JP2017119350A - Three-dimensional molding apparatus and three-dimensional molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional molding apparatus configured to prevent reduction in the strength of a finished three-dimensional molded object having a desired shape or interlayer separation in a finished three-dimensional molded object having a desired shape even when an operation of three-dimensional molding is once stopped during three-dimensional molding of a desired shape and then the operation of three-dimensional molding is resumed.SOLUTION: The three-dimensional molding apparatus includes: determination means to determine whether an operation of three-dimensional molding is once stopped or not and whether the operation of three-dimensional molding is resumed or not; storage means for an uppermost layer at the time of temporary stop, for storing the uppermost layer at the time of temporary stop when the determination means determines that the operation of three-dimensional molding is once stopped; and control means upon resuming three-dimensional molding, for controlling a discharge head to discharge a binder based on the image data of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the uppermost layer at the time of temporary stop, to the uppermost layer at the time of temporary stop stored in the memory means for an uppermost layer at the time of temporary stop, when the determination means determines that the operation of three-dimensional molding is resumed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method, and more particularly to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method for producing a three-dimensional model using powder as a raw material.

  Conventionally, as a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for producing a three-dimensional structure, a powder fixed lamination method (binder jet) for producing a three-dimensional structure using powder such as gypsum powder (gypsum powder) or resin powder (resin powder) as a raw material. 3D modeling apparatus) is known.

  The three-dimensional modeling method by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of this powder fixed lamination method is to spray a binder as a liquid binder from a discharge head (inkjet head) onto various powders to solidify the powder one by one, and then to solidify the solidified layer. Is used to produce a three-dimensional structure.

  More specifically, in the three-dimensional modeling method using the powder fixed lamination type three-dimensional modeling apparatus, first, a powder material is spread in a modeling tank for modeling a three-dimensional modeled object to form a powder layer having a predetermined thickness.

  Next, a binder for curing the powder material is discharged from the discharge head to the powder layer based on image data having a predetermined resolution of the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure, and the image data is converted into the powder layer. A layer having a cross-sectional shape based thereon is formed.

  Thereafter, a new powder layer having a predetermined thickness is formed on the powder layer on which the layer having the cross-sectional shape is formed, and the discharge is performed on the powder layer based on image data representing the next cross-sectional shape of the formed cross-sectional shape. A binder is discharged from the head, and a layer having a cross-sectional shape based on the image data is formed on the new powder layer.

Such a process is repeated, and a layer having a cross-sectional shape based on image data representing all cross-sectional shapes is sequentially formed, thereby producing a three-dimensional structure.

  Here, during the production of a three-dimensional structure of a desired shape by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus as described above, the discharge head cleaning operation is performed in order to remove the dirt of the discharge head, In order to confirm the state of the three-dimensional structure, the operation of the three-dimensional structure by the three-dimensional structure forming apparatus may be temporarily stopped.

  In other words, when a temporary stop of the 3D modeling operation by the 3D modeling apparatus is instructed by an operation of the operation panel by the operator, the 3D modeling apparatus discharges even during the production of the desired 3D modeling object. The operation of 3D modeling by the 3D modeling apparatus is temporarily stopped at the timing when the binder is discharged from the head to form a cross-sectional layer based on the image data on the powder layer.

Then, after performing the cleaning operation of the discharge head or confirming the state of the three-dimensional structure being formed by the operator, the operation of the three-dimensional structure by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is resumed by the operation of the operation panel by the operator. When instructed, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is resumed, and the layer next to the layer formed at the time of the temporary stop is formed.

  However, when the operation of 3D modeling by the 3D modeling apparatus is paused, each layer formed before the pause, in particular, the layer formed at the timing of the pause, that is, the timing of the paused timing The binder in the uppermost layer at the time point was evaporated, and the drying of the uppermost layer proceeded remarkably.

  The conventional powder fixed lamination type three-dimensional modeling apparatus is designed so that the drying of the layer at a normal interval during a series of three-dimensional modeling operations does not become an obstacle to the three-dimensional modeling.

  However, a time longer than the normal interval, such as temporarily stopping the operation of 3D modeling and performing the cleaning operation of the ejection head, or checking the state of the 3D modeled object during modeling, etc. When the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is resumed after the elapse of time, the three-dimensional modeling of the next layer is performed on the layer (the uppermost layer) in which the drying is remarkably progressed.

Thus, when the next layer is layered on the layer where the drying has progressed remarkably, the bonding force between the layer where the drying has progressed remarkably and the next layer becomes weak, and the strength of the completed three-dimensional structure is reduced. Or the finished three-dimensional structure is separated between the layers where the bonding force is weakened.

For this reason, even if the operation of 3D modeling is resumed after temporarily stopping the operation of 3D modeling in the middle of the 3D modeling of the desired shape, the strength of the completed 3D model of the desired shape is reduced. There has been a demand for a proposal of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method in which a completed three-dimensional modeled object having a desired shape is not separated between layers.

  The prior art that the applicant of the present application knows at the time of filing a patent is as described above and is not an invention related to a known literature, so there is no prior art information to be described.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described demand for the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to perform the tertiary after temporarily stopping the operation of the three-dimensional modeling in the middle of the three-dimensional modeling of the desired shape. 3D modeling that does not reduce the strength of the completed 3D object with the desired shape or separate the completed 3D object with the desired shape even after resuming the original modeling operation An apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method are to be provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the 3D modeling apparatus and the 3D modeling method according to the present invention provide a 3D modeling operation when the 3D modeling operation is temporarily stopped in the middle of the 3D modeling of a desired shape. The binder is ejected from the ejection head based on the image data representing the cross-sectional shape for forming the uppermost layer that is formed when the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is first suspended. The layer next to the uppermost layer is formed.

Therefore, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention, the binder is supplied to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension when the bonding force between the next layer and the next layer is weakened. The bonding force between the uppermost layer and the next layer is increased, and the strength of the completed three-dimensional structure can be reduced, or the completed three-dimensional structure can be prevented from separating between the layers.

  That is, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention discharges the binder to the powder layer made of the powder material formed in the modeling tank by discharging the binder from the discharge head based on the image data about the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus that cures the material to produce a three-dimensional modeled object, a determination unit that determines whether the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped and whether the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been resumed, When the determination unit determines that the 3D modeling operation has been temporarily stopped, the paused uppermost layer storage unit stores the uppermost layer at the time of suspension, and the determination unit resumes the 3D modeling operation. When determined, an image of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension with respect to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension stored in the uppermost layer storage device at the time of suspension It is obtained so as to have a three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control means for controlling the discharge head to discharge a binder based on chromatography data.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention is the above-described three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control means discharges a binder having a preset constant binder concentration by the discharge head. It is made to control like this.

  Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention is the above-described three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the three-dimensional modeling operation resuming control means performs the three-dimensional modeling operation after the three-dimensional modeling operation is temporarily stopped. Is controlled so that the discharge head discharges a binder having a binder concentration set in accordance with at least one of the duration of the pause until the operation is resumed, temperature change, and humidity change. .

  Further, the three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention provides the above powder by discharging a binder from a discharge head to a powder layer made of a powder material formed in a modeling tank based on image data about a cross-sectional shape of a three-dimensional structure. In the three-dimensional modeling method for producing a three-dimensional structure by curing the material, a determination step of determining whether or not the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped and whether or not the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been resumed, When the operation of 3D modeling is determined to have been temporarily stopped by the determination step, the uppermost layer storage process at the time of suspension when storing the uppermost layer at the time of suspension, and the operation of 3D modeling is restarted by the determination step When it is determined, the cross-sectional shape corresponding to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension is compared with the uppermost layer at the time of suspension, which is stored by the uppermost layer storage process at the time of suspension. It is obtained so as to have a three-dimensional modeling operation resumption controlling step controls the discharge head to discharge a binder based on the image data.

  Further, the three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention is the above-described three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention, wherein the three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control step is such that the discharge head discharges a binder having a predetermined constant binder concentration. It is made to control like this.

  The three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention is the above-described three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention, wherein the three-dimensional modeling operation restarting control step is performed after the three-dimensional modeling operation is temporarily stopped. Is controlled so that the discharge head discharges a binder having a binder concentration set in accordance with at least one of the duration of the pause until the operation is resumed, temperature change, and humidity change. .

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, even if the operation of 3D modeling is resumed after temporarily stopping the operation of 3D modeling in the middle of the 3D modeling of the desired shape, the completed desired There is an excellent effect that the strength of the three-dimensional structure having the shape does not decrease, and the completed three-dimensional structure having the desired shape is not separated between the layers.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the microcomputer built in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B shows the functional contents of the binder concentration storage unit. It is explanatory drawing shown. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a processing routine related to the three-dimensional modeling operation pause process according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a 3D modeling apparatus and a 3D modeling method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and this three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that moves forward and backward by a modeling stage using a powder-fixing lamination method. A base 12 that is a stationary member is provided.

  A groove portion 14 extending in the X-axis direction in the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is formed in the base portion 12.

  In the groove portion 14, a modeling tank 16 configured to be movable in the X-axis direction and capable of moving up and down in the Z-axis direction, and connected integrally with the modeling tank 16, is movable in the X-axis direction together with the modeling tank 16. A storage tank 18 is arranged.

  A pair of support portions 20 are formed on the base portion 12 so as to rise from both regions in the Y-axis direction of the groove portion 14 so as to sandwich the groove portion 14, and the pair of support portions 20 in the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. A storage tank support rail 22 that extends along the Y-axis direction is supported.

  A storage tank 24 having an opening 24a that is openable and closable downward is disposed at a central portion in the Y-axis direction on the storage tank support rail 22. The opening 24 a is disposed so as to face the modeling tank 16 located in the groove 14.

  Furthermore, a substantially U-shaped roller support portion 26 having an opening on the lower side in the Z-axis direction is formed on the base portion 12 so as to sandwich the groove portion 14. Is supported by a roller 28 that can relatively move from the rear side to the front side in the X-axis direction.

In addition, the roller support portion 26 supports a discharge head 30 that can reciprocate in the Y-axis direction and discharges the binder to the modeling tank 16.

  Here, the positional relationship between the modeling tank 16 and the storage tank 18 is such that the storage tank 18 is disposed on the front side in the X-axis direction with respect to the modeling tank 16.

The ejection head 30 is disposed so as to be located on the rear side of the roller 28 in the X-axis direction, and scans in one pass to eject the binder in both the forward path and the backward path.

In the above-described configuration, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10, the opening of the storage tank 24 starts from the initial state shown in FIG. 1 in which the opening 24 a of the storage tank 24 storing the powder material and the modeling tank 16 face each other. 24 a is opened to supply the powder material to the modeling tank 16.

  Next, by moving the modeling tank 16 and the storage tank 18 from the front side in the X-axis direction to the rear side in the groove portion 14, the roller 28 relatively moves on the modeling tank 16 from the rear side in the X-axis direction to the front side. The powder material supplied to the modeling tank 16 is spread in the modeling tank 16 to form a powder layer having a predetermined thickness.

At this time, the bottom surface of the modeling tank 16 is controlled to rise to a preset position.

  In addition, the excess powder material that has not been used for forming the powder layer in the modeling tank 16 moves from the rear side in the X-axis direction to the front side relative to the roller 28 from the modeling tank 16 to the storage tank 18. Thus, the groove 14 is accommodated in the accommodating tank 18 that moves from the front side in the X-axis direction to the rear side together with the modeling tank 16.

After forming the powder layer in the modeling tank 16 as described above, the modeling tank 16 is moved in the X-axis direction in the groove portion 14, and the modeling tank 16 is arranged at a predetermined position below the discharge head 30.

  After forming a powder layer with respect to the modeling tank 16 by the method demonstrated above, it has the predetermined | prescribed resolution about the cross-sectional shape (namely, it is a shape on XY plane) in the Z-axis direction of a three-dimensional structure. Based on the image data, while moving the modeling tank 16 from the front side in the X-axis direction to the rear side in the groove portion 14 and moving the discharge head 30 in the Y-axis direction, the powder layer formed in the modeling tank 16 Then, a binder for curing the powder material is discharged from the discharge head 30.

Note that the binder used in the present embodiment may be transparent or colored.

  Here, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 is a conventional three-dimensional modeling method at the time of resuming the three-dimensional modeling operation when the three-dimensional modeling operation is temporarily stopped in the middle of the three-dimensional modeling of a desired shape. Unlike the technology, conventionally known technology can be applied to other configurations and control methods.

Therefore, in the following description, when the operation of 3D modeling is paused in the middle of 3D modeling of a desired shape, only the method at the time of resuming the operation of 3D modeling will be described in detail. A detailed description of other configurations and controls to which more known techniques can be applied is omitted.

  FIG. 2A shows a block configuration explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration of the microcomputer 40 built in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10.

  In addition to the conventionally known configuration 42, the microcomputer 40 includes a determination unit 44, a measurement unit 46, a binder concentration storage unit 48, a binder concentration selection unit 50, a paused uppermost layer storage unit 52, and a tertiary And an original modeling operation resumption control unit 54.

  Here, the determination unit 44 determines whether or not the operation of the 3D modeling is paused in the middle of the operation of the 3D modeling of the desired shape in the 3D modeling apparatus 10 and the operation of the 3D modeling is temporarily stopped. It is determined whether it was resumed later.

  Specifically, for example, the operation of the operation panel (not shown) is monitored, and by the operation of the operation panel (not shown), the cleaning operation of the discharge head and the three-dimensional structure being formed by the operator during the modeling are performed. In order to check the state or the like, whether or not an operation for temporarily stopping the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is performed in the middle of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling of a desired shape, and the temporary operation of the three-dimensional modeling Whether or not the operation of the 3D modeling is temporarily stopped in the middle of the operation of the 3D modeling of the desired shape and whether the operation of the 3D modeling is It is determined whether or not the job has been resumed after the pause.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 instructed to temporarily stop the three-dimensional modeling operation in the middle of the three-dimensional modeling operation of a desired shape by operating an operation panel (not shown) or the like is determined by the determination unit 44. It is determined that the three-dimensional modeling operation in the middle of the three-dimensional modeling operation of the desired shape is paused. At that time, when the temporary stop is instructed, the ejection head 30 for the powder layer being processed. Then, the binder is discharged, and the three-dimensional modeling operation is temporarily stopped at the timing when the cross-sectional layer based on the image data is formed on the powder layer.

  The measuring unit 46 is a time from when the determination unit 44 determines that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is temporarily stopped until the determination unit 44 determines that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is restarted, that is, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. Ten pause durations are measured.

  The binder concentration storage unit 48 stores the binder concentration according to the temporary stop duration time of the 3D modeling operation in the 3D modeling apparatus 10 measured by the measuring unit 46.

  Here, the binder concentration indicates the amount of the binder per unit area of the layer when three-dimensional modeling is performed without temporarily stopping the three-dimensional modeling operation as 100%.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the binder concentration stored in the binder concentration storage unit 48 is 25% when the pause duration is less than 2 minutes 30 seconds. When the pause duration is 2 minutes 30 seconds or more and less than 5 minutes 30 seconds, the binder concentration is 50%. When the pause duration time is 5 minutes 30 seconds or more and less than 7 minutes 30 seconds, the binder concentration is 75%. When the pause duration is 7 minutes 30 seconds or longer, the binder concentration is 100%.

  That is, the uppermost layer during suspension (described later) is dried as the suspension duration increases, so that the binder concentration is set to increase as the suspension duration increases.

  The binder concentration selection unit 50 refers to the binder concentration storage unit 48 and selects the binder concentration according to the temporary stop duration of the 3D modeling operation in the 3D modeling apparatus 10 measured by the measurement unit 46.

  The uppermost layer storage unit 52 at the time of pause is the layer formed when the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 temporarily stops the operation of the three-dimensional modeling at the timing when the cross-sectional layer based on the image data is formed on the powder layer. The determination unit 44 stores the uppermost layer when the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 determines that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped (referred to as “the highest layer at the time of pause” in this specification). To do. Note that when the uppermost layer at the time of suspension is stored in the uppermost layer storage unit 52 at the time of suspension, for example, the layer number at the time of stacking the layers or an appropriate identifier may be used.

When the determination unit 44 determines that the three-dimensional modeling operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 has been resumed, the three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control unit 54 temporarily stores the pause stored in the uppermost layer storage unit 52. The binder concentration selected by the binder concentration selection unit 50 for the uppermost layer is discharged so that the binder is discharged based on image data having a predetermined resolution for the cross-sectional shape corresponding to the uppermost layer at the time of pause. The head 30 is controlled.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a processing routine related to the three-dimensional modeling operation pause processing.

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10, the determination unit 44 performs three-dimensional modeling in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 in the middle of a conventionally known main routine (not shown) for modeling a three-dimensional modeled object having a desired shape. If it is determined that the operation is temporarily stopped, the processing of the main routine is temporarily stopped, and the processing routine of the three-dimensional modeling operation suspension processing shown in FIG. 3 is started.

  When the processing routine of the three-dimensional modeling operation pause process is started, the measurement unit 46 measures the time after the determination unit 44 determines that the three-dimensional modeling operation is temporarily stopped, and the determination unit 44 performs the three-dimensional modeling operation. The elapsed time from the time when it is determined that the operation is temporarily stopped is incremented (step S302), and the process of step S302 is repeated until the determination unit 44 determines that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is resumed (step S304). .

  In the process of step S304, if the determination unit 44 determines that the three-dimensional modeling operation has been resumed, the binder concentration selection unit 50 performs the binder concentration using the elapsed time obtained in the process of step S302 as the pause time duration. The storage unit 48 is referred to, and the binder concentration corresponding to the elapsed time (temporary stop time duration) obtained in the process of step S302 is selected (step S306).

  When the process of step S306 is completed, the control is performed on the uppermost layer at the time of suspension stored in the uppermost layer storage unit 52 at the time of suspension by the control of the control unit 54 at the time of resuming the 3D modeling operation. With the binder concentration, the ejection head 30 is controlled to eject the binder based on image data having a predetermined resolution with respect to the cross-sectional shape corresponding to the uppermost layer at the time of pause (step S308).

  As a result, the binder having the binder concentration selected in the process of step S306 is supplied to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension when the bonding force between the next layer and the next layer is weakened.

When the process of step S308 is completed, the process returns to the main routine, and the next layer after the uppermost layer is formed by a known technique.

  As described above, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method according to the above-described embodiment, the bonding force between the next layer is weakened by drying due to the temporary stop of the three-dimensional modeling operation. A binder having a binder concentration corresponding to the duration of the pause time was discharged before the next layer was formed on the uppermost layer at the time of stopping.

Thereby, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention, the bonding force between the uppermost layer at the time of pause and the next layer, which is the uppermost layer at the time of suspension of the three-dimensional modeling operation, is increased It is possible to suppress the strength of the three-dimensional structure that has been reduced or the separation of the completed three-dimensional structure between the layers.

  The embodiment described above may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (5).

  (1) The present invention is not limited to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method having the configuration shown in the above-described embodiment, but is also a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a three-dimensional modeling method using a powder fixing lamination method (binder jetting method). If it is, it can apply to the 3D modeling apparatus and 3D modeling method of what kind of composition.

  (2) The pause duration and the binder concentration stored in the binder concentration storage unit 50 in the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and of course may be changed to appropriate numerical values. It is.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the binder concentration of the binder that is discharged to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension before the next layer is formed at the time of resumption after the suspension of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is continuously suspended. Although it is set according to time, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

  That is, the binder concentration of the binder discharged to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension before the next layer is formed at the time of resuming the suspension may be a constant binder concentration set in advance.

  In this case, it is not necessary to provide the measurement unit 46, the binder storage unit 48, the binder concentration selection unit 50, and the like in the above-described embodiment, and the three-dimensional modeling operation is resumed after being temporarily stopped by the determination unit 42. When the determination is made, the binder of a constant binder concentration set in advance is discharged to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension stored in the uppermost layer storage unit 52 at the time of suspension by the control of the control unit 54 at the time of resuming the 3D modeling operation. Will be.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the binder concentration of the binder that is discharged to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension before the next layer is formed at the time of restart after the suspension of the operation of the three-dimensional modeling is continuously suspended. Although it is set according to time, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

  That is, the binder concentration may be set according to the temperature change around the 3D modeling apparatus 10 when the operation of the 3D modeling is paused and resumed.

  For example, the initial value of the binder concentration at the time of resuming the operation after the three-dimensional modeling operation is paused is set to 50%, and the temperature at the restart is 5 ° C. than the temperature at the time of the three-dimensional modeling operation being paused. The initial value may be increased by 10% each time the temperature rises, or the initial value may be decreased by 10% each time the temperature at the time of restart falls by 5 ° C. than the temperature at the time of the three-dimensional modeling operation being temporarily stopped.

  Alternatively, instead of the measurement unit 46 in the above-described embodiment, a measurement unit that measures the temperature change around the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 is provided, and the temperature change is performed instead of the binder concentration storage unit 48 in the above-described embodiment. A binder concentration storage unit that stores the binder concentration according to the temperature is provided, and instead of the binder concentration selection unit 50 in the above-described embodiment, the binder concentration storage unit that stores the binder concentration according to the temperature change is referred to as a third order. A binder concentration selection unit that selects a binder concentration according to the temperature change measured by the measurement unit that measures the temperature change around the original modeling apparatus 10 is set, and the binder concentration is set according to the temperature change. You may make it do.

  Further, the binder concentration may be set according to a change in humidity around the 3D modeling apparatus 10 when the operation of the 3D modeling is paused and resumed.

  For example, the initial value of the binder concentration at the time of resuming the operation after the 3D modeling operation is paused is set to 50%, and the humidity at the time of resuming is 10% than the humidity at the time of the 3D modeling operation being paused. Each time it decreases, the binder concentration may be increased by 5%, or the binder concentration may be decreased by 5% each time the humidity at the time of restart increases by 10% compared to the humidity at the time of the three-dimensional modeling operation being temporarily stopped.

  Alternatively, instead of the measurement unit 46 in the above-described embodiment, a measurement unit that measures the humidity change around the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 is provided, and instead of the binder concentration storage unit 48 in the above-described embodiment, the humidity change A binder concentration storage unit that stores the binder concentration according to the above is provided, and instead of the binder concentration selection unit 50 in the above-described embodiment, a reference is made to the binder concentration storage unit that stores the binder concentration according to the humidity change. A binder concentration selection unit that selects a binder concentration according to the humidity change measured by the measurement unit that measures the humidity change around the original modeling apparatus 10 is set, and the binder concentration is set according to the humidity change. You may make it do.

  Regarding the setting of the binder concentration due to such temperature change and humidity change, the binder concentration may be set only by either temperature change or humidity change, or the binder concentration may be set by both temperature change and humidity change. The setting may be performed, or further, the setting may be performed in a superimposed manner with the setting of the binder concentration according to the pause duration.

  In other words, the binder concentration is set not only by the pause duration, by only the temperature change, by only the humidity change, but also by a combination of the pause duration, temperature change and humidity change as appropriate. can do.

  In short, the binder concentration may be set according to at least one of the suspension duration, temperature change, and humidity change.

  (5) You may make it combine suitably the embodiment shown above and the modification shown in said (1) thru | or (4).

  The present invention can be used for a powder fixed lamination type three-dimensional modeling apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 3D modeling apparatus, 12 base part, 14 groove part, 16 modeling tank, 18 storage tank, 20 support part, 22 storage tank support rail, 24 storage tank, 24a opening part, 26 roller support part, 28 roller, 30 discharge Head, 40 Microcomputer, 44 Judgment unit, 46 Measurement unit, 48 Binder concentration storage unit, 50 Binder concentration selection unit, 52 Top layer storage unit when paused, 54 Control unit when 3D modeling operation resumes

Claims (6)

Based on the image data about the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure, the powder material is hardened to the powder layer made of the powder material formed in the modeling tank to produce the three-dimensional structure. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus that
Determining means for determining whether or not the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped and whether or not the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been resumed;
A temporary stop uppermost layer storage means for storing the uppermost layer at the time of suspension when it is determined by the determination means that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped;
When it is determined by the determination means that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been resumed, the uppermost layer at the time of suspension is set to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension with respect to the uppermost layer at the time of suspension stored in the uppermost layer storage means at the time of suspension. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, comprising: a three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control unit that controls the ejection head so as to eject the binder based on image data of a corresponding cross-sectional shape. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1,
The three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control means controls the ejection head to eject a binder having a predetermined constant binder concentration. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1,
The three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control means is at least one of a pause duration, a temperature change, and a humidity change after the three-dimensional modeling operation is suspended until the three-dimensional modeling operation is resumed. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by controlling so that the said discharge head discharges the binder of the binder density | concentration set according to one. Based on the image data about the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure, the powder material is hardened to the powder layer made of the powder material formed in the modeling tank to produce the three-dimensional structure. In the three-dimensional modeling method to
A determination step of determining whether or not the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped and whether or not the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been resumed;
A temporary stop uppermost layer storage step for storing the uppermost layer at the time of suspension when it is determined that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been temporarily stopped by the determination step;
When it is determined that the operation of the three-dimensional modeling has been resumed by the determination step, the uppermost layer at the time of suspension is compared with the uppermost layer at the time of suspension, which is stored by the uppermost layer storage step at the time of suspension. A three-dimensional modeling method comprising: a three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control step for controlling the ejection head so as to eject the binder based on image data of a corresponding cross-sectional shape. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 4,
The three-dimensional modeling operation resuming control step controls the ejection head to eject a binder having a predetermined fixed binder concentration. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 4,
The three-dimensional modeling operation resumption control step includes at least one of a pause duration, a temperature change, and a humidity change from the pause of the three-dimensional modeling operation to the restart of the three-dimensional modeling operation. The three-dimensional modeling method characterized by controlling so that the said discharge head discharges the binder of the binder density | concentration set according to one.

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