JP2021094822A - Molding device and clear ink filling amount input method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a molding device and a clear ink filling amount input method capable of controlling a filling amount of a clear ink for forming a molded article in a proper amount.SOLUTION: A molding device 1 includes a color inkjet head 25 for ejecting a color ink and a clear inkjet head 26 for ejecting a clear ink. A colored molded article 30 is formed by ejecting and laminating the color ink from the color inkjet head 25, and the clear ink is ejected from the clear inkjet head 26 in a manner to fill a laminate amount by the color ink. The molding device 1 comprises an input device 40B for inputting a filling amount of the clear ink in a manner that, to each layer of forming the molded article 30, a landing frequency of the clear ink is reduced to a place where a landing frequency of the color ink for coloring formation of the molded article 30 is high, and a landing frequency of the clear ink is increased to a place where a landing frequency of the color ink is low.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a modeling apparatus and a clear ink replenishment amount input method.

In recent years, modeling devices for forming three-dimensional objects have become widespread. As such a modeling device, an ink jet head is used to eject ink as a material for a modeled object, and the ejected ink is cured by ultraviolet rays or the like to form an ink layer, and the layer is flattened by a flattening roller. , An apparatus has been developed for forming a modeled object by repeating lamination.

Here, since the amount of color ink ejected from the inkjet head (hereinafter referred to as "ink amount") changes according to the density of the color, the stacking thickness differs depending on the density of the color. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a modeling device that ejects clear ink so as to compensate for the difference in the amount of ink ejected. In general, the lighter the color (closer to white), the larger the amount of clear ink for compensation, and the darker the color, the smaller the amount of clear ink for compensation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-64538

In the replenishment of clear ink as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is preferable to calculate the replenishment amount of clear ink for each color ink to be ejected, but it takes time to calculate the replenishment amount of clear ink, and modeling is performed. It is not realistic because the total time required to form an object becomes long.

Therefore, at present, a predetermined amount of clear ink is uniformly discharged together with the color ink so as to satisfy a predetermined lamination thickness regardless of the density of the color ink. However, depending on the density of the color ink, the ink may be excessively laminated. When excessive ink stacking occurs, when flattening by the flattening roller, the excess ink is dragged by the flattening roller and biased to the side of the modeled object, or the excess ink is transferred to the flattening roller. After adhering, the flattening roller may reattach to the modeled object, causing stains on the modeled object.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a modeling apparatus and a clear ink replenishment amount input method capable of adjusting the replenishment amount of clear ink used for forming a modeled object to an appropriate amount.

The modeling apparatus of the present invention includes a first ejection means for ejecting color ink and a second ejection means for ejecting clear ink, and the color ink is ejected from the first ejection means and laminated. A modeling device that colors and forms a modeled object and ejects the clear ink from the second ejection means so as to compensate for the amount of lamination by the color ink, and the modeling is performed on each layer forming the modeled object. The clear ink is less frequently landed in places where the color ink is colored and formed, and the clear ink is more frequently landed in places where the color ink is less frequently landed. An input means for inputting the replenishment amount of the clear ink is provided.

According to this configuration, the operator of the modeling apparatus can set the amount of clear ink for replenishment according to the landing frequency of the color ink in each layer for coloring and forming the modeled object. As a result, an appropriate amount of clear ink according to the landing frequency of the color ink is discharged as compared with the case where a predetermined amount of clear ink is uniformly discharged to the modeled object for compensation. Therefore, according to this configuration, the amount of clear ink used for forming the modeled object can be set to an appropriate amount.

According to the modeling apparatus of the present invention, the landing frequency of the color ink corresponds to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object, and the clear ink is placed in a place where the color density is high in the color image. The replenishment amount of the clear ink may be input by the input means so that the landing frequency is reduced and the landing frequency of the clear ink is increased in the place where the color density is low. According to this configuration, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be input more appropriately.

According to the modeling apparatus of the present invention, the filling amount of the clear ink may be input so that the height of each layer forming the modeled object is constant. According to this configuration, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be set without affecting the shape of the modeled object.

According to the modeling device of the present invention, the input means may be provided in an information processing device having a display device for displaying a color image for coloring the modeled object. According to this configuration, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be easily input.

According to the modeling apparatus of the present invention, the replenishment amount of the clear ink may be input for each of a plurality of areas in which the modeled object is virtually divided. According to this configuration, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be input more appropriately.

According to the modeling apparatus of the present invention, a calculation means for calculating a reference value of the replenishment amount of the clear ink according to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object is provided, and the reference calculated by the calculation means. The value may be displayed on the display device. According to this configuration, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be input more appropriately.

The modeling apparatus of the present invention includes a first ejection means for ejecting color ink and a second ejection means for ejecting clear ink, and the color ink is ejected from the first ejection means and laminated. In a modeling device that colors and forms a modeled object and ejects the clear ink from the second ejection means so as to compensate for the amount of the laminated ink, the clear ink is applied to each layer forming the modeled object. The maximum value of the discharge amount is predetermined, and the replenishment amount of the clear ink is input so that the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object is relatively low, the closer to the maximum value. It is provided with an input means for. According to this configuration, the amount of clear ink used to form the modeled object can be appropriately adjusted.

The clear ink replenishment amount input method of the present invention includes a first ejection means for ejecting color ink and a second ejection means for ejecting clear ink, and ejects the color ink from the first ejection means. In the clear ink replenishment amount input method of the modeling apparatus that ejects the clear ink from the second ejection means so as to color-form the modeled object by laminating and compensate the laminated amount by the color ink, the modeled object is formed. The first step of displaying a color image for coloring on a display device, and the clear ink in places where the color ink for coloring and forming the modeled object frequently lands on each layer forming the modeled object. A second step of inputting a replenishment amount of the clear ink is provided so that the landing frequency of the clear ink is low and the landing frequency of the clear ink is high at a place where the landing frequency of the color ink is low.

According to the present invention, the amount of clear ink used to form a modeled object can be appropriately adjusted.

It is a schematic block diagram of the modeling system of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the filling state of clear ink. It is a schematic diagram which shows the filling state of the clear ink of 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram concerning the clear ink replenishment input function of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the modeling process of 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram concerning the clear ink replenishment input function of 2nd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram concerning the clear ink replenishment input function of 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, the modeling method and the modeling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. As an example, the modeling device 1 is configured as a system having a 3D printer 10, a user PC 40, and a control PC 42.

The 3D printer 10 of the present embodiment includes a discharge unit 12, a scanning drive unit 14, a modeling table 16, a movable unit 17, and a control unit 18, and the ultraviolet curable resin ejected from the discharge unit 12 is solidified with ultraviolet rays and laminated. This is an inkjet type 3D printer that forms a three-dimensional model 30.

The discharge unit 12 discharges the material of the modeled object 30 and stacks the layers constituting the modeled object 30 layer by layer to form the modeled object 30 on the modeling table 16. More specifically, the ejection unit 12 flattens the laminated surface of the inkjet head 20 that ejects various inks, the ultraviolet light source 22 that cures the ejected inks, and the curable resin formed during the modeling of the modeled object 30. It has a flattening roller 24.

The inkjet head 20 of the present embodiment includes a color inkjet head 25 that ejects color ink, a clear inkjet head 26 that ejects clear ink, and a support material head 27 that ejects support material. Although three color inkjet heads 25 are shown in FIG. 1, the number of color inkjet heads 25 can be appropriately set according to the number of types of ink used.

The ejection unit 12 forms each layer constituting the modeled object 30 by ejecting, for example, ink droplets of a curable resin that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays and curing the ink droplets. Specifically, the ejection unit 12 has, for example, a layer forming operation for forming a layer of a curable resin by ejecting ink droplets in response to an instruction from the control unit 18, and a curability formed by the layer forming operation. The curing operation of curing the resin layer is repeated a plurality of times. As a result, the discharge unit 12 is formed by stacking a plurality of layers of the cured curable resin. The 3D printer 10 is not limited to the one using the ultraviolet curable resin, and may be a method of laminating a thermoplastic curable resin which is jetted from the discharge unit 12 in a high temperature state and cooled to room temperature to be cured.

The modeling apparatus 1 colors and forms the modeled object 30 by ejecting color ink from the color inkjet head 25 and laminating them, and the amount of color ink ejected from the color inkjet head 25 (hereinafter, “color ink amount””. ) Changes according to the color density (hereinafter referred to as "color density"). Therefore, the modeling apparatus 1 ejects clear ink from the clear inkjet head 26 so as to compensate for the amount of laminated ink.

The scanning drive unit 14 is a drive unit that moves the discharge unit 12 relative to the modeled object 30 (hereinafter referred to as “scanning operation”). The scanning drive unit 14 causes the discharge unit 12 to perform a main scanning operation (Y scanning) and a sub scanning operation (X scanning) as scanning operations. Here, the main scanning operation is, for example, an operation in which the ejection unit 12 ejects ink droplets while moving in a preset main scanning direction (Y direction in the drawing).

The scanning drive unit 14 has a carriage 32 and a guide rail 34. The carriage 32 is a holding portion that holds the discharge unit 12 so as to face the modeling table 16. That is, the carriage 32 holds the ejection unit 12 so that the ejection direction of the ink droplets is in the direction toward the modeling table 16. Further, during the main scanning operation, the carriage 32 moves along the guide rail 34 while holding the discharge unit 12. The guide rail 34 is a rail-shaped member that guides the movement of the carriage 32, and moves the carriage 32 in response to an instruction from the control unit 18 during the main scanning operation.

The movement of the discharge unit 12 in the main scanning operation may be a movement relative to the modeled object 30. For example, the modeled object 30 may be moved by fixing the position of the discharge unit 12 and moving the modeling table 16.

The movable portion 17 makes the distance between the discharge unit 12 and the modeling table 16 variable. That is, the upper surface of the modeling table 16 can be moved in the vertical direction (Z direction in FIG. 1) by the movable portion 17, and the upper surface moves according to the instruction of the control unit 18 as the modeling of the modeled object 30 progresses. To do. As a result, the distance (gap) between the surface to be modeled in the modeled object 30 in the process of modeling and the discharge unit 12 is appropriately adjusted. Here, the modeled surface of the modeled object 30 is, for example, a surface on which the next layer is formed by the discharge unit 12. The scanning in the Z direction in which the modeling table 16 is moved up and down with respect to the discharge unit 12 may be performed by, for example, moving the side of the discharge unit 12.

The control unit 18 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the 3D printer 10, and controls each part of the 3D printer 10 based on slice data showing shape information of the modeled object 30 to be modeled, color image information, and the like. This controls the modeling operation of the modeled object 30.

The user PC 40 is an information processing device having a display device 40A and an input device 40B composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The user PC 40 of the present embodiment transmits 3D model data showing the modeled object 30 in a predetermined format to the control PC 42 as a modeling job. The 3D model data is data indicating the shape of the modeled object 30 and its surface color, etc., and is created based on, for example, 3DCAD data, data on the appearance of the modeled object 30 to be manufactured, and the like.

Further, the operator of the modeling device 1 inputs the amount of clear ink to be replenished, which will be described in detail later, via the input device 40B.

The control PC 42 is an information processing device that controls the 3D printer 10, and receives a modeling job from the user PC 40. The control PC 42 generates slice data corresponding to the cross section of each position of the modeled object 30 based on the modeling job (3D model data) received from the user PC 40. Then, the control PC 42 transmits the slice data corresponding to each position to the 3D printer 10. In the example of FIG. 1, one 3D printer 10 is connected to the control PC 42, but this is an example, and a plurality of 3D printers 10 may be connected to the control PC 42.

The user PC 40 and the control PC 42 include, for example, a CPU that performs arithmetic processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is used as a work area of the CPU, and It is equipped with a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information, and transmits and receives various data to and from another information processing device or the 3D printer 10.

Next, replenishment of clear ink will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 50 indicates a color ink layer, and reference numeral 52 indicates a clear ink layer. Further, the left side of FIG. 2 shows an appropriate replenishment state of clear ink, and the right side of FIG. 2 shows a state of excessive replenishment of clear ink.

In forming the modeled object 30, the landing frequency of the color ink is relatively low for the layer having a low color density. Therefore, in order to make each layer have a predetermined reference thickness t for each layer forming the modeled object 30, a predetermined amount of clear ink is uniformly ejected to each layer formed by the color ink layer 50. The clear ink layer 52 is formed. Each layer formed by the color ink layer 50 and the clear ink layer 52 is cured by the ultraviolet light source 22, and then the laminated surface is flattened by the flattening roller 24.

Here, as shown on the right side of FIG. 2, when a predetermined amount of clear ink is ejected to a layer having a high color density and a thick color ink layer 50, the laminated thickness of the ink exceeds the reference thickness t. , May be over-stacked. When an excessive amount of ink is laminated, a part of the excess ink (ink shown by hatching A in FIG. 2) is not removed and is dragged by the flattening roller 24 during flattening by the flattening roller 24. The ink is biased toward the side of the modeled object 30 (region B in FIG. 2), or after the excess ink adheres to the flattening roller 24, a part of the ink adheres to the modeled object 30 again from the flattening roller 24. This may cause stains on the modeled object 30.

Therefore, in the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment, the frequency of landing of the clear ink on each layer forming the modeled object 30 decreases and the frequency of landing of the color ink that forms the colored object 30 is high. The replenishment amount of the clear ink is input by the input device 40B provided in the user PC 40 so that the landing frequency of the clear ink increases in the place where the ink landing frequency is low.

The landing frequency of the color ink corresponds to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object 30. Therefore, in the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the frequency of landing of the clear ink is low in the place where the color density is high in the color image, and the frequency of landing of the clear ink is high in the place where the color density is low. The amount of clear ink to be replenished is input by the input device 40B.

Further, the user PC 40 of the present embodiment displays the color image formed as the modeled object 30 on the display device 40A. As a result, the operator of the 3D printer 10 can confirm the color image, and the amount of clear ink to be replenished is input so that the height of each layer forming the modeled object 30 is constant.

With such a configuration, the operator of the 3D printer 10 can input an appropriate replenishment amount of clear ink based on his / her own experience, and the replenishment amount of clear ink used for forming the modeled object 30 is set to an appropriate amount. be able to.

Then, in the modeled object 30 formed by the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as shown on the right side of FIG. 3, when the color ink layer 50 is thick, the clear ink layer 52 is relatively thin. That is, a layer is formed in a place where the color ink has a high impact frequency so that the clear ink has a low impact frequency. On the other hand, as shown on the left side of FIG. 3, when the color ink layer 50 is thin, the clear ink layer 52 is relatively thick, that is, the clear ink is landed in a place where the color ink is landed infrequently. Layers are formed in a more frequent manner. As a result, excessive ink stacking can be suppressed, and the generation of stains on the modeled object 30 can also be suppressed.

That is, in the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment, the operator can set the amount of clear ink for replenishment according to the landing frequency of the color ink in each layer for coloring and forming the modeled object 30. As a result, an appropriate amount of clear ink according to the landing frequency of the color ink is ejected as compared with the case where a predetermined amount of clear ink is uniformly ejected to the modeled object 30 for compensation. Therefore, the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment can make an appropriate amount of clear ink to be replenished for forming the modeled object 30. Further, since the amount of clear ink to be replenished is input by the operator, it is not necessary to calculate the amount of clear ink to be replenished for each layer forming the modeled object 30, so that the time required for modeling the modeled object 30 becomes long. Can be suppressed.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram relating to the clear ink supplement input function possessed by the user PC 40 of the present embodiment. The clear ink supplement input function is executed by the CPU included in the user PC 40.

The user PC 40 includes an image display control unit 60, a compensation amount input processing unit 62, and a communication processing unit 64.

The image display control unit 60 controls the display device 40A so as to display an image based on the image data. As an example, the image display control unit 60 of the present embodiment causes the image display control unit 60 to display a color image showing the modeled object 30 and a predetermined image for inputting the amount of clear ink to be replenished. The color image is generated based on the 3D model data showing the modeled object 30 formed by the 3D printer 10.

The compensation amount input processing unit 62 receives the compensation amount of the clear ink input via the input device 40B, and sets the input compensation amount as a set value (hereinafter referred to as “compensation amount set value”) as a storage means such as a RAM. To memorize. The clear ink replenishment amount may be input as an arbitrary numerical value as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and among the options in which the clear ink replenishment amount is divided into a plurality of stages from a small state to a large state. One may be entered. Examples of the plurality of stages are divided into "1" to "5" in which the compensation amount increases as the numerical value increases, and the compensation amount is associated with each value in advance.

Further, the replenishment amount of the clear ink may be set to one value for one modeled object 30, but for each of a plurality of areas (hereinafter referred to as "virtually divided areas") in which the modeled object 30 is virtually divided. The amount of clear ink to be replenished may be input to.

For the virtual division area, for example, the operator selects an arbitrary area for the color image displayed on the display device 40A, and inputs the amount of clear ink to be replenished for each selected area. Further, the virtual division area may be derived by the compensation amount input processing unit 62. When the compensation amount input processing unit 62 derives the virtual division area, for example, the virtual division area may be derived by dividing the modeled object 30 indicated by the color image at predetermined intervals from a predetermined direction, or the color density in the color image may be derived. The virtual division area may be derived based on the shade of the above, or the virtual division area may be derived based on the shape of the model 30.

The communication processing unit 64 performs processing related to data transmission / reception with other information processing devices such as the control PC 42. The communication processing unit 64 of the present embodiment performs a process of transmitting a modeling job based on 3D model data and a compensation amount set value to the control PC 42.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of modeling processing executed by the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The modeling process is started when the software (application) for executing the modeling process is started by the user PC 40.

First, in step 100, 3D model data indicating the modeled object 30 to be formed on the 3D printer 10 is selected by the operator, and a color image showing the modeled object 30 is displayed on the display device 40A of the user PC 40.

In the next step 102, the operator inputs the replenishment amount of the clear ink via the input device 40B of the user PC 40 while referring to the color image, and the replenishment amount input processing unit 62 accepts the input.

In the next step 104, the replenishment amount input processing unit 62 determines whether or not the input of the replenishment amount of the clear ink is completed. Become. As an example, when a predetermined image displayed on the display device 40A (for example, an image instructing data transmission to the control PC 42) is clicked, it is determined that the input of the clear ink replenishment amount is completed.

In step 106, the communication processing unit 64 performs a process of transmitting the 3D model data and the compensation amount set value to the control PC 42 as a modeling job.

In the next step 108, the control PC 42 generates slice data based on the 3D model data, and transmits the compensation amount setting value together with the slice data to the 3D printer 10.

In the next step 110, the 3D printer 10 forms the modeled object 30 based on the slice data and the compensation amount set value.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration of the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the modeling device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram relating to the clear ink supplement input function possessed by the user PC 40 of the present embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 4 in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The user PC 40 of the present embodiment includes an image display control unit 60, a compensation amount input processing unit 62, and a communication processing unit 64, as well as a reference compensation amount calculation unit 66.

The reference compensation amount calculation unit 66 calculates a reference value of the compensation amount of the clear ink according to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object 30. Specifically, the reference replenishment amount calculation unit 66 calculates the thickness of the color ink according to the color density, and subtracts the thickness of the color ink from the reference thickness t to obtain a reference value of the replenishment amount of the clear ink. Is calculated. As the reference value, one value may be calculated for the modeled object 30 as a whole, or it may be calculated for each virtual division area. Further, the reference value is a value according to the input mode of the compensation amount. For example, when the compensation amount is input by selecting any of the options "1" to "5", the reference value is also indicated by any of "1" to "5".

The reference value calculated by the reference compensation amount calculation unit 66 is displayed on the display device 40A by the image display control unit 60. This makes it possible to more easily input the amount of clear ink to be replenished so that the height of each layer forming the modeled object 30 is constant.

Further, when the operator inputs a compensation amount different from the reference value by a predetermined value or more, a warning may be displayed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the amount of clear ink to be replenished from becoming excessively large or small.

(Third Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration of the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the modeling device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted. In the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment, the maximum value of the discharge amount of clear ink is predetermined for each layer forming the modeled object 30, and the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object 30 is relative. The lower the value, the closer to the maximum value of the clear ink ejection amount, the clear ink replenishment amount is input.

More specifically, the maximum amount of clear ink ejected is set, and this maximum value is the same as the maximum amount of color ink ejected once. Then, regardless of the color density of the color image, if the clear ink is ejected at this maximum value as the clear ink replenishment amount, it is possible to prevent the clear ink replenishment amount from being insufficient even in the portion having the lowest color density. However, if the amount of clear ink to be replenished is always the same as the maximum amount of color ink regardless of the level of color density, the amount of replenishment may be excessive.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the maximum value of the clear ink replenishment amount is set to 100%, and the lower the color density of the color image, the closer the clear ink replenishment amount is to 100%. In other words, the maximum value of 100% of the clear ink replenishment amount is set as a reference value, and the higher the color density, the smaller the clear ink replenishment amount.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram relating to the clear ink supplement input function possessed by the user PC 40 of the present embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 7 in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The replenishment amount input processing unit 62'is to store the replenishment amount set value of the clear ink input via the input device 40B in a storage means such as a RAM, and in the present embodiment, the maximum replenishment amount of the clear ink is maximum. The value is set to 100%, and the input of the compensation amount such that the lower the color density is, the closer to 100% is accepted.

More specifically, a color image showing the modeled object 30 is displayed on the display device 40A of the user PC 40, and while the operator refers to the color image, the amount of clear ink replenished is 100 via the input device 40B of the user PC 40. Enter a value between% and a predetermined lower limit (for example, 50%). The value to be input is not a percentage, and for example, a stepwise value such as "many", "medium", or "small" may be selectively input. As an example, when "many" is selected, the compensation amount setting value is 100%, and when "medium" is selected, the compensation amount setting value is 75%, and "small" is selected. If so, the compensation amount set value is set to 50%.

Although the present invention has been described above using the above-described embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above-described embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention, and the modified or improved forms are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, a mode in which the modeling apparatus 1 is configured as a system having a 3D printer 10, a user PC 40, and a control PC 42 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, an information processing device having the functions of the user PC 40 and the control PC 42 may be connected to the 3D printer 10. Further, the 3D printer 10 includes a display device 40A and an input device 40B, and a color image for coloring the modeled object 30 is displayed on the display device 40A, and the operator replenishes the clear ink through the input device 40B. May be entered.

(Effect of embodiment)
(1) The modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a color inkjet head 25 for ejecting color ink and a clear inkjet head 26 for ejecting clear ink, and the color ink is ejected from the color inkjet head 25 and laminated. The modeled object 30 is colored and formed, and clear ink is discharged from the clear inkjet head 26 so as to compensate for the amount of lamination by the color ink. In the modeling device 1, the clear ink is less frequently landed and the color ink is less frequently landed on the layers forming the model 30 where the color ink that colors and forms the model 30 is frequently landed. The place is provided with an input device 40B for inputting the amount of clear ink to be replenished so that the frequency of landing of clear ink increases.

According to this configuration, the operator of the modeling apparatus 1 can set the amount of the clear ink for replenishment according to the landing frequency of the color ink in each layer for coloring and forming the modeled object 30. As a result, an appropriate amount of clear ink according to the landing frequency of the color ink is ejected as compared with the case where a predetermined amount of clear ink is uniformly ejected to the modeled object 30 for compensation. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the amount of clear ink used for forming the modeled object 30 can be set to an appropriate amount.

(2) In the modeling device 1 of the present embodiment, the landing frequency of the color ink corresponds to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object 30, and the landing of the clear ink in the place where the color density is high in the color image. The replenishment amount of the clear ink is input by the input device 40B so that the frequency is reduced and the frequency of landing of the clear ink is increased in the place where the color density is low. According to this embodiment, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be input more appropriately.

(3) In the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the amount of clear ink supplemented is input so that the height of each layer forming the modeled object 30 is constant. According to this embodiment, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be set without affecting the shape of the modeled object 30.

(4) The modeling device 1 of the present embodiment may be provided in the user PC 40 having the display device 40A on which the input device 40B displays a color image for coloring the modeled object 30. According to this embodiment, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be easily input.

(5) In the modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the amount of clear ink to be replenished is input for each of a plurality of areas in which the modeled object 30 is virtually divided. According to this embodiment, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be input more appropriately.

(6) The modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a reference compensation amount calculation unit 66 for calculating a reference value of the compensation amount of clear ink according to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object 30. The reference value calculated by the quantity calculation unit 66 is displayed on the display device 40A. According to this embodiment, the amount of clear ink to be replenished can be input more appropriately.

(7) In the modeling apparatus 1 of the present invention, the maximum value of the discharge amount of clear ink is predetermined for each layer forming the modeled object 30, and the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object 30. The input device 40B for inputting the replenishment amount of the clear ink is provided so that the relatively low value is closer to the maximum value.

The present invention relates to a modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional object by ejecting ink.

1 Modeling device 10 3D printer 25 Color inkjet head (first ejection means)
26 Clear inkjet head (second ejection means)
30 Modeled object 40 User PC (information processing device)
40A display device 40B input device (input means)
66 Reference compensation amount calculation unit (calculation means)

Claims (8)

A first ejection means for ejecting color ink and a second ejection means for ejecting clear ink are provided, and the color ink is ejected from the first ejection means and laminated to color-form a modeled object. In a modeling apparatus that ejects the clear ink from the second ejection means so as to compensate for the amount of the laminated ink due to the color ink.
With respect to each layer forming the modeled object, the clear ink is less frequently landed at a place where the color ink that colors and forms the modeled object is landed more frequently, and the color ink is landed less frequently at a place where the color ink is landed less frequently. Is an input means for inputting the replenishment amount of the clear ink so that the landing frequency of the clear ink increases.
A modeling device equipped with. The landing frequency of the color ink corresponds to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object.
The clear ink is landed less frequently in places where the color density is high in the color image, and the clear ink is landed more frequently in places where the color density is low. The amount of compensation is entered,
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of the clear ink to be replenished is input so that the height of each layer forming the modeled object is constant. The modeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input means is provided in an information processing device having a display device for displaying a color image for coloring the modeled object. The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amount of the clear ink to be replenished is input for each of a plurality of areas in which the modeled object is virtually divided. A calculation means for calculating a reference value of the replenishment amount of the clear ink according to the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object is provided.
The reference value calculated by the calculation means is displayed on the display device.
The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A first ejection means for ejecting color ink and a second ejection means for ejecting clear ink are provided, and the color ink is ejected from the first ejection means and laminated to color-form a modeled object. In a modeling apparatus that ejects the clear ink from the second ejection means so as to compensate for the amount of the laminated ink due to the color ink.
The maximum value of the discharge amount of the clear ink is predetermined for each layer forming the modeled object, and the lower the color density of the color image for coloring the modeled object, the higher the maximum value. An input means for inputting the replenishment amount of the clear ink so as to be close to
A modeling device equipped with. A first ejection means for ejecting color ink and a second ejection means for ejecting clear ink are provided, and the color ink is ejected from the first ejection means and laminated to color-form a modeled object. In the clear ink replenishment amount input method of the modeling apparatus that ejects the clear ink from the second ejection means so as to compensate the laminated amount of the color ink.
The first step of displaying a color image for coloring the modeled object on the display device, and
With respect to each layer forming the modeled object, the clear ink is less frequently landed at a place where the color ink that colors and forms the modeled object is landed more frequently, and the color ink is landed less frequently at a place where the color ink is landed less frequently. Is the second step of inputting the replenishment amount of the clear ink so that the landing frequency of the clear ink increases.
Clear ink replenishment amount input method having.

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