JP7074737B2 - Laminated modeling equipment, laminated modeling method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laminated modeling apparatus and a laminated modeling method.

There is an additional manufacturing technique called Adaptive Manufacturing. As an example of the additional manufacturing technique, there is known a laminated modeling apparatus that forms a layer of resin, metal, or the like, and laminates the formed layers to produce a laminated model.
A 3D printer is known as an example of a laminated modeling apparatus by an additional manufacturing technique. Since 3D printers can manufacture structures with complicated shapes in a short time, they are attracting attention as promising technologies in advanced technology fields such as the aircraft industry and medical care.

2 to 4 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the conventional laminated modeling apparatus 100. The laminated modeling apparatus 100 includes a laser transmitter 141, an optical system 142, a chamber 102, a shield gas supply source 115, a pedestal 103, a blade 111, a first movable stage 107, a second movable stage 108, and a third. It is equipped with a movable stage 109. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustration of each configuration of the laser transmitter 141, the optical system 142, and the shield gas supply source 115 is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the laminated modeling apparatus 100 conveys the powder material M from the first movable stage 107 to the second movable stage 108 by the blade 111 in the pedestal 103 provided in the chamber 102. (See Fig. 2).
Next, the powder material M supplied onto the second movable stage 108 is sintered or melt-solidified (hereinafter, “sintered, etc.”) by irradiation with a laser, an electron beam, or the like (hereinafter, referred to as “laser or the like”). (See Fig. 3).
The laminated modeling apparatus 100 forms a layer by sintering the powder material M by supplying heat, and the formed layers are sequentially laminated on the second movable stage 108 to obtain a laminated model X.

As the laminated modeling apparatus, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been proposed.
The modeling unit in the laminated modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a modeling container and first and second powder storage containers installed on both sides thereof.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 2 includes an elevating guide chamber provided adjacent to the process chamber, an elevating stage rotatably provided in the elevating guide chamber, and an elevating guide chamber below the elevating stage. It is equipped with a communication pipe that connects the space and the process chamber.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-21218 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-109354

In a 3D printer, in order to reliably form a layer with certain properties, it is required to stably irradiate the powder material with a laser or the like of the required amount of energy when supplying heat to the powder material. Be done. Depending on the composition components in the atmosphere in the chamber, spatter and fume may occur during laser irradiation, which may cause laser attenuation and the powder material to react with the composition components in the atmosphere. It is required to keep the composition as constant as possible. Therefore, normally, the space in the chamber where the modeling is performed is filled with a gas having a predetermined component composition called a shield gas.
However, as shown in FIG. 4, in the conventional laminated modeling apparatus 100, mainly when the first movable stage 107 and the second movable stage 108 move up and down, the lower side of each movable stage The residual gas D in the space may flow out into the space above each movable stage. Therefore, in the laminated modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the component composition of the space in which the modeling is performed in the chamber cannot be kept constant.

In addition, when modeling by irradiation with a laser or the like, the oxygen gas concentration in the atmosphere around the powder material is reduced as much as possible from the viewpoint of improving the mechanical properties of the laminated model and preventing the shape from deteriorating. Is required to do.
However, since the residual gas D in the space below each movable stage often contains oxygen gas, the oxygen gas concentration in the space where modeling is performed cannot be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, in the laminated modeling apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the mechanical properties and the like of the laminated model are insufficient, and there is a possibility that the shape may be deteriorated.

Further, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 2, since the space of the elevating guide chamber and the process chamber are communicated by the communication pipe, the pressure difference between the space of the elevating guide chamber and the inside of the process chamber is large. do not have. Therefore, due to the vertical movement of the elevating stage, the powder material falls from the gap between the inner wall of the elevating guide chamber and the elevating stage into the space below the elevating stage. Therefore, it takes time and effort to maintain the device for cleaning the dropped powder material, and the dropped powder material may invade the inside of the device and cause a failure of the device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, the component composition of the space in which the molding is performed in the chamber can be kept constant, a laminated molded product having excellent mechanical properties and reduced shape deterioration can be manufactured, and the labor of maintenance of the apparatus is reduced. The present invention provides a laminated modeling device capable of reducing device failure due to intrusion of powder material into the device.

The present invention has the following configurations.
[1] A laminated molding apparatus in which a layer in which a powder material is sintered or melted and solidified is formed by supplying heat, and the layers are laminated to form a laminated model, which is provided in a chamber and the chamber. A pedestal, a first guide chamber having a columnar first space formed downward from the upper surface of the pedestal, and a second guide having a columnar second space formed downward from the upper surface of the pedestal. A first movable stage that moves along the inner wall of the first guide chamber and on which the powder material before forming the layer is placed, and the second guide chamber. A second movable stage that moves along the inner wall of the powder material and is sintered or melt-solidified of the powder material, and a space above the second movable stage and of the layer. The shield gas in the first supply pipe for supplying the shield gas for reducing the oxygen gas in the modeling space where the modeling is performed to the modeling space and the first space below the first movable stage. Below the second supply pipe for supplying gas, the third supply pipe for supplying the shield gas to the second space below the second movable stage, and the first movable stage. The modeling section holds the pressure in the first space on the side higher than the pressure in the modeling space, and the pressure in the second space below the second movable stage. A laminated molding apparatus including a second pressure adjusting unit that keeps the pressure higher than the pressure in the space.
[2] The third guide chamber having a columnar third space formed below the upper surface of the pedestal and the inner wall of the third guide chamber are moved to form the layer. A third movable stage on which the powder material is placed, and a fourth supply pipe for supplying the shield gas to the third space below the third movable stage. The laminated molding apparatus according to [1].
[3] The laminated modeling apparatus according to [2], further comprising a third pressure adjusting unit that holds the pressure in the third space below the third movable stage higher than the pressure in the modeling space.
[4] The laminated molding apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], further comprising a heater for heating a shield gas supplied to the second space below the second movable stage.
[5] The shield gas supplied to the first space below the first movable stage and the shield gas supplied to the second space below the second movable stage. The laminated modeling apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], further comprising a fifth supply pipe for supplying at least one of the above to the modeling space.
[6] It is a laminated modeling method using any of the laminated modeling devices of [1] to [5], and when the layers are formed and laminated, the shield gas is supplied to the first space and the shield gas is supplied. A laminated modeling method in which the pressure in the first space below the first movable stage is held higher than the pressure in the modeling space.
[7] A laminated modeling method using any of the laminated modeling devices of [1] to [5], when the powder material is supplied from the first movable stage to the second movable stage. , A laminated modeling method in which the pressure in the second space below the second movable stage is held higher than the pressure in the modeling space.
[8] A laminating molding method using the laminating modeling apparatus according to [4], wherein the shield gas is heated to a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature of the upper surface of the second movable stage before the layer is formed and laminated. Modeling method.

According to the present invention, it is possible to keep the component composition of the space in which the molding is performed in the chamber constant, to manufacture a laminated molded product having excellent mechanical properties and reducing deterioration of the shape, and it is troublesome to maintain the apparatus. Provided is a laminated modeling device capable of reducing device failure due to intrusion of powder material into the device.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the laminated modeling apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment example. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the conventional laminated modeling apparatus. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the conventional laminated modeling apparatus. It is a schematic cross-sectional view for demonstrating the problem of the conventional laminated modeling apparatus.

Hereinafter, an example embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, in order to make the features easy to understand, the featured parts may be enlarged for convenience, and the dimensional ratios of the respective components may not be the same as the actual ones.

<Laminate modeling equipment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the laminated modeling apparatus according to the present embodiment. The laminated modeling device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an device in which a layer obtained by sintering or melting and solidifying a powder material M is formed by supplying heat, and the layers are laminated to form a laminated model X.
As shown in FIG. 1, the laminated modeling apparatus 1 includes a chamber 2, a pedestal 3, a first guide chamber 4, a second guide chamber 5, a third guide chamber 6, a first movable stage 7, and a second. Movable stage 8, third movable stage 9, heater 10, blade 11, first pressure adjustment unit 12, second pressure adjustment unit 13, third pressure adjustment unit 14, and shield gas supply source 15. A first supply pipe L1, a second supply pipe L2, a third supply pipe L3, a fourth supply pipe L4, and a fifth supply pipe L5 are provided. In addition, the laminated modeling apparatus 1 further includes a laser oscillator and an optical system (not shown).

The laser oscillator (not shown) is not particularly limited as long as it can irradiate a laser. The laser oscillator irradiates the chamber 2 with a laser via an optical system (not shown). As a result, the laminated modeling apparatus 1 can sintered or melt and solidify the powder material M at the position irradiated with the laser. As a result, a layer containing a sintered product of the powder material M or a melt-solidified product of the powder material M (hereinafter referred to as a “modeling layer”) is formed.

The optical system (not shown) is not particularly limited as long as the position of the laser irradiated from the laser oscillator to the powder material M can be controlled according to the data input in advance. Examples of the optical system include a form having one or more reflecting mirrors.
The laminated modeling apparatus 1 can control the irradiation position of the laser on the powder material M by controlling the optical system (not shown) according to the data input in advance. As a result, the laminated modeling apparatus can form the modeling layer into any shape.

Examples of the powder material M include powders of various metals such as carbon, boron, magnesium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, hafnium, niobium, titanium and aluminum, and powders of alloys thereof. To.
When the powder material M is in the form of particles, the particles of the powder material M are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, about 10 to 200 μm.

The chamber 2 is a container in which the powder material M is irradiated with a laser and sintered or melt-solidified to form a modeling layer, and the operation of laminating the modeling layer is repeatedly performed. The chamber 2 houses the pedestal 3.
The shield gas is supplied from the shield gas supply source 15 to the upper modeling space K in the chamber 2 via the first supply pipe L1. The modeling space K is a space in which the modeling layer is formed and laminated, and is a space above the second movable stage 8 in the chamber 2.
The first supply pipe L1 supplies the shield gas to the modeling space K in the chamber 2. The first end of the first supply pipe L1 is connected to the shield gas supply source 15, and the second end is opened in the modeling space K in the chamber 2.

The shield gas is a gas for reducing the oxygen gas in the modeling space K in the chamber 2. Examples of the shield gas include nitrogen gas, helium gas, argon gas and a mixed gas containing any combination thereof.
The composition of the shield gas is usually composed of certain compositional components. Therefore, by supplying the shield gas to the modeling space K, it is possible to stably irradiate the powder material with a laser or the like having a required amount of energy, and it is possible to reliably form a layer having a certain property. In addition, by supplying the shield gas to the modeling space K, the oxygen gas concentration in the atmosphere around the powder material M can be reduced as much as possible during the modeling and laminating of the modeling layer. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the laminated model X can be improved and the deterioration of the shape can be reduced.

The pedestal 3 is provided in the chamber 2. The pedestal 3 is for performing operations for storing, supplying, and recovering the powder material M, modeling by supplying heat to the powder material M, laminating the modeling layer, and the like for manufacturing the laminated model X. ..
In the present embodiment, the first guide chamber 4, the second guide chamber 5, and the third guide chamber 6 are formed on the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3. The first guide chamber 4, the second guide chamber 5, and the third guide chamber 6 all have a columnar space. The shape of the columnar space is not particularly limited. The shape may be, for example, a columnar shape, a polygonal columnar shape, or the like.

The first guide chamber 4 has a columnar first space 4a formed downward from the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3. The first space 4a is divided into an upper space and a lower space by the first movable stage 7. The powder material M before forming the modeling layer is placed on the upper side of the first movable stage 7.
As described above, the first guide chamber 4 stores the unused powder material M in the first space 4a above the first movable stage 7. It can be said that the first guide chamber 4 is a storage chamber for the powder material M.

The first movable stage 7 is supported by a first movable rod 7a that can move up and down. Due to the vertical movement of the first movable rod 7a, the first movable stage 7 moves in the vertical direction along the inner wall 4b of the first guide chamber 4. When the first movable stage 7 moves upward, the powder material M placed on the upper surface of the first movable stage 7 protrudes above the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3. The powder material M on the first movable stage 7 protruding above the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3 is conveyed to the upper side of the second movable stage 8 by the left-right movement of the blade 11.

The second supply pipe L2 supplies the shield gas to the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7. The first end of the second supply pipe L2 is connected to the first supply pipe L1, and the second end is connected to the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7. There is.

The heater 10 heats the shield gas supplied to the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8. The heater 10 is provided in the second supply pipe L2. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the third supply pipe L3 is connected to the second supply pipe L2, and the fourth supply pipe L4 is connected to the second supply pipe L2 via the third supply pipe L3. It is connected. Therefore, the heater 10 can heat the shield gas supplied to the first space 4a and the shield gas supplied to the third space 6a in addition to the shield gas supplied to the second space 5a.
However, the configuration of the heater is not particularly limited as long as it can heat the shield gas supplied to the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8, and is not limited to the present embodiment.

The second guide chamber 5 has a columnar second space 5a formed downward from the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3. The second space 5a is divided into an upper space and a lower space by a second movable stage 8.
The second movable stage 8 is supported by a second movable rod 8a that can move up and down. Due to the vertical movement of the second movable rod 8a, the second movable stage 8 moves in the vertical direction along the inner wall 5b of the second guide chamber 5.
The powder material M supplied by the blade 11 from the first guide chamber 4 is placed on the upper side of the second movable stage 8. The unused powder material M supplied from the first guide chamber 4 is sintered or melt-solidified by heat supply, that is, irradiation with a laser or the like, and becomes a forming layer. In this way, in the second movable stage 8, the powder material M is sintered or melt-solidified.

A base plate (not shown) is placed on the upper surface of the second movable stage 8. The base plate is a plate on which a laminated model is placed. Before irradiation with a laser or the like, an unused powder material M is spread on the upper side of the base plate. Therefore, the base plate comes into contact with the modeling layer constituting the bottom layer of the laminated model. Here, the modeling layer constituting the lowermost layer of the laminated model X is a modeling layer formed by a laser that first irradiates the powder material M when the laminated model is manufactured.

After the bottom layer of the laminated model X is modeled, the second movable stage 8 moves downward. After that, the unused powder material M is supplied from the first guide chamber 4 to the upper side of the second movable stage 8. In this state, when the powder material M newly supplied to the upper side of the second movable stage 8 is irradiated with a laser or the like, the newly supplied powder material M is further applied to the upper side of the already formed molding layer. It is modeled. As a result, a new modeling layer is laminated on the upper side of the already modeled modeling layer.
In this way, in the second guide chamber 5, the modeling layer is formed and laminated in the modeling space K above the second movable stage 8. It can be said that the second guide room 5 is a modeling room.

By repeating the modeling and laminating of the modeling layers in the modeling space K above the second movable stage 8, the modeling layers of arbitrary shapes can be laminated to produce a laminated model X having an arbitrary three-dimensional structure. Specifically, the second movable rod 8a moves downward, the second movable stage 8 descends, a new powder material M is supplied from above the first movable stage 7, a laser or the like. Irradiation is repeated. As a result, the lamination of the modeling layer can be repeated. Then, by the time the laminated model X is completed, the second movable stage 8 is lowered to a position where the position of the upper end of the laminated model X is the same as the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3.
When the irradiation of the laser or the like based on the data input in advance is completed and the laminated model X is completed, the laminated model X is collected. After the laminated model X is recovered, the second movable stage 8 rises to the same height as the upper surface 3a of the pedestal 3, and the powder material after the modeling layer is formed is transferred to the third movable stage by the blade 11. It is transported to the stage 9 and the third guide room 6.

The powder material after the modeling of the modeling layer is the powder material remaining on the portion of the second movable stage 8 that has not been irradiated with the laser. The powder material around the powder material M irradiated with the laser on the second movable stage 8 is altered by the high heat conducted from the irradiation site such as the laser even if the laser or the like is not directly irradiated. There may be. Therefore, the powder material around the powder material M irradiated with a laser or the like is transferred to the third movable stage 9 and the third guide chamber 6 as the powder material after the modeling layer is formed. do.

The third supply pipe L3 supplies the shield gas to the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8. The third supply pipe L3 has a first end connected to the second supply pipe L2 and a second end connected to a second space 5a below the second movable stage 8. There is.

The third guide chamber 6 has a columnar third space 6a formed downward from the upper surface of the pedestal 3. The third space 6a is divided into an upper space and a lower space by a third movable stage 9.
The third movable stage 9 is supported by a third movable rod 9a that can move up and down. Due to the vertical movement of the third movable rod 9a, the third movable stage 9 moves in the vertical direction along the inner wall 6b of the third guide chamber 6.
On the upper side of the third movable stage 9, the powder material after the modeling of the modeling layer supplied by the blade 11 from the second movable stage 8 is placed.
As described above, the third guide chamber 6 stores the used powder material in the third space 6a above the third movable stage 9. Therefore, it can be said that the third guide chamber 6 is a recovery chamber for recovering the used powder material.

The fourth supply pipe L4 supplies the shield gas to the third space 6a below the third movable stage 9. The fourth supply pipe L4 has a first end connected to a third supply pipe L3 and a second end connected to a third space 6a below the third movable stage 9. There is.

In the present embodiment, the fifth supply pipe L5 supplies the shield gas of the following (1), (2), and (3) to the modeling space K.
(1) Shield gas supplied to the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7.
(2) Shield gas supplied to the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8.
(3) Shield gas supplied to the third space 6a below the third movable stage 9.
In another embodiment, the fifth supply pipe may supply at least one of the shield gas of (1) and the shield gas of (2) to the modeling space K (). At least one shield gas selected from the group consisting of the shield gas of 1), the shield gas of (2), and the shield gas of (3) may be supplied to the modeling space K.

The first end of the fifth supply pipe L5 is branched into three, and the branched ends L5a, L5b, and L5c are the first space 4a, the second space 5a, and the third space 6a, respectively. Is connected to. The second end of the fifth supply pipe L5 is connected to the modeling space K in the chamber 2. As a result, the fifth supply pipe L5 uses the shield gas of each of the above-mentioned (1), (2), and (3) in the first space 4a, the second space 5a, and the third space 6a, respectively. Can be taken out from and supplied to the modeling space K.

The first pressure adjusting unit 12 holds the pressure of the first space 4a under the first movable stage 7 higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. The first pressure adjusting unit 12 has a pressure gauge P1 and a valve V1.

The pressure gauge P1 can measure the pressure in the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7. The pressure gauge P1 can determine the opening degree of the valve V1 based on the measurement result and instruct the valve V1. The valve V1 is provided at the branched first end L5a of the fifth supply pipe L5.
The pressure gauge P1 and the valve V1 are electrically connected to each other. As a result, information such as the measured value of the pressure gauge P1 and the instruction signal of the opening degree of the valve V1 can be transmitted to and received from each other between the pressure gauge P1 and the valve V1.

The valve V1 can automatically adjust the opening degree of the valve based on the pressure value of the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7. As a result, the pressure in the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7 can be held higher than the pressure in the modeling space K. Here, the pressure in the modeling space K can be measured by, for example, a pressure gauge (not shown) for measuring the pressure in the modeling space K.
The valve V1 may continuously change the opening degree of the valve or may change it stepwise.

The second pressure adjusting unit 13 holds the pressure of the second space 5a under the second movable stage 8 higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. The second pressure adjusting unit 13 has a pressure gauge P2 and a valve V2.

The pressure gauge P2 can measure the pressure in the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8. The pressure gauge P2 can determine the opening degree of the valve V2 based on the measurement result and instruct the valve V2. The valve V2 is provided at the branched first end L5b of the fifth supply pipe L5.
The pressure gauge P2 and the valve V2 are electrically connected to each other. As a result, information such as the measured value of the pressure gauge P2 and the instruction signal of the opening degree of the valve V2 can be transmitted to and received from each other between the pressure gauge P2 and the valve V2.

The valve V2 can automatically adjust the opening degree of the valve based on the pressure value of the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8. As a result, the pressure in the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8 can be held higher than the pressure in the modeling space K.
The valve V2 may continuously change the opening degree of the valve or may change it stepwise.

The third pressure adjusting unit 14 holds the pressure of the third space 6a under the third movable stage 9 higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. The third pressure adjusting unit 14 has a pressure gauge P3 and a valve V3.

The pressure gauge P3 can measure the pressure in the third space 6a below the third movable stage 9. The pressure gauge P3 can determine the opening degree of the valve V3 based on the measurement result and instruct the valve V3. The valve V3 is provided at the branched first end L5c of the fifth supply pipe L5.
The pressure gauge P3 and the valve V3 are electrically connected to each other. As a result, information such as the measured value of the pressure gauge P3 and the instruction signal of the opening degree of the valve V3 can be transmitted to and received from each other between the pressure gauge P3 and the valve V3.

The valve V3 can automatically adjust the opening degree of the valve based on the pressure value of the third space 6a below the third movable stage 9. As a result, the pressure in the third space 6a below the third movable stage 9 can be held higher than the pressure in the modeling space K.
The valve V3 may continuously change the opening degree of the valve or may change it stepwise.

The first pressure adjusting unit is not particularly limited as long as it can hold the pressure of the first space 4a under the first movable stage 7 higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. That is, the configuration of the first pressure adjusting unit is not limited to the present embodiment. The same applies to the second pressure adjusting unit and the third pressure adjusting unit.

(Laminate modeling method)
Using the laminated modeling apparatus 1 described above, the laminated modeling method according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
The laminated molding method according to the present embodiment is a laminated molding method in which a molding layer obtained by sintering or melting and solidifying a powder material M is formed by supplying heat, and the molding layers are laminated to form a laminated molding X. It can be said that it is a manufacturing method.

First, before modeling and laminating the modeling layer, the shield gas supply source 15 shields the modeling space K in the chamber 2 and the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a below the movable stages 7, 8 and 9. Supply gas. As a result, residual gas can be sufficiently purged from inside the chamber 2 (particularly from the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a under each movable stage 7, 8 and 9) before heat is supplied by a laser or the like, and oxygen gas can be sufficiently purged. Can be reduced to very low levels. In addition, since the residual gas that can be mixed in the powder material M and the laminated model X on the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 can be sufficiently purged, the mechanical properties of the laminated model X are improved.

Before forming and laminating the forming layer, it is preferable to heat the shield gas to a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature of the upper surface of the second movable stage 8. That is, the heating temperature by the heater 10 is preferably equal to or lower than the temperature of the upper surface of the second movable stage 8, that is, the temperature of the base plate (not shown). As a result, the heating time of the base plate can be shortened, and the water adsorbed on the surface of the powder material M can be removed by drying. Therefore, the production efficiency of the laminated model is improved, and the mechanical properties of the laminated model X are further improved.
Further, by supplying the shield gas heated by the heater 10 to each of the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a, each of the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 can be heated. Therefore, the water adsorbed on the surface of the powder material M stored on the upper side of each of the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 can be removed by drying.
In particular, by removing the water content of the powder material M stored on the upper side of the first movable stage 7, it is possible to further reduce the decrease in the mechanical strength and the like of the laminated model X, and the mechanical properties of the laminated model X. Will be even better. In addition, by removing the water content of the powder material M stored on the upper side of the third movable stage 9, the powder material M of the third movable stage 9 can be reused to obtain the laminated model X. During manufacturing, the mechanical properties of the laminated model X are further improved.

Next, after sufficiently purging the oxygen gas and the residual gas in the modeling space K, the supply of the powder material M to the second movable stage 8 and the irradiation with a laser or the like are started, and the modeling and laminating of the modeling layer are performed. Do it sequentially.
When modeling and laminating the modeling layer, the shielding gas is also generated from the shield gas supply source 15 to the modeling space K in the chamber 2 and the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a below the movable stages 7, 8 and 9. Is preferable to supply. As a result, when the modeling layer is formed and laminated, the composition components in the atmosphere of the modeling space K and the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a can be matched, so that the composition of the components in the atmosphere in the chamber is stable. The powder material can be stably irradiated with a laser or the like of a required amount of energy. As a result, a layer having a certain property can be reliably formed.

When modeling and laminating the modeling layer, the inside of each space 4a, 5a, 6a below each movable stage 7, 8 and 9 is controlled by a predetermined pressure and held at a pressure higher than the modeling space K. Will be done. Therefore, even in operations other than irradiation with a laser or the like (for example, supply of the powder material M from the first movable stage 7 to the second movable stage 8), the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 are used. It is possible to always fill the inside of each of the lower spaces 4a, 5a, 6a with the shield gas. Therefore, it is not necessary to purge the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a under the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 again at the time of modeling after the second irradiation of the laser or the like.
Further, since the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a below the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 are positive pressure with respect to the modeling space K, when the second modeling is performed after the first modeling is completed, the second modeling is performed. The spaces 4a, 5a, 6a below the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 are filled with the shield gas. Therefore, it is not necessary to purge the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a under the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 again when the second modeling is performed.
As described above, since it is not necessary to re-purge each space 4a, 5a, 6a, the amount of shield gas used can be reduced as compared with the case where the space 4a, 5a, 6a is repurged with the shield gas. Another advantage of the laminated modeling apparatus 1 is that it can manufacture a laminated model at low cost.
Further, since the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a below the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 have a positive pressure with respect to the modeling space K, the spaces 4a, 5a from above the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 are formed. , 6a can be prevented from invading powder. As a result, the frequency of cleaning each of the spaces 4a, 5a, and 6a can be reduced, and failures during operation of the device due to powder intrusion can be reduced.

Since the effect of the present invention becomes more remarkable, when the modeling layer is formed and laminated, the first pressure adjusting unit 12 is used to create a first space 4a under the first movable stage 7. It is desirable to keep the pressure higher than the pressure of the modeling space K at all times. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Similarly, for the second pressure adjusting unit 13 and the third pressure adjusting unit 14, the pressure of the spaces 4a and 5a under the movable stages 8 and 9 is always kept higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

(Action effect)
In the laminated modeling apparatus 1 described above, the first supply pipe L1 for supplying the shield gas for reducing the oxygen gas in the modeling space K to the modeling space K and the first lower side of the first movable stage 7 A second supply pipe L2 for supplying the shield gas to the space 4a and a third supply pipe L3 for supplying the shield gas to the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8 are provided. Therefore, the composition components in the atmosphere of the modeling space K and the spaces 4a, 5a, and 6a can be matched, and the composition of the components in the atmosphere in the chamber 2 can be kept constant. In addition, the composition of the components in the atmosphere in the chamber 2 is stable, and the powder material can be stably irradiated with a laser or the like having a required amount of energy, so that a layer having a certain property can be reliably formed.

Further, by supplying the shield gas to the spaces 4a, 5a, 6a below the movable stages 7, 8 and 9, the residual gas in each space 4a, 5a, 6a can be sufficiently purged from the chamber 2. .. Therefore, when the movable stage moves up and down, oxygen gas derived from residual gas is less likely to be mixed into the modeling space K, and the concentration of oxygen gas can be lowered to an extremely low level.
Therefore, according to the laminated modeling apparatus 1, it is possible to manufacture a laminated model having excellent mechanical properties and reduced shape deterioration.

In addition, the laminated modeling device 1 has a first pressure adjusting unit 12 and a second movable unit that keep the pressure of the first space 4a under the first movable stage 7 higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. It is provided with a second pressure adjusting unit 13 that holds the pressure of the second space 5a below the formula stage 8 higher than the pressure of the modeling space K. Therefore, the powder material passes through the gap between the movable stages 7, 8 and 9 and the inner walls of the guide chambers 4, 5 and 6 from the modeling space K side to the spaces 4a, 5a and 6a sides of the guide chambers. It rarely falls to. As a result, the labor of maintenance of the device for cleaning the dropped powder material is reduced, the intrusion of the powder material into the device is small, and the failure of the device can be reduced.

The laminated modeling device 1 includes a shield gas supplied to the first space 4a below the first movable stage 7 and a shield supplied to the second space 5a below the second movable stage 8. A fifth supply pipe L5 for supplying at least one of the gases to the modeling space K is further provided. Therefore, according to the laminated modeling apparatus 1, the residual gas in each of the spaces 4a, 5a, and 6a can be effectively purged, so that the amount of shield gas used when purging the oxygen gas from the modeling space K is reduced.
Therefore, it is also an advantage of the laminated modeling device 1 that the cost related to the shield gas can be reduced as compared with the conventional device and the laminated model can be manufactured at low cost.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments. Further, the present invention may be added, omitted, replaced or otherwise modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

1 ... Laminated modeling device, 2 ... Chamber, 3 ... Pedestal, 4, 5, 6 ... Guide room, 7, 8, 9 ... Movable stage, 10 ... Heater, 11 ... Blade, 12, 13, 14 ... Pressure adjustment unit , 15 ... Shield gas supply source, D ... Residual gas, K ... Modeling space, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 ... Supply pipe, P1, P2, P3 ... Pressure gauge, V1, V2, V3 ... Valve, X … Laminated model.

Claims (8)

A laminated modeling device that forms a layer in which a powder material is sintered or melted and solidified by supplying heat, and then laminates the layers to form a laminated model.
With the chamber
The pedestal provided in the chamber and
A first guide chamber having a columnar first space formed below the upper surface of the pedestal, and a first guide chamber.
A second guide chamber having a columnar second space formed below the upper surface of the pedestal, and a second guide chamber.
A first movable stage that moves along the inner wall of the first guide chamber and on which the powder material before forming the layer is placed.
A second movable stage that moves along the inner wall of the second guide chamber and in which the powder material is sintered or melted and solidified.
A first supply pipe that supplies a shield gas to the modeling space, which is a space above the second movable stage and for reducing oxygen gas in the modeling space in which the layer is modeled.
A second supply pipe that supplies the shield gas to the first space below the first movable stage,
A third supply pipe that supplies the shield gas to the second space below the second movable stage,
A first pressure adjusting unit that holds the pressure in the first space below the first movable stage higher than the pressure in the modeling space.
A second pressure adjusting unit that holds the pressure in the second space below the second movable stage higher than the pressure in the modeling space.
A laminated modeling device. A third guide chamber having a columnar third space formed below the upper surface of the pedestal, and a third guide chamber.
A third movable stage that moves along the inner wall of the third guide chamber and on which the powder material is placed after the layer has been formed.
A fourth supply pipe that supplies the shield gas to the third space below the third movable stage,
The laminated modeling apparatus according to claim 1. The laminated modeling apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a third pressure adjusting unit that holds the pressure in the third space below the third movable stage higher than the pressure in the modeling space. The laminated molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a heater for heating a shield gas supplied to the second space below the second movable stage. At least one of the shield gas supplied to the first space below the first movable stage and the shield gas supplied to the second space below the second movable stage. The laminated modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a fifth supply pipe for supplying the above-mentioned modeling space. It is a laminated modeling method using the laminated modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
When the layers are formed and laminated, the shield gas is supplied to the first space, and the pressure in the first space below the first movable stage is higher than the pressure in the forming space. Laminated modeling method that holds high. It is a laminated modeling method using the laminated modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
When the powder material is supplied from the first movable stage to the second movable stage, the pressure in the second space below the second movable stage is applied to the modeling space. Laminated molding method that keeps the pressure higher than the pressure. It is a laminated modeling method using the laminated modeling device according to claim 4.
A laminated modeling method in which the shield gas is heated to a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature of the upper surface of the second movable stage before the layers are formed and laminated.

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