SE541909C2

SE541909C2 - 3d-printer/cutter

Info

Publication number: SE541909C2
Application number: SE1850555A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Karl-Johan Regestam
Original assignee: Addera Mech Ab
Priority date: 2018-05-14
Filing date: 2018-05-14
Publication date: 2020-01-07
Also published as: SE1850555A1; WO2019221658A1

Abstract

A 3D-printer/cutter (1) comprising a bottom (2), a back part (3), a building plate (6), movable up and down along a Z-axis, and a cassette (7) comprising an extruder/tool head (8), movable along an X- and Y-axis. The cassette (7) being arrangeable at the top of the back part (3) and the building plate (6) being arranged at the back part (3) protruding orthogonally out from the back part (3). A motor (10, 11, 12) each forthe X-, Y- and Z-movement are arranged in the back part (3). The back part (3) has less width than at least the cassette (7) and is provided at a thought centre axis (15), preferably symmetrically thereof, between the bottom (2) and the cassette (7).

Description

3D-printer/cutter The present invention concerns a 3D-printer/cutter comprising a bottom, a back part, a building plate, movable up and down along a Z-axis, and a cassette comprising an extruder/tool head, movable along an X- and Y-axis, the cassette being arrangeable at the top of the back part, the building plate being arranged at the back part protruding orthogonally out from the back part. 3D-printers become more and more frequently used, also by private persons and small firms. Most of the 3D-printers are provided for industrial use but a market is increasing for smaller and less costly 3D-printers.

Summary of the invention The object of the present invention is to provide a 3D-printer/cutter being built up by components, such as a compact, manageable and durable back part, which are possible to assemble and disassemble and thus be packable into a flat package. A further object is to provide a 3D-printer/cutter suitable for small firms, schools and private persons, for example, which is designed to look nice in a home or small firm. Another object is to provide a 3D-printer/cutter giving as much as possible view to a viewer during use of the 3D-printer/cutter. The present invention can be used as a 3D-printer but by exchanging the extruder head to a milling cutter head a milling cutter will be provided. It is also conceivable to arrange another function, instead of the extruder or milling cutter head, too, such as a laser cutter or engraver or heat cutter or any other function suitable for this 3D-apparatus, such as a pick and place apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention a 3D-printer/cutter comprising a bottom, a back part, a building plate, movable up and down along a Z-axis, and a cassette comprising an extruder/tool head, movable along an X- and Y-axis is provided. The cassette being arrangeable at the top of the back part, the building plate being arranged at the back part protruding orthogonally out from the back part. A motor each for the X-, Y- and Z-movement are arranged in the back part. The back part having less width than at least the cassette and provided at a thought centre axis, preferably symmetrically thereof, between the bottom and the cassette.

Due to this central motor arrangement, the back part can have a small width so that also a good view of the building plate from lateral behind will be provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the X- and Y-motors are arranged side by side in the upper portion of the back part, which motors are connectable with the cassette when the cassette is mounted on top of the 3D-printer/cutter.

Due to this easy connection of the cassette to the motors it makes it possible to exchange the cassette. For example, this could be of interest in case the cassette is worn out or needs maintenance, or if another drive or extruder/tool head technology is wanted, or if another technology is to be used as milling cutting.

Preferably also least one extrusion motor may be arranged in the back part. Although it is possible to have the motor integrated in the extruder head, for example. According to another embodiment also at least a circuit boards and a possible control unit. Preferably, also at least one fan is arranged in the back part. Due to this a neat and slim appearance is provided, which delimits the use of cables and the potential risk of breakage and signal interference. It also simplifies the assembly. Thus, it makes it possible to sell the 3D-printer/cutter in a flat package and the custom can easily assembly the parts into a functioning 3D-printer/cutter.

Irrespective of how many components are arranged in the back part an advantage of this back part is that the at least one fan may suck in air from the surroundings into the back part and push it out at another portion of the back part. Thus, an easy and effective cooling of the components have been provided, which both prolongs the life time of the 3D-printer/cutter and makes the back part small and neat.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the back part comprising the X-, Y-and Z-motors, forms a channel within the back part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the cassette comprises driving means, which comprise at least one belt or wire, for movement of the extruder/tool head in the X- and Y-direction, the driving means being driven by the X- and Y-motors provided in the back part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the 3D-printer/cutter may be covered in at least one side or top with a see-through panel. In this way, it is possible to protect the inner space of the 3D-printer/cutter from falling particles, such as dust, or any things, like hands, protruding into the inner. But the visibility is still provided.

According to an embodiment a rail is provided on each side portion of the back part on which attachments for the building plate run. This further contribute to the compact design of the back part and thus does not intrude into a possible building volume in an inner space of the 3D-printer/cutter. Further it contributes to the neat way of assembling the 3D-printer/cutter.

According to an embodiment the width of the back part is less than 75% of the width of the cassette, preferably less than 60% of the width.

According to an embodiment an inner part comprising the functional parts, such as motors, fan and circuit board, may be arranged within a housing forming a channel and together making up the back part. Thus, it is easy to take out the inner part from the housing if any alterations or repairing is desired or needed. The 3D-printer/cutter will be a stand alone apparatus of compact design capable of executing programmed motions and output a mechanical load to any fixed frame of various sizes comprising a movable cassette operating along the X- and Y-directions, and cooperating with a building plate movable in the Z-direction.

Brief description of the drawings The present invention will be described in more detail under referral to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a 3D-printer/cutter according to the invention in an exploded view.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a back part according to the invention in perspective and exploded view, with an inner part outside a housing.

Fig. 3 shows the inner part of the back part in an exploded view.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a cassette according to the present invention in a perspective and exploded view from above.

Detailed description of embodiments of the present invention In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a 3D-printer/cutter 1 according to the present invention is shown. It comprises a bottom 2, a back part 3 and a cassette 7. In an inner space 27 of the 3D-printer/cutter 1 a building plate 6 is provided protruding orthogonally out from the back part 3 and being movable up and down along a Z-axis. The bottom 2 does not need to fully cover a supporting surface but may have only bottom beams, for example, giving the 3D-printer/cutter stability.

The cassette 7 comprises an extruder/tool head 8, which is movable along an X- and Y-axis. The cassette 7 is arranged at the top of the 3D-printer/cutter on the back part 3, protruding horizontally out from the back part 3. In Fig. 1 it is obvious that the 3D-printer/cutter 1 has as much as possible view for a viewer to see the inner space 27 during use of the 3D-printer/cutter 1. The cassette 7 could for example be a CoreXY or H-bot.

The extruder/tool head 8 is slidably movable along at least one X-axle 30 and the at least one X-axle 30 is slidably supported at both ends in the cassette 7 and movable along the Y-axis.

The back part 3 comprises a housing 4 having an inner panel 31, partially broken away in Fig. 2, facing the inner space 27 of the 3D-printer/cutter, and a back panel 32, facing the back of the 3D-printer/cutter. The housing 4 will thus make up a channel 16. Between the inner panel 31 and the back panel 32 an inner part 33 may be provided. In Fig. 2, the inner part 33 is shown outside of the housing 4. The back panel 32 comprises at least one opening 34 for ventilation of the back part 3, preferably at least one opening in the lower portion and one opening in the upper portion of the back panel 32. On the outside of the back panel 32 at least one feeding means 35 is arranged which feeds material to the extruder head 8 via at least one tube 36, see Fig. 1.

Preferably the 3D-printer/cutter will be delivered to the custom in a flat package whereby the customer assemblies the 3D-printer/cutter. The customer starts with assembling the back part 3 to the bottom 2. The building plate 6 is attached at the back part 3. Thereafter the cassette 7 is connected at the top of the back part 3. In case any see-through panels 26 (not shown) are present they are added in the desired positions.

Lastly the at least one feeding means 35 is attached and the at least one tube 36 is attached between the at least one feeding means 35 and the extruder head 8. In use a material source is connected to the at least one feeding means 35.

The back part 3 will be now be described in more details under referral to Figs. 2 and 3. A channel 16 is formed by the housing 4, which is made up by the inner panel 31 and the back panel 32. In the shown embodiment of the inner panel 31 a side portion 39 is present on both sides of the housing 4. A rail 40 is provided on each side portion 39 on which attachments 41 for the building plate 6 run. The movement up and down of the attachment 41 is controlled by means of a translational screw 44 on each side, which is driven by a Z-motor 13. Preferably both translational screws 44 are driven by one Z-motor, for example by belts 45 from an axle 46 of the Z-motor 13.

In Fig. 3 the inner portion 33 and some possible ingoing parts of the back part 3 are shown in an exploded view. At the upper portion 9 of the inner portion 33 two motors 11, 12 are provided for driving the movement of the extruder/tool head in the X- and Y directions by means of their axles 42, which protrudes up to the cassette 7. Below at least one extruder motor 17 is provided, in the shown embodiment two motors 17 are present. These motors 17 drive the feeding means 35 and provide transport of the material from the source to the extruder head 8.

At least a circuit board 18, a possible control unit, possibly at least one switch and at least one fan 19 are provided between the side panels 38 and preferably on an inner back panel 5. The motor 13 for driving the building plate 6 in the Z-direction is arranged in the lower portion 20 of the inner portion 33. In this way the use of cables is reduced. At least one fan 19 is provided for cooling of the parts provided between the side panels 38. Preferably all the motors 11, 12, 13, 17 and electronics are provided between the side panels 38 and thus within the channel 16 of the housing 4. In case an inner back panel 5 is used this should also comprise corresponding openings 34 for ventilation of the back part 3, preferably at least one opening in the lower portion and one opening in the upper portion of the inner back panel 5. Another advantage to gather the different parts, such as motors, circuit board and so on, into the housing 4 of the back part 3 is that it will not be exposed to dust and the environment. A housing 4 of thicker material will by its higher mass reduce vibrations and noise. When an inner part 33 is used it is possible to further reduce noise and vibrations by arranging a distance material, such as rubber, cork or plastic, between the inner part 33 and the housing 4.

Thus, it is possible to cool everything in a slim and effective way. The at least one fan 19, two in this embodiment, will suck in air from the surroundings via at least one opening 34, in the shown case in the lower portion 20, for example in the back panel 32, and pushes out warm air from the inside of the channel 16 out through at least one opening 34, in the shown case in the upper portion 9, for example of the back panel 32.

In Fig. 4 an embodiment of the functional parts of a cassette 7 is shown. In Fig. 4 only one endless belt 22 is used, although it is possible to have solutions with more belts. It is also possible to use wires instead of belts, for example. There are also other solutions available for the X- and Y-movements, for example by using translational screws also for these movements.

Two connection positions 24 of the belt are connectable to the driving axles 42 of the X-and Y-motors 11, 12, driving the belt or belts 22. Attached to the belt 22 are a gantry 47 on each side of the cassette 7 for the Y-movement. The gantries 47 slide along a Y-axle 48 at each side. Between the gantries 47 at least one X-axle 30 is provided. In order to increase stability two X-axles 30 may be provided parallelly.

Claims

1. A 3D-printer/cutter (1) comprising a bottom (2), a back part (3), a building plate (6), movable up and down along a Z-axis, and a cassette (7) comprising an extruder/tool head (8), movable along an X- and Y-axis, the cassette (7) being arrangeable at the top of the back part (3), the building plate (6) being arranged at the back part (3) protruding orthogonally out from the back part (3), characterised in that a motor (11, 12, 13) each for the X-, Y- and Z-movement are arranged in the back part (3), the back part (3) having less width than at least the cassette (7) and provided at a thought centre axis (15), preferably symmetrically thereof, between the bottom (2) and the cassette (7).

2. The 3D-printer/cutter according to claim 1, wherein the X- and Y-motors (11, 12) are arranged side by side in the upper portion (9) of the back part (3), which motors (11, 12) are connectable with the cassette (7) when the cassette is mounted on top of the 3D-printer/cutter (1).

3. The 3D-printer/cutter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one extrusion motor (17) is arranged in the back part (3).

4. The 3D-printer/cutter according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least a circuit board (18) and a possible control unit are arranged in the back part (3).

5. The 3D-printer/cutter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fan (19) is arranged in the back part (3).

6. The 3D-printer/cutter according to claim 5 wherein the at least one fan (19) sucks in air from the surroundings into the back part (3) and pushes it out at another portion of the back part (3).

7. The 3D-printer/cutter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the back part (3) comprising the X-, Y- and Z-motors (11, 12, 13), forms a channel (16) within the back part (3).

8. The 3D-printer/cutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the cassette (7) comprises driving means (21), comprising at least one belt or wire (22), for movement of the extruder/tool head (8) in the X- and Y-direction, the driving means (21) being driven by the X- and Y-motors (11, 12) provided in the back part (3).

9. The 3D-printer/cutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the 3D-printer/cutter may be covered in at least one side with a see-through panel.

10. The 3D-printer/cutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a rail (40) is provided on each side portion (39) of the back part (3) on which attachments (41) for the building plate (6) run.