A straightening device for filamentous consumables for metal three-dimensional printers

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of metal three-dimensional printer with filament consumables straightening device, including printing warehouse top plate and the connecting plate of fixed installation below printing warehouse top plate, first shaping mechanism, second shaping mechanism and guiding mechanism, the shaping direction of first shaping channel is perpendicular to the shaping direction of second shaping channel, and the center line of first shaping channel and second shaping channel coincides.The straightening device proposed in the application is straightened by the shaping roller arranged on the first shaping mechanism and the second shaping mechanism, and the curled metal filament consumables are shaped, when the filament consumables are processed in the internal device of printer, avoid filament consumables abrasion processing device, effectively protect printer, improve the service life of printer, and the filament consumables after straightening and shaping are smoothly conveyed to the material conveying channel of downstream internal processing device of printer by guiding mechanism, avoid unnecessary manual adjustment, greatly improve the working efficiency of metal three-dimensional printer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printer technology, and in particular to a filament straightening device for metal 3D printers. Background Technology

[0002] Metal 3D printers are a technology that uses digital model files as a foundation to construct three-dimensional objects by layering metal materials. They represent a development direction for high-end and precision manufacturing. Although there are various technologies, their core idea is "layered manufacturing, layer-by-layer stacking." First, the 3D model is "sliced" into thousands of two-dimensional sheets. Then, the printer creates and fuses these sheets layer by layer, ultimately stacking them into a three-dimensional object. Metal 3D printers can create complex geometries, internal cavity structures, and lattice structures (lightweighting) that are impossible with traditional processes (such as casting and milling), and have wide applications in aerospace, mold making, and automotive industries.

[0003] Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is another widely used rapid prototyping process following photopolymerization and laminated solid modeling. FDM is a prototyping method that does not rely on lasers as a forming energy source, but instead uses various filaments heated and melted. The filaments are typically tightly wound onto a material holder; during use, the material holder is connected to the printer, and then the filaments are fed into the printer.

[0004] Metal 3D printers use metal filaments, which deform when tightly wound on the material rack, naturally curling up. This causes the filaments to wear down the inner walls of the printer's internal processing unit during feeding, affecting the printer's lifespan. Furthermore, the diameter of the feed channel in the internal processing unit of metal 3D printers is generally small, making it easy for the bent filaments to get stuck in gaps between internal components such as heating elements and nozzles, requiring manual adjustment and significantly impacting the printer's efficiency. Therefore, a filament straightening device needs to be introduced into metal 3D printers to avoid these problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to install a straightening device inside a metal 3D printer. Through the straightening rollers set on the first and second straightening mechanisms, the curled metal filaments are straightened and shaped. When the filaments are processed in the printer's internal device, the filaments are prevented from wearing down the processing device, effectively protecting the printer and extending its service life. Furthermore, the straightened and shaped filaments are smoothly transported to the material feeding channel of the downstream internal processing device of the printer through the guiding mechanism, avoiding unnecessary manual adjustments and greatly improving the working efficiency of the metal 3D printer.

[0006] The technical solution of this utility model is: A filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer includes a printing chamber top plate and a connecting plate, a first shaping mechanism, a second shaping mechanism, and a guiding mechanism fixedly installed below the printing chamber top plate. The first shaping mechanism, the second shaping mechanism, and the guiding mechanism are arranged sequentially from top to bottom on the connecting plate. The first shaping mechanism includes a first welding plate and a first mounting plate mounted opposite each other. Multiple shaping rollers are rotatably mounted on the same side of both the first welding plate and the first mounting plate, and the shaping rollers on the first welding plate and the first mounting plate form a first shaping channel. The second shaping mechanism includes a second welding plate and a second mounting plate mounted opposite each other. Multiple shaping rollers are also rotatably mounted on the same side of both the second welding plate and the second mounting plate, and the shaping rollers on the second welding plate and the second mounting plate form a second shaping channel. The shaping direction of the first shaping channel is perpendicular to the shaping direction of the second shaping channel, and the center lines of the first shaping channel and the second shaping channel coincide.

[0007] Furthermore, the guiding mechanism includes a third welding plate, on the side of the third welding plate away from the connecting plate, a plurality of shaping rollers are installed through a connector, and the shaping rollers installed on the third welding plate form a guiding channel. The outer circumferential surface of the shaping rollers is provided with an annular groove that matches the shape of the filamentary consumable.

[0008] Furthermore, a connecting frame is fixedly connected to the top of the printing chamber top plate, and a mounting frame is welded to the top of the connecting frame. The mounting frame is connected to the filament consumable and rollers through a slot.

[0009] Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the shaping roller is provided with an annular groove that matches the shape of the filamentous consumable.

[0010] Furthermore, the top of the printing chamber top plate is provided with a mounting hole groove, the inner wall of the mounting hole groove is fixedly connected to the feeding device, and the top of the feeding device is provided with an anti-wear sleeve.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: the forming rollers on the first and second forming mechanisms straighten and shape the curled metal filaments, preventing wear and tear on the processing device when the filaments are processed inside the printer, effectively protecting the printer and extending its service life. Furthermore, the straightened and shaped filaments are smoothly transported to the material feeding channel of the downstream processing device through the guiding mechanism, avoiding unnecessary manual adjustments and greatly improving the working efficiency of the metal 3D printer. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer. Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the connecting plate; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point A; Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point B; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positional relationship between the shaping roller and the filament consumable.

[0013] Figure label: 1. Filament consumable; 2. Connecting frame; 3. Printing chamber top plate; 4. Roller; 5. Anti-wear sleeve; 6. Feeding device; 7. Connecting plate; 8. First mounting plate; 9. Shaping roller; 10. First welding plate; 11. Second welding plate; 12. Second mounting plate; 13. Third welding plate. Detailed Implementation

[0014] To make the technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the exemplary embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not an exhaustive list of all embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0015] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-5 The present invention will be described in further detail below.

[0016] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 This embodiment provides a filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer, including a printing chamber top plate 3, a connecting plate 7 fixedly installed below the printing chamber top plate 3 by welding or bolting, a first shaping mechanism, a second shaping mechanism, and a guiding mechanism.

[0017] The first shaping mechanism, the second shaping mechanism, and the guiding mechanism are arranged sequentially from top to bottom on the connecting plate 7. The first shaping mechanism includes a first welding plate 10 and a first mounting plate 8 that are mounted opposite each other. Multiple shaping rollers 9 are rotatably mounted on the same side of the first welding plate 10 and the first mounting plate 8. The shaping rollers 9 on the first welding plate 10 and the shaping rollers 9 on the first mounting plate 8 form a first shaping channel.

[0018] The second shaping mechanism includes a second welding plate 11 and a second mounting plate 12 mounted opposite to each other. Multiple shaping rollers 9 are rotatably mounted on the same side of the second welding plate 11 and the second mounting plate 12. The shaping rollers 9 on the second welding plate 11 and the shaping rollers 9 on the second mounting plate 12 form a second shaping channel. The shaping direction of the first shaping channel is perpendicular to the shaping direction of the second shaping channel, and the center lines of the first shaping channel and the second shaping channel coincide.

[0019] The length extension direction of the first welding plate 10 and the second welding plate 11 is the same as the length extension direction of the connecting plate 7, and the length extension direction of the third welding plate 13 is perpendicular to the length extension direction of the connecting plate 7.

[0020] The first welding plate 10 is connected to the first mounting plate 8 by means of bolts or screws, which can adjust the preload and axial distance. The first mounting plate 8 and the first welding plate 10 are located on the same plane, and shaping rollers 9 are connected to the same side of the first welding plate 10 and the first mounting plate 8.

[0021] The second welding plate 11 is mounted parallel to the connecting plate 7. The second welding plate 11 is connected to the second mounting plate 12 by connecting parts such as bolts or screws that can adjust the preload and axial distance. The second welding plate 11 and the second mounting plate 12 are on the same plane.

[0022] The first mounting plate 8 and the second mounting plate 12 are connected to the first welding plate 10 and the second welding plate 11 respectively via bolts or screws or other connecting parts that allow adjustment of preload and axial distance. By adjusting the bolts or screws, the diameters of the first and second shaping channels can be adjusted within a certain range, thereby enabling the device to straighten and shape filaments of different diameters.

[0023] The guiding mechanism includes a third welding plate 13 located below the first mounting plate 8, and a shaping roller 9 is connected to the side of the third welding plate 13 away from the connecting plate 7. The structural cooperation of the third welding plate 13 and the shaping roller 9 constitutes the guiding mechanism, and the shaping roller 9 mounted on the third welding plate 13 constitutes a guiding channel, which coincides with the center line of the second shaping channel.

[0024] The first welding plate 10, the first mounting plate 8, the second welding plate 11, the second mounting plate 12 and the third welding plate 13 are all connected to the shaping roller 9 by bolts or bearings. If connected by bolts, the outer diameter of the bolt should be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the shaping roller 9 so that the shaping roller 9 can rotate on the outer wall of the bolt.

[0025] Multiple shaping rollers 9 mounted on the first welding plate 10, the first mounting plate 8, the second welding plate 11, and the second mounting plate 12 can be arranged alternately or symmetrically. The shaping rollers 9 mounted on the third welding plate 13 are arranged horizontally and symmetrically. The outer circumferential surfaces of the multiple shaping rollers 9 mounted on the first welding plate 10, the first mounting plate 8, the second welding plate 11, and the second mounting plate 12, as well as the shaping rollers 9 mounted on the third welding plate 13, are all provided with annular grooves that conform to the shape of the filamentary material 1. The multiple shaping rollers 9 mounted on the first welding plate 10 and the first mounting plate 8 form a first shaping channel through the interaction of the annular grooves. The multiple shaping rollers 9 mounted on the second welding plate 11 and the second mounting plate 12 form a second shaping channel through the interaction of the annular grooves. The multiple shaping rollers 9 mounted on the third welding plate 13 form a guide channel through the interaction of the annular grooves.

[0026] The first shaping channel, the second shaping channel, and the guide channel are all used to transport the filamentary consumable 1, and the center lines of the first shaping channel, the second shaping channel, and the guide channel coincide. When the filamentary consumable passes through the first shaping channel and the second shaping channel, it is subjected to the force of the annular groove on the outer periphery of the shaping roller 9, which straightens and shapes the curled filamentary consumable 1.

[0027] By adjusting the installation position of the shaping rollers 9, the filamentary material 1 is subjected to mutually perpendicular forces in the first and second shaping channels, resulting in a better straightening effect. After being straightened and shaped, the filamentary material 1 enters the guide channel, which stabilizes the conveying direction of the filamentary material 1, ensuring that the filamentary material 1 can accurately and smoothly enter the material conveying channels of downstream heating devices, nozzles, and other processing devices.

[0028] A connecting frame 2 is fixedly connected to the top of the printing chamber top plate 3. The top of the connecting frame 2 has two connecting mechanisms. One connecting mechanism is connected to the material rack tightly wound with the filament 1 via a slot, allowing the material rack to roll and convey the filament 1 during feeding by the feeding device 6. The other connecting mechanism is connected to a roller 4 via a slot or fixed connection. The top of the printing chamber top plate 3 has a mounting slot, and the inner wall of the mounting slot is connected to the feeding device 6 by welding or bolts. The feeding device 6 has an inlet and an outlet at its top and bottom, respectively.

[0029] The feeding device 6 has two symmetrically arranged electric rollers driven by servo motors. There is a certain gap between the two electric rollers, which can clamp the filament 1 and drive the filament 1 downward. The top of the feeding device 6 is provided with an anti-wear sleeve 5, which can prevent wear caused by the filament 4 when it comes into contact with the roller 4. There is a certain gap between the roller 4 and the material rack, and the roller 4 is located between the material rack and the feeding device 6.

[0030] During the printing process, the filament 1 is first detached from the material rack by the feeding device 6 and passes over the roller 4. The function of the roller 4 is to increase the angle at which the filament 1 enters the feeding device 6, so as to avoid excessive contact with the inner wall of the feeding device 6 and cause wear.

[0031] Then, the filamentous consumable 1 enters the anti-wear sleeve 5, and then enters the feeding device 6 from the feed port at the top of the feeding device 6 through the anti-wear sleeve 5. The feeding device 6 drives the filamentous consumable 1 downward through the internal electric roller. The filamentous consumable 1 first enters the first shaping channel formed at the connection between the first welding plate 10 and the first mounting plate 8, and is straightened and shaped for the first time under the clamping of the shaping rollers 9 installed on the first welding plate 10 and the first mounting plate 8.

[0032] Next, the filamentous consumable 1 enters the second shaping channel formed at the connection between the second welding plate 11 and the second mounting plate 12. In the second shaping channel, it is subjected to a force perpendicular to the force in the first shaping channel by the shaping roller 9, thereby performing secondary straightening and shaping.

[0033] Finally, the filamentary consumable 1, after being straightened and shaped twice, enters the guide channel formed by the shaping roller 9 set on the third welding plate 13. The guide channel stabilizes the conveying direction of the filamentary consumable 1, ensuring that the filamentary consumable 1 can accurately and smoothly enter the material conveying channel of the downstream heating device, nozzle and other processing devices.

[0034] In summary, the filament straightening device for metal 3D printers provided by this utility model straightens and shapes the curled filament 1 using the shaping rollers 9 on the first and second shaping mechanisms. This prevents the filament 1 from wearing down the processing device during internal processing, effectively protecting the printer and extending its lifespan. Furthermore, the guiding mechanism smoothly transports the straightened filament to the feed channel of the downstream internal processing device, avoiding unnecessary manual adjustments and significantly improving the working efficiency of the metal 3D printer.

[0035] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0037] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] Although preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this application.

[0039] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer, characterized in that, The system includes a printing chamber top plate (3), a connecting plate (7) fixedly installed below the printing chamber top plate (3), a first shaping mechanism, a second shaping mechanism, and a guiding mechanism. The first shaping mechanism, the second shaping mechanism, and the guiding mechanism are arranged sequentially from top to bottom on the connecting plate (7). The first shaping mechanism includes a first welding plate (10) and a first mounting plate (8) installed opposite to each other. Multiple shaping rollers (9) are rotatably installed on the same side of the first welding plate (10) and the first mounting plate (8). The shaping rollers (9) on the first welding plate (10) and the first mounting plate (8) are connected to each other. The first shaping channel is formed between the shaping rollers (9) on the second shaping mechanism; the second shaping mechanism includes a second welding plate (11) and a second mounting plate (12) mounted opposite to each other. Multiple shaping rollers (9) are also rotatably mounted on the same side of the second welding plate (11) and the second mounting plate (12). The shaping rollers (9) on the second welding plate (11) and the shaping rollers (9) on the second mounting plate (12) form a second shaping channel; the shaping direction of the first shaping channel is perpendicular to the shaping direction of the second shaping channel, and the center lines of the first shaping channel and the second shaping channel coincide.

2. The filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guiding mechanism includes a third welding plate (13). On the side of the third welding plate (13) away from the connecting plate (7), a plurality of shaping rollers (9) are installed through a connector. The shaping rollers (9) installed on the third welding plate (13) form a guiding channel, and the center line of the guiding channel coincides with that of the second shaping channel.

3. The filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the printing chamber top plate (3) is fixedly connected to a connecting frame (2), and a mounting frame is welded to the top of the connecting frame (2). The mounting frame is connected to a filamentous consumable (1) and a roller (4) through a slot.

4. A filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The outer circumferential surface of the shaping roller (9) is provided with an annular groove that matches the shape of the filamentous consumable (1).

5. A filament straightening device for a metal 3D printer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The top of the printing chamber top plate (3) is provided with an installation hole groove, the inner wall of the installation hole groove is fixedly connected to the feeding device (6), and the top of the feeding device (6) is provided with an anti-wear sleeve (5).

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