KR102261827B1 - Three dimensional printing apparatus having active tilting function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function.
The present invention relates to a light-transmitting container in which a photo-curable resin is disposed, a light source for curing the photo-curable resin by irradiating light, and a molding member disposed to face the light source and to which a sculpture that is a cured part of the photo-curable resin is attached , a transport device for transporting the molding member in the vertical direction, and the molding member and the transport device are coupled, and when the transport device moves upward, the molding member is tilted from the container and attached to the container It includes a sculpture separation guide part for inducing the sculpture to be separated from the container.
According to the present invention, it is possible to actively control the tilting operation without a separate control logic according to the viscosity of the cured material or the area of the cured material without using a separate sensor.

Description

Three-dimensional printing device with active tilting function {THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING ACTIVE TILTING FUNCTION}

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function. More specifically, the present invention provides a three-dimensional printing device with an active tilting function that can actively control the tilting operation without separate control logic according to the viscosity of the cured material or the area of the cured material without using a separate sensor. is about

In general, a three-dimensional printer is a device that creates an object having a three-dimensional shape, and can be largely divided into two types: a cutting type and a stacking type. The cutting type is a method of obtaining a three-dimensional object of a desired three-dimensional shape by shaving or grinding a lump-shaped material, and the stacking type is a method of implementing a three-dimensional object of a desired shape by stacking thin layers.

The stacked method includes a fused deposition modeling (FDM) method, a digital light processing (DLP) method, a stereo lithography apparatus (SLA) method, and a selective laser sintering (SLS) method. The FDM method is a method of realizing a three-dimensional sculpture by stacking materials such as plastic layer by layer. The DLP method is a method of realizing a three-dimensional sculpture by hardening a photocurable resin little by little using ultraviolet light (UV light) provided from a projector. The SLA method is a laser printing method, and it is a method of realizing a three-dimensional sculpture through an ultraviolet resin that is cured in ultraviolet light using a laser. The SLA method may be divided into a liquid-based stereolithography method together with the DLP method. The SLS method is also called a powder sintering method, and it is a method of realizing a three-dimensional sculpture by melting powder using a laser and sintering it.

In the case of the DLP method, the curing process is performed in thin layer units to realize the final sculpture. For example, in the case of the DLP method, in order to obtain a final sculpture, the basic base is immersed in a container (VAT) containing a photo-curable resin by moving the build plate to which the basic base of the sculpture is attached, and through the DLP projector. By exposing UV light to the photo-curable resin and curing it, the process proceeds in such a way that one layer corresponding to the intermediate object is cured. After curing one layer, move the build plate to which the intermediate object is attached to separate it from the photo-curable resin in an uncured state, and repeat the above process by immersing the build plate in the photo-curable resin again. do. As described above, since the process of separating the light-cured intermediate object generated in the layer unit from the bottom surface of the container is repeated, the process of separating the intermediate object and the container is very important. That is, since the bottom surface of the intermediate object and the container are attached, a method of separating the intermediate object without damaging the attachment surface is essential, and for this, the container is tilted at a certain angle during the separation process. That is, a tilting process is required.

1 and 2 are views disclosed in Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B of US Patent No. 8,845,316 B2, and are views for explaining a tilting control technique according to a conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus.

1 and 2, the conventionally cured and solidified three-dimensional object (3A) and the vat (6A), which serves as a container, is applied to the plate (plate, 9) supporting the vat (6A) in order to separate well. The falling pressure was measured with a plurality of sensors 20A, and the tilting operation in the separation process was controlled according to the measured values.

However, in the prior art including US Patent No. 8,845,316 B2, a plurality of sensors are required for tilting motion control, and in the process of operating the transport device by processing the data obtained by these sensors, the sensor, the controller, the transport Since a continuous data exchange process between devices is required, there is a problem in that the device has a very complex device structure.

US Patent Publication No. 8,845,316 B2 (Registration Date: September 30, 2014, Title: PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT)

The present invention is to provide a three-dimensional printing device with an active tilting function capable of actively controlling the tilting operation without a separate control logic according to the viscosity of the cured material or the area of the cured material without using a separate sensor. make it a technical task.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional printing device equipped with an active tilting function that can reduce the unit cost of the product and simplify the configuration by omitting the control logic and the sensor for the tilting operation, and also prevent the possibility of a control error. make it a task

In addition, the present invention allows the user to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body during the tilting process, so that the tilting angle is actively changed according to the size of the cross-section of the cured sculpture and the viscosity of the sculpture, thereby increasing the precision and output speed of the cured sculpture. It is a technical task to provide a three-dimensional printing device equipped with an adjustable active tilting function.

A three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention for solving these problems is a light-transmitting container in which a photo-curable resin is disposed, a light source for curing by irradiating light to the photo-curable resin, and disposed to face the light source, the photo-curable resin A molding member to which the molded object is attached, which is a hardened part of the , a transport device for transporting the molding member in the vertical direction, and the molding member and the transport device are combined, and when the transport device moves upward, the molding member is moved to the container and a sculpture separation induction unit for inducing the sculpture attached to the container to be separated from the container by tilting from the container.

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, the sculpture separation inducing part penetrates through the modeling member through-hole formed in the side wall portion of the modeling member and is coupled to the transport device and the side wall of the modeling member and the transport device. It is characterized in that it comprises an elastic body installed between.

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, when the transfer device moves upward, the modeling member is tilted from the container according to a change in elasticity of the elastic body.

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, when the conveying device moves upward between the surface of the through-hole formed in the side wall of the modeling member and the surface of the connecting body, tilting the modeling member from the container It is characterized by the existence of a gap for

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, the connector is formed at a body portion screwed to the conveying device through a molding member through-hole formed in a side wall portion of the molding member and formed at the end of the body portion, and the molding member It is characterized in that it includes a head in close contact with one surface of the side wall of the.

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, when the head is rotated, the degree of screw coupling between the body and the transfer device is adjusted to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body.

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, the connection body is formed at one end of a body portion and one end of the body portion penetrating the transfer device through hole formed in the transfer device and the modeling member through hole formed in the side wall of the modeling member, It characterized in that it comprises a nut portion rotatably coupled to the other end of the head portion and the body portion is fixed by hanging on the transfer device is in close contact with one surface of the side wall portion of the modeling member.

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, at least a part of the body part has a screw thread, and when the nut part is rotated, the degree of screw coupling between the nut part and the body part is adjusted to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body. characterized in that

In the three-dimensional printing apparatus according to the present invention, the elastic body is characterized in that the spring or rubber.

According to the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional printing device with an active tilting function capable of actively controlling the tilting operation without using a separate control logic according to the viscosity of the cured material or the area of the cured material without using a separate sensor. has the effect of being

In addition, there is an effect of providing a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function that can reduce the cost of the product and simplify the configuration by omitting the control logic and the sensor for the tilting operation, and also prevent the possibility of a control error.

In addition, by allowing the user to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body during the tilting process, the tilting angle is actively changed according to the size of the cross-section of the cured sculpture and the viscosity of the sculpture, so that the user can adjust the precision and output speed of the cured sculpture. There is an effect that a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function is provided.

1 and 2 are views for explaining a tilting control technology according to a conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus,
3 is a view showing a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
4 is a view for exemplarily explaining an active tilting process according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a view showing a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
6 is a diagram for exemplarily explaining an active tilting process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention disclosed in this specification are only exemplified for the purpose of explaining the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention are It may be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Since the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may have various changes and may have various forms, the embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail herein. However, this is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, and includes all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms such as first or second may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another, for example, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept, a first element may be termed a second element and similarly a second element. A component may also be referred to as a first component.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but it is understood that other components may exist in between. it should be On the other hand, when it is said that a certain element is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that the other element does not exist in the middle. Other expressions describing the relationship between elements, such as "between" and "immediately between" or "neighboring to" and "directly adjacent to", etc., should be interpreted similarly.

The terms used herein are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described herein is present, but one or more other features It is to be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present specification. does not

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

3 is a view showing a 3D printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view for exemplarily explaining an active tilting process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. to be.

3 and 4, the three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a container 10, a light source 20, a modeling member 30, a transfer device 40 and It includes a sculpture separation induction unit (50).

A photocurable resin 1, which is a raw material for three-dimensional printing, is disposed in the light-transmitting container 10 .

For example, as long as the conditions for providing the light applied by the light source 20 to the photocurable resin 1 are satisfied, the material, shape, etc. of the container 10 are not limited. As an example, the surface of the container 10 opposite to the path of the light applied from the light source 20 to the photocurable resin 1 may be made of a material having light transmittance. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the surface of the container 10 opposite to the path of light applied from the light source 20 to the photocurable resin 1 will be referred to as a light transmitting surface. In this case, the remaining surface of the container 10 except for the light transmitting surface may be made of a material having a light blocking property. Through this, the container 10 may provide only the light applied by the light source 20 to the photocurable resin 1 . Meanwhile, for example, although not shown in the drawings, a coating layer may be formed on the inner bottom surface of the container 10 . Such a coating layer may function to space the container 10 and the modeling member 30 apart. In addition, the coating layer may perform a function of preventing the cured photo-curable resin 1 from adhering well to the container 10 . In addition, the coating layer may perform a function of preventing damage to the container 10 in the process of maintaining the initial distance between the container 10 and the modeling member 30 at the initial stage of operation of the 3D printing apparatus. In other words, in order to obtain the cured photo-curable resin 1 having a desired thickness using the light applied by the light source 20 , it is necessary to space the container 10 and the modeling member 30 apart by a predetermined interval. For example, at this time, after the molding member 30 is in close contact with the container 10 by the movement operation of the transport device 40 under the control of the control unit (not shown), it is set at a predetermined interval, that is, at a value programmed in the control unit. It is possible to move the shaping member 30 at corresponding intervals. In this process, the coating layer formed on the inner bottom surface of the container 10 can prevent damage to the container 10 due to the contact between the container 10 and the modeling member 30 . For example, the coating layer may be disposed on the entire inner surface of the container 10 opposite to the light path of the light provided by the light source 20 . In this case, a light-transmitting material may be used as the coating layer. As a material of the coating layer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Teflon tape, or the like may be used for example. The above examples are only examples for understanding, and if the conditions for performing the above-described functions other than the above examples are satisfied, the material of the coating layer is not limited.

The light source 20 performs a function of curing by irradiating light to at least a partial region of the photocurable resin 1 .

For example, various light sources such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and visible rays may be used as the light source 20 . As an example, when an ultraviolet light source is used as the light source 20 , the photocurable resin 1 which is cured by selectively reacting with ultraviolet light may be used as the photocurable resin 1 . As another example, when an infrared light source is used as the light source 20 , the photocurable resin 1 cured by selectively reacting with infrared rays may be used as the photocurable resin 1 . As another example, when a visible light source is used as the light source 20 , the photo-curable resin 1 that is cured by selectively reacting with visible light may be used as the photo-curable resin 1 . Meanwhile, a photoinitiator may be additionally added to the photocurable resin 1 to promote curing according to the wavelength of light provided or to induce curing.

The modeling member 30 is disposed to face the light source 20 , that is, to face the light source 20 with the container 10 in which the photocurable resin 1 is disposed, and the photocurable resin 1 . It is a component to which the sculpture (2), which is a hardened part of the , is attached.

For example, the light-cured sculpture 2 may be attached to the bottom region of the modeling member 30 , and a side wall portion 32 may be provided at one end of the bottom region, and the side wall portion 32 . A sculpture separation guide unit 50 for coupling the modeling member 30 to the transfer device 40 may be coupled thereto.

The transfer device 40 serves to transfer the modeling member 30 to which the object 2 is attached in the vertical direction. The side wall portion 32 and the transfer device 40 of the modeling member 30 will be described in more detail in the process of explaining the sculpture separation guide unit 50 .

The sculpture separation induction unit 50 couples the modeling member 30 and the transport device 40, while the transport device 40 moves upward, the modeling member 30 to which the sculpture 2 is attached is placed in a container ( 10) from the tilt angle (θ) by tilting (tilt) performs a function of inducing the sculpture (2) attached to the container (10) to be easily separated from the container (10).

For example, the sculpture separation inducing unit 50 may include a connecting body 52 and an elastic body 56 .

The connecting body 52 performs a function of coupling the modeling member 30 and the transfer device 40, for example, the molding member through-hole 34 formed in the side wall portion 32 of the modeling member 30. It may be coupled to the transport device 40 through it.

The elastic body 56 is provided between the side wall portion 32 of the modeling member 30 and the transfer device 40 . For example, the elastic body 56 may be a spring, rubber, vibration absorber, etc. having an elastic force, but is not limited thereto, and the modeling member 30 may provide an elastic force for tilting from the container 10. Any means can be applied to the elastic body (56).

As an example, when the transport device 40 moves upward, the molding member according to the change in elasticity of the elastic body 56 installed between the side wall portion 32 of the modeling member 30 and the transport device 40 . 30 may be configured to tilt away from vessel 10 .

As another example, when the transport device 40 moves upward between the surface of the molding member through-hole 34 formed in the side wall portion 32 of the molding member 30 and the surface of the connector 52 , the molding member 30 ) may be configured so that there is a clearance (D1, D2) for tilting the vessel 10 from the.

For example, the connector 52 may include a body portion 510 and a head portion 520 , and the body portion 510 has a molding member through hole formed in the side wall portion 32 of the molding member 30 . It can be screw-coupled to the transport device 40 through 34, and the head 520 is formed at the end of the body 510 and is in close contact with one surface of the side wall 32 of the modeling member 30. can be combined as much as possible.

For example, when the head 520 is rotated, the degree of screw coupling between the body 510 and the transfer device 40 may be adjusted to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body 56 . Of course, for this purpose, threads corresponding to each other are processed in the body portion 510 and the transfer device 40 .

Optionally, a cushioning member 58 made of an elastic material such as rubber may be installed between the head 520 and the side wall 32 . When the modeling member 30 is tilted according to the movement of the transport device 40 , the cushioning member 58 is elastically deformed to firmly attach the head 520 and the sidewall 32 to each other.

Referring to FIG. 4 , after curing of one printing layer is completed, when the molding member 30 starts to be transported by the transport device 40 , the elastic body 56 is deformed and the inner bottom surface of the container 10 . Start pulling the sculpture (2) attached to it. When the container 10 and the object 2 attached to the modeling member 30 fall off, the modeling member 30 and the object 2 are maintained in an attached state, and the inner bottom surface of the container 10 and the object ( 2) should be separated.

As the transfer amount of the modeling member 30 increases, the modeling member 30 is tilted by the elastic force of the elastic body 56 . The stronger the adhesive force between the sculpture 2 and the container 10, the greater the transfer amount of the transfer vehicle, and the tilt angle θ also increases. When the tilting angle (θ) is increased, the sculpture (2) can be easily separated from the container (10). At the minimum tilting angle θ at which the sculpture 2 can fall from the container 10, the sculpture 2 falls from the container 10 and the elastic force of the elastic body 56 is restored.

The above is a process for printing one printing layer, and by repeating this process, a sculpture 2 having a three-dimensional shape is obtained.

5 is a view showing a 3D printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an active tilting process according to the second embodiment of the present invention. to be.

5 and 6, the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in the configuration for adjusting the elastic force of the connecting body 52 and the elastic body 56 through the connecting body 52 manipulation. Do. Hereinafter, the description will be focused on the difference of the second embodiment compared to the first embodiment. Other configurations of the first embodiment except for these differences may be equally applied to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the sculpture separation inducing unit 50 may include a connecting body 54 and an elastic body 56, and the connecting body 54 is a body part 510, a head part 520 and a nut part. 530 may be included.

The elastic body 56 is provided between the side wall portion 32 of the modeling member 30 and the transfer device 40 . For example, the elastic body 56 may be a spring, rubber, vibration absorber, etc. having an elastic force, but is not limited thereto, and the modeling member 30 may provide an elastic force for tilting from the container 10. Any means can be applied to the elastic body (56).

As an example, when the transport device 40 moves upward, the molding member according to the change in elasticity of the elastic body 56 installed between the side wall portion 32 of the modeling member 30 and the transport device 40 . 30 may be configured to tilt away from vessel 10 .

As another example, between the surface of the molding member through-hole 34 formed in the side wall portion 32 of the modeling member 30 and the surface of the body portion 510 constituting the connecting body 54 , the transfer device 40 is moved upward. When moving to , it may be configured such that there is a play (D1, D2) for tilting the modeling member 30 from the container 10 .

The body part 510 is coupled to pass through the transport device through-hole 44 formed in the transport device 40 and the modeling member through-hole 34 formed in the side wall part 32 of the modeling member 30 .

The head 520 is formed at one end of the body 510 and is coupled to be fixed by being caught by the transfer device 40 .

The nut part 530 is rotatably coupled to the other end of the body part 510 and is in close contact with one surface of the side wall part 32 of the modeling member 30 .

For example, at least a portion of the body portion 510 has a screw thread, and when the nut portion 530 is rotated, the degree of screw coupling between the nut portion 530 and the body portion 510 is adjusted to adjust the elastic body 56 . ) may be configured to adjust the elastic force.

Optionally, a buffer member 58 made of an elastic material such as rubber may be installed between the nut part 530 and the side wall part 32 . When the modeling member 30 is tilted according to the movement of the transport device 40 , the cushioning member 58 is elastically deformed to firmly attach the nut part 530 and the side wall part 32 to each other.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an active tilting function capable of actively controlling the tilting operation without using a separate control logic according to the viscosity of the cured material or the area of the cured material without using a separate sensor is provided. There is an effect that a three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided.

In addition, there is an effect of providing a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function that can reduce the cost of the product and simplify the configuration by omitting the control logic and the sensor for the tilting operation, and also prevent the possibility of a control error.

In addition, by allowing the user to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body during the tilting process, the tilting angle is actively changed according to the size of the cross-section of the cured sculpture and the viscosity of the sculpture, so that the user can adjust the precision and output speed of the cured sculpture. There is an effect that a three-dimensional printing apparatus equipped with an active tilting function is provided.

1: Photo-curable resin
2: sculpture
10: courage
20: light source
30: molding member
32: side wall part
34: molding member through hole
40: transfer device
44: transport device through hole
50: sculpture separation induction part
52, 54: connector
56: elastic body
58: buffer member
510: body portion
520: head
530: nut part

Claims (8)

a light-transmitting container in which a photocurable resin is disposed;
a light source for curing the photo-curable resin by irradiating light;
a modeling member disposed to face the light source and to which a sculpture, which is a cured portion of the photo-curable resin, is attached;
a transport device for transporting the molding member in an up-down direction; and
A sculpture separation inducing unit coupling the modeling member and the transport device, and inducing the sculpture attached to the container to be separated from the container by tilting the modeling member from the container when the transport device moves upward including,
The sculpture separation inducing unit includes a connector coupled to the transport device through a molding member through-hole formed in the side wall portion of the modeling member and an elastic body installed between the side wall portion of the modeling member and the transport device,
Between the surface of the molding member through-hole formed in the side wall of the molding member and the surface of the connecting body, there is a gap for tilting the molding member from the container when the transport device moves upward. 3D printing device. delete According to claim 1,
3D printing apparatus, characterized in that when the transfer device moves upward, the modeling member is tilted from the container according to a change in elasticity of the elastic body. delete 4. The method of claim 3,
The linkage is
a body part screwed to the conveying device through a molding member through-hole formed in a side wall of the molding member; and
The three-dimensional printing apparatus is formed at the end of the body and characterized in that it comprises a head in close contact with one surface of the side wall of the modeling member. 6. The method of claim 5,
When the head is rotated, the degree of screw coupling between the body and the transfer device is adjusted to adjust the elastic force of the elastic body. 4. The method of claim 3,
The linkage is
a body part penetrating the transport device through hole formed in the transport device and the modeling member through hole formed in the side wall of the modeling member;
a head portion formed at one end of the body portion and fixed to the transfer device; and
The three-dimensional printing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a nut portion rotatably coupled to the other end of the body portion is in close contact with one surface of the side wall portion of the modeling member. 8. The method of claim 7,
At least a portion of the body portion is threaded,
When the nut part is rotated, the degree of screw coupling between the nut part and the body part is adjusted so that the elastic force of the elastic body is adjusted.

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