JP6392919B2 - 3D modeling equipment - Google Patents

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that models a three-dimensional object by irradiating light to a liquid photocurable resin contained in a tank and curing the photocurable resin (for example, a patent). Reference 1).

  This type of three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a table in which an opening is formed, a tank placed on the table, and a vertically movable holder disposed above the tank. An optical system having a light source for irradiating light, a mirror, and the like is disposed below the table. The light emitted from the light source is reflected by the mirror and irradiated to the photocurable resin in the tank through the opening of the table. Of the photocurable resin in the tank, the portion irradiated with light is cured. By controlling the light irradiation position, the position of the resin to be cured can be changed as appropriate, and a desired cross-sectional shape can be formed from the cured resin. By sequentially raising the holder, a desired cross-sectional shape is continuously formed downward. Thereby, a desired three-dimensional object is modeled by the photocurable resin after curing.

  When modeling a three-dimensional object (hereinafter simply referred to as three-dimensional modeling), a cover that covers the tank and the holder is disposed on the table so that light does not leak outside. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a planar view area of a tank (referred to as a trough in Patent Document 1) is reduced, and thus the cover is downsized. Thereby, miniaturization of the apparatus is achieved.

JP 2003-39564 A

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention includes a tank that contains a liquid photocurable resin, a light source that is disposed below the tank and emits light, a light source that is disposed below the tank, and the light from the light source. A mirror that reflects the light toward the photocurable resin contained in the tank and the photocurable resin cured by being irradiated with the light when the mirror is raised and raised. And a lifting holder. The length of the tank in the predetermined direction is longer than the length of the holder in the predetermined direction. When the predetermined direction is assumed to be the front-rear direction, the center of the holder in the front-rear direction is located behind the center of the tank in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the mirror is located behind the center of the tank in the front-rear direction. The said light source is located ahead rather than the center of the front-back direction of the said tank.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. It is a top view of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus in the state which inclined the three-dimensional modeling apparatus to the back side. Fig.4 (a) is a top view of the state in which the tank was mounted in the stand, and FIG.4 (b) has shown the state which switched the front and back of the tank of Fig.4 (a).

  Hereinafter, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The embodiments described herein are, of course, not intended to limit the present invention in particular. Further, members / parts having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted or simplified.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1. In the following description, the left and right in FIG. 1 are the front and the rear of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1, respectively. Moreover, the upper and lower sides of FIG. In FIG. 1 and the like, symbols F, Rr, L, and R indicate front, rear, left, and right, respectively. However, these are only directions for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the installation mode of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 at all. As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes a table 11, a tank 12, a holder 13, and an optical device 14.

  An opening 21 is formed in the table 11. The opening 21 is a part through which light applied to a photocurable resin 23 described later passes. The shape of the opening 21 is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 21 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. The opening 21 is an example of a light passage part.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tank 12 is placed on a table 11. The tank 12 is arrange | positioned so that attachment to the base 11 is possible. As shown in FIG. 2, the tank 12 covers the opening 21 of the table 11 when placed on the table 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the tank 12 contains a liquid photocurable resin 23. The photocurable resin 23 is a resin that can be cured by irradiation with light. As shown in FIG. 2, the tank 12 is a container having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The tank 12 includes a bottom plate having a rectangular shape in plan view, and a left side plate, a right side plate, a front side plate, and a rear side plate that stand from the left end, right end, front end, and rear end of the bottom plate. A part of the bottom plate of the tank 12 is located above the opening 21 of the table 11 when the tank 12 is placed on the table 11. Here, the rear part of the bottom plate of the tank 12 is located above the opening 21. At least the bottom plate of the tank 12 is formed of a material that can transmit light, such as a transparent resin or glass. In the present embodiment, the tank 12 is made of a transparent acrylic resin. In addition, the layer which suppresses that the photocurable resin 23 adheres may be provided in the surface of the baseplate of the tank 12. FIG. For example, a silicon layer may be provided on the surface of the bottom plate of the tank 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 13 is disposed above the tank 12. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the holder 13 is disposed above the opening 21 of the base 11. The shape of the holder 13 is not particularly limited, but here, like the opening 21, the holder 13 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. The holder 13 is a member that can be raised and lowered. As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 13 pulls up the photocurable resin 23 that has been cured by irradiation with light from a projector 31 of the light source device 14 described later. The holder 13 is configured to be immersed in the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 when lowered. Further, the holder 13 is configured to lift the photocurable resin 23 that has been irradiated with light and cured when it is raised. In the present embodiment, the base 11 is provided with a support column 41 extending in the vertical direction. A slider 42 is attached in front of the column 41. The slider 42 can move up and down along the column 41 and is driven upward or downward by a motor (not shown). Here, the holder 13 is attached to a slider 42 that can be raised and lowered. The holder 13 is driven upward or downward by the motor. The support column 41 indirectly supports the holder 13 via a slider 42 so as to be movable up and down. However, the support column 41 may directly support the holder 13. The holder 13 is disposed in front of the support column 41.

  Next, a detailed positional relationship among the holder 13, the tank 12, and the opening 21 of the base 11 will be described. The holder 13 may not be movable back and forth, but may be movable back and forth. In that case, the positional relationship described below means a positional relationship in the case where the holder 13 is positioned on the rearmost side. Further, the holder 13 may not be movable left and right, but may be movable left and right. In this case, the positional relationship described below means the positional relationship when the holder 13 is positioned at the center of the left and right.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the length L3 of the tank 12 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length L1 of the holder 13 in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the length L3 of the tank 12 in the front-rear direction is twice or more than the length L1 of the holder 13 in the front-rear direction. The front end 13 f of the holder 13 is located behind the front end 12 f of the tank 12. The rear end 13 b of the holder 13 is located in front of the rear end 12 b of the tank 12. The center 13 </ b> C in the front-rear direction of the holder 13 is located behind the center 12 </ b> C in the front-rear direction of the tank 12. The tank 12 extends forward from the holder 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the tank 12 slightly extends leftward and rightward from the holder 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the length L2 in the front-rear direction between the front end 12f of the tank 12 and the front end 13f of the holder 13 is the length in the front-rear direction between the front end 13f of the holder 13 and the rear end 13b of the holder 13 (in other words, The length of the holder 13 in the front-rear direction) is longer than L1. However, the length L2 in the front-rear direction between the front end 12f of the tank 12 and the front end 13f of the holder 13 may be equal to the length L1 in the front-rear direction of the holder 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 21 of the base 11 is larger in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction than the holder 13 in plan view. Further, the holder 13 is disposed on the inner side of the periphery of the opening 21 in plan view.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical device 14 is disposed below the table 11. The optical device 14 is a device that irradiates the liquid photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 with light. In the present embodiment, the optical device 14 is accommodated in a case 25 provided below the table 11. The optical device 14 includes a projector 31 and a mirror 32.

  The projector 31 is an example of a light source that emits light. However, the light source of the optical device 14 is not limited to the projector 31. In the present embodiment, the projector 31 is disposed below the front portion of the table 11. The projector 31 includes a lens 34. The lens 34 is disposed at the rear part of the projector 31. Light is emitted from the front to the rear through the lens 34. The light projecting direction of the projector 31 is not particularly limited. Here, more light is emitted from the projector 31 than below the horizontal plane passing through the optical axis A of the lens 34.

  In the present embodiment, a control device 35 is connected to the projector 31. The control device 35 controls light emitted from the projector 31. For example, the control device 35 controls the wavelength band of the light emitted from the projector 31, the shape of the light, the timing of emitting the light, and the like. The configuration of the control device 35 is not particularly limited. For example, the control device 35 is a computer and may include a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU), a ROM that stores a program executed by the CPU, a RAM, and the like.

  Next, the installation position of the projector 31 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 31 is disposed in front of the holder 13. Here, the projector 31 is disposed obliquely in front of the holder 13. The rear end portion of the projector 31 is disposed below the tank 12. Specifically, the rear end portion of the projector 31 is disposed directly below the tank 12. The center C in the front-rear direction of the projector 31 is also disposed below the tank 12. Here, the front end portion of the projector 31 is located in front of the front end 12 f of the tank 12. However, the front end portion of the projector 31 may be located behind the front end 12 f of the tank 12.

  The mirror 32 reflects the light from the projector 31 toward the tank 12. In the present embodiment, the mirror 32 is disposed below the opening 21 formed in the table 11 and behind the projector 31. The mirror 32 is disposed so as to be inclined forward and downward. The light emitted from the projector 31 is reflected by the mirror 32 and is applied to the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 through the opening 21 of the table 11. Here, prior to modeling the three-dimensional object, it is necessary to adjust the light irradiation direction so that all the light from the projector 31 passes through the opening 21. In the present embodiment, the light irradiation direction is adjusted by adjusting the vertical position of the projector 31 prior to modeling the three-dimensional object, but the light irradiation is performed by adjusting the angle of the mirror 32. The direction may be adjusted.

  Next, a detailed positional relationship between the projector 31 and the mirror 32 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the mirror 32 is arranged so as to be aligned with the projector 31 in the front-rear direction. Here, in a side view, the optical axis A of the lens 34 of the projector 31 is located below the center B of the mirror 32. Further, the lower end 34d of the lens 34 and the lower end 32d of the mirror 32 have substantially the same height. The difference in the vertical position between the lower end 34 d of the lens 34 and the lower end 32 d of the mirror 32 may be equal to or less than the vertical length of the projector 31 or may be equal to or smaller than the vertical length of the lens 34. Of course, the difference in the vertical position between the lower end 34d of the lens 34 and the lower end 32d of the mirror 32 may be zero.

  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes a leg 15. The leg 15 is an example of a tilting device. The legs 15 incline the tank 12 so that the front part of the bottom surface of the tank 12 is disposed above the rear part of the bottom surface of the tank 12, that is, the tank 12 is inclined rearward. In the present embodiment, the legs 15 are provided on the bottom plate of the case 25. The legs 15 are provided at the four corners of the bottom plate of the case 25, and a total of four legs are provided. In FIG. 1, the legs 15 provided on the left front part and the left rear part of the bottom plate of the case 25 are illustrated, but similar legs 15 are also provided on the right front part and the right rear part of the bottom plate of the case 25.

  The case 25 supports the base 11, the optical device 14, the support column 41, and the holder 13. By making the front leg 15 longer than the rear leg 15, the case 25 can be inclined rearwardly downward. When the case 25 inclines backward, the tank 12 placed on the table 11 also inclines backward. In the present embodiment, the tank 12 can be inclined by adjusting the length of the legs 15. Here, the length of each of the four legs 15 can be adjusted independently. The leg 15 includes a shaft 15 a that is inserted into a hole (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of the case 25. By appropriately adjusting the length at which the shaft 15a is inserted into the bottom plate of the case 25, the length of the leg 15 can be adjusted, and the tank 12 can be appropriately inclined. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the tank 12 can be tilted rearward by making the front leg 15 out of the four legs 15 higher than the rear leg 15.

  The mechanism for adjusting the insertion length of the shaft 15a with respect to the bottom plate of the case 25 is not particularly limited. For example, the shaft 15a may be constituted by a male screw, and the hole in the bottom plate of the case 25 may be constituted by a female screw. In this case, the length of the leg 15 can be adjusted by rotating the shaft 15a.

  In the present embodiment, when the tank 12 is inclined, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 itself is also inclined. That is, since the base 11, the optical device 14, and the holder 13 are supported by the case 25, if the length of the front leg 15 is different from the length of the rear leg 15, not only the tank 12 but also the base 11. The optical device 14 and the holder 13 are also inclined similarly to the tank 12. However, the relative positional relationship among the optical device 14, the opening 21 of the table 11, the tank 12, and the holder 13 does not change. The positional relationship between the parts of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 does not change. Therefore, even if the tank 12 is tilted, the quality of the three-dimensional modeling does not deteriorate.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 is provided with a cover 45. The cover 45 is a member that covers the tank 12, the holder 13, the support column 41, and the like disposed above the table 11. The cover 45 can prevent the irradiated light from leaking outside. The cover 45 is preferably made of a material that blocks light including a wavelength that cures the photocurable resin 23. The cover 45 may be an opaque cover. Further, the cover 45 can make it difficult for dust from the outside to enter the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12. The cover 45 includes a front wall 45a extending vertically, a rear wall 45b extending vertically, and an upper wall 45c inclined downward. The rear end 45cb of the upper wall 45c is higher than the upper end 41t of the support column 41, and the front end 45ca of the upper wall 45c is lower than the upper end 41t of the support column 41.

  In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 of this embodiment, a three-dimensional object is modeled as follows. First, the control device 35 irradiates light from the projector 31 through the lens 34 of the projector 31. The light from the projector 31 is reflected by the mirror 32. The light reflected by the mirror 32 passes through the opening 21 of the table 11. The light that has passed through the opening 21 passes through the bottom plate of the tank 12. The light that has passed through the bottom plate of the tank 12 is positioned between the bottom plate and the holder 13 and is irradiated to the photocurable resin 23 accommodated in the tank 12. The photocurable resin 23 that has received the light is cured. By appropriately changing the angle of the mirror 32, the irradiation position of the light is appropriately changed, and the photocurable resin 23 forms a solid resin layer having a desired cross-sectional shape.

  When the layer is formed, a motor (not shown) that moves the holder 13 up and down is driven, and the holder 13 moves upward. At this time, the solid resin layer held by the holder 13 is pulled up, and a gap is formed between the resin layer and the tank 12. The liquid photocurable resin 23 flows into this gap. And the light from the projector 31 is irradiated to the photocurable resin 23 in the said clearance gap, and the next solid resin layer which has a desired cross-sectional shape is formed. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated, and an object having a desired three-dimensional shape is generated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the front-rear direction length L2 between the front end 12f of the tank 12 and the front end 13f of the holder 13 is longer than the front-rear direction length L1 of the holder 13. . The tank 12 extends largely forward from the holder 13. The planar view area of the tank 12 is large. Therefore, in the tank 12, the liquid photocurable resin 23 tends to flow as compared with a tank having a small area in plan view. When the photocurable resin 23 cured by the holder 13 is pulled up, the liquid photocurable resin 23 is supplied below the cured photocurable resin 23. According to this embodiment, the fresh photocurable resin 23 that is not irradiated with light is easily supplied below the cured photocurable resin 23. Therefore, the quality of three-dimensional modeling can be improved.

  Moreover, since the planar view area of the tank 12 is large, the liquid level height of the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 can be suppressed low. Therefore, when the holder 13 is immersed in the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12, the photocurable resin 23 can be made difficult to spill from the tank 12.

  By the way, if light from the projector 31 is irradiated to the same part of the tank 12 over a long period of time, a part of the tank 12 may partially deteriorate over time and become cloudy. However, since the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 is irradiated with light passing through the tank 12, when the tank 12 becomes clouded, it is difficult to irradiate the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 with light. Become. FIG. 4A is a plan view of a state in which the tank 12 is placed on the table 11. FIG. 4A shows a first state of the tank 12. That is, in FIG. 4A, the tank 12 is placed on the table 11 so that the rear part of the bottom plate of the tank 12 covers the opening 21 of the table 11. As shown in FIG. 4A, for example, when the tank 12 is in the first state and the light is continuously irradiated to the position D at the rear part of the bottom plate of the tank 12, the position D may become cloudy. As a result, among the photocurable resins 23 accommodated in the tank 12, the photocurable resin 23 located above the position D may be difficult to cure.

  However, in the present embodiment, the tank 12 extends largely forward from the holder 13. The tank 12 is changed from the first state of FIG. 4A to the front and rear of the tank 12, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the tank 12 is configured so that the front portion of the bottom plate of the tank 12 covers the opening 21. It can be set as the state (2nd state) mounted on the base 11. FIG. Therefore, when the rear part of the tank 12 becomes cloudy, the front and the rear of the tank 12 can be used interchangeably as shown in FIG. In the first state (FIG. 4A), the portion of the bottom plate of the tank 12 that is located above the opening 21 is the portion that is off the upper side of the opening 21 in the second state (FIG. 4B). Located in. That is, the same tank 12 can be used so that the position D deviates from above the opening 21. Therefore, even if a part of the tank 12 becomes clouded, it is possible to perform three-dimensional modeling satisfactorily using the tank 12.

  The support column 41 that supports the holder 13 so as to be movable up and down may be arranged on the right side or the left side of the holder 13. However, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Since the support column 41 is arranged behind the holder 13, it is possible to avoid interference between the support column 41 and the tank 12 even though the tank 12 extends forward.

  Incidentally, the cover 45 that covers the tank 12 and the like tends to increase in size because the tank 12 extends forward. However, according to the present embodiment, the upper wall 45c of the cover 45 is inclined forward and downward. Therefore, compared with the case where the upper wall 45c of the cover 45 is extended horizontally, the enlargement of the cover 45 can be suppressed. Therefore, an increase in size of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the projector 31 is disposed in front of the holder 13, and the rear end portion of the projector 31 is disposed below the tank 12. There is room for space under the front part of the tank 12 by the amount that the tank 12 extends forward. By arranging the projector 31 in that space, it is possible to effectively utilize the spare space. As a result, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 can be made compact.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 21 formed in the table 11 is larger in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction than the holder 13 in plan view. The holder 13 is disposed inside the periphery of the opening 21 in plan view. As a result, the light from the projector 31 easily passes through the opening 21 and is irradiated onto the photocurable resin 23 near the holder 13. Therefore, a desired three-dimensional object can be easily modeled. Note that if the opening 21 is large, there is a high possibility that light is also irradiated to the photocurable resin 23 other than the vicinity of the holder 13, and when the holder 13 is raised, a fresh photocurable resin 23 is provided near the holder 13. May not be supplied easily. However, according to this embodiment, the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 has good fluidity, and fresh photocurable resin that is not irradiated with light is easily supplied in the vicinity of the holder 13. Therefore, even if the opening 21 is large, a high-quality three-dimensional object can be formed.

  In the present embodiment, the projector 31 is used as the light source of the optical device 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 31 is arranged so as to be aligned with the mirror 32 in the front-rear direction. Light from the projector 31 is emitted slightly upward from the optical axis A of the lens 34. However, according to the present embodiment, the optical axis A of the lens 34 of the projector 31 is located below the center B of the mirror 32 in a side view. Further, the lower end 34d of the lens 34 and the lower end 32d of the mirror 32 have substantially the same height. Therefore, it becomes easy to irradiate the mirror 32 with light from the projector 31. Therefore, the light reflected by the mirror 32 can be easily guided to the opening 21 of the table 11, and the light curable resin 23 in the tank 12 can be irradiated with light well.

  In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 1 includes the legs 15 that incline the tank 12 so that the front part of the bottom surface of the tank 12 is disposed above the rear part of the bottom surface of the tank 12. Accordingly, when the amount of the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 is small, the tank 12 can be tilted rearward by adjusting the length of the legs 15 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the photocurable resin 23 accumulates in the rear part of the tank 12. Therefore, even when the amount of the photocurable resin 23 in the tank 12 is small, the liquid photocurable resin 23 is satisfactorily supplied below the photocurable resin 23 that has been cured by irradiation with light. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the case 25 is inclined by adjusting the length of the leg 15. As the case 25 is inclined, the tank 12 is inclined. The tank 12 can be tilted by a simple method of tilting the case 25. Incidentally, the case 25 supports the base 11, the optical device 14, and the holder 13. Therefore, when the case 25 is inclined, not only the tank 12 but also the base 11, the optical device 14, and the holder 13 are inclined integrally with the tank 12. Therefore, even if the case 25 is inclined, the relative positional relationship among the optical device 14, the opening 21 of the table 11, the tank 12, and the holder 13 does not change. Therefore, even when the case 25 is tilted, there is no possibility that the quality of the three-dimensional modeling is deteriorated.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention can be implemented in various other forms.

  In the said embodiment, the tank 12 was formed in the planar view rectangular shape. The tank 12 may have a square shape in plan view or a rectangular shape in plan view. Further, the shape of the tank 12 in plan view may be a shape other than a rectangular shape.

  In the above embodiment, the four legs 15 are provided at the four corners of the bottom plate of the case 25. However, the number of legs 15 is not limited to four.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the inclination apparatus which inclines the tank 12 was comprised by the leg 15 which can adjust length freely. However, the tilting device is not limited to the legs 15. Further, the tilting device is not limited to the tilting device that tilts the tank 12 by tilting the case 25. The tilting device may tilt only the tank 12. For example, the tilting device may be a leg with adjustable length provided in the tank 12.

  In the above embodiment, the optical device 14 includes the mirror 32. However, the mirror 32 is not always necessary. The optical device 14 may be configured to directly irradiate light from the light source toward the opening 21 of the table 11.

  In the above embodiment, the light source of the optical device 14 is the projector 31. However, the light source is not limited to the projector 31. The light source may be a laser, for example.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light passing part that transmits the light irradiated to the photocurable resin 23 is the opening 21 formed in the table 11. However, the light passage part is not limited to the opening 21. The light passing portion only needs to pass light applied to the photocurable resin 23. For example, the light passing portion may be a transparent plate provided on the table 11. Further, the base 11 may be formed of a transparent plate. In this case, the base 11 itself becomes a light passage part.

<Other inventions>
In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus that models an object layer by layer by sequentially raising the holder, when the holder is lifted, the next layer is placed below the cured photocurable resin pulled up by the holder. It is important to quickly and stably supply the liquid photo-curing resin that will form the film. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the tank is slightly larger than the holder (referred to as a carrier platform in Patent Document 1) in plan view, and the plane view area of the tank is small. Therefore, compared with the case where the area of the tank in plan view is large, the liquid photocurable resin hardly flows in the tank. Therefore, when the holder is pulled up, a liquid photocurable resin that has already been slightly irradiated and slightly deteriorated is likely to remain below the cured photocurable resin, and is not irradiated with light. It is difficult to supply the photocurable resin. Therefore, there is a possibility that the quality of the three-dimensional modeling may be deteriorated, and it may be difficult to model the three-dimensional object as desired.

  Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that can model a high-quality three-dimensional object.

  A three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to another invention includes a tank that contains a liquid photocurable resin, a table on which the tank is placed, and a light passage unit that allows light to be applied to the photocurable resin to pass therethrough, An optical device disposed at a lower side of the table, having at least a light source that emits light, and irradiating the light curable resin in the tank with light from the light source through the light passage portion; A holder that is freely provided, is immersed in a photocurable resin in the tank when lowered, and lifts the photocurable resin cured by being irradiated with the light when it is raised. The length of the tank in the predetermined direction is longer than the length of the holder in the predetermined direction. When the predetermined direction is the front-rear direction, the center in the front-rear direction of the holder is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank, and the length in the front-rear direction between the front end of the tank and the front end of the holder Is longer than the length of the holder in the front-rear direction.

  According to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the length in the front-rear direction between the front end of the tank and the front end of the holder is equal to or greater than the length in the front-rear direction of the holder. The tank extends greatly forward from the holder, and the area of the tank in plan view is large. Therefore, the liquid photocurable resin tends to flow in the tank. When the holder is raised, fresh photocurable resin that is not irradiated with light is easily supplied below the photocurable resin after curing. Therefore, the quality of three-dimensional modeling can be improved.

  According to another preferable aspect of the present invention, a support column is provided which is disposed on the table and supports the holder so as to be movable up and down. The holder is disposed in front of the support column.

  According to the said aspect, since a support | pillar is arrange | positioned behind a holder, interference with the tank extended ahead rather than a support | pillar and a holder can be prevented.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other invention, a cover that covers the tank, the holder, and the support column is provided. The cover includes an upper wall that slopes forward and downward.

  When the tank is extended forward, the cover that covers the tank or the like tends to increase in size. However, according to the above aspect, the upper wall of the cover is inclined forward and downward. Therefore, compared with the case where the upper wall of the cover extends horizontally, the enlargement of the cover can be suppressed.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other invention, the light source of the optical device is disposed in front of the holder, and a rear end portion of the light source is disposed below the tank.

  When the tank is extended forward, a space is created below the tank (particularly below the front of the tank). According to the above aspect, the marginal space can be effectively used as the installation space for the light source. Therefore, an increase in size of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus can be suppressed.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other invention, the light passage portion is an opening formed in the table, and the opening is larger in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction than the holder in plan view. The holder is disposed inside the periphery of the opening in plan view.

  According to the said aspect, the light from a light source becomes easy to be irradiated to photocurable resin near a holder through opening. Therefore, a desired three-dimensional object can be easily modeled. In addition, when opening is large, there exists a possibility that light may be irradiated also to photocurable resin other than the holder vicinity, and there exists a possibility that it may become difficult to supply fresh photocurable resin to the holder vicinity. However, since the photocurable resin in the tank has good fluidity, fresh photocurable resin that is not irradiated with light is easily supplied near the holder. Therefore, even if the opening is large, a high-quality three-dimensional object can be formed.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other aspect of the invention, there is provided a tilting device for tilting the tank so that a front portion of the bottom surface of the tank is disposed above a rear portion of the bottom surface of the tank.

  When the tank is extended forward, there is a problem that when the amount of the photocurable resin in the tank decreases, it becomes difficult to supply the liquid photocurable resin below the cured photocurable resin. However, according to the said aspect, when there is little quantity of the photocurable resin in a tank, since a tank can be inclined to the back side with an inclination apparatus, the photocurable resin in a tank accumulates in the rear part of a tank. Therefore, even when the amount of the photocurable resin in the tank is small, the liquid photocurable resin can be satisfactorily supplied below the cured photocurable resin.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other invention, a case is provided that supports the table, the optical device, and the holder. The tilting device is configured to tilt the case.

  Since the tank is placed on the table, the tank can be tilted by tilting the table. According to the said aspect, a tank can be inclined by the simple system of inclining a case. The tilting device can be obtained with a simple configuration. In addition, although the holder also inclines with the inclination of the tank, since the optical device also inclines, the quality of the three-dimensional modeling does not deteriorate.

  According to another preferable aspect of the present invention, the light source includes a projector that irradiates light toward the rear. A mirror is provided behind the projector and reflects light from the projector toward the light passage portion of the stage. In a side view, the optical axis of the lens is located below the center of the mirror.

  Light from the projector is likely to be irradiated slightly upward from the optical axis of the lens. According to the above aspect, since the optical axis of the lens is located below the center of the mirror, it becomes easy to irradiate the mirror with light from the projector. Therefore, it becomes easy to guide the light reflected by the mirror to the light passage part of the table, and it becomes easy to irradiate the photocurable resin in the tank well. Therefore, the quality of three-dimensional modeling can be improved.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other invention, the lower end of the lens and the lower end of the mirror have substantially the same height.

  According to the said aspect, it becomes easy to irradiate the mirror with the light from a projector. Therefore, it becomes easy to guide the light reflected by the mirror to the light passage part of the table, and the quality of the three-dimensional modeling can be improved.

  According to another preferable aspect of the other invention, the tank has a bottom plate partly positioned above the light passage portion when placed on the table. The state where the tank is placed on the table so that the rear part of the bottom plate covers the light passage part is set as a first state, and the front and rear of the tank are switched from the first state, When the state in which the tank is placed on the table is set to the second state so that the portion covers the light passage portion, in the first state, the bottom plate is located above the light passage portion. In the second state, the portion that is positioned is located in a portion that is off the upper side of the light passage portion.

  If the tank is placed on the table as in the first state and the same part of the tank is irradiated with light from the light source over a long period of time, part of the tank may partially deteriorate over time and become cloudy. There is. Since the photocurable resin in the tank is irradiated with light passing through the tank, when the tank is clouded, it becomes difficult to irradiate the photocurable resin in the tank with light. However, according to the said aspect, it can be used by making a tank into the 2nd state which replaced the front and back of the tank from the 1st state. The cloudy part of the tank is located in the part off the upper part of the light passage part. Therefore, even if a part of the tank becomes clouded, it is possible to satisfactorily perform three-dimensional modeling using the tank.

  According to another invention, it is possible to provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of modeling a high-quality three-dimensional object.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 3D modeling apparatus 11 Stand 12 Tank 13 Holder 14 Optical apparatus 15 Leg (tilting apparatus)
21 Aperture (light passage)
23 Photocurable resin 31 Projector (light source)
32 mirror 41 prop

Claims (8)

A tank containing a liquid photocurable resin;
A light source disposed below the vessel and emitting light;
A mirror that is disposed below the tank and reflects the light from the light source toward the photocurable resin accommodated in the tank;
A holder that is provided so as to be movable up and down above the tank and lifts the photocurable resin that has been irradiated with the light and cured when it rises;
With
The length of the tank in the predetermined direction is longer than the length of the holder in the predetermined direction,
When the predetermined direction is assumed to be the front-rear direction,
The center in the front-rear direction of the holder is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
The front end of the mirror is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
The rear end of the mirror is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
The light source is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that is positioned in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the tank.   A tank containing a liquid photocurable resin;
  A light source disposed below the vessel and emitting light;
  A mirror that is disposed below the tank and reflects the light from the light source toward the photocurable resin accommodated in the tank;
  A holder that is provided so as to be movable up and down above the tank and lifts the photocurable resin that has been irradiated with the light and cured when it rises;
With
  The length of the tank in the predetermined direction is longer than the length of the holder in the predetermined direction,
  When the predetermined direction is assumed to be the front-rear direction,
  The center in the front-rear direction of the holder is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
  The center of the tank in the front-rear direction is located in front of the front end of the holder,
  The rear end of the mirror is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
  The light source is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that is positioned in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the tank.   A tank containing a liquid photocurable resin;
  The tank is disposed, and a table having a light passage part that allows the light to be irradiated to the photocurable resin to pass therethrough,
  A light source disposed below the vessel and emitting light;
  A mirror that is disposed below the tank and reflects the light from the light source toward the photocurable resin accommodated in the tank;
  A holder that is provided so as to be movable up and down above the tank and lifts the photocurable resin that has been irradiated with the light and cured when it rises;
With
  The length of the tank in the predetermined direction is longer than the length of the holder in the predetermined direction,
  When the predetermined direction is assumed to be the front-rear direction,
  The center in the front-rear direction of the holder is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
  The rear end of the mirror is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
  The light source is located in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the tank,
  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the length of the light passage portion in the front-rear direction is shorter than the length of the tank in the front-rear direction.   4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a tilting device configured to tilt the tank so that a front portion of the bottom surface of the tank is disposed above a rear portion of the bottom surface of the tank. Dimensional modeling device.   The light source comprises a projector having a lens and irradiating light toward the rear,
  The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical axis of the lens is positioned below the center of the mirror in a side view. The rear end of the mirror is located in front of the rear end of the holder,
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein a front end of the mirror is located behind a front end of the holder. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , further comprising a support column disposed rearward of the holder and the tank and supporting the holder so as to be movable up and down. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a lower end of the column is positioned below an upper end of the tank.

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