KR102089605B1 - 3D printer and 3D printing method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printer which can mold a molded article by irradiating light to a molding water tank having a photocurable material contained therein, and a three-dimensional printing method using the three-dimensional printer. The three-dimensional printer facilitates separation of an adhesive layer between a curing layer and the bottom surface of the molding water tank and enables a composite material to be mixed in the molding water tank even when the three-dimensional printer has a large processing area. The three-dimensional printer according to the present invention may include: the molding water tank which is formed in a top portion-opened box shape so that a first material can be contained in the molding water tank, and of which the bottom surface is formed of a transparent material so that irradiation light be transmitted from the outside; a platform which is provided inside the molding water tank and installed to be able to ascend or descend in a height direction of the molding water tank by an ascending and descending unit; a light irradiation part which is installed in a lower side of the molding water tank to irradiate the irradiation light that has been patterned corresponding to the predetermined shape of the curing layer so that a curing layer with a predetermined shape can be formed on the bottom surface of the platform; and a recorder which is installed to be movable in a length direction of the molding water tank within the molding water tank to separate an adhesive surface between the curing layer and the bottom surface of the molding water tank and spray a second material at the same time while moving in the length direction during ascending after the curing layer is formed on the platform.

Description

3D printer and 3D printing method using the same {3D printer and 3D printing method using the same}

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printer and a three-dimensional printing method using the same, which relates to a three-dimensional printer and a three-dimensional printing method using the same, which are capable of forming a molding by irradiating light to a molding tank containing a photocurable material.

In general, a 3D printer uses a functional polymer or metal powder instead of a photocurable resin in the SLA method (Stereo Lithography Apparatus) and the SLA method using the principle that the injected part is cured by injecting laser light into the photocurable resin. The principle of partially curing by irradiating light to the lower part of the forming tank in which SLS (Slective Laser Sintering), FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), and photocurable resin are stored using the principle of shaping by injecting and curing laser light. There is a DLP method (Digital Light Processing) used.

Among these, in the conventional molding tank used in the 3D printer of the DLP method, in the case of the bottom-up method, the transparent material is utilized by supplying light energy through the DLP projector through the bottom surface of the molding tank. In addition, the step of raising and lowering the platform to produce the next cured layer is being performed after the liquid photocurable resin between the platform on which the cured layer is formed and the bottom surface of the forming tank is cured. At this time, the cured layer is adhered to the bottom surface of the molding tank, so a step of separating the adhesive surface is necessary. Accordingly, a method of separating through a simple rise of the platform, or separating by tilting the forming tank from side to side is mainly used.

However, in the case of such a conventional three-dimensional printer, when the processing area is not large (within 200 mm), the height of the platform is not high, and even if the tilting angle of the forming tank is not large, separation of the cured layer and the bottom surface of the forming tank is easy. Was done. However, when the processing area is large (300mm or more), the height of the platform must be increased and the tilting angle of the forming tank must be increased, which causes damage to the bottom surface (mainly FEP film) of the forming tank or takes a lot of time to separate the adhesive surface. There was a problem that it took.

In addition, when using a composite material in which organic / inorganic particles and a photo-curable resin are mixed, such as a ceramic-based photo-curable material, fine particles are settled in a forming water tank over time. There was a problem in that the mechanical properties of the printed output were not uniform.

The present invention is to solve a number of problems, including the above problems, even if the processing area of the three-dimensional printer is large, the separation of the adhesive layer between the cured layer and the bottom of the forming tank is easy, and the composite material in the forming tank An object of the present invention is to provide a 3D printer capable of mixing and a 3D printing method using the same. However, these problems are exemplary, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a three-dimensional printer is provided. The three-dimensional printer is formed in the form of a box with an open top so that the first material can be accommodated therein, and a forming water tank formed of a transparent material with a bottom surface so that irradiated light can be transmitted from the outside; A platform provided inside the forming water tank and installed to move up and down in the height direction of the forming water tank by a lifting unit; A light irradiation unit installed under the molding tank and irradiating the irradiation light patterned to correspond to the predetermined shape of the cured layer so that a cured layer of a predetermined shape is formed on a lower surface of the platform; And formed inside the molding tank to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the molding tank, and formed on the bottom surface of the curing layer and the molding tank while moving in the longitudinal direction when the platform is raised after the curing layer is formed on the platform. It may include; separating the adhesive surface between the release film and at the same time spraying a second material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recoater is formed to extend to a predetermined length and a body in which an internal flow path through which the second material flows is formed; And at least one spray nozzle formed on one surface of the body so that the second material flowing in the internal flow path can be injected between the cured layer and the bottom surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the injection nozzle may be formed on the lower surface of the body so that the second material can be injected downward of the recoater.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the body can easily separate the adhesive surface between the cured layer and the release film formed on the bottom surface when the recoater moves in the longitudinal direction of the molding tank. So, it may include; inclined portion formed on the front and rear based on the longitudinal direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the body, when the recoater moves in the longitudinal direction of the forming water tank, the first material in the forming water tank and the second material injected through the spray nozzle are uniformly stirred. It may include; a vortex generating portion formed to protrude on the upper surface so as to be.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vortex generation unit may be formed to protrude in a spiral projection shape on the upper surface of the body so that vortices may be generated between the cured layer and the bottom surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the molded water tank, a transparent FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene copolymer) film on the bottom surface may be formed of the release film.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first material and the second material may be different types of organic / inorganic materials or photocurable materials of the same type.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a three-dimensional printing method is provided. In the three-dimensional printing method, a first cured layer forming a first cured layer on a lower surface of the platform by irradiating the irradiated light patterned by the light irradiator to the bottom surface of the molding tank in which the first material is accommodated. Forming step; A platform raising step of raising the platform on which the first cured layer is formed to a first height; A recoating step of moving the recoater to traverse between the first cured layer and the bottom surface to separate the adhesive surface between the first cured layer and the release film formed on the bottom surface; A platform lowering step of lowering the platform to a second height lower than the first height after the re-coating step; And forming a second cured layer on the bottom surface of the first cured layer by irradiating the irradiated light patterned by the light irradiator to the bottom surface of the molding tank.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the recoating step, the second material may be sprayed toward the bottom surface of the shaping tank when the recoater is moved.

According to an embodiment of the present invention made as described above, provided with a recoater that moves to traverse between the cured layer formed on the platform and the bottom surface of the forming tank, even if the processing area of the three-dimensional printer is large, the cured layer and Separation of the adhesive layer between the mold release films formed on the bottom of the molding tank can be easily performed.

In addition, the fine particles of the photocurable material composed of a composite material in which the organic / inorganic particles and the photocurable resin are mixed by mixing while mixing the photocurable material when the recoater crosses the cured layer and the bottom surface of the molding tank. By preventing sedimentation in the forming tank, it is possible to implement a three-dimensional printer and a three-dimensional printing method using the same, which have the effect of increasing the quality of the output by keeping the mechanical properties of the output of which the three-dimensional printing is completed. Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited by these effects.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a three-dimensional printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an upper surface of the recoater of the 3D printer of FIG. 1.
3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross-section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.
4 is a flow chart sequentially showing a 3D printing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 to 9 are cross-sectional views showing the 3D printing method of FIG. 4 step by step.

Hereinafter, various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully describe the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the following embodiments can be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is as follows. It is not limited to the Examples. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more faithful and complete, and to fully convey the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In addition, the thickness or size of each layer in the drawings is exaggerated for convenience and clarity of explanation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings schematically showing ideal embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, for example, depending on the manufacturing technology and / or tolerance, deformations of the illustrated shape can be expected. Therefore, embodiments of the inventive concept should not be interpreted as being limited to a specific shape of the region shown in this specification, but should include, for example, a change in shape resulting from manufacturing.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a three-dimensional printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an upper surface of the recoater 40 of the three-dimensional printer of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of the recoater 40 taken along the cutting line III-III of 2.

First, as shown in Figure 1, the three-dimensional printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, the molding tank 10, the platform 20, the light irradiation unit 30 and the recoater 40, win It may include a lowering unit 50 and the body 60.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 60 may be a structure in which an internal space is formed so that the light irradiation unit 30 is installed therein. In addition, a penetrating portion 61 or a transparent window may be formed on the upper surface of the main body 60 so that the irradiated light L emitted from the light irradiating portion 30 can be irradiated to the outside of the main body 60.

The molding tank 10 is formed in a box shape with an open top so that the first material M1 can be accommodated therein, and the bottom surface 11 is transparent so that the irradiation light L can be transmitted from the outside. It can be formed of. For example, the shaping tank 10 is installed at a position corresponding to the through part 61 on the upper side of the main body 60, and the bottom surface 11 through which the irradiated light L radiated through the through part 61 is transparent is transparent. Through it can be irradiated to the interior of the forming tank (10).

At this time, the bottom surface 11 of the forming tank 10, a transparent FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene copolymer) film may be formed of a release film (11a). FEP film has a very low coefficient of friction, excellent abrasion resistance, and excellent non-tackiness, so that almost all materials do not stick together, and even in the case of materials with strong stickiness, it is easily separated, so that it is molded with the cured layer (C) For smooth separation of the bottom surface 11 of the water tank 10, it may be suitable as a release film 11a attached to the bottom surface 11 of the forming water tank 10.

Therefore, while the recoater 40 to be described later crosses between the cured layer C and the bottom surface 11, the adhesive surface between the cured layer C and the release film 11a formed on the bottom surface 11 is separated. At the time of recoating, even if the recoater 40 and the release film 11a move in contact, there is little friction between the release film 11a and the recoater 40, and abrasion also hardly occurs so that the release film ( The service life of 11a) can be prolonged. In addition, since the non-stickiness is excellent, separation of the cured layer (C) and the release film (11a) can also be easily performed.

The platform 20 is provided inside the forming water tank 10 and can be installed to be movable up and down in the height direction of the forming water tank 10 by the lifting unit 50. For example, the platform 20 is formed in a rectangular plate shape having a predetermined thickness, and upwards from the bottom surface 11 of the forming water tank 10 by the elevating unit 50 installed on one side of the main body 60. Can be moved.

Therefore, the platform 20, a part of the first material (M1) inside the forming tank 10 is cured by the irradiation light (L) irradiated from the light irradiation unit 30 is cured layer on the lower surface of the platform (20) (C) is formed, and can be raised and lowered inside the forming water tank 10 to form the next cured layer.

The light irradiation unit 30 is installed below the forming water tank 10 and corresponds to the predetermined shape of the cured layer C so that a cured layer C of a predetermined shape can be formed on the lower surface of the platform 20. The patterned irradiation light L can be irradiated.

More specifically, the light irradiation unit 30 is installed inside the body 60, the light source 31 for irradiating the irradiation light (L) toward the forming tank 10 through the through portion 61, and the forming tank It is installed between (10) and the light source (31) so that the irradiation light (L) corresponding to the cross-sectional image of the output to be output can be irradiated, the irradiation light (L) emitted from the light source (31) is selectively transmitted or It may include a liquid crystal display member 32 that is patterned in a predetermined shape by blocking light, and a plurality of cooling fins 33 which are installed under the light source 31 to discharge heat generated from the light source 31.

The recoater 40 is installed to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the shaping tank 10 inside the shaping tank 10 by the linear actuator A, after the cured layer C is formed on the platform 20 When rising, while moving in the longitudinal direction, separating the adhesive surface between the cured layer (C) and the release film (11a) formed on the bottom surface 11 of the molding tank 10, and at the same time, the second material (M2) can be sprayed have.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body 41 of the recoater 40 is formed to extend to a predetermined length, and an internal flow path through which the second material M2 flows ( 41a) may be formed. In addition, a connection rod 40a may be installed on one side of the upper surface of the body 41 in a direction perpendicular to the body 41 to be connected to the linear actuator A driving the recoater 40. In addition, although not shown, a material supply pipe connected to an external material supply device is connected to the other side of the body 41 to receive the second material M2 from the material supply device and allow it to flow into the internal flow path 41a. .

In addition, the body 41 of the recoater 40, while the recoater 40 moves in the longitudinal direction of the forming water tank 10, the cured layer (C) when crossing between the cured layer (C) and the bottom surface (11) ) And the release film (11a), so that the adhesive surface can be easily separated, the inclined portion (41b) is formed on the front and back based on the longitudinal direction, the front end and the rear end of the body 41 has a pointed shape It can be formed with a tip.

In addition, the recoater 40, the body 41 so that the second material (M2) flowing in the inner flow path (41a) of the body 40 can be injected between the cured layer (C) and the bottom surface (11) At least one injection nozzle 42 may be formed on one surface of the. The injection nozzle 42 may be formed on the lower surface of the body 41 so that the second material M2 may be injected downward of the recoater 40, and the shape of the injection nozzle 42 is circular. Alternatively, square or slit-shaped jets may be continuously arranged in a line, or may be formed to be long as one slit.

In addition, the body 41 of the recoater 40, when the recoater 40 moves in the longitudinal direction of the shaping tank 10, crosses between the cured layer C and the bottom surface 11, forming shaping tank 10 ) May include a vortex generator 41c that protrudes on its upper surface so that the first material M1 and the second material M2 sprayed by the spray nozzle 42 are uniformly stirred. For example, the vortex generation unit 41c may be formed to protrude in a spiral protrusion shape on the upper surface of the body 41 so that vortices may be strongly generated between the hardened layer C and the bottom surface 11.

Therefore, the recoater 40 moves in the longitudinal direction of the forming tank 10 and traverses between the cured layer C and the bottom surface 11, while the cured layer C and the release film ( It is possible to separate the adhesive surface between 11a).

At this time, the second material (M2) is injected under the recoater 40, and the injected second material (M2) collides with the bottom surface (11) between the cured layer (C) and the bottom surface (11). Vortex may be generated in the rear of the traverse recoater 40. The flow of the vortex generated as described above may be further accelerated by the vortex generating portion 41c formed on the upper surface of the body 41 of the recoater 40, and accordingly, the first material M1 in the forming water tank 10. ) And the stirring of the second material M2 sprayed by the spray nozzle 42 may occur uniformly.

As the first material M1 and the second material M2, which are stirred by the recoater 40 in the molding tank 10, different types of organic / inorganic materials or photocurable materials of the same end may be used. . For example, the first material (M1) and the second material (M2) is a liquid composite material in which organic / inorganic particles such as a ceramic-based photocurable material and photocurable resin are mixed, and organic / inorganic materials of different components Or a photocurable material of the same component.

Hereinafter, a three-dimensional printing method using the above-described three-dimensional printer will be described in detail.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a 3D printing method according to another embodiment of the present invention in order, and FIGS. 5 to 9 are cross-sectional views showing the 3D printing method illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 4 step by step. have.

First, referring to FIG. 4, the three-dimensional printing method includes a first hardening layer forming step (S10), a platform raising step (S20), a recoating step (S30), and a platform lowering step (S40) and a first step. 2 may be formed in the order of forming the cured layer (S50).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom of the molding tank 10 in which the first material M1 is accommodated is the irradiation light L patterned by the light irradiation unit 30 in the first curing layer forming step (S10). The first cured layer C may be formed on the lower surface of the platform 20 by irradiating with the surface 11. At this time, the cured first cured layer (C1) is bonded to the release film 11a formed on the bottom surface 11 of the forming water tank 10.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, in the platform raising step (S20), when the platform 20 on which the first curing layer C1 is formed is raised to the first height H1 in order to form the next curing layer, Among the release films 11a formed on the bottom surface 11, a portion of the release film 11a adhered to the first curing layer C1 may also be raised together with the first curing layer C.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, in the recoating step (S30), the recoater 40 is moved to traverse between the first cured layer C1 and the bottom surface 11, so that the first cured layer C ) And the release surface between the release film 11a can be separated.

At this time, while the recoater 40 traverses between the first hardened layer C1 and the bottom surface 11, the second material M2 is supplied from the external material supply device 70 to receive the second material M2. It can be sprayed toward the bottom surface 11 of the forming water tank 10, the injected second material (M2) collides with the bottom surface 11 and rises again, while the upper surface of the body 41 of the recoater 40 Flowing in the direction, by having a vortex flow by the vortex generating portion (41c) formed on the upper surface of the body 41, it can be uniformly stirred with the first material (M1) existing in the forming tank 10 .

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in the platform lowering step S40, the platform 20 may be lowered to a second height H2 lower than the first height H1. At this time, the second height H2 may be the same height as the new cured layer is cured.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, in the second curing layer forming step (S50), the irradiation light L patterned by the light irradiation unit 30 is irradiated to the bottom surface 11 of the forming water tank 10. A new second cured layer C2 may be formed on the lower surface of the first cured layer C1. The cured layers C1 and C2 can form a cross-section of an output formed by three-dimensional printing, and the output can be output by repeatedly stacking a plurality of cured layers by repeating the above-described steps. .

Accordingly, according to the three-dimensional printer and the three-dimensional printing method using the same according to various embodiments of the present invention, traversing between the cured layer (C) formed on the platform 20 and the bottom surface 11 of the forming water tank 10 Separation of the adhesive layer between the cured layer (C) and the release film (11a) formed on the bottom surface (11) of the molded water tank (10) even when the processing area of the 3D printer is large, provided with the recoater (40) to move Can be easily made.

In addition, when the recoater 40 crosses the cured layer (C) and the bottom surface 11 of the molding tank 10 while mixing the photocurable material while spraying, the organic / inorganic particles and the photocurable resin are mixed. By preventing the fine particles of the photo-curable material made of the composite material from sedimentation in the forming tank, the output of the 3D printing is completed, the organic / inorganic particles are formed into a uniform cured layer (C) to make the mechanical properties constant. It can have an effect of increasing the quality of the output.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

10: molding tank
11: bottom surface
11a: release film
20: Platform
30: light irradiation unit
40: Recoater
50: elevating unit
60: body
70: material feeder
M1: first material
M2: second material
L: irradiation light
C: hardened layer

Claims (10)

A forming water tank formed in a box shape with an open top so that the first material can be accommodated therein, and a transparent material having a bottom surface so that irradiated light can be transmitted from the outside;
A platform provided inside the forming water tank and installed to move up and down in the height direction of the forming water tank by a lifting unit;
A light irradiation unit installed below the molding tank and irradiating the irradiation light patterned to correspond to the predetermined shape of the cured layer so that a cured layer of a predetermined shape is formed on a lower surface of the platform; And
When the molded water tank is installed to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the molded water tank and is formed after the cured layer is formed on the platform, the molded water tank moves in the longitudinal direction while being formed in the cured layer and the molded water tank. Includes; a separator to separate the adhesive surface between the films while spraying the second material;
The recoater,
A body formed to extend to a predetermined length and having an inner flow path through which the second material flows; And
It includes; at least one spray nozzle formed on one surface of the body, so that the second material flowing in the inner flow path can be injected between the hardened layer and the bottom surface;
The body,
A vortex generator formed to protrude on an upper surface so that the first material in the forming water tank and the second material injected through the spray nozzle are uniformly stirred when the recoater moves in the longitudinal direction of the forming water tank; Including,
The vortex generation unit,
A three-dimensional printer that is formed to protrude in a spiral projection shape on the upper surface of the body, so that a vortex may occur between the cured layer and the bottom surface. delete According to claim 1,
The injection nozzle,
A three-dimensional printer that is formed on the lower surface of the body so that the second material can be injected downward of the recoater. According to claim 1,
The body,
When the recoater moves in the longitudinal direction of the molding tank, it is formed on the front and rear surfaces based on the longitudinal direction so that the adhesive surface between the cured layer and the release film formed on the bottom surface can be easily separated. Becoming inclined portion;
Including, 3D printer. delete delete According to claim 1,
The molding tank,
A three-dimensional printer wherein a transparent FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene copolymer) film is formed on the bottom surface as the release film. According to claim 1,
The first material and the second material,
A 3D printer that is a different kind of organic / inorganic material or the same type of photocurable material. A three-dimensional printing method using a three-dimensional printer according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8,
Forming a first cured layer on the bottom surface of the platform by irradiating the irradiation light patterned by the light irradiation unit to the bottom surface of the molding tank in which the first material is accommodated;
A platform raising step of raising the platform on which the first cured layer is formed to a first height;
A recoating step of moving the recoater to traverse between the first cured layer and the bottom surface to separate the adhesive surface between the first cured layer and the release film formed on the bottom surface;
A platform lowering step of lowering the platform to a second height lower than the first height after the re-coating step; And
Forming a second cured layer on the bottom surface of the first cured layer by irradiating the irradiated light patterned by the light irradiator onto the bottom surface of the molding tank;
Including, 3D printing method. The method of claim 9,
In the recoating step,
3D printing method of spraying the second material toward the bottom surface of the molding tank when the recoater is moved.

Images