KR20200054363A - Device which is driven by six axes to manufacture a three-dimensional scaffold - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a six-axis driven three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing device. According to the present invention, the six-axis driven three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing device comprises: a laser unit allowing a laser sintering operation at a fixed target point in an xy plane; a three-axis driven operation unit descending along an z-axis in one area including the target point of a movable plate which moves in the xy plane and provided with a stacked plate which forms a stacked space; and a three-axis driven feeding unit rotating, such that the stacked space is filled with ceramic powder for an artificial support discharged upward along the z-axis in an accommodation space formed in the other area of the moveable plate, and provided with a feed roller linearly operated in the stacked space, wherein the laser sintering operation is continuously performed on the repeatedly stacked ceramic powder. According to the present invention, the entire size of the manufacturing device can be made smaller by the low power laser unit which facilitates the laser sintering operation for ceramic powder in the air not in a sealed chamber through optimization of a laser beam path that minimizes energy loss, and through a linked operation of a three-axis driven work table and the three-axis driven feeding unit, supply of ceramic powder for an artificial support by each layer and selective laser sintering for the ceramic powder supplied to each layer are continuously performed and thus, various customized three-dimensional artificial supports having a complicated porous structure can be quickly and accurately manufactured in a micro unit.

Description

DEVICE WHICH IS DRIVEN BY SIX AXES TO MANUFACTURE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SCAFFOLD}

The present invention relates to a six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus, and more specifically, repeating the six-axis driving with automatic laser sintering of the powdered ceramics for artificial supports and the selective laser sintering of the supplied ceramic powders for each layer. By making it through, it relates to a device for manufacturing a three-dimensional artificial support.

In order to solve problems such as bone damage due to accidents or diseases, lack of exercise, or deterioration of bone functions due to aging, interest in biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration has been recently focused.

In particular, during the research and development related to biomaterials, the artificial support (Scaffold) is intended for the purpose of tissue regeneration, such as tissue engineering, that is, culturing the same cells as the damaged part in vitro and then transplanting them to the damaged site to exert the function. As one of the major issues of the study), various research and development of biocompatible materials and manufacturing methods that can help the deposition, proliferation and differentiation of cells are actively being conducted.

Such an artificial support, while supporting the growth of cells in the body over time after transplantation, can be slowly decomposed to minimize the induction time of autogeneration and rejection in vivo according to the need to be absorbed in the body, and the biodegradation activity in the body It is manufactured in a porous structure by utilizing various materials such as biopolymers, synthetic polymers, bioceramics, or metals with active metabolism.

At this time, the manufacturing of the porous 3D artificial support is specifically made of 3D manufacturing techniques such as stereolithography (SLA) and thermal deposition lamination (Fused deposition modeling, FDM).

However, the facilities or devices used in the 3D manufacturing technology are composed of large-scale, expensive systems, so it is difficult to manufacture a small amount of artificial supports or to use them in small-scale laboratory units. There is a problem that there are still obvious limitations in the rapid production of artificial supports.

Among the prior arts related to an artificial support manufacturing apparatus for improving this, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0054208 (Publication Date: May 29, 2009) is a precision multi-axis lamination apparatus and a 3D artificial support manufacturing system using the same. Disclosed technology.

The above-mentioned prior art describes that it is possible to manufacture a complex 3D artificial support having a line width of at least 100 µm or less while being controlled within an error range of ± 10 µm and having required stiffness.

However, the manufacturing method adopted by the prior art uses a heat-dissolution lamination method in which a solid material is melted and liquefied and then sprayed to a predetermined thickness, so that the usable material is easy to apply only to low-temperature meltable synthetic polymers, etc. Since it is practically difficult to apply to the provided high-temperature meltable bioceramics or metals, maintenance of nozzles, etc. is routinely required, and solidification (cooling) is required due to the fact that the shape is made of molten resin sprayed from a stacking head that is continuously driven by three axes. Since the process is essential, there is a limit to shortening the lead time required to complete the artificial support, and since there are a number of control factors such as injection speed and melt viscosity, a certain limit is also expected in the precision of the finished product. This is a demand.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2009-0054208 (Publication date: May 29, 2009)

The object of the present invention is to use a variety of materials, such as biopolymers, synthetic polymers, bioceramics or metals without material limitations, a six-axis drive type that can quickly and precisely manufacture small amounts of customized artificial supports with automated control operations. It is to provide a device for manufacturing a 3D artificial support.

The above object is, a laser unit for laser sintering at a fixed target point of the xy plane; a three-axis driving work unit provided with a stacked plate forming a stacked space while descending along the z-axis in an area including the target point of the movable plate moving on the xy plane; And a three-axis drive equipped with a feed roller that rotates and rotates linearly into the stacked space so that the ceramic powder for artificial support discharged upward along the z-axis from the receiving space formed in the other area of the movable plate is filled in the stacked space. It is achieved by a six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the laser sintering action is continuously made to the ceramic powders that are repeatedly stacked, including the feeding portion.

The working unit, a horizontal drive unit of a two-axis drive is installed between the floor frame and the movable plate, so that the movable plate is linearly linked in the x-axis and y-axis directions; The movable plate is coupled to the horizontal driving unit to move on the xy plane, and the receiving space and the stacking space are formed to penetrate each other in the vertical direction; And it may include a first vertical driving unit for raising and lowering the laminated plate inserted into the stacked space along the z-axis.

The feeding part includes: a second vertical driving part for moving the discharge plate inserted and installed to support the ceramic powder in the accommodation space along the z-axis; A feed driving unit installed between the horizontal driving unit and the movable plate to perform a linear operation while reciprocating between the receiving space and the stacked space; A feed roller having a cylindrical shape coupled to the feed driving unit in contact with the upper surface of the movable plate to move the ceramic powder discharged from the receiving space to the stacked space and to fill it with a constant thickness; And a rotation driving unit for rotating the feed roller in an axis perpendicular to the linear operation of the feed driving unit.

The ceramic powder may be a biocompatible calcium phosphate-based ceramic (CaP based ceramics) powder.

The 6-axis driving type 3D artificial support manufacturing apparatus further includes a control unit connected to the laser unit, the working unit, and the feeding unit, and individually controlling them, wherein the control unit is repeatedly stacked and filled. For carrying out the artificial support completed by the layer-by-layer sintering action on the ceramic powder, the first vertical driving unit is operated and controlled to raise the laminated board to the upper surface of the movable plate, and for separation of the completed artificial support from the laminated space The feed driving unit may be operated and controlled to move the feed roller linearly to the end of the movable plate.

The laser unit, a laser generator for generating and emitting a laser beam with carbon dioxide as a medium; A beam expander for adjusting the beam size at the exit of the laser beam; A reflector for converting the laser beam passing through the beam expander in a direction toward the target point; And a focusing lens that is provided to enable position adjustment along the path of the redirected laser beam and converges the laser beam onto a focal point.

The feeding part may further include a pressing part that presses the feed roller in close contact with the movable plate so that compaction of the ceramic powder filled in the lamination space is achieved.

The pressurizing portion is a mechanical coil spring installed around the feed roller and elastically supported so that the feed roller is in close contact with the movable plate, or is elongated upon application of control power and electrically piezoelectric to close the feed roller toward the movable plate. It can be a device.

The feeding part may further include a weight sensor provided on one side of the discharge plate to measure the weight of the ceramic powder accommodated in the accommodation space.

According to the present invention, through the optimization of the laser beam path that minimizes energy loss, etc., the size of the entire manufacturing apparatus can be downsized due to the low-power laser unit that facilitates laser sintering of the ceramic powder in air, not inside the sealed chamber. In addition, through the interlocked operation between the 3-axis driving worktable and the 3-axis driving feeding part, the complex porous structure is formed by the continuous supply of layered ceramic powder for artificial supports and the selective laser sintering of the supplied ceramic powder. A variety of customized 3D artificial supports that can be produced can be manufactured quickly and precisely in micro units.

1 is a perspective view of a six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a view showing the front and back surfaces of FIG. 1, respectively.
2B is a view showing the plane and side surface of FIG. 1, respectively.
3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a view showing the six-axis operation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a process diagram showing the three-axis driving of the feeding part of FIG. 1 step by step.
6 is a view conceptually showing a process of manufacturing an artificial support using FIG. 1.
7 is a photograph showing the proportions of the actual size and compositional elements of the artificial support completed according to FIG. 6.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing the present invention, descriptions of already known functions or configurations will be omitted to clarify the gist of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2a is a view showing the front and rear surfaces of Figure 1, respectively, Figure 2b is a plane and side view of Figure 1, respectively FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view showing the six-axis operation of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a process diagram showing the three-axis driving of the feeding part of FIG. 1 step by step, and FIG. 6 Is a diagram conceptually showing a process for manufacturing an artificial support using FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a photograph showing the proportions of the actual size and compositional elements of the artificial support completed according to FIG.

The X, Y, and Z axes shown in the drawings are arbitrarily set for convenience of explanation, not for the purpose of limiting rights, and the X axis indicates the front (front, arrow side) and rear (back) direction, and the Y axis is left and right. The direction (arrow side) is indicated, and the Z axis is defined to indicate the up (up, arrow) and down (down) directions. Each direction described below is based on this, except where otherwise specified.

The six-axis-driven 3D artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present invention rapidly and precisely manufactures various customized 3D artificial supports having a complex porous structure in a small unit, and a small-scale laboratory through miniaturization of the entire device. Or it is an invention devised to be freely usable even in hospital units.

To this end, the six-axis-driven three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present invention uses a selective laser sintering method for ceramics for artificial supports that are manufactured in powder form and sequentially supplied in a stacked manner, unlike the nozzle spraying method of a conventional molten resin. Through this, a 3D artificial support is produced in a manner of solidifying layer by layer.

Here, selective laser sintering (SLS) refers to a technique of selectively solidifying materials such as powder by using a selective energy transfer function of a laser as one method of material processing using a laser. It refers to the development of laser cladding, which makes the shape of a special purpose in the form of sintering adhesion.

Selective laser sintering has been researched and developed as rapid-prototyping with increasing tendency to solve parts quickly and economically without using complicated or expensive equipment for manufacturing parts and prototypes. Currently, 3D CAD drawing files Is encoded to produce a solid physical model directly from it.

Materials for artificial supports that can be used in the selective laser sintering method as described above can be classified as polymer, metal, ceramic, or composite materials, and the characteristics of each are briefly described as follows.

First, the polymer material has excellent bendability, elasticity, moldability, workability, and light weight, but has insufficient mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and biodegradability. Metal materials have excellent strength, toughness, and abrasion resistance, but are high in weight and bio It has the characteristics of insufficient compatibility and corrosion resistance. In the case of ceramic materials, it has excellent biocompatibility, inertness, corrosion resistance, and compressive strength, but is brittle due to its brittleness, and lacks moldability, workability, and stability. In this case, biocompatibility, high strength, inertness, and corrosion resistance are excellent, but the moldability and workability are also insufficient.

Accordingly, in the present invention, among the polymers, metals, ceramics and composite materials provided in the form of powders or granules in consideration of the characteristics of each material, in order to satisfy the required properties according to the shape, structure, and application of the artificial support. A material including at least one may be used selectively.

However, the most preferred material is a powder-type high-temperature soluble calcium phosphate-based ceramic (CaP based ceramics), which was difficult to apply because it melts at a temperature higher than the heating temperature of the heat-dissolution lamination method in which a conventional low-temperature meltable solid material is melted and sprayed to a predetermined thickness. ).

In order to specifically implement the functions and functions as described above, the six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 2b, the laser unit ( 110), including the working unit 120 and the feeding unit 130, the power supply for each component from the power supply unit 190 and a control unit 140 for individually controlling them respectively Can be included.

Hereinafter, each of the aforementioned components will be described in detail.

First, the laser unit 110 is a component provided to cause the laser energy generated and radiated at one side to be located at a fixed target point T on an xy plane arbitrarily set by a user, thereby causing the target point T ), The powdered material such as calcium phosphate-based ceramic is sintered by the transmitted laser energy.

Here, the target point T refers to a point where a sintering action by a laser occurs on a powdered material, and a ceramic powder (CP) thinly filled in each layer in a stacked space S1 to be described later according to a user's setting. ), The upper surface of the ceramic powder (CP), the lower surface of the ceramic powder (CP) in contact with the laminate 123 may be formed in various locations.

In order to specifically implement the above functions or actions, the laser unit 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the laser generator 112, the beam expander 114, the reflector 116 ) And a focusing lens 118 and the like.

At this time, the laser generator 112 is a component that emits and emits a laser beam with carbon dioxide (CO2) as a medium. Calcium phosphate, which is difficult to apply to the thermal dissolution lamination method as it melts at a higher temperature than the heating temperature of the thermal dissolution lamination method It may be a low-power laser equipment having a maximum power of 30W capable of smoothly sintering the ceramic powder (CP).

This low power laser equipment shows a clear difference in size and power consumption when compared with high power (more than 100W) laser equipment generally applied to the existing selective laser sintering method.

The beam expander 114 is a component that adjusts the beam size at the exit of the laser beam provided on one side of the laser generator 112, and the reflector 116 has a laser beam passing through the beam expander 114 at a target point (T As a component for changing the direction to face), a plurality of the artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present invention may be installed in an appropriate position according to the overall structure or arrangement and used to change the direction of the laser beam.

The focusing lens 118 is provided to enable position adjustment along the path of the redirected laser beam, thereby converging the laser beam on the focal point (F) (F) of the lens (the width of the laser beam is minimized), thereby laser energy As a component that amplifies the size of, the focus F at this time is uniquely determined according to the focusing lens 118, and is different from the target point T described above. (See FIG. 6)

When the distance between the focusing lens 118 and the target point T set by the user is changed through the position adjusting means, the width of the laser beam with respect to the target point T is the focus F of the focusing lens 118 The farther away from it, the more it increases and the laser energy decreases.

That is, when the output of the laser generator 112 is adjusted together with the positioning of the focusing lens 118, the strength and thickness of the laser sintering action for the ceramic powder CP located at the target point T are variously changed. In addition, it is possible to manufacture a customized high-quality artificial support corresponding to various sintered materials according to a user's demand.

Through the laser unit 110 combined with the above-described configurations, it is possible to optimize the ceramic powder (CP) to be sintered and to design a variable laser beam path capable of minimizing energy loss. Smooth laser sintering of the ceramic powder (CP) is possible in the air instead of inside the closed chamber, and the size of the entire manufacturing apparatus can be further downsized by the application of the small low-power laser generator 112.

The working unit 120 moves in the direction of two axes (x-axis and y-axis) along the xy plane based on the target point T, which is the point where the sintering action by the laser occurs, while the powdered material is layered It is a component of 3-axis driving, in which one region descends along the z-axis to be filled with.

In order to specifically implement the functions or operations as described above, the working unit 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the horizontal driving unit 124, the movable plate 122, It may be configured to include a first vertical drive unit 126 and the like.

The horizontal driving unit 124 is a component that is installed between the floor frame 102 and the movable plate 122 so that the movable plate 122, which will be described later, is interlocked in the x-axis and y-axis directions. The plate 122 behaves freely along the xy plane and can sinter the powdery material into a predetermined programmed two-dimensional shape (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

1 and 4, the x-axis driving unit 124a sliding the 122 along the x-axis direction (X in FIG. 4) and the sliding along the x-axis direction The movable plate 122 may be composed of a y-axis driving unit 124b that slides again along the y-axis direction (Y in FIG. 4).

Implementation of the y-axis driving unit 124b interlocked with the x-axis driving unit 124a includes a first rail formed elongated in the x-axis direction, a second rail formed elongated in the y-axis direction, and sliding along the first rail. 2 It can be composed of a connecting block that slides along the rail and is coupled to the movable plate 122 to be described later.

At this time, the driving force for sliding the second rail and the connection block may be implemented as a power conversion assembly that converts rotational motion into linear motion, such as a step motor having a ball screw as a rotating shaft and a ball nut screwed thereto.

Of course, the first vertical driving unit 126 may be implemented as a power conversion assembly composed of a pinion gear provided on a rotation shaft of a step motor and a rack gear interworking therewith, as illustrated.

The movable plate 122 is coupled to the horizontal driving unit 124 to behave on the xy plane according to the operation of the horizontal driving unit 124 described above, and is plate-like to be provided with a powder material in each layer from the feeding unit 130 to be described later. As a component of, the receiving space (S2) and the stacking space (S1) into which the stacked plates 123, which move down and up and down along the z-axis are fitted, are formed to penetrate each other in the vertical direction (z-axis).

At this time, the stacking space (S1) in which the stacking plate 123 that moves up and down is sandwiched is a movable plate including a target point (T) which is a point at which a sintering action of a powdered material provided by a redirected laser beam is reached. One area of (122) is formed, the storage space (S2) for storing a powder material, such as ceramic powder (CP) for artificial support, the stacked space (S1) in parallel with the other area of the movable plate 122 adjacent to Is formed.

On the other hand, at both ends of the movable plate 122, a collection box for accommodating the three-dimensional artificial support that is filled in the lamination space S1 and accommodates the remaining powder-like material or is sintered and taken out from the lamination space S1 ( 128) may be provided, respectively.

The first vertical driving unit 126 is a component provided at the lower portion of the movable plate 122 to provide a driving force for moving the laminated plate 123 inserted and installed in the laminated space S1 along the z-axis (A of FIG. 4). As, it is implemented as a power conversion assembly that converts a rotational motion into a linear motion, such as a step motor having a ball screw as a rotating shaft and a ball nut screwed thereto, and is combined with a stacked plate 123 which acts like a piston.

Of course, the first vertical driving unit 126 may be implemented as a power conversion assembly composed of a pinion gear provided on a rotation shaft of a step motor and a rack gear interworking therewith, as illustrated.

Due to the three-axis driving of the working unit 120 made of the above-described configuration, the powdered material sequentially provided layer by layer from the feeding unit 130 to the movable plate 122 (specifically the lamination space S1), While being sintered in a predetermined programmed two-dimensional shape, they are stacked up and down to form a three-dimensional artificial support.

The feeding part 130 is a movable plate 122 in which the powdered material (ceramic powder for artificial support (CP)) discharged upward along the z axis in the receiving space S2 formed in the other area of the movable plate 122 is described above. ) As a component of a 3-axis drive to be provided for each layer in a stacked space (S1), the artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present invention is connected to the 3-axis drive of the above-described working unit 120, in total, 6 axes It is driven by (see Fig. 4).

In order to specifically implement the functions or operations as described above, the feeding unit 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the second vertical driving unit 136, the feed driving unit 134 ), A feed roller 132 and a rotation driving unit 138, and the like.

The second vertical driving unit 136 provides a driving force to elevate (Z in FIG. 4) the ejection plate 133 inserted and installed along the z axis to support the ceramic powder CP, which is a powder material in the accommodation space S2. As a component provided in the lower portion of the movable plate 122 in parallel with the above-described first vertical driving part 126, the rotational motion is converted into a linear motion such as a step motor having a ball screw as a rotating shaft and a ball nut screwed thereto. It is implemented as a power conversion assembly to be combined with a discharge plate 133 that acts like a piston.

Of course, the second vertical driving unit 136 may also be implemented as a power conversion assembly composed of a pinion gear provided on a rotating shaft of a step motor and a rack gear interworking therewith, as shown.

At this time, on one side of the discharge plate 133, as shown in FIG. 5, a weight sensor 139 capable of real-time measuring the weight of the ceramic powder CP accommodated in the accommodation space S2 may be further provided. Due to this, the powdery material that is continuously used during the manufacturing process of the artificial support can be supplemented or refilled at an appropriate time through a user or a separate automated refilling device.

The feed driving unit 134 is a horizontal driving unit 124 so that the feed roller 132, which will be described later, reciprocates between the receiving space S2 and the stacking space S1 of the movable plate 122 and performs a linear operation (B in FIG. 4). ) As a component installed between the movable plate 122 and a step motor having a ball screw as a rotating shaft and screwed thereto to operate linearly and may be implemented as a power conversion assembly such as a ball nut fixed to the feed roller 132. .

Due to the operation of the feed driving unit 134, the feed roller 132 can provide the powdered material discharged from the receiving space S2 in each layer in the stacking space S1 of the movable plate 122. ( 5 and 6)

The feed roller 132 is coupled to the feed driving unit 134 in a state in contact with the upper surface of the movable plate 122, and the powdered material such as ceramic powder CP discharged from the receiving space S2 according to its linear operation As a cylindrical component filled by moving to the lamination space S1, it can be made of metal, elastic rubber or synthetic polymer.

Due to the reciprocating linear operation of the feed roller 132, the powdered material can be filled in each layer in a uniform thickness in each layer.

The reciprocating linear operation of the feed roller 132 (B in FIG. 4) is made in a state in which the feed roller 132 is slightly spaced from the upper surface of the movable plate 122 when sliding to the first stacking space S1, Thereafter, when the sliding return toward the accommodation space S2, the upper surface of the movable plate 122 and the feed roller 132 may be made in close contact.

This, after the first sliding movement toward the lamination space (S1), the powder-like material is supplied in a sufficient amount to the lamination space (S1), and then, when the sliding return, the powder-like material, which is sufficiently filled by the feed roller 132, is laminated while being pressed. It is intended to be compacted and filled in the space S1.

When the feed roller 132 is operated and controlled in this way, the feed roller 132 is preferably made of elastic rubber or synthetic polymer, etc., for smooth and natural operation of the feed roller 132.

When laser sintering is performed on the compacted powdery material, the quality of the sinter, the bonding strength, and the uniformity of the sintering can be significantly improved as compared to the case where the compact is not compacted.

Furthermore, as described above, for implementing or strengthening the compaction action for the ceramic powder CP filled in the stacking space S1, the feeding unit 130 moves the feed roller 132 as shown in FIG. 122) may further include a pressurizing portion 150 that is pressed in close contact with the side.

Specifically, the pressing unit 150 may be implemented as a mechanical coil spring 150a installed around the feed roller 132 and elastically supported so that the feed roller 132 is in close contact with the movable plate 122 as illustrated, Unlike the illustrated one, it extends upon application of control power from the power supply 190 and presses or contracts the feed roller 132 toward the movable plate 122, and the feed roller 132 is separated from the movable plate 122. It may be implemented as an electric piezoelectric element.

The rotation driving unit 138 is a component that rotates (C in FIG. 4C) the feed roller 132 in an axis perpendicular to the linear operation of the feed driving unit 134, and a rotating shaft such as a motor that generates rotational motion. It is made by connecting directly to the feed roller 132 or by connecting it to the feed roller 132 via a combination of predetermined reduction gears.

At this time, the rotational direction of the rotation driving unit 138 may be variously controlled according to the characteristics of the powder material or the linear operating direction of the feed driving unit 134.

However, in order to enable the powdered material discharged from the receiving space S2 to be transported and filled more smoothly and neatly in the stacking space S1, the rotary roller 138 has a feed roller 132 toward the stacking space S1. When sliding, the sliding direction and the rotation direction of the feed roller 132 in contact with the movable plate 122 may be rotationally controlled to match each other.

In addition, in order to allow the feed roller 132 to move quickly without resistance to the movable plate 122 and the discharged powdery material to be filled in the lamination space S1, the rotary drive unit 138 of the feed roller 132 The rotation direction of the sliding direction and the rotation direction of the feed roller 132 on the side contacting the movable plate 122 may be rotationally controlled to form opposite directions to each other.

The apparatus 100 for manufacturing an artificial support according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to respective components as described above, that is, the laser unit 110, the working unit 120, and the feeding unit 130, respectively. It may further include a control unit 140 for operating control.

The control unit 140, as shown in Figure 6, the laser unit 110, the working unit 120 and the feeding unit 130 and the like, respectively, while electrically connected to the power supply based on the control command coded by the user By applying individualized control power to each component from the device 190, the laser generator 112 is turned on / off, and the position of the horizontal driving unit 124, the first and second vertical driving units 126,136, and the feed driving unit 134 The displacement and the moving speed, the rotating speed of the rotation driving unit 138 and the direction refilling device are controlled, respectively.

In addition, the control unit 140 receives the weight information of the powdered material stored in the receiving space (S2) in real time while connected to the above-described weight sensor 139 to visually or audibly replenish or refill the powdered material to the user. You can perform the operation provided by the enemy.

In addition, when the feed roller 132 first slides toward the stacking space S1 while the piezoelectric element is connected to the controller 140, the control unit 140 applies control power so that the piezoelectric element contracts to feed from the upper surface of the movable plate 122. The roller 132 can be slightly spaced apart, and then, when sliding back toward the receiving space S2, the control power is applied to extend the piezoelectric element so that the upper surface of the movable plate 122 and the feed roller 132 are in close contact. You can control it.

The control unit 140 is implemented as a modular unit such as a micro controller unit (MCU), a microcomputer, or an Arduino, and a memory may be provided inside.

The memory is implemented as a hard disk drive (Hard Disk Drive, HDD), read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, or memory card, and an artificial support according to the present invention An operating system program for operating the manufacturing apparatus 100 and data required for the same may be stored.

In this case, necessary data may include control commands of various components coded by various users, various processing information, and the like. A series of processes of the control unit 140 that controls each connected device and processes or stores the received data, etc., is achieved by being coded in a programming language such as a machine language.

The concrete implementation and control method of the control unit 140 can be easily performed in various ways and forms at the level of those skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

However, a control process of manufacturing an artificial support using the artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, a step-by-step process will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, the user models the shape of a customized 3D artificial support to be manufactured through a 3D production program, and converts each layered image to G-Code through transverse slicing at a predetermined interval based on 3D modeling data (coded) Control command) to perform a preparation step of inputting to the control unit 140 (S100).

Next, the control unit 140, after performing a control operation to move the discharge plate 133 downward as shown in Figure 5 (a), the user or the automatic supply device is a powder material to be used in the manufacture of artificial support (Ceramic powder (CP)) to perform the initial setting step of putting into the receiving space (S2). (S200)

Next, the control unit 140, as shown in Figure 5 (b) in accordance with the order of the coded control command, the stacked plate 123 moves downward to the depth corresponding to the thickness of each sliced layer, while the discharge plate ( 133) The first and second vertical driving units 126 and 136 are respectively operated and controlled to move upward. (S310)

And the control unit 140, as shown in Figure 5 (c) according to the order of the coded control command, the powdered material (ceramic) discharged above the movable plate 122 by the operation of the second vertical drive unit 136 Powder (CP)) is neatly moved to the lamination space (S1), compacted and filled, so that the linear movement of the feed driving unit 134 and the rotation of the rotary driving unit 138 are respectively operated and controlled (S320) to complete the feeding step. . (S300)

At this time, the discharge amount of the powdery material is controlled to an amount capable of filling the stacked space S1 formed by the stacked plates 123, which respectively move downward to a depth corresponding to at least the sliced thickness of each layer.

Next, the controller 140 operates the laser generator 112 as shown in FIG. 6 according to the order of the coded control commands, and is filled flat in the lamination space S1 to form a first layer (ceramic) Operation control so that the sintering of the first layer on the powder (CP) is performed at a fixed target point (S410).

At the same time, the control unit 140 selectively selects a two-dimensional plane shape corresponding to the sliced image through the movable plate 122 that moves relative to the x-axis and y-axis based on the fixed target point T of the laser beam. Operation control of the horizontal driving unit 124 of the working unit 120 to be sintered (S420).

Then, when the sintering of the layered images is completed in the order of the coded control command, the control unit 140 completes the sintering step for each layer by operating control (S430) to stop the operation of the laser generator 112 (S400).

Next, the controller 140 accumulates and fills the powdery material (ceramic powder (CP)) in the stacked space (S1) with a thickness corresponding to the next layered image in the order of the coded control command (S300). Wow, the sintering step (S400) of continuously sintering the two-dimensional planar shape corresponding to the next layered image is repeatedly performed until the shape of the customized 3D artificial support is achieved. (S500)

On the other hand, the control unit 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention, by repeatedly stacking and filling the powdered material (ceramic powder (CP)) layer by layer sintering action to complete the operation control for the removal of the artificial support is additionally can do.

To this end, the control unit 140 controls the first vertical driving unit 126 to operate and raise the laminated plate 123 to the upper surface of the movable plate 122. Next, the control unit 140 operates the feed driving unit 134 to control the feed roller 132 linearly to the end of the movable plate 122 so that the completed artificial support can be separated from the stacked space S1. Control.

Due to the special control of the control unit 140, the apparatus 100 for manufacturing an artificial support according to an embodiment of the present invention is collected at both ends of the movable plate 122 at the completion of the artificial support without manual intervention by a user. Until the export to (128), an automated operation is performed.

Due to the artificial support manufacturing apparatus 100 and the manufacturing method using the same according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, various customized 3D artificial supports having a complex porous structure as shown in FIG. It can be manufactured precisely, and by using ceramic powder (CP) including calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), which are the components of bone, as a material for powder, a more suitable artificial support for living body can be manufactured, and the whole device The miniaturization of the system enables free and universal use in a small laboratory or hospital unit.

In the foregoing, although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and it is common knowledge in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is obvious to those who have it. Therefore, such modifications or variations should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or viewpoint of the present invention, and the modified embodiments should belong to the claims of the present invention.

T: Target point F: Lens focus
CP: Ceramic powder S1: Laminated space
S2: accommodation space
100: 6-axis driving type 3D artificial support manufacturing device
102: floor frame 110: laser section
112: laser generator 114: beam expander
116: reflector 118: focusing lens
120: working unit 122: movable plate
123: laminated plate 124: horizontal driving unit
124a: x-axis drive 124b: y-axis drive
126: first vertical drive unit 128: collection box
130: feeding unit 132: feed roller
133: discharge plate 134: feed driving unit
136: second vertical drive unit 138: rotary drive unit
139: weight sensor 140: control unit
150: pressing portion 150a: coil spring

Claims (9)

a laser unit that enables laser sintering at a fixed target point on the xy plane;
a three-axis driving work unit provided with a stacked plate forming a stacked space while descending along the z-axis in an area including the target point of the movable plate moving on the xy plane; And
Three-axis driving feeding with a feed roller that rotates and rotates so that the ceramic powder for artificial support discharged upward along the z-axis in the receiving space formed in the other area of the movable plate is filled in the laminated space, and linearly operates in the laminated space. Including wealth,
6-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the laser sintering is continuously performed on the ceramic powders that are repeatedly stacked. According to claim 1,
The working unit,
A two-axis horizontal driving unit installed between the floor frame and the movable plate so that the movable plate is linearly operated in the x-axis and y-axis directions;
The movable plate is coupled to the horizontal driving unit to move on the xy plane, and the receiving space and the stacking space are formed to penetrate each other in the vertical direction; And
A six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus comprising a first vertical driving unit for moving the laminated plate inserted into the stacked space along the z-axis. According to claim 2,
The feeding portion,
A second vertical driving unit for moving the ejection plate inserted and installed along the z-axis to support the ceramic powder in the accommodation space;
A feed driving unit installed between the horizontal driving unit and the movable plate to perform a linear operation while reciprocating between the receiving space and the stacked space;
A feed roller having a cylindrical shape coupled to the feed driving part in contact with the upper surface of the movable plate to move the ceramic powder discharged from the receiving space to the stacked space and to fill it with a constant thickness; And
A six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus comprising a rotary driving unit for rotating the feed roller in an axis perpendicular to the linear operation of the feed driving unit. According to claim 3,
The ceramic powder,
A 6-axis driving type 3D artificial support manufacturing apparatus characterized by being a biocompatible calcium phosphate based ceramics powder. According to claim 3,
The 6-axis driving type 3D artificial support manufacturing apparatus,
The laser unit, the working unit and the feeding unit is further connected to each control unit for individually controlling the operation,
The control unit,
The first vertical driving unit is operated and controlled to carry out the artificial support completed by layer-by-layer sintering action on the ceramic powder that is repeatedly stacked and filled to raise the laminated plate to the upper surface of the movable plate, and completed from the laminated space. 6-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the feed driving unit is operated and controlled to move the feed roller linearly to the end of the movable plate for the departure of the artificial support. According to claim 3,
The laser unit,
A laser generator that generates and emits carbon dioxide as a laser beam;
A beam expander for adjusting the beam size at the exit of the laser beam;
A reflector for converting the laser beam passing through the beam expander in a direction toward the target point; And
A 6-axis driving type 3D artificial support manufacturing apparatus comprising a focusing lens that is provided to enable position adjustment along a path of a redirected laser beam and converges the laser beam onto a focal point. According to claim 3,
The feeding portion,
The six-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus further comprising a pressing portion for pressing and pressing the feed roller toward the movable plate, so that the compaction action for the ceramic powder filled in the lamination space is achieved. The method of claim 7,
The pressing portion,
It is installed around the feed roller,
6-axis driving type three-dimensional, characterized in that the feed roller is a mechanical coil spring elastically supported so as to be in close contact with the movable plate, or is an electric piezoelectric element that is elongated upon application of control power and adheres the feed roller to the movable plate. Artificial support manufacturing device. According to claim 3,
The feeding portion,
6-axis driving type three-dimensional artificial support manufacturing apparatus further comprising a weight sensor provided on one side of the discharge plate to measure the weight of the ceramic powder accommodated in the accommodation space.

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