JP2019123248A - Apparatus for building combined unit and supplying material for laminate shaping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an improved material supply system for downsizing a laminate shaping apparatus, and a laminate shaping apparatus having the same.SOLUTION: A system (12) for building a combined unit and supplying a material for a laminate shaping apparatus includes a building section (24) adapted to receive an object to be formed using laminate shaping, and a storage section (22) adapted to store a building material for forming the object. A volume of the building section and a volume of the storage section are variable in size, and the system is adapted to reallocate at least a portion of the volume previously allocated to the storage section to the building section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

BACKGROUND Additive Manufacturing (AM), and in particular 3D printing, relates to techniques for creating nearly any-shaped 3D objects from 3D models or other electronic data sources through a lamination process, where 3D objects are , Are generated layer by layer under computer control. A wide variety of additive manufacturing techniques have been developed and differ in build materials, deposition techniques, and physical processes in which 3D objects are formed from the build materials. Such techniques range from irradiating ultraviolet light to the photopolymer resin to melting powdered semi-crystalline thermoplastic materials to electron beam melting of metal powders.

  The additive manufacturing process usually starts with a three-dimensional computer model of the object to be manufactured. This digital representation of the object is sliced by computer software into layers on a computer. Each layer represents the cross-section of the desired object and is sent to an additive manufacturing machine, possibly also known as a 3D printer, in which case each layer is built on top of the previously built layer Be done. This process is continuously repeated until the object is complete, whereby the object is built layer by layer. Some of the available techniques deposit the material directly, while others use a topcoat process to form additional layers, which in turn add new cross-sections of the object. It can be selectively patterned to form.

  The build material from which the object is manufactured can vary depending on the manufacturing technology and can consist of powder material, paste material, slurry material, or fluid (liquid) material. The build material is usually provided in a source container from which the build material needs to be transferred to the build area or build section where the actual production takes place.

1 is a schematic illustration of an additive manufacturing apparatus including an integrated construction and material delivery system, according to an example. FIG. 7 illustrates an integrated construction and material delivery system at different stages in a manufacturing process, according to an example. FIG. 7 illustrates an integrated construction and material delivery system at different stages in a manufacturing process, according to an example. FIG. 7 illustrates an integrated construction and material delivery system at different stages in a manufacturing process, according to an example.

  The examples described herein provide an integrated construction and material delivery system for an additive manufacturing device. In one example, the system includes a construction section adapted to receive an object to be formed using additive manufacturing, and a storage section adapted to store construction material for forming the object. . The volume of the construction zone and the volume of the storage zone are variable in size (size), and the system reassigns at least a portion of the volume previously assigned to the storage zone to the construction zone It is adapted to do (and vice versa).

  The construction section in the sense of an example can mean any space or area in which the object is formed using additive manufacturing. The construction zone can be a closed space, but alternatively allows for the introduction of the construction material into the construction zone and / or the interaction of the construction material with a radiation source or heat source that can be utilized in the manufacturing process It may be at least partially open to the atmosphere at the top surface.

  Storage compartment can mean an open or closed space adapted to store at least one construction material utilized in forming the object.

  The volume of the construction zone can be understood to mean the volume of the compartment without any build material or extra material or manufactured objects.

  Similarly, the volume of the storage compartment can mean the volume of the storage compartment without any build material.

  The system may preferably be adapted to increase the volume of the construction zone as the object is formed.

  The system may preferably be adapted to reduce the volume of the storage compartment as the object is formed.

  According to one example, said construction zone adapted to receive said object to be formed and said storage compartment adapted to store said construction material for forming said object have the same physical space or Integrated into a volume so that the volume of the construction zone can be increased as the volume of the storage zone is reduced, and vice versa.

  In one example, the system includes a common compartment that includes the construction compartment and the storage compartment.

  The common compartment may be defined by a common housing that accommodates both the storage compartment and the construction compartment.

  The system may be adapted to reassign to the building section (and vice versa) the portion of the common section previously assigned to the storage section.

  In accordance with the example described herein, integrating the construction and storage compartments has the advantage of a short supply path. As the travel distance of the build material from the storage compartment to the build compartment is reduced, the possibility of degradation of the build material by contaminants is correspondingly reduced. Having the build material in the lowermost position is preferable in terms of mechanical stability (lower center of gravity) and facilitates the ability of the user to supply build material to the storage compartment. Thus, the convenience of the user is improved.

  At the same time, the improved integrated construction and material delivery system makes it possible to provide a more compact additive manufacturing device. The objects to be formed require more space as production proceeds, for which less and less space is required to store the construction material. Conversely, the volume of the construction zone may be reduced as the finished object is removed from the additive manufacturing device, but the volume of the storage compartment is as new construction material is added to form the subsequent object. It can be increased. Increasing the volume of the construction zone at the expense of the volume of the storage compartment (and vice versa) allows the volume to be flexibly assigned as the production proceeds, which in turn leads to Minimize the overall volume, thereby saving space.

  The object to be formed may be any 3D object suitable to be formed using additive manufacturing.

  The system may further include a moveable separation element separating the storage compartment from the construction compartment.

  The separation element may be arranged to be movable in the common compartment or housing.

  Providing a common compartment containing the construction compartment and the storage compartment and the movable separation element simply changes the position of the separation element of the common compartment according to the progress of manufacture, thereby making the volume of the construction compartment and the volume of the storage compartment Make it possible to change.

  The system can include a drive unit adapted to move the separation element.

  Many additive manufacturing machines come standard with a construction platform for supporting the object to be formed. In general, the build platform can be moved and connected to a drive mechanism that changes the position of the build platform as additional layers of build material are processed. Thus, the construction platform can conveniently function as a separating element for separating the building compartment from the storage compartment.

  Thus, in one example of the separation element, the separation element supports a layer of build material formed to support the object to be formed or under and / or around the object Includes a build platform for

  In one example, the construction zone can be located above the storage zone.

  For example, many powder-based additive manufacturing systems have building sections on the building platform that move downward as additional layers are added to the object to be formed. In these systems, the storage compartment can advantageously be located below the build platform, the volume of which can be reduced as the build platform moves downwards as the production progresses.

  Thus, providing a storage compartment under the construction compartment close to the ground surface also simplifies the replenishment of construction material. Also, due to the low center of gravity, the device is given more stability.

  However, in other examples, the construction zone can be located below the storage zone or can be located adjacent to the storage zone.

  The rate at which the volume of the build compartment increases can correspond to the rate at which the volume of the storage compartment decreases, and vice versa. The velocity in the sense of this example may be given by the volume change per unit time.

  The volume of the construction zone and / or the volume of the storage zone can be variable, but the individual maximum volumes can have a fixed size relationship.

  In one example, the maximum volume of the storage compartment is not less than 1.0 times the maximum volume of the construction compartment.

  In another example, the maximum volume of the storage compartment is not more than 1.6 times the maximum volume of the construction compartment.

  In one example, the maximum volume of the storage compartment is not less than 1.2 times the maximum volume of the construction compartment.

  In one example, the maximum volume of the storage compartment is not more than 1.5 times the maximum volume of the construction compartment.

  In one example, the integrated build and material supply system can further include a transfer unit adapted to transfer build material from the storage compartment to the build compartment.

  In one example, the transfer unit is adapted to transfer the build material through a transfer channel formed in a side wall of the common or storage or build section.

  In one example, the transfer unit can include a screw drive and / or a conveyor belt and / or a pump, depending on the nature and stiffness (viscosity, viscosity) of the build material.

  In one example, a transfer unit may be operatively coupled to the drive unit adapted to move the separation element.

  Coupling the transfer unit and the drive unit makes it possible to reduce the number of drive parts in the additive manufacturing apparatus, thus providing a simpler, more robust and smaller additive manufacturing apparatus.

  The transfer mechanism may further be adapted to transfer excess material from the construction zone to the storage zone.

  In a preferred example, the integrated construction and material delivery system is adapted to be removably attached to an additive manufacturing apparatus such as a 3D printing apparatus.

  According to this example, an integrated unit comprising a building platform and a building compartment, and a material supply system comprising a storage compartment may be inserted into the layered manufacturing apparatus with the storage compartment filled with building material prior to manufacture And can be provided as a separate unit that can be removed along with the finished 3D object after the manufacturing process is complete, the storage compartment may be empty or at least partially depending on the size of the object being built Become empty. This provides in particular a flexible method of providing the buildup device with a supply of build material.

  Also, the improvement relates to a 3D printing apparatus, including an additive manufacturing apparatus, in particular a system having some or all of the features described above.

  The improvement further relates to a method of supplying a build material for additive manufacturing, the method comprising: from a storage compartment for storing the component, using build additive to build an object from the component Transferring the build material towards the compartments. The method further comprises reassigning at least a portion of the volume previously assigned to the storage compartment to the construction compartment according to the transfer of the build material from the storage compartment towards the construction compartment.

  The storage compartment and / or the construction compartment may be a compartment having some or all of the features as described above. In particular, the storage compartments and / or the construction compartments can be compartments of the additive manufacturing device.

  Optionally, the method may further include the step of additionally forming (stacking) the object in the construction zone using the construction material.

  The build material may consist of powder material and / or paste material and / or slurry material and / or fluid material.

  In one example, the method further comprises moving a separation element separating the storage compartment from the construction compartment, whereby the volume of the construction compartment is increased at the expense of the volume of the storage compartment; Alternatively, the volume of the storage compartment is increased at the expense of the volume of the construction compartment.

  The step of moving the separation element may be coupled to operate in connection with the step of transferring the build material.

  The method may be implemented in an integrated build and material delivery system, or a build-up apparatus having some or all of the features described above.

  The improvement further relates to a computer program product comprising computer readable instructions, wherein the computer readable instructions when read out by a computer coupled to the system or to an additive manufacturing apparatus having some or all of the features mentioned above, Implementing a method comprising some or all of the features described above in said system or additive manufacturing apparatus, respectively.

  Examples are described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2a-2c. This example relates to a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) system, which sinters powder materials such as plastic powder, metal powder, ceramic powder or glass powder into a mass having the desired three-dimensional shape Manufacturing technology that uses a laser as a power source. However, the improvement is not so limited, and is generally suitable for any additive manufacturing technology, regardless of whether the build material is a powder, paste, slurry, or fluid, and regardless of the energy source .

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an additive selective laser sintering (SLS) additive manufacturing apparatus 10. Apparatus 10 includes an integrated construction and material delivery system 12 in accordance with an example of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the integrated construction and material delivery system 12 has the shape of a bucket (bucket) surrounded by a sidewall 14 and a bottom wall 16. The top surface is open, which is where the build material is attached (applied) to an object (not shown) formed on the build platform 20. Sidewall 14 and bottom wall 16 define a common compartment 18, the volume of which by storage platform 22 below build platform 20 and build platform 24 up to the height of sidewall 14 above build platform 20 by build platform 20 It is divided. In FIG. 1, the upper boundary of the construction zone 24 is indicated by a dashed line.

The build platform 20 is movably mounted within the build bucket 12 and is connected via a piston 26 to a drive unit 28 adapted to move the build platform 20 upward and downward in the common section 18. When the platform 20 is moved upward and downward in common compartment 18, the volume V _s and the volume V _b of the construction section 24 of the storage compartment 22 is changed accordingly. However, their sum remains constant, equal to the volume V _c of the common compartment 18, V _s + V _b = V _c = constant.

  The storage compartments 22 serve to store construction materials (not shown in FIG. 1) for the additive manufacturing process, such as plastic powders, metal powders, ceramic powders or glass powders. The build material is transferred from the storage compartment 22 to the build compartment 24 using a transfer unit 30 such as a screw drive incorporated into the side wall 14. The transfer unit 30 transfers the build material to the roller unit 32, which serves to form a layer of build material across the build platform 20 (or onto a previously formed layer of build material). A heating unit 34 may be included to preheat the powder deposited in the build section 24.

  In this example, sintering is accomplished using an optical system that includes a laser 36, such as an ultraviolet laser or a carbon dioxide gas laser, an optical lens 38 and an xy scanning mirror 40. The xy scanning mirror 40 directs the laser beam 42 emitted from the laser 36 and focused by the lens 38 onto a selected portion of the powder material on the surface of the powder layer deposited in the build section 24. . The energy input from the laser beam 42 dissolves the powder material so that the materials bond together to form a solid structure. After each cross section has been scanned, the build platform 20 is lowered by one layer thickness and a new layer of material is formed on the surface using the roller unit 32 and the process completes the object It repeats until it does.

  The central control unit 44 comprises a drive unit 28 for moving the piston 26 and the build platform 20, a transfer unit 30 for transferring build material from the storage compartment 22 to the build compartment 24, the build material on the surface of the object to be manufactured. The roller unit 32 for deposition (application), the heating unit 34, the laser 36 and the x-y scanning mirror 40 for directing the laser 42 to selected parts of the build platform 20 are controlled.

  Figures 2a-2c show in more detail the integrated build and material delivery system 12 at different stages in the manufacturing process.

FIG. 2a shows the integrated build and material delivery system 12 in its first phase, with the build platform 20 in its uppermost position. Therefore, while the volume V _s of the storage compartment 22 is maximum, the volume V _b of the construction compartment 24 is zero.

  As production begins, build material is transferred from the bottom of storage compartment 22 to roller unit 32 using transfer unit 30. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 a-2 c, the transfer mechanism 30 comprises a pair of screw drives 30 a, 30 b provided on the side wall 14 of the bucket 12. As the screw drives 30a, 30b rotate, the powder material travels up through the side wall 14 until it reaches the top of the side wall 14, from which it is spread over the build platform 20 using the roller unit 32.

  However, screw drives 30a, 30b are just an example of a transfer mechanism, and other mechanisms such as conveyor belts, drag mechanisms, pneumatic transport systems (such as high density low speed transport or low density high speed transport) may also be used.

  Drive mechanism 46 of transfer unit 30 may be operatively coupled or mechanically coupled to drive mechanism 48 of drive unit 28 as drive mechanism 48 lowers piston 26 and build platform 20. This may allow the build material to be supplied automatically and simultaneously upward through the sidewall 14 using the drive unit 28. However, this does not necessarily occur in one continuous operation. For example, build platform 20 can be lowered and then build material can be transported out of storage compartment 22 and, somewhat later, build platform 20 can be lowered again.

  Fluid build material may be transported using a rotary vane pump. Alternatively or additionally, fluid may be transferred through the channels in sidewall 14 simply by using the dynamic pressure exerted by build platform 20 as build platform 20 moves downward in common compartment 18. In this case, a separate drive for transfer unit 30 may not be required.

  FIG. 2 b shows an integrated construction and material delivery system in which the construction platform 20 is in the middle stage partially lowered into the common compartment 18 as the manufacture of the object 50 to be formed on the construction platform 20 proceeds. 12 is shown.

  In general, the object 50 is surrounded by unsolidified build material on the platform 20, but this is not shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c for the sake of clarity.

In the configuration of FIG. 2b, the volume V _s of the storage compartment, while decreasing to the same extent as building platform 20 is moved downward in the bucket 12 within the volume V _b of the construction section 24 has increased by the same amount.

Figure 2c shows the integrated construction and material delivery system 12 in the final stage of completion of the object 50. Compared to the configuration of FIG. 2b, the build platform 20 is even further lowered into the common compartment 18. Thus, the volume V _s of the storage compartment 22 is further reduced according to the amount of build material transferred to the construction compartment 24 using the transfer unit 30. The volume of construction partition 24 is increased by the same amount as the volume V _s has decreased the storage compartment 22.

  At the end of construction, the remaining powder of compartment 22 may be reused for future construction. The extra powder in compartment 22 is desirable to ensure that the construction is always successfully completed and that the lack of powder in the final layer can be avoided.

  Now, the object 50 to be formed can be removed from the excess powder material deposited in the construction zone 24. The platform 20 can then be raised to the initial position shown in FIG. 2a and a new object can be formed.

As can be taken from the description of FIGS. 1 and 2a-2c, the integrated construction and material delivery system 12 comprises a storage compartment 22 for storing construction material, and the same physical space (i.e. common compartment 18). Integrated the construction section 24 for manufacturing the object 50). The construction platform 20 separates the storage compartment 22 below it from the construction compartment 24 above it. Thus, both the volume V _s of the storage compartment 22 and the volume V _b of the construction compartment 24 are variable and vary according to the position of the construction platform 20 within the common compartment 18. As construction platform 20 is lowered in the common compartment 18, the volume V _s of the storage compartment 22, the volume V _b of construction partition 24 can be reduced by the same amount as the increase. The sum of the volume V _s of the storage compartment 22 and the volume V _b of the construction compartment 24 remains constant and equal to the volume V _c of the common compartment 18, ie the volume of the construction bucket 12, ie V _s + V _b = V _c = Constant. Thus, the different stages of the build process (corresponding to different positions of build platform 20 in bucket 12) are merely different in allocated as the common section 18 is divided into storage section 22 and build section 24. is there.

  Integrating the storage compartment 22 and the construction compartment 24 into the same physical space has several advantages. That is, it is as follows.

  The extra space of independent supply containers is not wasted. Therefore, the layered manufacturing apparatus 10 becomes smaller and smaller.

  At the same time, the supply channel for transferring the build material from the storage compartment 22 to the build compartment 24 is close to the build compartment 24, which reduces the travel distance of the build material and thus to degradation of the build material due to contamination. Exposure is reduced.

  Also, the integration according to the invention simplifies the storage of the material and improves the cleanliness of the printing.

  The integrated construction and material delivery system 12 can be a stationary component of the additive manufacturing device 10, but can also be designed as a removable element. In the latter case, it may also be provided as a separate consumable that can be replaced by the user when the powder deposit is emptied. The removable element can be brought in a full load of build material, and with the integrated build platform 20 can be engaged with the laminate molding apparatus 10 when inserted, the material supply The movement of the piston 26 is controlled by the printer.

  The description and drawings of the preferred embodiments serve merely to illustrate the invention and the many advantages it brings, but it should not be understood to mean any limitation. The scope of the invention should be determined from the appended claims.

In the following, exemplary embodiments will be shown consisting of combinations of various components of the present invention.
1. An integrated construction and material delivery system (12) for an additive manufacturing device (10), comprising
A construction section (24) adapted to receive an object (50) to be formed using additive manufacturing;
A storage compartment (22) adapted to store construction material for forming said object;
The volume of the construction zone (24) and the volume of the storage zone (22) are variable in size,
The system (12) is adapted to reallocate at least a portion of the volume previously allocated to the storage compartment (22) to the construction compartment (24) or vice versa , Integrated construction and material supply system (12).
2. The system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the system (12) comprises a movable separation element (20) separating the storage compartment (22) from the construction compartment (24).
3. The system (12) according to claim 2, further comprising a drive unit (28) adapted to move the separation element (20).
4. System (12) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the separating element constitutes a construction platform (20) for supporting the object (50) to be formed.
5. A system (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction zone (24) is located above the storage zone (22).
6. 5. Any one of the above 1 to 5, wherein the rate at which the volume of the construction zone (24) increases is consistent with the rate at which the volume of the storage zone (22) decreases, and vice versa. System described (12).
7. The maximum volume of the storage compartment (22) is not less than 1.0 times the maximum volume of the construction compartment (24) and / or not more than 1.6 times the maximum volume of the construction compartment (24); A system (12) according to any one of the above 1 to 6.
8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a transfer unit (30) adapted to transfer the build material from the storage compartment (22) towards the build compartment (24) ( 12).
9. The system (12) according to claim 8, wherein the transfer unit (30) comprises a screw drive (30a, 30b) and / or a conveyor belt and / or a pump.
10. The system according to clause 8 or 9, further comprising a drive unit (28) as described in 3 above, wherein the drive unit (28) is operatively coupled to the transfer unit (30) 12).
11. 11. The system (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (12) is adapted to be removably attached to the additive manufacturing device, in particular a 3D printing device (10).
12. A layered manufacturing device, in particular a 3D printing device (10), comprising a system (12) according to any one of the above 1-11.
13. A method of providing a build material for additive manufacturing, comprising:
Transferring the build material from a storage compartment (22) for storing the build material to a build compartment (24) for forming an object (50) from the build material using additive manufacturing;
Reassigning at least a portion of the volume previously assigned to the storage compartment (22) to the construction compartment (24) according to the transfer of the build material from the storage compartment (22) to the construction compartment (24) How to do that.
14. Moving the separation element (20) separating the storage compartment (22) from the construction compartment (24), whereby the portion of the volume previously assigned to the storage compartment (22) is transferred to the construction compartment (24) The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of reassigning to.
15. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions, wherein the computer readable instructions are in a system (12) according to any of the claims 1-11 or in a layered manufacturing device (10) according to the claims 12. A computer program product for implementing the method according to claim 13 or 14 in said system (12) or in said additive manufacturing device (10), respectively, when read by a coupled computer.

10 Layered shaping apparatus 12 Integral build and material delivery system / build bucket 14 Integral build and material supply system 12 side wall 16 Bottom build in one piece build and material supply system 12 common section 20 common platform 20 build platform 22 storage section 24 construction section 26 piston 28 of construction platform 20 drive unit 30 transport unit 30a, 30b screw drive unit of transport unit 30 roller unit 34 heating unit 36 laser 38 optical lens 40 x-y scanning mirror 42 laser beam 44 central control unit 46 Drive mechanism 48 of the transfer unit 30 Drive mechanism 50 of the drive unit 28 Object to be formed

Claims (15)

An integrated construction and material delivery system for an additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising
With the common section,
A movable that separates the common compartment into a construction compartment adapted to receive an object to be formed using additive manufacturing and a storage compartment adapted to store construction material for forming the object With separate elements,
A transfer unit adapted to transfer the build material from the storage compartment to the build compartment via a transfer channel formed in a sidewall of the common compartment,
The volume of the construction zone and the volume of the storage zone are variable in size,
An integrated construction and material supply system, wherein the system reassigns at least a portion of the volume previously allocated to the storage compartment to the construction compartment, or vice versa. .   The system according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit adapted to move the moveable separation element.   The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separating element constitutes a construction platform for supporting the object to be formed.   The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the construction zone is located above the storage zone.   5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage compartment is located below the movable separation element and the construction compartment is located above the movable separation element.   The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer unit comprises a screw drive and / or a conveyor belt and / or a pump.   7. The system of claim 6, wherein the screw drive is provided on the side wall.   A device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, which is directly or indirectly subordinate to claim 2 and claim 2, wherein said drive unit is operatively coupled to said transfer unit. System.   The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is adapted to be removably attached to the additive manufacturing device.   The system according to claim 9, wherein the additive manufacturing apparatus is a 3D printing apparatus.   An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising the system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. A method of providing a build material for additive manufacturing, comprising:
From a storage compartment housed in a common housing, via a transfer channel formed in the side wall of the common housing, towards the building compartment housed in the common housing and separated from the storage compartment by a movable separating element Transferring, the storage compartment being for storing the construction material, the construction compartment being for forming an object (50) from the construction material using additive manufacturing,
Reassigning at least a portion of the volume previously assigned to the storage compartment to the construction compartment according to the transfer of the build material from the storage compartment to the construction compartment.   13. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the movable separation element, thereby reassigning the portion of the volume previously assigned to the storage compartment to the construction compartment.   Transferring the build material comprises transferring the build material stored in the storage compartment located below the movable separation element towards the build compartment located above the movable separation element The method according to claim 12 or 13.   The method according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein moving the moveable separation element is operatively coupled in connection with transferring the build material.

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