JP2020001363A - Three-dimensional fabrication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus capable of hardening a three-dimensional object in a short time.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus 10 according to the present invention is provided with: a fabrication vessel 50; a material feed device for feeding a powder material P into the fabrication vessel 50; a discharge head 62 for discharging a hardening liquid to be hardened with a hardening gas to the powder material P in the fabrication vessel 50; a delivering device 80 for delivering the hardening gas into the fabrication vessel 50; and a discharge passage E1 for discharging the hardening gas. The fabrication vessel 50 is provided with a gas passing part 52a through which the powder material P cannot pass and the hardening gas can pass. The discharge passage E1 communicates with the inside of the fabrication vessel 50 via the gass passing part 52a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus.

  BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a powder laminating method of forming a desired three-dimensional structure by discharging a binder to a powder material and curing the powder material has been known.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a modeling unit in which powder is stored, a powder supply unit in which powder to be supplied to the modeling unit is stored, and an inkjet head disposed above the modeling unit. Have. The inkjet head discharges the aqueous ink to the powder stored in the modeling unit. That is, the inkjet head discharges the water-based ink to a portion corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure from the powder stored in the forming unit. The portion of the powder contained in the modeling portion from which the aqueous ink has been ejected is cured, and a cured layer corresponding to the cross-sectional shape is formed. Then, a desired three-dimensional structure is formed by sequentially laminating the cured layers.

Japanese Patent No. 5400042

  In many cases, a three-dimensional printing apparatus uses a curing liquid that is cured by drying. However, when a curing liquid that cures by drying is used, it is necessary to wait for the curing liquid to dry to some extent before removing the three-dimensional object from the powder material in the molding tank after the completion of modeling. And this may cause a decrease in productivity.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional printing apparatus capable of hardening a three-dimensional printing object in a short time.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus disclosed herein includes a modeling tank, a material supply device that supplies a powder material into the modeling tank, and a curing liquid that is cured by a curing gas to the powder material in the modeling tank. A discharge head that discharges the hardening gas into the modeling tank, and a discharge path that discharges the hardening gas. The shaping tank includes a ventilation portion through which the powder material cannot pass and through which the curing gas can pass. The discharge path communicates with the inside of the modeling tank via the ventilation section.

  According to the three-dimensional modeling device, the curing gas delivered from the delivery device flows to the discharge path through the ventilation part of the modeling tank. The three-dimensional object in the modeling tank can be cured in a short time by the curing gas flowing in the modeling tank.

It is sectional drawing which showed the three-dimensional printing apparatus typically. It is the top view which showed the three-dimensional printing apparatus typically. It is a schematic diagram which shows the three-dimensional modeling apparatus in the state which attached the sending-out apparatus and the discharge device.

  Hereinafter, a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described here are not intended to limit the present invention. Also, members / parts having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10. FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. The symbol F in the drawing indicates the front, and the symbol Rr indicates the rear. Here, the left, right, top, and bottom when viewing the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 from the direction of the symbol F are the left, right, top, and bottom of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10, respectively. Symbols L, R, U, and D in the drawings mean left, right, upper, and lower, respectively. Symbols X, Y, and Z indicate a front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and a vertical direction, respectively. The left-right direction Y is the main scanning direction of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10. The front-rear direction X is a sub-scanning direction of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10. The vertical direction Z is a stacking direction in three-dimensional printing. However, these directions are only directions determined for convenience of description, and do not limit the installation mode of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 at all.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 includes a main body 11, a filling roller 30, a printing tank unit 40, a head unit 60, a sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20, and a main scanning direction moving mechanism 70. , A control device 100. The modeling tank unit 40 includes a supply tank 41, a surplus powder storage tank 44, and a modeling tank 50.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 with the sending device 80 and the discharging device 90 attached. The delivery device 80 is a part of the three-dimensional modeling device 10, but is configured to be detachable from the modeling tank 50. The discharge device 90 is also a part of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10, but is configured to be detachable from the main body 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 11 is an exterior body of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 having a long shape in the sub scanning direction X. The main body 11 is formed in a box shape that opens upward. The main body 11 accommodates the sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20, the modeling tank unit 40, and the control device 100. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the main body 11 is also a support table that supports the filling roller 30 and the main scanning direction moving mechanism 70.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the modeling tank unit 40 is housed in the main body 11. The upper surface 40a of the modeling tank unit 40 is flat, and the modeling tank 50, the supply tank 41, and the surplus powder storage tank 44 are provided independently side by side so as to be depressed from the upper surface 40a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the modeling tank 50 is provided in the modeling tank unit 40. The shaping tank 50 is a tank in which the three-dimensional structure 200 is formed. The modeling tank 50 has an opening 50a. The powder material P is supplied into the modeling tank 50 from the opening 50a. Further, the completed three-dimensional structure 200 is taken out from the opening 50a. The modeling tank 50 includes a cylindrical portion 51, a modeling table 52, and a table elevating mechanism 53.

  The tubular portion 51 is a tubular member extending in the up-down direction. The opening 50 a of the modeling tank 50 is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 51. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 50a has a rectangular shape in plan view. However, the opening 50a does not necessarily need to be rectangular in plan view.

  The modeling table 52 is inserted into the tubular portion 51. As shown in FIG. 2, the molding table 52 has the same shape as the opening 50a in plan view. The modeling table 52 is a member on which the powder material P is supplied and the modeling is performed. As shown in FIG. 1, the modeling table 52 has a flat plate shape. The modeling table 52 is inserted into the tubular portion 51 substantially horizontally. The modeling table 52 is slidable in the vertical direction inside the cylindrical portion 51.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the modeling table 52 is provided with a ventilation part 52a. The ventilation part 52a is configured such that the powder material P cannot pass therethrough and a later-described hardening gas can pass therethrough. The ventilation part 52a is made of a material that does not allow passage of powder and allows passage of gas. Various known materials can be used for the ventilation part 52a. The ventilation part 52a is made of, for example, a porous material. Porous materials have fine pores through which powder cannot pass but gas can pass through. Since the powder material P does not pass through the ventilation part 52a, it is also placed on the ventilation part 52a.

  The table elevating mechanism 53 supports the modeling table 52 from below. The table elevating mechanism 53 moves the modeling table 52 up and down. The configuration of the table elevating mechanism 53 is not particularly limited. The modeling table 52 moves up and down by driving a servomotor of a table elevating mechanism 53. The table lifting / lowering mechanism 53 is electrically connected to the control device 100, and is controlled by the control device 100.

  The table elevating mechanism 53 is provided in a lower space 50 b of the modeling table 52. The lower space 50b is a space in which the table elevating mechanism 53 is arranged, and also a space into which the hardening gas that has passed through the ventilation part 52a flows. The lower space 50b forms a part of a discharge path E1 (see FIG. 3) described later.

  The periphery of the opening 50a of the modeling tank 50 is an attachment mounting portion 54. The attachment attachment portion 54 is a portion to which an attachment 83 (described later) of the sending device 80 is attached. Here, the attachment mounting portion 54 is not a specially formed one but a flat place where the attachment 83 is placed. However, the configuration of the attachment attachment portion is not particularly limited, and for example, may include a groove into which the attachment 83 fits.

  In the supply tank 41, the powder material P before being supplied to the modeling tank 50 is stored. As shown in FIG. 2, the shape of the supply tank 41 is rectangular in plan view. However, the planar shape of the supply tank 41 is not limited to a rectangle. Inside the supply tank 41, a bottom member 42 having the same shape as the supply tank 41 in a plan view is housed. The supply tank 41 is arranged behind the modeling tank 50. The supply tank 41 is arranged at a position aligned with the modeling tank 50 in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2, in plan view, the length of the modeling tank 50 in the main scanning direction Y is the same as the length of the supply tank 41 in the main scanning direction Y. However, the length of the supply tank 41 in the main scanning direction Y may be longer than the length of the modeling tank 50 in the main scanning direction Y.

  The bottom member 42 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Z inside the supply tank 41. A supply tank elevating mechanism 43 is connected to a lower portion of the bottom member 42. The supply tank raising / lowering mechanism 43 is a mechanism for moving the bottom member 42 in the vertical direction Z. The configuration of the supply tank elevating mechanism 43 is not particularly limited, but includes, for example, a servomotor and a ball screw as in the case of the table elevating mechanism 53. The bottom member 42 moves in the up-down direction Z when the servo motor of the supply tank elevating mechanism 43 is driven. The supply tank lifting / lowering mechanism 43 is electrically connected to the control device 100 and is controlled by the control device 100.

  The surplus powder storage tank 44 is a tank for collecting the powder material P that could not be accommodated in the modeling tank 50 when the powder material P was spread by the filling roller 30 in the modeling tank 50. The surplus powder storage tank 44 is disposed in front of the modeling tank 50. The surplus powder storage tank 44 is arranged at a position aligned with the modeling tank 50 in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2, in plan view, the length of the modeling tank 50 in the main scanning direction Y is the same as the length of the surplus powder storage tank 44 in the main scanning direction. However, the length of the surplus powder storage tank 44 in the main scanning direction Y may be longer than the length of the modeling tank 50 in the main scanning direction Y.

  The powder material P is, for example, silica sand (powder mainly composed of quartz grains). Silica sand is a material used for a casting mold, for example. However, the composition and form of the powder material P are not particularly limited, and powder composed of various materials such as a resin material, a metal material, and an inorganic material can be used. The powder material P is, for example, a ceramic material such as alumina, titania, zirconia, iron, aluminum, titanium and alloys thereof (typically, stainless steel, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy), hemihydrate gypsum (α-type plaster of Paris). , Β-type calcined gypsum), apatite, salt, plastic and the like. These may be composed of any one type of material, or may be a combination of two or more types.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20 is a mechanism that moves the modeling tank unit 40 in the sub-scanning direction X with respect to the head unit 60 and the filling roller 30. In the present embodiment, the sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20 includes a pair of guide rails 21 and a feed motor 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the guide rail 21 guides the movement of the modeling tank unit 40 in the sub-scanning direction X. The guide rail 21 is provided in the main body 11. The guide rail 21 extends in the sub-scanning direction X. The modeling tank unit 40 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 21. However, the installation position and number of the guide rails 21 are not particularly limited. The feed motor 22 is connected to the modeling tank unit 40 via, for example, a ball screw. The feed motor 22 is electrically connected to the control device 100. When the feed motor 22 is rotationally driven, the modeling tank unit 40 is moved on the guide rail 21 in the sub-scanning direction X.

  The filling roller 30 is a member that spreads the powder material P stored in the supply tank 41 into the modeling tank 50. The filling roller 30 flattens the surface of the powder material P to form a powder layer. The filling roller 30 is disposed above the main body 11. The filling roller 30 is disposed forward of the head unit 60. The filling roller 30 has a long cylindrical shape. The filling roller 30 is arranged such that the cylindrical axis is along the main scanning direction Y. The filling roller 30 has a length in the main scanning direction Y longer than the modeling tank 50. The lower end of the filling roller 30 is installed slightly above the modeling tank unit 40 so that a predetermined clearance (gap) is formed between the lower end of the filling roller 30 and the upper surface 40a of the modeling tank unit 40. The filling roller 30 is rotatably supported by a pair of support members 31 provided on the upper surface 11 a of the main body 11. The filling roller 30 may be configured to be rotated by, for example, a connected motor or the like. The filling roller 30, the sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20, and the members related to the supply tank 41 (the supply tank 41, the bottom member 42, and the supply tank elevating mechanism 43) supply the powder material P to the modeling tank 50. This constitutes a material supply device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the head unit 60 includes a carriage 61 and a plurality of ejection heads 62 mounted on the carriage 61. The plurality of ejection heads 62 are arranged on the lower surface of the carriage 61. The discharge head 62 discharges a curing liquid to the powder material P in the modeling tank 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of ejection heads 62 are arranged in the main scanning direction Y. The ejection head 62 has a plurality of nozzles 63 for ejecting the curing liquid. The plurality of nozzles 63 are linearly arranged in the sub-scanning direction X. The mechanism for discharging the curing liquid in the discharge head 62 is not particularly limited, and for example, an inkjet method or the like can be suitably used. The ejection head 62 is electrically connected to the control device 100. The discharge of the curing liquid from the nozzles 63 of the discharge head 62 is controlled by the control device 100.

  In the present embodiment, the curing liquid contains sodium silicate (sodium silicate). Here, the curing liquid is a liquid mainly composed of an aqueous solution of sodium silicate (water glass). A surfactant or the like for adjusting the surface tension so that the liquid can be discharged from the discharge head 62 may be added to the curing liquid. The curing liquid is cured by a curing gas described below.

  The main scanning direction moving mechanism 70 is a mechanism for moving the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2, the main scanning direction moving mechanism 70 includes a guide rail 71. The guide rail 71 extends in the main scanning direction Y. A carriage 61 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 71. A carriage motor 72 is connected to the carriage 61 via, for example, an endless belt and a pulley. When the carriage motor 72 is driven, the carriage 61 moves in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 71. The carriage motor 72 is electrically connected to the control device 100. The carriage motor 72 is controlled by the control device 100. When the carriage 61 moves in the main scanning direction Y, the plurality of ejection heads 62 also move in the main scanning direction Y.

  The delivery device 80 delivers the curing gas into the modeling tank 50. The curing gas is a gas that cures the curing liquid. As shown in FIG. 3, the delivery device 80 includes a gas cylinder 81, a delivery pipe 82, and an attachment 83.

  The gas cylinder 81 stores a curing gas. Various known gas containers can be used for the gas cylinder 81. One end of a delivery pipe 82 is connected to the gas cylinder 81. The delivery pipe 82 is, for example, a hose for flowing a curing gas. An attachment 83 is connected to the other end of the delivery pipe 82. The hardening gas is sent from the gas cylinder 81 to the attachment 83 through the delivery pipe 82.

  The curing gas here is a carbon dioxide gas. In the present embodiment, the curing liquid is a liquid mainly composed of sodium silicate, and is cured by contact with carbon dioxide.

  The attachment 83 connects the delivery device 80 and the modeling tank 50. The attachment 83 is configured to be detachable from the modeling tank 50. The attachment 83 has a lid-like shape with one end opened. As shown in FIG. 3, when the attachment 83 is mounted on the modeling tank 50, the attachment 83 includes a top plate 83 a and side plates 83 b extending downward from the top plate 83 a. The surface facing the top plate 83a is open. The attachment 83 is attached to the modeling tank 50 so as to cover the opening 50a of the modeling tank 50. The attachment 83 has a shape corresponding to the attachment mounting portion 54 (see FIG. 2) of the modeling tank 50 in a plan view. For example, air-tight rubber or the like may be attached to the lower end of the side plate 83b. The top plate 83a is connected to the end of the delivery pipe 82 opposite to the end connected to the gas cylinder 81.

  The attachment 83 is mounted on the modeling tank 50 by being placed on the attachment mounting portion 54 of the modeling tank 50. The attachment 83 causes the lower end of the side plate 83b to be in close contact with the attachment mounting portion 54 by its own weight. With the attachment 83 attached to the modeling tank 50, the internal space of the attachment 83 constitutes a closed space 83c that is substantially isolated from the outside. However, there is no need to strictly shut off the closed space 83c from the outside. Further, the configuration of the attachment 83 is merely an example, and the attachment 83 may have another shape and may be attached to the modeling tank 50 by another method.

  The delivery device 80 further includes a pressure reducing valve 84, a delivery-side flow meter 85, and a delivery-side valve 86. As shown in FIG. 3, a pressure reducing valve 84 is provided at a connection between the gas cylinder 81 and the delivery pipe 82. In the middle of the delivery pipe 82, a delivery-side flow meter 85 and a delivery-side valve 86 are provided.

  The pressure reducing valve 84 reduces the pressure of the curing gas in the gas cylinder 81 to a desired pressure. The pressure reducing valve 84 is configured such that the pressure on the discharge side can be adjusted by a user's operation, for example.

  The delivery-side flow meter 85 measures the delivery amount of the curing gas. The delivery-side flow meter 85 includes an indicator for visually checking the delivery amount of the curing gas when the user adjusts the delivery amount of the curing gas with the delivery-side valve 86. The configuration of the delivery-side flow meter 85 is not particularly limited. For example, the delivery-side flow meter 85 may include a mechanism that outputs the measured flow rate of the curing gas as an electric signal. The output may be captured by the control device 100 or the like and used for control or monitoring.

  The delivery side valve 86 is configured so that the delivery amount of the curing gas can be adjusted. The user adjusts the delivery amount of the curing gas while watching the indicator of the delivery-side flow meter 85. The configuration of the delivery valve 86 is not particularly limited. As the delivery side valve 86, various known flow rate adjustment valves can be used.

  The discharge device 90 is configured to be detachable from the main body 11. However, the discharging device 90 may be irremovably connected to the main body 11. The discharging device 90 is a device that discharges the curing gas that has been sent from the sending device 80 to the modeling tank 50. The discharge device 90 includes a discharge pipe 91 and a suction pump 92.

  The discharge pipe 91 is, for example, a hose through which gas flows. One end of the discharge pipe 91 is connected to the main body 11. A connection portion 11b between the discharge pipe 91 and the main body 11 communicates with a lower space 50b of the modeling tank 50. The connection portion 11b and the lower space 50b communicate with each other via an opening 50b1 provided in the lower space 50b when, for example, the modeling tank unit 40 is located at the forefront. However, the method of communication between the connecting portion 11b and the lower space 50b is not particularly limited. The path from the lower space 50b of the modeling tank 50 to the discharge pipe 91 via the connection portion 11b and the discharge pipe 91 constitute a discharge path E1 for discharging the curing gas. The discharge path E1 communicates with the inside of the modeling tank 50 via the ventilation part 52a of the modeling tank 50.

  The suction pump 92 is connected to the discharge pipe 91. The suction pump 92 is a device that sucks the curing gas. The suction pump 92 is, for example, a vacuum pump. When the curing gas is delivered from the delivery device 80 and the suction pump 92 sucks the curing gas, a flow of the curing gas passing through the modeling tank 50 is generated.

  The discharge device 90 further includes a discharge-side flow meter 93 and a discharge-side valve 94. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge-side flow meter 93 and the discharge-side valve 94 are provided in the discharge pipe 91.

  The discharge-side flow meter 93 measures the discharge amount of the curing gas. The discharge-side flow meter 93 is provided with an indicator for visually checking the discharge amount of the curing gas when the user adjusts the discharge amount of the curing gas with the discharge-side valve 94. Like the delivery-side flow meter 85, the configuration of the discharge-side flow meter 93 is not particularly limited.

  The discharge side valve 94 is configured so that the discharge amount of the curing gas can be adjusted. The user adjusts the discharge amount of the curing gas while watching the indicator of the discharge-side flow meter 93.

  In the present embodiment, the flow meter is provided to both the delivery device 80 and the delivery device 90 on the assumption that the delivery amount and the delivery amount of the hardening gas do not always match due to the outflow from the gap of the attachment 83 or the lower space 50b. And a flow control valve. However, when it is considered that the delivery amount and the discharge amount of the hardening gas are almost the same, a flow meter and a flow control valve may be provided only on one of the delivery side and the discharge side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 110 is provided on a front surface of the main body 11. The operation panel 110 is provided with a display unit for displaying a device status, input keys operated by a user, and the like. The operation panel 110 is connected to the control device 100 that controls various operations of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10. The control device 100 is electrically connected to the feed motor 22, the table elevating mechanism 53, the supply tank elevating mechanism 43, the ejection head 62, and the carriage motor 72, and controls them. In the present embodiment, the control device 100 is not connected to the sending device 80 and the discharging device 90, but may be connected to the sending device 80 and the discharging device 90 to control their operations.

  The configuration of control device 100 is not particularly limited. The control device 100 is, for example, a microcomputer. Although the hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited, for example, an interface (I / F) for receiving modeling data and the like from an external device such as a host computer, and a central processing unit (CPU: central processing unit) for executing instructions of a control program processing unit), a ROM (read only memory) storing a program to be executed by the CPU, a random access memory (RAM) used as a working area for expanding the program, and a memory storing the program and various data. And a storage device. Note that the control device 100 does not necessarily need to be provided inside the three-dimensional printing device 10. For example, the control device 100 is installed outside the three-dimensional printing device 10 and can communicate with the three-dimensional printing device 10 via a wire or wirelessly. May be a computer connected to the server.

  In the following, after briefly describing the forming process of the three-dimensional structure 200, the curing process of the three-dimensional structure 200 will be described. However, each process described below is only one preferable example, and each process is not limited thereto.

  In the forming process of the three-dimensional structure 200, the supply of the powder material P into the forming tank 50, the formation of the uncured layer 210 by discharging the discharge liquid, and the lowering of the forming table 52 are repeated. The uncured layer 210 is a layer that has been bonded by the adhesive force or surface tension of the cured liquid, but has not yet been cured by the cured liquid. The three-dimensional structure 200 is formed by stacking a large number of uncured layers 210 in the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of uncured layers 210 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure 200 at its height.

  In the forming process of the three-dimensional structure 200, when the formation of one uncured layer 210 is completed, the control device 100 controls the table elevating mechanism 53 to lower the forming table 52 by the thickness of the next uncured layer 210. . The distance by which the modeling table 52 is lowered is, for example, about 0.1 mm. At the same time, the control device 100 controls the supply tank elevating mechanism 43 to raise the bottom member 42 inserted into the supply tank 41. The powder material P overflows on the supply tank 41 due to the elevation of the bottom member 42. The overflowing powder material P is pushed toward the modeling tank 50 by the filling roller 30, and a part of the powder material P is spread on the modeling table 52. At this time, the modeling tank unit 40 is moved backward by the sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20. Therefore, the filling roller 30 is moved forward relative to the modeling tank unit 40. The remaining powder material P that has not been spread is stored in the surplus powder storage tank 44. Thus, a new powder layer is formed on the uncured layer 210. Thereafter, the control device 100 controls the feed motor 22, the discharge head 62, and the carriage motor 72 to discharge the curing liquid to a predetermined location on the modeling tank 50, and forms a new uncured layer 210.

  By repeating the above process, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 completes the formation of the three-dimensional printing object 200. At this time, the curing liquid has not been cured yet. Therefore, the three-dimensional structure 200 is in a state where the shape is maintained by the adhesive force or the surface tension of the curing liquid while being supported by the surrounding powder material P.

  In a conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus, a curing liquid that is cured by drying is used. The curing liquid contained, for example, water, wax, binder and the like. Alternatively, when the powder material has a water-soluble resin as an auxiliary material, a liquid capable of dissolving the water-soluble resin, for example, water could be used as the curing liquid. As the water-soluble resin, for example, starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), a water-soluble acrylic resin, a water-soluble urethane resin, a water-soluble polyamide and the like are known. However, when a curing liquid that cures by drying as described above is used, the three-dimensional model 200 is dug out of the powder material P in the modeling tank 50 after the modeling is completed (hereinafter, also referred to as depowder). It was necessary to wait for the curing liquid to dry to some extent. In addition, even when the three-dimensional structure 200 is not completely cured even if it is cured to the extent that it can be depowded, it has been necessary to carefully depowder so as not to damage the three-dimensional structure 200.

  In addition, when a hardening agent is mixed into the powder material, it takes time to mix the hardening agent into the powder material, and in many cases, the powder material needs to be re-stirred at each molding.

  In view of such a point, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to cure the curing liquid in a short time. In the present embodiment, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 is configured to use a hardening liquid that is hardened by a hardening gas in a short time, and to expose the three-dimensional modeled object 200 after modeling to a hardening gas.

  Hereinafter, the curing process of the uncured layer 210 by the curing gas will be described. In this embodiment, when the shaping of the three-dimensional structure 200 is completed, the user attaches the attachment 83 of the sending device 80 to the shaping tank 50. Further, the user connects the discharge pipe 91 of the discharge device 90 to the connection portion 11 b of the main body 11.

  Subsequently, the user operates the suction pump 92 of the discharge device 90 to open the discharge side valve 94. Thereby, the discharge path E1 is configured. On the side of the delivery device 80, the delivery-side valve 86 is opened, and the curing gas is supplied to the modeling tank 50. The user adjusts the opening of one or both of the delivery-side valve 86 and the discharge-side valve 94 to flow a desired amount of the curing gas.

  The hardening gas flowing out of the gas cylinder 81 flows into the closed space 83c through the delivery pipe 82. The hardening gas flows from the closed space 83c into the gap between the powder materials P in the modeling tank 50. Here, a part of the modeling table 52 forming the bottom of the modeling tank 50 is a ventilation part 52a. The ventilation part 52a can place the powder material P, but allows the hardening gas to pass through. Therefore, the hardening gas flows into the lower space 50b of the modeling tank 50 through the ventilation part 52a. The hardening gas flowing into the lower space 50b is sucked by the suction pump 92 and flows toward the discharge device 90. Thus, the flow of the curing gas is created by the delivery device 80, the modeling tank 50, and the discharge device 90.

  With such a configuration, in the modeling tank 50, the curing gas flows from above to below. By this flow, the three-dimensional structure 200 is reliably exposed to the curing gas. In addition, winding of the powder material P by the curing gas can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the curing liquid exposed to the curing gas cures in a very short time. Here, the curing liquid is a liquid mainly containing an aqueous solution of sodium silicate (water glass), and the curing gas is carbon dioxide gas. Sodium silicate hardens in an extremely short time upon contact with carbon dioxide. Therefore, the curing of the three-dimensional structure 200 is also terminated immediately after the supply of the curing gas. At this point, the three-dimensional structure 200 is completely cured. Therefore, no special care is required for depowder.

  As described above, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes the delivery device 80 that sends the curing gas for curing the curing liquid into the modeling tank 50, and the discharge path E1 that discharges the curing gas. The discharge path E1 communicates with the inside of the modeling tank 50 via a ventilation part 52a through which the powder material P cannot pass and through which the hardening gas can pass. According to such a configuration, the three-dimensional structure 200 can be cured in a short time while being housed inside the forming tank 50. Therefore, the productivity at the time of manufacturing the three-dimensional structure 200 can be improved. In addition, it is possible to reduce the time and labor for depowdering and the risk of damaging the three-dimensional structure 200. As such a material of the ventilation portion 52a, a porous material can be suitably used.

  Further, since it is not necessary to add a curing agent to the powder material P, a step of mixing the curing agent and a step of re-stirring before use are unnecessary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the sending device 80 includes an attachment 83 that is detachable from the modeling tank 50, and the attachment 83 is mounted on the modeling tank 50 so as to cover the opening 50a. With this attachment 83, a certain hermeticity is secured on the supply side of the curing gas, and the curing gas can be efficiently delivered into the modeling tank 50.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the modeling tank 50 includes a cylindrical portion 51 extending in the vertical direction, and a modeling table 52 inserted into the cylindrical portion 51, and the opening 50 a is provided at an upper end of the cylindrical portion 51. Is provided. The ventilation part 52 a is provided on the modeling table 52. The three-dimensional structure 200 is formed on the forming table 52. According to such a configuration, a flow of the hardening gas flowing downward from above in the modeling tank 50 can be created. Therefore, the three-dimensional structure 200 is reliably exposed to the hardening gas, and the winding of the powder material P by the hardening gas can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the delivery device 80 and the delivery path E1 are provided with a delivery-side flow meter 85 and a delivery-side flow meter 93, respectively. The flow rate of the curing gas supplied to the modeling tank 50 and the flow rate of the curing gas flowing out of the modeling tank 50 can be known by the delivery-side flow meter 85 and the discharge-side flow meter 93, respectively. Further, in the present embodiment, the delivery device 80 and the delivery path E1 are provided with a delivery valve 86 and a delivery valve 94, respectively. By the delivery side valve 86 and the discharge side valve 94, the flow rate of the curing gas supplied to the modeling tank 50 and the flow rate of the curing gas flowing out of the modeling tank 50 can be adjusted to desired flow rates.

  In the present embodiment, the curing liquid contains sodium silicate. However, for example, an alkali phenol resin may be contained. Alkaline phenolic resins also cure in a short time upon contact with carbon dioxide. Also, the curing gas need not necessarily be carbon dioxide gas. The combination of the curing gas and the curing liquid may be another combination as long as the curing liquid is cured in a short time by contact. The curing gas and the curing liquid are not particularly limited as long as they are used.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention can be implemented in other various forms.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, for example, the user performs operations such as mounting the attachment 83 and starting and stopping the supply of the curing gas. However, these operations may be automatically performed by the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10. The three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 may further include a configuration for that purpose.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sending device and the discharging device are provided with the flow meter and the flow control valve, respectively. However, all of these flow meters and flow control valves are not necessarily required, and some or all of them may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the material supply device includes the filling roller 30, the sub-scanning direction moving mechanism 20, and the members (the supply tank 41, the bottom member 42, and the supply tank elevating mechanism 43) related to the supply tank 41. However, the configuration of the material supply device is not limited to such. For example, the material supply device may include a member that drops and supplies the powder material P from above. The member that forms the powder layer by leveling the powder material P may not be the filling roller 30 but may be, for example, a squeegee. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the relative movement between the modeling tank 50 and the filling roller 30 is performed by the movement of the modeling tank unit 40, but is not limited thereto. For example, the modeling tank unit 40 may be fixed to the main body 11, and the filling roller 30 may be moved in the sub-scanning direction X with respect to the modeling tank unit 40. In addition, the movements according to the present invention are all relative, and which member is actually moved may be arbitrarily selected.

Reference Signs List 10 3D modeling apparatus 50 Modeling tank 50a Opening 51 Cylindrical section 52 Modeling table 52a Vent section 62 Discharge head 80 Delivery device 83 Attachment 85 Delivery side flow meter 86 Delivery side valve 90 Discharge device 92 Suction pump 93 Discharge side flow meter 94 Discharge Side valve 200 Three-dimensional structure E1 Discharge path P Powder material

Claims (11)

A modeling tank,
A material supply device for supplying a powder material into the modeling tank,
For the powder material in the modeling tank, a discharge head that discharges a curing liquid that is cured by a curing gas,
A delivery device for delivering the curing gas into the modeling tank,
A discharge path for discharging the curing gas,
With
The shaping tank includes a ventilation portion through which the powder material cannot pass and the curing gas can pass,
The discharge path communicates with the inside of the modeling tank via the ventilation section,
3D modeling equipment. The ventilation section is formed of a porous material,
The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1. The modeling tank has an opening,
The delivery device includes an attachment that is detachable from the modeling tank,
The attachment is attached to the modeling tank so as to cover the opening,
The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1. The molding tank,
A tubular portion extending in a vertical direction,
A molding table inserted into the cylindrical portion,
With
The material supply device supplies the powder material on the modeling table,
The opening is provided at an upper end of the cylindrical portion,
The ventilation unit is provided on the modeling table,
The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 3. A suction pump connected to the discharge path and suctioning the curing gas is provided.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1. The delivery device includes a flow meter capable of measuring a delivery amount of the curing gas,
The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1. The delivery device includes a valve capable of adjusting a delivery amount of the curing gas,
The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 6. The discharge path includes a flow meter capable of measuring a discharge amount of the curing gas.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1. The discharge path includes a valve capable of adjusting the discharge amount of the curing gas.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 8. The curing liquid contains sodium silicate,
The curing gas includes carbon dioxide,
The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1. The curing liquid contains an alkali phenol resin,
The curing gas includes carbon dioxide,
The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1.

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