JP2021142695A - Three-dimensional molding device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a three-dimensional molding device that can be simply configured.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional molding device 1 supplies a powder material A on a rotating table 13, radiates an electron beam to the powder material A, and molds a three-dimensional molded article O. The three-dimensional molding device 1 comprises: the table 13 for molding the molded article O by rotating around an axis directed in the vertical direction; a supply part 5 which is placed above the table 13, and supplies the powder material A on the table 13; and a recoater 6 which is placed integrally with the supply part 5, and lays and levels the powder material A supplied on the table 13 by the supply part 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object.

Conventionally, as a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, for example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 4639087, an energy beam is applied to a powder material spread on a table, and the powder material is heated and solidified to be three-dimensional. Devices for modeling objects are known. This device aims to reduce the internal stress of a modeled object by dividing the area to be irradiated with the energy beam into a plurality of areas in a grid pattern and performing modeling.

Japanese Patent No. 4639087

In such a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, it is necessary to spread the powder material, preheat, and irradiate the beam when modeling the modeled object. For this reason, in order to install equipment for leveling powder materials, preheating, and beam irradiation in a limited space, it is desirable to configure the equipment and devices as simple as possible.

Therefore, it is desired to develop a three-dimensional modeling device that can be configured simply.

The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that supplies a powder material on a rotating table and irradiates the powder material with an energy beam to form a three-dimensional modeled object. A table for modeling a modeled object by rotating around an axis in the vertical direction, a supply unit provided above the table and supplying powder material on the table, and a supply unit are provided integrally with the supply unit. , A recorder for spreading the powder material supplied on the table by the supply unit is provided. According to this three-dimensional modeling apparatus, a mechanism for performing modeling can be simply configured by providing a supply unit above the table and providing a recorder integrally with the supply unit. Further, the powder material can be supplied on the rotating table by the supply unit and spread with a recoater, so that the powder material can be efficiently supplied and spread.

Further, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the supply unit has a tank for accommodating the powder material and a supply pipe connected to the tank to guide the powder material onto the table along the supply path, and supplies the powder material. The pipe forms a supply port for discharging the powder material and is movable in the vertical direction. The supply path is opened by moving downward to discharge the powder material from the supply port, and the powder material is supplied by moving upward. It may have a movable part that blocks the path and stops the discharge of the powder material from the supply port. In this case, by moving the movable portion upward, the modeled object can be easily taken out from the table. Further, by moving the movable portion upward, the supply path can be blocked and the discharge of the powder material from the supply port can be stopped. That is, by making the movable portion movable in the vertical direction, it is possible to easily take out the modeled object and stop the discharge of the powder material. Therefore, one mechanism for moving the movable portion facilitates the taking out of the modeled object and makes it possible to stop the discharge of the powder material. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling device can be simply configured.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that can be simply configured.

It is a block diagram of the 3D modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this disclosure. It is explanatory drawing of the supply part, the recorder, the heating part and the beam source of the 3D modeling apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the supply part and the recorder of the 3D modeling apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the supply part and the recorder of the 3D modeling apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the 3D modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the 3D modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is a so-called 3D printer that manufactures a three-dimensional modeled object O from the powder material A. For example, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 irradiates the powder material A with an energy beam to melt or sinter the powder material A to form a three-dimensional model O. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is applied to a powder bed method in which an electron beam is irradiated to a powder material A that has been spread and leveled to perform modeling. The powder material A is a metal powder, for example, a titanium-based metal powder, an inconel powder, an aluminum powder, or the like. Further, the powder material A is not limited to the metal powder, and may be a powder containing carbon fibers and a resin such as resin powder and CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics). Further, the powder material A may be another powder having conductivity. The powder material in the present disclosure is not limited to a material having conductivity. For example, when a laser is used as the energy beam, the powder material does not have to have conductivity.

The three-dimensional modeling device 1 includes a drive unit 3, a control unit 4, a supply unit 5, a recorder 6, a heating unit 7, a beam source 8, and a housing 9. The drive unit 3 realizes various operations required for modeling. For example, the drive unit 3 rotates and raises and lowers the table 13. The table 13 rotates about an axis in the vertical direction and functions as a base member for modeling the modeled object O. For example, the table 13 is configured to rotate about an axis in the vertical direction. The drive unit 3 has a rotation unit 31 and an elevating unit 32. The rotation unit 31 functions as a rotation drive unit that rotates the table 13 around a rotation axis in the vertical direction. For example, the upper end of the rotating unit 31 is connected to the table 13, and a drive source (for example, a motor) is attached to the lower end of the rotating unit 31. The elevating unit 32 functions as a linear drive unit that elevates and elevates the table 13 relative to the modeling tank 14. This ascent and descent is along the rotation axis of the rotation unit 31. The drive unit 3 may be any mechanism that can rotate and raise and lower the table 13, and is not limited to the mechanism described above.

The housing 9 is supported by a plurality of columns 91. The housing 9 functions as a chamber that forms the modeling space S. The modeling space S is a decompressable airtight space for accommodating the powder material A and modeling the modeled object O.

A table 13 and a modeling tank 14 are arranged in the modeling space S. As the table 13, for example, a disk-shaped table is used, and the powder material A, which is the raw material of the model O, is arranged on the model surface 13a. The modeling surface 13a is the main surface or the upper surface of the table 13. The table 13 is arranged so that its central axis overlaps with the central axis of the housing 9. The drive unit 3 is connected to the table 13. Therefore, the table 13 is rotated and linearly moved along the rotation axis by the drive unit 3.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the main parts used in the modeling process. A supply unit 5, a recorder 6, a heating unit 7, and a beam source 8 are arranged above the table 13. That is, above the table 13, the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the beam source 8 are sequentially arranged along the circumferential direction of the table 13. In other words, the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the beam source 8 are provided above the table 13 along the rotation direction of the table 13.

The supply unit 5 is a component for supplying the powder material A on the table 13. The recorder 6 is a component component for spreading the powder material A supplied on the table 13 by the supply unit 5. The supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 are integrally provided and are provided above the table 13. Details of the configurations of the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 will be described later. The heating unit 7 is a device for preheating the spread powder material A, and for example, a heater is used. The heating unit 7 preheats the powder material A before the beam is irradiated. The heating unit 7 is arranged above the table 13 and raises the temperature of the powder material A by radiant heat. The heating unit 7 may be heated by another method, and for example, an infrared heater may be used.

In this way, the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the beam source 8 for performing the modeling process are arranged along the rotation direction of the table 13, and the table 13 is rotated to perform modeling on the table 13. Each process of supplying the powder material A, preheating the powder material A, and modeling by beam irradiation can be performed in parallel. That is, the powder material A is supplied at the positions of the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6, the powder material A is preheated at the position of the heating unit 7, and the beam irradiation is performed at the position of the beam source 8 to form the model. Object O is modeled. Therefore, as compared with the case where the powder material A is supplied, the powder material A is preheated, and the beam irradiation is sequentially performed, the modeled object O can be efficiently modeled, and the modeled object O can be modeled in a short time. In particular, it is effective when modeling a large modeled object O.

In FIG. 1, the control unit 4 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire device of the three-dimensional modeling device 1, and includes, for example, a computer including a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The control unit 4 performs elevating control and rotation control of the table 13, operation control of the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6, operation control of the heating unit 7, operation control of the beam source 8, and the like. Further, the control unit 4 acquires slice data of the horizontal cross section of the modeled object O. For example, the control unit 4 acquires spiral slice data centered on the rotation axis C of the modeled object O, and sets the irradiation position of the electron beam with respect to the slice data.

The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the rotation unit 31, outputs a control signal to the rotation unit 31, and controls the rotation of the table 13 through the operation of the rotation unit 31. For example, the control unit 4 operates the rotation unit 31 to rotate the table 13 around the rotation axis C. The rotation axis C is set in the vertical direction, for example, in the vertical direction. Further, the rotation axis C is set at a position penetrating the table 13. As a result, the table 13 rotates about the rotation axis C by the operation of the rotation unit 31.

Specifically, the control unit 4 rotates the table 13 in a counterclockwise direction at a constant rotation speed. This rotation speed may be determined according to, for example, the temperature rise rate of the powder material A in preheating and modeling. That is, the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of the powder material A before the preheating to a predetermined temperature after the preheating is acquired, and the time required to give the amount of energy to the powder material A is determined. Then, the rotation speed of the table 13 is determined according to the required time and the length of the locus that passes when passing through the preheating region 71.

The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the elevating unit 32, outputs a control signal to the elevating unit 32, and controls the elevating of the table 13 through the operation of the elevating unit 32. For example, the control unit 4 operates the elevating unit 32 to elevate and lower the table 13. Specifically, the control unit 4 arranges the table 13 at a position above the modeling tank 14 at the initial stage of modeling, and lowers the table 13 as the modeling of the modeled object O progresses. The descent speed of the table 13 is determined according to, for example, the rotation speed of the table 13.

The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the heating unit 7, outputs a control signal to the heating unit 7, and performs preheating control of the powder material A. For example, the control unit 4 operates the heating unit 7 to heat the powder material A on the table 13 and execute the preheating of the powder material A. The heating amount of the powder material A may be set according to the material and type of the powder material A, the rotation speed of the table 13, and the like.

The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the beam source 8 and outputs a control signal to the beam source 8 to control the emission of the beam. For example, the control unit 4 operates the beam source 8 to emit an electron beam, and irradiates the powder material A at a predetermined position with the electron beam. The position where the electron beam is irradiated is an area where the modeled object O should be shaped, and the electron beam is irradiated according to a preset irradiation position.

3 and 4 show an outline of the configuration of the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. FIG. 3 shows the time when the powder material A is supplied, and FIG. 4 shows the time when the supply of the powder material A is stopped. As shown in FIG. 3, the supply unit 5 is supported on the support 92 and provided on the table 13. The support 92 is a member provided inside the housing 9 so as to be oriented horizontally. In FIG. 3, the table 13 is not shown, and the modeled object O formed on the table 13 is shown. The supply unit 5 includes a tank 51 and a supply pipe 52. The tank 51 is a container for accommodating the powder material A. A supply pipe 52 is connected to the tank 51. The supply pipe 52 is a pipe body that guides the powder material A in the tank 51 onto the table 13 along the supply path 52c.

The supply pipe 52 has a main pipe 52a and a movable portion 52b. The main pipe 52a is a pipe body connected to the tank 51, and is provided so as to face downward. The movable portion 52b is attached to the lower part of the main pipe 52a and is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The movable portion 52b is formed with a supply port 52d for discharging the powder material A. A supply path 52c for circulating the powder material A is formed inside the main pipe 52a and the movable portion 52b.

The movable portion 52b is attached to the lower part of the main pipe 52a so as to extend the main pipe 52a downward, for example. For example, the supply path 52c formed in the movable portion 52b is formed by bending diagonally downward. That is, the inner surface of the bent supply path 52c on the tip end side is formed diagonally. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the movable portion 52b moves upward, the lower end of the main pipe 52a comes into contact with the inner surface of the supply passage 52c in the movable portion 52b, and the supply passage 52c is closed. At this time, the main pipe 52a is attached to the support 92 and does not move upward. The lower end of the main pipe 52a is formed so as to be cut diagonally in the same direction as the supply path 52c, for example. As a result, in the movable portion 52b, the powder material A in the supply path 52c can flow downward, and the supply path 52c can be reliably closed by the contact of the lower end of the main pipe 52a. The mechanism for closing the supply path 52c by moving the movable portion 52b upward is such that if the supply path 52c can be closed by moving the movable portion 52b upward, the lower end of the main pipe 52a is connected to the supply path 52c. It may be a mechanism other than the mechanism for contacting the inner surface.

On the other hand, when the movable portion 52b moves downward in the state of FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the main pipe 52a is separated from the inner surface of the supply path 52c of the movable portion 52b. As a result, the supply path 52c is opened, the powder material A flows down in the supply path 52c, and the powder material A is discharged from the supply port 52d.

As shown in FIG. 3, the powder material A supplied on the table 13 (including the powder material A supplied on the modeled object O formed on the table 13) is spread by the recorder 6. The recorder 6 is provided integrally with the supply unit 5. For example, the recorder 6 is provided integrally with the movable portion 52b of the supply unit 5, and moves with the vertical movement of the movable portion 52b. The recorder 6 has a leveling plate 61 and a support 62. The leveling plate 61 is a plate member for laying out the powder material A. The lower end of the leveling plate 61 is formed so as to be parallel to the modeling surface 13a of the table 13. Further, the lower end of the leveling plate 61 is provided at a position below the supply port 52d. The leveling plate 61 is attached via a support 62. The support 62 is a member for supporting the leveling plate 61. The movable portion 52b is attached to the support 62.

The support 62 is attached to the elevating body 53 and moves in the vertical direction by the operation of the elevating mechanism 54. The elevating mechanism 54 has an actuator that elevates and elevates the elevating body 53, and operates by a control signal of the control unit 4. The elevating mechanism 54 is attached to, for example, a support 92. When the elevating body 53 moves upward due to the operation of the elevating mechanism 54, the recorder 6 and the movable portion 52b move upward. On the other hand, when the elevating body 53 moves downward due to the operation of the elevating mechanism 54, the recorder 6 and the movable portion 52b move downward.

Next, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, in FIG. 1, the table 13 is moved upward and placed at the upper position of the modeling tank 14. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the elevating unit 32, and the table 13 is moved upward by the operation of the elevating unit 32 and is arranged at the upper position of the modeling tank 14.

Then, in FIG. 2, the table 13 is rotated about the rotation axis C. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the rotation unit 31, and the operation of the rotation unit 31 causes the table 13 to rotate about the rotation axis C.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the powder material A is supplied onto the table 13 by the supply unit 5. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the elevating mechanism 54, the movable unit 52b is moved downward, the powder material A is discharged from the supply port 52d, and the powder material A is supplied onto the table 13. Then, the powder material A on the table 13 is spread evenly by the recorder 6. That is, the powder material A is applied onto the table 13 with a predetermined thickness.

At this time, since the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 are integrally formed, the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 are simply configured. Since the distance between the supply port 52d of the supply unit 5 and the leveling plate 61 is constant, the leveling can be easily adjusted. Further, since the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 are integrally formed, the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 can be compactly configured and installed so as to fit on the table 13.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the heating unit 7 preheats the powder material A. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the heating unit 7, the heating unit 7 operates, and the powder material A moving below the heating unit 7 is heated by the rotation of the table 13.

Then, the powder material A is irradiated with an electron beam by the beam source 8, and the modeled object O is modeled. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the beam source 8, the beam source 8 operates, and the rotation of the table 13 irradiates the powder material A below the beam source 8 with an electron beam. As a result, the powder material A is melted or sintered, and the modeled object O is modeled.

Further, the table 13 is lowered as the modeling of the modeled object O progresses. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the elevating unit 32, and the table 13 descends along the rotation axis C by the operation of the elevating unit 32. The descent of the table 13 may be synchronized with the rotation of the table 13, but may not be completely synchronized.

Then, when the modeled object O is gradually laminated and formed and the desired modeled object O is formed, the supply of the powder material A is stopped. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 4 to the elevating mechanism 54, and as shown in FIG. 4, the recorder 6 and the movable unit 52b are moved upward via the elevating body 53. Due to the upward movement of the movable portion 52b, the inner surface of the supply path 52c in the movable portion 52b comes into contact with the lower end of the main pipe 52a. As a result, the supply path 52c is blocked, and the supply of the powder material A is stopped.

At this time, since the recorder 6 moves upward together with the movable portion 52b, a large space is formed between the supply portion 5 and the recorder 6 and the modeled object O on the table 13. Therefore, by lifting the modeling tank 14, the table 13, and the modeling object O upward and separating them from the elevating unit 32, the modeling object O can be easily taken out.

By making the recorder 6 movable in the vertical direction together with the movable portion 52b in this way, it is possible to easily take out the modeled object O and stop the discharge of the powder material A. Therefore, one elevating mechanism 54 that moves the movable portion 52b facilitates taking out the modeled object O and makes it possible to stop the discharge of the powder material A. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a mechanism for moving the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 in the vertical direction and a mechanism for closing the supply path 52c. Thereby, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be simply configured. Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be compactly configured, and the size can be reduced. In addition, the cost of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be reduced.

As described above, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the supply unit 5 is provided above the table 13, and the recorder 6 is provided integrally with the supply unit 5, thereby modeling the modeled object O. It is possible to simply configure the device to perform the above. Further, the powder material A can be supplied on the rotating table 13 by the supply unit 5 and spread by the recoater 6, so that the powder material A can be efficiently supplied and spread.

Further, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, by moving the movable portion 52b upward, a large space can be formed between the supply portion 5 and the modeled object O. Therefore, the modeled object O can be easily taken out. Further, by moving the movable portion 52b upward, the supply path 52c can be closed and the discharge of the powder material A from the supply port 52d can be stopped. That is, by making the movable portion 52b movable in the vertical direction, it is possible to easily take out the modeled object O and stop the discharge of the powder material A. Therefore, one mechanism for moving the movable portion 52b facilitates the taking out of the modeled object O and makes it possible to stop the discharge of the powder material A. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be simply configured and can be miniaturized. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention can take various modifications without departing from the gist of the claims.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 including one each of the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the beam source 8 has been described, but the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the heating unit 7 have been described. A plurality of beam sources 8 may be provided respectively. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, two supply units 5, a recorder 6, a heating unit 7, and a beam source 8 may be provided. That is, two sets of the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the beam source 8 may be provided in the circumferential direction of the table 13. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the movable portion 52b and the support 62 for moving the recorder 6 up and down may be shared. That is, the movable portion 52b and the recorder 6 may be moved up and down by one support 62 in each set. As a result, the number of parts of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be reduced, and the size and cost of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be reduced. Further, the supply unit 5, the recorder 6, the heating unit 7, and the beam source 8 may be provided with three or more of each.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the movable portion 52b is moved upward, the supply path 52c is blocked, but the movable portion 52b is further upward while the supply path 52c is blocked. It may be possible to move to. For example, the main pipe 52a may be configured to be expandable and contractible by a telescopic method or the like so that the movable portion 52b can be further moved upward while the supply path 52c is closed. In this case, the supply path 52c can be blocked by moving the movable portion 52b over a short distance. Further, a large space can be formed between the supply unit 5 and the recorder 6 and the modeled object O on the table 13, and it becomes easier to take out the modeled object O.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the modeled object O is modeled by using an electron beam as the energy beam has been described, but the model may be modeled by using an energy beam other than the electron beam. For example, the modeled object O may be modeled by irradiating an ion beam, a laser beam, ultraviolet rays, or the like. Further, the modeled object O may be modeled by a method other than the powder bed method.

1 Three-dimensional modeling device 3 Drive unit 4 Control unit 5 Supply unit 6 Recorder 7 Heating unit 8 Beam source 9 Housing 13 Table 13a Modeling surface 14 Modeling tank 31 Rotating unit 32 Elevating unit 51 Tank 52 Supply pipe 52a Main pipe 52b Moving unit 52c Supply path 52d Supply port 53 Elevating body 54 Elevating mechanism 61 Leveling plate 62 Support 92 Support A Powder material C Rotating axis O Modeled object S Modeling space

Claims (2)

It is a three-dimensional modeling device that supplies powder material on a rotating table and irradiates the powder material with an energy beam to create a three-dimensional model.
A table for modeling the modeled object by rotating around the axis in the vertical direction, and
A supply unit provided above the table and supplying the powder material on the table,
A recoater that is provided integrally with the supply unit and spreads the powder material supplied on the table by the supply unit, and
A three-dimensional modeling device equipped with. The supply unit has a tank for accommodating the powder material and a supply pipe connected to the tank and guiding the powder material along the supply path onto the table.
The supply pipe forms a supply port for discharging the powder material, is movable in the vertical direction, opens the supply path by moving downward, and discharges the powder material from the supply port. It has a movable portion that blocks the supply path by moving upward and stops the discharge of the powder material from the supply port.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1.

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