JPH0698689B2 - Method for manufacturing optical model - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for producing an optical modeled article, in which a shaped article of various shapes is molded and produced using a photocurable resin that is cured by irradiation with light. It is about the method.

[Conventional technology]

The most common synthetic resin molding method is a molding method that uses a molding die, such as injection molding, but a different molding die is required for each product shape to be molded, and the labor and cost of preparing the molding die in advance. However, this requires a large amount of equipment such as a high temperature heating device for heating the resin material to a moldable softened state, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is high when the number of products is small.

Instead of the above molding method, a method of molding using a photocurable resin has been developed, and it is possible to easily and accurately form a complicated and fine shape without using a molding die or a special tool. For example, the production of printing plate,
In addition to being used for the formation of resist patterns in the manufacturing process of printed wiring boards, in addition to the above-mentioned planar modeling, it is also possible to manufacture various product models and three-dimensional models such as three-dimensional three-dimensional shapes. It is also considered to be used for forming. Among them, as a method for forming a three-dimensional shape, for example,
It is disclosed in JP-A-62-35966 and JP-A-61-114817.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional, general, three-dimensional optical molding method, in which the liquid photocurable resin 2 stored in the resin liquid tank 1 is applied from above the liquid surface. Condenser lens 30
By irradiating the light beam 3 such as a laser beam condensed by the light beam, the light curable resin 2 having a certain depth from the liquid surface near the focal position of the light beam 3 is cured, and the light beam 3 is irradiated. By sequentially moving the position, the photo-curable layer 40 having a predetermined pattern is formed. If a new photocurable resin liquid 2 is supplied on the photocurable layer 40 and the photocurable resin liquid 2 is cured again by the light beam 3 into a predetermined pattern, the photocurable layer 40 is formed on the photocurable layer 40. A photo-curable layer 40 having another pattern is formed on. In this way, by sequentially stacking a plurality of photo-curing layers 40, the molded product 4 having a desired three-dimensional shape can be formed.

Further, in the case of forming a planar shape, the step of forming the single-layer photocurable layer 40 is applied almost as it is in the above-described three-dimensional shape forming method.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the above-described conventional method for forming a three-dimensional shape using a photo-curable resin, the liquid photo-curable resin 2 is stored in the resin liquid tank 1 and only a part of the liquid photo-curable resin 2 is cured to cure the photo-curable layer 40.
Therefore, the equipment of the wide resin liquid tank 1 capable of accommodating the entire target three-dimensional shape is required, and the amount of the resin liquid 2 much larger than the amount necessary for forming the three-dimensional shape is required. It is also uneconomical since the extra resin liquid 2 that has not been cured is wasted. Further, since the curing and laminating processes proceed in the resin liquid 2, there is a problem that the finish and shape of the manufactured molded product cannot be confirmed until the molded product 4 is taken out from the resin liquid 2.

Furthermore, in order to completely cure the liquid photocurable resin,
It is necessary to increase the light energy and to extend the irradiation time. Particularly, in a large amount of the resin liquid 2, only a part of the resin liquid 2 is irradiated with light to be cured, so that sufficient curing may not be performed. Further, since the formed and laminated photocurable layer 40 is still immersed in the resin liquid 2, when the new resin liquid 2 is supplied to the resin liquid tank 1, or when the laminated photocurable layer 40 is mixed with the resin liquid 2. When the photo-curing layer 40 is submerged below the photo-curing layer 40 and is covered with a new resin liquid 2, the laminated photo-curing layer 40 is moved by the flow of the resin liquid 2, fluid pressure, viscous resistance, or the like. However, there is a problem that the formed three-dimensional shape is deformed, and there is a drawback that the formed three-dimensional shape has poor shape retention accuracy.

In addition, when molding a planar shape, that is, only when forming a single photo-cured layer, it is necessary to store a wide area of liquid photo-curable resin that includes the molding shape. The photo-curable resin other than the shape is wasted, the liquid photo-curable resin takes time and energy to cure, and the curing tends to be insufficient, and the curing shrinkage due to the change from liquid to solid state. There are also drawbacks such as a large amount and poor shape accuracy of the photocured layer formed.

Further, in the optical modeling method as described above, since the liquid photocurable resin is stored and the horizontal liquid surface is photocured, for example, the modeled object is integrally formed on the surface of the prefabricated article. Or, it is impossible to manufacture a molded article along a curved surface or an uneven surface.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional optical modeling method using a liquid photo-curable resin, which is economical without waste of the photo-curable material and is easy to work with. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical modeling method in which the manufacturing facility is simplified, there is no limitation on the shape and the forming place of the modeled object, and the formed object having good shape retention accuracy can be obtained.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, the method for producing an optical molded article according to claim 1, wherein the liquid paste-like photocurable resin is ejected in a string shape, and the ejected photocurable resin is ejected. I am trying to cure it by irradiating it with light.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in carrying out the invention of the first aspect, the ejected photo-curing resin is irradiated with light to be cured and sequentially stacked to form a three-dimensional shape.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in carrying out the invention of the first aspect, the liquid paste-like photocurable resin is heated and then irradiated with light to be cured.

[Action]

According to the invention of claim 1, a so-called liquid paste-like photocurable resin having fluidity that can be ejected from a nozzle or the like and shape maintainability that can maintain the ejected shape as it is, This liquid paste-like photocurable resin is discharged in the form of a string according to a predetermined molding pattern, and the discharged photocurable resin is irradiated with light to be cured, whereby a photocuring having a predetermined molding pattern is performed. It is possible to obtain a cured product of the resin.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid paste-like photocurable resin discharged in a string shape is sequentially stacked according to the target three-dimensional shape, and the discharged photocurable resin is irradiated with light. By irradiation and curing, a cured product having a desired three-dimensional shape can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 3, by heating the liquid paste-like photocurable resin in a stage before being irradiated with light to be cured, it is possible to accelerate the curing reaction by irradiation of light. The curing time can be shortened and the curing can be performed well.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a manufacturing process of an optically shaped article having a three-dimensional shape. First, a discharge connected to a tank (not shown) containing a photocurable resin in the form of a liquid paste. A liquid paste-like photocurable resin 45 is ejected from the tip of the nozzle 5. The outlet 50 of the discharge nozzle 5 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape and discharges the liquid paste resin 45 in the shape of a flat strip. The discharge nozzle 5 is provided so as to be movable in the three XYZ directions, and corresponds to the three-dimensional shape to be formed.
The movement path of the discharge nozzle 5 is controlled by a computer or the like.

The liquid paste-like photocurable resin 45 has fluidity that can be discharged into an arbitrary shape by the discharge nozzle 5 among resin materials having ordinary photocurability, and is discharged in a string shape. After that, it is preferable to use a material having a shape-retaining property capable of maintaining a constant shape without flowing and expanding, that is, a material having excellent so-called thixotropy. The liquid photo-curable resin used in the conventional optical modeling method is used in the discharge nozzle 5
Even if it is discharged from, it is not possible to maintain a certain thickness and shape, and there is a problem that it flows, spreads to unnecessary parts, adheres to the surroundings and stains, so it cannot be used in the method of the present invention. .

As a specific liquid paste-like photocurable resin material, thixotropic (thixotropy) imparting type photocurable resin UVX-500, UVX-505, UVX-507 (both are trade names) manufactured by ThreeBond Co., Ltd.,
Soma coat adhesive (trade name) manufactured by Somar Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Etc.

Although the liquid paste-like resin 45 discharged from the discharge nozzle 5 extends in a string shape, a light irradiation mechanism such as a laser beam generator is provided adjacent to the discharge nozzle 5, and a light beam 60 for heating is provided. And the light beam 6 for curing can be sequentially applied to the liquid paste resin 45. The heating light beam 60 heats the liquid paste resin 45 to form the heating portion 44 having a constant width. When the liquid paste resin 45 is heated in this way, it has the effect of promoting the photo-curing reaction in the later stage. As the heating light beam 60, for example, a YAG laser or a CO ₂ laser is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating light beam
The width of 60 is set narrower than the width of liquid paste resin 45,
The liquid paste-like resin 45 that is not heated may remain on both sides of the heating unit 44.

The curing light beam 6 is for curing an ordinary photocurable resin, and photocures the heating section 44 irradiated with the heating light beam 60 to form the photocuring section 43. As the curing light beam 6, for example, a He-Cd laser or the like is used. However, as the light beams 60 and 6 for heating and curing, other than the above, a light beam having an arbitrary wavelength component such as infrared rays, visible rays, or ultraviolet rays corresponding to the material of the liquid paste resin 45 may be used. It can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the string-like liquid paste-like resin 45 does not have the entire width formed on the heating portion 44 and the light curing portion 43, but is uncured liquid paste-like resin on both sides of the light curing portion 43. There are 45 left. That is, as described above, the width of the heating part 44 is the liquid paste resin 45.
The width of the photo-curing portion 43 is set to be equal to or slightly smaller than the width of the heating portion 44.
This is because it is possible to form the photo-curing portion 43 having an accurate shape corresponding to the irradiation range of the light beam 6 by allowing a certain amount of allowance in the width of the liquid paste resin 45 discharged in a string shape. Is. However, if the width of the liquid paste resin 45 can be accurately set, the liquid paste resin 45 can be effectively used without waste by making the width of the light beam 6 as close as possible. Further, the width of the heating unit 44 and the width of the photo-curing unit 43 may be the same width as long as the irradiation positions of the light beam are exactly matched,
It is safer to set the width of the heating unit 44 wider.

After discharging the string-like liquid paste resin 45 as described above,
The irradiation nozzle 5 and the light beam, that is, the light irradiation mechanism are integrally moved while sequentially irradiating the light beams 60 and 6 to heat and cure, and a string-like liquid paste-like resin 45 that is continuously discharged.
The photo-cured portion 43 is laminated in a spiral shape so as to draw a desired three-dimensional shape. When forming a hollow container-like three-dimensional shape as in the illustrated example, it is easy and efficient to stack the string-like liquid paste resin 45 continuously in a spiral shape in accordance with the three-dimensional shape. However, the discharge pattern of the string-like liquid paste resin 45, that is, the formation pattern of the photo-curing section 43, is the purpose, such as stacking while folding the string-like liquid paste resin 45 at a constant length. It can be freely set according to the three-dimensional shape.

As described above, after the three-dimensional shape is formed by the photo-curing section 43 made of the string-like liquid-paste resin 45, the uncured liquid-paste-like resin including the heating section 44 remaining around the photo-curing section 43. 45 may be removed with a solvent or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, a three-dimensional shaped object is manufactured, but it goes without saying that a two-dimensional object can be manufactured by moving the discharge nozzle 5 and the like two-dimensionally. Further, if the string-like liquid paste resin 45 is photo-cured while being discharged onto various prefabricated articles or structures, an optically shaped article is integrally formed on these articles or the like. can do. Furthermore, the surface on which the string-shaped liquid paste-like resin 45 is discharged may be not only a horizontal flat surface but also a three-dimensional curved surface or an uneven surface.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid paste-like resin 45 discharged from the discharge nozzle 5 is temporarily cooled before being irradiated with the heating light beam 60. Since the liquid paste resin 45 is solidified by cooling, it is possible to reliably prevent the shape of the string liquid paste resin 45 from collapsing or flowing.

In the illustrated embodiment, the curing efficiency is improved by using the heating light beam 60 and the curing light beam 6 together, but the curing light beam 6 is not used.
It can also be implemented by itself.

As a means for heating the liquid paste-like photocurable resin 45 before irradiating it with light and curing it, a method of using the heating light beam 60 as in the above-mentioned embodiment is also shown in FIG. The method shown is also used. In this method, the discharge port of the discharge nozzle 5
An embedded heater 51 such as a sheath heater is provided around the periphery of 50 to heat the liquid paste-like resin 45 passing through the ejection port 50. Therefore, the liquid paste resin 45 in a heated state, that is, the heating portion 44 in the above-described embodiment, is discharged from the discharge port 50. Further, as another embodiment of the heating means, the discharge port 50
It is also possible to heat the string-shaped liquid paste-like resin 45 that has exited from the infrared heater or the like. As described above, the type of heating means for the liquid paste resin 45 and its installation location are such that the light curing reaction of the liquid paste resin 45 can be promoted before the irradiation position of the photocuring beam 6. If possible, it can be implemented by any means and installation site.

The method for producing an optical shaped article according to the present invention is not limited in shape and use of the shaped article to be produced, as long as it is an article that can be formed of a photocurable resin, and a three-dimensional shaped article such as the product model described above, Alternatively, it can be applied to any application such as a flat shaped object.

Specific examples of the optically shaped article to which the manufacturing method according to the present invention can be applied include caulking materials such as window glass and building materials. Conventionally, such caulking material has been filled with a softened kneaded resin such as putty along the shape of the gap between the window glass and the sash, and then naturally cured to exert the necessary strength. Since it takes a long time for the resin to spontaneously cure, it must be touched until it is sufficiently cured, which is very inconvenient. Therefore, instead of filling the kneading resin, the manufacturing method of the present invention is applied. That is, the string-like liquid paste-like resin 45 is directly discharged to the caulking portion and irradiated with light to be cured. The liquid paste-like resin 45 can close the caulking part exactly, and when it is irradiated with light to be cured, it can exhibit sufficient strength immediately, eliminating the need for a long curing time as in the past. It is convenient.

Further, as another application example of the manufacturing method according to the present invention,
There are decorative shapes formed on the surface of various articles such as resin molded articles and metal articles. It is only necessary that these decorative shapes can be formed at the same time as molding of resin or metal, but it may be difficult to form a complicated and fine decorative shape by a general synthetic resin or metal molding method. There is a case where it is desired to form a decorative shape made of resins of different materials on the surface of the.
Therefore, on the surface of the target article, a string-like liquid paste resin 45
After forming a decorative shape with, irradiate light to cure it,
Any decorative shape will be easily formed. With this method, the surface of the target article is a curved surface,
There is also an advantage that a decorative shape can be formed without any problems even if there is unevenness.

Further, as another application example, there is an openwork-like pattern provided on a transom of a house or furniture. Conventionally, such an openwork pattern has been engraved by hand, but it requires a great deal of labor and technology and is extremely expensive. Therefore, if the discharge pattern of the liquid paste resin 45, that is, the movement pattern of the discharge nozzle 5 is controlled by a computer or the like in which a model pattern is stored in advance, even if it is a very fine watermark engraving pattern, It can be manufactured efficiently.

As described above, the caulking material, the formation of the decorative shape on the surface of the article, the openwork pattern, etc. are completely impossible applications by the conventional molding method using the liquid photocurable resin, and the optical according to the present invention. The manufacturing method of the mechanically shaped object enables the first application.

〔The invention's effect〕

Among the inventions described above, according to the method for producing an optical modeled object of claim 1, since the photocurable resin in the form of a liquid paste is discharged in the form of a string and cured to form a model, Compared with the method using the liquid photo-curable resin, there are the following advantages.

First, since the photocurable resin only needs to be supplied to the parts required for modeling, the amount of resin material is small and the material is not wasted. It is not necessary in a resin liquid tank that contains a large amount of resin liquid. A liquid paste-like photocurable resin, which is closer to a solid than a liquid one, is easier to cure, has a shorter curing time, and can be completely cured, and also has less shrinkage during curing and has higher shape accuracy. A shaped object is obtained. When a liquid resin is used, it must be cured in a horizontal plane and cannot be molded on a curved or uneven surface of a three-dimensional article, but a liquid paste-like photocurable resin that is close to a solid In this case, the shaped article can be directly formed on the curved surface or the uneven surface of the article.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, string-like liquid paste-like resins are sequentially stacked to form a three-dimensional three-dimensional shape. Unlike the conventional method in which the process proceeds, the finished state cannot be confirmed until it is completed, and the work can be performed while checking the finished state by observing the formation process of the three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, because there is no concern that the formed three-dimensional shape will be moved or deformed by the flow or viscous resistance of the resin liquid, it is necessary to form a three-dimensional shape that has high shape retention accuracy and is accurate and excellent in shape accuracy. You can

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1, by heating the liquid paste-like resin before irradiating the liquid paste-like photocurable resin with light to cure it. The reactivity with respect to the photocuring reaction is enhanced, and the photocuring reaction can be promoted. Therefore, the curing efficiency can be increased and the curing time can be shortened, and the entire liquid paste resin can be uniformly cured to improve the strength and quality after curing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram in the middle of manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of another embodiment, and FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of a prior art example. 4 …… Molded product, 43 …… Light curing part, 45 …… Liquid paste resin, 5
…… Discharge nozzle, 6 …… Light beam for curing.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location C08F 2/46 MDH C08G 85/00 NVC

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for producing an optical molded article, characterized in that a liquid paste-like photocurable resin is ejected in a string shape, and the ejected photocurable resin is irradiated with light to be cured. Method. 2. The method for producing an optical modeled article according to claim 1, wherein the ejected photocurable resin is irradiated with light to be cured and successively stacked to form a three-dimensional shape. 3. The method for producing an optical molded article according to claim 1, wherein the liquid paste-like photocurable resin is heated and then irradiated with light to be cured.