JP5088695B2 - 3D modeling method and 3D modeling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that create a three-dimensional model by stacking sheet materials.

  Conventionally, as a three-dimensional modeling method for creating a three-dimensional model of a three-dimensional shape, an optical modeling method in which each layer of a laminated model is formed by curing a UV curable resin to a cross-sectional shape of a three-dimensional model, and a powder material is welded by a laser. Powder sintering method that solidifies to form each layer of the laminated model, melt deposition method that forms each layer of the laminated model by heating and extruding the thermoplastic material from the nozzle, and cross-section of the sheet material such as paper A sheet lamination method that forms a lamination model by cutting, laminating, and adhering to a shape has been proposed.

  Among the above methods, the stereolithography method, the powder sintering method, and the melt deposition method are each a large-scale apparatus equipped with a laser irradiation device, a resin tank, equipment for cleaning the surface of a molded product, or equipment for supplying a molten resin. And expensive equipment was required. In addition, because special materials are used, ventilation in the facility is necessary, and floor reinforcement may be necessary to cope with equipment load and vibration during operation. Therefore, it was difficult to install in a general office. In addition, the time for curing the resin material and the like is long, and it takes time for modeling. On the other hand, since the sheet lamination method can be made of paper, which is a general material, it can be realized with a simpler and smaller apparatus than the above methods.

An example of an apparatus that performs three-dimensional modeling by a sheet lamination method is described in Patent Document 1. In the sheet additive manufacturing apparatus of Patent Document 1, the adhesive-coated continuous sheet drawn from the sheet roll is conveyed to a predetermined position on the table and cut, and the cut sheet after cutting is pressed to the table side by a pressure heating plate. And heated to adhere to the lower layer. After that, the cutting cutter is moved along the desired contour shape with the XY plotter, and the cross-sectional shape of the model is cut out from the bonded cut sheet, and unnecessary portions of the sheet material outside the contour of the model are cut into a lattice shape. To do. The sheet laminate modeling apparatus of Patent Document 1 repeats such an operation as many as the number of laminated sheets, and finally removes unnecessary portions of the sheet material cut into a block shape, thereby forming the sheet laminate into a desired three-dimensional shape. can do.
JP 2001-301060 A

  However, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus based on the sheet lamination method described in Patent Document 1 uses a cutter blade as a cutting means, and requires care in handling. In addition, it is necessary to scan while changing the direction of the cutter blade, and it takes time to perform precise cutting. Moreover, in order to adhere | attach each layer, it was necessary to prepare the sheet | seat material which apply | coated the adhesive previously, and since the unnecessary part of the sheet | seat material was adhere | attached, there existed a problem that the consumption amount of an adhesive agent was large.

  Moreover, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of patent document 1, in order to perform color three-dimensional modeling, it is necessary to color a sheet material beforehand or to perform a coloring process after modeling. Therefore, additional equipment is required for this purpose, and it takes time to create a color three-dimensional model. Further, the method of coloring after modeling has a problem that it is difficult to color the interior of the color three-dimensional model.

  An object of the present invention is to propose a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of creating a precise three-dimensional model in a short time with an apparatus having a safe and simple configuration in view of such points. .

  Another object of the present invention is to complete a color three-dimensional model in a short time by performing modeling and coloring of the three-dimensional model by the sheet lamination method simultaneously in the same apparatus, and the color three-dimensional model The object is to propose a three-dimensional modeling method and a three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of coloring inside and precise coloring.

In order to solve the above problems, the three-dimensional modeling method of the present invention is:
A three-dimensional modeling method for forming a three-dimensional model by laminating sheet materials,
When laminating the sheet material of each layer,
While adhering at least part of the cross section of the three-dimensional model in the sheet material of each layer with the sheet material of the upper and lower layers,
A sheet material solution is dropped using a droplet discharge head along the contour line of the three-dimensional model in each layer, so that the sheet material can be cut along the contour line.

  In the present invention, as described above, when the sheet materials of the respective layers are stacked, the sheet material can be cut along the contour line of the three-dimensional model by dropping the sheet material solution from the droplet discharge head. Accordingly, the cutting operation can be performed safely and promptly without using a cutter such as a cutter blade, and a precise three-dimensional model can be created in a short time. In addition, since the sheet material of each layer is not bonded to the entire surface of the sheet material of the upper and lower layers, only necessary portions can be bonded, so that the adhesive can be saved.

  In the present invention, when the sheet material of each layer is bonded to the sheet material of the upper and lower layers, the sheet material solution or adhesive is dropped on at least a part of the lower layer sheet material to be welded or bonded. Alternatively, at least a part of the sheet material on the upper layer side may be heated and pressed from above to be thermocompression bonded. According to such a bonding method, only necessary portions can be bonded easily. In addition, when the sheet material solution or adhesive is dropped, it is not necessary to apply an adhesive or the like to the sheet material in advance. Further, since no thermocompression bonding means such as a thermal head is required, the equipment used for the three-dimensional modeling can be reduced, and the three-dimensional modeling can be performed with a small and simple apparatus.

  In the present invention, after the sheet material of the layer to be colored is laminated, before the sheet material of the next layer is laminated, the droplet discharge head or the separate member is placed on the colored portion of the sheet material of the layer to be colored. The colored portion may be colored by dropping a coloring solution using a droplet discharge head. In this way, since any layer of the laminate can be colored at the time of lamination, it is not necessary to perform a separate coloring step. Therefore, a colored three-dimensional model can be created in a short time. Further, according to this method, it is possible to color a portion other than the outer surface of the three-dimensional model that is difficult to color after lamination (a portion of the inner layer). Further, by using the droplet discharge head, full color and fine pattern can be colored. Further, since cutting, coloring, and bonding can be performed by the droplet discharge head, necessary equipment can be reduced, and the apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

  In this invention, it is good to determine the dripping amount of the said solution for coloring so that the osmosis | permeation part of the solution for coloring dripped along the said outline may be formed through the said sheet | seat material. If it does in this way, since a solution osmose | permeates the whole end surface part of the sheet | seat material cut | disconnected along the outline, the end surface part of a sheet | seat material does not appear in an uncolored state on the surface of a three-dimensional model. .

  In the present invention, prior to the dropping of the sheet material solution, a pretreatment liquid is dropped and permeated using the droplet discharge head or a separate droplet discharge head along the contour line, and the front The sheet material solution may be dropped at a boundary portion between the portion where the treatment liquid has penetrated and the portion where the treatment liquid has not penetrated. By allowing the pretreatment liquid to permeate first along the contour line, the sheet material solution can be prevented from diffusing into the permeation portion. Therefore, a sharp cutting process can be performed along the contour line, and more precise three-dimensional modeling can be performed.

  In this invention, after laminating | stacking all the layers, it is good to cut | disconnect the sheet material of each layer along the said outline, and to remove the unnecessary part of the said sheet material. In this way, if unnecessary parts are removed collectively at the end, the time required for three-dimensional modeling can be shortened. Further, in the present invention, only the necessary part of the sheet material is adhered and not the unnecessary part is adhered, so that the unnecessary part of the sheet material is finally divided and peeled off at the end.

  Here, the sheet material in the present invention is water-soluble paper containing a water-soluble binder and a fiber material for papermaking, and the sheet material solution is water. In this way, when water-soluble paper is used, the sheet material can be dissolved with water that is easy to handle and safe without using chemicals. In addition, since the printing droplet discharge head that discharges the water-soluble solution can be used for dripping water, coloring with the water-soluble solution and cutting processing by dripping water are performed with the same droplet discharge head. Can do.

Next, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention
A droplet discharge head for dropping a sheet material solution;
A sheet material transport mechanism for transporting and stacking the sheet material to a dropping position facing the liquid droplet ejection head;
A control unit to which shape data of the three-dimensional model is input,
The control unit is characterized in that the three-dimensional model is formed by the three-dimensional modeling method according to the present invention described above by controlling the droplet discharge head and the sheet material transport mechanism based on the shape data.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention has a droplet discharge head for dropping a coloring solution, and the droplet discharge head is the same or separate from the droplet discharge head for dropping the sheet material solution. The control unit is supplied with coloring data of the three-dimensional model, and the control unit performs coloring on the sheet material of the layer to be colored based on the coloring data, and the sheet material of the next layer is laminated. It may be configured to be performed before being performed. With such an apparatus configuration, a colored three-dimensional model can be created in a short time, and coloring of portions other than the surface layer (inner layer portion) of the three-dimensional model that is difficult to color after stacking is also possible. Further, by using the droplet discharge head, it is possible to color a fine pattern. In addition, since cutting, coloring, and bonding can be performed by the droplet discharge head, necessary equipment can be reduced, and the apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

  According to the present invention, a sheet material can be cut safely and promptly without using a cutter such as a cutter, and a precise three-dimensional model can be created in a short time. Moreover, since the sheet material of each layer is not adhered to the entire upper and lower layer sheet materials, but only necessary portions are adhered, the adhesive can be saved.

  Below, with reference to drawings, the three-dimensional model | molding apparatus and three-dimensional model | molding method which concern on embodiment of this invention are demonstrated.

(Sheet material)
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus of this embodiment is an apparatus for forming a three-dimensional model by a sheet lamination method. First, the sheet material S that is a laminated material will be described. The sheet material S is a special paper that is formed into a sheet by a papermaking method such as papermaking by adding a water-soluble binder to a papermaking fiber material such as wood pulp fiber. This sheet material S is water-soluble paper that dissolves with water (sheet material solution), and has a thickness and strength suitable for three-dimensional formation by the sheet lamination method.

  More specifically, in the sheet material S, the water-soluble binder in the portion in which water has permeated dissolves and the hydrogen bond between the pulp fibers is dissolved, so that only the pulp fiber in which the water infiltrate is separated remains. , Become vulnerable. Therefore, by dripping water linearly from above the sheet material S, a linear water permeation portion is formed, and by penetrating the permeation portion to the back side of the sheet material S, this permeation portion is used as a cutting line. Sheet material can be cut.

  The sheet material S may be formed by forming a water-soluble resin such as water-soluble starch, gelatin, or PVA into a film shape. Moreover, you may use water-soluble resin, such as PVOH which can set dissolution temperature suitably. In this case, the sheet material can be cut by dropping water whose temperature is controlled to the melting temperature.

(3D modeling equipment)
Next, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes a stackable table 2 provided in an apparatus frame, a sheet feeding unit 3 that holds a sheet material S wound in a roll paper shape in a rollable manner, and a sheet feeding unit 3. A continuous paper-like sheet material S having a constant width fed from the sheet material is fed along the sheet material conveyance path 4 and conveyed to the stacking position on the stacking table 2. A cutting mechanism 6 that cuts the aligned sheet material S to a predetermined length, a droplet discharge head 7 that is disposed on the stacking table 2 with the nozzle surface facing, and a head carriage on which the droplet discharge head 7 is mounted. 8 and its drive mechanism 9, and a control unit 10 for controlling these mechanisms.

  Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes a cartridge mounting portion 12 for mounting a cartridge 11 containing a plurality of liquid packs in which various solutions, water, adhesives, or the like are sealed. When the cartridge 11 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 12, the supply needle provided on the cartridge mounting portion 12 side is inserted and connected to the supply port of the liquid pack in the cartridge 11. Since the supply needle is connected to a flexible supply channel extending from the droplet discharge head 7, each liquid in the liquid pack is supplied to the nozzle of the droplet discharge head 7.

  The stacking table 2 includes a horizontal stacking surface 2a, and is configured to be able to adjust the height of the stacking surface 2a by moving the stacking surface 2a up and down by a lifting mechanism (not shown). The laminated surface 2a is formed in such a size that a sheet material S such as a rectangle that is cut in accordance with the planar shape of the three-dimensional model to be created can be laminated, and the sheet material S is laminated on the laminated surface 2a. The position is set.

  The transport mechanism 5 includes a pair of paper feed rollers for gripping the sheet material S fed from the paper feed unit 3 at a predetermined position on the sheet material transport path 4, and the paper feed roller pair is synchronized by a paper feed motor. The sheet material S is conveyed in the forward or backward direction along the sheet material conveyance path 4 by being rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions.

  The cutting mechanism 6 is a scissors type having a movable blade and a fixed blade. The cutting mechanism 6 moves the movable blade toward the sheet material S aligned with the stacking position on the stacking surface 2a by the transport mechanism 5, and moves the sheet material S in the width direction at a position of a predetermined length from the tip. Disconnect. Note that the cutting mechanism 6 is not limited to a saddle type, and other mechanisms may be used. For example, the droplet discharge head 7 may be configured to be movable to a cutting position by the cutting mechanism 6 by a driving mechanism 9 described later, and the sheet material S may be cut by dripping water at the cutting position.

  The drive mechanism 9 includes an XY plotter mechanism that can freely move the head carriage 8 on which the droplet discharge head 7 is mounted within a horizontal plane. As a result, the droplet discharge head 7 is moved along an arbitrary path on the stacking table 2, and various liquids such as ink, aqueous solution, and water are placed at arbitrary positions on the stacking table 2 from the nozzles of the droplet discharging head 7. Can be dripped.

  The control unit 10 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is input with shape data of the three-dimensional model M to be created and coloring data indicating the colored portion and the coloring pattern from an external device 13 such as a host computer. Further, data such as the thickness, dimensions, and material of the sheet material S is input. Note that the thickness and size of the sheet material S may be acquired by detecting with a sensor in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. The control unit 10 drives and controls the droplet discharge head 7 via a head driver based on the shape data, coloring data, and the like, so that the type of liquid indicated in the shape data and coloring data is supplied to the droplet discharge head. It can be dripped from 7 nozzles.

  The control unit 10 drives and controls the X-axis motor and Y-axis motor of the drive mechanism 9, the paper feed motor of the transport mechanism 5, the cut motor of the cutting mechanism 6, and the like via a motor driver. Further, the control unit 10 is configured to be able to grasp the position of the leading edge of the sheet material S being conveyed along the sheet material conveyance path 4 or by the output of a detection sensor or the like provided on the stacking table 2. Thereby, the sheet material S can be accurately aligned and stacked at the stacking position on the stacking surface 2a. In addition, the sheet material S can be cut and stacked by the cutting mechanism 6 to the dimensions indicated by the shape data. In addition, the nozzles of the droplet discharge head 7 can be aligned with specified positions on the sheet material S of each layer.

  Further, the control unit 10 drives and controls a motor that is a drive source of the lifting mechanism of the stacking table 2 via a motor driver, so that the stacked sheet material S is stacked each time the sheet material S is stacked on the stacking table 2. The laminated surface 2a is lowered according to the thickness of S. Alternatively, the position of the uppermost surface of the laminate of the sheet material S may be detected by a sensor or the like, and the laminated surface 2a may be lowered so as to align the position of the uppermost surface with a predetermined height. Accordingly, the distance between the uppermost sheet material S and the nozzles of the droplet discharge head 7 can be kept constant, and ink or the like is dropped by the droplet discharge head 7 onto the sheet material S stacked on the uppermost layer. Can be done accurately.

  Thus, when performing the processing step on the stacking table 2, the control unit 10 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 stacks the layers of the stacked body of the sheet material S so as to align with the height according to the processing content. The table 2 can be moved up and down. As will be described later, a thermal head 14 (see FIG. 5) capable of heating a desired portion of the sheet material S may be added in order to bond the sheets by thermocompression bonding.

(Three-dimensional modeling method)
Next, the three-dimensional modeling method by the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. 2A is a plan view of each layer in the sheet material laminate, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet material laminate, and FIGS. 3A to 3F are explanatory diagrams of the sheet material lamination process. It is. In FIG. 2B, the number of stacked layers S0 of the sheet material S is simplified to be three layers. Moreover, contour lines L1 to L3 illustrated in FIG. 2B are contour lines of the three-dimensional model M at the height of each layer of the stacked body S0.

  First, in the external device 13, three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model M is created using a CAD program or the like, and is output to the three-dimensional modeling device 1. Further, the external device 13 outputs various information such as the thickness t of the sheet material S that is a modeling material and the paper width to the three-dimensional modeling device 1. The control unit 10 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 analyzes the three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional model M from the three-dimensional shape data input from the external device 13, and then converts the thickness t of the sheet material S into one layer. Is divided into slices in the height direction. Then, for each sliced layer, this three-dimensional outline, that is, the shape of the outline L of the three-dimensional model M, is developed into image data and stored in a buffer. In addition, the shape data of the contour line L in each layer obtained by slicing the solid model M with the thickness t on the external device 13 side may be created and output to the solid modeling apparatus 1.

  Next, the control unit 10 laminates the first (lowermost) sheet material on the lamination surface 2 a of the lamination table 2. As shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 10 controls the conveyance mechanism 5 to convey the sheet material S fed from the paper feeding unit 3 to the lamination surface 2a and align it at the lamination position, and then cuts the sheet material S. A rectangular cut sheet is formed by cutting to a predetermined size by the mechanism 6 and placed on the laminated surface 2a. Note that when the cut sheet-like sheet material S that has been cut into a fixed shape in advance is set in the paper feeding unit 3, the cutting step and the cutting mechanism 6 can be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the droplet discharge head 7 is moved in the horizontal direction on the stacking table 2 in accordance with the shape of the contour line L1 of the three-dimensional model in the first sheet material S1. Water is dripped onto the first-layer sheet material S1 along the outline L1 from the water dripping nozzle. Thereby, the penetration part B1 of water is formed along the outline L1. At this time, the dripping amount of water at each position is controlled so that the water penetration portion B1 penetrates the sheet material S.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3C, the control unit 10 places the liquid at a predetermined position on the necessary portion S1a (the cross-sectional portion of the three-dimensional model M) of the sheet material S surrounded by the contour line L1. An adhesive for adhering the sheet material is dropped from an adhesive dropping nozzle of the droplet discharge head. Alternatively, a very small amount of water is dropped instead of the adhesive to slightly dissolve the surface of the sheet material S1a at the dropping position.

  After the first layer stacking operation is completed, the control unit 10 controls the lifting mechanism of the stacking table 2 to lower the stacking surface 2a by the thickness t of the sheet material S. Next, the control unit 10 stacks the second-layer sheet material S2 on the first-layer sheet material S1. That is, as shown in FIG. 3D, the sheet feeding mechanism 5 is controlled to align the sheet material S on the first layer sheet material S <b> 1 in the same manner as in the first layer, and then is cut by the cutting mechanism 6. The sheet material S is cut at the same position as the first layer. Thereby, the cut sheet having the same shape as the first layer is laminated on the first layer. The second-layer sheet material S2 is partially bonded to the first layer by an adhesive dropped on a predetermined position of the first-layer sheet material S1. Alternatively, it is partially bonded to the first layer by welding with the melted portion of the sheet material S1.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3 (e), the droplet discharge head 7 is moved according to the shape of the contour line L2 of the three-dimensional model M in the second-layer sheet material S2, and water is supplied along the contour line L2. It dripped and forms the water permeation | transmission part B2 along the outline L2 in the sheet material S2 of the 2nd layer. The penetration portion B2 is formed so as to penetrate the sheet material S2 similarly to the penetration portion B1. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3 (f), an adhesive or a small amount of water is dropped onto a predetermined position on the necessary portion S2a of the sheet material S2 surrounded by the contour line L2.

  The third layer is laminated in the same manner as the second layer and bonded onto the second layer, and then the water is formed along the contour line L3 of the three-dimensional model M in the third-layer sheet material S3. Is dropped to form a water permeation portion B3. When the third layer is the uppermost layer of the laminate of the sheet material S3, the formation of the laminate is completed with this, but when a larger number of layers are laminated, a step of dripping an adhesive or water, The three steps of stacking and cutting the sheet material S and dropping water along the contour line L are repeated for the number of stacks.

  Through the above-described steps, the sheet material S in each layer can be cut at the position of the contour line L, and the sheet material S in each layer is laminated and integrated with the upper and lower layer sheet materials. A body S0 is formed. Then, after taking out this laminated body S0 from the three-dimensional model | molding apparatus 1, it removes only the part of the three-dimensional model M from the laminated body S0 by removing the sheet | seat material S of an unnecessary part collectively by peeling off, etc. Model M can be completed. At this time, since unnecessary portions of the sheet material S of each layer are not bonded to each other, they can be easily removed. Therefore, it is possible to easily complete a contoured solid model having irregularities. In addition, when an unnecessary part falls apart and time is required for the removal operation, the unnecessary part may be bonded so that it can be removed as a certain mass. Moreover, if water is appropriately dropped onto unnecessary portions of the sheet material S when water is dropped, the unnecessary portion of the sheet material S can be divided, and the removal work becomes easy.

  The edge part of the sheet material S cut | disconnected in the position of the outline L is not a sharp cut surface, and the part which the pulp fiber etc. which did not melt | dissolve with water protrude | jumped out long may become fluffy. Therefore, the surface of the three-dimensional model M after removing the unnecessary portion of the sheet material S is smoothed by polishing with sandpaper or the like, and surface finishing is performed by applying a coating agent on the surface and reinforcing the surface. Also good. If it does in this way, degradation of solid model M can be controlled and solid model M which has water resistance can be created.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the sheet material S can be cut along the contour line L of the three-dimensional model M at the height of each layer by dropping water from the droplet discharge head 7. Accordingly, it is possible to safely and promptly perform the cutting work of the sheet material S of each layer, and it is possible to create a precise three-dimensional model M in a short time. In addition, since the sheet material S of each layer is not bonded to the entire surface of the sheet material S of the upper and lower layers, but only necessary portions are bonded, the adhesive can be saved. Further, since no thermocompression bonding means such as a thermal head is required, the equipment used for three-dimensional modeling can be reduced, and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and reduced in size.

(Precision processing method)
In the cutting method by dripping water, when water diffuses and penetrates into a shape protruding from the line width of the contour line L, the edge portion of the sheet material S after cutting has a shape in which the portion into which water has penetrated is missing. turn into. Therefore, in order to accurately cut the sheet material S of each layer at the position of the contour line L, it is necessary to prevent the water permeating portion from protruding inside the cross-sectional portion of the three-dimensional model M surrounded by the contour line L. There is. Hereinafter, such a precision processing method will be described.

  First, the precision processing method by water dripping control is demonstrated. The shape of the permeation portion B can be controlled by controlling the dropping position and dropping timing of the water and the dropping amount by the control unit 10. Specifically, the amount of water dripped at each position on the contour line L is extremely small, and each part of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is controlled so that a small amount of dripping is performed a plurality of times at a time interval of a predetermined time or more. To do. If it does in this way, the water dripped initially will not spread so much in the surface direction of the sheet material S. And the next trace amount of water dripped after predetermined time progress (after the first water permeates) does not spread in the surface direction of the sheet material S, but permeates in the thickness direction. Therefore, a thin permeation portion B that does not protrude from the line width of the contour line L can be formed, and the edge portion of the sheet material S after cutting can be sharpened. As described above, by appropriately setting the amount of droplets to be dropped at one time, the number of times of dropping, and the time interval according to the material, thickness, and the like of the sheet material S, the shape of the permeation portion B is appropriately controlled to be precise. Cutting can be performed.

  Next, a precision processing method for limiting the water permeation region will be described. If another liquid such as ink has already penetrated in the vicinity of the water dropping position, the dropped water is less likely to diffuse into the portion into which the other liquid has penetrated. Utilizing this, pretreatment is performed in which another liquid (pretreatment liquid) is dropped and permeated in advance along the contour line L, and then water is dropped on the contour line L to The penetration range can be limited.

  FIG. 4A is a plan view of each layer of the laminate of the sheet material onto which the pretreatment liquid and water are dropped, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the laminate. In this method, coloring ink (pretreatment liquid) is supplied to one of the nozzles of the droplet discharge head 7. And when laminating | stacking the sheet material S of each layer, before dripping water along the outline L, the coloring ink is dripped at the sheet material S along the outline L, and it penetrates to the back side of the sheet material S. Let At this time, by setting the dropping position of the coloring ink slightly inward from the position just above the contour line L, the side edge of the permeation portion C of the coloring ink is almost directly above the contour line L. In this manner, the dropping position and the dropping amount of the coloring ink are adjusted. Then, after the coloring ink has permeated, water is dropped along the boundary portion between the region where the coloring ink has permeated (the permeation portion C) and the region where the color ink has not permeated. As a result, water does not diffuse into the permeation portion C of the coloring ink, and water permeates only into a narrow region extending outside the contour line L. Therefore, the width of the water permeation portion B can be narrowed, and precise cutting can be performed. At the same time, the surface of the three-dimensional model M can be colored with the coloring ink.

  In addition, leaving only a narrow region centered on the contour line L, ink is dropped on both sides to form two adjacent linear penetrating portions, and water is dropped between the ink penetrating portions. In this case, a finer water permeation portion can be formed.

  By using a colorless transparent solution or a water repellent solution as a pretreatment solution for limiting the water permeation portion, the color of the three-dimensional model M can be left as the background color of the sheet material S. Alternatively, it is possible not to affect coloring with other inks. Further, if a water repellent solution is used, it is possible to more reliably prevent water from diffusing into the ink permeation portion. In addition, a thermosetting solution may be used as the pretreatment solution, and the permeation portion may be heated with a thermal head or the like after the thermosetting solution is dropped to fix the thermosetting solution to the sheet material S. . In this way, the edge portion of the sheet material S can be coated and maintained in a sharp shape even after cutting. Therefore, a more precise cutting process can be performed.

  In addition to thermosetting solutions, room temperature curable (quick drying) solutions, thermosetting solutions, ultraviolet (UV) curable solutions, and electron beam (EB) curable solutions are also applicable. After each is discharged, it may be fixed by applying a curing process suitable for the characteristics.

(3D modeling method including coloring process)
Here, a method will be described in which the above-described three-dimensional modeling method is performed by one apparatus simultaneously with a modeling process in which the sheet material S is stacked, bonded, and cut. By setting an ink pack in which coloring ink is sealed in the cartridge 11 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, the coloring ink is supplied to the nozzles of the droplet discharge head 7. Thereby, it is possible to color a desired portion of the sheet material S of each layer by the droplet discharge head 7.

  In the above embodiment, the sheet material S of each layer is bonded to the sheet material of the upper and lower layers by the adhesive or water dripping from the droplet discharge head 7. When a meltable adhesive is applied and the sheet material S of each layer is laminated, a desired portion of the sheet material S of each layer is heated along the thermal head 14 before water is dropped along the contour line L. Alternatively, a method of adhering only a desired portion can be used. Hereinafter, the three-dimensional modeling method including the adhesion process of the sheet material S by the coloring process and thermocompression bonding will be described.

  First, in the external device 13, color three-dimensional shape data including the three-dimensional shape information (shape data) of the three-dimensional model M and coloring information (coloring data) at each position of the three-dimensional shape is created and output to the three-dimensional modeling device 1. To do. The control unit 10 slices the color three-dimensional shape data input from the external device 13 in the height direction with the thickness t of the sheet material S as the height of one layer, and the contour line L of the three-dimensional model M for each layer. The shape and coloring pattern are expanded into image data and stored in a buffer. And the coloring process to the sheet material S of each layer based on a coloring pattern is performed following the dripping process of the water in each layer.

  FIGS. 5A to 5D are explanatory views of a laminating process of the sheet material of each layer including a coloring process. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the n-th sheet material Sn is laminated by aligning the sheet material S with the adhesive-coated surface facing downward at the lamination position and cutting at the cutting position. To do. Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), only the bonding portion (for example, the portion along the contour line Ln) is partially heated by the thermal head 14, so that the sheet material Sn is partially overlapped with the lower layer. Glue. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5C, water is dropped from the nozzle for water discharge of the liquid droplet discharge head 7 along the contour line Ln and penetrated. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), the coloring ink is dropped from the coloring ink discharge nozzles of the droplet discharge head 7, and the permeation portion C of the coloring ink is applied to an arbitrary portion of the sheet material Sn. Form.

  In the sheet lamination method, the side surface of the finished three-dimensional model M is configured by the end surfaces of the sheet material S of each layer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5D, when coloring the portion that becomes the surface of the side surface portion of the three-dimensional model M, the coloring ink is dropped along the contour line L of the sheet material S of each layer and dropped. By controlling the amount of dripping so that the ink penetrates to the back side of the sheet material S, it is preferable that an uncolored portion is not formed on the end surface of the sheet material S.

  The coloring process of FIG. 5 (d) may be performed simultaneously with the water dropping process of FIG. 5 (c), or may be performed prior to the water dropping process. When the layers are laminated as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the sheet material S is colored so that not only the surface of the three-dimensional model M but also the inside can be colored. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are a cross-sectional view and a plan view of each layer of the laminated body colored to the inside. When coloring to the inside, the next layer is preferably laminated after the coloring ink is dried.

  With the above configuration, since the sheet material S can be precisely cut and accurately colored at the same time by the droplet discharge head 7, it is possible to perform a precise three-dimensional color with a single device. A model can be created in a short time. In particular, by using the droplet discharge head 7 as a coloring means, full color coloring and fine pattern coloring can be performed. Further, according to this method, it is possible to color a portion (inner layer portion) other than the outer surface of the three-dimensional model M that is difficult to be colored after lamination. Further, since cutting, coloring, and bonding can be performed by the droplet discharge head, necessary equipment can be reduced, and the apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

  In each of the above methods, the droplet discharge head 7 is used both for dripping water and for dropping an adhesive, or for dripping water and for dropping ink for coloring. Depending on the material, an appropriate coloring ink, adhesive, pretreatment liquid, or the like may be used, and the droplet discharge head may be separated depending on the liquid to be dropped.

(Application of this embodiment)
Since the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method of this embodiment can perform the layered modeling process and its coloring at once with one apparatus, it is convenient for creating a color three-dimensional product prototype or paper craft. It is. Paper crafts and three-dimensional paper products with air purifying, deodorizing, and fragrance functions by adding photocatalytic functions and toxic substance adsorption functions to water-soluble paper, and adding deodorants and fragrances. Can be created.

  In addition, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus and the three-dimensional modeling method of the present embodiment, an edible material that is soluble in water such as starch or gelatin is used as a sheet material, and the sheet material is colored with an edible solution or the like and then water. By cutting, a precise three-dimensional food decoration that could not be produced conventionally can be made of a material that is harmless to the human body and that can be easily discarded. Further, by using water-soluble paper, a bag that can be dissolved in water for seeding or tableware that can be dissolved in water can be made of a material that is harmless to the human body and that can be easily discarded.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the laminated body of a sheet material, and a top view of each layer. It is explanatory drawing of the lamination process of a sheet material. It is the top view and sectional drawing of each layer of the laminated body which dripped the pretreatment liquid and water. It is explanatory drawing of the lamination process of the sheet | seat material containing a coloring process. It is sectional drawing of the laminated body colored to the inside, and a top view of each layer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stereolithography apparatus, 2 ... Laminate stand, 2a ... Laminate surface, 3 ... Paper feed part, 4 ... Sheet material conveyance path, 5 ... Conveyance mechanism, 6 ... Cutting mechanism, 7 ... Droplet discharge head, 8 ... Head carriage DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Drive mechanism 10 ... Control part 11 ... Cartridge 12 ... Cartridge mounting part 13 ... External device 14 ... Thermal head B, B1-B3 ... Penetration part, C ... Penetration part, L, L1-L3 , Ln: contour, M: solid model, S, S1 to S3, Sn: sheet material, S0: laminate, S1a, S2a ... necessary part, t ... thickness

Claims (9)

A three-dimensional modeling method for forming a three-dimensional model by laminating sheet materials,
When laminating the sheet material of each layer,
While adhering at least part of the cross section of the three-dimensional model in the sheet material of each layer with the sheet material of the upper and lower layers,
A three-dimensional modeling method characterized in that a sheet material solution is dropped along a contour line of the three-dimensional model in each layer using a droplet discharge head so that the sheet material can be cut along the contour line. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 1,
When bonding the sheet material of each layer to the sheet material of the upper and lower layers, the sheet material solution or adhesive is dropped on at least a part of the lower layer sheet material to be welded or bonded, or the upper layer A three-dimensional modeling method characterized by heat-pressing at least a part of the sheet material on the side from above by thermocompression. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 1 or 2,
After the sheet material of the layer to be colored is laminated and before the sheet material of the next layer is laminated, the liquid droplet ejection head or a separate liquid droplet ejection head is applied to the colored portion of the sheet material of the layer to be colored. A three-dimensional modeling method characterized in that a coloring solution is dropped by using to color the colored portion. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 3,
The three-dimensional modeling method characterized by determining the dripping amount of the coloring solution so that a permeation portion of the coloring solution dripped along the contour line is formed through the sheet material. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Prior to the dropping of the sheet material solution, the pretreatment liquid is dropped and infiltrated using the droplet discharge head or a separate droplet discharge head along the contour line,
The three-dimensional modeling method, wherein the sheet material solution is dropped onto a boundary portion between a portion where the pretreatment liquid has penetrated and a portion where the pretreatment liquid has not penetrated. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
After all the layers are laminated, the sheet material of each layer is cut along the contour line to remove unnecessary portions of the sheet material. In the three-dimensional modeling method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The sheet material is a water-soluble paper containing a water-soluble binder and a fiber material for papermaking,
The three-dimensional modeling method, wherein the sheet material solution is water. A droplet discharge head for dropping a sheet material solution;
A sheet material transport mechanism for transporting and stacking the sheet material to a dropping position facing the liquid droplet ejection head;
A control unit to which shape data of the three-dimensional model is input,
The said control part forms the said solid model by the solid modeling method in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 7 by controlling the said droplet discharge head and the said sheet material conveyance mechanism based on the said shape data. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by doing. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 8,
A droplet discharge head for dropping a coloring solution;
The droplet discharge head is the same or separate droplet discharge head as the droplet discharge head for dropping the sheet material solution,
The control unit receives coloring data of the three-dimensional model,
The said control part performs the coloring to the sheet material of the layer of coloring object based on the said coloring data, before the sheet material of the following layer is laminated | stacked, The three-dimensional model | molding apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

Images