JP6046027B2 - 3D modeling equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for obtaining a three-dimensional structure from powder.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus supplies the powder P on the table to obtain a powder layer, and then irradiates the powder layer with laser light to thereby form the sintered layer 1. It is widely known that a three-dimensional structure is obtained by repeating this operation. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus is provided with a blade 2, and the powder P supplied from the powder supply unit is leveled by the blade 2 and then sintered by laser light irradiation.

  In some cases, abnormally raised portions 3 may be formed in the sintered layer 1 due to spattering or the like. When the powder P is supplied onto the sintered layer 1 and then the powder P is to be leveled with the blade 2, when the blade 2 passes through the abnormally raised portion 3, the entire blade 2 is abnormally raised 3. Get on. This is because the blade 2 exhibits little flexibility.

  For this reason, it is difficult to level the powder P in the vicinity of the abnormally raised portion 3. Eventually, the swelled portion 4 is formed above the abnormally raised portion 3, which is a cause of a decrease in the dimensional accuracy of the three-dimensional structure.

  In order to avoid this type of problem, Patent Document 1 proposes that a leveling means is constituted by a front wiper and a rear wiper made of a brush whose lower end is a free end. In this case, when the brush passes through the protrusion (abnormally raised portion), only the hair contacting the protrusion compresses or bends or warps, and the other hair does not change, so the powder is leveled. It can be considered as well.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-143581 (see particularly paragraph [0043] and FIG. 11)

  When a brush having extremely large bristle flexibility is used, the bristle is easily bent backward in the traveling direction. For this reason, it becomes difficult to reduce and level the powder to a predetermined thickness. In order to avoid this, if a brush having a large bristle rigidity is employed, there is a disadvantage that a hair passage mark is formed in the powder layer.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and can provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of suppressing excessive bending of the brush hair and, for this purpose, leveling the powder accurately. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a powder supply unit for supplying powder for obtaining a three-dimensional structure, and a leveling unit for leveling the powder supplied from the powder supply unit. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising:
The leveling means is made of a brush, and a damming member for damming the bent hair of the brush is provided behind the brush in the traveling direction.

  First, since the hair of the brush shows flexibility, when the abnormally raised portion is formed on the sintered layer or the like, only the hair at the portion passing above the abnormally raised portion is compressed (or slightly bent or deformed). ) Therefore, the entire brush does not ride on the abnormally raised portion. For this reason, it is avoided that a rising part is formed above the abnormally raised part.

  And in this invention, the dam member is arrange | positioned in the advancing direction of a brush. When the bristles of the brush are bent backward in the direction of travel, the bristles are blocked by the blocking member and are prevented from bending further.

  For the reasons described above, the powder above the abnormally raised portion should be at a height position substantially equal to that of the powder in other parts, in other words, the powder near the abnormally raised portion should be leveled. It becomes easy. In addition, since it is not necessary to employ a brush having high rigidity, there is an advantage that it is possible to avoid formation of hair passage marks in the powder layer.

It is preferable to arrange a scraper that scrapes the powder in front of the brush in the traveling direction. In this case, the middle part of the brush hair is sandwiched between the blocking member and the scraper.

  In this configuration, the powder contacts the scraper before it contacts the brush and is pushed (scratched) thereby. As a result, the thickness of the powder layer is reduced to some extent, so that the powder can be prevented from entering the hair of the brush. In addition, the space between the hairs is crushed along with the pinching, and the hairs gather and become dense. This also makes it difficult for the powder to enter the hair.

  Inevitably, the powder that has entered the brush bristles is prevented from being discharged backward in the direction of travel of the brush. Therefore, it becomes easy to reduce the powder layer to a predetermined thickness.

  A spacer may be inserted between the blocking member and the scraper. By using the spacers having different dimensions, for example, the separation distance between the blocking member and the scraper can be appropriately changed. Accordingly, the separation distance can be set according to the thickness of the brush.

  It is also possible to change the protruding amount of the brush from between the blocking member and the scraper. As described above, by adopting this configuration, versatility is further improved.

  What is necessary is just to make it connect a dam member and a scraper via a connection member. In this case, it is preferable that the insertion hole formed in one of the blocking member or the scraper and through which the connecting member is passed is a long hole.

  In this case, the relative positions of the blocking member and the scraper can be changed within the range of the long hole. Accordingly, for example, the amount of powder extruded by the scraper, the degree of brush damming by the damming member, and the like can be arbitrarily set. That is, versatility is further improved.

  It is preferable to form a wall part parallel to the advancing direction of a brush in a dam member or a scraper. In this case, the bristles of the brush are surrounded by the blocking member, the scraper, and the wall portion. For this reason, it can avoid that a hair opens with respect to the direction (side) orthogonal to the advancing direction.

  In the above, it is preferable that the brush hair is made of an amorphous metal. Such bristles are flexible enough to leave no passage marks, and are less likely to wear or break. Accordingly, the powder can be leveled without changing the brush over a long period of time.

  According to the present invention, since the brush is adopted as a leveling means for leveling the powder supplied from the powder supply unit constituting the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, an abnormally raised portion is formed in the sintered layer or the like. When being done, only the hair of the part passing over the abnormal ridge is compressed (or slightly bent or warped). For this reason, it is avoided that the entire brush rides on the abnormally raised portion.

  In addition, in the present invention, a dam member is arranged behind the brush in the traveling direction. When the bristles of the brush are bent backward in the traveling direction, the bristles are blocked by the blocking member, so that the bristles are prevented from bending further.

  For the reasons as described above, even in the case where an abnormally raised portion exists, the powder in the vicinity of the abnormally raised portion can be easily leveled. Therefore, a three-dimensional structure excellent in dimensional accuracy can be obtained.

It is a front schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic exploded perspective view of the leveling assembly. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view along the advancing direction of the leveling assembly. It is a general | schematic longitudinal cross-section side view of the leveling assembly when the spacer is replaced | exchanged for the length direction (X direction) dimension and the height direction (Z direction) dimension. It is a general | schematic longitudinal cross-section side view of the leveling assembly when a spacer is replaced | exchanged for a length direction (X direction) dimension and a height direction (Z direction) dimension. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view in alignment with the horizontal direction of the assembly for leveling. It is a schematic side view along the advancing direction when there is no damming member and the powder is leveled only with a flexible brush. It is a schematic side view along the advancing direction which shows the state which the blade which comprises the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on a prior art rides on the abnormal protruding part.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention will be described and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 12 that actually models a three-dimensional structure and a control unit 14 that drives and controls the apparatus main body 12.

Further, a laser beam oscillator 16, an N ₂ gas supply machine 18, a fume suction machine 20, and the like used for processing a three-dimensional structure are connected to the outside of the apparatus main body 12. On the other hand, a computer 22 for designing a three-dimensional structure is connected to the control unit 14.

  The inside of the apparatus main body 12 is divided into a lower chamber 26 and an upper chamber 28 by a modeling bed 24, and a carriage 30 is accommodated in the lower chamber 26 so as to be displaceable. This cart 30 is for collecting powder P discharged from a discharge path (not shown) formed on the modeling bed 24.

  The modeling bed 24 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape and is fixed in the apparatus main body 12 so as to be horizontal. A fitting recess 32 is formed in a recessed position at a predetermined position on the end surface of the modeling bed 24 facing the upper chamber 28, that is, the upper end surface, and the table 34 is fitted in the fitting recess 32. The upper end surface of the table 34 is substantially flush with the upper end surface of the modeling bed 24.

  Powder P is supplied to the table 34 from the powder supply unit 36. That is, the table 34 is used as a pedestal for forming a three-dimensional structure.

  The powder supply unit 36 includes a hopper 38 that stores the powder P as described above, and a shutter 40 that is provided below the hopper 38 and is displaced under the control action of the control unit 14. The hopper 38 therein has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a side sectional view, and a supply port 42 is formed by cutting a part of the bottom wall. As the shutter 40 is displaced, the supply port 42 is opened or closed. Note that the stop position of the shutter 40 can be set as appropriate, and therefore the opening degree of the supply port 42 can be arbitrarily set between fully closed and fully open.

  A stirring blade for stirring the powder P may be provided inside the hopper 38. As a result, the powder P is prevented from agglomerating and from being supplied on the table 34 as a large agglomerate due to this.

  As the powder P for three-dimensional modeling, for example, a metal (pure metal or alloy) powder, an organic powder such as a resin, or an inorganic powder such as ceramics or glass may be used. Specific examples of suitable metals include nickel, phosphorus-copper alloy, iron, copper, bronze and the like. Moreover, although the particle size of the powder P is suitably set according to the material or the purpose of use of the three-dimensional modeled article, the average particle size is preferably about 5 to 40 μm.

  For example, it may be a mixed powder obtained by mixing two or more kinds of powders of different materials such as metal powder and resin powder. Even when the metal powder is used, not only one metal powder but also a plurality of metal powders may be mixed.

  A leveling assembly 46 including a brush 44 (leveling means) for leveling the powder P supplied to the table 34 is attached to the rear end surface of the hopper 38 in the traveling direction. Therefore, the leveling assembly 46 follows the displacement of the hopper 38 along the arrow X direction and is displaced integrally.

  The leveling assembly 46 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. First, the brush 44 is configured by binding one end of a large number of bristles 48 with a long concave clip 50 having an open bottom. In the present embodiment, each hair 48 is made of an amorphous metal fiber (amorphous fiber). That is, the brush 44 is a so-called amorphous brush. The diameter of one hair 48 (amorphous fiber) is typically about 20 to 30 μm.

  The brush 44 configured in this way is in a direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 2) substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the hopper 38 and the leveling assembly 46 (arrow X1 direction in FIGS. 1 to 3). Extend to.

  In this case, the brush 44 is sandwiched between a scraper 52 disposed in front of the brush 44 in the traveling direction and a dam member 54 disposed behind in the traveling direction. Furthermore, a smoothing assembly 46 is configured by interposing a spacer 56 between the scraper 52 and the blocking member 54.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the scraper 52 includes an extruded wall portion 58 extending along the longitudinal direction of the brush 44, and a dam member 54 side (rearward in the traveling direction) from the longitudinal end portion of the extruded wall portion 58. It has the folding | returning parts 60a and 60b (wall part) which protruded so that it might face. The folded portions 60 a and 60 b extend substantially parallel to the traveling direction of the hopper 38 and the leveling assembly 46.

  The extruded wall portion 58 is formed with a first step portion 62 that is recessed from the front side in the traveling direction toward the rear side. Therefore, the portion below the first step portion 62 is closer to the hair 48 of the brush 44 than the portion above the first step portion 62 (see FIG. 3).

  Further, in the extruded wall portion 58, a first groove 64 is recessed and formed along the vertical direction on the end surface on the rear side in the traveling direction. The start point of the first groove 64 is the upper end of the extruded wall portion 58, and the end point is slightly above the first step portion 62.

  Furthermore, two first insertion holes 68a and 68b for passing bolts 66a and 66b, which are connecting members, are formed through the extruded wall portion 58 above the first step portion 62 (see FIG. 2). ). The first groove 64 is positioned approximately in the middle between the first insertion holes 68a and 68b.

  One blocking member 54 has a sandwiching wall portion 70 extending along the longitudinal direction of the brush 44. In the sandwiching wall portion 70, a portion facing the first step portion 62 is depressed so as to go from the rear side in the traveling direction to the front side, thereby forming a second step portion 72. The portion below the second step portion 72 is closer to the hair 48 of the brush 44 than the portion above the second step portion 72 (see FIG. 3).

  That is, the middle part of the hair 48 of the brush 44 is located below the first step portion 62 in the extruded wall portion 58 of the scraper 52 and below the second step portion 72 in the holding wall portion 70 of the damming member 54. It is supported by the part. Hereinafter, each of the parts will be referred to as a first support part and a second support part, and the reference numerals 74 and 76 respectively.

  In the sandwiching wall portion 70, a second groove 78 is formed to be recessed along the vertical direction on the end surface on the front side in the traveling direction. The start point of the second groove 78 is the upper end of the sandwiching wall portion 70, and the end point is slightly above the second stepped portion 72. The second groove 78 is disposed at a position facing the first groove 64.

  The spacer 56 is inserted into the first groove 64 and the second groove 78. The spacer 56 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a lower bottom surface thereof abuts on the concave clip 50 of the brush 44. By this contact, the height position of the brush 44 (Z-direction upper end position) is set.

  The length direction (X direction) dimension and the height direction (Z direction) dimension of the spacer 56 can be set arbitrarily. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the spacer 56 having a large length direction (X direction) size is used, the separation distance between the extruded wall portion 58 and the sandwiching wall portion 70 can be increased. Further, from FIG. 4, by using the spacer 56 having a large height direction (Z direction) size, the position of the upper end portion of the brush 44 in the Z direction is lowered, and accordingly, the first support portion 74 and the second support portion 76 It can be seen that the amount of protrusion of the hair 48 from between increases.

  On the contrary, when the spacer 56 having a small length direction (X direction) size is used, as shown in FIG. 5, the separation distance between the pushing wall portion 58 and the sandwiching wall portion 70 becomes small. From FIG. 5, by using the spacer 56 having a small height direction (Z direction) size, the position of the upper end portion in the Z direction of the brush 44 is increased, and the first support portion 74 and the second support portion 76 are correspondingly increased. It can also be seen that the amount of protrusion of the hair 48 from between becomes smaller.

  As described above, by adopting the spacer 56 whose length direction and height direction are different, the separation distance between the extruded wall portion 58 and the sandwiching wall portion 70 and the protruding amount of the bristles 48 of the brush 44 are appropriately set. Can be adjusted.

  Further, two second insertion holes 80a and 80b for allowing the bolts 66a and 66b to pass therethrough are formed through the holding wall portion 70 above the second stepped portion 72 (see FIG. 2). Of course, the second insertion holes 80a and 80b are arranged at positions where the bolts 66a and 66b passed through the second insertion holes 80a and 80b can pass through the first insertion holes 68a and 68b. The second insertion holes 80a and 80b are formed as elongated holes that are elongated along the vertical direction.

  Bolts 66a and 66b are passed through the first insertion holes 68a and 68b and the second insertion holes 80a and 80b, and nuts 82a and 82b are screwed into the bolts 66a and 66b. Thereby, the scraper 52 and the blocking member 54 are connected to each other. Since the second insertion holes 80a and 80b are long holes, the height position of the blocking member 54 with respect to the scraper 52 can be changed within the dimension range in the longitudinal direction of the second insertion holes 80a and 80b (long holes). Is possible.

  When the scraper 52 and the blocking member 54 are connected, the folded portions 60 a and 60 b provided on the scraper 52 cover the side surfaces of the sandwiching wall portion 70. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the brush 44 is surrounded by the extruded wall portion 58 of the scraper 52, the sandwiching wall portion 70 of the damming member 54, and the folded portions 60 a and 60 b of the scraper 52.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 further includes a processing unit 83 for sintering the powder P (powder layer) leveled by the leveling assembly 46 configured as described above. The processing unit 83 is provided behind the powder supply unit 36 in the traveling direction, and is attached to a laser beam irradiation unit 84 disposed at a position separated from the table 34 by a predetermined distance, and a lower portion of the laser beam irradiation unit 84. And a shroud 86.

  The laser beam irradiation unit 84 includes a lens, a mirror, and the like (not shown). The laser beam emitted from the laser beam oscillator 16 is refracted or focused by these lenses, mirrors, and the like, passes through the shroud 86 and is irradiated onto the powder P on the table 34. The irradiation range of the laser beam can be changed to a range in the surface direction of the table 34.

The shroud 86 is a cylindrical cover member having a ceiling wall, and the internal space secures an optical path of laser light. The shroud 86 has a function of diffusing laser light and N ₂ gas to the outside and blocking disturbances affecting the laser light. The hopper 38 is attached to the shroud 86 via a bracket 87.

  The ceiling wall of the shroud 86 is attached to the lower surface of the laser beam irradiation unit 84 so as not to interfere with the laser beam irradiation range. On the other hand, an opening 88 smaller than the area of the table 34 is formed in the lower part of the shroud 86, and a skirt 90 is provided around the mouth edge constituting the opening 88.

  The skirt portion 90 is a frame-like member that follows the shape of the inner surface of the shroud 86, and is provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the shroud 86 by a driving source (not shown). The skirt portion 90 closes a gap formed between the lower end of the shroud 86 and the powder P layer by lowering. Thereby, the irradiation part of a laser beam is covered more reliably.

An atmosphere gas supply port 92 and a fume suction port 94 are formed inside the shroud 86. The atmospheric gas supply port 92 is connected to the N ₂ gas supply unit 18 via a tube, while the fume suction port 94 is connected to the fume suction unit 20 via a tube. The N ₂ gas supply unit 18 supplies N ₂ gas (atmosphere gas) to the internal space of the shroud 86 to reduce the amount of oxygen in the internal space. Further, the fume suction device 20 sucks dust generated in the inner space of the shroud 86 due to processing or the like.

  The powder supply unit 36 and the processing unit 83 are movable under the action of the moving mechanism 95. That is, the moving mechanism 95 includes a pair of fixed guide rails 96a and 96b, a movable guide rail 98, a base 100, and a support body 102. The pair of fixed guide rails 96a and 96b extend in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1, and support the movable guide rail 98 movably by grooves 104a and 104b formed along the longitudinal direction.

  The movable guide rail 98 is bridged between a pair of fixed guide rails 96a and 96b, and supports the base 100 movably in the X direction (longitudinal direction of the movable guide rail 98). The base 100 supports the support body 102 on the movable guide rail 98 so as to be displaceable in the Z direction (vertical direction).

  The support body 102 supports the processing portion 83 (laser light irradiation portion 84) at the lower end thereof. Therefore, the moving mechanism 95 can move and position the processing unit 83 three-dimensionally (in the XYZ direction) above the modeling bed 24. The powder supply unit 36 is attached to the front of the processing unit 83 in the traveling direction, and can move integrally with the processing unit 83.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above. Next, the operation and effect will be described in relation to the operation for obtaining a three-dimensional modeled object. To do.

  To assemble the leveling assembly 46, the brush 44 is sandwiched between the scraper 52 and the blocking member 54, and bolts 66a and 66b are inserted into the first insertion holes 68a and 68b from the second insertion holes 80a and 80b (long holes). Pass through. The nuts 82a and 82b are loosely screwed into these bolts 66a and 66b, and temporarily fixed. Further, the spacer 56 is inserted into the first groove 64 and the second groove 78. Thereafter, the leveling assembly 46 is configured by tightening the nuts 82a and 82b.

  The lower part of the bristles 48 of the brush 44 is sandwiched between the first support part 74 and the second support part 76 and protrudes slightly from the first support part 74 and the second support part 76. As will be described later, the powder P is leveled by the protruding portions.

  The upper portion of the bristles 48 of the brush 44 and the concave clip 50 are firmly held between the pushing wall portion 58 of the scraper 52 and the holding wall portion 70 of the damming member 54 as the nuts 82a and 82b are tightened and screwed together. . At this time, for example, the space between the hairs 48 is compressed, and the hairs 48 gather (become dense), and the brush 44 is slightly crushed. Further, the concave clip 50 is bent slightly so as to be compressed by its flexibility.

  Further, the sides of the brush 44 are covered by the folded portions 60a and 60b.

  The distance between the scraper 52 and the blocking member 54 is set by the lengthwise dimension of the spacer 56. Moreover, the height position of the blocking member 54 with respect to the scraper 52 can be changed within the dimension range in the longitudinal direction of the second insertion holes 80a and 80b (long holes). That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately change the degree of clamping and the relative height position of the first support portion 74 and the second support portion 76 with respect to the lower side of the bristles 48 of the brush 44. .

  The leveling assembly 46 assembled in this way is attached to the rear of the hopper 38 in the traveling direction. On the other hand, the worker inputs design data and modeling instructions for the three-dimensional modeled object to the computer 22. Upon receiving this, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 operates the moving mechanism 95 under the control action of the control unit 14 to move the powder supply unit 36 and the processing unit 83 to the modeling start position. Thereby, the supply port 42 of the powder supply unit 36 is positioned so as to face the vicinity of the boundary between the table 34 and the modeling bed 24 in a plan view, for example.

  Of course, the powder P is accommodated in the hopper 38 in advance. The shutter 40 is fully closed and closes the supply port 42. For this reason, the powder P is not supplied at this time.

  After moving to the modeling start position, the control unit 14 displaces the shutter 40 so as to be in the open state. Thereby, the powder P is supplied onto the modeling bed 24 via the supply port 42 of the hopper 38. The supply amount of the powder P is set so that the repose angle can be secured on the table 34 by appropriately adjusting the opening degree of the shutter 40.

  Then, under the drive control of the moving mechanism 95, the powder supply unit 36 and the processing unit 83 advance in the surface direction (X direction) of the modeling bed 24. With this advance, the powder P is transferred from the hopper 38 to the table 34. A powder layer is formed by supplying a wide range. Here, the powder P accommodated in the hopper 38 is guided to the lower side of the hopper 38 by its own weight. For this reason, it is continuously discharged from the supply port 42 in an amount corresponding to the opening degree of the shutter 40.

  First, the first support portion 74 and the extruded wall portion 58 of the scraper 52 come into contact with the powder layer. The powder layer is scratched to be pushed out by contacting the advancing scraper 52. Thereby, the thickness of the powder layer is reduced.

  Next, the hair 48 of the brush 44 contacts the powder layer having a reduced thickness. Here, the thickness of the powder layer is sufficiently reduced, and the hairs 48 are gathered to be dense. For this reason, it is avoided that the powder P enters between the bristles 48 and that the powder P that has entered between the bristles 48 is discharged rearward in the traveling direction of the brush 44.

  Moreover, the bristles 48 of the brush 44 are supported by the sandwiching wall portion 70 (particularly the second support portion 76) of the damming member 54. When such support is not provided, as shown in FIG. 7, the hair 48 bends or warps backward in the direction of travel, which makes it difficult to reduce the powder layer to a predetermined thickness. In this form, the brush 44 is blocked by the sandwiching wall portion 70 (particularly the second support portion 76). For this reason, it is avoided that the hair 48 largely bends or warps backward in the traveling direction.

  For the reasons described above, it is easy to reduce and level the powder layer (powder P) to a predetermined thickness.

  In addition, when the bristles 48 of the brush 44 are made of amorphous fibers, wear and breakage hardly occur when contacting the powder P. Accordingly, the leveling operation can be performed without replacing the brush 44 over a long period of time.

  In addition, since the amorphous fibers have low rigidity, it is possible to avoid the formation of passage marks of the hairs 48 in the powder layer.

Next, the averaged powder P enters the shroud 86 as the shroud 86 of the processing portion 83 moves. Then, laser light is emitted from the laser light oscillator 16. Note that N ₂ gas (atmosphere gas) from the N ₂ gas supply unit 18 is supplied in advance to the inner space of the shroud 86 through the atmosphere gas supply port 92, so that the amount of oxygen in the inner space is reduced. Has been reduced.

  The laser light is refracted or focused by a lens, a mirror, or the like provided in the laser light irradiation unit 84, passes through the shroud 86, and is irradiated onto the powder P on the table 34. The irradiation state of the laser beam emitted from the laser beam oscillator 16 is controlled based on the design data, and only the powder P at the portion irradiated with the laser beam is sintered. Thereby, a powder layer changes to a sintered layer. During this time, dust generated in the inner space of the shroud 86 is sucked by the fume suction device 20 through the fume suction port 94.

  When one layer of the powder P is formed, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 raises the powder supply unit 36 and the processing unit 83 by the moving mechanism 95. Prior to this rise, the control unit 14 fully closes the shutter 40, thereby stopping the supply of the powder P.

  After one layer of the sintered layer is formed, the moving mechanism 95 displaces the powder supply unit 36 and the processing unit 83 so as to rise further upward. Thereafter, the same operation as described above is repeated, whereby the powder P is supplied onto the sintered layer to form a new powder layer. Further, after the powder P is leveled, it is sintered with a laser beam to form a new sintered layer. When the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 repeats this operation a predetermined number of times, a three-dimensional modeled object as a final product is modeled.

  In this process, for example, when an abnormally raised portion is formed in the lower sintered layer due to sputtering or the like, the bristles 48 exhibit flexibility when the brush 44 passes through the abnormally raised portion. For this reason, only the hair 48 corresponding to the abnormally raised portion contracts or slightly warps backward (or bends). For this reason, in the powder layer, the height positions of the upper part of the abnormally raised portion and the other parts are aligned. That is, the powder P can be leveled with high accuracy even when abnormal bulges are formed.

  Therefore, according to this Embodiment, it becomes easy to obtain the three-dimensional structure excellent in dimensional accuracy.

  Further, the sides of the hair 48 of the brush 44 are covered with the folded portions 60a and 60b. For this reason, it can avoid that the hair 48 opens to the side.

  The powder P pushed out by the scraper 52 and the brush 44 is discharged from a discharge path (not shown) formed in the modeling bed 24 to the lower chamber 26 and collected by the carriage 30. Since the cart 30 is displaced in synchronization with the powder supply unit 36 and the processing unit 83, the powder P discharged to the lower chamber 26 is collected uniformly.

  When changing the thickness of the sintered layer, the nuts 82a and 82b may be loosened to change the protruding amount of the bristles 48 of the brush 44. Thereby, the thickness of the powder layer after leveling is changed. In this case, by replacing the spacer 56 with one having a large height dimension, the brush 44 is dammed by the spacer 56, the displacement in the Z direction is suppressed, and the protruding amount of the hair 48 is stabilized.

  Further, when the brush 44 is replaced, the spacer 56 may be replaced with one having a different length direction according to the thickness of the brush 44 (the dimension in the X direction along the traveling direction).

  As described above, the leveling assembly 46 according to the present embodiment can cope with the difference in the protruding amount and thickness of the bristles 48 of the brush 44. That is, it has sufficient versatility.

  The present invention is not particularly limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in this embodiment, a sintered layer of powder P is obtained under the action of laser light. Instead, a hardened layer is obtained through a binder added to powder P. May be.

  Needless to say, the bolts 66a and 66b, which are connecting members, may be passed from the first insertion holes 68a and 68b to the second insertion holes 80a and 80b.

  Further, the folded portions 60 a and 60 b may be provided so as to extend forward from the clamping wall portion 70 of the damming member 54 in the traveling direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Three-dimensional modeling apparatus 12 ... Apparatus main body 14 ... Control part 16 ... Laser beam oscillator 24 ... Modeling bed 34 ... Table 36 ... Powder supply part 38 ... Hopper 40 ... Shutter 44 ... Brush 46 ... Leveling assembly 48 ... Hair 50 ... Recessed clip 52 ... Scraper 54 ... Damping member 56 ... Spacer 58 ... Extruded wall part 60a, 60b ... Folded part 64 ... First groove 66a, 66b ... Bolt 68a, 68b ... First insertion hole 70 ... Clamping wall part 74 ... 1st support part 76 ... 2nd support part 78 ... 2nd groove | channel 80a, 80b ... 2nd penetration hole 82a, 82b ... Nut 83 ... Processing part 84 ... Laser beam irradiation part 86 ... Shroud 95 ... Movement mechanism 96a, 96b ... fixed guide rail 98 ... movable guide rail 102 ... support P ... powder

Claims (6)

A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising a powder supply unit for supplying powder for obtaining a three-dimensional structure, and a leveling means for leveling the powder supplied from the powder supply unit,
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the leveling means comprises a brush, and a blocking member for blocking the bent hair of the brush is provided behind the brush in the traveling direction. 2. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scraper that is provided in front of the brush in a moving direction and scrapes the powder, and a middle portion of the brush hair is disposed on the damming member and the scraper. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by being sandwiched.   The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a spacer is inserted between the blocking member and the scraper.   4. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the blocking member and the scraper are connected via a connecting member, and the connecting member is formed on either the blocking member or the scraper. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the insertion hole to be passed is a long hole.   The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a wall portion parallel to a traveling direction of the brush is formed on the blocking member or the scraper, and the bristles of the brush are A three-dimensional modeling apparatus characterized by being surrounded by a blocking member, the scraper, and the wall. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the brush hair is made of an amorphous metal.

Images