JP6422790B2 - 3D printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printer that can laminate a predetermined material to form a laminate having a desired shape.

  The three-dimensional printer usually has a nozzle that can discharge a molten resin and a table that can sequentially receive the molten resin discharged from the nozzle and stack it on the top, and the nozzle and the table are orthogonal to each other in the X-axis direction. The laminate having a desired shape can be formed on the table by moving relative to the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. However, when molding a laminate having a portion that is wider toward the top (undercut part), the molten resin discharged from the nozzle may hang down due to gravity in the lamination process. As a product, an unnecessary support structure (support structure) is required.

  In order to avoid such problems, the table is swung around the B axis (in a direction substantially parallel to the table mounting surface), the laminate on the table is inclined at an arbitrary angle, and the table is rotated. By rotating the laminate on the table around the C axis (in a direction substantially perpendicular to the table mounting surface) and rotating the laminate on the table to discharge the molten resin from the nozzle, the undercut portion is The thing which can shape | mold the laminated body which has it precisely is proposed. In addition, since this prior art is not related to the literature known invention, there is no prior art document information to be described.

  However, in the above prior art, although the undercut portion can be formed with high accuracy, the table is rotated about the C axis in a sideways state in which the table is swung about 90 ° about the B axis. When arbitrarily molding or processing the upper laminate, the laminate on the table is not stable, and it is difficult to obtain an accurate laminate.

  The present invention was made in view of such circumstances, and even when the table is arbitrarily shaped or processed in a horizontal state, the laminate on the table can be stabilized, and an accurate laminate can be obtained. It is to provide a three-dimensional printer that can be obtained.

  The invention described in claim 1 has a discharge unit capable of discharging a predetermined material, a table having a mounting surface capable of receiving the material discharged from the discharge unit, and a table on which the material can be stacked on the mounting surface. A moving means capable of moving the discharge means and the table relative to each other in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction and a Z-axis direction which are orthogonal to each other; and a B-axis in a direction substantially parallel to the placement surface B-axis swinging means that swings the table around the table to tilt the laminate on the table at an arbitrary angle, and the table about the C-axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface. A material discharged from the discharge means by optionally operating a C-axis rotation means that can rotate and rotate the laminate on the table, and the moving means, the B-axis swinging means, and the C-axis rotation means. And stack the desired shape on the table A control unit capable of forming an object, and the table is rotated by the C-axis rotating unit in a sideways state in which the table is swung approximately 90 ° by the B-axis swinging unit, and a laminate on the table A three-dimensional printer that can be arbitrarily formed or processed with respect to the front end of the laminate so that it can rotate freely when the table is turned to the horizontal position by the B-axis swinging means. It is characterized by comprising clamping means capable of clamping the laminate with the table.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional printer according to the first aspect, the clamping means can be moved closer to or away from the mounting surface of the table in the lateral state, and the front end of the stacked body It has the contact part which can contact | abut to a part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional printer according to the first or second aspect, the cutting tool includes a cutting tool capable of cutting the laminate on the table, and is clamped by the clamping means in the lateral state. A cutting means capable of cutting an arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table with the cutting tool is provided.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the three-dimensional printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising heating means capable of heating and melting the laminate on the table, wherein An arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table held by the holding means can be heated and melted by the heating means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the table is turned sideways by the B-axis swinging means, the tip of the laminate can be rotatably supported so that the laminate can be sandwiched between the table. Since the means is provided, the laminate on the table can be stabilized and a highly accurate laminate can be obtained even when the table is arbitrarily shaped or processed in a horizontal state.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the clamping means has an abutting portion that can be brought close to or separated from the mounting surface of the table in the lateral state and can abut on the tip of the laminate, While making a table into a horizontal state, it can prevent that a laminated body and a clamping means interfere, and can laminate a laminated body on a table more smoothly.

  According to the invention of claim 3, it comprises a cutting tool capable of cutting the laminate on the table, and any part of the laminate on the table held in the horizontal state and held by the holding means can be cut by the cutting tool. Since the cutting means is provided, it is possible to cut any part of the laminate laminated by the discharge means, and it is possible to obtain a shape that is difficult to be formed only by laminating the materials. Even when a load is applied from the cutting tool to the laminate during the cutting process, the laminate can be securely held and fixed by the holding means.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the heating means capable of heating and melting the laminate on the table is provided, and an arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table held in the horizontal state and sandwiched by the sandwiching means is used by the heating means. Since heating and melting are possible, the material can be laminated on the portion cooled in the lamination process.

1 is an external view showing a three-dimensional printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Front view showing the internal configuration of the 3D printer Side view showing the internal configuration of the 3D printer Front view showing ejection means and cutting tool in the same three-dimensional printer Side view showing a table and its vicinity in the same three-dimensional printer Plan view showing a table and its vicinity in the same three-dimensional printer It is a perspective view which shows the clamping means in the same three-dimensional printer, Comprising: (a) Table is a normal state, (b) Schematic figure which shows a table side state Plan view showing clamping means in the same three-dimensional printer Front view showing clamping means in the three-dimensional printer Sectional drawing which shows the contact part of the clamping means in the same three-dimensional printer

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The three-dimensional printer according to the present embodiment can form a laminate (work) having a desired shape by laminating a predetermined resin material. As shown in FIGS. X-axis moving means 4, Y-axis moving means 5 and Z-axis moving means 6, B-axis swinging means 7, C-axis rotating means 8, control means 9, and clamping means 10 as moving means. And a cutting means having a cutting tool 11 and a main shaft S, a heating means 12, and a holder 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a housing K in which a housing space is formed, and the above-described components are housed in the housing space of the housing K. (See FIGS. 2 and 3), an opening / closing door T that can be closed or opened is formed on the front side, and by opening the opening / closing door T, setting of the internal components and the obtained lamination are performed. An object (work) can be taken out.

  The discharge means 2 is attached to the upper part of the accommodation space in the housing K, and is configured to discharge a predetermined molten resin material toward the placement surface 3 a of the table 3. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the discharge means 2 includes a nozzle portion 2 a for discharging a molten material, and a melting portion for melting a solid resin material formed in a linear shape (string shape). 2b, a pressure feeding part 2c that sequentially feeds a solid resin material formed in a linear shape toward the nozzle part 2a and the melting part 2b, and a cooling fin 2d.

  That is, the solid resin material formed into the filament is sequentially pumped to the melted part 2b by the pumping part 2c to be in a molten state, and is discharged toward the mounting surface 3a of the table 3 by the nozzle part 2a. is there. In this embodiment, the solid resin material formed in a linear shape is sequentially supplied from the outside of the casing K in the three-dimensional printer 1 while being guided by the guide roller R (see FIG. 2). ing. Further, the discharge means 2 can be moved in the vertical direction in FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the table 3 has a mounting surface 3 a that can receive the resin material discharged from the nozzle portion 2 a of the discharge means 2, and a cooled and solidified resin material is laminated on the mounting surface 3 a. As described in detail later, the B-axis swinging means 7 can swing around the B-axis α, and the C-axis rotating means 8 can rotate around the C-axis β. ing. In addition, a heater h is attached to the table 3, and a base (a plate material made of the same type of resin material as that discharged from the discharge means 2) previously attached to the table 3 is attached to the table 3 from the heater h. It can be melted by heat.

  Here, the B axis α is a direction substantially parallel to the mounting surface 3a in the state of FIG. 7A (a normal processing state in which the mounting surface 3a of the table 3 faces upward). In addition to (Y-axis direction), the C-axis β is a direction (a direction parallel to the Z-axis) substantially orthogonal to the placement surface 3a. The B axis α may be changed to the X axis direction instead of the Y axis direction. In the space where the three-dimensional printer 1 is installed, directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction.

  Further, the table 3 according to the present embodiment is rotatably attached to the C-axis rotating means 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the C-axis rotating means 8 includes a rotating plate 8a to which the table 3 is attached and which can be rotated by the motor M1, a motor M1 for rotating the rotating plate 8a, the rotating plate 8a and the motor M1. And the like. The main body 8b is configured to rotate the rotating plate 8a by driving the motor M1, and the table 3 can be rotated about the C axis β.

  Further, the table 3 according to the present embodiment is attached to the B-axis swinging means 7 together with the C-axis rotating means 8 (the rotating plate 8a, the main body 8b and the motor M1) so as to be swingable. The B-axis swinging means 7 swings the table 3 and the B-axis swinging means 7 around the B-axis α with respect to the holding part H that holds the table 3 and the C-axis rotating means 8. And the motor 3 is configured to drive the table 3 and the main body portion 8b with respect to the holding portion H about the B axis α.

  The X-axis moving means 4 as one of the moving means is capable of moving the ejection means 2 and the table 3 relative to the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The ball screw N1 is rotated by driving an actuator such as a motor, and the slide member T1 is slid along the rail L1 by the rotation of the ball screw N1. Further, the Y-axis moving means 5 as one of the moving means is capable of moving the ejection means 2 and the table 3 relative to the Y-axis direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The ball screw N2 is rotated by driving of an actuator such as a motor, and the slide member T2 is slid along the rail L2 by the rotation of the ball screw N2.

  The rail L1 extends in the X-axis direction at the ceiling portion of the housing K, and the slide member T1 can be moved in the X-axis direction along the rail L1 by the rotation of the ball screw N1. The slide member T1 extends in the Y-axis direction, and the slide member T2 can be moved in the Y-axis direction along the rail L2 by the rotation of the ball screw N2. An attachment member B1 to which the discharge means 2 is attached is fixed to the slide member T2. By rotating the ball screw N1, the discharge means 2 is moved in the X-axis direction and the ball screw N2 is rotated. By doing so, the discharge means 2 can be moved in the Y-axis direction.

  Furthermore, the Z-axis moving means 6 as one of the moving means is capable of moving the discharge means 2 and the table 3 relative to the Z-axis direction. As shown, the table 3 is moved up and down together with the holding portion H between a lower position (refer to FIG. 3A) and an upper position (refer to FIG. 3B) by a ball screw N3 that is rotated by driving of the motor M4. It is configured to be movable. The holding portion H is attached to the attachment member B2, and the table 3, the B-axis swinging means 7 and C held by the holding portion H by moving the attachment member B2 up and down by driving the motor M4. The shaft rotating means 8 can be moved integrally with respect to the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion H has one end attached to the attachment member B2 and the other end slidably supported by the frame F2 of the housing K. When the motor M4 is driven, It is configured to slide up and down along the frame F2.

  The control means 9 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer incorporating a predetermined program. The control means 9 is a moving means (X-axis moving means 4, Y-axis moving means 5 and Z-axis moving means 6), B-axis swing means 7 and the like. In addition, by arbitrarily operating the C-axis rotating means 8, the resin material discharged from the nozzle portion 2a of the discharging means 2 can be laminated to form a laminate having a desired shape on the table 3. That is, the moving means (X-axis moving means 4, Y-axis moving means 5 and Z-axis moving means 6), B-axis swinging means 7 and C-axis rotating means 8 are optionally selected according to an instruction from the control means 9. The laminate having a desired shape can be formed on the table 3 by moving the discharge means 2 and the table 3 relative to each other.

  In particular, by optionally operating the B-axis swinging means 7 and the C-axis rotating means 8, the resin material can be laminated while rotating the laminate by tilting a predetermined angle. Even when molding a laminate having a wide part (undercut part), it is possible to prevent the molten resin from drooping downward due to gravity when molding the undercut part, which is unnecessary as a product. It is not necessary to form a support structure (support structure).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a main shaft (spindle) S that constitutes a cutting means together with the discharge means 2 is attached to the attachment member B <b> 1 according to the present embodiment. A cutting tool (bite) 11 capable of cutting the laminate on the table 3 can be attached to the main shaft S. When the main shaft S is driven, the cutting tool 11 rotates to perform a predetermined cutting process. It is like that.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a holder 13 that can hold the blade 11 is attached to the frame F <b> 1 of the housing K. Accordingly, when the resin material is discharged onto the table 3 by the discharge means 2 to form a laminate, the cutting tool 11 is held by the holder 13, and the moving means is optionally selected when cutting. By actuating, the spindle S of the attachment member B1 is moved to the position of the holder 13, and the cutting tool 11 can be automatically attached to the spindle S.

  Furthermore, a heating means 12 capable of heating and melting the laminate on the table 3 is attached to the attachment member B1 of the present embodiment. The heating means 12 is capable of ejecting air heated by a heater (not shown) toward the vicinity of the nozzle portion 2a, and in the process of discharging a molten resin material from the nozzle portion 2a to form a laminate. Is temporarily interrupted (for example, interrupted by cutting, etc.), and when the molten resin material is discharged again from the nozzle portion 2a to perform subsequent lamination, the subsequent lamination portion can be heated and melted. .

  Here, in the three-dimensional printer 1 according to this embodiment, the table 3 is swung by about 90 ° by the B-axis swinging means 7 (see FIG. 7B) and the C-axis rotating means 8 The table 3 is rotated, and arbitrary formation (formation of the laminate by discharge of the discharge means 2) or processing (cutting of the laminate by the cutting means) can be performed on the laminate on the table 3 As shown in FIG. 9, when the table 3 is turned sideways by the B-axis swinging means 7, the tip of the laminate W is rotatably supported and the laminate W is held between the table 3 and the table 3. A clamping means 10 that can be clamped is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the holding means 10 can be brought close to or separated from the mounting surface 3 a of the table 3 in the horizontal state, and can be brought into contact with the front end portion of the laminate W. It has a portion 10a. Specifically, two rod-shaped guide members h2 are disposed in the holding portion H, and a frame portion h1 having a contact portion 10a is fixed to the tip of the guide member h2. These guide members h2 are movable in the longitudinal direction. A motor M3 is attached to the holding part H, and a drive shaft 10b that can move the frame part h1 by driving the motor M3 is disposed between the motor M3 and the frame part h1. Yes.

  When the motor M3 is driven to rotate forward, the frame portion h1 moves to the right side in FIGS. 8 and 9 via the drive shaft 10b, and the contact portion 10a comes close to the placement surface 3a of the table 3, When the motor M3 is driven in reverse, the frame portion h1 moves to the left in FIGS. 8 and 9 via the drive shaft 10b, and the contact portion 10a is separated from the mounting surface 3a of the table 3. . Thus, when the table 3 is in the sideways state, the abutting portion 10a is brought into contact with the leading end portion of the laminate W on the table 3 by driving the motor M3 to rotate forward as shown in FIG. Has been.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the clamping means 10 includes a bush 10b, a coil spring 10c, a bearing 10d, a fixing part 10e, and a receiving part 10f in addition to the abutting part 10a. Has been. The fixed portion 10e is fixed to the frame portion h1 and holds the receiving portion 10f rotatably via a bearing 10d. A contact portion 10a is attached to the receiving portion 10f with a bush 10b interposed therebetween, and the contact portion 10a is slidable in the left-right direction in FIG. 10 with respect to the receiving portion 10f. Further, a coil spring 10c is interposed between the contact portion 10a and the receiving portion 10f. When the contact portion 10a slides to the left in the drawing with respect to the receiving portion 10f, the coil spring 10c is moved. It is configured to be compressed.

  Furthermore, a convex portion 10aa is formed at the center of the contact portion 10a, and when the contact portion 10a contacts the front end portion of the laminate W, as shown in FIG. The convex portion 10aa can be inserted into the concave portion Wa formed at the tip end portion. Thus, by driving the motor M3 in the normal direction so that the contact portion 10a is brought into contact with the tip of the laminate W on the table 3, the convex portion 10aa is inserted into the recess Wa and the reaction force at the time of contact As a result, the contact portion 10a moves in the direction in which the coil spring 10c is compressed. When the contact portion 10a moves by a predetermined dimension with respect to the receiving portion 10f, the proximity switch S1 (see FIG. 9) attached to the frame portion h1 detects the contact portion 10a and turns on to stop the motor M3. It will be. Thereby, while being able to clamp the laminated body W reliably, when the C-axis rotation means 8 act | operates and the table 3 rotates, rotation of the laminated body W can be accept | permitted.

  In addition, at the lower part of the frame part h1, a detected part b is formed to protrude toward the holding part H, and a proximity switch S2 capable of detecting the detected part b is attached to the holding part H. . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the contact portion 10a from being too close to the table 3 when the motor M3 is rotated forward. Further, a detected portion c is formed on the proximal end side of the guide member h2, and a proximity switch S3 capable of detecting the detected portion c is attached to the holding portion H. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the contact portion 10a from being separated too far from the table 3 when the motor M3 is driven in reverse rotation.

  In this way, when the table 3 is turned to the horizontal state by the B-axis swinging means 7 by the clamping means 10, the front end portion of the laminate W is rotatably supported and the laminate W between the table 3 and the table 3. Can be firmly clamped, so that when the cutting operation is performed by the cutting apparatus while operating the C-axis rotating means 8 in the lateral state, the load applied by the blade 11 is sufficiently endured and stable processing is performed. Can be made. In addition, an arbitrary portion of the laminate W on the table 3 that is held in the horizontal direction and is sandwiched by the sandwiching means 10 can be heated and melted by the heating means 12, and a flange or the like is formed on the side surface of the laminate W, for example. Can do.

  According to the above embodiment, when the table 3 is turned sideways by the B-axis swinging means 7, the front end portion of the laminate can be rotatably supported and the laminate can be held between the table 3. Since the holding means 10 is provided, the laminate on the table 3 can be stabilized and a highly accurate laminate can be obtained even in the case where the table 3 is arbitrarily shaped or processed with the table 3 in the horizontal direction. In particular, according to the three-dimensional printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the B-axis oscillating means 7 and the C-axis rotating means 8 can be diverted to enable arbitrary molding and processing in the lateral direction.

  Further, the holding means 10 has a contact portion 10a that can be brought close to or separated from the placement surface 3a of the table 3 that is in the horizontal state and can come into contact with the front end portion of the laminate. It is possible to prevent the laminate and the sandwiching means 10 from interfering with each other in the horizontal state, and more smoothly sandwich the laminate on the table 3. In addition, when returning the table 3 set to the horizontal state to a normal state (a state in which the placement surface 3a faces upward), the abutting portion 10a can be separated from the laminate to perform a smooth operation.

  Further, the cutting tool 11 includes a cutting tool 11 capable of cutting the laminate on the table 3, and is capable of cutting an arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table 3 held in the horizontal state by the holding means 10 with the cutting tool 11. Since the processing means is provided, it is possible to cut an arbitrary portion of the laminate laminated by the discharge means 2, and it is possible to obtain a shape that is difficult to form only by laminating materials, and cutting by a cutting device. Even when a load is applied to the laminate from the cutting tool 11 during processing, the laminate can be reliably clamped and fixed by the clamping means 10.

  Furthermore, a heating means 12 capable of heating and melting the laminate on the table 3 is provided, and an arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table 3 that is held in the horizontal state and held by the holding means 10 is heated by the heating means 12. Since the material can be melted, the material can be laminated on the portion cooled in the lamination process. The heating means 12 is not limited to being used exclusively when the table 3 is in the sideways state, but may be used when the table 3 is in the normal state (the mounting surface 3a faces upward). Good.

  Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention does not include cutting means (those that can be stacked by the discharge means 2 exclusively), and does not include the heating means 12 (table 3). The material discharged from the discharge means 2 may be other materials such as a metal in addition to a resin material. Further, when the table 3 is turned sideways by the B-axis swinging means 7, the clamping means 10 can rotatably support the leading end portion of the laminate and sandwich the laminate with the table 3. Any other configuration may be used.

  A three-dimensional printer provided with a clamping means capable of rotatably supporting the leading end of the laminate and sandwiching the laminate with the table when the table is turned sideways by the B-axis swinging means. For example, the present invention can be applied to ones having different appearance shapes or other functions added.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 3D printer 2 Discharge means 3 Table 3a Mounting surface 4 X-axis moving means 5 Y-axis moving means 6 Z-axis moving means 7 B-axis clamping means 8 C-axis rotating means 9 Control means 10 Holding means 10a Contact Part 11 Cutting tool 12 Heating means 13 Holder α B axis β C axis

Claims (4)

Discharging means capable of discharging a predetermined material;
A table having a mounting surface capable of receiving the material discharged from the discharging means, and a table on which the material can be laminated on the mounting surface;
Moving means capable of moving relative to the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, which are directions perpendicular to each other, the discharge means and the table;
B-axis oscillating means that can oscillate the table about the B-axis in a direction substantially parallel to the mounting surface to tilt the laminate on the table at an arbitrary angle;
C-axis rotating means capable of rotating the table around the C-axis in a direction substantially orthogonal to the placement surface to rotate the laminate on the table;
Control means capable of stacking materials discharged from the discharge means to form a laminate having a desired shape on the table by optionally operating the moving means, the B-axis swinging means, and the C-axis rotating means. When,
The table is rotated by the C-axis rotating means in a lateral state in which the table is swung by about 90 ° by the B-axis swinging means, and arbitrary formation or processing is performed on the laminate on the table. A three-dimensional printer enabled,
When the table is placed in the lateral state by the B-axis swinging means, a holding means is provided that can rotatably support the tip of the laminate and sandwich the laminate with the table. A three-dimensional printer characterized by   The said clamping means has a contact part which can be approached or separated from the mounting surface of the said table made into the said horizontal state, and can contact | abut the front-end | tip part of the said laminated body. The three-dimensional printer according to 1.   A cutting means comprising a cutting tool capable of cutting the laminate on the table, and capable of cutting an arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table in the horizontal state and held by the holding means with the cutting tool. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional printer is provided.   A heating means capable of heating and melting the laminate on the table is provided, and an arbitrary portion of the laminate on the table held in the lateral state and held by the holding means can be heated and melted by the heating means. The three-dimensional printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

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