Three dimensional manufacturing apparatus and method for manufacturing three dimensional manufactured product

Abstract

A three dimensional manufactured product is manufactured A speed of filing an uncured light curing resin in a space for a next layer is enhanced, to improve a manufacturing speed. One surface of a container housing a light curing resin is configured by a gas-permeable sheet that faces the light curing resin, and transmits irradiation light of a light irradiating apparatus, and a light transmitting plate disposed at an outer side of the container from the gas permeable member. A pressurizing chamber controllable in pressure by a pressure controlling apparatus is defined between the gas-permeable sheet and the light transmitting plate. At moving a manufacturing stage, an inside of the pressurizing chamber is de-pressurized to cause the gas-permeable sheet to perform concave surface deformation, and at a time of performing light irradiation, gas in the pressurizing chamber is caused to permeate into the light curing resin by pressurizing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0001]The present invention relates to a three dimensional manufacturing apparatus that performs light irradiation to a light curing resin housed in a container and manufactures a three dimensional manufactured product and a method for manufacturing a three dimensional manufactured product.Description of the Related Art[0002]In recent years, the three dimensional manufacturing technology has been developed, which forms a manufactured product by repeating the process steps of exposing a light curing resin in an uncured state and solidifying (curing) the light curing resin. In the three dimensional manufacturing apparatus of this type, there is known a configuration in which the light curing resin as a material is applied in a layer by layer manner onto a manufacturing stage or a solidified manufactured product (work) with a coating roller or the like, and light irradiation is repeated. Further, there is also known a configuration in wh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to increase the speed at which an uncured light curing resin is filled into a space for a next layer in a three-dimensional manufacturing process that repeats light curing and moving of a manufacturing stage. It also aims to suppress solidification, sticking, and reduction in viscosity of the light curing resin in a vicinity of a transmitting section for curing light, by using gas having a curing inhibiting property. The invention achieves this by deforming a gas permeable member in the direction to separate from the manufactured site to enlarge the capacity of the manufacturing region, and pressurizing gas inside the pressurizing chamber to cause the gas to permeate into the light curing resin through the gas permeable member. This results in faster filling of the space with the light curing resin, suppression of solidification, sticking, and reduction in viscosity of the resin near the light transmitting section, and smooth movement of the manufacturing stage. Therefore, the invention enhances the speed of the three-dimensional manufacturing process.

Problems solved by technology

One of the factors that reduce the manufacturing speed is the problem that sticking (or viscosity increase) of the light curing resin occurs to the container of a resin, for example, a site of the light transmitting member that transmits curing light depending on the manufacturing conditions.

Further, there is also the problem that the moving apparatus of the manufacturing stage requires a large driving force.

Further, another factor that reduces the manufacturing speed is the problem that the light curing resin is not supplied quickly to the space where the next manufactured layer is formed when the manufacturing stage is moved after manufacturing one layer, which also depends on the manufacturing conditions.

When the manufactured layer is made small or divided into small pieces like a lattice structure, for example, in order to decrease the sectional areas in the respective layers of the manufactured product, there arises the problem that the strength of the manufactured product decreases.

Initially, the structure like the lattice form may not always match the structure of a desired manufactured product which is desired to be manufactured, in some cases.

Further, when the material with low viscosity is used for the light curing resin, there is the possibility of occurrence of the problem that shrinkage at the time of solidification becomes large and deformation of the manufactured product occurs, and the problem that the degree of polymerization at the time of light curing does not increase to cause reduction in strength, and decrease heat resistance.

However, when secondary curing is performed by post cure, the problems such as dimensional change and deformation at the time of curing are likely to occur.

Dividing the manufactured product (solidified layer) into small pieces, and reducing the viscosity of the light curing resin, with the supply speed of the light curing resin taken into consideration, cannot be said as essential solutions, and have the problem of causing various other unfavorable side effects.

Even by the method that causes the curing inhibiting gas to permeate as in U. S. Pat. No. 9216546 described above, it is not so easy to shorten the time period in which the material is filled into the space for the next layer of the thickness of 25 to 35 μm, for example, with the resin with high viscosity, and in the manufactured product in the shape with a large irradiation (curing) area of one layer.

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