KR102392829B1 - 3d printer comprising vat having different kind of fluid and method for driving the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a 3D printer including a water tank accommodating heterogeneous fluids. The 3D printer forms a structure through photocuring by alternately floating a plurality of raw materials through a difference in physical properties and forms a structure by curing one of a plurality of fluids having different physical properties. The 3D printer including a water tank accommodating heterogeneous fluids comprises: an optical system for emitting light; a water tank disposed at a position where the light is emitted and accommodating a base fluid and a heterogeneous fluid suspended by the base fluid; and a fluid control unit including a fluid withdrawal unit for withdrawing the heterogeneous fluid accommodated in the water tank from the water tank and a fluid supply unit for supplying the heterogeneous fluid into the water tank.

Description

3D printer including a water tank accommodating different fluids and a method of driving the same

The present invention relates to a 3D printer that forms a structure through photocuring by alternately floating a plurality of raw materials through a difference in physical properties, and includes a water tank for suspending heterogeneous fluids, and a method of driving the same.

In general, a 3D printer manufactures a target structure through a method of hardening a liquid phase and a method of dissolving a solid raw material. Here, in the case of a 3D printer of a liquid curing method, a structure can be formed by inducing photocuring using a resin as a raw material. In particular, the photocurable 3D printer continuously cures the resin by irradiating light to the liquid resin. That is, the 3D printer can be operated while continuously securing a significant amount of resin. In particular, in a top-down 3D printer that moves downward as a structure is formed, it is required to secure a larger amount of liquid resin than in a bottom-up 3D printer. Therefore, when the structure is hardened using two or more types of resin, a significant amount of extra resin is required, and thus a huge cost may be required for the operation of the 3D printer. In addition, in the case of curing while replacing the vat, there is a problem in that the process is complicated and the precision is lowered, so a 3D printer is required to improve the problem.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2016-0113560 (2016. 09. 30)

An embodiment of the present invention aims to be able to selectively stack a plurality of raw materials in order in the photocuring 3D printing of the SLA method and the DLP method.

An embodiment of the present invention forms a structure that does not require a process of cleaning and drying the uncured resin remaining on the surface of the structure between a plurality of water tanks and another adjacent water tank when multiple materials are laminated through a liquid resin curing method purpose of the process.

An embodiment of the present invention aims to form a structure using different kinds of raw materials through one water tank.

An embodiment of the present invention aims to form a structure through a plurality of raw materials by selectively providing and removing a liquid cured product, which is a raw material supplied into a water tank.

The present invention forms a structure through photocuring by alternately floating a plurality of raw materials through a difference in physical properties. In a 3D printer that forms a structure by curing one of a plurality of fluids having different physical properties, light is irradiated optical system; a water tank disposed at a position where light is irradiated and accommodating a base fluid and a heterogeneous fluid suspended by the base fluid; and a fluid control unit including a fluid withdrawing unit for withdrawing the heterogeneous fluid accommodated in the water tank from the water tank and a fluid supply unit for supplying the heterogeneous fluid into the water tank; a 3D printer including a water tank containing a heterogeneous fluid is provided .

In addition, the heterogeneous fluid is a photocurable material cured by light irradiation, and includes a plurality of different fluids, and each of the plurality of fluids may be selectively accommodated in a water tank.

In addition, the fluid withdrawing unit and the fluid supplying unit are provided independently of each other, and the fluid withdrawal and supply to the water tank may be alternately performed by the control unit.

In addition, the fluid withdrawing unit and the fluid supplying unit may share a storage unit for storing different fluids, and alternately withdrawing and supplying the fluid to the water tank by the control unit.

In addition, the storage unit further includes a water level control unit that is vertically controlled by the control unit based on the information sensed by the water level sensor so that the heterogeneous fluid drawn from the water tank by the fluid withdrawing unit can maintain a predetermined water level in the storage unit. may include

In addition, the thickness of the floating layer formed by the heterogeneous fluid on the base fluid may be 105% to 120% based on the thickness of the photocured layer.

In addition, the fluid withdrawing unit withdraws the heterogeneous fluid from the water tank, but may also withdraw at least a part of the base fluid.

In addition, a build plate including a plate positioned in the water tank and forming a structure and a plate connected to the plate to allow the plate to be raised and lowered in the water tank, and a coater for leveling the heterogeneous fluid in the water tank, the leveling is the build This can be done after repositioning of the plate.

In addition, the thickness of the cured layer is determined by controlling the light irradiated from the optical system, the heterogeneous fluid is removed in the water tank through the fluid supply unit, the plate is lowered by a predetermined depth in the water tank, and the layer is formed by the fluid outlet. The control unit may further include a control unit for supplying the heterogeneous fluid so that a floating layer of the heterogeneous fluid is formed within the range of 105% to 120% of the thickness.

a base fluid filling step and a heterogeneous fluid filling step in which the water tank is filled with a base fluid having different physical properties and a heterogeneous fluid suspended by the base fluid; a build plate arrangement step in which the build plate is disposed so that the water surface of the heterogeneous fluid and the plate on which the structure is formed are spaced downward by a predetermined distance; A light irradiation step of irradiating light to the heterogeneous fluid from the optical system; a heterogeneous fluid replacement determination step of determining replacement of the heterogeneous fluid remaining in the water tank after the light irradiation step; and a heterogeneous fluid removal step in which the heterogeneous fluid remaining in the water tank is removed by the fluid withdrawing unit when it is determined from the heterogeneous fluid replacement determination step that the heterogeneous fluid replacement is required. There is provided a method of driving a 3D printer, in which the heterogeneous fluid filling step is repeatedly performed so that the heterogeneous fluid is refilled in the water tank by the fluid supply unit into the water tank.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a 3D printer that floats raw materials by introducing fluids having different densities into a water tank to form a structure using the floating raw materials.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a 3D printer that selectively provides and removes a liquid cured material as a raw material in a water tank through a channel for providing and removing raw materials so that a structure is formed through a plurality of raw materials.

1 is a view showing a state in which a heterogeneous fluid is supplied to a water tank of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a view showing a state in which a foreign fluid is removed from the water tank of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a view showing a state in which a heterogeneous fluid is re-supplied to the water tank of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a flowchart showing a driving sequence of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a view showing a fluid control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) is a view showing that the fluid outlet and the fluid supply unit are independently provided, and FIG. 5 (b) is the fluid outlet and the fluid A drawing showing a configuration in which the supply unit shares the storage unit and is connected to each other;
6 is a conceptual diagram of a 3D printer controlled by a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

In the description of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. And, the terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to intentions or customs of users and operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

The technical spirit of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following examples are only one means for efficiently explaining the technical spirit of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a heterogeneous fluid 20 is supplied to a water tank 100 (Vat) of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 shown. The 3D printer, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is a top-down type in which the structure 1 is generated while the build plate 200 is lowered, and the structure ( 1) can be formed. Here, the plurality of fluids may be two fluids. One fluid may be a fluid accommodated in the water tank 100 to float the other fluid. The other fluid forms the water surface of the water tank 100 in a suspended state and may be suspended in a predetermined floating layer. Here, the fluid that floats the fluid is referred to as the base fluid 10 , and the fluid suspended by the base fluid 10 is referred to as the heterogeneous fluid 20 . That is, it means a fluid different from the base fluid 10 , and may be, for example, a fluid having different physical properties.

Specifically, the base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 may not be mixed with each other due to the difference in physical properties and may be divided into layers. For example, there may be a difference in density between the base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 . The base fluid 10 may be a liquid fluid having a higher density than the heterogeneous fluid 20 . Therefore, by their own weight, the base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 are not mixed, respectively, and are separated to form a layer, and the heterogeneous fluid 20 having a relatively lower density than the base fluid 10 is layered on the upper side. can be formed

Here, the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be a plurality of fluids. For example, the number and type may be determined by the user, such as the first resin and the second resin. Accordingly, the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be selectively supplied into the water tank 100 according to the type to promote the formation of the structure 1 . As described above, the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be disposed at a position where it can be exposed to light so that photocuring can be performed.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the 3D printer includes an optical system 300 , a water tank 100 , a base fluid 10 and a heterogeneous fluid 20 , a recoater 400 , a build plate 200 , and a fluid control unit 500 . may include Specifically, the base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be accommodated in the water tank 100 . The base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 accommodated in the water tank 100 may be disposed to form layers in the upper and lower directions, respectively. Such a layer may have an arrangement structure formed by a difference in physical properties (eg, density). The optical system 300 may be positioned above it. The upper side is only an example of a position where it is easy to irradiate light toward the heterogeneous fluid 20 accommodated in the water tank 100 and is not limited thereto.

The optical system 300 positioned upward from the water tank 100 may react the heterogeneous fluid 20 by irradiating light downward. Here, the reaction may be a curing reaction of the heterogeneous fluid 20 . The build plate 200 includes one or more lifting rods 220 extending inside the water tank 100 and a plate 210 connected to the lifting rods 220 . The heterogeneous fluid 20 cured by the above-described curing reaction may be fixed on the plate 210 . The fixing is not permanent fixing, but fixing by a level of fixing force at which the plate 210 and the hardened structure 1 can be separated by a predetermined external force. The surface of 210 may be treated with an oleophobic treatment. Of course, the oleophobic treatment may be selectively applied to all components in contact with the base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 .

On the other hand, when the base fluid 10 and the heterogeneous fluid 20 are supplied in the water tank 100 and the respective layers are separated, the recoater 400 is the surface of the heterogeneous fluid 20 layered on the upper side (air upwards). exposed surface) can be trimmed. Here, tidying means that the recoater 400 is moved in the horizontal direction and the water surface is flattened, and may be made after supply of the heterogeneous fluid 20 and rearrangement of the built plate 200 .

The optical system 300 may irradiate light having a predetermined shape toward the plate 210 . The predetermined shape may be determined by an optical filter provided in the optical system 300 , and light information including wavelength information may vary depending on a cured shape or a thickness of a cured layer. Here, since the thickness of the layer is determined according to the distance the plate 210 is moved from the water surface to the bottom of the water tank 100 , the optical system 300 may be directly or indirectly linked with the build plate 200 . Here, indirect interworking is interlocking through the control unit 600 and corresponds to a case in which each configuration is interlocked and controlled by the control unit 600 , which will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 6 .

Also, the fluid control unit 500 may include a fluid withdrawal unit 520 and a fluid supply unit 510 . It may include an outlet pipe 521 and a supply pipe 511 for withdrawing the fluid from the water tank 100 or supplying the fluid to the water tank 100 , respectively. The outlet pipe 521 and the supply pipe 511 may be extended so that their ends face the heterogeneous fluid 20 , and at least the outlet pipe 521 may extend to be submerged in the heterogeneous fluid 20 . The heterogeneous fluid 20 is drawn out along the withdrawal pipe 521 by the driving of the fluid withdrawing unit 520 and can be removed from the water tank 100, and the heterogeneous fluid 20 is moved along the supply pipe 511 into the water tank ( 100) can be supplied.

2 is a view showing a state in which the heterogeneous fluid 20 is removed from the water tank 100 of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be removed from the water tank 100 by the driving of the fluid withdrawing unit 520 . As described above, since the heterogeneous fluid 20 includes a plurality of fluids, for example, after the first resin that is the heterogeneous fluid 20 shown in FIG. 1 is removed, the second resin that is the heterogeneous fluid 20 is supplied through the supply pipe. It may be supplied into the water tank 100 through 511 . Of course, here, the first resin and the second resin may be different fluids. For example, there may be a difference in color between the first resin and the second resin, and further, there may be a difference in physical properties before and after curing. Of course, despite the difference between the first resin and the second resin as an example, they have different physical properties from the base fluid 10 (for example, the first resin and the second resin are formed at least at a lower density than the base fluid 10 ) can be) is maintained.

On the other hand, when the structure 1 is formed on the plate 210 after light irradiation by the optical unit, the build plate 200 may be lowered by a predetermined distance downward. For example, the predetermined distance means that the top of the structure 1 is located at a position below the water surface of the base fluid 10 . In this case, it corresponds to a case where the structure is continuously stacked upward, and the uppermost part of the structure 1 formed in a step shape may be located above the water surface of the base fluid 10 in some cases.

However, the build plate 200 may be disposed in a state in which the plate 210 or the structure 1 is locked from the heterogeneous fluid 20 at least as much as the layer thickness of the heterogeneous fluid 20 to be cured. Since the height at which the build plate 200 is disposed determines the thickness of the cured layer, the height may vary depending on the optical information including the wavelength information of the light, or vice versa. Accordingly, the build plate 200 may be operated in conjunction with the optical system 300 .

The removal of the first resin, which is the heterogeneous fluid 20 , may be guided through the pull-out pipe 521 to be removed in the water tank 100 as described above. To this end, at least the withdrawal hole 521a of the withdrawal pipe 521 may be located in the floating layer in which the heterogeneous fluid 20 is formed. Preferably, in order to remove the entire amount of the heterogeneous fluid 20 , the withdrawal hole 521a may be located in the base fluid 10 . Of course, since the purpose is to remove the heterogeneous fluid 20 , it is sufficient for the withdrawal hole 521a to contact the base fluid 10 , even if it is not an arrangement in which the withdrawal hole 521a is sufficiently inserted into the base fluid.

3 is a view showing a state in which the heterogeneous fluid 20 is re-supplied to the water tank 100 of the 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be removed from the water tank 100 and re-supplied by the fluid supply unit 510 . As described above, the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be a plurality of fluids. For example, a first resin that is one of the heterogeneous fluids 20 may be withdrawn by the fluid withdrawing unit 520 , and a second resin that is another one of the heterogeneous fluids 20 may be supplied by the fluid supply unit 510 . there is. Here, although the first resin and the second resin are exemplified, of course, more liquid photocured materials may be applied.

On the other hand, the heterogeneous fluid 20 supplied into the water tank 100 may be supplied in a predetermined amount. Here, the predetermined amount is such that the thickness of the floating heterofluid 20 is thicker than the layer thickness of the structure 1 formed by photocuring, and preferably, the thickness of the heterogeneous fluid 20 is the layer thickness. It means the amount provided so that it can be 105% to 120% of the thickness.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a driving sequence of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the base fluid 10 may be filled in the water tank 100 ( S10 ), and the heterogeneous fluid 20 may be filled ( S20 ). The filling order of the fluid in the tank 100 is not necessarily made sequentially due to the density difference between the fluids, but it is preferable that the base fluid 10 be filled first so that it takes a shorter time for each fluid to form a layer. . And the build plate 200 may be disposed (S30). The arrangement of the build plate 200 means that it is arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance spaced downward from the water surface of the heterogeneous fluid 20 . Specifically, it means that the build plate 200 is raised and lowered to a position where the plate 210 of the build plate 200 is spaced apart from the water surface.

When the build plate 200 is disposed, light irradiation (S40) may be performed. Light irradiation is for curing the heterogeneous fluid 20 , and light having a predetermined shape may be irradiated through a filter in the optical system 300 . The irradiated light may be cured by reacting with the heterogeneous fluid 20 to be fixed to the plate 210 .

The plate 210 and the fixed structure 1 may determine the need for replacement of the heterogeneous fluid 20 for additional printing (S50). Such determination may be determined based on information such as the shape and color of the structure 1 previously input to the 3D printer. Here, if it is determined that replacement of the heterogeneous fluid 20 is necessary due to factors such as color change, the heterogeneous fluid 20 in the water tank 100 may be removed. (S59) The heterogeneous fluid 20 removed here is cured It means the heterogeneous fluid 20 excluding the part. After the removal of the heterogeneous fluid 20, the previously performed filling (S20) of the heterogeneous fluid 20 in the water tank 100 may be sequentially and repeatedly performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that replacement of the heterogeneous fluid 20 is unnecessary, it is determined whether additional printing is necessary (S60). If it is determined that additional printing is unnecessary, the structure 1 is completed and printing is terminated. However, when it is determined that additional printing is necessary, the build plate 200 is rearranged (S70). When the build plate 200 is moved to a predetermined position, light irradiation is performed by the optical system 300 ( S80 ), and the same heterogeneous fluid 20 is accumulated and laminated.

Next, it is determined whether the replacement of the heterogeneous fluid 20 is necessary, and it is determined based on the previously input information such as the shape and color of the structure 1 ( S90 ), and it is determined that the replacement of the heterogeneous fluid 20 is necessary In this case, the heterogeneous fluid 20 is removed (S59), and the heterogeneous fluid 20 is filled (S20)) so that the previously performed processes can be sequentially performed. However, when it is determined that replacement of the heterogeneous fluid 20 is unnecessary, it is determined (S90) whether additional printing is necessary, and when there is no additional printing, the process can be terminated.

However, when it is determined that additional printing is necessary, the previously performed relocation (S70) of the build plate 200 may be performed, and the process may be sequentially performed.

5 is a view showing a fluid control unit 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (a) is a view showing that the fluid withdrawing unit 520 and the fluid supply unit 510 are independently provided, and FIG. 5(b) is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the fluid withdrawing unit 520 and the fluid supplying unit 510 share the storage unit 580 and are connected to each other.

Referring to FIG. 5A , the fluid control unit 500 may include a fluid supply unit 510 and a fluid withdrawal unit 520 for removing and supplying the heterogeneous fluid 20 from the water tank 100 . In this example, the fluid withdrawing unit 520 and the fluid supplying unit 510 are independently configured to transfer different heterogeneous fluids 20 . The fluid withdrawal unit 520 may include a withdrawal pipe 521 , a withdrawal pump 523 , and a withdrawal fluid storage unit 525 . The heterogeneous fluid 20 drawn out in the withdrawal direction DD may be stored in the withdrawal fluid storage unit 525 . In order to be transferred to the withdrawal fluid storage unit 525 , the withdrawal power may be generated by the withdrawal pump 523 formed on the withdrawal pipe 521 .

Separately, the fluid supply unit 510 may include a supply pipe 511 , a supply pump 513 , and a supply fluid storage unit 515 . The heterogeneous fluid 20 supplied in the supply direction SD may be transferred from the supply fluid storage unit 515 to the water tank 100 along the supply pipe 511 . At this time, the supply force for supplying the heterogeneous fluid 20 to the water tank 100 may be generated by the supply pump 513 .

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5B , the fluid withdrawal unit 570 may include a withdrawal pipe 571 , a withdrawal pump 573 , and a valve 571a. The heterogeneous fluid 20 drawn out in the withdrawal direction DD may be stored in the storage unit 580 . In order to be transferred to the storage unit 580 , the withdrawal power may be generated by the withdrawal pump 573 formed on the withdrawal pipe 571 .

Separately, the fluid supply unit 560 may include a supply pipe 561 , a supply pump 563 , and a valve 561a. The heterogeneous fluid 20 supplied in the supply direction SD may be transferred from the storage unit 580 to the water tank 100 along the supply pipe 561 . At this time, the supply force for supplying the heterogeneous fluid 20 to the water tank 100 may be generated by the supply pump 563 .

Here, the valves 561a and 571a are optional and are disposed in the withdrawal pipe 571 and the supply pipe 561, respectively, so that the heterogeneous fluid 20 accommodated in the storage unit 580 is a withdrawal pump 573 or a supply pump ( When the 563 is not in operation, it may be transferred along the withdrawal pipe 571 or the supply pipe 561 to prevent the reverse flow of the heterogeneous fluid 20 . Specifically, such a backflow is highly likely to occur when the storage unit 580 is at the highest water level, and a water level control unit ( 581) maintains the highest water level. Accordingly, the opening of each of the valves 561a and 571a may be configured to cooperate with the supply pump 563 and the withdrawal pump 573 .

Meanwhile, the water level adjusting unit 581 may be moved in the height direction based on the sensing information sensed by the sensing unit 551 for sensing the water level inside the storage unit 580 . For example, when the detection information detects a small amount of the heterogeneous fluid, the water level adjusting unit 581 rises to maintain a high water level despite the small amount of the heterogeneous fluid, and when the detection information detects a large amount of the heterogeneous fluid, the water level The control unit 581 descends to accommodate a large amount of heterogeneous fluid, but to maintain a high water level. That is, a predetermined water level may be maintained in response to the amount of the heterogeneous fluid accommodated in the storage unit 580 , and the predetermined water level may be the highest water level.

As in this example, the fluid supply unit 560 and the fluid withdrawal unit 570 sharing the storage unit 580 may supply the heterogeneous fluid 20 drawn from the storage unit 580 back to the receiving unit. Therefore, it is possible to reuse while repeatedly and selectively supplying various heterogeneous fluids 20 during printing of the 3D printer.

6 is a conceptual diagram of a 3D printer controlled by the controller 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the control unit 600 may be connected to an electric field of the 3D printer. Here, the electric length means a configuration that is electrically connected to the control unit 600 and controllable by the control unit 600 . Specifically, the electric field includes an optical system 300 , a recoater 400 , a water level sensor 700 , a build plate 200 , a fluid supply unit 510 , and a fluid withdrawal unit 520 . The controller 600 may establish interlocking driving between the battlefields by controlling other battlefields based on information that is respectively connected to the battlefield and transmitted. For example, when the amount supplied by the fluid supply unit 510 is determined and supplied by the fluid supply unit 510 , the control unit 600 arranges the build plate 200 to correspond to the supply amount of the heterogeneous fluid 20 . can The build plate 200 disposed at a position predetermined by the controller 600 may form a gap between the heterogeneous fluid 20 and the build plate 200, and the gap is on the plate 210 in the optical system 300. Since it is a factor determining the layer of the structure 1 to be formed in the , the control unit 600 may control this.

In addition, the control unit 600 allows the residual heterogeneous fluid 20 in the water tank 100 to be removed through the fluid withdrawing unit 520 after the optical system 300 is irradiated with light. The water level sensor 700 detects the water level of the water tank 100 from which the heterogeneous fluid 20 has been removed by the fluid withdrawing unit 520 , and the water level information sensed by the water level sensor 700 is transmitted to the control unit 600 . Then, based on the water level information, it is possible to control the supply of the heterogeneous fluid 20 through the fluid supply unit 510 and the arrangement of the build plate 200 .

Although representative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications are possible within the limits without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the above-described embodiments. . Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims described below as well as the claims and equivalents.

1: structure
10: base fluid
20: heterogeneous fluid
100: water tank
200: build plate
210: plate
220: lifting rod
300: optical system
400 : recoater
500: fluid control unit
510, 560: fluid supply part
511, 561: supply pipe
511a: supplier
513, 563: supply pump
515: supply fluid storage unit
520, 570: fluid outlet
521, 561a: withdrawal pipe
521a: draw-out
523, 573: draw pump
525: withdrawal fluid storage unit
551: sensing unit
561a, 571a: valves
580: storage
581: water level control unit
600: control unit
700: water level sensor
SD : Feed direction
DD: withdrawal direction

Claims (10)

In the 3D printer for forming a structure by curing one of a plurality of fluids having different physical properties,
an optical system for irradiating light;
a water tank disposed at a position where the light is irradiated and accommodating a base fluid and a heterogeneous fluid suspended by the base fluid; and
A fluid control unit including a fluid withdrawing unit for withdrawing the heterogeneous fluid accommodated in the water tank from the water tank and a fluid supply unit for supplying the heterogeneous fluid into the water tank; includes;
The fluid control unit,
A fluid including a withdrawal pipe for withdrawing the heterogeneous fluid from the water tank, a fluid withdrawal unit including a withdrawal pump and a withdrawal valve, and a supply pipe for supplying the heterogeneous fluid from a storage unit in which the heterogeneous fluid is stored, a supply pump, and a supply valve including the supply;
The withdrawal valve and the supply valve are respectively disposed in the withdrawal pipe and the supply pipe, and the heterogeneous fluid accommodated in the storage unit is transferred along the withdrawal pipe or the supply pipe when the withdrawal pump or the supply pump does not operate The withdrawal valve is interlocked with the withdrawal pump, and the supply valve is interlocked with the supply pump, so that the heterogeneous fluid maintains the highest water level in the storage unit by preventing the heterogeneous fluid from flowing backward. 3D printer including
The method according to claim 1,
The heterogeneous fluid is a photocurable material cured by light irradiation, and includes a plurality of different fluids, each of the plurality of fluids being selectively accommodated in the water tank.
The method according to claim 1,
and a water tank accommodating different fluids, wherein the fluid withdrawing unit and the fluid supply unit are provided independently of each other, and alternately withdrawing and supplying the fluid to the water tank by a control unit.
The method according to claim 1,
The fluid withdrawing unit and the fluid supply unit,
A 3D printer comprising a water tank accommodating a heterogeneous fluid that shares a storage unit in which the heterogeneous fluid is stored, and alternately withdraws and supplies the fluid to the water tank by a control unit.
5. The method according to claim 4,
The storage unit is vertically controlled by the control unit based on the information sensed by the water level sensor so that the heterogeneous fluid withdrawn from the water tank by the fluid withdrawing unit can maintain a predetermined water level in the storage unit. A 3D printer comprising a water tank accommodating a heterogeneous fluid, further comprising a control unit.
The method according to claim 1,
The thickness of the floating layer formed by the heterogeneous fluid on the base fluid is 105% to 120% based on the thickness of the photocured layer.
The method according to claim 1,
The fluid withdrawing unit withdraws the heterogeneous fluid from the water tank, and at least a part of the base fluid is also drawn out, the 3D printer including a water tank accommodating the heterogeneous fluid.
The method according to claim 1,
A build plate positioned in the water tank and comprising a plate on which the structure is formed and a lifting rod connected to the plate so that the plate is raised and lowered in the water tank, and a recoater for leveling the heterogeneous fluid in the water tank including,
The leveling is performed after the rearrangement of the build plate, a 3D printer including a water tank for accommodating a heterogeneous fluid.
9. The method of claim 8,
Determine the layer thickness to be cured by controlling the light irradiated from the optical system,
Remove the heterogeneous fluid in the water tank through the fluid supply,
Let the plate descend by a predetermined depth in the water tank,
3D printer including a water tank accommodating a heterogeneous fluid, further comprising a control unit for supplying the heterogeneous fluid so that a floating layer of the heterogeneous fluid is formed within a range of 105% to 120% of the layer thickness by the fluid withdrawing part .
a base fluid filling step and a heterogeneous fluid filling step in which the water tank is filled with a base fluid having different physical properties and a heterogeneous fluid suspended by the base fluid;
a build plate arrangement step in which a build plate is disposed so that the water surface of the heterogeneous fluid and the plate on which the structure is formed are spaced downward by a predetermined distance;
a light irradiation step of irradiating light to the heterogeneous fluid from an optical system;
a heterogeneous fluid replacement determination step of determining replacement of the heterogeneous fluid remaining in the water tank after the light irradiation step; and
When it is determined that replacement of the heterogeneous fluid is required from the heterogeneous fluid replacement determination step, a heterogeneous fluid removal step in which the heterogeneous fluid remaining in the water tank is removed by a fluid withdrawing unit;
After the step of removing the heterogeneous fluid, the heterogeneous fluid filling step is repeatedly performed so that the heterogeneous fluid is refilled into the water tank by the fluid supply unit into the water tank,
The fluid withdrawal unit includes a withdrawal pipe, a withdrawal pump, and a withdrawal valve for withdrawing the heterogeneous fluid from the water tank, and the fluid supply unit includes a supply pipe for supplying the heterogeneous fluid from a storage unit in which the heterogeneous fluid is stored, a supply pump and a supply including a valve;
The withdrawal valve and the supply valve are respectively disposed in the withdrawal pipe and the supply pipe, and the heterogeneous fluid accommodated in the storage unit is transferred along the withdrawal pipe or the supply pipe when the withdrawal pump or the supply pump does not operate The withdrawal valve is interlocked with the withdrawal pump, and the supply valve is interlocked with the supply pump so that the heterogeneous fluid maintains the highest water level in the storage unit by preventing the heterogeneous fluid from flowing backward.

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