JP4888257B2 - 3D modeling apparatus and 3D modeling method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for modeling a three-dimensional object, and more particularly, to a technique for modeling a three-dimensional object by discharging a curable liquid and combining powder materials.

  A technique for forming a three-dimensional object while hardening powder with a hardening liquid is known. In this technique, a three-dimensional object is formed by repeating the following operations. First, the powder is thinly spread with a uniform thickness to form a powder layer, and the powder is bonded by discharging a curable liquid to a desired portion of the powder layer. As a result, in the powder layer, only the portion where the curable liquid is discharged is bonded to form a thin plate-like member. In the present specification, this thin plate-like member is referred to as a “cross-sectional member”. Next, a thin powder layer is formed on the powder layer, and the curable liquid is discharged to a desired portion. As a result, a new cross-sectional member is also formed in the portion of the newly formed powder layer where the curable liquid is discharged. By repeating such operations and laminating thin plate-like cross-sectional members one by one, a three-dimensional object can be formed.

  With such 3D modeling technology, as long as there is 3D shape data of the object to be modeled, it is possible to immediately model by combining powder, and there is no need to create a mold prior to modeling. It is possible to form a three-dimensional object quickly and inexpensively. In addition, since thin plate-like cross-sectional members are layered one by one and shaped, for example, even a complex object having an internal structure can be formed as an integrated shaped object without being divided into a plurality of parts. (For example, patent document 1).

JP 2002-307562 A

  However, the three-dimensional object formed by combining such powders has a problem that it is difficult to form the surface of the object smoothly. This is because, because the powder is combined and shaped, the surface is inevitably uneven due to the powder, and when the powder particles fall off from the surface, one particle is present in that part. A dent in the minute occurs. Furthermore, after the curable liquid has penetrated between the particles of the powder and cured, when the particles of the adjacent powder drop off, protrusions are generated in the portion due to the cured curable liquid. These reasons occur in a complex manner, making it difficult to form the surface of a three-dimensional object smoothly.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is a three-dimensional modeling technique capable of smoothly modeling the surface of a three-dimensional object formed by combining powders. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve at least a part of the problems described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object by bonding powders together with a curing liquid,
Shape data storage means for storing shape data of the three-dimensional object;
Cross-sectional data generating means for generating cross-sectional data obtained in each layer when the three-dimensional object is cut into layers in a plurality of cross sections;
The powder is spread to a substantially uniform thickness to form a powder layer, and the curable liquid is supplied to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data, which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of one layer of the three-dimensional object. Cross-sectional member forming means for forming a cross-sectional member to be
A new powder layer is formed on the powder layer on which the cross-sectional member is formed, and a new cross-sectional member is formed by supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data to the new powder layer, Three-dimensional object modeling means for modeling the three-dimensional object by sequentially laminating on the cross-sectional member formed in advance,
The cross-section member forming means includes
After forming the portion corresponding to the surface of the three-dimensional object in the cross-sectional member by supplying the curing liquid onto the previously formed cross-sectional member and curing it,
It is a means for forming the remaining portion of the cross-sectional member by forming the powder layer in a portion other than the surface portion, supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data, and bonding the powder. And

Moreover, the three-dimensional modeling method of the present invention corresponding to the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus,
A three-dimensional modeling method for modeling a three-dimensional object by bonding powders together with a curing liquid,
A shape data storage step for storing shape data of the three-dimensional object;
A cross-section data generation step for generating cross-section data obtained in each layer when the three-dimensional object is cut into layers in a plurality of cross sections;
The powder is spread to a substantially uniform thickness to form a powder layer, and the curable liquid is supplied to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data, which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of one layer of the three-dimensional object. A cross-section member forming step for forming a cross-section member to be performed;
A new powder layer is formed on the powder layer on which the cross-sectional member is formed, and a new cross-sectional member is formed by supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data to the new powder layer, A cross-sectional member laminating step of sequentially laminating on the cross-sectional member formed in advance,
The cross-section member forming step includes
After forming the portion corresponding to the surface of the three-dimensional object in the cross-sectional member by supplying the curing liquid onto the previously formed cross-sectional member and curing it,
It is a step of forming the remaining portion of the cross-sectional member by forming the powder layer on a portion other than the surface portion, supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data, and bonding the powder. And

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method of the present invention, shape data of a three-dimensional object to be modeled is stored in advance, and each layer when the three-dimensional object is cut into layers in a plurality of cross sections is stored. The cross-sectional data can be generated. Then, the powder is spread to a substantially uniform thickness to form a powder layer, and a hardening liquid is supplied to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data. When the curable liquid is supplied, the powders are bonded to each other. Therefore, by supplying the curable liquid to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data, the cross section has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the powder layer and has a three-dimensional object. A member having a cross-sectional shape at (a cross-sectional member) can be formed. Therefore, a new powder layer is formed on the powder layer on which the cross-section member is formed, and a new cross-section member is formed by supplying a curable liquid to the powder layer according to the cross-section data. At the same time, it is laminated on the previously formed cross-sectional member. By repeating such an operation, a three-dimensional object can be formed. Here, when forming the cross-sectional member, it is formed by following the two-step procedure as follows. First, in accordance with the cross-sectional data, a portion corresponding to the surface of the three-dimensional object is formed in the cross-sectional member by supplying a curing liquid to the portion corresponding to the surface of the three-dimensional object and curing it. Next, a powder layer is formed on a portion other than the surface portion, and the remaining part of the cross-sectional member is formed by supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data and bonding the powder, thereby completing the cross-sectional member. In this way, a three-dimensional object is formed by laminating while completing the cross-sectional members.

  Since the surface of the three-dimensional object formed in this way is formed with a curable liquid without using powder, there is no unevenness caused by the powder, and a three-dimensional object having a smooth surface is formed. Is possible.

  Further, in the above three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention, as the curing liquid, a curing liquid that starts curing when irradiated with an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength is used. The cross-sectional member may be formed by irradiation and curing.

  When the curable liquid is irradiated with electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic waves easily reach the inside of the curable liquid. For this reason, if the hardening liquid of the type irradiated with the electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength is used, the whole hardening liquid can be hardened rapidly by irradiating electromagnetic waves. As a result, before the curable liquid supplied to form the surface area of the three-dimensional object can penetrate between the powders, it can be cured by irradiation with electromagnetic waves, so that the surface of the three-dimensional object can be shaped smoothly. It becomes possible.

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention, a curable liquid that becomes transparent after curing may be used as the curable liquid.

  If the surface portion is formed using such a curable liquid, the internal color can be directly reflected on the surface. For this reason, for example, if a desired color is given to the inside of a three-dimensional object by using a powder of a desired color, or by adding a desired color to a hardening liquid that binds the powder. It becomes possible to form a three-dimensional object exhibiting a desired color.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration:
B. Modeling method of this example:
C. Variations:
C-1. First modification:
C-2. Second modification:
C-3. Third modification:

A. Device configuration :
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a rough configuration of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 includes a modeling unit 10 that is configured by a large frame and in which a three-dimensional object is modeled, and a powder that forms a powder layer of powder in the modeling unit 10. The layer forming unit 20, the curable liquid supply unit 30 for supplying a curable liquid for bonding powders to the powder layer, and the ultraviolet for irradiating the curable liquid supplied to the powder layer with ultraviolet light to cure the curable liquid. The light irradiation unit 50 and an arithmetic processing unit 40 that performs various arithmetic processes to control the entire operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 are configured.

  The arithmetic processing unit 40 stores shape data of a three-dimensional object to be modeled, and cuts the three-dimensional object into a plurality of cross sections to generate cross section data in each layer. And a control unit 44 that controls the operation of the modeling unit 10, the powder layer forming unit 20, and the curable liquid supply unit 30 in accordance with the obtained cross-sectional data. When the control unit 44 receives the cross-section data from the cross-section data generation unit 42, the control unit 44 drives the powder layer forming unit 20 to form a powder layer in the modeling unit 10, and drives the curable liquid supply unit 30 to drive the curable liquid. Is supplied to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data, and ultraviolet light is irradiated toward the supplied curable liquid. Then, the curable liquid is cured by ultraviolet light and the powders are bonded to each other, whereby a thin plate-like member (cross-sectional member) having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional data for one layer is formed in the modeling portion 10. The When the cross-sectional member for one layer is formed in this way, the bottom surface driving unit 16 is driven to slightly lower the bottom surface unit 14. Next, the next cross-section data is received from the cross-section data generation unit 42, a new powder layer is formed on the powder layer on which the cross-section member is formed, and a curable liquid is supplied from above to irradiate ultraviolet light. Thus, a new cross-sectional member is formed. As described above, when the control unit 44 receives the cross-section data of each layer from the cross-section data generation unit 42, the control unit 44 drives the modeling unit 10, the powder layer forming unit 20, the curable liquid supply unit 30, and the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50. The cross-sectional members are formed and stacked one by one.

  The cross-section data generation unit 42 can be configured using a known computer in which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like are configured to exchange data with each other. Further, the control unit 44 can be configured using a dedicated IC chip that converts the cross-sectional data and generates a drive signal to the modeling unit 10, the powder layer forming unit 20, and the curable liquid supply unit 30. Of course, such conversion may be performed using a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like. In this case, it is also possible to incorporate the function of the control unit 44 into the computer constituting the cross-section data generation unit 42 so that the cross-section data generation unit 42 and the control unit 44 are integrally configured.

  The modeling unit 10 includes a frame body 12 that is rectangular when viewed from above, a bottom surface part 14 that forms the bottom surface of the frame body 12 and is slidable in the vertical direction, and a bottom surface that slides the bottom surface part 14 in the vertical direction. The three-dimensional object is formed in a space formed between the frame body 12 and the bottom surface portion 14. Further, the bottom surface driving unit 16 can accurately move the bottom surface portion 14 in the vertical direction under the control of the control unit 44.

  The powder layer forming unit 20 is supplied from a hopper 22 in which powder is stored, a powder supply roller 24 that supplies powder by a fixed amount by rotating at a lower portion of the hopper 22, and a powder supply roller 24. The extending roller 26 is configured to extend the powder to a certain thickness to form a powder layer. The hopper 22, the powder supply roller 24, and the extension roller 26 are formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 (Y direction), and the powder layer forming unit 20 is entirely on the paper surface of FIG. 1. It can be moved in the left-right direction (X direction).

  When forming the powder layer, first, the powder layer forming unit 20 is moved to the left end of FIG. At this time, the bottom surface driving unit 16 is driven by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the powder layer to be formed, and the position of the bottom surface unit 14 is lowered downward (minus Y direction). Then, the powder supply roller 24 is rotated to move the powder layer forming unit 20 in the right direction (plus X direction) while supplying the powder in front of the extension roller 26. The extension roller 26 is rotated in the reverse direction with respect to the traveling direction. In this way, the extension roller 26 moves while kicking excess powder in the direction of travel, and as a result, a powder layer having a uniform thickness is formed behind. At this time, the supply speed of the powder is controlled to an appropriate supply speed according to the thickness of the powder layer to be formed and the moving speed of the powder layer forming unit 20. The rotation speed of the extension roller 26 is controlled to an appropriate rotation speed according to the moving speed of the powder layer forming unit 20. In this way, it is possible to kick out excess powder in the direction of travel and always extend the powder by an appropriate amount, and as a result, it is possible to avoid excessively treading the powder. It becomes possible.

  The curable liquid supply unit 30 includes a supply head for supplying the curable liquid toward the powder layer and a storage unit for storing the curable liquid, and the curing liquid stored in the curable liquid storage unit 34. The liquid can be supplied from the curable liquid supply head 32 toward the powder layer.

  Here, as the curable liquid supply head 32 of this embodiment, a so-called piezo drive type droplet discharge head is employed. The piezo drive type droplet discharge head is equivalent to the volume reduction of the pressure chamber by filling the pressure chamber with fine nozzle holes with liquid and bending the side wall of the pressure chamber using a piezo element. It is possible to discharge a volume of liquid as droplets. In the curable liquid supply unit 30 of the present embodiment, the curable liquid stored in the curable liquid storage unit 34 is guided to the pressure chamber of the curable liquid supply head 32 to drive the piezo element, whereby the liquid curable liquid is obtained. It is possible to discharge.

  Here, as the curable liquid, a liquid resin material mainly composed of a monomer and an oligomer to which the monomer is bonded, and a polymerization that activates the monomer or oligomer when it is irradiated with ultraviolet light and starts polymerization. Mixtures with initiators are used. In addition, a monomer having a comparatively low molecular weight is selected as the monomer of the curable liquid so that it can be ejected as droplets from a piezo-driven droplet ejection head, and the monomer contained in one oligomer. The number of molecules is adjusted to about several molecules. Since the curable liquid is stable as long as it is not exposed to ultraviolet light, it can be ejected as droplets without being cured inside the curable liquid container 34 or the curable liquid supply head 32. When the polymerization initiator is brought into an excited state by being bathed, the monomers are polymerized with each other to grow into oligomers, and the oligomers are also polymerized in some places and quickly cured to become a solid.

  In addition, a different type of polymerization initiator than that contained in the curable liquid is attached to the surface of the powder. The polymerization initiator attached to the surface of the powder has the property of initiating polymerization by acting on a monomer or oligomer when it comes into contact with the curable liquid. For this reason, when a droplet of the curable liquid is supplied to the powder layer, the curable liquid penetrates into the powder layer and is cured by contact with the polymerization initiator on the powder surface. As a result, the curable liquid is discharged. In the part which was done, it will be in the state couple | bonded by the hardening | curing liquid with which powder was hardened.

  Further, the curable liquid supply unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 44, independently of the powder layer forming unit 20, in the X direction (left and right direction on the paper surface of FIG. 1) and the Y direction (paper surface of FIG. 1). In the vertical direction).

  The ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50 surrounds the three sides of the elongated ultraviolet light irradiation lamp provided along the Y direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) and the ultraviolet light irradiation lamp so that the ultraviolet light is irradiated only downward. An ultraviolet light shielding member is used. The ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50 is turned on or off under the control of the control unit 44, and moves in the X direction (left and right direction on the paper surface of FIG. 1) together with the powder layer forming unit 20 and the curable liquid supply unit 30. Thus, it is possible to uniformly irradiate ultraviolet light over the entire surface of the powder layer.

B. Modeling method of this example:
In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, modeling is performed by the following method in order to make the surface of the modeled three-dimensional object as smooth as possible. Hereinafter, a method for forming a three-dimensional object according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the three-dimensional modeling process performed by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment for modeling a three-dimensional object. As shown in the figure, when the three-dimensional modeling process is started, first, the shape data of the three-dimensional object to be modeled is acquired (step S100). Next, cross-sectional data is generated from the shape data of the three-dimensional object (step S102). Here, the cross-sectional data is a plurality of data obtained in each layer when a three-dimensional object is cut into layers in a plurality of cross sections.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which cross-sectional data is generated from a three-dimensional object. FIG. 3A conceptually shows the shape data of the three-dimensional object. In the illustrated example, the three-dimensional object to be modeled has a tea tube shape with a slightly narrowed central portion, and large round windows are formed in the center of the upper and lower surfaces of the tea tube shape. And the partition plate which partitions off the inside of a tea cylinder shape up and down is provided in the inside of a tea cylinder shape. In modeling a three-dimensional object, such three-dimensional shape data is stored in advance in the cross-section data generation unit 42. Then, when the three-dimensional modeling process is started, after the designated shape data is read from the shape data stored in the cross-section data generation unit 42 (step S100 in FIG. 2), the read three-dimensional object is Cross-section data as shown in FIG. 3B can be generated by cutting into a plurality of sections parallel to the upper surface (or lower surface) (step S102 in FIG. 2). In this way, the cross-section data generation unit 42 generates cross-section data corresponding to each cross-section. In addition, although the space | interval which takes a cross section does not necessarily need to be equal intervals, it shall be equal intervals here.

  Next, the control unit 44 reads one layer of cross-section data from the plurality of cross-section data generated by the cross-section data generation unit 42 (step S104), and separates the cross-section data into a surface area and an internal area. (Step S106). Here, the surface region is a portion that is a surface of a three-dimensional object to be modeled and an adjacent region. Most simply, the contour of the cross section shown in the cross section data and its vicinity can be used as the surface area. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3A, only the portion constituting the outer surface of the three-dimensional object and its vicinity may be set as the surface region. Furthermore, the operator of the 3D modeling apparatus 100 designates the surface of the 3D object while confirming on the monitor screen of the cross-section data generation unit 42, and the portion constituting the designated surface and the vicinity thereof are defined as the surface region. It is also possible to do. In the following description, it is assumed that the outer surface of the three-dimensional object and a region within a predetermined distance from the outer surface are set as the surface region.

  As described above, when the cross-sectional data for one layer is separated into the surface region and the internal region (step S106), first, a portion of the surface region of the cross-sectional member is formed (step S108). FIG. 4 is an explanatory view conceptually showing a state of forming a surface region portion of the cross-sectional member. FIG. 4A shows an enlarged part of the cross-sectional data. As shown in the figure, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional data includes a surface region on the outer peripheral surface side (displayed with fine oblique lines) and other internal regions (coarse oblique lines). And display). And in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of a present Example, these areas are not formed at once, but only the surface area part is formed first.

  FIG. 4B conceptually shows the formation of the surface region portion of the cross-sectional member. As shown in the drawing, the surface region portion is not formed by hardening the powder layer with the curable liquid, but is formed using the curable liquid. That is, the powder layer forming unit 20 is moved in the positive X direction (rightward on the paper surface), but at this time, no powder is supplied and no powder layer is formed. Then, according to the cross-sectional data, the curable liquid is discharged from the curable liquid supply head 32 to the surface region. As described above, the curable liquid supply head 32 employs the piezo drive type droplet discharge head used in the ink jet printer, and can discharge the curable liquid in an accurate amount at an accurate position. It is. Next, the discharged curable liquid is cured by irradiating ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50. At this time, since the powder is not supplied, the extension roller 26 is in an idling state. In this way, the curable liquid is discharged, and while the discharged curable liquid is irradiated with ultraviolet light, the powder layer forming unit 20, the curable liquid supply unit 30, and the ultraviolet light irradiating unit 50 are moved in the positive X direction (on the paper surface). When moved in the right direction), thereafter, the cross-sectional member formed of the curable liquid is formed in a convex shape at a height of one cross-sectional member only in the surface region portion.

  When the surface region of the cross-sectional member is formed as described above, the powder layer forming unit 20, the curable liquid supply unit 30, and the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50 are returned to the left end position, and then the powder layer is formed. Then, the internal region of the cross-sectional member is formed by discharging the curable liquid (step S110).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the state of forming the internal region portion of the cross-sectional member. FIG. 5A shows an enlarged part of the cross-sectional data. Further, FIG. 5B conceptually shows a state of forming an internal region portion of the cross-sectional member. As shown in the drawing, when forming the internal region, the powder roller is supplied using the powder supply roller 24 and the extension roller 26 is rotated to form the powder layer, and in accordance with the cross-sectional data. By discharging the curable liquid to the inner region portion, the powders are bonded to form the inner region portion. As described above, since the cross-sectional member made of the curable liquid is already formed at a height of one layer in the surface region portion, the powder supplied to the surface region portion is moved forward by the rotating extension roller 26. Therefore, the powder layer is not formed in the surface region portion, and the powder layer is formed in the other portion. From above the powder layer thus formed, the curable liquid is discharged to the internal region according to the cross-sectional data. As described above, the curable liquid supply head 32 can discharge the curable liquid to a very accurate position. Therefore, it is possible to discharge the curable liquid only to the inner region and combine the powder.

  In addition, the curable liquid used in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is activated when irradiated with an electromagnetic wave having a specific wavelength (here, ultraviolet light), and acts on monomers and oligomers in the curable liquid. However, another type of polymerization initiator is also applied to the surface of the powder particles. The polymerization initiator applied to the powder particles is activated when it comes into contact with the curable liquid, and has a property of initiating polymerization of monomers and oligomers. For this reason, the curable liquid discharged to the powder layer soaks in between the powders, starts polymerization from the part touching the powder surface, and finally bonds the powders together.

  Here, there is a slight difference in characteristics between the polymerization by electromagnetic waves and the polymerization by touching the polymerization initiator on the powder surface even in the same polymerization. In other words, in polymerization using electromagnetic waves, polymerization initiators that react to electromagnetic waves are uniformly dispersed in the curable liquid. Therefore, when irradiated with electromagnetic waves, the polymerization initiators are activated all at once, and the polymerization is completed in a very short time. To do. On the other hand, in the polymerization started by contacting the polymerization initiator on the powder surface, the polymerization starts at the portion where the curable liquid is in contact with the powder surface, and as the polymerization reaction proceeds, The portion that is not in contact with the body surface) also polymerizes. For this reason, the curable liquid as a whole tends to take a relatively long time to complete the polymerization. Further, in the polymerization by light, since the entire curable liquid is polymerized at the same time, there are many portions where monomers and oligomers are polymerized, so that a brittle member is formed while being extremely hard. On the other hand, when the polymerization is carried out with the polymerization initiator on the powder surface, a strong member that is hard to break is formed because the polymerization is performed at sparse positions rather than polymerization by light.

  When the internal region of the cross-section member is formed as described above (step S110), the cross-section member corresponding to the cross-section data for one layer is formed. Is determined (step S112). And when it is judged that the cross-sectional data which has not yet formed the cross-sectional member still remain (step S112: no), after reading the cross-sectional data for the next layer (step S104), On the other hand, a cross-sectional member corresponding to the cross-sectional data is formed by performing the series of processes described above. When it is determined that the cross-section members corresponding to all the cross-section data have been formed by repeating the above-described process (step S112: yes), the three-dimensional modeling process of the present embodiment shown in FIG. At this time, a plurality of powder layers are laminated in the modeling portion 10, and the cross-sectional members formed by discharging the curable liquid when laminating the powder layers are combined and integrated. Yes. Therefore, if the integrated cross-section member is taken out from the modeling part 10, the powder that is not bonded by the curable liquid is dropped off, so that a three-dimensional object corresponding to the shape data can be obtained.

  The three-dimensional object formed as described above is formed by curing the curable liquid on the surface portion without using powder. For this reason, unevenness due to powder does not occur on the surface of the object, and modeling can be performed on a smooth surface. Further, since the inside of the three-dimensional object is polymerized with the curing liquid relatively slowly, it is difficult to break and it is possible to form a strong three-dimensional object. Furthermore, since the inside of the three-dimensional object is polymerized relatively slowly, it is possible to well control the strain generated by the polymerization.

C. Modified example:
Various modifications exist in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above. Hereinafter, these modified examples will be briefly described.

C-1. First modification:
In the above-described embodiments, the curable liquid that forms the surface region of the cross-sectional member and the curable liquid that forms the internal region are described as using the same curable liquid. However, a dedicated curing liquid for forming the surface region and a dedicated curing liquid for forming the internal region may be used. At this time, the curable liquid for the surface region is desirably a curable liquid having a relatively high viscosity, and the curable liquid for the internal region is desirably a curable liquid having a relatively low viscosity. If the viscosity of the curable liquid is high, it becomes easy to form the convex portion of the cross-sectional member having a height of one layer on the surface portion. Further, if the viscosity of the curable liquid is low, when discharged to the powder layer, it can be soaked between the powders and the powders can be reliably bonded to each other.

  Further, as the curable liquid for the surface region, it is desirable to use a curable liquid that initiates polymerization with as little electromagnetic waves as possible. In this way, energy for irradiating electromagnetic waves (here, ultraviolet rays) can be saved, and an increase in the size of the electromagnetic wave irradiation section can be avoided.

  In addition, it is desirable to use a curable liquid having a low affinity with the powder as the curable liquid for the surface region, and it is desirable to use a curable liquid having a high affinity as much as possible for the internal region. . If the curable liquid has a low affinity with the powder (preferably if it is a curable liquid repelled by the powder), the curable liquid discharged to form the surface region is formed on the lower side. It can be avoided that the powder surface oozes out and the surface of the object becomes rough. Further, since the curable liquid having high affinity with the powder penetrates uniformly between the powders when discharged to the powder layer, the powders can be reliably bonded to each other.

  Further, as described above, when the curable liquid for the surface region and the curable liquid for the internal region are mounted, immediately on the front side (traveling direction side) of the electromagnetic wave irradiation part (here, the ultraviolet light irradiation part 50), A curable liquid supply head that discharges the curable liquid for the surface area may be provided, and a curable liquid supply head that discharges the curable liquid for the internal area may be further provided on the front side thereof. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating a first modified example in which the curable liquid supply heads for discharging the respective curable liquids are mounted in this order. As shown in the drawing, a curable liquid supply head 32 is provided in front of the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50, and a curable liquid supply head 36 is provided in front of it. The curable liquid supply head 32 is supplied with a curable liquid from a curable liquid storage portion 34, and the curable liquid storage portion 34 stores a curable liquid for the surface region. Further, the curable liquid supply head 36 is supplied with a curable liquid from a curable liquid storage unit 38, and the curable liquid storage unit 38 stores a curable liquid for the internal region. If the curable liquid supply head 32 for discharging the curable liquid for the surface area and the curable liquid supply head 36 for discharging the curable liquid for the internal area are arranged in this order, the curable liquid supply head 32 Immediately after discharging the curable liquid for the surface region, the curable liquid can be cured by irradiating the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 50. For this reason, since it can harden | cure before a hardening liquid spreads around, it becomes possible to form the cross-sectional member by a hardening liquid in a suitable position.

C-2. Second modification:
In the embodiment described above, it has been described that the surface region portion of the cross-sectional member is formed while the curable liquid supply unit 30 is moved once. That is, it has been described that a cross-sectional member corresponding to a height of one layer is immediately formed by discharging the curable liquid and irradiating with ultraviolet light. However, by moving the curable liquid supply unit 30 many times, each time the curable liquid supply unit 30 is moved once, the curable liquid is ejected little by little and the operation of curing by irradiating with ultraviolet light is repeated, thereby further increasing the height. Corresponding cross-sectional members may be formed. By doing so, the surface portion of the three-dimensional object is the same as stacking the thinner cross-sectional members, so that it is possible to form a smoother surface.

C-3. Third modification:
Furthermore, as the curable liquid for forming at least the surface region, a curable liquid that becomes transparent after curing may be used. By doing so, it is possible to form a three-dimensional object in which the color of the powder appears as it is. In addition, when a colored curable liquid is used as the curable liquid used for bonding the powder, a three-dimensional object in which the color of the inner region appears on the surface as it is can be obtained. In addition, in order to form a surface region, a curing liquid colored in C (cyan), M (magenta), or Y (yellow) is prepared as a curing liquid for bonding powders. As the curable liquid, a curable liquid that becomes transparent after curing may be used. In this way, when the powders are combined, a desired color is imparted to the internal region by supplying C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) curable liquids at appropriate ratios. It is possible to form a three-dimensional object in which the internal color appears as it is through the transparent surface.

  Although the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to all the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiments, the case where a curable liquid that starts polymerization with ultraviolet light is used as the curable liquid for forming the surface region has been described. However, it is also possible to use a curing liquid (for example, an instantaneous adhesive) that starts polymerization immediately when it comes into contact with moisture (or oxygen, etc.) in the air.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the rough structure of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the three-dimensional modeling process of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the cross-section data are produced | generated. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the surface area of a cross-sectional member was formed. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the internal region of a cross-sectional member was formed. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the 1st modification in which the hardening liquid for surface areas and the hardening liquid for internal areas were mounted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Modeling part, 12 ... Frame, 14 ... Bottom face part, 16 ... Bottom face drive part,
20 ... powder layer forming part, 22 ... hopper, 24 ... powder supply roller,
26 ... Extension roller, 28 ... Suction pump, 30 ... Curing liquid supply unit,
32 ... Curing liquid supply head, 34 ... Curing liquid storage unit, 40 ... Calculation processing unit,
42 ... Cross-section data generation unit, 44 ... Control unit, 100 ... Three-dimensional modeling apparatus

Claims (4)

A three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object by bonding powders together with a curing liquid,
Shape data storage means for storing shape data of the three-dimensional object;
Cross-sectional data generating means for generating cross-sectional data obtained in each layer when the three-dimensional object is cut into layers in a plurality of cross sections;
The powder is spread to a substantially uniform thickness to form a powder layer, and the curable liquid is supplied to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data, which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of one layer of the three-dimensional object. Cross-sectional member forming means for forming a cross-sectional member to be
A new powder layer is formed on the powder layer on which the cross-sectional member is formed, and a new cross-sectional member is formed by supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data to the new powder layer, Three-dimensional object modeling means for modeling the three-dimensional object by sequentially laminating on the cross-sectional member formed in advance,
The cross-section member forming means includes
After forming the portion corresponding to the surface of the three-dimensional object in the cross-sectional member by supplying the curing liquid onto the previously formed cross-sectional member and curing it,
Three-dimensional modeling, which is a means for forming the remaining portion of the cross-sectional member by forming the powder layer in a portion other than the surface portion, supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data, and bonding the powder apparatus. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1,
The curable liquid is a liquid that cures when irradiated with electromagnetic waves of a predetermined wavelength,
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising electromagnetic wave irradiation means for irradiating the curable liquid supplied to form the cross-sectional member with an electromagnetic wave having the predetermined wavelength.   The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curable liquid is a liquid that becomes transparent after curing. A three-dimensional modeling method for modeling a three-dimensional object by bonding powders together with a curing liquid,
A shape data storage step for storing shape data of the three-dimensional object;
A cross-section data generation step for generating cross-section data obtained in each layer when the three-dimensional object is cut into layers in a plurality of cross sections;
The powder is spread to a substantially uniform thickness to form a powder layer, and the curable liquid is supplied to the powder layer according to the cross-sectional data, which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of one layer of the three-dimensional object. A cross-section member forming step for forming a cross-section member to be performed;
A new powder layer is formed on the powder layer on which the cross-sectional member is formed, and a new cross-sectional member is formed by supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data to the new powder layer, A cross-sectional member laminating step of sequentially laminating on the cross-sectional member formed in advance,
The cross-section member forming step includes
After forming the portion corresponding to the surface of the three-dimensional object in the cross-sectional member by supplying the curing liquid onto the previously formed cross-sectional member and curing it,
Three-dimensional modeling, which is a step of forming the remaining portion of the cross-sectional member by forming the powder layer on a portion other than the surface portion, supplying the curable liquid according to the cross-sectional data, and bonding the powder. Method.

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