A device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing

Abstract

The present invention discloses a metal powder impurity removal device for 3D printing, comprising a shell, a feed hopper, a feeding mechanism and a roller, wherein the feed hopper is fixed on the shell, the feeding mechanism and the roller are sequentially installed in the inner cavity of the shell from top to bottom, the feeding mechanism is used to transport the powder particles entering the shell from the feed hopper to the surface of the roller, the roller comprises a conductor roller and a first friction block, the first friction block is distributed at intervals along the circumference of the conductor roller, the first friction block is insulated from the conductor roller, and the conductor roller is grounded, a second friction block is fixed on the inner wall of the shell, and the second friction block can generate static electricity by friction with the first friction block when the roller rotates. The impurity removal device controls the feeding rate of the powder through the feeding mechanism, and then screens the non-metallic particles in the metal powder through the roller, and the roller can generate static electricity to adsorb the powder particles without an external power supply when working, so that impurities in the metal powder can be quickly and effectively screened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing, and in particular to a device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing is a type of rapid prototyping technology. It is a technology that uses digital model files as the basis and uses adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic to construct objects by printing layer by layer.

[0003] At present, 3D printing requires heating and melting the materials, using the printing nozzle to spray out the melted materials, and cooperating with the driving mechanism to control the nozzle to move along a predetermined trajectory, so as to achieve the superposition of molten materials to obtain the finished product.

[0004] Since materials are easily contaminated with dust and debris during production and transportation, the dust and debris are printed into the finished product after the material is melted, which can easily reduce the quality of the finished product. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the technical problems existing in the background technology, the present invention proposes a device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing.

[0006] The present invention provides a device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing, comprising a housing, a feed hopper, a feeding mechanism and a rotating roller;

[0007] The feed hopper is fixed on the shell, and the feed hopper is connected to the inner cavity of the shell. The feeding mechanism and the roller are installed in the inner cavity of the shell from top to bottom. The feeding mechanism is connected to the first driving device, and the feeding mechanism is used to transport the powder particles entering the shell from the feed hopper to the surface of the roller.

[0008] The rotating roller is connected to a second driving device, and the rotating roller comprises a conductor roller and a first friction block embedded and fixed on the conductor roller, the first friction blocks are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the conductor roller, the first friction blocks are insulated from the conductor roller, and the conductor roller is grounded;

[0009] A second friction block is fixed on the inner wall of the shell, and the second friction block is located on one side of the roller. The second friction block can generate static electricity by rubbing against the first friction block when the roller rotates. A screening channel is provided between the other side of the roller and the inner wall of the shell. A first collecting port and a second collecting port connected to the screening channel are provided on the shell, and the first collecting port and the second collecting port are respectively located on both sides of the bottom of the roller.

[0010] Preferably, the feeding mechanism comprises two feeding rollers, which are parallel to each other and close to each other, and the surfaces of the feeding rollers are provided with material storage grooves which are parallel to the axes thereof, and the material storage grooves are distributed in a circular array along the circumference of the feeding rollers.

[0011] Preferably, the first driving device includes a first motor, a transmission belt and a pulley. One end of the two feed rollers are connected through the pulley and the transmission belt so that the two feed rollers can rotate synchronously in opposite directions. The output shaft of the first motor is fixedly connected to one end of one of the feed rollers.

[0012] Preferably, the second driving device comprises a second motor, and an output shaft of the second motor is fixedly connected to one end of the rotating roller.

[0013] Preferably, the first friction block is made of rubber, and the second friction block is made of fur.

[0014] Preferably, a scraper plate is fixed on the inner side of the second collecting port, and the scraper plate is used to scrape off the powder particles on the surface of the roller.

[0015] In the present invention, when the impurity removal device is working, the powder particles in the feed hopper are transported to the surface of the roller through the feeding mechanism. When the roller rotates, the first friction block rotates and rubs against the second friction block to generate static electricity. When the non-metallic dust particles and metal particles fall on the first friction block area of ​​the roller, they are charged and adsorbed on the surface of the roller.

[0016] The granular material flows downward as the roller rotates. When the metal particles come into contact with the conductor roller surface of the roller, the contact resistance between the metal particles and the conductor is small, and the charge of the metal particles is transferred away by the roller. Under the action of centrifugal force, the metal particles will separate from the roller and be discharged from the first collection port.

[0017] When the non-metallic particles come into contact with the conductor roller surface of the rotating roller, the contact resistance between the non-metallic particles and the conductor is large, and it is not easy to transfer the charge. Due to the effect of electrostatic adsorption force, the non-metallic particles continue to be adsorbed on the surface of the rotating roller, and are brought to the bottom of the rotating roller as the rotating roller rotates, and are finally brushed off by the scraper plate (13) and discharged from the second collection port.

[0018] The impurity removal device of the present invention controls the feeding rate of the powder through the feeding mechanism, and then screens the non-metallic particles in the metal powder through the roller. When the roller is working, it can generate static electricity to adsorb the powder particles without an external power supply, so that impurities in the metal powder can be quickly and effectively screened out, and the quality of the finished product of 3D printing can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing proposed in an embodiment;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the connection between the feeding mechanism and the first driving device in the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the rotating roller and the second driving device in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Please refer to Figure 1-3 As shown, a device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 1, a feed hopper 2, a feeding mechanism and a roller 3. The feed hopper 2 is fixed on the housing 1, and the feed hopper 2 is connected to the inner cavity of the housing 1. The feeding mechanism and the roller 3 are sequentially installed in the inner cavity of the housing 1 from top to bottom. The feeding mechanism is used to transport the powder particles entering the housing 1 from the feed hopper 2 to the surface of the roller 3, and the roller 3 is used to screen the powder particles and remove the non-metallic particles in the metal powder.

[0023] Specifically, the feeding mechanism includes two feeding rollers 4, the two feeding rollers 4 are parallel to each other and close to each other, and the surface of the feeding roller 4 is provided with a material storage groove 401 parallel to its axial direction, and the material storage groove 401 is distributed in a circumferential array along the circumference of the feeding roller 4. The feeding mechanism is connected with a first driving device, and the first driving device includes a first motor 5, a transmission belt 6 and a pulley 7. One end of the two feeding rollers 4 is connected by the pulley 7 and the transmission belt 6 so that the two feeding rollers 4 can rotate synchronously in opposite directions, and the output shaft of the first motor 5 is fixedly connected to one end of one of the feeding rollers 4.

[0024] When the feeding mechanism is working, the first motor 5 can drive the two feeding rollers 4 to rotate synchronously in opposite directions through the cross transmission belt 6 and the pulley 7, and the powder particles above the feeding rollers 4 will enter the storage groove 401 between the two feeding rollers 4, and then fall from the bottom of the feeding rollers 4 as the feeding rollers 4 rotate. The feeding mechanism can accurately control the rate and amount of powder particles falling by controlling the rotation rate of the feeding rollers 4, so that the subsequent screening can be more accurate and easy to control.

[0025] The roller 3 of the impurity removal device is connected to a second driving device, which includes a second motor 8. The output shaft of the second motor 8 is fixedly connected to one end of the roller 3, and the second motor 8 can drive the roller 3 to rotate. The roller 3 includes a conductor roller 301 and a first friction block 302 embedded and fixed on the conductor roller 301. The first friction blocks 302 are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the conductor roller 301. The first friction blocks 302 are insulated from the conductor roller 301, and the conductor roller 301 is grounded. A second friction block 9 is fixed on the inner wall of the housing 1. The second friction block 9 is located on one side of the roller 3. The second friction block 9 can generate static electricity by mutual friction with the first friction block 302 when the roller 3 rotates. A preferred embodiment of this embodiment is that the material of the first friction block 302 is rubber, and the material of the second friction block 9 is fur. Of course, the first friction block 302 and the second friction block 9 can also be made of other materials that can generate static electricity by mutual friction.

[0026] A screening channel 10 is provided between the other side of the roller 3 and the inner wall of the housing 1. The housing 1 is provided with a first collecting port 11 and a second collecting port 12 connected to the screening channel 10. The first collecting port 11 and the second collecting port 12 are respectively located on both sides of the bottom of the roller 3. The first collecting port 11 is used to collect metal particles and is closer to the screening channel 10. The second collecting port 12 is used to collect non-metallic particles and is closer to the second friction block 9. A scraper plate 13 is fixed to the inner side of the second collecting port 12. The scraper plate 13 is used to scrape off the powder particles on the surface of the roller 3.

[0027] The working principle of the impurity removal device according to the present embodiment is as follows:

[0028] During operation, the powder particles in the feed hopper 2 are first transported to the surface of the roller 3 by the feeding mechanism. By controlling the rotation speed of the two feeding rollers 4, the powder particles can form a uniform mixed particle monolayer on the surface of the roller 3, thereby ensuring the subsequent screening accuracy.

[0029] During screening, since the first friction block 302 rotates and rubs against the second friction block 9 when the roller 3 rotates, static electricity is generated. Therefore, when non-metallic dust particles and metal particles fall on the first friction block 302 area of ​​the roller 3, they are both charged and adsorbed on the surface of the roller 3.

[0030] The granular material will continue to flow downward as the roller 3 rotates. When the metal particles come into contact with the surface of the conductor roller 301 of the roller 3, the contact resistance between the metal particles and the conductor is small, and the electric charge of the metal particles is transferred away by the roller 3. Under the action of centrifugal force, the metal particles will separate from the roller 3. The metal particles that first separate from the roller 3 will be discharged from the first collecting port 11.

[0031] When the non-metallic particles come into contact with the surface of the conductor roller 301 of the roller 3, the contact resistance between the non-metallic particles and the conductor is large, and it is not easy to transfer the charge. Due to the action of the electrostatic adsorption force, the non-metallic particles continue to be adsorbed on the surface of the roller 3, and are brought to the bottom of the roller 3 as the roller 3 rotates, and are finally brushed off by the scraper plate 13 and discharged from the second collection port 12.

[0032] In summary, the impurity removal device of the present invention can quickly and effectively screen out non-metallic particles in metal powder, thereby improving the quality of the finished product during 3D printing. In addition, during the rotation process, the roller 3 of the impurity removal device generates an electrostatic field in the area of ​​the first friction block 302 by friction, and can generate static electricity to adsorb powder particles without an external power supply, which not only saves electricity but also has high safety.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can make equivalent replacements or changes according to the technical scheme and inventive concept of the present invention within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for removing impurities from metal powder for 3D printing, characterized in that: It comprises a housing (1), a feed hopper (2), a feeding mechanism and a rotating roller (3); The feed hopper (2) is fixed on the outer shell (1), and the feed hopper (2) is in communication with the inner cavity of the outer shell (1). The feeding mechanism and the roller (3) are sequentially installed in the inner cavity of the outer shell (1) from top to bottom. The feeding mechanism is connected to a first driving device. The feeding mechanism is used to transport powder particles entering the outer shell (1) from the feed hopper (2) to the surface of the roller (3). The rotating roller (3) is connected to a second driving device, and comprises a conductor roller (301) and a first friction block (302) embedded and fixed on the conductor roller (301), wherein the first friction blocks (302) are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the conductor roller (301), the first friction blocks (302) are insulated from the conductor roller (301), and the conductor roller (301) is grounded; A second friction block (9) is fixed on the inner wall of the outer shell (1). The second friction block (9) is located on one side of the roller (3). When the roller (3) rotates, the second friction block (9) can generate static electricity by rubbing against the first friction block (302). A screening channel (10) is provided between the other side of the roller (3) and the inner wall of the outer shell (1). The outer shell (1) is provided with a first collecting port (11) and a second collecting port (12) which are connected to the screening channel (10). The first collecting port (11) and the second collecting port (12) are respectively located on two sides of the bottom of the roller (3).

2. The impurity removal device for metal powder for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism comprises two feeding rollers (4), the two feeding rollers (4) are parallel to each other and close to each other, the surfaces of the feeding rollers (4) are provided with material storage grooves (401) parallel to the axial direction thereof, and the material storage grooves (401) are distributed in a circular array along the circumference of the feeding rollers (4).

3. The impurity removal device for metal powder for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first driving device comprises a first motor (5), a transmission belt (6) and a pulley (7); one end of the two feeding rollers (4) are connected to each other through the pulley (7) and the transmission belt (6) so that the two feeding rollers (4) can rotate synchronously in opposite directions; the output shaft of the first motor (5) is fixedly connected to one end of one of the feeding rollers (4).

4. The impurity removal device for metal powder for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second driving device comprises a second motor (8), and an output shaft of the second motor (8) is fixedly connected to one end of the rotating roller (3).

5. The impurity removal device for metal powder for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the first friction block (302) is rubber, and the material of the second friction block (9) is fur.

6. The impurity removal device for metal powder for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A scraper plate (13) is fixed on the inner side of the second collecting port (12), and the scraper plate (13) is used to scrape off powder particles on the surface of the rotating roller (3).

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