A new linear focusing 3D printing nozzle

Abstract

The invention discloses a novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle, comprising a nozzle body, a powder feeding tube and an aerodynamic lens; a laser inlet is provided at the top of the nozzle body, a nozzle outlet is provided at the bottom of the nozzle body, a buffer cavity is provided at the top of the nozzle body, the buffer cavity is communicated with the laser inlet, and a laser outlet is provided at the bottom of the buffer cavity; the aerodynamic lens is located in the nozzle body, the top of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the buffer cavity, the bottom of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the bottom of the nozzle body, the aerodynamic lens is communicated with the laser outlet and the nozzle outlet respectively, the aerodynamic lens comprises a plurality of lens cavities arranged from top to bottom, a through hole is provided at the bottom of each lens cavity, the laser inlet, the laser outlet, the through hole and the nozzle outlet are located on the same straight line, the powder feeding tube passes through the nozzle body and is communicated with the aerodynamic lens, so as to facilitate the adjustment of the height position of the nozzle body and the workpiece during 3D printing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing equipment, and in particular to a novel linearly focused 3D printing nozzle. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing is a cumulative manufacturing technology, that is, a rapid prototyping machine. It manufactures three-dimensional objects by comparing digital model files, printing layers of adhesive materials such as metal powder or plastic. At present, some 3D printers spray powder on the workpiece through a powder feeding nozzle, and then melt the powder through laser heating to manufacture the required products. At present, the powder feeding nozzles on the market all adopt a conical structure, that is, the powder is focused on one point through an inclined powder feeding channel. This point must be exactly at the position where the workpiece needs to be processed, and then it contacts with the laser to be melted. Therefore, the problem is that the distance between the powder feeding nozzle and the workpiece is fixed and cannot be easily adjusted, which complicates the process.

[0003] At the same time, existing 3D printer nozzles are prone to blockage and raw material breakage. The reason is insufficient heat dissipation. The existing printer nozzles do not have enough heat dissipation, and the space inside the nozzle is dense, which cannot effectively dissipate heat. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle, which solves the problem that the distance between the powder feeding nozzle and the workpiece is fixed and cannot be easily adjusted.

[0005] The technical scheme of the present invention is as follows: a novel linearly focused 3D printing nozzle, comprising a nozzle body, a powder feeding tube and an aerodynamic lens; a laser inlet is provided at the top of the nozzle body, a nozzle outlet is provided at the bottom of the nozzle body, a buffer cavity is provided at the top of the nozzle body, the buffer cavity is connected to the laser inlet, and a laser outlet is provided at the bottom of the buffer cavity; the aerodynamic lens is located in the nozzle body, the top of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the buffer cavity, the bottom of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the bottom of the nozzle body, the aerodynamic lens is connected to the laser outlet and the nozzle outlet respectively, the aerodynamic lens comprises a plurality of lens cavities arranged from top to bottom, the bottom of each lens cavity is provided with a penetration hole, the laser inlet, the laser outlet, the penetration hole and the nozzle outlet are located on the same straight line, and the powder feeding tube passes through the nozzle body and is connected to the aerodynamic lens. By arranging the aerodynamic lens and the powder feeding tube together in the nozzle body, the laser and the powder to be processed are on the same straight line, which is convenient for adjusting the height position of the nozzle body and the workpiece during 3D printing, and improves the powder feeding accuracy.

[0006] Furthermore, the volumes of the multiple lens cavities gradually decrease from top to bottom, and the diameters of the multiple penetration holes gradually decrease from top to bottom, so that the multiple lens cavities form a pressure difference from top to bottom, so that the gas carries the powder and ejects it from the nozzle body from top to bottom, and in the process gradually focuses the powder on a straight line.

[0007] Furthermore, the powder delivery tube is tilted, and one end of the center line of the powder delivery tube points to the penetration hole. The powder in the powder delivery tube can directly enter the penetration hole, so that the powder is linearly gathered in the aerodynamic lens, and a precise particle beam is formed through the aerodynamic lens.

[0008] Furthermore, the bottoms of the plurality of lens cavities are arranged tilted, the through hole is located at the center of the bottom, and the bottom of the lens cavity is tilted toward the through hole. By arranging the bottom of the lens cavity to be tilted toward the through hole, dust is prevented from falling into each lens cavity.

[0009] Furthermore, the novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle also includes a sealing glass, which is installed at the laser outlet to seal the gap between the buffer cavity and the aerodynamic lens. The sealing glass is used to isolate the powder while not hindering the laser from passing through.

[0010] Furthermore, the novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle also includes a plurality of heat sinks, the inner wall of the nozzle body is provided with a cooling cavity, the cooling cavity is provided with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the cooling cavity is filled with coolant, and the plurality of heat sinks are respectively abutted against the aerodynamic lens at one end and against the cooling cavity at the other end. The heat sink is provided to assist the aerodynamic lens in heat dissipation, and the heat sink conducts heat to the cooling cavity, further enhancing the heat dissipation effect and preventing the nozzle body from being overheated.

[0011] Furthermore, the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet are respectively arranged on the side wall of the nozzle body, the coolant inlet is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the coolant outlet is connected to the water outlet pipe, so that the cooling cavity and the external coolant form a closed loop, absorb the heat absorbed by the heat sink from the aerodynamic lens, and bring it out of the nozzle body, achieving the effect of timely cooling.

[0012] Furthermore, the powder feeding pipe is connected to an external powder feeding machine, an external laser is provided at the laser inlet, and the laser is injected from the laser inlet.

[0013] The working principle of the above-mentioned novel linearly focused 3D printing nozzle is as follows: an external laser is installed at the laser inlet. The laser passes through the laser inlet, penetrates the entire aerodynamic lens, and is ejected from the nozzle outlet. The powder feeding tube is connected to the aerodynamic lens at an inclined angle to feed the powder into the aerodynamic lens. The powder is linearly gathered in the aerodynamic lens and forms a precise particle beam through the aerodynamic lens. At the same time, a pressure difference is formed in the cavity of the aerodynamic lens from top to bottom, so that the gas carries the powder and ejects the nozzle body from top to bottom. At the same time, the laser and the particle beam are in the same straight line, which is convenient for adjusting the height position of the nozzle and the workpiece during 3D printing. The coolant is stored in the cooling cavity, and a closed loop is formed with the external coolant through the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to absorb the heat absorbed by the heat sink from the aerodynamic lens and bring it out of the nozzle body, thereby achieving a timely cooling effect.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle of the present invention arranges the aerodynamic lens and the powder feeding tube together in the nozzle body, so that the laser and the powder to be processed are on the same straight line, which facilitates the adjustment of the height position of the nozzle body and the workpiece during 3D printing and improves the powder feeding accuracy.

[0016] The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle of the present invention forms a closed loop with an external coolant by providing a cooling cavity and a heat sink, which absorbs the heat absorbed from the aerodynamic lens by the heat sink and brings it out of the nozzle body, thereby achieving a timely cooling effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view of the novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle in Example 2 of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of another novel linearly focused 3D printing nozzle in Example 2 of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the linear focusing of powder in the novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle of the present invention.

[0022] Nozzle body 1, powder delivery tube 2, aerodynamic lens 3, sealing glass 4, heat sink 5, laser inlet 6, nozzle outlet 7, buffer cavity 8, laser outlet 9, lens cavity 10, penetration hole 11, cooling cavity 12, coolant inlet 13, coolant outlet 14. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle, including a nozzle body 1, a powder feeding tube 2, an aerodynamic lens 3, a sealing glass 4 and a heat sink 5.

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the nozzle body is in the shape of a pen tip, a laser inlet 6 is provided at the top of the nozzle body, a nozzle outlet 7 is provided at the bottom of the nozzle body, a buffer cavity 8 is provided at the top of the nozzle body, the buffer cavity is connected with the laser inlet, a laser outlet 9 is provided at the bottom of the buffer cavity, an external laser is provided at the laser inlet, and laser is injected from the laser inlet.

[0027] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the aerodynamic lens is located in the nozzle body, the top of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the buffer cavity, and the sealing glass is installed at the laser outlet to seal the gap between the buffer cavity and the aerodynamic lens. The sealing glass is used to isolate the powder without hindering the passage of the laser; the bottom of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the bottom of the nozzle body, and the aerodynamic lens is connected to the laser outlet and the nozzle outlet respectively. The aerodynamic lens includes a plurality of lens cavities 10 arranged from top to bottom, and a through hole 11 is provided at the bottom of each lens cavity. The laser inlet, the laser outlet, the through hole and the nozzle outlet are located on the same straight line. The volume of the plurality of lens cavities gradually decreases from top to bottom, and the diameter of the plurality of through holes gradually decreases from top to bottom, so that the plurality of lens cavities form a pressure difference from top to bottom, so that the gas carries the powder and ejects it from the nozzle body from top to bottom.

[0028] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a cooling cavity 12 is provided on the inner wall of the nozzle body, and a coolant inlet 13 and a coolant outlet 14 are provided in the cooling cavity. The cooling liquid is filled in the cooling cavity. The coolant inlet and the coolant outlet are respectively provided on the side walls of the nozzle body. The coolant inlet is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the coolant outlet is connected to the water outlet pipe. One end of a plurality of heat sinks is respectively abutted against the aerodynamic lens, and the other end is abutted against the cooling cavity. The heat sink is made of a metal material with good thermal conductivity. The heat sink is provided to assist the aerodynamic lens in heat dissipation. At the same time, the heat sink conducts the heat to the cooling cavity. The cooling cavity and the external coolant form a closed loop, which absorbs the heat absorbed by the heat sink from the aerodynamic lens and brings it out of the nozzle body, thereby achieving a timely cooling effect.

[0029] The working principle of the above-mentioned novel linearly focused 3D printing nozzle is as follows: an external laser is installed at the laser inlet. The laser passes through the laser inlet, penetrates the entire aerodynamic lens, and is ejected from the nozzle outlet. The powder feeding tube is connected to the aerodynamic lens at an inclined angle to feed the powder into the aerodynamic lens. The powder is linearly gathered in the aerodynamic lens and forms a precise particle beam through the aerodynamic lens. At the same time, a pressure difference is formed in the cavity of the aerodynamic lens from top to bottom, so that the gas carries the powder and ejects the nozzle body from top to bottom. At the same time, the laser and the particle beam are in the same straight line, which is convenient for adjusting the height position of the nozzle and the workpiece during 3D printing. The coolant is stored in the cooling cavity, and a closed loop is formed with the external coolant through the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to absorb the heat absorbed by the heat sink from the aerodynamic lens and bring it out of the nozzle body, thereby achieving a timely cooling effect.

[0030] like Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the principle of linear focusing of powder in the above-mentioned novel linearly focused 3D printing nozzle is that the pressure on one side of the through hole of the two adjacent lens chambers in the aerodynamic lens is P, and the pressure on the other side is P′, P>P′. When the airflow carries the powder particles through the through hole driven by the pressure difference between the upper and lower lens chambers, the powder particles will approach the axis and pass through the through hole due to the drag force of the high-speed airflow. After that, due to the low radial diffusion speed of the gas, the powder particles near the axis are also subjected to a small radial force. The powder particles will remain near the axis, while the airflow diffuses to the entire lens cavity, thereby separating the powder particles from the original airflow and gathering near the axis. The fundamental reason why the powder particles can be linearly focused is the difference in inertia between the particles and the gas molecules.

[0031] Example 2

[0032] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the bottoms of the multiple lens cavities are arranged at an angle, the through hole is located at the center of the bottom, and the bottom of the lens cavity is inclined toward the through hole. By arranging the bottom of the lens cavity to be inclined toward the through hole, dust is prevented from falling into each lens cavity.

[0033] As described above, the present invention can be better implemented. The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention; that is, all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the content of the present invention are covered by the scope of protection required by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle, characterized in that: It includes a nozzle body, a powder delivery tube and an aerodynamic lens; A laser inlet is provided at the top of the nozzle body, a nozzle outlet is provided at the bottom of the nozzle body, a buffer cavity is provided at the top of the nozzle body, the buffer cavity is communicated with the laser inlet, and a laser outlet is provided at the bottom of the buffer cavity; The aerodynamic lens is located in the nozzle body, the top of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the buffer cavity, the bottom of the aerodynamic lens is connected to the bottom of the nozzle body, the aerodynamic lens is connected to the laser outlet and the nozzle outlet respectively, the aerodynamic lens includes a plurality of lens cavities arranged from top to bottom, each lens cavity has a through hole at the bottom, the laser inlet, the laser outlet, the through hole and the nozzle outlet are located in the same straight line, and the powder delivery pipe passes through the nozzle body and is connected to the aerodynamic lens.

2. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The volumes of the multiple lens cavities gradually decrease from top to bottom, and the diameters of the multiple penetration holes gradually decrease from top to bottom.

3. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder delivery pipe is arranged obliquely, and one end of the center line of the powder delivery pipe points to the penetration hole.

4. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottoms of the multiple lens cavities are tilted, the penetration hole is located at the center of the bottom, and the bottom of the lens cavity is tilted toward the penetration hole.

5. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also comprises a sealing glass, which is installed at the laser outlet and seals the gap between the buffer cavity and the aerodynamic lens.

6. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a plurality of heat sinks. The inner wall of the nozzle body is provided with a cooling cavity. The cooling cavity is provided with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The cooling cavity is filled with coolant. One end of the plurality of heat sinks abuts against the aerodynamic lens and the other end abuts against the cooling cavity.

7. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cooling liquid inlet and the cooling liquid outlet are respectively arranged on the side wall of the nozzle body, the cooling liquid inlet is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the cooling liquid outlet is connected to the water outlet pipe.

8. The novel linear focusing 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder delivery pipe is connected to an external powder delivery machine, an external laser is arranged at the laser inlet, and the laser is injected from the laser inlet.

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