TWI680862B - 3d printer control system - Google Patents

Abstract

A 3D printer control system is provided to solve the problem where the conventional 3D printer has a long waiting during the decoupling phase. The 3D printer control system includes a database, a power sensor, a cutter and a processor. The database stores a model data and generates a cut data according to the model data. A 3D printer prints a plurality of lithographic layers according to the cut data to form an object. The power sensor is used to detect a peeling stage of each lithographic layer and generate a stop signal. The cutter is used to cuts the lithographic layers. The processor is coupled with the database and the cutter. The processor is used to receive the stop signal and sent an interruption order to the 3D printer. The processor determines whether a newly-formed lithographic layer matches the cut data. If the result is negative, a compensation command is sent to the cutter and the database. If the result is positive, it is determined whether the object matches the model data. If not, an activation command is sent to the 3D printer, otherwise the printing operation is terminated.

Description

3D printer control system and its control method

The invention relates to a 3D printer control system and a control method thereof, in particular to a 3D printer control system and a control method which can perform printing of the next layer immediately after the peeling stage of each layer is completed.

In recent years, the vigorous development of 3D printing technology has spawned a variety of printing technology types. Taking the digital light processing (DLP) process type as an example, the image model is subjected to digital slice processing and then uses projection technology. Projecting the cut mask pattern towards the bottom of a liquid tank, the liquid photosensitive polymer in the liquid tank is cured and absorbed on a molding platform due to the absorption of light, and then peeled off, so the liquid photosensitive polymer in the liquid tank is repeatedly cured 3. Stripping and stacking multiple layers of cured photopolymer continuously to form various objects.

During the peeling process of the existing 3D printer, the molding platform is raised to a fixed height so that the cured photopolymer can be peeled from the bottom of the liquid tank, and then the molding platform is lowered for the next layer. Printing, generally speaking, each layer of cured photopolymer has different peeling conditions due to different complexity, but the fixed height cannot be adjusted according to the actual peeling condition, it often happens that the peeling has been completed but it must take time to wait The forming platform rises to the fixed height, and due to irregular feeding, loose parts, abnormal wiring or incomplete peeling, it may cause the layer to move, skew, break or dope during the layer-by-layer printing process Problems such as air bubbles, but defective products are often found after the object is printed, resulting in a waste of time and cost.

In view of this, the existing 3D printers still need to be improved.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a 3D printer control system, which can shorten the time waiting for the peeling stage to improve the printing efficiency.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a 3D printer control system that can instantly compare and repair errors during the layer-by-layer printing process to reduce printing costs.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a 3D printer control system, which is used in the above system.

The term "coupling" in the context of the present invention refers to the two devices that can transfer data between each other by means of wired entities, wireless media, or a combination thereof (eg, heterogeneous network). Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can understand.

The term “peeling” mentioned in the entire text of the present invention refers to the stage of separating a photo-curing layer cured on the forming platform from the bottom of a liquid tank by lifting a forming platform during the 3D printing process. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can understand.

The term "photocurable layer" in the context of the present invention refers to the process of 3D printing, in which a liquid photosensitive polymer in a liquid tank is cured on a molding platform due to the absorption of light and forms a layer of solid photosensitive polymer with a certain thickness It is understood by those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

The control system of the 3D printer of the present invention includes: a database for storing a model data and all layer data generated according to the model data, and a 3D printer prints several layers layer by layer according to the slice data The light-curing layer is used to form an object; a force sensor is used to sense the peeling status of each light-curing layer and the bottom of a liquid tank of the 3D printer, and a Stop signal. A cutting tool to cut off the excess part of each photocurable layer; and a processor to couple the database and the cutting tool, the processor to receive the stop signal and send a stop command to the 3D row Press to stop lifting of a forming platform of the 3D printer And compare whether the newly formed photocuring layer is consistent with the slice data. If the comparison is "No", a compensation command is generated to the database and the cutting tool; if the comparison is "Yes", then Determine whether the object is consistent with the model data. If the judgment is "No", send a start command to the 3D printer; if the judgment is "Yes", then end the printing.

A 3D printer control method, including: a printing step, a 3D printer descends a forming platform, and prints several layers of photocurable layers layer by layer according to all layers of data in a database to form an object; a peeling Step, when each of the photocurable layers is newly formed, lift up the forming platform by the 3D printer to peel off each photocurable layer, when a force sensor detects that the photocurable layer has been removed from the 3D row When the bottom of a liquid tank of the printer is completely separated, the lifting of the forming platform is stopped; in a comparison step, a processor of the 3D printer compares whether the newly formed photocurable layer is consistent with the slice data, if If the comparison is "No", a compensation command is generated; if the comparison is "Yes", it is judged whether the object is consistent with a model data of the database; a compensation step, the database cures the light according to the compensation command The missing part of the layer generates slice data, and a cutting tool removes the excess part of the photocurable layer according to the compensation instruction and executes the printing step; and a judging step, the processor judges whether the object matches the model data , If the judgment is "No", execute the printing step; if the judgment is "Yes", then end the printing.

According to this, the control system of the 3D printer of the present invention can perform the next layer of printing immediately after each peeling stage is completed, and can perform comparison and repair errors in real time to prevent the molded objects from having to be eliminated due to defects. , Has the effect of improving printing efficiency and reducing printing costs.

Among them, the model data is the file data generated by the computer-aided design software after 3D modeling the design product. In this way, it has the effect that a 3D printer can print layer by layer according to the model data to form an object.

Among them, the slice data is file data generated after data slice processing is performed according to the model data. In this way, it has the effect that a 3D printer can print layer by layer according to the slice data to form an object.

Wherein, the force sensor is a pressure sensor or a weighing sensor. The force sensor senses the stress on the bottom of a liquid tank. In this way, it can have the effect of sensing the stress on the bottom of a liquid tank.

Wherein, when the newly formed photo-curing layer is completely separated from the bottom of the liquid tank, the force sensor senses that the stress on the bottom of the liquid tank drops and generates the stop signal. In this way, the processor can stop the lifting of the forming platform according to the stop signal, so as to proceed to the next step, and thus has the effect of improving printing efficiency.

Wherein, the cutting tool is a laser cutting machine, a hot melt cutting machine or a mechanical tool processing tool. In this way, it can have the effect of cutting off the excess part of each of the photo-curable layers so as to continue printing.

〔this invention〕

1‧‧‧ Database

2‧‧‧Force sensor

3‧‧‧Cutting tool

4‧‧‧ processor

S1‧‧‧Printing steps

S2‧‧‧Stripping procedure

S3‧‧‧ Comparison steps

S4‧‧‧Compensation procedure

S5‧‧‧Judgment steps

Figure 1: System block diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2: Flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

In order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the attached drawings, which are described in detail as follows: Please refer to FIG. An embodiment of the 3D printer control system of the present invention includes a database 1, a force sensor 2, a cutting tool 3, and a processor 4, a 3D printer has the processor 4, the processing The device 4 is coupled to the database 1, the force sensor 2 and the compensation module 3, respectively.

The database 1 can be a local database or a cloud database, but not limited to this. The database 1 can be used to store a model data and all layer data. The model data is the file data generated by the computer-aided design software after 3D modeling of the design product; the slice data is based on the model data File data generated after data slice processing. The 3D column The printer can print several layers of photocurable layers layer by layer according to the slice data to form an object.

The force sensor 2 may be a pressure sensor or a weighing sensor with a pressure sensing or weighing function, but not limited to this. The force sensor 2 can be used to sense the stress on the bottom of a liquid tank, so as to detect the peeling status of each photocurable layer, and can generate a stop signal after each photocurable layer is peeled off, for example When a photo-curing layer newly formed on a forming platform is completely separated from the bottom of the liquid tank by lifting the forming platform, the force sensor 2 can sense a decrease in the stress on the bottom of the liquid tank, It can be confirmed that the photocurable layer has been peeled off, and the stop signal is generated.

The cutting tool 3 can be a laser cutting machine, a hot-melt cutting machine or a mechanical tool processing tool (such as a grinder, a grinder) with the function of cutting and processing objects, but not limited to this. The cutting tool 3 can be used to cut off excess portions of each of the photocurable layers, so as to continue printing.

The processor 4 may be a central processor with functions such as data calculation and logic judgment. The processor 4 is coupled to the database 1, the force sensor 2 and the cutting tool 3, and when the processor 4 receives the Stop signal, the processor 4 sends a stop command to the 3D printer to stop the lifting of the forming platform, so that once the peeling stage of each photocurable layer is completed, the next step can be performed immediately to shorten the past Waiting for the time of the stripping stage can further improve the printing efficiency.

In addition, the processor 4 can also be used to compare whether the newly formed photocurable layer is consistent with the slice data. If the comparison is "No", a compensation command is generated to the database 1 and the cutting tool 3; If the comparison is "Yes", continue to judge whether the object is consistent with the model data. If the judgment is "No", send a start command to the 3D printer; if the judgment is "Yes", then end the printing.

For example, when the processor 4 compares a newly formed photocurable layer with the slice data, it indicates that the photocurable layer has defects, so the processor 4 generates the compensation command to The database 1 and the cutting tool 3 enable the database 1 to generate slice data for the missing portion of the photocurable layer according to the compensation instruction, and enable the cutting tool 3 to excise the photocurable layer according to the compensation instruction Extra parts.

For example, when the processor 4 compares a newly formed photocurable layer with the slice data, but judges that the object does not match the model data, it means that the object has not been printed, so the processor 4 generates The start command is sent to the 3D printer, so that the 3D printer lowers the forming platform for the next layer of printing.

Please refer to FIG. 2 which is a flow chart of the control method of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 as well. The control method is provided by a 3D printer equipped with the processor 4 which is respectively coupled Connected to the database 1, the force sensor 2 and the cutting tool 3, after the 3D printer is started, the slice data can be generated according to the model data of the database 1, and layer-by-layer according to the slice data Printing to form an object. The steps of the control method may include a printing step S1, a peeling step S2, a comparison step S3, a compensation step S4, and a judgment step S5, which are described as follows.

In the printing step S1, the 3D printer can be lowered to a forming platform, and several photo-curing layers are printed layer by layer according to the slice data to form an object.

The peeling step S2 can lift the molding platform by the 3D printer when each of the photocurable layers is newly formed to peel off each photocurable layer, when the force sensor 2 detects that the photocurable layer has When the bottom of a tank of the 3D printer is completely separated, the force sensor 2 generates a stop signal, and the processor 4 receives the stop signal and sends a stop command to the 3D printer to stop the The forming platform is raised.

In the comparison step S3, the processor 4 can compare whether the newly formed photocurable layer is consistent with the slice data according to the database 1 to confirm whether the photocurable layer is successfully printed, if the comparison is " No, the compensation step S4 is performed; if the comparison is "yes", the determination step S5 is performed.

The compensation step S4 can compensate the photocurable layer. When the processor 4 determines that the photocurable layer has a defect, the processor 4 generates a compensation instruction to the database 1 and the cutting tool 3, so that the database 1 It is possible to generate slice data for the missing part of the photocurable layer according to the compensation command, and to enable the cutting tool 3 to cut off the excess part of the photocurable layer according to the compensation command, so that the 3D printer can The generated slice data is subjected to the printing step S1 to compensate the photocurable layer.

In the judgment step S5, the processor 4 can judge whether the object matches the model data according to the database 1 to confirm whether the object has been printed. If the judgment is "No", the processor 4 determines that the object has not been After printing is completed, the processor 4 sends a start command to the 3D printer, the 3D printer receives the start command and lowers the forming platform, and continues the printing step S1 according to the slice data to print Print the next layer; if the judgment is "Yes", it means that the object has been printed layer by layer according to the slice data generated by the model data, so the printing is ended.

In summary, the control system of the 3D printer of the present invention can perform the next layer of printing immediately after each peeling stage is completed, and can perform comparison and repair errors in real time to prevent the molded objects from being necessary due to defects. Elimination has the effect of improving printing efficiency and reducing printing costs.

Although the present invention has been disclosed using the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone who is familiar with this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention still makes various changes and modifications to the above-mentioned embodiments. The technical scope of the invention is protected, so the scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined in the appended patent application.

1‧‧‧ Database

2‧‧‧Force sensor

3‧‧‧Cutting tool

4‧‧‧ processor

Claims (7)

A 3D printer control system, including: a database for storing a model data and all layer data generated according to the model data, a 3D printer printing several layers of photo-curing layer by layer based on the slice data The layer forms an object; a force sensor is used to sense the peeling status of each photo-curing layer and the bottom of a liquid tank of the 3D printer, and a stop signal is generated after each photo-curing layer is peeled off . A cutting tool to cut off the excess part of each photocurable layer; and a processor to couple the database and the cutting tool, the processor to receive the stop signal and send a stop command to the 3D row Press to stop the lifting of a forming platform of the 3D printer and compare whether the newly formed photocurable layer is consistent with the slice data. If the comparison is "No", a compensation command is generated to the database And the cutting tool; if the comparison is "Yes", then determine whether the object is consistent with the model data, if the judgment is "No", send a start command to the 3D printer; if the judgment is "Yes", then End printing. The 3D printer control system as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the model data is the file data generated by the computer-aided design software after 3D modeling the design product. The 3D printer control system as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the slice data is file data generated after data slice processing is performed according to the model data. The 3D printer control system as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the force sensor is a pressure sensor or a weighing sensor, and the force sensor senses the bottom of a liquid tank The stresses it bears. The 3D printer control system as described in item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein when the newly formed photocurable layer is completely separated from the bottom of the tank, the force sensor senses the position of the bottom of the tank The stress to be dropped decreases and the stop signal is generated. The 3D printer control system as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the cutting tool is a laser cutting machine, a hot melt cutting machine, or a mechanical tool processing tool. A 3D printer control method, including: a printing step, a 3D printer descends a forming platform, and prints several layers of photocurable layers layer by layer according to all layers of data in a database to form an object; a peeling Step, when each of the photocurable layers is newly formed, lift up the forming platform by the 3D printer to peel off each photocurable layer, when a force sensor detects that the photocurable layer has been removed from the 3D row When the bottom of a liquid tank of the printer is completely separated, the lifting of the forming platform is stopped; in a comparison step, a processor of the 3D printer compares whether the newly formed photocurable layer is consistent with the slice data, if If the comparison is "No", a compensation instruction is generated; if the comparison is "Yes", it is judged whether the object is consistent with a model data of the database; a compensation step, the database cures the light according to the compensation instruction The missing part of the layer generates slice data, and a cutting tool removes the excess part of the photocurable layer according to the compensation instruction and executes the printing step; and a judging step, the processor judges whether the object and the model data Match, if judged as "No", execute the printing step; if judged as "Yes", then end printing.

Images