KR102044854B1 - optical integrated module and 3D printer using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical integrated module and a 3D printer using the same, wherein the optical integrated module extends in a straight line to form a concentrated optical path therein, and an extension direction of the concentrated tube portion at one end of the concentrated tube portion. A light concentrating unit having a plurality of branch pipe portions extending in the orthogonal direction, each having a sub optical path communicating with the concentrated light path while shielding one end of the concentrated pipe portion to the outside; and from the outside of the branch pipe portion toward the sub light path. A plurality of light sources each emitting light, a reflecting mirror that reflects light emitted from the light source to the sub-light path of the branch pipe, and changes the path of the light toward the concentrated light path; The main collimating lens that focuses the light traveling toward the tartan of the part and emits it to the outside, and the part between the light source and the reflecting mirror It is installed in the pipe part to focus the light emitted by the light source and a collimating lens for emitting a sub-reflecting mirror. According to the optical integrated module and the 3D printer using the same, the amount of light incident on the DMD can be increased, thereby providing an advantage of extending the photocuring efficiency and the printing area.

Description

Optical integrated module and 3D printer using the same

The present invention relates to an optical integrated module and a 3D printer employing the same, and more particularly, to an optical integrated module and a 3D printer employing the same.

The 3D printer refers to an apparatus capable of molding a three-dimensional shape to be formed by a printing technique.

Recently, designers and designers of products have created three-dimensional modeling data using CAD or CAM, and a so-called three-dimensional printing method has emerged. Is used in a wide variety of industries such as industry, life and medicine.

The basic principle of a typical 3D printer is to build a 3D molding by stacking thin 2D layers.

In the 3D printer method, the SLA (StereoLithography Apparatus) method uses the principle that the scanned portion is cured by scanning a laser beam on the photocurable resin, and the laser beam is scanned using a functional polymer or metal powder instead of the photocurable resin in the SLA. SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) using the principle of solidifying and molding functional polymer or metal powder, and DLP (Digital Light Processing) using the principle of partially curing by irradiating light to the bottom of the tank where the photocurable resin is stored. There is this.

Conventional SLA method is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,575,330 as a method using a photocurable resin.

In recent years, a method of printing an LCD on a photocurable resin solution has also been used.

In the case of the photocuring method, there is a bottom-up method of stacking moldings on the upper surface of the molding substrate while lowering the molding substrate downward, and a top-down method of stacking moldings on the lower surface of the molding substrate while lifting the molding substrate upward.

Top-down uses a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) in which multiple micromirrors are integrated on one chip.

Therefore, in order to expand the printing area and increase the photocuring efficiency, a method of increasing the intensity of light incident to the DMD, that is, the amount of light collected, is required.

The present invention was made to solve the above requirements, and an object thereof is to provide an optical integrated module capable of increasing the amount of light incident on a DMD and a 3D printer using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the optical integrated module according to the present invention extends in a straight line to form a concentrated optical path therein, and is orthogonal to the extending direction of the concentrated tube portion at one end of the concentrated tube portion. A light concentrating unit having a plurality of branch pipe portions each extending in a direction and having a sub light path communicating with the concentrated light path while shielding one end of the concentrated pipe portion to the outside; A plurality of light sources each emitting light from the outside of the branch pipe portion toward the sub light path; A reflection mirror configured to change the path of the light toward each of the concentrated light paths by reflecting the light emitted from the light sources and traveling through the sub-light paths of the branch pipe part; A main collimating lens for reflecting the light reflected from the reflecting mirror and traveling toward the tartan of the concentrator tube and emitting the light to the outside; And a sub-collimating lens installed at the branch pipe portion between the light source and the reflecting mirror to focus light emitted from the light source and to emit the light to the reflecting mirror.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the light concentrating unit is formed in a 'T' shape, and two light sources and two branch pipe portions are applied.

In another embodiment, the light concentrating unit is formed in a 'cross' shape, and four light sources and four branch pipe parts are applied.

In order to achieve the above object, the 3D printer according to the present invention includes a water tank filled with a photocurable liquid resin and having an open top; A resin supply unit for supplying a photocurable liquid resin into the tank; A molding support unit having a plate-shaped molding substrate installed in the water tank to allow the photocurable liquid resin to be cured and grown by irradiated light, and a holder coupled to support the molding substrate on the molding substrate. Wow; A lifter coupled to the holder to move the molded substrate upward and downward; A light irradiation part for irradiating light from the lower portion of the water tank toward the water tank to form a molding layer by curing the photocurable liquid resin under the molding substrate; A control unit configured to control driving of the elevator and the light irradiation unit to control formation of a molded article on the molded substrate, wherein the light irradiation unit includes a DMD in which a plurality of micromirrors with an angle adjustment are arranged; And an optical integrated module for irradiating light into the light incident region of the DMD, wherein the optical integrated module extends in a straight line to form a concentrated optical path therein; A light concentrating unit having a plurality of branch pipe portions each extending in a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the tube portion, the sub-light path communicating with the concentrated optical path while shielding one end of the concentrated tube portion to the outside; A plurality of light sources each emitting light from the outside of the branch pipe portion toward the sub light path; A reflection mirror configured to change the path of the light toward each of the concentrated light paths by reflecting the light emitted from the light sources and traveling through the sub-light paths of the branch pipe part; A main collimating lens that reflects the light reflected from the reflection mirror and travels toward the tartan of the concentrator tube and exits the DMD; And a sub-collimating lens installed at the branch pipe portion between the light source and the reflecting mirror to focus light emitted from the light source and to emit the light to the reflecting mirror.

According to the optical integrated module and the 3D printer using the same according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the amount of light incident on the DMD, thereby providing an advantage of extending the photocuring efficiency and the printing area.

1 is a view showing a 3D printer to which the optical integrated module according to the present invention is applied,
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the light integration module of FIG. 1;
3 is a perspective view showing an optical integrated module according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a simulation result of the light beam emitted from the light integration module of FIG. 2.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail the optical integrated module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a 3D printer applying the same.

1 is a view illustrating a 3D printer to which an optical integrated module according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the optical integrated module of FIG. 1.

1 and 2, the 3D printer 100 according to the present invention includes a water tank 110, a resin supply unit 120, a molding support unit 130, an elevator 160, a light irradiation unit 170, and a control unit. 210 is provided.

The water tank 110 is installed to be supported by the frame 101, and is filled with the photocurable liquid resin 112 and has an open top structure.

The bottom of the water tank 110 is made of a transparent material that is easy to transmit light.

The resin supply unit 120 supplies the photocurable liquid resin into the water tank 110.

The resin supply unit 120 may be controlled by the control unit 210 to be configured to supply the photocurable liquid resin into the water tank 110.

In this case, the control unit 210 is provided with a low water level of the photocurable liquid resin from a water level sensor (not shown) installed in the water tank 110, and the resin so that the water level in the water tank 110 maintains the target water level corresponding to the printing process. The resin supply amount of the supply part 120 is controlled.

Alternatively, the resin supply unit 120 may be constructed to operate independently from the control unit 210. In this case, when the resin supply unit 120 is selected as the operating temperature, the resin supply unit 120 receives a low water level of the photocurable liquid resin from a water level sensor (not shown) installed in the water tank 110, and the resin so that the water level in the water tank 110 is maintained at the target water level. Of course, it can be built to control the supply itself.

The molding support unit 130 is installed in the water tank 110 to form a plate-shaped molded substrate 132 and the photocurable liquid resin 112 to be cured and grown by irradiated light, and the upper portion of the molded substrate 132. The holder 140 is coupled to the molding substrate 132 so as to support the molding substrate 132 and coupled with the elevator 160 to be described later.

The molded substrate 132 is formed in a plate shape, and the photocurable liquid resin 112 is cured and grown on a bottom surface thereof.

The holder 140 is coupled to the molding substrate 132 on the upper side of the molding substrate 132 and is coupled to the elevator 160 for elevating the molding substrate 132 and extending upward from the center of the upper surface of the support plate 142. The coupling bar 144 is provided.

The support plate 142 is disposed to be spaced apart from the top facing the molding substrate 132 and is formed in a plate shape with a size corresponding to the molding substrate 132.

The coupling bar 144 is formed to extend upward from the top of the support plate 142, that is, the center of the upper surface of the support plate 142, and is coupled to one end of the lift bar 162 of the elevator 160.

Elevator 160 is coupled to the holder 140 is installed on the frame 101 so as to raise and lower the molded substrate 132 upwards.

The elevator 160 is provided with a lifting nut 165 on the outside of the vertical screw 164 installed to extend vertically to be rotated by the motor (M) 161, the lifting nut 165 is a lift bar. 162 is combined.

In addition, the restraint ring 168 is installed on the outer side of the restraint guide bar 168 extending in parallel with the vertical screw 164, and the lift bar 162 is coupled to the restraint ring 168. have.

The elevator 160 has a vertical screw 164 is rotated forward and backward by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 161, the lift bar 162 is constrained through the restraining ring 168 by the forward and reverse rotation of the vertical screw 164 The lifting and lowering is performed along the lifting nut 165.

Elevator 160 is a structure that can be raised and lowered through the holder 140 in a structure different from the illustrated example can be applied, of course.

The light irradiation unit 170 is controlled by the control unit 210, the molding layer by curing the photocurable liquid resin 112 to the lower portion of the molding substrate 132 by irradiating light toward the water tank from the bottom of the water tank 110 250 can be formed.

The light irradiation unit 170 includes a digital light processing (DLP) 173, a light integration module 190, and a focusing lens 200.

The digital light processing (DLP) 180 drives a DMD 181 in which a plurality of micromirrors are arranged to be angularly adjusted to correspond to a beam shape to form the light irradiated from the light integration module 190, and drives the DMD. The driving chip 182, and its detailed structure is well known, and further detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The light integration module 190 irradiates light into the light incident region of the DMD 181.

The light integration module 190 includes a light concentration unit 191, a plurality of light sources 192a and 192b, a reflection mirror 195, a main collimating lens 198, and a plurality of sub collimating lenses 197a and 197b. It is provided.

The light concentrating unit 191 extends in a straight state to form a concentrated light path 193 therein, and an extension direction of the concentrated pipe portion 191a at one end of the concentrated pipe portion 191a. A plurality of branch pipe portions 191b and 191c extending in an orthogonal direction and having a sub optical path 194 communicating with the concentrated optical path 193 while shielding one end of the concentrated tube portion 181a to the outside; It is structured.

It is preferable to apply the central tube part 191a forming the concentrated optical path 193 and the branch tube parts 191b and 191c forming the sub optical path 194 to have a rectangular tube shape having an inner cross section. .

In the illustrated example, the light concentrating unit 191 is formed in the English letter 'T' shape having two branch pipe parts 191b and 191c with respect to the concentrating pipe part 191a.

Each of the two light sources 192a and 192b is provided to emit light toward the sub optical path 194 from the outside of the branch pipe parts 191b and 191c.

Light sources 192a and 192b may be applied with a light source that emits ultraviolet light.

The reflection mirror 195 respectively reflects the light emitted from the light sources 192a and 192b and travels through the sub-light path 194 of the branch pipe portions 191b and 191c to the concentrated light path 193. To change the path of light.

The reflecting mirror 195 has a structure formed with reflecting surfaces 195a and 195b inclined at 45 degrees to face the center axis of the sub-light path 194, respectively.

The reflection mirror 195 has a branch pipe portion at a position opposite to the concentrated light path 193 such that a central axis corresponding to the center of the concentrated light path 193 along the longitudinal direction of the concentrated pipe part 191a is matched with a vertex ( 191b) is installed at the inner center of 191c.

The main collimating lens 198 focuses the light that is reflected by the reflection mirror 195 and travels toward the tartan of the concentrator tube part 191a and exits to the DMD 181.

The sub-collimating lenses 197a and 197b are installed in the branch pipe portions 191b and 191c between the light sources 192a and 192b and the reflection mirror 195 to emit light emitted from the light sources 192a and 192b. It focuses and exits to the reflection mirror 195.

The light integration module 190 may double the concentration of light incident on the DMD 181 to correspond to the number of branch pipe portions applied to the concentrated pipe portion 191a.

In addition, as can be seen through Figure 4 has the advantage that the cross-sectional area of the light beam emitted through the conduit tube portion 191a has a rectangular shape and the light quantity distribution has a very small deviation in the cross-sectional area of the light beam to maintain uniformity to provide.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the light concentrating unit 191 may have a structure in which four branch pipe parts 191b to 191e are applied to form a 'cross' shape. In this case, four light sources 192a to 192d are applied.

In addition, the reflecting mirror 295 is a light emitted from the four light sources (192a to 192d) and the light traveling through each of the sub-light path 194, respectively facing the central axis of the sub-light path 194 is 45 degrees The pyramidal square pyramid structure has a photo reflective surface.

On the other hand, the number of branch pipe parts coupled in communication while being orthogonal with respect to the central pipe part 191a may be formed in three or five or more, unlike the illustrated example, and the number corresponding to the number of branch pipes to be applied. The reflection mirror to which the reflecting surface corresponding to the number of light sources and branch pipes is applied.

The focusing lens 200 focuses light passing through the DLP 180 to the lower portion of the water tank 110.

The control unit 210 controls the driving of the resin supply unit 120, the elevator 160, and the light irradiation unit 170 so that the molding to be formed is formed on the molding substrate 132.

When the control unit 210 receives an operation instruction (not shown) for operating an operation and a printing instruction for a molding set from the operation unit, the control unit 210 may be printed according to molding data registered in a storage unit (not shown). A control unit (not shown) for controlling driving of the supply unit 120, the elevator 160, and the light irradiation unit 170 is provided.

According to the optical integrated module described above and the 3D printer using the same, the amount of light incident on the DMD can be increased, thereby providing an advantage of extending the photocuring efficiency and the printing area.

110: water tank 120: resin supply unit
130: molding support unit 160: elevator
170: light irradiation unit 190: light integration module
210: control unit

Claims (6)

delete delete delete A water tank filled with a photocurable liquid resin and having an open top;
A resin supply unit for supplying a photocurable liquid resin into the tank;
A molding support unit having a plate-shaped molding substrate installed in the water tank to allow the photocurable liquid resin to be cured and grown by irradiated light, and a holder coupled to support the molding substrate on the molding substrate. Wow;
A lifter coupled to the holder to move the molded substrate upward and downward;
A light irradiation part for irradiating light from the lower portion of the water tank toward the water tank to form a molding layer by curing the photocurable liquid resin under the molding substrate;
And a control unit controlling the lift and the driving of the light irradiation unit to control the formation of the molded article on the molded substrate.
The light irradiation unit
A DLP including a DMD in which a plurality of micromirrors with angle adjustments are arranged;
And an optical integrated module for irradiating light into the light incident region of the DMD.
The optical integrated module
Concentrator tube portion extending in a straight state to form a concentrated optical path therein, respectively extending from one end of the concentrated tube portion in a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the concentrated tube portion, one end of the concentrated tube portion to the outside A light concentrating unit having a plurality of branch pipe portions formed while shielding and having a sub optical path communicating with the concentrated optical path;
A plurality of light sources each emitting light from the outside of the branch pipe portion toward the sub light path;
A reflection mirror configured to change the path of the light toward each of the concentrated light paths by reflecting the light emitted from the light sources and traveling through the sub-light paths of the branch pipe part;
A main collimating lens that reflects the light reflected from the reflection mirror and travels toward the tartan of the concentrator tube and exits the DMD;
And a sub collimating lens installed at the branch pipe portion between the light source and the reflecting mirror to focus the light emitted from the light source and to emit the light to the reflecting mirror.
The light concentrating unit is formed in a 'cross crisscross' shape, wherein the light source and the branch pipe portion are each applied to the 3D printer.

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