KR20180060373A - Device for sieving powder discharging from 3D printer - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a powder sieving device for three-dimensional (3D) printers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a powder sieving device for 3D printers, capable of sieving powder discharged from the 3D printer in real time during a 3D printing process in order to remove foreign matters. According to the present invention, by mounting a vibrating sieving device on a container connected to an overflow chamber outlet of the 3D printer, it is possible to sieve the powder while the container itself vibrates, thereby enabling real-time sieving for the powder discharged from an overflow chamber during the 3D printing process.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for sieving powder discharging from a 3D printer,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a powder screening apparatus for a 3D printer, and more particularly, to a powder screening apparatus for a 3D printer capable of sieving powder discharged from a 3D printer during a 3D printing process in real time for removing foreign substances.

3D printers have been used for pre-mass modeling and sample production. Recently, however, due to the advanced development of 3D printer equipment, mass-produced products are being produced using 3D printers.

Therefore, a method of manufacturing by using a 3D printer has been applied, apart from a method of manufacturing parts for automobile plastic parts and various industrial parts by general injection molding and compression molding.

The 3D printer method includes an FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) method in which a thermoplastic resin processed in a filament form is melted and laminated by one layer, and a method in which a resin is cured by heat while a laser beam is scanned on a photo- SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) method using the principle of SLA (StereoLithography Apparatus) using SLA (StereoLithography Apparatus) method and functionally polymer or metal powder instead of photo-curable resin in SLA to form a functional polymer or metal powder by curing by laser beam scanning And the like.

Hereinafter, a 3D printer configuration using a conventional laser beam and its operation will be described.

1 is a schematic view showing a 3D printer configuration using a conventional laser beam and its operation, wherein reference numeral 10 denotes a processing chamber, reference numeral 12 denotes a powder chamber, and reference numeral 16 denotes an overflow chamber .

The powder chamber 12 is a chamber for storing a powder material (such as a metal powder or a resin powder) for 3D printing, and a plate 12-1 for a powder chamber which is lifted and lowered by an actuator is disposed under the chamber

When powder is filled in the powder chamber 12, the powder chamber plate 12-1 is lowered and when the powder is transferred to the processing chamber 10, the powder chamber plate 12-1 is moved up and down The powder is pushed up.

The processing chamber 10 is a chamber in which substantial 3D printing is performed, and a plate 10-1 for processing chamber, which is moved up and down by an actuator, is disposed below the chamber.

Thus, the powder from the powder chamber 12 on the processing chamber plate 10-1, which is raised and arranged to the maximum height when the processing chamber plate 10-1 starts 3D printing, And the laser beam is irradiated on the applied powder, and 3D printing of a desired shape proceeds.

Around the powder chamber 12, a coater 14 capable of being conveyed to the left and right is disposed. The coater 14 serves to transfer the powder in the powder chamber 12 to the processing chamber 10, Which is a 3D printing object disposed in the processing chamber 10, with a predetermined thickness.

Particularly, a laser beam light source module 20, a lens 22 for condensing the laser beam, and a workpiece 22 for reflecting the laser beam from the lens 22 are disposed at positions spaced apart from the upper part of the processing chamber 10, And a beam scanning section 24 for irradiating the laser beam (powder state) are horizontally arranged side by side.

The laser beam light source module 20, the lens 22, and the beam scanning unit 24 are connected to a skeleton frame (not shown in FIG. 1) of the 3D printer, (For example, a linear motor and an ascending / descending motor).

Therefore, when the powder in the powder chamber 12 is coated on the plate 10-1 for the processing chamber 10 of the processing chamber 10 by the coater 14 to a predetermined thickness, the entire area of the processing chamber 10 is subjected to 3D printing The laser beam is irradiated to the powder corresponding to the area where the powder is formed (the area set in advance by the 3D coordinate data), and the powder is cured to obtain a desired 3D workpiece.

That is, the laser beam from the laser light source module 20 is irradiated as a workpiece (powder state) through the lens 22 and the beam scanning section 18, so that the powder is hardened by the heat of the laser beam, Lt; / RTI >

Thereafter, the process chamber plate 10-1 is lowered by a predetermined amount, and the coater 14 pulls the powder in the powder chamber 12 to draw a 3D workpiece And then repeating the operation of irradiating the laser beam again on the re-applied powder, the desired 3D workpiece can be completed.

On the other hand, the powder filled in the processing chamber 10 after the 3D printing operation, including the residual powder remaining on the processing chamber 10 during the above-described 3D printing operation, is transferred and stored in the overflow chamber 16 for recycling .

More specifically, the coater 14 draws powder in the powder chamber 12 and fills it in the processing chamber 10 while simultaneously applying the powder to a workpiece that is a subject of 3D printing, with the remaining powder being recycled It is dropped to the overflow chamber 16 and temporarily stored.

At this time, since the conveying distance of the coater 14 during the 3D printing operation is transferred from the outer side of the powder chamber 12 to the inlet of the overflow chamber 16 through the processing chamber 10, the powder to be filled in the processing chamber 10 The remaining powder falls into the overflow chamber 16 and is stored.

In addition, the powder dropped into the overflow chamber 16 is stored in a predetermined volume of the reprocessing container connected to the outlet of the overflow chamber, and this reprocessing container merely functions to store the powder.

Since the powder stored in the container contains various foreign substances generated during the 3D printing process, it is necessary to carry out a separate constitution process for filtering the foreign substances for recycling.

That is, after the 3D printing process is completed, the container is separated from the overflow chamber 16, the powder in the container is sieved using a separate sieving machine, and the sieved powder is sieved in the powder chamber of the 3D printer And work to move it to a container.

As such, after the completion of the 3D printing process, a separate sieving process for powder reprocessing is required, and therefore the powder reprocessing time is too long to delay the 3D printing process. In addition, There is also a cost problem such as a place and an accessory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a vibrating sieving mechanism in a container connected to an outlet of an overflow chamber of a 3D printer, And to provide a powder screening apparatus for a 3D printer which enables real-time composition of powder discharged from an overflow chamber during a 3D printing process.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a 3D printing machine, comprising: a powder chamber for storing powder material for 3D printing; a processing chamber for performing 3D printing through a powder transferred by the coater from the powder chamber; A powder sieving apparatus for a 3D printer, comprising an overflow chamber for temporarily storing powder, characterized in that the container connected to the outlet of the overflow chamber is equipped with a vibrating sieving mechanism so as to discharge from the overflow chamber into the container during the 3D printing process Wherein the sieving of the powder is performed in real time by the operation of the vibration sieving mechanism.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vibration sifting mechanism comprises: a diaphragm mounted around a bottom and a periphery of a container; A vibrator mounted inside the diaphragm to provide vibration to the diaphragm and the container; And a sheave attached to the upper end of the container to sieve the powder from the overflow chamber under the vibrations of the vibrator; .

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vibration sifting mechanism comprises: a pneumatic cylinder spaced apart from a peripheral surface of a container; A solenoid valve mounted on a rear end of the pneumatic cylinder to allow or block pneumatic pressure on the pneumatic cylinder; And a pneumatic pressure supply source connected to the inlet side of the solenoid valve; A sheave mounted on the upper end of the container for sieving the powder from the overflow chamber under the piston striking vibration of the pneumatic cylinder; And the piston of the pneumatic cylinder is capable of periodically striking the container according to the periodic opening and closing operation of the solenoid valve.

Preferably, a sieve insertion port for the sheave attachment / detachment is mounted on one side of the upper end of the container, and a sheave stage is formed on the other side of the container.

More preferably, a height detection sensor for measuring the height at which the powder is temporarily stored is further mounted at a predetermined position on the inner wall of the overflow chamber, and the output signal of the height detection sensor includes a controller To be transmitted.

The pipe connecting the outlet of the overflow chamber and the inlet of the container is connected to the bellows pipe for vibration absorption.

Through the above-mentioned means for solving the problems, the present invention provides the following effects.

First, the container connected to the outlet of the overflow chamber of the 3D printer is vibrated by the vibrating sieving mechanism to constitute the powder, thereby realizing the real-time construction of the powder discharged from the overflow chamber during the 3D printing process .

Second, since the process of removing foreign substances contained in the powder is performed during 3D printing, not ending the 3D printing, the sieving process time for the powder can be shortened.

Third, as the powder sieving by the vibration sieving mechanism is performed in the 3D printer equipment, a place for installing a separate sowing equipment is unnecessary, and it is possible to exclude that a separate sowing equipment is required to be installed , It is advantageous in terms of cost.

1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a 3D printer using a laser beam,
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a powder screening apparatus of a 3D printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
3 is a schematic view showing a powder screening apparatus of a 3D printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

First Embodiment

2 shows a powder screening apparatus for a 3D printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 designates a processing chamber, reference numeral 12 designates a powder chamber, and reference numeral 16 designates an overflow chamber .

The powder chamber 12 is a chamber for storing a powder material (such as a metal powder or a resin powder) for 3D printing, and a plate 12-1 for a powder chamber which is lifted and lowered by an actuator is disposed under the chamber

When powder is filled in the powder chamber 12, the powder chamber plate 12-1 is lowered and when the powder is transferred to the processing chamber 10, the powder chamber plate 12-1 is moved up and down The powder is pushed up.

The processing chamber 10 is a chamber in which substantial 3D printing is performed, and a plate 10-1 for processing chamber, which is moved up and down by an actuator, is disposed below the chamber.

Thus, the powder from the powder chamber 12 on the processing chamber plate 10-1, which is raised and arranged to the maximum height when the processing chamber plate 10-1 starts 3D printing, And the laser beam is irradiated on the applied powder, and 3D printing of a desired shape proceeds.

Therefore, when the powder in the powder chamber 12 is coated on the plate 10-1 for the processing chamber 10 of the processing chamber 10 by the coater 14 to a predetermined thickness, the entire area of the processing chamber 10 is subjected to 3D printing The laser beam is irradiated to the powder corresponding to the area where the powder is formed (the area set in advance by the 3D coordinate data), and the powder is cured to obtain a desired 3D workpiece.

Thereafter, the process chamber plate 10-1 is lowered by a predetermined amount, and the coater 14 pulls the powder in the powder chamber 12 to draw a 3D workpiece And then repeating the operation of irradiating the laser beam again on the re-applied powder, the desired 3D workpiece can be completed.

On the other hand, the powder filled in the processing chamber 10 after the 3D printing operation, including the residual powder remaining on the processing chamber 10 during the above-described 3D printing operation, is transferred and stored in the overflow chamber 16 for recycling .

That is, the coater 14 draws powder in the powder chamber 12 and fills it in the processing chamber 10, and at the same time, applies the powder to the workpiece to be 3D-printed, to a predetermined thickness, Falls into the chamber 16 and is temporarily stored.

According to the present invention, a vibrating sieving mechanism (40) is mounted in a container (30) connected to an outlet of the overflow chamber (16)

Therefore, the operation of the vibrating sieving mechanism 40 can vibrate the container 30 itself and real-time composition of the powder flowing into the container 30 from the overflow chamber 16 can be achieved.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the vibration sifting mechanism 40 includes a diaphragm 41 which is mounted to surround the bottom and the periphery of the container 30 as a structure for providing vibration to the container, And a vibrator 42 mounted inside the vibrating plate 41 and the container 30 to provide vibration to the vibrating plate 41 and the container 30.

At this time, a controller 50 for supplying power to the vibrator 42 is connected to the vibrator 42. The controller 50 controls the vibrator 42 in a predetermined position on the inner wall of the overflow chamber 16 Receives the height measurement signal temporarily stored in the powder from the mounted height detection sensor 52, and supplies power to the vibrator 42 when the height measurement signal is higher than a predetermined height.

More specifically, when there is no powder in the overflow chamber 16 or the height is less than a predetermined height, the height sensor 52 does not sense the height of the powder, so that the controller 50 supplies power to the vibrator 42 On the other hand, when the powder is stored in the overflow chamber 16 at a predetermined height, the height sensor 52 senses the height of the powder, and the controller 50, which receives the sensing signal, As shown in FIG.

Therefore, the vibration plate 41 and the container 30 are provided with vibration by operating the vibrator 42 supplied with power from the controller 50. [

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the vibrating sieving mechanism 40 includes a sieve 43 having a sieve size of 10 to 50 μm for sieving the powder flowing into the container 30 The sheave 43 is detachably mounted inside the upper end of the container 30. [

For this, a sheave insertion port 32 is formed at one side of the upper end of the container 30 for attachment and detachment of the sheave 43, and a sheave mounting end 34 is formed at the other side inner wall.

By inserting the sheave 43 through the sheave insertion port 32 so that one end of the sheave 43 is mounted on the sheave insertion port 32 and the other end is mounted on the sheave mounting end 34, Is slaughterably mounted inside the upper end of the container 30.

Therefore, the powder accumulated in the overflow chamber 16 during the 3D printing process flows into the container 30 and is accumulated on the sheave 43. At the same time, the vibrator 42, which is supplied with power from the controller 50, The diaphragm 41 and the container 30 are vibrated so that the real time composition of the sheave 43 with respect to the powder is achieved.

The powder that has been completed in the form of being accumulated on the bottom of the container 30 through the sheave 43 can be transferred to the powder chamber again.

The pipe connecting the outlet of the overflow chamber 16 and the inlet of the container 30 is preferably connected by a bellows pipe for absorbing vibration because the vibrator 42, The metal pipe may be broken when the container 30 is vibrated by the operation of the container 30, and the vibration of the container 30 can not be ensured.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, during the 3D printing by the 3D printer, the container 30 is vibrated by the vibration sifting mechanism 40 so that the powder is sifted from the overflow chamber, It is possible to constitute the powder in real time during the printing process, so that the sieving process time for the powder can be significantly shortened compared with the conventional powder sieving process which is performed separately after completion of the 3D printing.

Second Embodiment

3 shows a powder screening apparatus for a 3D printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above, but differs in the configuration of the vibration sifting mechanism only.

That is, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the vibrating sieving mechanism 40 is mounted on the container 30 connected to the outlet of the overflow chamber 16, but unlike the first embodiment, And the mechanism 40 is mounted.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the vibrating sieving mechanism 40 includes two or more pneumatic cylinders 44 arranged to be spaced from the circumferential surface of the container 30, .

At the front end of the pneumatic cylinder 44, a piston 45 capable of being advanced by pneumatic pressure is provided. At the rear end of the pneumatic cylinder 44, a pneumatic pressure is allowed to be applied to the pneumatic cylinder 44 while being periodically opened and closed under the control of the controller 50 Or a solenoid valve 46 for shutting off.

A pneumatic pressure source 47 such as a compressor is connected to the inlet side of the solenoid valve 46 via a pneumatic line.

In this case, the vibrating sieving mechanism 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured to sieve powder flowing into the container 30, and in the same manner as the first embodiment, And is detachably mounted within the top.

Preferably, when the powder is not present in the overflow chamber 16 or is less than a predetermined height, the height sensor 52 does not sense the height of the powder. Therefore, in the controller 50, When the powder is stored at a predetermined height in the overflow chamber 16, the height of the powder is sensed by the height sensor 52, and the controller 50, which receives the sensing signal, And supplies power to the providing source 47.

Accordingly, when the pneumatic pressure source 47 is operated and the periodic opening / closing operation of the solenoid valve 46 provides the periodic pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic cylinder 44, the piston 45 is moved forward 30, so that the container 30 vibrates.

The powder accumulated in the overflow chamber 16 during the 3D printing process flows into the container 30 and is accumulated on the sheave 43 while at the same time the piston 45 of the pneumatic cylinder 44 reaches the container 30, So that the real time composition of the sheave 43 with respect to the powder is achieved.

The powder that has been completed in the form of being accumulated on the bottom of the container 30 through the sheave 43 can be transferred to the powder chamber again.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, during the 3D printing by the 3D printer, the container 30 is vibrated by the vibration sifting mechanism 40 so that the powder is sifted from the overflow chamber, It is possible to constitute the powder in real time during the printing process, so that the sieving process time for the powder can be significantly shortened compared with the conventional powder sieving process which is performed separately after completion of the 3D printing.

10: Processing chamber
10-1: Plate for processing chamber
12: Powder chamber
12-1: Plate for powder chamber
14: Coater
16: Overflow chamber
20: laser beam light source module
22: Lens
24: beam scanning unit
30: Container
32: Sheave insert
34: Sieve station
40: Vibration sieving mechanism
41: diaphragm
42: Vibrator
43: Sieve
44: Pneumatic cylinder
45: Piston
46: Solenoid valve
47: Pneumatic supply source
50:
52: Height sensor

Claims (6)

A powder chamber for storing powder material for 3D printing; a processing chamber in which 3D printing proceeds via a powder transferred by the coater from the powder chamber; and an overflow chamber for temporarily storing the residual powder from the processing chamber A powder screening apparatus for a 3D printer,
A vibrating sieving mechanism is mounted on a container connected to the outlet of the overflow chamber so that the sieving of the powder discharged from the overflow chamber into the container during the 3D printing process can be performed in real time by the operation of the vibrating sieving mechanism Features a 3D printer powder sieving device.
The method according to claim 1,
The vibrating sieving mechanism comprises:
A vibration plate mounted around the bottom and the periphery of the container;
A vibrator mounted inside the diaphragm to provide vibration to the diaphragm and the container; And
A sheave mounted on an upper end of the container to sieve the powder from the overflow chamber under the vibrations of the vibrator;
And the powder is sieved.
The method according to claim 1,
The vibrating sieving mechanism comprises:
A pneumatic cylinder spaced apart from the peripheral surface of the container;
A solenoid valve mounted on a rear end of the pneumatic cylinder to allow or block pneumatic pressure on the pneumatic cylinder; And
A pneumatic supply source connected to the inlet side of the solenoid valve;
A sheave mounted on the upper end of the container for sieving the powder from the overflow chamber under the piston striking vibration of the pneumatic cylinder;
And,
Wherein the piston of the pneumatic cylinder is capable of periodically striking the container according to the periodic opening and closing operation of the solenoid valve.
The method according to claim 2 or 3,
Wherein a sheave inserting hole for sheave attachment and detachment is formed on one side of the upper end of the container, and a sheave mounting end is formed on the other side wall of the container.
The method according to claim 1,
A height sensor for measuring the height at which the powder is temporarily stored is further installed at a predetermined position on the inner wall of the overflow chamber and the output signal of the height sensor is transmitted to a controller for controlling the operation of the vibration sifting mechanism Features a 3D printer powder sieving device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the tube connecting the outlet of the overflow chamber and the inlet of the container is connected with a bellows tube for vibration absorption.

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