JPH1034752A - Three-dimensional molding method and apparatus used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make molding work simple and highly precise by arranging a molding table with an adhesive lower surface above a provisional table with a nonadhesive upper surface and curing a liquid molding agent which is supplied to the upper surface of the provisional table and put it between the provisional table and the molding table. SOLUTION: A curing accelerating agent sprayer 18, when a provisional table 11 with a nonadhesive upper surface is moved to the right, closely contacts the lower surface of the table 11 to discharge a curing accelerating agent on the upper surface of the table 11 through pores 12. A molding table 20 with a nonadhesive lower surface is installed vertically movably above the sprayer 18. The table 11 is positioned on the lower side of a discharge head 13, a molding agent is discharged from a nozzle 15, and a molding agent layer 21 of a prescribed shape is formed on the upper surface of the table 11. Next, the lower surface of the table 20 is made to contact the upper surface of the layer 21, the accelerating agent is sprayed from the sprayer 18, and the layer 21 is cured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional molding method for forming an arbitrary three-dimensional molded object by laminating a molding agent layer having a predetermined shape, and an apparatus used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various apparatuses as three-dimensional modeling apparatuses for performing modeling by laminating modeling materials in a plurality of layers. In such a three-dimensional printing apparatus,
There is one as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 11751.
This apparatus is provided with a material supply processing shaft which melts a material supplied from a material supply unit in a heating and melting unit and discharges the material from a nozzle. The molding is performed by supplying the material that has been heated and melted while moving in the Y and Z directions.

[0003]

However, in the molding method using the above-described apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, the molded object 1 to be molded has a steep overhang angle in which the upper side spreads outward. In the case of a shape or a complicated shape, a support material 2 is used to support the modeled object 1 so as not to incline, or the upper surface of the pedestal 3 is formed on a step to maintain a stable state. Therefore, there is a problem that the modeling operation becomes complicated.

As the shape of the modeled object 1 becomes more complicated, a larger number of the support members 2 are required, and the operation becomes extremely complicated. Further, the shape of the modeled object 1 is, for example, a case in which a ceiling is provided inside such as an inverted cup, or a case in which the ceiling has a hollow portion having a planar shape. However, there is also a problem that the modeling itself cannot be performed because the support material 2 cannot be used, and the shape of the modelable object 1 is limited.

Further, in this method, it is difficult to supply the material while making the height of each modeling layer uniform, and in order to perform accurate modeling, the height is measured during the modeling and the height is corrected sequentially. It is necessary to stack each modeling layer while doing so. Further, there is also a problem that it is difficult to accurately form the upper and lower surfaces of each modeling layer into a planar shape, and it is difficult to obtain a high-precision molded object.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to form a complicatedly shaped object without using a support material, and to perform height correction, plane processing, and the like. Providing a three-dimensional modeling method and an apparatus used therefor that each modeling layer can be formed in a flat shape with a uniform thickness without any difficulty, and as a result, the modeling operation is simplified and a highly accurate molded product can be obtained. For that purpose.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the inventor of the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by stacking each of the modeling layers from below to above as in the prior art. We focused on the fact that a modeling method in which layers are stacked downward from above is more effective than performing them. As a result of extensive efforts, the present invention was completed.

According to the present invention, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes: a temporary table having an upper surface having a non-adhesive surface; a modeling table disposed above the temporary table and having a lower surface having an adhesive surface; A nozzle is provided for supplying to the upper surface of the temporary table. The modeling table is movable up and down relatively with respect to the temporary table, and the nozzle is movable on the temporary table in the front-rear and left-right directions with respect to the temporary table.

When performing modeling using the above-mentioned apparatus, first, a molding agent is supplied in a layer of a predetermined shape by a nozzle onto the upper surface of the temporary table, and then the modeling table is lowered to the temporary table side to lower the lower surface thereof. The molding agent layer is brought into contact with the substrate. In this state, after the molding agent layer is cured and adhered to the lower surface of the molding table, the molding agent table is raised to raise the cured molding agent layer together with the molding table.

Then, the molding agent is supplied again to the upper surface of the temporary table, and the cured molding agent layer adhered to the lower surface of the molding table is brought into contact with the uncured molding agent layer on the upper surface of the temporary table. After the layer is hardened and the upper and lower modeling agent layers are adhered to each other, the modeling table is raised, and a three-dimensional model having a predetermined shape is formed.

[0011]

That is, the present invention does not stack the material discharged from the nozzle while supporting it with a support material or a base having a stepped upper surface as in the prior art. When the molding agent layer once supplied on the temporary table is cured, it is bonded to the lower surface of the molding table disposed above the temporary table.

Then, after the molding agent for forming the next layer is similarly supplied to the upper surface of the temporary table, the molding table is lowered to the upper surface side of the temporary table, and the uncured molding agent layer on the temporary table is lowered. And the cured molding agent layer adhered to the lower surface of the molding table. In that state, by repeating the process of curing the uncured molding agent layer and integrally bonding it to the cured molding agent layer on the molding table side, so that the molding is performed from the upper layer side to the lower layer side of the molded article Has become.

Therefore, each molding agent layer is cured and fixed to a certain shape, and then rises together with the molding table, so that a support material for supporting the molded object during molding and the base portion are stepped. Eliminates the need. Further, even if the shape of the modeled object has a steep overhang angle or a shape having a ceiling portion or a hollow portion on the inner side, it can be formed without any trouble. as a result,
The work is simplified, and a shaped object having a complicated shape can be formed, and the degree of freedom of the shape of the shaped object that can be shaped is increased.

When the molding agent layer cures, the lower surface of the molding agent layer is in contact with the upper surface of the temporary table, and the upper surface is in contact with the lower surface of the molding table. By doing so, each modeling agent layer is formed into a planar layer having a uniform thickness. As a result, it is not necessary to perform height correction at the time of molding, and a molded object with high accuracy can be obtained.

In this case, when the upper surface of the temporary table is made non-adhesive and the lower surface of the molding table is made adhesive, and the liquid molding agent layer is cured while being sandwiched between the two tables, the cured molding It is necessary for the agent layer to adhere to the modeling table with an adhesive force greater than the force that the agent layer tends to drop by its own weight.

Similarly, when the uncured molding agent layer is cured while being sandwiched between the temporary table and the cured molding agent layer, a molding agent is selected and used so that the molding agent layers adhere more strongly to each other. It is necessary. Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments.

[0017]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a temporary aluminum table provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction in the figure. The temporary table 11 has a fluorine coating on the upper surface so as to be non-adhesive, and a large number of small holes 12 penetrating vertically are maintained at predetermined intervals.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a discharge head disposed above the temporary table 11, and a lower end of a molding agent formed of a gel-like instant adhesive (Altecogel manufactured by Alpha Giken) sent through a hose 14. Nozzle 1 protruding into the part
5 to the upper surface of the temporary table 11. The discharge head 13 can be moved back and forth, right and left, and can form a molding agent to be discharged onto the upper surface of the temporary table 11 into a layer of an arbitrary shape.

Reference numerals 16 and 17 denote a pair of cleaning rollers which are disposed vertically below the substantially central portion of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 10, respectively. When the temporary table 11 moves from the right side to the left side in the drawing, the rollers 16 and 17 reduce the distance between each other and press against the upper and lower surfaces of the temporary table 11 respectively to remove the deposits on the upper and lower surfaces of the temporary table 11. At other times, the distance between them is kept wide.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a curing accelerator spraying device disposed on the right side of the rollers 16 and 17, and is formed in a thin box shape having an open upper surface. This curing accelerator spraying device 18
When the temporary table 11 moves to the right side in the figure,
A hardening accelerator (Spray primer manufactured by Alpha Giken Co., Ltd.), which is in close contact with the lower surface and sent through a connected hose 19, is passed through the small hole 12 through the temporary table 11.
Is ejected to the upper surface side of the.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a molding table made of an acrylic plate having a lower surface made of an adhesive.
Is arranged in a state capable of moving up and down. In addition,
In order to obtain the adhesiveness of the lower surface of the modeling table 20, it is not particularly necessary to perform a roughening process, and a commercially available acrylic plate may be used as it is.

In this configuration, when forming a molded article, first, the temporary table 11 is positioned below the ejection head 13 as shown in FIG. 2, and in that state, the ejection head 13 is moved back and forth and right and left. The molding agent is discharged from the nozzle 15 while forming the molding agent layer 21 having a predetermined shape on the upper surface of the temporary table 11.

Next, as shown in FIG.
1 is moved to the upper surface of the curing accelerator spraying device 18, and the modeling table 20 is moved downward to bring the lower surface into contact with the upper surface of the modeling agent layer 21 on the temporary table 11.
In this state, the curing accelerator is sprayed from the curing accelerator spraying device 18 to cure the molding agent layer 21.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the molding table 20 is raised, the cured molding agent layer 21 is peeled off from the temporary table 11 in a state of being adhered to the lower surface of the molding table 20 and rises together with the molding table 20. .

Next, as shown in FIG.
When the roller 1 is moved to the original position on the left side, the roller 16 is lowered and the roller 17 is raised, and comes into pressure contact with the upper surface and the lower surface of the temporary table 11, respectively. As a result, the curing accelerator adhering to the temporary table 11 is completely removed. Further, even if the molding agent remains on the upper surface of the temporary table 11, it is removed together with the curing accelerator.

Then, the molding agent is again supplied to the upper surface of the temporary table 11 to form a new molding agent layer, and the above-described operation is repeated to form the molding 22 as shown in FIG. It is laminated on the lower surface of the modeling table 20. Therefore, by removing the modeled object 22 from the modeling table 20, the modeling operation is completed. The above series of operations is performed by computer control based on a prepared program.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, since the modeling agent layer is formed from the upper side to the lower side of the modeled object 22, the supporting material and the like as in the conventional example are not used.
Shaped objects 22 of various shapes such as a complicated shape can be obtained. Further, since the uncured molding agent layer is cured while being sandwiched between the temporary table 11 and the molding table 20 or between the temporary table 11 and the cured molding agent layer, each molding agent layer has a uniform thickness and an accurate planar shape. Formed.

As a result, a molded article with high accuracy can be obtained. Further, since the molding agent does not cure until the curing accelerator is sprayed, the temporary table 11 and the molding table 20 are not cured.
Therefore, it is not hardened in a distorted state or the like before being shaped into an appropriate state.

Since the surface of the temporary table 11 is cleaned by the rollers 16 and 17 every time the temporary table 11 moves from the curing accelerator spraying device 18 to the discharge head 13, the molding agent is discharged to the temporary table 11. Immediately before the molding agent layer 21 on the temporary table 11 is brought into close contact with the molding table 20, the curing of the molding agent layer 21 is prevented, and impurities and the like are also prevented from being mixed into the molded object 22. Is done.

Embodiment 2 In the three-dimensional printing apparatus 25 shown in FIG.
However, similarly to the temporary table 11 of the first embodiment, the temporary table 11 is made of an aluminum plate having an upper surface coated with fluorine, and a heater 27 for heating is buried in an upper part in the inside thereof, and a lower side of the heater 27 is provided. A water pipe 28 for cooling is buried.

Then, a molding agent 29 made of a wire-like ABS resin supplied from the outside is heated and melted above the temporary table 26, and then discharged from the nozzle 30 projecting from the lower end to the upper surface of the temporary table 26. Heating head 3
1 is provided so as to be able to move back and forth and left and right.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a molding table 20 according to the first embodiment.
3 is a modeling table made of the same acrylic plate as that of FIG. The shaping table 32 can be moved up and down in the same manner as the shaping table 20.
It is possible to move left and right as well.

Then, at the time of molding, first, the heater 2
7 is turned on, the molten molding agent is supplied from the heating head 31 to the temporary table 26 while the upper surface of the temporary table 26 is heated and held.
Discharge upward. Next, the temporary table 26 is moved below the shaping table 32 and the shaping table 32 is moved.
To make its lower surface contact the upper surface of the modeling agent layer.

Next, the heater 27 is turned off to stop heating, and at the same time, cooling water is poured into the water pipe 28 via the hose 33 to cool the upper surface of the temporary table 26 and the molding agent layer. As a result, the molding agent layer is cured and adheres to the lower surface of the molding table 32.

By raising the molding table 32, moving the temporary table 26 below the heating head 31, and again forming the molding agent layer on the temporary table 26, the same operation as described above is repeated. A modeled product similar to the modeled product 22 obtained in Example 1 is obtained.

Embodiment 3 In the three-dimensional printing apparatus 35 shown in FIG. 8, the temporary table 36 which can be moved to the left and right is made of a glass plate having an upper surface coated with fluorine. Above the temporary table 36, a discharge head 37 similar to the discharge head 13 of the first embodiment is disposed so as to be movable back and forth and left and right with the nozzle 38 protruding downward.

Reference numeral 39 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation lamp disposed on the lower right side in the figure, and its irradiation port is directed upward. A modeling table 40 made of an acrylic plate is disposed above the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 39 so as to be vertically movable.

In this case, an ultraviolet curable resin is used as a molding agent. Therefore, this three-dimensional modeling device 35
Is surrounded by a shielding material (not shown) for shielding ultraviolet rays so that the molding agent is not inadvertently cured.

At the time of molding, first, the molding agent is discharged from the discharge head 37 onto the temporary table 36. Next, the temporary table 36 is moved below the shaping table 40, and the shaping table 40 is lowered to bring its lower surface into contact with the upper surface of the shaping agent layer. Next, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 39
Is turned on, and the modeling layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays through the temporary table 36. As a result, the molding agent layer hardens and the molding table 4
0 is attached to the lower surface.

By raising the molding table 40, moving the temporary table 36 below the ejection head 37, and again forming the molding agent layer on the temporary table 36, the same operation as described above is repeated. A shaped object is obtained.

In the three-dimensional modeling devices 25 and 35 of the second and third embodiments, the rollers for cleaning the surfaces of the temporary tables 26 and 36 are not provided. , 35 are also provided with rollers. However, in this case, only the rollers for cleaning the upper surfaces of the temporary tables 26 and 36 are sufficient, and no rollers are required on the lower surface side. by this,
Impurities can be removed, and a higher quality molded object can be obtained.

In Examples 1 to 3,
The temporary tables 11, 26, and 36 move left and right, and the molding tables 20, 32, and 40 move up and down. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one of the temporary table and the molding table is used. While the other is movable up and down, and when the space between the temporary table and the molding table is widened, the discharge head or the heating head moves to the upper surface side of the temporary table and supplies the molding agent while moving back and forth and right and left there. You may do so.

In other methods, the point is that the molding table can be moved up and down relatively to the temporary table, and the nozzle can be moved back and forth and left and right relatively. Should be fine. Further, the type of the shaping agent is not limited to the above-mentioned one, but includes any material having the same material and capable of being used in the same manner.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the molding table having the lower surface having the adhesive surface is disposed above the temporary table having the upper surface having the non-adhesive surface, and is supplied to the upper surface of the temporary table. The liquid molding agent cures while being sandwiched between the temporary table and the molding table. Accordingly, the cured molding agent layer is sequentially laminated on the lower surface side of the molding table. As a result, it is not necessary to make the support or the base for supporting the modeled object stepped during the modeling.

In addition, even if the shape of the modeled object is such that the angle of the overhang is steep or a shape having a hollow portion on the inner side, it is possible to perform modeling. Further, since the uncured molding agent layer is cured while being in contact with the upper surface of the temporary table and the lower surface of the molding table, each formed molding agent layer is formed as a flat layer having a uniform thickness. become. As a result, it is not necessary to perform height correction at the time of molding, and a molded object with high accuracy can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus showing a state in which a modeling agent is supplied onto a temporary table.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus showing a state in which a modeling agent layer is cured.

FIG. 4 is a configuration front view of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus showing a state where a cured modeling agent layer is in close contact with a modeling table.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the three-dimensional printing apparatus showing a state of cleaning a temporary table.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional printing apparatus showing a state where a printing object is formed.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram illustrating a three-dimensional printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a molding method according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 25, 35 Three-dimensional modeling device 11, 26, 36 Temporary table 12 Small hole 13, 37 Discharge head 15, 30, 38 Nozzle 18 Hardening accelerator supply unit 20, 32, 40 Modeling table 21 Modeling agent layer 22 Modeling object 27 Heater 28 Water pipe 29 Modeling agent 31 Heating head

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A shaping table having an adhesive surface on a lower surface is disposed above a temporary table having an non-adhesive surface so as to be vertically movable relative to the temporary table. Using a device in which nozzles for supplying the liquid are arranged on the temporary table so as to be movable back and forth and left and right relative to the temporary table, the molding agent is supplied to the upper surface of the temporary table by the nozzle in a layer of a predetermined shape. After that, the lower surface of the molding table is brought into contact with the molding agent layer, and in this state, the molding agent layer is cured and adhered to the lower surface of the molding table, and then the molding table is raised together with the cured molding agent layer. Further, on the upper surface of the temporary table, a molding agent is supplied in a layer of a predetermined shape, and a cured molding agent layer adhered to the lower surface of the molding table is brought into contact with the molding agent layer. Cure the layer After bonding the upper and lower molding agent layers, the molding table is raised together with the both cured molding agent layers, and the like is repeated, so that the molding agent layers are sequentially laminated on the lower surface side of the molding table to form a three-dimensional shape. A three-dimensional molding method characterized by molding a molded object. 2. A temporary table in which a plurality of small holes penetrating up and down is formed at predetermined intervals and an upper surface of the temporary table is made non-adhesive. A molding agent supply unit for supplying a molding agent composed of a gel-like adhesive from a nozzle provided on the temporary table to an upper surface of the temporary table; A molding table that adheres when the molding agent layer supplied on the temporary table is cured in contact with the temporary table, and a curing accelerator that supplies a molding agent curing accelerator through small holes from the lower side to the upper side of the temporary table A three-dimensional printing apparatus comprising a drug supply unit. 3. A temporary table provided with a heating unit for heating the upper surface side and a cooling unit for cooling the upper surface of the non-adhesive surface, and moving back and forth and left and right relative to the upper surface of the temporary table. A molding agent supply unit that supplies a molding agent made of a thermoplastic resin to the upper surface of the temporary table in a heated state from a nozzle provided at a lower end portion, and moves up and down relatively with respect to the temporary table so that the lower surface becomes an adhesive surface. A three-dimensional molding apparatus, comprising: a molding table that adheres when the molding agent layer supplied on the temporary table is cooled and hardened in a state in which the layer is in contact with the temporary agent layer. 4. A temporary table made of a transparent material having an upper surface made of a non-adhesive surface, and an ultraviolet-curable resin that moves relatively to the front, rear, left and right relative to the upper surface of the temporary table and is provided at a lower end thereof. A molding agent supply unit for supplying a molding agent comprising the above to the temporary table upper surface, and a molding agent layer supplied on the temporary table by moving up and down relatively with respect to the temporary table so that the lower surface becomes an adhesive surface. A three-dimensional molding apparatus, comprising: a molding table that adheres when cured in a state of contact with the substrate; and an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays from a lower side to an upper side of the temporary table.