TW201700261A - A method of reducing the pulling force of the forming process of a bottom-up vat photopolymerization device and the bottom-up vat photopolymerization device which using this method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of reducing the pulling force of the forming process of a bottom-up vat photopolymerization device can make improvement for the shortcomings of the bottom-up vat photopolymerization device. After light-curing resin cured, bottom-up vat photopolymerization will be sticked to the release film and will produce the pulling force when the forming plate rise. This method is to grade perform illumination and motion of the forming plate when the layer of the light-curing resin curing stage so as to reduce adhesions degree between the release film and the resin and to reduce the pulling force of the forming process for improving the success rate.

Description

Reduce the drawing force of the down-illuminated three-dimensional printing device during the forming process Method and three-dimensional printing device using the same

The present invention relates to a method, and more particularly to a method for reducing the drawing force of a down-illuminated three-dimensional printing apparatus and a three-dimensional printing apparatus using the same.

The technology of rapid prototyping is to use a digital 3D model, cut into layers and input it to the rapid prototyping equipment, and use a liquid, powder or molten material to pile up multiple sections layer by layer and bond the sections of each layer to create a entity.

In detail, the operation of rapid prototyping technology firstly uses computer-aided design (CAD) software modeling, and then the "cut layer" of the built 3D model into several layers, and then controls the 3D printer to print layer by layer. Existing printing techniques can be distinguished by the use of raw materials: techniques for melting or softening plastic materials as printing materials, such as selective laser sintering (selective laser) Sintering, SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM); and techniques for using liquid materials as printing materials, such as stereolithography (SLA) and laminated object manufacturing (LOM).

For example, referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the conventional SLA 3D printer includes a resin tank 91, a projection light source 92, and a molding mechanism 93. The resin ester tank 91 is used to hold the photocurable resin 94 and has a light-transmissive release film 95. The projection light source 92 is positioned lower than the resin ester groove 91 and emits a light beam 96 to the light-transmissive release film 95. And the light beam 96 is projected onto the light-transmissive release film 95 of the resin tank 91 and irradiated to the photocurable resin 94, and the photocurable resin 94 receives the corresponding light wavelength to cure molding. The molding mechanism 93 includes a molding plate 97 which can be lowered into the resin ester groove 91 and can be moved up and down with respect to the light-transmissive release film 95, thereby constructing the cured product 98 of the photocurable resin 94. .

However, the above-mentioned molding method is layer-by-layer construction, that is, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, after the entire layer of photocurable resin 94 is irradiated by the projection light source 92, the layer is formed once, thus in the photocuring tree. When the curing zone of the ester 94 is too large, the cured product 98 is likely to be broken or deformed due to excessive drawing force, and is easily damaged even during the drawing process. Therefore, how to develop a production method capable of reducing the drawing force during molding, and a rapid prototyping apparatus capable of using this method are currently worthy of study.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for reducing the drawing force of a down-illuminated three-dimensional printing apparatus during molding and using the same Three-dimensional printing device.

Therefore, the method for reducing the drawing force of the down-illuminated three-dimensional printing device during the molding process of the present invention is performed by a three-dimensional printing device comprising a tree for holding a photocurable liquid material and having a bottom plate An ester tank, a molding mechanism, a dynamic mask generator for emitting a light beam, and a controller respectively coupled to the molding mechanism and the dynamic mask generator, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) The controller receives setting information about m layers and n partitions of a predetermined product, and m and n are positive integers.

(B) The controller drives the forming mechanism to descend into the resin tank and descends to the i-th layer at a thick position above the bottom plate, i=1~m.

(C) the controller controls the dynamic mask generator to illuminate the photocurable liquid material located in the jth partition of the i-th layer, and then located in the i-th layer, the jth The photocurable liquid material of the partition is solidified and formed, j=1~n.

(D) The controller then drives the forming mechanism to rise to complete the ith layered, jth partitioned portion of the photocured article.

(E) Let j=j+1, the controller drives the forming mechanism to descend, and returns to performing steps (C) and (D) until j=n+1 to proceed to step (F).

(F) Let i=i+1, and go back to the above steps (B) to (E) until i=m+1, and the photocurable liquid material is solidified into a complete product.

Thus, the three-dimensional printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a resin tank, A molding mechanism, a dynamic mask generator, and a controller. The resin tank is used to hold a photocurable liquid material and includes a light transmissive bottom plate and a groove wall extending from the periphery of the bottom plate. The molding mechanism can be lowered into the resin tank and moved up and down relative to the bottom plate, thereby constructing a cured product of the photocurable liquid material layer by layer. The dynamic mask generator is for emitting a beam of light that is projected onto the substrate. The controller is coupled to the molding mechanism and the dynamic mask generator and receives setting information about m layers and n partitions of a predetermined product, where m and n are positive integers.

The controller drives the molding mechanism to descend to the position where the i-th layer is located under the liquid surface of the photo-curable liquid material and close to the bottom plate, i=1~m, and the controller controls the dynamic mask generation The light beam is irradiated to the photocurable liquid material located in the jth partition of the i-th layer, and then the photocurable liquid material located in the i-th layer and the j-th partition is solidified and formed. j=1~n, then the controller drives the molding mechanism to rise to complete the photo-curing of the i-th layer, the j-th partition product, and repeats the above steps, thereby curing the photocurable liquid material into a Complete product.

The three-dimensional printing apparatus of the present invention, wherein the molding mechanism comprises a forming arm, and a forming plate connected to the bottom end of the forming arm, the forming arm can drive the forming plate to move downward, and the forming plate can be accommodated in the tree The ester tank can be flatly attached to the bottom plate for curing the photocurable liquid material.

The effect of the present invention is to cut a predetermined product into a plurality of layers and a plurality of partitions by controlling the principle of "single layer by one layer", and by controlling The device controls the molding mechanism and the dynamic mask generator to perform the illumination and the operation of the forming plate in a divided manner, thereby reducing the adhesion between the bottom plate and the light-cured product, so that the product can reduce the pulling during the stretching process. Pulling force to facilitate stretching and solidification of the product.

1‧‧‧ Tree ester trough

11‧‧‧floor

12‧‧‧ slot wall

2‧‧‧Molding mechanism

21‧‧‧Forming arm

22‧‧‧Formed board

3‧‧‧ Dynamic mask generator

4‧‧‧ Beam

5‧‧‧ Controller

6‧‧‧Photocurable liquid raw materials

7‧‧‧Products

71‧‧‧ layer

711‧‧‧ District

S11~S16‧‧‧Steps

Steps S151, S161‧‧

The other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional SLA 3D printer; FIG. Figure 4 is a plan view schematically showing the manufacturing process of the conventional 3D printer; Figure 5 is a plan view showing the conventional 3D printer making the cured product which is broken due to excessive pulling force. Figure 6 is a plan view showing the conventional 3D printer making the cured product deformed due to excessive pulling force; Figures 7 to 12 are respectively schematic plan views showing the three-dimensional printing device of the present invention is reduced. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an article of FIG. 12 illustrating an i-th layer and a j-th partition; FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a controller of the embodiment respectively connected to a controller A molding mechanism and a dynamic mask generator; and FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the method of the present invention for reducing the drawing force of the down-illuminated three-dimensional printing apparatus during the molding process.

The following description of the preferred embodiments is provided to illustrate the specific embodiments of the invention. The directional terms mentioned in the present invention, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", etc., are merely directions referring to the additional drawings. Therefore, the directional terminology used is for the purpose of illustration and not limitation.

Referring to Figures 7 through 12, an embodiment of the method for reducing the drawing force of a down-illuminated three-dimensional printing apparatus during the forming process of the present invention is performed by a three-dimensional printing apparatus. The three-dimensional printing device comprises a resin tank 1, a molding mechanism 2, a dynamic mask generator 3, and a controller 5.

The resin tank 1 includes a light-transmissive bottom plate 11 and a groove wall 12 extending from the periphery of the bottom plate 11. The resin ester tank 1 is used to hold the photocurable liquid material 6, which in this embodiment The bottom plate 11 is a light-transmissive release film.

The molding mechanism 2 can be lowered into the resin tank 1 to move up and down with respect to the bottom plate 11, thereby stretching a product 7 cured by the photocurable liquid material 6. In detail, the molding mechanism 2 includes a forming arm 21 and a forming plate 22 connected to the bottom end of the forming arm 21. The forming arm 21 can drive the forming plate 22 to move up and down, and the forming plate 22 can be accommodated in the resin tank 1 and can be flatly attached to the bottom plate 11 for curing the photocurable liquid material 6.

The dynamic mask generator 3 is for emitting a light beam 4 and irradiating the light beam 4 to the bottom plate 11. In this embodiment, the dynamic mask generator 3 can also be a device for generating a light source, such as a projector or a laser. The disclosure of the embodiments is limited.

Referring to FIG. 14 , the controller 5 is respectively connected and can control the molding mechanism 2 and the dynamic mask generator 3 to move the molding plate 22 up and down, and also irradiate the light beam 4 to the photocurable liquid material 6 . The predetermined location.

Referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, the method of this embodiment includes the following steps:

Step S11 - The controller 5 receives setting information about m layers 71 and n partitions 711 of a predetermined product 7, m and n being positive integers. In this embodiment, m=3, n=3, of course, may also be a combination of other numbers, and is not limited to the disclosure of the embodiment. In addition, it should be noted that FIGS. 7-13 only schematically depict the sections 711 of the partial layer 71 of the article 7.

Set i=1~m, j=1~n, i=1 at the beginning, j=1.

Step S12 - The controller 5 drives the molding mechanism 2 to fall into the resin tank 1 and descends to the i-th layer 71 under the liquid surface of the photo-curable liquid material 6 and close to the resin tank 1 The position of the bottom plate 11.

Step S13 - The controller 5 controls the dynamic mask generator 3 to illuminate the photocurable liquid material 6 located in the jth partition 711 of the i-th layer 71 so as to be located at the ith The photocurable liquid material 6 of the layer 71 and the jth partition 711 is solidified.

Step S14 - The controller 5 then drives the molding mechanism 2 to rise to stretch the portion of the article 7 of the i-th layer 71 and the j-th partition 711 that complete photocuring.

Step S15 - Let j = j + 1, the controller 5 drives the molding mechanism 2 to descend, and this step includes the following step S151.

Step S151 - The controller 5 determines whether j is equal to n+1, and if not, repeats steps S13 and S14; if so, proceeds to step S16.

Step S16 - Let i = i + 1 and j = 1, and this step includes the following step S161.

Step S161 - The controller 5 determines whether i is equal to m+1, and if not, repeats the above steps S12 to S15; if so, stops the operation, and at this time, the photocurable liquid material 6 is solidified into a complete product 7 .

In summary, the predetermined product 7 is cut into a plurality of layers 71 and a plurality of partitions 711 by the principle of "single layer 71 steps", and the molding mechanism 2 and the light beam 4 are manipulated by the controller 5, so that The article 7 can reduce the drawing force encountered during the stretching process, so that the three-dimensional printing device can stretch and solidify the article 7, so that the object of the present invention can be achieved.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, that is, the simple equivalent changes and modifications made by the patent application scope and patent specification content of the present invention, All remain within the scope of the invention patent.

1‧‧‧ Tree ester trough

11‧‧‧floor

2‧‧‧Molding mechanism

22‧‧‧Formed board

3‧‧‧ Dynamic mask generator

4‧‧‧ Beam

6‧‧‧Photocurable liquid raw materials

7‧‧‧Products

71‧‧‧ layer

711‧‧‧ District

Claims (3)

A method for reducing the drawing force of a molding process of a down-illuminated three-dimensional printing device is performed by a three-dimensional printing device, the three-dimensional printing device comprising a resin ester tank for containing a photocurable liquid material, a molding mechanism, a dynamic mask generator for emitting a light beam, and a controller respectively coupled to the molding mechanism and the dynamic mask generator, the method comprising the steps of: (A) the controller receiving a predetermined article m stratification and setting information of n partitions, m and n are positive integers; (B) the controller drives the molding mechanism to fall into the resin tank, and descends to the ith layer in the light The position of the curable liquid material below the liquid level and close to the bottom of the resin tank, i=1~m; (C) the controller controls the dynamic mask generator so that the beam is irradiated at the i-th layer The photocurable liquid material of the jth partition, and then the photocurable liquid material located in the i-th layer and the jth partition is solidified, j=1~n; (D) the controller is followed by Driving the molding mechanism to rise to complete the i-th layer, the j-th partition of the light curing (E) such that j = j + 1, the controller drives the molding mechanism to descend, and returns to step (C) and (D), until j = n + 1 proceeds to step (F); F) Let i=i+1, go back to the above steps (B) to (E), and stop until i=m+1, and the photocurable liquid material is solidified into a complete product. A three-dimensional printing device comprising a resin tank for containing a photocurable liquid material, and comprising a light transmissive bottom plate and a groove wall extending from a periphery of the bottom plate; a molding mechanism capable of descending into the resin groove relative to The bottom plate moves up and down to complete a cured product of the photocurable liquid material; a dynamic mask generator for emitting a light beam; and a controller connecting the molding mechanism and the dynamic mask generator, and Receiving setting information of m tiers and n partitions of a predetermined product, m and n being positive integers, wherein the controller drives the molding mechanism to descend to the ith layer at the liquid level of the photocurable liquid material Lower and close to the position of the bottom plate of the resin tank, i=1~m, and the controller controls the dynamic mask generator to illuminate the light curing in the jth partition of the i-th layer a liquid material, which in turn solidifies the photocurable liquid material in the i-th layer and the j-th partition, j=1~n, and then the controller drives the molding mechanism to rise to complete the photo-curing i layered, jth partition part of the product, repeat Said step, thereby enabling the photocurable liquid material is solidified into a molded article complete. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 2, wherein the molding mechanism comprises a forming arm, and a forming plate connected to the bottom end of the forming arm, the forming arm can drive the forming plate to move downward, and the forming plate can accommodate The resin is placed in the resin tank and can be flattened on the bottom plate for curing the photocurable liquid material.