WO2023277578A1

WO2023277578A1 - Three-dimensional printer

Info

Publication number: WO2023277578A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/009330
Authority: WO
Inventors: 김남훈; 이승재
Original assignee: 울산과학기술원
Priority date: 2021-07-02
Filing date: 2022-06-29
Publication date: 2023-01-05
Also published as: KR102437954B1

Abstract

A three-dimensional printer comprises: a bed module having a plurality of bed units on which a resin for forming a molded article is stacked; a discharge unit including a discharge unit for discharging the resin to the top surface of the plurality of bed units, and a transfer unit for moving the discharge unit; a bed driving unit for generating driving force for moving at least one of the plurality of bed units upward or downward; and a control device for controlling the bed driving unit and the transfer unit on the basis of the movement path of the discharging unit, input in advance. The bed module further includes a plurality of bed gear units connected to the plurality of bed units, and the plurality of bed gear units are driven to be engaged with the bed driving unit, and thus can move the plurality of bed units.

Description

3d printer

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printer.

Dimensional printing refers to manufacturing a molded product by layering various materials such as plastic, metal, and ceramic using a three-dimensional design drawing. 3D printers are classified according to the method of outputting materials: SLS (selective laser sintering) method that sinters powdered materials with a laser, SLA (Stereo lithography) method that hardens materials with light, and FDM (which melts plastic filaments). The fused deposition modeling method is widely used.

Such a 3D printer may include a bed on which materials output from the discharge unit and a discharge unit for discharging materials when moved in left and right and up and down directions are stacked. In addition, the material may be laminated on the bed to form a molded article and a supporter supporting the molded article.

There is a problem that the molding may collapse if the supporter stacked on the bed is weak or incorrectly formed. In addition, there is a problem in that more materials are used as the number of supporters stacked on the bed increases.

(Prior art literature)

(Patent Document) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0071804 (published on June 22, 2020)

Embodiments of the present invention have been invented in view of the above background, and are intended to provide a 3D printer capable of minimizing a supporter.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a bed module including a plurality of bed parts on which a resin for forming a molding is laminated; a discharge unit including a discharge unit for discharging the resin to upper surfaces of the plurality of bed units and a transfer unit for moving the discharge unit; a bed driving unit generating a driving force for moving one or more of the plurality of bed parts upward or downward; And a control device for controlling the bed driving unit and the transfer unit based on a previously input movement path of the discharge unit, wherein the bed module further includes a plurality of bed gear units connected to the plurality of bed units, The plurality of bed gear units are engaged with and driven by the bed driving unit to move the plurality of bed units, and the bed module further includes a plurality of bed gear units connected to the plurality of bed units, wherein the plurality of bed gear units By being driven in engagement with the bed driving unit, the plurality of bed parts are moved, a plurality of moving paths of the discharge unit are formed, and the plurality of moving paths are formed in one or more of the plurality of bed parts so that a part of the molding is formed. a first movement path that is a path along which the discharge unit is moved to stack the resin; And after the resin is laminated along the first movement path, a second movement path, which is a path along which the discharge unit is moved to laminate the resin on one or more of the plurality of bed parts so that another part of the molding is formed. and the control device, before the discharge unit moves along the second movement path, at least one of the plurality of bed gear units is engaged with the bed driving unit based on the first movement path to the plurality of bed gear units. A 3D printer may be provided that controls movement of one or more of the bed gear units and drives the bed driving unit.

In addition, the plurality of bed parts are arranged in a matrix shape of columns and rows, and the bed driving unit includes a motor generating the driving force; and a plurality of shaft gears oriented in one of the column or row directions and spaced apart from each other along the other direction to be rotated by the driving force generated from the motor, wherein some of the plurality of bed gear units may be selectively engaged with one of the plurality of shaft gears.

In addition, the transfer unit is driven to move the discharge unit in a vertical direction, and the plurality of bed units include one or more first bed units positioned on the first movement path; And a plurality of second bed parts not located on the first movement path, wherein the control device, when the discharge unit moves along the first movement path is completed and is moved upward by the transfer unit, At least one of the plurality of bed gear units may be connected to the bed driving unit, and the bed driving unit may be controlled to move at least a portion of the plurality of second bed units upward.

In addition, an upward movement length of at least a portion of the plurality of second bed portions may be equal to a thickness of the resin laminated on one or more of the plurality of bed portions based on the first movement path.

In addition, an upward movement length of at least a portion of the plurality of second bed units and an upward movement length of the discharge unit may be the same.

In addition, the discharge unit is moved only in the left and right directions by the transfer unit, the plurality of bed units include one or more first bed units located on the first movement path, and the control device includes the discharge unit Controlling the bed driving unit so that at least one of the plurality of bed gear parts is connected to the bed driving unit and the at least one first bed part is moved downward by a predetermined length when the movement along the first moving path is completed can do.

In addition, the preset length may be the same as the thickness of the resin laminated on one or more of the plurality of bed parts based on the first movement path.

In addition, a heating film for fixing the resin may be provided in each of the plurality of bed parts.

According to one aspect of the present invention, since one or more of the plurality of bed parts can be moved in a vertical direction based on the moving path of the discharge part to minimize the formation of the supporter, there is an effect that the amount of resin used can be reduced.

In addition, since the amount of resin used can be reduced, there is an effect that the time for manufacturing a molded article can be shortened.

1 is a diagram showing a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing a bed module and a shaft gear according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing a plurality of bed parts according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view showing a state in which the second bed unit is moved upward according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a state in which at least a portion of a plurality of raised bed portions is lowered after resin discharged from the discharge portion moved based on the second movement path according to an embodiment of the present invention is laminated on the bed portion to form a molding. is the drawing shown.

7 is a view showing a state in which the first bed unit is moved downward according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a view showing a state in which a molded article is formed by stacking resin discharged from a discharge unit moved along a second movement path according to an embodiment of the present invention on a second bed unit.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the technical idea of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In addition, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

In addition, it should be understood that when a component is referred to as being 'connected' or 'flowed' to another component, it may be directly connected to or flowed to the other component, but another component may exist in the middle.

Terms used in this specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In addition, in this specification, expressions such as upper, lower, side, etc. are described based on the drawings, and it is made clear in advance that they may be expressed differently if the direction of the object is changed. For the same reason, some components in the accompanying drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated, and the size of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

As used herein, the meaning of “comprising” specifies specific characteristics, regions, steps, operations, elements and/or components, and the presence or addition of other specific characteristics, regions, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups. does not exclude

Hereinafter, a 3D printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3, the 3D printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention laminates various resins such as plastic, metal, and ceramic based on a previously input design drawing to form a molded article 2 and the molded article ( It is a device capable of forming a supporter for supporting 2). The 3D printer 1 may include a bed module 100, a discharge unit 200, a bed driving unit 300, and a control device 400.

The bed module 100 may be disposed below the discharge unit 200 to support the molding 2 and the supporter. In addition, the bed module 100 may include a plurality of bed parts 110 , a plurality of bed gear parts 120 and a gear moving part 130 .

The plurality of bed parts 110 may be stacked with resin for forming the molded product 2 . In addition, one or more of the plurality of bed parts 110 may be moved in a vertical direction by the bed driving unit 300 . The plurality of bed parts 110 may be arranged in a matrix shape of columns and rows. In addition, each of the plurality of bed parts 110 may be provided with a heating film for fixing the resin thereon. Such a heating film can prevent the temperature of the resin from being lowered by the bed part 110 . For example, the heating film may set the temperature of the upper surface of the bed part 110 to 50° C. or higher and 70° C. or lower. In addition, gear teeth for engaging with the plurality of bed gear parts 120 may be formed in the plurality of bed parts 110 . For example, a rack gear may be provided in the vertical direction in the bed part 110, and a pinion gear engaged with the rack gear may be provided in the bed gear part 120.

The plurality of bed gear units 120 may be respectively connected to the plurality of bed units 110 . In addition, the plurality of bed gear units 120 may be selectively connected to the bed driving unit 300 . In other words, one or more of the plurality of bed gear units 120 may be connected to and rotated with the bed driving unit 300 . The rotation centers of the plurality of bed gear units 120 may be oriented in the column or row direction of the plurality of bed units 110 . In addition, the plurality of bed gear units 120 may be rotated by the driving force of the bed driving unit 300 to move the plurality of bed units 110 upward or downward.

The gear moving unit 130 may move the bed gear unit 120 so that the bed gear unit 120 is connected to the bed driving unit 300 . The bed gear unit 120 may be rotated while being connected to the bed driving unit 300 and the bed unit 110 by the gear moving unit 130 . Although not shown in the drawing, the gear moving unit 130 may include a position sensor for detecting the position of the bed unit, a link unit having a plurality of joints, and a driving source for operating the link unit. The link unit of the gear moving unit 130 is connected to the bed unit 110 to adjust the position of the bed unit 110 .

The discharge unit 200 may discharge resin toward the bed module 100 . The discharge unit 200 may include a discharge unit 210 and a transfer unit 220 .

The discharge unit 210 may discharge resin. The discharge unit 210 may be moved left and right and up and down by the transfer unit 220, or may be moved only in the left and right directions.

The transfer unit 220 may transfer the discharge unit 210 . The transfer unit 220 may transfer the discharge unit 210 along a transfer path pre-input into the control device 400 . In addition, the transfer unit 220 may move the discharge unit 210 in the left and right up and down directions or only in the left and right directions according to the transfer path.

The bed driving unit 300 may generate a driving force for moving one or more of the plurality of bed parts 110 upward or downward. The bed driving unit 300 may include a motor 310 and a plurality of shaft gears 320 .

The motor 310 may generate driving force. A plurality of shaft gears 320 may be simultaneously rotated by the motor 310 .

The plurality of shaft gears 320 may be oriented in one direction of the column or row directions of the plurality of bed parts 110 and spaced apart from each other along the other direction. The plurality of shaft gears 320 may be rotated by driving force generated by one motor 310 . In addition, the plurality of shaft gears 320 may be connected to each other through separate connection gears (not shown). In other words, the plurality of shaft gears 320 may be rotated in the same direction. In addition, gear teeth capable of meshing with the bed gear unit 120 may be formed in the shaft gear 320 . A part of the plurality of bed gear units 120 may be selectively engaged with one of the plurality of shaft gears 320 . For example, as shown in the drawing, three or more bed gear units 120 may be selectively coupled to one shaft gear 320 . In addition, when the plurality of shaft gears 320 are rotated in one direction, one or more of the plurality of bed parts 110 may rise, and when rotated in the opposite direction to the one direction, the plurality of bed parts 110 One or more of them may descend.

Referring further to FIG. 4 , the production area A, which is an area where the movement path of the discharge unit 210 and the molding 2 is formed, may be input to the control device 400 in advance. The production area A may include at least a portion of the upper surfaces of the plurality of bed parts 110 . The control device 400 may control one or more of the transfer unit 220 and the bed driving unit 300 based on the movement path of the discharge unit 210 input in advance to form the molding 2 . In addition, the control device 400 may control one or more of the plurality of bed gear units 120 to be connected to the bed driving unit 300 based on the moving path of the discharge unit 210 . In other words, the control device 400 may control the gear shifting unit 130 so that the bed gear unit 120 is selectively connected to the shaft gear 320 . In addition, a plurality of pre-input movement paths may be formed. According to these plurality of moving paths, the resin may be continuously laminated on the plurality of bed parts 110 to form the molded article 2 .

The plurality of movement paths may include a first movement path S1 and a second movement path S2. The first moving path S1 is a path along which the discharge unit 210 is moved to stack resin on one or more of the plurality of bed units 110 . This first movement path S1 may be formed along a virtual horizontal plane. The second movement path S2 is a path along which the discharge unit 210 moves after the first movement path S1. This second movement path S2 may be formed along a virtual horizontal plane. In other words, the resin may be stacked on the plurality of bed parts 110 along the first movement path S1 and then stacked again along the second movement path S2. In addition, the resin stacked in the second movement path S2 may be disposed at a higher position than the resin stacked in the first movement path S1.

In addition, the control device 400 controls that, before the discharge unit 210 moves along the second movement path S2, at least one of the plurality of bed gear units 120 is a bed based on the first movement path S1. It can be controlled to be connected to the driving unit 300 and drive the bed driving unit 300 . In other words, the control device 400 may move one or more of the plurality of bed parts 110 upward or downward based on the first movement path S1.

Hereinafter, the control method of the control device 400 is used when the discharge unit 210 can be moved in the left and right up and down directions by the transfer unit 220 and the discharge unit 210 moves only in the left and right directions by the transfer unit 220. Divide into possible cases and explain. In addition, the plurality of bed parts 110 may include one or more first bed parts 111 and one or more second bed parts 112 . The first bed part 111 means a bed part 110 positioned on the first movement path S1, and the second bed part 112 is a bed part not located on the first movement path S1 (110) means. In addition, the second bed part 112 is a bed part 110 that is not located on the first movement path S1 in the entirety of the plurality of bed parts 110 or a plurality of bed parts 110 located in the production area A ) It may be the bed portion 110 that is not located on the first movement path (S1).

First, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 , a case in which the discharge unit 210 can be moved in the left and right and up and down directions by the transfer unit 220 will be described. The discharge unit 210 may be moved upward by the transfer unit 220 before being moved along the second movement path S2. In other words, the control device 400 may control the transfer unit 220 so that the discharge unit 210 moves upward.

The control device 400 may control the gear moving unit 130 and the bed driving unit 300 to move one or more of the plurality of bed units 110 upward whenever the discharge unit 210 rises. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5 , the control device 400 controls the plurality of bed gear units when the discharge unit 210 moves along the first movement path S1 and is moved upward by the transfer unit. At least one of 120 may be connected to the bed driving unit 300 and the bed driving unit 300 may be controlled so that the plurality of second bed units 112 are moved upward. That is, the plurality of bed gear parts 120 connected to the plurality of second bed parts 112 may be connected to one or more shaft gears 320 and rotated by a driving force.

The upward movement length of the plurality of first bed parts 111 may be the same as the thickness of the resin laminated on one or more of the plurality of bed parts 110 based on the first movement path S1. The thickness means the length in the vertical direction of the resin laminated on the bed part. In addition, the upward movement length of the first bed unit 111 and the upward movement length of the discharge unit 210 may be the same.

When the upward movement of the first bed part 111 is completed, the control device 400 moves the discharge part 210 along the second movement path S2 as shown in FIG. 6 to laminate the resin again. there is. In addition, when the formation of the molding 2 is completed, the control device 400 may drive the bed driving unit 300 to lower at least a part of the raised bed portion 110 .

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , a case in which the discharge unit 210 can be moved only in the left and right directions by the transfer unit 220 will be described. In other words, the discharge unit 210 may not move in the vertical direction.

The control device 400 is a gear moving unit to move one or more of the plurality of bed units 110 downward each time the movement of the discharge unit 210 moved along any one of the plurality of previously input paths is completed. 130) and the bed driving unit 300 can be controlled. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7 , when the discharge unit 210 moves along the first movement path S1 and before moving along the second movement path S2, the control device 400 does one In order to move the above first bed unit 111 downward, one or more of the plurality of bed gear units 120 may be controlled to be connected to the bed driving unit 300, and the bed driving unit 300 may be driven. . That is, the plurality of bed gear parts 120 connected to the plurality of first bed parts 111 may be connected to one or more shaft gears 320 and rotated by a driving force.

In addition, the downward movement length of the first bed part 111 may be input to the control device 400 in advance. This pre-input length may be the upward movement length of the discharge unit 210 . In other words, since the control device 400 moves the discharge unit 210 only in the left and right directions, instead of moving the discharge unit 210 upward, the first bed unit 111 moves downward of the discharge unit 210 It can be lowered by the length.

In addition, the downward movement length of the plurality of first bed parts 111 may be the same as the thickness of the resin laminated on one or more of the plurality of bed parts 110 based on the first movement path S1.

As shown in FIG. 8 , when the downward movement of the first bed part 111 is completed, the control device 400 moves the discharge part 210 along the second movement path S2 to laminate the resin again. can In addition, the control device 400 may drive the bed driving unit 300 to raise the lowered bed part 110 when the formation of the molding 2 is completed.

Hereinafter, operations and effects of the 3D printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

At least one of the plurality of bed parts 110 of the 3D printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is moved upward or downward based on the moving path of the discharge part 210 to form a molded article 2 and the bed part Since the separation distance between the (110) can be reduced, the formation of supporters can be reduced. In addition, as the number of supporters being formed decreases, the manufacturing time of the molded article 2 can be reduced.

In addition, since the plurality of shaft gears 320 may be simultaneously rotated by one motor 310 , heights between the plurality of bed parts 110 may be equally aligned. In other words, after the molding 2 is completed, the plurality of shaft gears 320 are rotated at the same time, the height of the raised or lowered bed portion 110 is the height of the bed portion 110 that does not rise or fall can be sorted in the same way as

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described as specific embodiments, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and should be construed as having the widest scope according to the technical idea disclosed herein. A person skilled in the art may implement a pattern of a shape not indicated by combining/substituting the disclosed embodiments, but this also does not deviate from the scope of the present invention. In addition, those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the disclosed embodiments based on this specification, and it is clear that such changes or modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A bed module including a plurality of bed parts on which resin for forming a molding is laminated;

a discharge unit including a discharge unit for discharging the resin to upper surfaces of the plurality of bed units and a transfer unit for moving the discharge unit;

a bed driving unit generating a driving force for moving one or more of the plurality of bed parts upward or downward; and

And a control device for controlling the bed driving unit and the transfer unit based on a movement path of the discharge unit input in advance,

The bed module,

Further comprising a plurality of bed gear parts connected to the plurality of bed parts,

The plurality of bed gear units are engaged with and driven by the bed driving unit to move the plurality of bed units,

The movement path of the discharge unit is formed in plurality,

The plurality of movement paths,

a first movement path that is a path along which the discharge unit moves to laminate the resin on one or more of the plurality of bed units so that a portion of the molding is formed; and

After the resin is laminated along the first movement path, to laminate the resin on one or more of the plurality of bed parts so that another part of the molding is formed. A second movement path that is a path along which the discharge unit is moved. do,

The control device,

Before the discharge unit moves along the second movement path, at least one of the plurality of bed gear units is moved based on the first movement path so that at least one of the plurality of bed gear units is engaged with the bed driving unit. Controlling and driving the bed driving unit,

3D printer.
According to claim 1,

The plurality of bed parts are arranged in a matrix shape of columns and rows,

The bed driving unit

a motor generating the driving force; and

A plurality of shaft gears oriented in one of the column or row directions and spaced apart from each other along the other direction to be rotated by the driving force generated from the motor,

Some of the plurality of bed gears are selectively engaged with one of the plurality of shaft gears,

3D printer.
According to claim 1,

The transfer unit is driven to move the discharge unit in the vertical direction,

The plurality of bed parts

one or more first bed parts located on the first movement path; and

Including a plurality of second bed parts not located on the first movement path,

The control device,

When the discharge unit moves along the first movement path and is moved upward by the transfer unit, at least one of the plurality of bed gear units is connected to the bed driving unit, and the plurality of second bed units Controlling the bed driving unit so that at least a part of it is moved upward,

3D printer.
According to claim 3,

The upward movement length of at least a portion of the plurality of second bed portions is the same as the thickness of the resin laminated on one or more of the plurality of bed portions based on the first movement path,

3D printer.
According to claim 3,

The upward movement length of at least some of the plurality of second bed parts and the upward movement length of the discharge part are the same,

3D printer.
According to claim 1,

The discharge part is moved only in the left and right directions by the transfer part,

The plurality of bed parts,

Including one or more first bed parts located on the first movement path,

The control device,

When the discharge unit moves along the first movement path, at least one of the plurality of bed gear units is connected to the bed driving unit, and the at least one first bed unit moves downward by a preset length. Controlling the bed driving unit,

3D printer.
According to claim 6,

The preset length is the same as the thickness of the resin laminated on one or more of the plurality of bed parts based on the first movement path,

3D printer.
According to claim 1,

Each of the plurality of bed parts is provided with a heating film for fixing the resin.

3D printer.