Method for extending the life of the LCD of a msla 3d printer

Abstract

The present application relates to a method for extending the life of an LCD of an MSLA 3D printer by controlling UV LEDs only for the part matching the mask image of the LCD, irradiating only a part, and further extending the life of the LCD, which can include the steps of dividing a 3D image into slices, generating a 2D mask image; outputting the generated image to the LCD; calculating LED irradiation area coordinates according to the generated image; and irradiating UV LEDs only for the part matching the mask image.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for extending the lifespan of the LCD in an MSLA (Mask Stereolithography) 3D printer. Specifically, it describes a method for extending the lifespan of the LCD in an MSLA 3D printer by controlling UV LEDs only on a portion of the LCD that matches the mask image, and irradiating only that portion. Background Technology

[0002] Methods for manufacturing three-dimensional objects include simulation manufacturing methods that involve manually creating the object and cutting processes using CNC machine tools.

[0003] The simulated manufacturing method, while low in cost, suffers from drawbacks such as difficulty in achieving precise shapes and long processing times. The CNC machine tool cutting method, while capable of manufacturing precision products, is limited by high production costs and a restricted range of machined shapes.

[0004] Currently, 3D printers, which use 3D modeling data to create three-dimensional shaped products, are widely used. These 3D printers manufacture three-dimensional products using materials such as liquids, powders, and metals based on 3D modeling data.

[0005] Using the aforementioned 3D printer can significantly reduce production costs and manufacturing time, and offers advantages such as one-to-one customization and the ability to easily manufacture complex three-dimensional shapes. Therefore, in actual product manufacturing, it provides advantages such as easy shape modification and savings in production, material, and labor costs.

[0006] With the advantages mentioned above, 3D printers can be used in a variety of fields such as automotive, aerospace, construction, medical, home appliances, and toys.

[0007] The 3D printers mentioned above employ various methods, including SLA (Stereo Lithography Apparatus), which involves injecting lasers into photocurable resin; DLP (Digital Light Processing), which involves curing the resin by irradiating the lower part of a tank containing photocurable resin with light; LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which uses a UV light source and an LCD panel to laminate resin molded products on the upper part of the print bed; SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), which uses functional polymers or metal powders for sintering; FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), which uses extruded molten resin for molding; DMT (Laser-aided Direct Metal Tooling), which uses a high-energy laser beam to directly mold metal; and LOM (Laminated Object Manufacturing), which uses mechanical bonding for molding.

[0008] The existing LCD 3D printing method described above uses all UV LEDs as backlight and uses the LCD to mask only the parts that need it.

[0009] This method reduces the reliability and lifespan of the LCD due to the heat generated by the UV LED. In other words, the short lifespan of the 3D printer's LCD necessitates repeated maintenance. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for extending the lifespan of the LCD in an MSLA 3D printer by irradiating UV LEDs only on the portion of the LCD that matches the mask portion, thereby extending the lifespan of the LCD in the MSLA 3D printer.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to calculate the irradiation time of UV LEDs, predict the lifespan of LCDs, and thereby provide an effective output object position.

[0013] Technical solution

[0014] This invention relates to a method for extending the LCD lifespan of an MSLA 3D printer to achieve the aforementioned objective, and may include the steps of: slicing a 3D image into layers to generate a 2D mask image; outputting the generated image to an LCD; calculating the coordinates of the LED illumination area of ​​the generated image; and irradiating only the portion matching the mask image with UV LEDs.

[0015] The steps for calculating the coordinates of the LED illumination area are as follows: calculate the diagonal length based on the width x height of the largest area in the generated 2D mask image, and calculate the area using the radius of the calculated diagonal length.

[0016] It may also include the steps of collecting and storing cumulative irradiation time data of the UV LED and calculating the average irradiation time per area.

[0017] An image can be output to the LCD within the range of the minimum cumulative irradiation time.

[0018] Beneficial effects

[0019] According to the present invention, its beneficial effect is that it can extend the lifespan of the LCD in the MSLA 3D printer;

[0020] Predict and manage the lifespan of each region of the LCD that is matched with UV LEDs. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating a UV LED control method for an MSLA (Mask Stereolithography) 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram showing a method of controlling UV LED regions individually and irradiating only the portion that matches the LCD mask portion;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a conceptual diagram showing the morphology of a UV LED that only outputs regions matching the 2D image of the layered slices. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions, beneficial effects, and technical features of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can implement them in various forms, but all other embodiments obtained without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention shown in the figures are not limited to the specific forms illustrated, but are exaggerated to further enhance their clarity. Parts indicated by the same reference numerals in the specification represent the same constituent element.

[0026] In this specification, the expression "and / or" indicates that at least one of the listed constituent elements is included. Furthermore, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified in the text. The use of terms such as "comprising" or "including" in this specification to describe constituent elements, steps, actions, and components indicates the presence or supplementation of more than one other constituent element, step, action, component, or device.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating a UV LED control method for an MSLA (Mask Stereolithography) 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] according to Figure 1 This invention aims to extend the relatively short lifespan of the LCD in an MSLA 3D printer by controlling the UV LEDs to illuminate only a portion of the LCD, including areas matching the mask image. Furthermore, each UV LED is controlled separately for a portion, minimizing the area of ​​the LCD irradiated by the heat generated by the UV LEDs.

[0030] To this end, the 3D image is first sliced ​​into layers to generate a 2D mask image. Then, the LCD controller outputs an LCD image identical to the generated 2D mask image.

[0031] In the UV LED controller, after calculating the coordinates of the LED irradiation area, the UV LED is irradiated only on the portion of the area that matches the mask image.

[0032] Furthermore, existing MSLA 3D printers use all UV LEDs as backlights and use the LCD to mask only the necessary areas. However, this invention controls the UV LEDs only for the image area that matches the LCD mask image, illuminating only a portion of the image.

[0033] The calculation of the LED illumination area involves slicing the 3D image into 2D images, calculating the diagonal length (width x height) of the largest area image among the sliced ​​2D images, and then using the radius of this diagonal to calculate the area (S = πr). 2 (S = area, r = radius).

[0034] The present invention irradiates UV LEDs only on areas located on the LCD irradiation area coordinates, thus allowing the calculation of the cumulative UV LED irradiation time in that area and the prediction of the LCD's lifespan.

[0035] Then, data on the UV LED irradiation time in the area is collected to manage the total UV LED irradiation time, thereby extending the lifespan of the LCD and UV LEDs.

[0036] It calculates the average cumulative UV exposure time per area and outputs power to the LCD area with the shortest average cumulative exposure time per area, thereby extending the LCD's lifespan. This essentially increases the usage frequency of LCDs in locations with low exposure.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram showing a method of controlling UV LED regions individually and irradiating only the portions that match the LCD mask.

[0038] according to Figure 2 This invention aims to optimize the lifespan of UV LEDs by calculating the area of ​​a 2D image output product from a 3D image composed of layered slices. The area is calculated as described above: the diagonal length is calculated by multiplying the width and height of the largest area image in the 2D image, and then the area is calculated using the radius of that diagonal length (S = πr). 2 (S = area, r = radius).

[0039] Each frame of LCD image is output from the LCD area with the shortest average cumulative irradiation time per area, thereby extending the lifespan of the LCD.

[0040] Figure 3 This is a conceptual diagram showing the morphology of a UV LED that only outputs regions matching the 2D image of the layered slices.

[0041] according to Figure 3 The UV LEDs in the area matching the LCD image are then activated. The projection lenses that project the UV LED light onto the appropriate area can then be configured in an arrangement optimized according to the LCD area.

[0042] By collecting UV LED irradiation time data for this LCD area and managing the total LED irradiation time for that area, the lifespan of both the LCD and the UV LEDs can be extended. This allows for increasing the usage frequency of LCD areas with relatively low exposure and predicting the lifespan of the LCD in each matching area.

[0043] The above embodiments and accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications and alterations can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, and such modifications and alterations do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for extending the lifespan of the LCD in an MSLA 3D printer, characterized in that, As a method to extend the lifespan of the LCD in MSLA 3D printers, The steps include: slicing a 3D image into layers to generate a 2D mask image; and outputting the generated 2D mask image to an LCD. The step of calculating the UV LED irradiation area coordinates of the generated 2D mask image; wherein, the step of calculating the UV LED irradiation area coordinates is to calculate the diagonal length based on the width x height of the image with the largest area in the generated 2D mask image, and to calculate the UV LED irradiation area using the radius of the calculated diagonal length. The steps include irradiating the UV LED only on the portion matching the 2D mask image based on the calculated UV LED irradiation area coordinates; and... The steps of collecting and storing the cumulative irradiation time data of the UV LED, and calculating the average irradiation time per area, are as follows: The LCD outputs an image within the range of the minimum cumulative irradiation time.

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