WO2019134135A1

WO2019134135A1 - Added material manufacturing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019134135A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/071633
Authority: WO
Inventors: 刘詟; 康远浩; 刘冲; 林聚; 朱文杰; 李斌; 刘静; 于洋
Original assignee: 北京梦之墨科技有限公司
Priority date: 2018-01-05
Filing date: 2018-01-05
Publication date: 2019-07-11

Abstract

An added material manufacturing apparatus, comprising a main body (1), a console (2), a movement mechanism (3) and a printing assembly (4), wherein at least one pressure roller (31) is disposed below the movement mechanism (3) so as to press a substrate, and the printing assembly (4) may slide along the movement mechanism (3); the printing assembly (4) comprises a printing cylinder (41), a printing head (42) and a control device (43), the printing cylinder (41) being in communication with the printing head (42), and the control device (43) controlling the printing head (42) to expand and contract. During printing, the printing cylinder (41) heats a liquid metal solidified therein so as to allow the molten liquid metal to flow into the printing head (42); the printing assembly (4) and the pressure roller (31) respectively move the printing head (42) and the substrate such that the printing head (42) is located at a position where printing is required on the substrate; the control device (43) elongates the printing head (42) such that the printing head (42) is in contact with the substrate and the liquid metal adheres to the substrate, thus carrying out printing, the liquid metal being solid at room temperature. The described manufacturing apparatus may use a metal material that is solid at room temperature, thereby expanding the range of application of the manufacturing apparatus.

Description

Additive manufacturing equipment

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of electronic circuits and electronic component manufacturing, and in particular to an additive manufacturing apparatus.

Background technique

The manufacture of traditional electronic circuits and electronic components has the disadvantages of complicated processes, high energy consumption, high pollution, and high cost. The main reason for these drawbacks is that the manufacturing technology of traditional electronic circuits and electronic components is a kind of deletion technology, and the manufacturing process requires a large amount of raw materials, water resources, energy, etc., and pollutes the external environment.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks, an additive manufacturing equipment for manufacturing electronic circuits has been developed, which can directly manufacture electronic circuits and electronic components in a printed manner, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption, eliminating pollution, and saving costs.

However, existing manufacturing equipment can only use metal materials that are liquid at room temperature, and typical such as those disclosed in the patent applications CN201610224283.7, CN20130150185.X. Due to the fluidity of liquid metal, existing manufacturing equipment can only produce single-sided circuits and/or use chip-type electronic components, and its application range is small, which cannot meet the demand.

Therefore, how to propose a new manufacturing equipment, which can use a metal material which is solid at room temperature, thereby expanding the application range of the manufacturing equipment, has become an urgent problem to be solved.

Summary of the invention

In an embodiment of the present invention, an additive manufacturing apparatus includes:

Main body, console, motion mechanism, and printing assembly;

The console is disposed at a bottom of the main body;

The moving mechanism is disposed above the operation table, and two ends are respectively connected with two sides of the main body; at least one pressure wheel is disposed below the movement mechanism to press the upper part of the operation table a substrate, and controlling the substrate to move in the front-rear direction of the console by its own rotation;

The printing assembly is fixed to the moving mechanism and slidable along the moving mechanism; the printing assembly includes a printing cylinder, a print head and a control device, the printing cylinder is in communication with the printing head, the control device Controlling the expansion and contraction of the print head by a connection mechanism;

When printing, the printing cylinder heats the liquid metal solidified therein to cause the molten liquid metal to flow into the printing head; the printing assembly and the pressing wheel respectively move the printing head and the substrate to Positioning the print head at a position on the substrate where printing is required, the control device elongating the print head to make contact with the substrate such that the liquid metal adheres to the substrate to perform printing;

Wherein the liquid metal is solid at room temperature.

Further, the printing assembly further includes an ink cartridge in communication with the printing cylinder, and a liquid level sensor;

When the liquid level sensor detects that the liquid level in the printing cylinder is lower than a preset value, the solidified liquid metal stored in the ink cartridge is caused to enter the printing cylinder.

Further, the print head is provided with a local hot melt device for heating the partial pattern printed on the substrate into a liquid state, thereby realizing printing of repeated lines and/or cross lines.

Further, a heating assembly is disposed on the back surface of the console for heating the substrate.

Further, the printing cylinder is a sandwich structure, and a heating device is disposed in the interlayer to heat the solidified liquid metal.

Further, the control device is an electromagnet.

Further, the number of the pressure rollers is three, which are respectively disposed on the left and right sides and the middle portion of the motion mechanism;

Wherein one of the pressure wheels disposed on the left and right sides is fixed in height, and the other of the pressure rollers are dropped or lifted by the control of the motor;

Each of the pressure rollers is rotated by the motor and the transmission structure.

Further, the liquid metal has a melting point of 40 to 80 °C.

Further, the printing assembly further includes a sealing cylinder disposed along the printing cylinder to seal the printed graphic.

Further, the printing assembly further includes a photocuring lamp disposed adjacent to the encapsulating barrel to accelerate solidification of the colloid for sealing.

Further, the print cartridge is detachably coupled to the print assembly, and the print head is detachably coupled to the print cartridge.

Further, the print head is connected to a printing tube in the printing cylinder through a connector; the printing tube is embedded in the printing tube for accommodating the liquid metal and transporting the printing head to the printing head through the connector Liquid metal.

Further, the main body is further provided with a flip cover;

The flip is opened when the substrate is placed or removed; when the printing is performed, the flip is closed to form a sealed print space.

Further, a control panel is disposed on a side of the main body.

Further, a power interface, a switch, a communication interface, and a firmware upgrade interface are further disposed on a side of the main body.

The additive manufacturing apparatus provided by the embodiment of the invention adopts a liquid metal material which is solid at normal temperature, and after printing the solidified liquid metal into a liquid state, the printed pattern can be naturally solidified at normal temperature, so Affected by the fluidity of liquid metal, it significantly expands the range of applications for manufacturing equipment.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic structural view of an additive manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing an additive manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic structural view of a printing assembly of an additive manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic structural view of a printing assembly of an additive manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a schematic structural view of a printing cylinder of an additive manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the print cylinder of the additive manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

Among them, 1, the main body; 11, the flip cover; 12, the control panel; 2, the operating table; 3, the moving mechanism; 31, the pressure wheel; 4, the printing assembly; 41, the printing cylinder; 411, the heating device; 412, the printing tube; 42, print head; 421, connector; 43, control device; 431, connection mechanism; 44, ink cartridge; 441, ink cartridge holder; 45, liquid level sensor; 46, sealing cylinder; 47, light curing lamp.

Detailed ways

The specific embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

It should be noted that, in the description of the present invention, the terms used should be understood in a broad sense unless otherwise explicitly defined. For example, "connected", "connected", etc. may be a fixed connection, or may be a detachable connection, or one. Ground connection; it can be mechanical connection or electrical connection; it can be directly connected, it can also be connected indirectly through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal connection of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood on a case-by-case basis.

1-5, an embodiment of the present invention provides an additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a main body 1, an operating table 2, a motion mechanism 3, and a printing assembly 4;

The console 2 is disposed at the bottom of the main body 1;

The moving mechanism 3 is disposed above the console 2, and both ends are respectively connected with the two sides of the main body 1; at least one pressing wheel 31 is disposed below the moving mechanism 3 to press the substrate placed on the console 2, and Controlling the substrate to move in the front-rear direction of the console 2 by its own rotation;

The printing assembly 4 is fixed on the moving mechanism 3 and slidable along the moving mechanism 3; the printing assembly 4 includes a printing cylinder 41, a printing head 42 and a control device 43, the printing cylinder 41 is in communication with the printing head 42, and the control device 43 is connected through the connecting mechanism 431. Controlling the expansion and contraction of the print head 42;

When printing, the printing cylinder 41 heats the liquid metal solidified therein to cause the molten liquid metal to flow into the printing head 42; the printing assembly 4 and the pressing wheel 31 respectively move the printing head 42 and the substrate so that the printing head 42 is located Where the substrate needs to be printed, the control device 43 extends the print head 42 to make contact with the substrate, so that the liquid metal adheres to the substrate to perform printing;

Among them, the liquid metal is solid at room temperature.

It can be understood that the manufacturing apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present invention can print using liquid metal which is solid at normal temperature, but is not limited thereto, and can also be printed using liquid metal which is liquid at normal temperature. In one embodiment, the manufacturing apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present invention uses a liquid metal that is liquid at normal temperature and achieves an excellent printing effect.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the motion mechanism 3 controls the printing assembly 4 to slide along the motion mechanism 3 by a motor (not shown) and a transmission structure (not shown).

Preferably, the motor can be a stepper motor and the transmission structure can be a belt and/or a transmission rod.

Preferably, in an embodiment of the present invention, the main body 1 is further provided with a flip cover 11 which is opened when the substrate is placed or taken out; when printing is performed, the flip cover 11 is closed to form a sealed printing space. This avoids interference with printing due to external environmental influences (such as impurities falling onto the substrate, the violent flow of air causing the liquid metal to deviate from the printed dots, etc.).

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, a control panel 12 is further disposed on a side portion of the main body 1. The control panel 12 includes at least a control module and a display module, and the control module is configured to set parameters of the manufacturing device and control the manufacturing device. Operation, display module is used to display the printing status of the manufacturing equipment and various parameter values.

Of course, the specific function of the control panel 12 and the position of the control panel can be adjusted according to the actual situation. For example, the control panel 12 can be disposed on the flip cover 11 and the like, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the side of the main body 1 is further provided with a power interface, a switch, a communication interface, and a firmware upgrade interface (not shown) to further improve the control performance of the manufacturing device and The level of informatization.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a liquid metal having a melting point of 40-80 ° C is preferably used, and a liquid metal having a melting point within the range can be naturally solidified from a liquid state to a solid state at a normal temperature after printing is completed. . In turn, solid-state graphics are printed.

Of course, in the case of maintaining a solid state at room temperature, the melting point of the liquid metal can be adjusted according to the actual situation, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the printing assembly 4 further includes an ink cartridge 44 in communication with the printing cylinder 41, and a liquid level sensor 45;

When the liquid level sensor 45 detects that the liquid level in the print cylinder 41 is lower than a preset value, the solidified liquid metal stored in the ink cartridge 44 is caused to enter the printing cylinder 41.

Among them, the ink cartridge 44 can be fixed to the printing assembly 4 through the ink cartridge holder 441, as shown in FIG.

Preferably, the solidified liquid metal stored in the ink cartridge 44 is in a ball structure to facilitate sliding into the printing cylinder 41.

Further, the liquid level sensor 45 can be communicably connected to the switch of the ink cartridge 44. When the liquid level sensor 45 detects that the liquid level in the print cylinder 41 is lower than a preset value, the switch of the ink cartridge 44 is opened, thereby solidifying. The liquid metal is rolled into the print cylinder 41. After the solidified liquid metal enters the print cylinder 41 and is heated and melted, the liquid level in the print cylinder 41 rises to another preset value. At this time, the liquid level sensor 45 turns off the switch of the ink cartridge 44, preventing excessive The liquid metal enters the print cylinder 41.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the print head 42 is further provided with a local hot melt device (not shown), such as a heat gun or a low temperature electric torch, for heating the partial pattern printed on the substrate into Liquid, enabling printing of repeating lines and/or cross lines.

For printed graphics, since the liquid metal will solidify at room temperature, repeating the print lines and printing the cross lines will destroy the original graphics. Therefore, after the local hot melt device is provided, local melting of the printed pattern can be realized, and printing of the repeated lines and intersecting lines can be realized.

On the other hand, after the local hot melt device heats the partial pattern into a liquid state, the electronic components can be placed accordingly to perform soldering of the electronic components.

Further, in an embodiment of the invention, the back of the console 2 is further provided with a heating assembly for heating the substrate. The heating assembly is configured to preheat the substrate to facilitate the printing of repeating lines and intersecting lines through a local hot melt device.

In some embodiments of the invention, the local hot melt apparatus employs a heat gun of 50-150 ° C and/or a low temperature torch of 50-150 ° C.

Preferably, in one embodiment of the invention, the print cylinder 41 is of a sandwich structure with a heating device 411 disposed therein to heat the solidified liquid metal.

Wherein, the heating device 411 may be a heating rod, and the heating rod is inserted into the interlayer of the printing cylinder 41, thereby heating the solidified liquid metal. As shown in Figure 5.

Preferably, in one embodiment of the invention, the control device 43 is an electromagnet. The electromagnet controls the expansion and contraction of the print head 42 through the connection mechanism 431. At the time of printing, if the print head 42 reaches the printing position, the electromagnet elongates the print head 42 to contact with the substrate to perform printing; after finishing the printing at this stage, the electromagnet retracts the print head 42, etc. After the print head 42 reaches the next printing position, the above operation is repeated until the printing of the substrate is completed.

Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, the number of the pressure rollers 31 is three, which are respectively disposed at the left and right sides and the middle portion of the motion mechanism 3, as shown in FIG. Wherein, one of the pressure rollers 31 disposed on the left and right sides is fixed in height, and the other pressure rollers 31 are dropped or lifted by the control of the motor; each of the pressure rollers 31 is rotated by the motor and the transmission structure.

The above arrangement of the pressure roller 31 enables switching of the printing web to be suitable for substrates of different sizes. For example, depending on the size of the substrate, the central pressure roller 31 can be lowered and/or the right pressure roller 31 can be lowered to press the substrate, thereby driving the substrate to move in the front-rear direction of the console 2.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the printing assembly 4 further includes a sealing barrel 46 disposed side by side with the printing cylinder 41 to seal the printed pattern.

Specifically, the manufacturing apparatus can seal the graphic on the entire substrate by moving the printing component 4 and the substrate after the printing of all the graphics is completed; or the sealing cylinder 46 can be used with the printing head. 42 After the printing is completed, the printed graphic is sealed immediately.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the printing assembly 4 further includes a curing light 47 disposed adjacent to the sealing barrel 46 to accelerate the solidification of the colloid for sealing (especially when the colloid is a photosensitive material colloid) ).

Preferably, in one embodiment of the invention, the print cartridge 41 is detachably coupled to the print assembly 4, and the print head 42 is detachably coupled to the print cartridge 41. Occlusion or contamination is inevitably present in the print head 42 and the print cylinder 41 due to oxidation of the liquid metal, presence of impurities, and the like. Therefore, the design facilitates disassembly of the print cartridge 41 and the printhead 42, thereby enabling cleaning or replacement of the printhead 42 and the print cartridge 41.

Specifically, the print head 42 can be connected to the printing tube 412 in the printing cylinder 41 through the connector 421; the printing tube 412 is embedded in the printing cylinder 41 for accommodating liquid metal and transporting liquid metal to the printing head 42 through the connector 421, as shown in the figure. 6 is shown.

The additive manufacturing equipment provided by the embodiment of the present invention uses a liquid metal material which is solid at room temperature, so that the printed pattern can be naturally solidified without subsequent high-temperature sintering treatment, thereby realizing rapid printing of the electronic circuit diagram.

The additive manufacturing equipment provided by the embodiment of the present invention can realize the printing of the double-sided circuit or the multi-faceted circuit, which significantly expands the application, compared with the existing electronic circuit printing, which is susceptible to the fluidity of the liquid metal. range.

In addition, the additive manufacturing device provided by the embodiment of the present invention can perform PCB via on the substrate and use the additive electronic device according to the existing electronic circuit printing, which is susceptible to the liquid metal fluidity. Pin-type electronic components.

Hereinafter, a method of using the additive manufacturing apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present invention and a printing process will be described:

S1, connect the power supply, and open the device;

S2, the flip cover 11 is opened, the substrate is placed on the operation table 2, and the substrate is pushed to the pressure roller 31;

S3, adjusting and/or switching each of the pressure rollers 31 according to the size of the substrate, so that the pressure roller can control the movement of the substrate in the front-rear direction of the console 2;

S4, the device starts the printing operation through the control panel;

The device performs the printing operation specifically:

S41, the printing assembly 4 and the pressing wheel 31 respectively move the printing head 42 and the substrate, so that the printing head 42 is located on the substrate at a position to be printed;

S42, the control device 43 extends the print head 42 to make contact with the substrate, so that the liquid metal adheres to the substrate, thereby performing printing;

Here, at a position where printing is not required, the control device 43 retracts the print head 42, and after the print head 42 reaches the next printing position, the above operation is repeated until the printing of the substrate is completed.

S5. After the printing is completed, the pressing wheel 31 retracts the substrate, and after opening the flip cover 11, the substrate can be taken out.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection of the present invention. Within the scope.

Claims

An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a main body, a console, a moving mechanism, and a printing assembly;

The console is disposed at a bottom of the main body;

The moving mechanism is disposed above the operation table, and two ends are respectively connected with two sides of the main body; at least one pressure wheel is disposed below the movement mechanism to press the upper part of the operation table a substrate, and controlling the substrate to move in the front-rear direction of the console by its own rotation;

The printing assembly is fixed to the moving mechanism and slidable along the moving mechanism; the printing assembly includes a printing cylinder, a print head and a control device, the printing cylinder is in communication with the printing head, the control device Controlling the expansion and contraction of the print head by a connection mechanism;

When printing, the printing cylinder heats the liquid metal solidified therein to cause the molten liquid metal to flow into the printing head; the printing assembly and the pressing wheel respectively move the printing head and the substrate to Positioning the print head at a position on the substrate where printing is required, the control device elongating the print head to make contact with the substrate such that the liquid metal adheres to the substrate to perform printing;

Wherein the liquid metal is solid at room temperature.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing assembly further comprises an ink cartridge in communication with said printing cylinder, and a liquid level sensor;

When the liquid level sensor detects that the liquid level in the printing cylinder is lower than a preset value, the solidified liquid metal stored in the ink cartridge is caused to enter the printing cylinder.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said print head is provided with a local hot melt device for heating a partial pattern printed on the substrate into a liquid state, thereby realizing repeating lines and/or intersecting lines. print.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a rear surface of the console is provided with a heating unit for heating the substrate.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said printing cylinder is a sandwich structure in which a heating means is provided to heat said solidified liquid metal.
A manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means is an electromagnet.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the number of the pressure rollers is three, respectively disposed on the left and right sides and the middle portion of the motion mechanism;

Wherein one of the pressure wheels disposed on the left and right sides is fixed in height, and the other of the pressure rollers are dropped or lifted by the control of the motor;

Each of the pressure rollers is rotated by the motor and the transmission structure.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said liquid metal has a melting point of 40 to 80 °C.
The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the printing assembly further comprises a sealing cylinder disposed side by side with the printing cylinder to seal the printed graphic.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said printing assembly further comprises a photocuring lamp disposed adjacent to said caulking cylinder to accelerate solidification of the colloid for encapsulation.
A manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the printing cylinder is detachably coupled to the printing unit, and the printing head is detachably coupled to the printing cylinder.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said print head is coupled to a printing tube in said printing cylinder through a connector; said printing tube being embedded in said printing cylinder for accommodating said liquid metal and passing The connector delivers the liquid metal to the printhead.
The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the main body is further provided with a flip cover;

The flip is opened when the substrate is placed or removed; when the printing is performed, the flip is closed to form a sealed print space.
A manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a control panel is provided on a side portion of the main body.
The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the side of the main body is further provided with a power interface, a switch, a communication interface and a firmware upgrade interface.