KR20170002854A - Material supplying apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object and material supplying method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a material supply device for producing a three-dimensional sculpture, which continuously supplies powder materials from a lower side and allows the powder materials to be continuously laminated as a process progresses, and to a material supply method using the same.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a material supplying apparatus for forming a three-dimensional (3D)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a 3D printer, and more particularly, to a material supply apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional molding and a method of supplying a material using the same.

3D printers are devices that produce stereoscopic products like real objects while stacking layers of raw materials such as metal, rubber, and plastic according to a design. With 3D printers, there is no waste of raw materials because designers can virtually create multiple parts to build up the product by stacking the raw materials. In addition, the production process can be simplified and the production cost can be greatly reduced.

The object of the present invention is to provide a material supply device for manufacturing a three-dimensional molding material and to provide a material supply method using the same, in which the powder material is continuously supplied from the lower side so that the materials can be continuously laminated.

The present invention provides a material supply apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional molding that can supply a powder material from the lower side, and a material supply method using the same.

The present invention can rapidly produce a three-dimensional molding by freely adjusting the position of the laser for continuously providing the powder material from the lower side and irradiating the powder material to sinter the powder material.

1 and 2 are views showing the overall structure of a 3D printer according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components throughout the drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

1 and 2 are views showing the overall structure of a 3D printer according to the present invention.

1 and 2, a 3D printer according to the present invention includes a laser device 100, an XY table 200, a Z-axis bed 300, a material supply device 400, a coater 500 ).

The laser apparatus 100 includes a laser generator 110 and a printhead 120 including a reflector 121.

The laser generator 110 generates a high-output Co2 laser for melting the powder material. The mounting structure for fixing the laser generator 110 is possible in various embodiments. The laser generator 110 is connected to a cable for receiving external power, and the cable is accommodated in a flexible cable guide. A galvano scanning laser marking system may be used for laser scanning.

The print head 120 causes the laser material whose path is changed by the reflecting mirror 121 to be irradiated on the powder material so that the powder material is sintered. The print head 120 may be installed to be adjustable in angle by a hinge or the like, and a plurality of reflectors 121 may be installed to change the path of the laser.

The XY table 200 freely moves the position of the print head 120 in the X and Y directions by using a screw guide (actuator) 210, so that the laser can be accurately irradiated to a desired position.

The Z-axis bed 300 is installed so as to be vertically movable in the Z-axis direction using the piston 310. When the powder material placed on the upper surface of the Z axis bed 300 is sintered by the laser, the piston 310 vertically descends downward to allow a new powder material to be laminated on the powder material sintered to a predetermined thickness.

The Z axis bed 300 may include a heater 320 for raising the temperature and a controller for controlling the temperature of the heater. A halogen heater may be used as the heater 320, and the control device controls the temperature of the heater so that the Z axis bed 300 can be heated to a correct temperature.

The material supply device 400 includes a supply table 410 and a piston 420.

The supply table 410 may be installed on both sides of the Z axis bed 300 in a detachable manner, and a powdery material such as sand to be supplied to the Z axis bed 300 is placed on the upper surface. Each of the supply tables 410 may be provided with different types of powder materials such as sand, metal, and plastic. The feeding table 410 is installed to vertically move in the Z axis direction using the piston 420 and moves upside down when the Z axis bed 300 descends to be rotated by the cotter 500 to rotate the Z axis bed 300, So that the powder material is laminated. A separate device for blocking the powder may be installed at one side of the feed table 410.

The coater 500 is installed horizontally on the upper side of the supply table 410. To this end, an LM actuator may be installed above the supply table 410. After the powder material is sintered and the Z axis bed 300 is lowered and the supply table 410 is lifted, the coater 500 horizontally moves toward the Z axis bed 300 and moves to the feed table 410 The powdered material placed is pushed to the Z axis bed 300 and moved. Therefore, when the horizontal movement of the coater 500 is completed, a powder material of a certain thickness is laminated on the upper surface of the Z axis bed 300 again. The coater 500 may be installed to be adjustable in tilt angle and height. Such a coater 500 can be used as a blade for producing a three-dimensional sculpture.

Meanwhile, the 3D printer according to the present invention may include a computer. The computer can be formed integrally with the 3D printer. Computers store data on a variety of 3D objects so that 3D printers can use it to create a variety of objects such as foundry sand.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (1)

A material supply device for making a three-dimensional molding which continuously supplies powder material from the lower side and a material supply method using the same

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