KR20160109099A - Three-dimensional printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a 3D printing apparatus which produces an object by stacking layers of a printing material on a workbench. The 3D printing apparatus comprises: a first rotating body in the shape of a ring, which rotates having the center located inside the ring portion as the axis; a power transmission unit which is coupled with the ring portion of the first rotating body, supports the first rotating body, and uses the power transmitted from a first motor to rotate the first rotating body; a second rotating body, one end of which is axially coupled with the ring portion of the first rotating body, and the other end of which is coupled with an extruding device which discharges the printing material, and which uses the power transmitted from a second motor to rotate the other end having the axially coupled one end as the axis; a vertical moving part which uses the power transmitted from a third motor to vertically move the first rotating body or the workbench; and a control unit which controls the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor according to the coordinates at which the extruding device is to be positioned.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a 3D printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a 3D printing apparatus capable of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by moving along two circular tracks, thereby canceling vibration generated in an orthogonal 3D printing apparatus, ≪ / RTI >

3D printing (3D printing) is a technology that is getting popular in recent years. It refers to the technology to produce solid three-dimensional products by injection, lamination and solidification of plastic liquids or other raw materials. Ease of use, and so on.

3D printing is divided into liquid, powder, and solid depending on the raw materials. There are various methods of coagulating / laminating based on sources such as laser, heat, and light. 3D printing methods have been developed variously so far. It has advantages and disadvantages in production.

The 3D printing method can be used in different fields in different fields. FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), DLP (Digital Light Processing), SLA (Stereolithography), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), PolyJet (Photopolymer Jetting Technology) , DMT (direct metal tooling), PBP (powder bed & inkjet head 3d printing), and LOM (Laminated Object Manufacturing).

Generally, a wire or a filament made of thermoplastic plastic is fed through a feed reel and a feed reel, and the filament is fed to a heater mounted in a three-dimensional feeding mechanism that is positioned relative to the workbench in three directions X, Y and Z (FDM) is widely used in which a two-dimensional planar shape is formed by melting in a nozzle and then discharged into a three-dimensionally stacked layer on a workbench.

An example of a method and apparatus for fusing a layer of cohesive modeling material from the extrusion head to produce a three-dimensional model is found in many of the existing patents and is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,121,329, And may be fed to the extrusion head in the form of a flexible filament wound on a feed reel. At this time, the extrusion head uses a coagulant material which adheres to the preceding layer by proper bonding at the time of solidification, and a thermoplastic material is mainly used, which is known to be particularly suitable for such melt lamination.

The object of the present invention is to provide a 3D printing apparatus capable of manufacturing a more precise three-dimensional object by canceling vibration generated in an orthogonal 3D printing apparatus by moving along two circular tracks to produce a three-dimensional object .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 3D printing apparatus for manufacturing a product by laminating a print material on a workbench according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a rotatable body having an annular shape, A power transmitting portion coupled to the annular portion of the first rotating body for supporting the first rotating body and rotating the first rotating body by using the power transmitted from the first driving motor, An extruding device that is axially coupled to the annular shape of the first rotating body and discharges the print material at the other end is coupled to the other end of the first rotating body and the other end rotates about the axis- A vertical moving part for vertically moving the first rotating body or the work table by using the power transmitted from the second rotating body, the second rotating body, and the third driving motor, That may be provided with a control unit for controlling the first drive motor and second drive motor and the third drive motor in accordance with the coordinates for the location.

The second rotating body may have one end shaft-coupled to the lower end of the annular shape of the first rotating body, and the extrusion device may be coupled to the lower end of the other end.

The length between the one end and the other end of the second rotating body may be equal to or larger than the radius of the first rotating body.

The 3D printing apparatus may further include a complementary member coupled to the second rotating body such that the first rotating body and the second rotating body are parallel to each other.

Wherein the control unit calculates the rotation amount of the first rotating body and the rotation amount of the second rotating body corresponding to the coordinates on which the extrusion apparatus is to be positioned on the coordinate plane of the x axis and the y axis orthogonal to the vertical direction, And the first drive motor and the second drive motor can be controlled according to the calculated result.

The 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention moves along two circular tracks to produce a three-dimensional object, thereby converging the vibrations of the entire structure generated in the orthogonal 3D printing apparatus to the center point, It is possible to work in a position and to manufacture a more precise three-dimensional object. When a three-dimensional object is manufactured while the extrusion device moves on the x-axis and y-axis planes as in the conventional case, vibrations occur throughout the 3D printer at the moment when the drive motor changes from rotation to reverse rotation, there was. However, according to the technical idea of the present invention, since the extrusion apparatus moves along the circular track, vibration occurring in the conventional orthogonal 3D printing apparatus does not occur, and a more precise three-dimensional object can be manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A brief description of each drawing is provided to more fully understand the drawings recited in the description of the invention.
1 is a perspective view of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the first rotating body and the second rotating body of Fig. 1. Fig.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the first rotating body and the second rotating body of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the first rotating body of Fig. 1. Fig.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the second rotating body of Fig. 1. Fig.
FIG. 6 is a view showing an area where the 3D printing apparatus of FIG. 1 operates.
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a method for the controller of FIG. 1 to perform an operation for controlling the rotation amounts of the first rotating body and the second rotating body.

In order to fully understand the present invention, operational advantages of the present invention, and objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference symbols in the drawings denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a 3D printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a first rotating body 110 and a second rotating body 120 of FIG. It is a perspective. FIG. 3 is a front view of the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the first rotating body 110 of FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the second rotating body 120 of FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a 3D printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can produce a product by laminating print materials on a work table 140. The 3D printing apparatus 100 includes a first rotating body 110, a second rotating body 120, a power transmitting portion 117, a first driving motor 115, a second driving motor 125, 150 and a control unit (not shown).

The first rotating body 110 has an annular shape and can rotate about the center z located inside the annular shape. For example, the first rotating body 110 may have a circular ring shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and may have a hollow formed therein. However, the first rotating body 110 does not necessarily have a circular ring shape, but may have various other ring shapes such as an annular shape formed so as to be nested. 1 to 4, the area of the portion where the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 are coupled is formed larger than other ring-shaped portions. However, as described below, And may have a different shape if the whole body 110 and the second rotating body 120 can be combined. Since the annular inner portion of the first rotating body 110 is hollow, the object to be manufactured by stacking the print materials on the work table 140 is formed at the inner hollow position of the first rotating body 110, It is possible to prevent the rotating body 110 from contacting the manufactured object. The first rotating body 110 can rotate about the center z of the annular shape, that is, the center z located inside the annular shape. In this case, since the center z of the first rotating body 110 is hollow and can not be axially coupled with a device for providing power, the first rotating body 110 is rotated by using the power transmitting portion 117, .

The power transmitting portion 117 may be coupled to the annular portion of the first rotating body 110 to support the first rotating body 110. The power transmitting portion 117 can be engaged with the first rotating body 110 as shown in Figs. The power transmission unit 117 receives the power from the first driving motor 115 and can rotate the first rotating body 110. For example, the power transmitting portion 117 that receives the power from the first driving motor 115 rotates, and the rotational force of the power transmitting portion 117 is transmitted to the first rotating body 110, 110 can rotate. 1 and 2, although the first rotating body 110 and the power transmitting portion 117 are in direct contact with each other, the power of the first driving motor 115 is transmitted to the first rotating body 110, The first rotating body 110 can be rotated by using various other configurations such as a configuration in which the belt 110 is used to transmit power by using the belt if the rotating body 110 can rotate around the center z.

The second rotating body 120 includes an extrusion device 130 which is axially coupled to the ring shape of the first rotating body 110 at one end 121 on the z'-axis and which discharges the print material to the other end 122 And the other end can be rotated about the axis-coupled end by using the power transmitted from the second drive motor 125. That is, the second rotating body 120 can rotate about the z 'axis coupled with the first rotating body 110. The second rotating body 120 may have a straight plate shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and may have a ring shape like the first rotating body 110. 1 to 5 show a case where one second rotating body 120 is coupled to the first rotating body 110. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the first rotating body 110 A plurality of second rotators 120 may be coupled to the second rotator 120 and the second rotator 120 may be rotated using the corresponding second motors 125. [

One end of the second rotating body 120 is axially coupled to the lower end of the annular shape of the first rotating body 110 and the extrusion apparatus 150 can be coupled to the lower end of the other end. The length of the second rotating body 120 between the first end 121 and the second end 122 may be equal to or greater than the radius of the first rotating body 110. The radius of the first rotating body 110 may be a length from a center of the first rotating body 110 to a position where the second rotating body 120 is coupled. The second rotating body 120 may be rotated to an angle between 120 degrees and 360 degrees about one end 121 axially coupled to the z 'axis. For example, when the size of the product is small, the maximum rotation angle of the second rotating body 120 may be 120 degrees. When the size of the product is large, the maximum rotation angle of the second rotating body 120 may be 360 degrees You may.

The vertical moving unit 150 can move the first rotating body 110 or the work station 140 in the vertical direction by using the power transmitted from the third driving motor 155. 1, the vertical movement unit 150 moves the work table 140 in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the work table 140 may be fixed and the first rotary body 110 May be moved in the vertical direction.

The control unit (not shown) may control the first drive motor 115, the second drive motor 125, and the third drive motor 155 according to coordinates at which the extrusion apparatus 130 is located. The controller controls the amount of rotation of the first rotating body 110 and the amount of rotation of the second rotating body 120 corresponding to the coordinates on which the extrusion apparatus 130 is to be positioned on the x- And controls the first driving motor 115 and the second driving motor 125 according to the calculated result. In addition, the controller may control the third driving motor 155 according to a height at which the extrusion apparatus 130 is located. The operation of the control unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the 3D printing apparatus 100 includes a complementary member (not shown) coupled to the second rotating body 120 such that the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 are kept parallel to each other, Quot;). ≪ / RTI > For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, when the second rotating body 120 rotates and moves away from the center of the first rotating body 110, The portion of the second rotating body 120 coupled with the extrusion device 130 may be struck in a downward direction due to the weight of the extrusion device 130. If the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 are not parallel to each other as described above, it is not possible to precisely fabricate the object. To prevent such a case, in the present invention, The above-described filler can be bonded to the above-mentioned filler. For example, the complementary material may be coupled to the second rotating body 120 at a position opposite the position of the extrusion apparatus 130 with respect to the center of the second rotating body 120. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and if the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 can be maintained in parallel, 120).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an area 600 in which the 3D printing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 operates.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, when the first rotating body 110 rotates about its center, the center of the second rotating body 120 coupled to the first rotating body 110 moves. For example, when the center of the second rotating body 120 is located at (a) of the first rotating body 100, as the second rotating body 120 rotates around (a) 130 may be located on the orbit of 610. As another example, when the center of the second rotating body 120 is located at (b) of the first rotating body 110, as the second rotating body 120 rotates about (b) ) May be located on the orbit of 620. As the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 are rotated as described above, the extrusion apparatus 130 can be located at every point inside the chamber 600. Therefore, It is possible to do.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method for the controller of FIG. 1 to perform an operation for controlling the amount of rotation of the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120. Hereinafter, the operation of the controller will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG.

It is assumed that the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 rotate on the coordinate plane of the x axis and the y axis orthogonal to the vertical direction and the coordinates at which the extrusion device 130 is to be located is (x, y) . C2 is defined as the center of the first rotating body 110 and C1 is defined as a position where the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 are coupled to each other. It is assumed that the radius R and the length R between one end and the other end of the second rotator 120 are the same.

In this case, in order to find the coordinates (x, y) in the 3D printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the angle of rotation of the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 Shall be calculated. That is, in order for the extruding device 130 to be located at the coordinates (x, y), the first rotating body 110 must rotate by the degree of? With respect to the x axis, and the second rotating body 120 rotates C1 and C2 The axis of rotation should be rotated about the axis by a degree. ? and? can be obtained by using the following equations (1) and (2).

When the α and β are obtained, the controller controls the first driving motor 115 and the second driving motor 125 to rotate the first rotating body 110 and the second rotating body 120 by a corresponding angle Can be controlled.

As described above, an optimal embodiment has been disclosed in the drawings and specification. Although specific terms have been employed herein, they are used for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims or the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A 3D printing apparatus for producing a product by laminating print materials on a work table,
A first rotating body having a ring shape and rotating about an axis located inside the ring shape as an axis;
A power transmission unit coupled to the annular portion of the first rotating body to support the first rotating body and to rotate the first rotating body using the power transmitted from the first driving motor;
And an extruding device which is axially coupled at one end to the annular shape of the first rotating body and discharges the print material at the other end is coupled to the other end of the first rotating body by using the power transmitted from the second driving motor, A second rotating body rotating;
A vertical moving part for vertically moving the first rotating body or the workbench using the power transmitted from the third driving motor; And
And a controller for controlling the first driving motor, the second driving motor, and the third driving motor in accordance with coordinates at which the extrusion apparatus is to be positioned. The apparatus according to claim 1,
Wherein one end is axially coupled to the lower end of the annular shape of the first rotating body and the extrusion device is coupled to the lower end of the other end. The apparatus according to claim 1,
And the length between one end and the other end is equal to or larger than the radius of the first rotating body. 2. The 3D printing apparatus according to claim 1,
Further comprising a complementary member coupled to the second rotating body such that the first rotating body and the second rotating body are parallel to each other. The apparatus according to claim 1,
And wherein the 3D printing device rotates about 120 ° to 360 ° about the axis-coupled end. The apparatus according to claim 1,
Wherein the third printing device has a ring shape. The apparatus of claim 1,
Calculating a rotation amount of the first rotating body and a rotation amount of the second rotating body corresponding to coordinates on which the extrusion apparatus is to be positioned on the coordinate plane of the x axis and the y axis orthogonal to the vertical direction, And controls the first driving motor and the second driving motor.

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