechanism), 7C ... Pressing modeling mechanism (melting mechanism), 10 ... Modeling material, 10A ... Tape surface (uneven surface), 10B ... Tape back surface (opposite surface), 61 ... Cassette (modeling material) Supply mechanism), 110... First groove (groove), 112, 122 .. side surface portion, 113, 123... Bottom surface portion, 120.

Claims (12)

A modeling material used in a modeling apparatus comprising: a feeding mechanism that conveys a modeling material to a modeling position; and a melting mechanism that heats and melts the modeling material conveyed to the modeling position by the feeding mechanism with a heating medium,
A molding material characterized in that it is a tape-shaped material having a rectangular shape in cross section, and a plurality of grooves that are concave in the tape thickness direction are provided on the surface heated by the melting mechanism. The modeling material according to claim 1,
The said groove | channel is provided along the tape width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the said modeling material. The modeling material characterized by the above-mentioned. In the modeling material of Claim 1 or Claim 2,
The said groove | channel is provided in the grid | lattice form. The modeling material characterized by the above-mentioned. In the modeling material of any one of Claims 1-3,
The groove has a side surface portion substantially along the tape thickness direction and a bottom surface portion continuous to the side surface portion,
The modeling material, wherein the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion are continuous with a concave curved surface in a direction toward the bottom surface portion in a sectional view in the tape thickness direction. The modeling material according to claim 4,
The modeling material, wherein the side surface portion is inclined with respect to the thickness direction in a direction away from the bottom surface portion as it goes to the opposite side to the bottom surface portion in the tape thickness direction. In the modeling material of any one of Claims 1-5,
The dimension in the said tape thickness direction of the said groove | channel is a dimension of the range of 10% or more of the maximum dimension in the said tape thickness direction of the said modeling material, and 20% or less. The modeling material characterized by the above-mentioned. In the modeling material of any one of Claims 1-6,
The interval dimension in the arrangement direction of the plurality of grooves is smaller than the dimension in the arrangement direction of the melting range in which the modeling material is melted by the melting mechanism in a plan view seen from the tape thickness direction. Modeling material. In the modeling material of any one of Claims 1-7,
The modeling material has flexibility, and an aspect ratio of a tape thickness dimension and a tape width dimension in a sectional view is 10 or more. In the modeling material of any one of Claims 1-8,
The modeling material is made of a metal. A feed mechanism for transporting the modeling material to the modeling position on the stage;
A melting mechanism that heats and melts the modeling material conveyed to the modeling position by the feeding mechanism with a heating medium;
A moving mechanism for moving the modeling position relative to the stage,
The modeling material is a tape-shaped material having a rectangular shape in cross section, and at least one of a pair of surfaces orthogonal to the tape thickness direction is provided with a plurality of grooves that are concave in the tape thickness direction,
The modeling apparatus, wherein the melting mechanism heats and melts the surface of the modeling material on which the plurality of grooves are provided with the heating medium. The modeling apparatus according to claim 10,
The melting mechanism has a melting range in which the modeling material is melted in a plan view viewed from the tape thickness direction, and an interval dimension in an arrangement direction of the plurality of grooves is the melting range in the plan view. Is smaller than the dimension in the arrangement direction. A modeling material supply mechanism that supplies the modeling material to a modeling apparatus comprising: a feeding mechanism that conveys the modeling material to a modeling position; and a melting mechanism that heats and melts the modeling material conveyed to the modeling position with a heating medium. And
A tape-shaped material having a rectangular shape in cross-section, and a storage unit for storing the modeling material in which a plurality of grooves that are concave in the tape thickness direction are provided on at least one of the pair of surfaces orthogonal to the tape thickness direction. Prepared,
Of the pair of surfaces of the modeling material supplied from the storage unit and transported to the modeling position by the feeding mechanism, the storage unit is a surface heated by the heating medium and is the one surface. The modeling material supply mechanism characterized in that the modeling material is stored.

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