KR102210626B1 - 3D Printing Apparatus Using Air Pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a 3D printing apparatus using air pressure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the 3D printing apparatus using air pressure comprises: a housing; at least one nozzle assembly including a nozzle unit for discharging a liquid material and an ultraviolet irradiation member for irradiating ultraviolet rays with respect to the liquid material; a moving grip unit which can be separated from or fastened to any one of the at least one nozzle assembly; a driving unit which is formed in the housing and operates the moving grip unit to move in at least two axial directions; and a standby frame on which at least one of the at least one nozzle assembly is mounted, wherein each of the nozzle assembly and the ultraviolet irradiation member includes a first coupling unit, the moving grip unit includes a second coupling unit which can be magnetically coupled to the first coupling unit, and the nozzle assembly includes a suction pump for sucking the liquid material remaining in the nozzle unit. According to the present invention, coupling and separation of the nozzle assembly can be easily controlled.

Description

3D Printing Apparatus Using Air Pressure}

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a 3D printing apparatus using air pressure.

The 3D printing device is a device that manufactures a three-dimensional shape set in advance according to a 3D drawing. In this case, the 3D printing apparatus may use the FDM method, the SLA method, and the SLS method for solid materials, and the DLP method, SLA method, and polyjet method for liquid materials, depending on the material. However, when the viscosity of the liquid material is high or solid particles are included, this method is difficult to be used for 3D printing.

When printing a highly viscous material, a method of inserting the material into a cylinder and extruding it is used, and a motor is used for extrusion. However, in the case of a motor, since it is only possible to generate a constant torque at all times, it is impossible to adjust the discharge power according to the properties of the material (eg, viscosity). In the case of a liquid material, the method of extruding using a motor is not suitable because the viscosity of the same material varies due to factors such as the mixing ratio.

On the other hand, in order to output a three-dimensional product of a composite material having various colors or properties, a plurality of types of liquid materials having different colors and properties must be intersected and used. However, in the conventional 3D printing apparatus, when one liquid material is used and the work is continued by changing to another liquid material, the previously used liquid material remains in the nozzle, so that it is not exposed to ultraviolet rays during the work by the other liquid material. As a result, there existed problems such as hardening of the liquid material in the nozzle.

Accordingly, there is a need to prevent the liquid material from remaining in the nozzle waiting after use, and to prevent curing due to ultraviolet irradiation for liquid materials other than the liquid material in operation.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0068071 (2019.06.18)

Embodiments of the present invention are to provide a 3D printing apparatus suitable for 3D printing operations using a liquid material having various viscosities or including solid particles.

Further, embodiments of the present invention are to provide a 3D printing apparatus that prevents curing of a liquid material remaining in a nozzle portion during a 3D printing operation using a liquid material.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are to provide a 3D printing apparatus that can be used for 3D printing through any one nozzle assembly selected from among a plurality of nozzle assemblies and replaceable with any one of the remaining nozzle assemblies.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are to provide a 3D printing apparatus capable of easily controlling the coupling and separation of the nozzle assembly.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are to provide a 3D printing apparatus capable of reducing the load and vibration applied to the driving unit between the separation of the nozzle assembly.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are to provide a 3D printing apparatus capable of preventing heat generation of a coupling portion between the nozzle assembly and holding the coupling.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the housing; At least one nozzle assembly including a nozzle portion for discharging a liquid material and an ultraviolet irradiating member for irradiating ultraviolet light to the liquid material; A moving gripper detachable or fastenable to any one of the at least one nozzle assembly; A driving unit formed in the housing and configured to move the moving gripping unit in at least two axial directions; And a standby frame on which at least one of the nozzle assemblies is mounted; wherein each of the nozzle assembly and the ultraviolet irradiation member includes a first coupling portion, and the moving gripping portion a second coupling capable of magnetically coupling with the first coupling portion It includes a portion, and the nozzle assembly may provide a 3D printing apparatus including a suction pump for sucking the liquid material remaining in the nozzle unit.

One of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion may be formed of a magnetic material, and the other of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion may be formed of an electromagnet.

The moving gripping portion includes at least two guide pins protruding toward one side, and each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies includes at least two guide grooves into which the guide pins can be inserted, and the at least two guide pins include the at least two guide pins. As inserted into the guide groove, the moving gripping part and any one of the nozzle assemblies may be in contact with each other in a predetermined structure.

The standby frame includes a plurality of mounting portions to which each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies is mounted correspondingly, and each of the plurality of mounting portions is positioned parallel to the ground and a mounting support portion protruding into the housing and at least two spaced apart from each other vertically. It includes two mounting pins, the at least two mounting pins are formed to protrude from the mounting support in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mounting support, each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies includes at least two mounting holes, the At least one of the plurality of nozzle assemblies may be mounted on the standby frame with the at least two mounting pins correspondingly inserted into the at least two mounting holes.

The 3D printing apparatus may include a control unit connected to the driving unit and the moving gripping unit; And a bed portion in which a product having a predetermined shape formed by the nozzle assembly coupled with the moving gripping portion is positioned; wherein the control unit further includes a separation distance between the nozzle assembly coupled to the moving gripping portion and the bed portion Is sensed, and the nozzle assembly may form a product having the preset shape to compensate for a height error based on the sensed separation distance.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a 3D printing operation using a liquid material having various viscosities or including solid particles is possible by discharging a liquid material using air pressure.

Further, according to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid material remaining in the nozzle portion from being cured during 3D printing using the liquid material.

In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to use a nozzle assembly selected from among a plurality of nozzle assemblies for 3D printing and replace any one of the remaining nozzle assemblies.

In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to use a nozzle assembly selected from among a plurality of nozzle assemblies for 3D printing and replace any one of the remaining nozzle assemblies.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to easily control the coupling and separation of the nozzle assembly.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load and vibration applied to the driving unit between the separation of the nozzle assembly.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent heat generation at the coupling portion between the coupling and holding of the nozzle assembly.

1 is a view showing a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
2 is a view showing the internal structure of a housing of a 3D printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention
3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2
Figure 4 is a view showing the rear side of Figure 2
5 is a first exploded perspective view between a moving gripper and a nozzle assembly of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
6 is a second exploded perspective view between a moving gripping unit and a nozzle assembly of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of known technologies related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention and may vary according to the intention or custom of users or operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

The technical idea of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following embodiments are only one means for efficiently describing the technical idea of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art.

1 is a view showing a 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the housing 100 of the 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention , FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view showing the rear side of FIG. 2.

1 to 4, a 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 100, a plurality of nozzle assemblies 200, and a moving gripping part 300. It may include a driving unit 400 and a standby frame 500. At this time, each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 includes a nozzle part 210, a pneumatic line 270 for discharging the liquid material to the nozzle part 210, and a liquid material remaining in the nozzle part 210. A connection member 230 and a nozzle block 250 connected to the vacuum line 280 may be included.

In addition, each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 may be connected to a liquid material, and may be fastened to the moving gripping part 300 to be used for 3D printing. In this case, the material connected to each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 may be discharged to the outside through the nozzle unit 210. In the case of discharging a liquid material with pneumatic pressure through the pneumatic line 270, the material can be discharged appropriately depending on whether the viscosity of the material is changed by finely adjusting the pressure, or whether the liquid material contains solid particles such as ceramic or metal. have. And, in the case of a liquid material, since it may unnecessarily flow down to the outside of the nozzle unit 210 due to gravity, it is possible to prevent the liquid material from unnecessarily flowing down to the outside of the nozzle unit 210 through the vacuum line 280. have.

In addition, the nozzle assembly 200 may include an ultraviolet irradiation member (not shown) that irradiates ultraviolet rays to cure the liquid material discharged to the bed portion 700 as necessary.

Meanwhile, the moving gripping part 300 described above may be separated or fastened to any one of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200, and the driving part 400 is formed in the housing 100 to provide at least two moving gripping parts 300. Can be operated to move in the axial direction of the dog. In addition, at least one of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 may be mounted and positioned on the standby frame 500 described above. That is, the 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform 3D printing by cross-selecting a plurality of materials.

Specifically, the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 may be positioned while being mounted on the standby frame 500, and the moving gripping unit 300 is moved by the driving unit 400 to Can be fastened with one. In this case, the rest except for any one of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 may be located on the standby frame 500. In addition, the moving gripping unit 300 fastened to any one of the nozzle assemblies 200 described above may be moved in at least two axial directions by the driving unit 400, and the movement of the moving gripping unit 300 and any one 3D printing may be performed by the operation of the nozzle assembly 200 of.

More specifically, each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 includes a first coupling portion 253 (shown in FIG. 6), and the mooping gripping portion is a second coupling portion capable of magnetically coupling to the first coupling portion 253 ( 330) (shown in FIG. 5) may be included. At this time, one of the first coupling portion 253 and the second coupling portion 330 may be formed of a magnetic material, and the other one of the first coupling portion 253 and the second coupling portion 330 is an electromagnet. Can be formed. Preferably, the second coupling portion 330 provided in the moving gripping portion 300 may be formed of an electromagnet, and the first coupling portion 253 provided in the nozzle assembly 200 may be formed of a magnetic material. .

That is, the second coupling portion 330 of the moving gripping portion 300 may determine whether to generate a magnetic force according to whether or not a current is applied, and when a magnetic force is generated in the second coupling portion 330, the adjacent first coupling portion The 253 may be positioned in contact with the second coupling part 330 by magnetic force.

On the other hand, the 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a nozzle assembly coupled to the driving unit 400 and a control unit (not shown) connected to the moving gripping unit 300 and the moving gripping unit 300 It may further include a bed portion 700 on which the product having a predetermined shape formed by 200 is positioned. In addition, the driving unit 400 includes a first shaft 410 guiding the movement of the moving gripping unit 300 in the x-axis direction, a second shaft 420 guiding the movement of the moving gripping unit 300 in the y-axis direction, and a bed. It may include a third shaft 430 that guides the movement of the unit 700 in the z-axis direction.

Further, the driving unit 400 may include a plurality of motor members for moving the moving gripping unit 300 in the x-axis and y-axis directions and the bed portion 700 in the z-axis direction. In this case, the x-axis and y-axis may be an axial direction perpendicular to each other in a plane parallel to the ground, and the z-axis may mean a height direction perpendicular to the ground. In addition, the driving unit 400 may control the x-axis and y-axis positions of the moving gripping unit 300 by driving the moving gripping unit 300 to at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis, and the driving unit 400 is The height position of the unit 700 in the z-axis direction may be controlled.

Meanwhile, the movement of the moving gripping unit 300 is not limited thereto, and the driving unit 400 may control the moving gripping unit 300 in three directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. Further, the nozzle assembly 200 fastened to the moving gripper 300 may form a product having a preset shape based on height information preset in the control unit.

On the other hand, the control unit may sense the separation distance between any one of the nozzle assembly 200 and the bed portion 700 coupled to the moving gripping portion 300. In addition, any one nozzle assembly 200 described above may form a product having a predetermined shape to compensate for a height error based on the sensed separation distance.

Specifically, height information between the nozzle assembly 200 and the bed part 700 preset in the control unit between the 3D printing operation through any one nozzle assembly 200 fastened to the moving gripper 300 and the actual sensed nozzle assembly When the separation distance between 200 and the bed part 700 is different, the controller may determine that a height error has occurred between the nozzle assembly 200 and the bed part 700.

That is, a manufacturing error such as being manufactured in a different shape from a preset product shape may occur due to a height error between 3D printing operations through the nozzle assembly 200. At this time, the control unit may control the discharge speed of any one nozzle assembly 200 to compensate for the manufacturing error due to the above-described height error, and the product formed on the bed part 700 has a preset shape It can be formed as

Meanwhile, the above-described housing 100 may include four side members 110 positioned perpendicular to the ground, and the 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least two side members 110. ) And at least two partition wall members (not shown) spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance may be further included. In this case, a partition space may be formed between at least two partition wall members and at least two side members 110, and at least a portion of the driving unit 400 may be located in the partition space. In addition, the above-described bed portion 700 may be positioned between at least two partition wall members, and a manufacturing space in which 3D printing is performed may be formed.

In addition, a heating unit (not shown) may be located in the above-described manufacturing space, and the heating unit may maintain a temperature inside the manufacturing space above a preset temperature.

Meanwhile, a plurality of motor members among the driving units 400 may be located in the partition space. That is, a plurality of motor members for driving and operating at least one of the moving gripping part 300 and the bed part 700 may be located in a partition space separated from the manufacturing space, and may be separated from the high temperature environment inside the manufacturing space. have. Through this, it is possible to prevent problems such as damage or deterioration in performance of a plurality of motor members due to a high temperature environment caused by the heating unit.

Further, referring to FIG. 6, the standby frame 500 may include a plurality of mounting portions 510 to which each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 are mounted correspondingly. In this case, the plurality of mounting portions 510 may be formed to protrude from any one side wall member into the housing 100. In addition, each of the plurality of mounting portions 510 may include at least two mounting pins 520 positioned parallel to the ground and spaced up and down from each other.

Specifically, at least two mounting pins 520 may be formed to protrude from the mounting portion 510 in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mounting portion 510, each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 is at least two mounting It may include a hole 251. At this time, at least one of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 is on the standby frame 500 as at least two mounting pins 520 are correspondingly inserted into at least two mounting holes 251 in each nozzle assembly 200. Can be mounted on.

Further, different materials may be connected to each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 disposed on each of the plurality of mounting portions 510, and the above-described control unit includes a nozzle assembly 200 positioned at each of the plurality of mounting portions 510 Information about the connection material of may be previously entered. That is, in the control unit, a material of which material property is connected to which nozzle assembly 200 among the plurality of nozzle assemblies 200 disposed on the plurality of mounting portions 510 is previously input. Therefore, the control unit can fasten the nozzle assembly 200 connected to any one material with the moving gripping unit 300 only by recognizing the positions of each of the plurality of holding units 510 between 3D printing operations, and can use any one selected material. It can be used for 3D printing work.

5 is a first exploded perspective view between the moving gripping unit 300 and the nozzle assembly 200 of the 3D printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention. A second exploded perspective view between the moving gripping portion 300 of the device 10 and the nozzle assembly 200.

5 and 6, the moving gripping part 300 described above may include a moving block 310 and at least two guide pins 320 protruding from the moving block 310 to one side, and a plurality of Each of the nozzle assemblies 200 may include at least two guide grooves 252 into which the guide pins 320 are inserted. In this case, the moving block 310 may be formed to face the nozzle block 250 of any one nozzle assembly 200 to be described later, and at least two guide pins 320 may have at least two guide grooves 252 As inserted into the inside, the moving gripping part 300 and any one nozzle assembly 200 may be in contact with each other in a predetermined structure. That is, at least two guide pins 320 and at least two guide grooves 252 may guide a fastening position between the moving gripping part 300 and the nozzle assembly 200.

Meanwhile, the above-described first coupling part 253 may be located on the nozzle block 250, and the first coupling part 253 may be located by being recessed from one side of the nozzle block 250 to a predetermined depth. In addition, the second coupling portion 330 described above may be positioned to protrude from the moving block 310 in the same direction as the guide pin 320. That is, when the at least two guide pins 320 are inserted into the at least two guide grooves 252, the second coupling portion 330 may be inserted into the recessed position of the first coupling portion 253.

Accordingly, since the moving gripping part 300 and the nozzle assembly 200 are inserted and bound at at least three positions, contact with each other can be easily induced. In addition, since the insertion structure between the at least two guide pins 320 and the at least two guide grooves 252 is maintained continuously, vibration or separation between the moving gripping unit 300 and the nozzle assembly 200 between 3D printing operations It is possible to prevent a problem such as an error occurring in the printing operation.

According to the 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, nozzle assemblies other than the nozzle assembly in operation may be separated from the working space and positioned on the mounting portion of the waiting frame. In addition, the liquid material remaining in the nozzle portion of the nozzle assembly in standby is sucked by the suction pump so that the liquid material does not remain in the nozzle portion. Through this, it is possible to prevent the liquid material from flowing down through the nozzle portion while the nozzle assembly is moving. In addition, when the liquid material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays as needed, it is possible to prevent the nozzle unit from being clogged by unnecessarily curing the liquid material remaining in the nozzle unit of the surrounding nozzle assembly by the ultraviolet rays irradiated during the 3D printing operation.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through exemplary embodiments above, a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will realize that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. I will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is limited to the described embodiments and should not be determined, and should not be determined by the claims to be described later, but also by those equivalents to the claims.

10: 3D printing device
100: housing
110: side member
200: nozzle assembly
210: nozzle part
230: connection member
250: nozzle block
270: pneumatic line
280: vacuum line
300: moving gripping part
310: moving block
320: guide pin
330: unity
400: drive unit
410: first shaft
420: second shaft
430: third shaft
500: waiting frame
510: mounting part
511: mounting support
512: mounting pin
700: bed part

Claims (6)

housing;
At least one nozzle assembly including a nozzle portion for discharging the liquid material through pneumatic pressure;
A moving gripper detachable or fastenable to any one of the at least one nozzle assembly;
A driving unit formed in the housing and configured to move the moving gripping unit in at least two axial directions; And
Including; a standby frame on which at least one of the nozzle assemblies is mounted,
The nozzle assembly includes a first coupling portion,
The moving gripping portion includes a second coupling portion capable of magnetically coupling the first coupling portion,
The nozzle assembly is connected to a vacuum line for sucking the liquid material remaining in the nozzle unit, 3D printing apparatus using air pressure.
The method according to claim 1,
The nozzle assembly includes an ultraviolet irradiation member for curing the discharged liquid material. 3D printing apparatus using pneumatic pressure.
The method according to claim 1,
Any one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is formed of a magnetic material,
The remaining one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is formed of an electromagnet, 3D printing apparatus using pneumatic pressure.
The method according to claim 1,
The moving gripping portion includes at least two guide pins protruding toward one side,
Each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies includes at least two guide grooves into which the guide pins are inserted,
As the at least two guide pins are inserted into the at least two guide grooves, the moving gripping part and the nozzle assembly are positioned in contact with a predetermined structure. 3D printing apparatus using pneumatic pressure.
The method according to claim 1,
The standby frame includes a plurality of mounting portions to which each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies is mounted correspondingly,
Each of the plurality of mounting portions,
A mounting support portion protruding into the housing and
It includes at least two mounting pins located parallel to the ground and spaced apart from each other up and down,
The at least two mounting pins are formed to protrude from the mounting support in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mounting support,
Each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies includes at least two mounting holes,
At least one of the plurality of nozzle assemblies is mounted on the standby frame with the at least two mounting pins correspondingly inserted into the at least two mounting holes, 3D printing apparatus using pneumatic pressure.
The method according to claim 1,
The 3D printing device,
A control unit connected to the driving unit and the moving gripping unit; And
Further comprising; a bed portion in which a product having a predetermined shape formed by the nozzle assembly coupled with the moving gripping portion is located,
The control unit senses the separation distance between the nozzle assembly and the bed portion fastened with the moving gripping portion,
The nozzle assembly is a 3D printing apparatus using pneumatic pressure to form a product of the preset shape to compensate for a height error based on the sensed separation distance.

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