JP7362574B2 - Modeling device and method for manufacturing modeled objects - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a modeling apparatus and a method for manufacturing a shaped object.

As a method for modeling dental materials, a method has been proposed in which ceramic materials such as zirconia are dispersed in ultraviolet curable monomers and then a liquid is discharged, the materials are repeatedly cured by ultraviolet rays, the layers are laminated, and the materials are later sintered. has been done. In such a shaping method, although most of the monomer is eventually volatilized by sintering, a small amount of monomer may remain. If monomer remains when modeling dental materials, it may affect the human body. Therefore, there is a need for a modeling apparatus and a method for manufacturing a shaped object that can produce a shaped object that is highly compatible with the human body.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-126616

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a modeling apparatus and a method for manufacturing a shaped object that can manufacture a shaped object that is highly compatible with the human body.

The modeling apparatus according to the embodiment includes a first liquid ejection section, a second liquid ejection section, and a control section. The first liquid discharge section discharges a first liquid that contains a ceramic material and a binder material and is curable by ionic crosslinking. The second liquid discharge unit supplies a second liquid that can harden the first liquid by ionic crosslinking. The control unit controls liquid ejection operations of the first liquid ejection unit and the second liquid ejection unit, and repeatedly performs ejection of the first liquid and ejection of the second liquid.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a modeling apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the modeling apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a method for manufacturing a shaped article according to the embodiment. An explanatory diagram showing a method for manufacturing the same model. An explanatory diagram showing a method for manufacturing the same model. An explanatory diagram showing a method for manufacturing the same model.

Hereinafter, a liquid ejection device 1 as a modeling device and a method for manufacturing a shaped object according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a modeling device, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the modeling device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a shaped object, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams of the method for manufacturing a shaped object. In each figure, the configuration is shown enlarged, reduced, or omitted as appropriate for the purpose of explanation.

The liquid ejection device 1 as a modeling device is, for example, a three-dimensional inkjet printer that produces three-dimensional objects, and includes a first tank 11 that is a liquid storage section that stores a first liquid, and a first tank 11 that is connected to the first tank 11. 1 liquid ejection head 12, a second tank 13 which is a liquid storage section containing a second liquid, a second liquid ejection head 14 connected to the second tank 13, and a liquid ejection head 12, 14. It includes a transport device 15 that relatively moves a stage 110 that is a pedestal for ejecting on a transport path including opposing ejection positions, an interface 16, and a control device 17.

The first tank 11 is a storage section that holds liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head 12. In this embodiment, the first tank 11 includes a liquid chamber that holds the first liquid 101.

For example, the first liquid 101 is a liquid that contains a ceramic material and a binder material and can be hardened by ionic crosslinking. The first liquid 101 does not contain an organic solvent, and a material with good biocompatibility is used as a binder. The first liquid 101 has a predetermined viscosity and surface tension. For example, the first liquid 101 is a zirconia dispersion in which zirconia particles as a ceramic material are mixed with sodium alginate, which is curable by ionic crosslinking and has a thickening effect and gelling ability. As an example, the zirconia dispersion is produced by producing an aqueous dispersion based on Nippon Shokubai Zircostar (using solvent MEK), mixing sodium alginate, and adjusting the viscosity and surface tension. As sodium alginate, a commercially available powder dissolved and mixed in water can be used. The viscosity and surface tension of the first liquid 101 are adjusted to appropriate viscosity and surface tension according to various conditions such as liquid ejection conditions by the liquid ejection head 12, which is an inkjet head, and modeling conditions.

The second tank 13 is a liquid storage section that holds a second liquid that serves as a hardening agent and is supplied to the liquid ejection head 14 . In this embodiment, the second tank 13 includes a liquid chamber that holds the second liquid 102. The second liquid 102 is an ionic crosslinking curing agent that hardens the first liquid 101 by ionic crosslinking. For example, calcium ions that harden sodium alginate are used as the second liquid 102.

The first liquid ejection head 12 is, for example, an inkjet head. The first liquid ejection head 12 is connected to the first tank 11 via a supply path. A supply pump may be provided in the supply path connecting the first tank 11 and the first liquid ejection head 12. The liquid ejection head 12 ejects the first liquid onto the stage 110. The liquid ejection head 12 is, for example, a piezoelectric inkjet head, and includes a nozzle plate having one or more nozzles as a first liquid ejection part, a manifold having a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a pressure chamber formed in the nozzle plate. and a drive element (actuator). The liquid ejection head 12 is connected to a control device 17, and performs a droplet ejection operation under the control of the control device 17.

The first liquid ejection head 12 ejects the first liquid from a nozzle connected to the liquid chamber of the first tank 11, and causes droplets of the first liquid to drop onto the stage 110 disposed opposite to each other.

The second liquid ejection head 14 is, for example, an inkjet head. The liquid ejection head 14 is connected to the second tank 13 via a supply path. A supply pump may be provided in the supply path connecting the second tank 13 and the second liquid ejection head 14. The liquid ejection head 14 ejects the second liquid onto the stage 110 and drops droplets of the second liquid. The liquid ejection head 14 is, for example, a piezoelectric inkjet head, and includes a nozzle plate having one or more nozzles as a second liquid ejection part, a manifold having a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a pressure chamber formed in the nozzle plate. and a drive element (actuator). The liquid ejection head 14 is connected to a control device 17, and performs a droplet ejection operation under the control of the control device 17.

The second liquid ejection head 14 ejects the second liquid from a nozzle connected to the liquid chamber of the second tank 13, and causes droplets of the second liquid 102 to drop onto the stage 110 disposed opposite to each other.

The transport device 15 moves the stage 110 relative to the liquid ejection heads 12 and 14. For example, the transport device 15 includes a stage moving mechanism that holds and transports the stage 110. Further, the conveyance device 15 includes a head movement mechanism that moves the liquid ejection heads 12 and 14 at predetermined timing according to various modeling conditions.

The interface 16 shown in FIG. 1 includes a power source, a display device, and an input device. The interface 16 is connected to a processor 81 as a control unit. The interface 16 instructs the processor 81 to perform various operations when the user operates an input device. Further, the interface 16 displays various information and images on a display device under the control of the processor 81.

The control device 17 includes a processor 81 that is a control section that controls the operation of each section, a memory 82 that stores programs or various data, and a circuit that converts analog data (voltage values) into digital data (bit data). It includes an AD conversion section 83, a drive circuit 84 that drives each element, and an amplifier circuit.

The processor 81 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and corresponds to the central part of the control section. The processor 81 controls each part of the liquid ejection apparatus 1 in accordance with the operating system and application programs to realize various functions of the liquid ejection apparatus 1.

The processor 81 controls the operation of each part of the liquid ejection device 1 via a drive circuit 84 connected to various drive mechanisms.

By the processor 81 executing control processing based on a control program recorded in advance in the memory 82, for example, the processor 81 controls the operations of the liquid ejection heads 12, 14, the conveying device 15, and the supply pump, thereby discharging the liquid. Controls the discharge operation.

When the processor 81 detects an input instructing the start of modeling, the processor 81 performs a modeling process in which a material is discharged as a liquid from the nozzles of the liquid discharge heads 12 and 14. The operations of the ejection heads 12 and 14 and the transport device 15 are controlled to perform a droplet ejection operation.

The memory 82 is, for example, a nonvolatile memory, and is mounted on the control device 17. The memory 82 stores various control programs and operating conditions as information necessary for controlling liquid discharge operations, liquid supply operations, temperature management, liquid level management, pressure management, and the like.

The operation of the liquid ejection device 1 configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. When the user operates the operation input section, the processor 81 detects a modeling instruction on the interface 16. When the processor 81 detects the modeling instruction, the processor 81 drives the transport device 15 to transport the stage 110, and outputs an ejection signal to the liquid ejection heads 12 and 14 at a predetermined timing. , 14 to discharge liquid.

Specifically, the processor 81 first drives the transport device 15 to position the stage at the ejection position of the first liquid ejection head 12, and drives the first liquid ejection head 12 using a signal according to the modeling data. By discharging the first liquid, the liquid containing zirconia and sodium alginate is discharged onto the stage (Act 1).

Next, the transport device 15 is driven to position the stage at the ejection position of the second liquid ejection head 14, and the second liquid ejection head 14 is driven to remove the first liquid ejected from the second liquid ejection head 14. An ionic crosslinking agent, which is a second liquid, is dropped onto the liquid to harden the first liquid (Act 2). The deposit 113 is formed by repeating these steps until the discharge amount or the number of discharges reaches a predetermined value (Act 3). That is, the ejection position of the first liquid ejection head 12 and the ejection position of the second liquid ejection head 14 are moved alternately multiple times, and the ejection of the first liquid and the supply of the second liquid are repeated ( No in Act 3), and stop when reaching a predetermined value (Yes in Act 3). At this time, the processor 81 supplies the liquid from the tanks 11 and 13 to the liquid ejection heads 12 and 14 by driving the supply pump at a predetermined timing as necessary.

As described above, the ceramic materials are laminated to form a three-dimensional object (Act 5). Subsequently, when the shaped article is sintered, it is sintered in a sintering furnace (Act 6) and solidified to complete the ceramic shaped article (Act 7).

The liquid ejection device 1 configured as described above is capable of ejecting a first liquid containing a ceramic material and a dispersion liquid with high biocompatibility and capable of being cured by ion crosslinking, and the ejected first liquid. By supplying an ionic crosslinking curing agent to the liquid, three-dimensional objects can be formed without using monomers with poor biocompatibility. In other words, it is possible to use a material such as sodium alginate, which has good biocompatibility and is effective through ionic crosslinking, as a binder material and impart functions similar to those of zirconia, so it can be used, for example, in dental materials. It is possible to produce objects that are compatible with the human body and do not cause allergies. For example, it can also be applied to biocompatible lenses that utilize optical properties.
In addition to sodium alginate, binder materials include agar, pectin, carrageenan, and gellan gum. Examples of ceramic materials include zirconia, calcium phosphate compounds, titania, magnesia, alumina, and the like. Examples of ionic crosslinking curing agents include those based on aluminum, magnesium, barium, strontium, etc. in addition to calcium.
According to the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a modeling apparatus and a method for manufacturing a shaped object that can manufacture a shaped object that is highly compatible with the human body.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, but can be implemented by modifying the constituent elements within the scope of the invention at the implementation stage.

For example, in the embodiment described above, an example was shown in which liquid is ejected from each of the plurality of liquid ejection heads 12 and 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one head may have two liquid ejection parts.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the first liquid ejection position and the second liquid ejection position are set to different positions, and the stage 110 is moved between the different ejection positions, but the present invention is not limited to this. It's not a thing. For example, the first liquid ejection head 12 and the second liquid ejection head may be arranged so that the ejection directions are directed toward the same ejection position. In this case, the process of relatively moving the stage can be omitted.
Further, although an example has been shown in which the second liquid is ejected after the first liquid is ejected, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the order of ejecting the first liquid and the second liquid may be reversed or may be performed simultaneously.
In addition to or instead of moving the stage 110, in the conveying device 15, the liquid ejection heads 12, 14 and the stage 110 are moved relative to each other by moving the liquid ejection heads 12, 14 side. It's okay.

In addition to the above, the liquid ejection heads 12 and 14 may have a structure in which droplets are ejected by deforming a diaphragm using static electricity, or a structure in which droplets are ejected from a nozzle using thermal energy such as a heater.

Further, in the above embodiment, the liquid ejection device 1 is used in a modeling device, but it can also be used in a 3D printer or an industrial manufacturing machine, and can be made smaller, lighter, and lower in cost. It is.
According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to provide a modeling apparatus and a method for manufacturing a shaped object that can manufacture a shaped object that is highly compatible with the human body.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described, the embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...liquid ejection device, 11...first tank, 12...first liquid ejection head, 13...second tank, 14...second liquid ejection head, 15...transport device, 16...interface, 17...control device, 81... Processor, 82... Memory, 83... AD converter, 84... Drive circuit, 101... First liquid, 102... Second liquid, 110... Stage, 113... Deposit.

Claims (5)

a first liquid ejecting section that ejects a first liquid that contains a ceramic material and a binder material and is curable by ionic crosslinking;
a second liquid discharge unit that supplies a second liquid that can harden the first liquid through ionic crosslinking;
a control unit that controls liquid ejection operations of the first liquid ejection unit and the second liquid ejection unit, and repeatedly ejects the first liquid and the second liquid;
A modeling device comprising: the binder material is biocompatible;
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid is adjusted to have a predetermined viscosity. The first liquid is a zirconia dispersion liquid in which zirconia particles as the ceramic material and sodium alginate are mixed,
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second liquid is calcium ion. further comprising a conveyance device that relatively moves the pedestal so as to alternately pass through a discharge position of the first liquid discharge part and a discharge position of the second liquid discharge part a plurality of times;
The modeling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control section controls the first liquid ejection section, the second liquid ejection section, and the transport device. Discharging a first liquid that contains a ceramic material and a binder material and is curable by ionic crosslinking;
Discharging a second liquid that can harden the first liquid by ionic crosslinking;
repeatedly discharging the first liquid and discharging the second liquid;
A method for manufacturing a shaped object, comprising: