Multi-material additive manufacturing equipment and multi-material additive manufacturing method

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of additive manufacturing, and relates to a multi-material additive manufacturing device and an additive manufacturing method, including a light-transmitting plate, a laser forming light source, a parts supporting device, a raw material transmission film, a raw material transmission film moving device, a raw material supply and recovery system, and a control system; the laser forming light source, the light-transmitting plate, and the parts supporting device are arranged in sequence from top to bottom in a non-contact manner; the raw material transmission film is placed on the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate; the control system is respectively connected to the laser forming light source, the parts supporting device, the raw material transmission film moving device, and the raw material supply and recovery system; the raw material transmission film moving device drives the raw material transmission film to move freely at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate; the raw material supply and recovery system and the parts supporting device are all arranged at the bottom of the raw material transmission film moving track. The present invention ensures the flatness of the raw material in the forming area, realizes the recycling of the raw material transmission film during the forming process, and can realize the switching of multiple materials during the forming process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of additive manufacturing, and relates to an additive manufacturing device and an additive manufacturing method, and in particular to a multi-material additive manufacturing device and a multi-material additive manufacturing method. Technical Background

[0002] Additive manufacturing technology is an emerging material processing method that was born in the late 1980s. Compared with traditional processing methods, it has advantages such as short process, high flexibility, high efficiency and high automation. As soon as this technology was proposed, it attracted widespread attention from the industry. Today, this technology has developed into an important force in the manufacturing industry, playing an important role in the fields of aerospace, energy and heavy industry, automobiles and consumer goods.

[0003] Limited by the lack of multi-material feeding and recycling solutions, most of the current additive manufacturing technology processes can only process one material at a time, and few can handle multi-material forming at the same time. However, with the development of the times, people's requirements for thermal stability, specific strength, specific stiffness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, vibration reduction, noise reduction and other properties are becoming increasingly stringent, resulting in the demand for additive manufacturing of various structures and functional composite materials composed of multiple materials, which is even more urgent than that of single materials. The market urgently needs additive manufacturing technology solutions that can handle multi-material forming to fill this gap. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the background technology, the present invention provides a multi-material additive manufacturing device and a multi-material additive manufacturing method.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A multi-material additive manufacturing device, characterized in that: the multi-material additive manufacturing device includes a light-transmitting plate, a laser forming light source, a part supporting device, a raw material transmission film, a raw material transmission film moving device, a raw material supply and recovery system and a control system; the laser forming light source, the light-transmitting plate and the part supporting device are arranged in sequence from top to bottom in a non-contact manner; the raw material transmission film is placed on the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate; the control system is respectively connected to the laser forming light source, the part supporting device, the raw material transmission film moving device and the raw material supply and recovery system; the raw material transmission film moving device drives the raw material transmission film to move at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate; the raw material supply and recovery system and the part supporting device are both arranged at the bottom of the raw material transmission film moving track; the raw materials required for forming are stored in the raw material supply and recovery system; the raw material transmission film obtains the raw materials required for forming from the raw material supply and recovery system during the movement process or puts the raw materials not involved in forming back into the raw material supply and recovery system; under the action of the laser forming light source, the raw materials required for forming on the raw material transmission film are formed on the part supporting device.

[0007] The above-mentioned raw material supply and recovery system comprises one or more raw material supply and recovery devices, each of which supplies or recovers a raw material required for forming;

[0008] When the raw material supply and recovery system includes a raw material supply and recovery device, the raw material supply and recovery device and the parts supporting device are sequentially arranged from front to back along the moving direction of the raw material transport film at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transport film;

[0009] When the raw material supply and recovery system includes a plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices, the plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices and the parts supporting device are arranged along a straight line structure at the bottom of the raw material transmission film moving track;

[0010] When the raw material supply and recovery system includes multiple raw material supply and recovery devices, the multiple raw material supply and recovery devices are rotatably arranged around the part supporting device, and the raw material supply and recovery devices and the part supporting device that supply or recover the raw materials required for the current forming are arranged in sequence from front to back at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transmission film along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film.

[0011] The above-mentioned raw material supply and recovery device includes a raw material pallet lifting drive device, a raw material storage bin, a raw material pallet, a scraper, and a scraper movement unit; the raw material storage bin is a structure with an upper opening; the raw material pallet is laid flat in the raw material storage bin; the raw material pallet lifting drive device is connected to the raw material pallet and drives the raw material pallet to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin; the raw materials required for forming are placed on the raw material pallet; when the raw material pallet lifting drive device drives the raw materials required for forming to rise axially along the raw material storage bin through the raw material pallet, the raw materials required for forming are in contact with the lower surface of the raw material transmission film; the scraper is arranged on the side wall of the raw material storage bin; the scraper movement unit is connected to the scraper and drives the scraper to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin; when the scraper movement unit drives the scraper to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin, the upper surface of the scraper is in contact with the lower surface of the raw material transmission film or is set at a distance from the lower surface of the raw material transmission film.

[0012] The scraper includes a first scraper and a second scraper; the first scraper and the second scraper are symmetrically arranged on the side wall of the raw material storage bin along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film.

[0013] The above-mentioned raw material transport film movement device is two groups, and the two groups of raw material transport film movement devices are respectively connected to the raw material transport film. The two groups of raw material transport film movement devices simultaneously drive the raw material transport film to move freely at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate.

[0014] The above-mentioned raw material transport film moving device includes a driving device, which is a chain, a gear or a transmission roller.

[0015] The above-mentioned material transport film moving device also includes a material transport film tensioning device acting on the material transport film, and the material transport film tensioning device is one group or multiple groups.

[0016] The above-mentioned part supporting device includes a Z-axis lifting device, a part pallet and a part forming surface cleaning device; the Z-axis lifting device is connected to the part pallet and drives the part pallet to move up and down, the part forming surface cleaning device is placed in the circumference of the part pallet, and the part forming surface cleaning device is a negative pressure suction device; the cleaning working surface of the part forming surface cleaning device covers the upper surface of the part pallet.

[0017] A multi-material additive manufacturing method, characterized in that: the multi-material additive manufacturing method comprises the following steps:

[0018] 1) Determine the materials required for forming according to the structure of the part to be formed, and place the materials required for forming in the corresponding raw material supply and recovery devices respectively;

[0019] 2) The first raw material supply and recovery device supplies the raw material required for the current layer formation to the lower surface of the raw material transport film with a preset layer thickness. The first raw material supply and recovery device is used to supply the raw material required for the current layer formation;

[0020] 3) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device, the raw material transport film brings the raw material required for forming the current layer of preset thickness to the top of the part pallet;

[0021] 4) Turn on the Z-axis lifting device to drive the part support plate to move up to a preset height from the raw material transfer film, where the preset height is equal to the preset layer thickness;

[0022] 5) Turn on the laser forming light source. After the forming laser emitted by the laser forming light source passes through the light-transmitting plate and the raw material transfer film, the raw material required for the current layer of the preset layer thickness is formed into the current printing layer between the raw material transfer film and the part support plate;

[0023] 6) The Z-axis lifting device drives the part pallet to move down, and the part pallet separates the current printing layer from the raw material transfer film;

[0024] 7) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device, the raw material transport film moves to the top of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the second raw material supply and recovery device recovers and stores the raw materials required for the current layer forming that are not involved in the forming on the lower surface of the raw material transport film;

[0025] 8) Repeat steps 1) to 7) until the additive manufacturing of the entire part is completed.

[0026] The above step 2) is specifically:

[0027] 2.1) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device, the raw material transport film moves horizontally, wherein the lower surface of the raw material transport film is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the first raw material supply and recovery device;

[0028] 2.2) The first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surface of the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the first raw material supply and recovery device; the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the height of the upper end surface of the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is lower than the height of the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the first raw material supply and recovery device, and the distance between the upper end surface of the second scraper and the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the first raw material supply and recovery device is a preset height;

[0029] 2.3) starting the raw material support plate lifting driving device of the first raw material supply and recovery device, the raw material support plate lifting driving device of the first raw material supply and recovery device drives the raw material support plate of the first raw material supply and recovery device to move up, so that the raw material required for the current layer formation stored in the first raw material supply and recovery device contacts with the lower surface of the raw material transfer film, and during the translation process of the raw material transfer film, the raw material required for the current layer formation is scraped flat by the upper end surface of the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device, so that the raw material required for the current layer formation is supplied to the lower surface of the raw material transfer film with a preset layer thickness;

[0030] Preferably, if the second raw material supply and recovery device is different from the first raw material supply and recovery device, the step 7) comprises:

[0031] 7.1) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device, the raw material transport film moves horizontally, wherein the lower surface of the raw material transport film is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device;

[0032] 7.2) The first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the height of the upper end surface of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is lower than the height of the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the distance between the upper end surface of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device and the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device is a preset height; the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surface of the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device; in the process of translation of the raw material transport film, the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film that does not participate in the forming falls onto the raw material support plate under the scraping action of the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device;

[0033] Preferably, if the second raw material supply and recovery device and the first raw material supply and recovery device are the same device, then the step 7) includes:

[0034] Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device, the raw material transport film moves in the reverse direction. During the reverse movement of the raw material transport film, the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film that has not participated in the forming falls onto the raw material support plate under the scraping action of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device (i.e., the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device);

[0035] Preferably, the step 7 further comprises:

[0036] After the raw materials that have not participated in the forming on the lower surface of the raw material transmission film fall onto the raw material support plate, the first scraper and the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device are driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surfaces of the first scraper and the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device are flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and then when the corresponding raw materials that have not participated in the forming are all located in the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device, the upper end surfaces of the first and second scrapers are driven to be flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin of the second raw material supply and recovery device by the scraper motion unit, and then the raw material support plate lifting drive device of the second raw material supply and recovery device is started, and the raw material support plate lifting drive device of the second raw material supply and recovery device drives the raw material support plate of the second raw material supply and recovery device to move downward, and under the action of the adsorption force, the raw materials that have not participated in the forming and have not been removed on the lower surface of the raw material transmission film are completely separated from the raw material transmission film and fall onto the raw material support plate of the second raw material supply and recovery device, thereby completing the raw material recovery;

[0037] Preferably, the raw material required for forming in step 1) is a high-viscosity slurry that can move under the action of an external force, and the viscosity of the high-viscosity slurry is greater than or equal to 10 Pa·s.

[0038] The advantages of the present invention are:

[0039] The present invention provides a multi-material additive manufacturing device, including a light-transmitting plate, a laser forming light source, a part supporting device, a raw material transmission film, a raw material transmission film moving device, a raw material supply and recovery system and a control system; the laser forming light source, the light-transmitting plate and the part supporting device are arranged in sequence from top to bottom in a non-contact manner; the raw material transmission film is placed on the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate; the control system is respectively connected to the laser forming light source, the part supporting device, the raw material transmission film moving device and the raw material supply and recovery system; the raw material transmission film moving device drives the raw material transmission film to move freely at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate; the raw material supply and recovery system and the part supporting device are both arranged at the bottom of the raw material transmission film moving track; the raw materials required for forming are stored in the raw material supply and recovery system; the raw material transmission film obtains the raw materials required for forming from the raw material supply and recovery system during the movement process or puts the raw materials that do not participate in forming back into the raw material supply and recovery system; under the action of the laser forming light source, the raw materials required for forming on the raw material transmission film are formed on the part supporting device. The present invention adopts an upright projection method, which can effectively prevent foreign objects from accidentally entering the light path and affecting the forming quality; uses a downward-moving part platform, which not only broadens the quality range of parts that can be formed, but also can optimize the effect of parts separating from the raw material transfer film with the help of gravity; uses a transparent raw material transfer film for raw material transmission, realizing the distribution of the equipment upright projection method and the downward-moving part platform; sets a cylindrical raw material transfer film tensioning device to increase the contact area between the raw material transfer film and the tensioning device, thereby ensuring the flatness of the raw material in the forming area; uses high-viscosity raw materials as forming materials, so that the raw materials can overcome gravity and be transported using the raw material transfer film; sets a symmetrical raw material transfer film movement device, thereby realizing the recycling of the raw material transfer film during the forming process; sets a modular raw material supply and recovery device, thereby realizing the switching of multiple materials during the forming process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of the multi-material additive manufacturing equipment provided by the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 It is a simplified diagram of the structure of the raw material supply and recovery device used in the present invention;

[0042] Figure 3 It is a simplified diagram of the structure of the raw material supply and recovery system used in the present invention;

[0043] in:

[0044] 1-Z-axis lifting device; 2-parts pallet; 3-raw material supply and recovery device; 4-light-transmitting plate; 5-laser forming light source; 6-raw material transfer film tensioning device; 7-raw material transfer film; 8-parts forming surface cleaning device; 9-raw material transfer film movement device; 10-control system; a-raw material pallet lifting drive device; b-raw material storage bin; c-raw material pallet; d-scraper; e-scraper movement unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] See also Figure 1 The present invention provides a multi-material additive manufacturing device, which includes a light-transmitting plate 4, a laser forming light source 5, a part supporting device, a raw material transmission film 7, a raw material transmission film movement device 9, a raw material supply and recovery system and a control system 10; the laser forming light source 5, the light-transmitting plate 4 and the part supporting device are arranged in sequence from top to bottom in a non-contact manner. For example, the focal plane of the laser forming light source 5 coincides with the lower end surface of the raw material transmission film 7 just below the light outlet; the raw material transmission film 7 is placed on the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate 4; the control system 10 is respectively connected to the laser forming light source 5, the part supporting device, the raw material transmission film movement device 9, the raw material supply and recovery system and the control system 10. The raw material transmission film moving device 9 is connected to the raw material supply and recovery system; the raw material transmission film moving device 9 drives the raw material transmission film 7 to move freely at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate 4; the raw material supply and recovery system and the parts supporting device are both arranged at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transmission film 7; the raw materials required for forming are stored in the raw material supply and recovery system; during the movement of the raw material transmission film 7, the raw materials required for forming are obtained from the raw material supply and recovery system or the raw materials not involved in forming are returned to the raw material supply and recovery system; under the action of the laser forming light source 5, the raw materials required for forming on the raw material transmission film 7 are formed on the parts supporting device. That is, the multi-material additive manufacturing equipment provided by the present invention is an additive manufacturing method performed in the form of a positive projection method and a downward moving parts platform.

[0046] The raw material supply and recovery system includes one or more raw material supply and recovery devices 3. Each raw material supply and recovery device 3 in the raw material supply and recovery system supplies or recovers a raw material required for forming. The raw material transport film 7 obtains the raw material required for forming or puts the raw material not involved in forming back into the raw material supply and recovery device 3 during the movement process; when the raw material supply and recovery system includes one raw material supply and recovery device 3, the raw material supply and recovery device 3 and the parts supporting device are sequentially arranged from front to back at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transport film 7 along the moving direction of the raw material transport film 7; see Figure 3When the raw material supply and recovery system includes multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3, the multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 are arranged in a straight line, and the in-line arrangement method is: the multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 are arranged in a straight line as a whole, and are arranged in sequence from front to back along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film 7 with the parts supporting device at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transmission film 7; the multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 add the parts supporting device in the middle, and are arranged in a straight line as a whole (when this method is adopted, the raw material supply and recovery devices 3 on both sides of the parts supporting device play the role of raw material supply and raw material recovery respectively).

[0047] See also Figure 3 , take a plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices 3 arranged in a straight line (after the plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices 3 are arranged in a straight line as a whole, they are arranged in sequence from front to back along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film 7 with the parts supporting device at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transmission film 7) as an example, assuming that the raw material supply and recovery system includes three raw material supply and recovery devices 3 A, B, and C. The three raw material supply and recovery devices 3 A, B, and C are responsible for the supply and recovery of different types of raw materials (assuming that they are raw material A, raw material B, and raw material C). Figure 3 In the figure, only the three raw material supply and recovery devices 3 of A, B and C are used to illustrate the raw material supply and recovery process: in the first mode, A supplies A raw material to the raw material transfer membrane 7, and after the forming is completed, the raw material transfer membrane 7 is reversed and translated, and A recovers the A raw material that does not participate in the forming, and obtains the layered parts composed of the A raw material; then, B supplies B raw material to the raw material transfer membrane 7, and after the forming is completed, the raw material transfer membrane 7 is reversed and translated, and B recovers the B raw material that does not participate in the forming, and obtains the layered parts composed of the B raw material; then, C supplies C raw material to the raw material transfer membrane 7, and after the forming is completed, the raw material transfer membrane 7 is reversed and translated, and C recovers the C raw material that does not participate in the forming, until finally a part layer composed of the three materials of A, B and C is formed. In the second mode, in the transmission direction of the raw material transmission film 7, A supplies raw material A to the raw material transmission film 7, and after the raw material transmission film 7 continues to translate, B supplies raw material B to the raw material transmission film 7, and after the raw material transmission film 7 continues to translate, C supplies raw material C to the raw material transmission film 7. Under the action of the laser forming light source 5, a layered part composed of raw material A is first formed, and then as the raw material transmission film 7 continues to translate, a layered part composed of raw material B is formed on the basis of A, and then as the raw material transmission film 7 continues to translate, a layered part composed of raw material C is formed on the basis of A and B, forming a part composed of three materials A, B, and C. The raw material transmission film 7 is translated in the opposite direction, and C is first used to recover the raw material C that is not involved in the forming, and after the raw material transmission film 7 continues to translate, B is used to recover the raw material B that is not involved in the forming, and after the raw material transmission film 7 continues to translate, A is used to recover the raw material A that is not involved in the forming. Of course, if the raw materials A, B, and C are the same raw material, the efficiency of forming using the raw materials can be improved.

[0048] Taking the case where multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 are arranged in a straight line as a whole (multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 add a part holding device in the middle, and are arranged in a straight line as a whole) as an example, it is assumed that the raw material supply and recovery system includes a first raw material supply and recovery device and a second raw material supply and recovery device, and the first raw material supply and recovery device, the part holding device and the second raw material supply and recovery device form a straight line arrangement structure, wherein the first raw material supply and recovery device plays a role in raw material supply, and the second raw material supply and recovery device plays a role in raw material recovery. When additive manufacturing is performed, the first raw material supply and recovery device supplies the raw material required for forming to the raw material transmission film 7. After the forming is completed, the raw material transmission film 7 continues to move forward, and the raw material not involved in the forming is recovered by the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the additive manufacturing of the current printing layer of the part is completed; the above process is repeated until the additive manufacturing of the part is completed. In addition, in combination with the above embodiment, multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 filled with different materials are respectively arranged on both sides of the part holding device, that is, the straight line structure of B raw material supply, A raw material supply, part holding device, B raw material recovery and A raw material recovery can also improve the forming efficiency. Alternatively, a straight-line structure may be formed, for example, of A raw material supply (I), A raw material supply (II), a parts support device, and A raw material recovery.

[0049] When the raw material supply and recovery system consists of multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3, the multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 can be rotatably arranged around the part supporting device. Through rotation, the raw material supply and recovery device that supplies the current forming raw material among the multiple raw material supply and recovery devices 3 can be arranged from front to back at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transfer film 7 along the moving direction of the raw material transfer film 7 together with the part supporting device.

[0050] See also Figure 2The raw material supply and recovery device 3 includes a raw material pallet lifting drive device a, a raw material storage bin b, a raw material pallet c, a scraper d, and a scraper motion unit e; the raw material storage bin b is a structure with an upper opening; the raw material pallet c is laid flat in the raw material storage bin b; the raw material pallet lifting drive device a is connected to the raw material pallet c and drives the raw material pallet c to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin b; the raw materials required for forming are placed on the raw material pallet c; the raw material pallet lifting drive device a drives the raw materials required for forming to rise along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin b through the raw material pallet c When the raw materials required for forming are in contact with the lower surface of the raw material transmission film 7; the scraper d and the scraper motion unit e are both arranged on the side wall of the raw material storage bin b; the scraper motion unit e is connected to the scraper d and drives the scraper d to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin b; when the scraper motion unit e drives the scraper d to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin b, the upper surface of the scraper d is in contact with the lower surface of the raw material transmission film 7 or a distance is set with the lower surface of the raw material transmission film 7, and the distance is the guarantee for supplying the raw materials of corresponding thickness to the raw material transmission film 7. The process of the raw material support plate c moving up and down under the traction of the raw material support plate lifting drive device a can complete the bonding and separation of the raw materials in the raw material storage bin b and the raw material transmission film 7, and then cooperate with the scraper d to realize the supply and recovery of the raw materials.

[0051] The scraper d includes a first scraper and a second scraper; the structure of the first scraper is exactly the same as that of the second scraper; the first scraper and the second scraper are symmetrically arranged on the side wall of the raw material storage bin b along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film 7, and in the process of supplying or recovering raw materials, the upper surface of the first scraper and the upper surface of the second scraper will contact or separate from the lower surface of the raw material transmission film 7. In some embodiments, a scraper motion unit is also provided to precisely control the scraper movement. The scraper motion unit can be a scraper motion unit or can include multiple scraper motion units. Exemplarily, the scraper motion unit e can include a first scraper motion unit and a second scraper motion unit, wherein the first scraper motion unit is connected to the first scraper and drives the first scraper to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin b; the second scraper motion unit is connected to the second scraper and drives the second scraper to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin b. In the summary of the embodiments of the present application, the structure of the first scraper motion unit and the structure of the second scraper motion unit can be exactly the same or different. The scraper motion unit can be set on the side wall of the raw material storage bin b, or at other positions of the raw material supply and recovery device 3, or outside the raw material supply and recovery device 3; this embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0052] There are two groups of raw material transport film moving devices 9, the structures of the two groups of raw material transport film moving devices 9 are completely the same and symmetrically arranged, the two groups of raw material transport film moving devices 9 are respectively connected to the raw material transport film 7, and the two groups of raw material transport film moving devices 9 simultaneously drive the raw material transport film 7 to move freely at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate 4. Exemplarily, the present invention selects two groups of raw material transport film moving devices 9 to work simultaneously.

[0053] The raw material transport film moving device 9 includes a driving device, and the driving device is exemplarily a chain, a gear or a transmission roller. If the driving device adopts a gear, a rack meshing with the gear is provided on the raw material transport film 7; if the driving device is a transmission roller, the raw material transport film 7 is translated by the transmission roller; in addition, the raw material transport film moving device 9 also includes a raw material transport film tensioning device 6 acting on the raw material transport film 7, and the raw material transport film tensioning device 6 is one group or multiple groups. Regardless of the driving device, the raw material transport film 7 can perform unidirectional motion or bidirectional reciprocating motion.

[0054] The part supporting device includes a Z-axis lifting device 1, a part pallet 2, and a part forming surface cleaning device 8; the Z-axis lifting device 1 is connected to the part pallet 2 and drives the part pallet 2 to move up and down. When the part pallet 2 moves upward, the part pallet 2 gradually squeezes the raw material transfer film 7; the part forming surface cleaning device 8 is placed around the part pallet 2; the cleaning working surface of the part forming surface cleaning device 8 covers the upper surface of the part pallet 2. Part cleaning is achieved by adsorption. For example, the part forming surface cleaning device 8 is a negative pressure suction device. The part cleaning work is carried out in the process of the solidified part layer separating from the raw material transfer film 7 after each layer of forming is completed. Different materials use different part forming surface cleaning devices 8, and the cleaned adhesive materials are recovered through their respective pipelines.

[0055] The present invention provides the above-mentioned multi-material additive manufacturing equipment and also provides a multi-material additive manufacturing method based on the multi-material additive manufacturing equipment. Figure 1 , the method comprises the following steps:

[0056] 1) Determine the materials required for forming according to the structure of the part to be formed, and place the materials required for forming in the corresponding raw material supply and recovery devices; wherein the raw materials required for forming are high-viscosity slurries that can move under the action of external forces, and illustratively, the viscosity of the high-viscosity slurries is greater than or equal to 10 Pa·s, and the high-viscosity slurries usually have no fluidity at room temperature;

[0057] 2) The first raw material supply and recovery device supplies the raw material required for the current layer formation to the lower surface of the raw material transport film 7 with a preset layer thickness. The first raw material supply and recovery device is used to supply the raw material required for the current layer formation. The specific implementation method is:

[0058] 2.1) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device 9, the raw material transport film 7 moves horizontally, wherein the lower surface of the raw material transport film 7 is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the first raw material supply and recovery device;

[0059] 2.2) The first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surface of the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the first raw material supply and recovery device; the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the height of the upper end surface of the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is lower than the height of the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the first raw material supply and recovery device, and the distance between the upper end surface of the second scraper and the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the first raw material supply and recovery device is a preset height;

[0060] 2.3) Start the raw material support plate lifting drive device a of the first raw material supply and recovery device, the raw material support plate lifting drive device a of the first raw material supply and recovery device drives the raw material support plate c of the first raw material supply and recovery device to move upward, so that the raw material required for the current layer forming stored in the first raw material supply and recovery device is in contact with the lower surface of the raw material transfer film 7, and during the translation process of the raw material transfer film 7, the raw material required for the current layer forming is scraped flat by the upper end surface of the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device, so that the raw material required for the current layer forming is supplied to the lower surface of the raw material transfer film 7 with a preset layer thickness;

[0061] 3) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device 9, the raw material transport film 7 brings the raw material required for forming the current layer of preset thickness to the top of the part support plate 2;

[0062] 4) Turn on the Z-axis lifting device 1 to drive the part support plate 2 to move up to a preset height from the raw material transfer film 7, where the preset height is equal to the preset layer thickness;

[0063] 5) Turn on the laser forming light source 5. After the forming laser emitted by the laser forming light source 5 passes through the light-transmitting plate 4 and the raw material transfer film 7, the raw material required for the current layer of the preset layer thickness is formed into the current printing layer between the raw material transfer film 7 and the part support plate 2;

[0064] 6) The Z-axis lifting device 1 drives the part pallet 2 to move downward, and the part pallet 2 separates the current printing layer from the raw material transfer film 7;

[0065] 7) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device 9, the raw material transport film 7 moves to the top of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the second raw material supply and recovery device recovers and stores the raw materials required for the current layer forming that are not involved in the forming on the lower surface of the raw material transport film 7;

[0066] Wherein, in one embodiment, if the second raw material supply and recovery device is different from the first raw material supply and recovery device, the step 7) includes:

[0067] 7.1) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device 9, the raw material transport film 7 moves horizontally, wherein the lower surface of the raw material transport film 7 is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the second raw material supply and recovery device;

[0068] 7.2) The first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the height of the upper end surface of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is lower than the height of the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the distance between the upper end surface of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device and the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the second raw material supply and recovery device is a preset height; the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surface of the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the second raw material supply and recovery device; during the translation of the raw material transport film 7, the raw materials on the lower surface of the raw material transport film 7 that are not involved in the forming fall onto the raw material support plate c under the scraping action of the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device;

[0069] In another embodiment, if the second raw material supply and recovery device and the first raw material supply and recovery device are the same device, then the step 7) includes:

[0070] Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device 9, the raw material transport film 7 moves in the reverse direction. At this time, the positions of the first scraper and the second scraper in the second raw material supply and recovery device (i.e., the first raw material supply and recovery device) remain unchanged. During the reverse movement of the raw material transport film 7, the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film 7 that has not participated in the forming falls onto the raw material support plate c due to the scraping action of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device (i.e., the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device).

[0071] Afterwards, after the raw materials that have not participated in forming on the lower surface of the raw material transmission film 7 fall onto the raw material pallet c, that is, when the corresponding raw materials that have not participated in forming all fall into the raw material storage bin b of the second raw material supply and recovery device, the scraper motion unit drives the first scraper and the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device to move, so that the upper end surfaces of the first scraper and the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device are flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and then the raw material pallet lifting drive device a of the second raw material supply and recovery device is started, and the raw material pallet lifting drive device a of the second raw material supply and recovery device drives the raw material pallet c of the second raw material supply and recovery device to move downward. Under the action of the adsorption force, the raw materials that have not participated in forming and have not been removed on the lower surface of the raw material transmission film 7 are completely separated from the raw material transmission film 7 and fall onto the raw material pallet c of the second raw material supply and recovery device, completing the raw material recovery.

[0072] 8) Repeat steps 1) to 7) until the additive manufacturing of the entire part is completed.

[0073] See also Figure 2 , taking the raw material transfer film 7 moving from left to right for raw material supply as an example, the feeding method is explained: first, the left scraper motion unit e of the first raw material supply and recovery device pulls the left scraper d to move, so that the upper end surface of the left scraper d is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b (at this time, the upper end surface of the scraper d is the same as the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b, and both contact the raw material transfer film 7); at the same time, the right scraper motion unit e pulls the right scraper d to move, so that the upper end surface of the right scraper d is a set distance away from the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b (this distance is the guarantee for supplying raw materials of corresponding thickness to the raw material transfer film 7); then, the raw material support plate lifting drive device a drives the raw material support plate c to move up and push the raw material in the raw material storage bin b, so that it contacts the raw material transfer film 7. Since the raw material transfer film 7 is moving from left to right at this time, under the adhesion of the slurry, the raw material of the set layer thickness is supplied to the raw material transfer film 7.

[0074] Similarly, the material collection method is explained by taking the raw material transmission film 7 moving from left to right for raw material recovery as an example: first, the left scraper motion unit e of the second raw material supply and recovery device pulls the left scraper d to move, so that the upper end surface of the left scraper d is separated from the contact with the raw material on the raw material transmission film 7; at the same time, the right scraper motion unit e pulls the right scraper d to move, so that the upper end surface of the right scraper d is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b. Since the raw material transmission film 7 is moving from left to right at this time, under the scraping action of the scraper d, the raw material on the raw material transmission film 7 falls into the raw material storage bin b; then, when all the slurry on the raw material transmission film 7 falls into the raw material storage bin b, the left scraper motion unit e pulls the left scraper d to move, so that the upper end surface of the left scraper d is also flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin b, and the raw material support plate lifting drive device a drives the raw material support plate c to move downward to pull the raw material in the raw material storage bin b. Under the action of the adsorption force generated by this action, the raw material on the raw material transmission film 7 is completely separated from the raw material transmission film 7 and falls into the raw material storage bin b.

Claims

1. A multi-material additive manufacturing device, characterized in that: The multi-material additive manufacturing equipment comprises a light-transmitting plate (4), a laser forming light source (5), a part supporting device, a raw material transmission film (7), a raw material transmission film moving device (9), a raw material supply and recovery system, and a control system (10); the laser forming light source (5), the light-transmitting plate (4), and the part supporting device are arranged in sequence from top to bottom in a non-contact manner; the raw material transmission film (7) is placed on the lower surface of the light-transmitting plate (4); the control system (10) is respectively connected to the laser forming light source (5), the part supporting device, the raw material transmission film moving device (9), and the raw material supply and recovery system; The raw material transport film moving device (9) drives the raw material transport film (7) to move at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate (4); the raw material supply and recovery system and the parts supporting device are both arranged at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transport film (7); the raw material supply and recovery system stores the raw material required for forming; during the movement of the raw material transport film (7), the raw material supply and recovery system obtains the raw material required for forming or returns the raw material not involved in forming to the raw material supply and recovery system; under the action of the laser forming light source (5), the raw material required for forming on the raw material transport film (7) is formed on the parts supporting device; The raw material supply and recovery system comprises one or more raw material supply and recovery devices (3), wherein the raw material supply and recovery device (3) comprises a raw material support plate lifting drive device (a), a raw material storage bin (b), a raw material support plate (c), a scraper (d), and a scraper motion unit (e); the raw material storage bin (b) is a structure with an upper opening; the raw material support plate (c) is laid flat in the raw material storage bin (b); The raw material support plate lifting drive device (a) is connected to the raw material support plate (c) and drives the raw material support plate (c) to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin (b); the raw material required for forming is placed on the raw material support plate (c); when the raw material support plate lifting drive device (a) drives the raw material required for forming to rise along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin (b) through the raw material support plate (c), the raw material required for forming contacts the lower surface of the raw material transmission film (7); the scraper (d) is arranged on the side wall of the raw material storage bin (b); the scraper movement unit (e) is connected to the scraper (d) and drives the scraper (d) to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin (b); when the scraper movement unit (e) drives the scraper (d) to move freely along the axial direction of the raw material storage bin (b), the upper surface of the scraper (d) contacts the lower surface of the raw material transmission film (7) or is set at a distance from the lower surface of the raw material transmission film (7).

2. The multi-material additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each raw material supply and recovery device (3) in the raw material supply and recovery system supplies or recovers a raw material required for forming; When the raw material supply and recovery system includes a raw material supply and recovery device (3), the raw material supply and recovery device (3) and the parts supporting device are arranged in sequence from front to back along the moving direction of the raw material transport film (7) at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transport film (7); When the raw material supply and recovery system includes a plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices (3), the plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices (3) and the parts supporting device are arranged along a straight-line structure at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transport film (7); When the raw material supply and recovery system includes a plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices (3), the plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices (3) are rotatably arranged around the part supporting device, and the raw material supply and recovery devices and the part supporting device that supply or recover the raw materials required for the current forming in the plurality of raw material supply and recovery devices (3) are arranged in sequence from front to back at the bottom of the moving track of the raw material transmission film (7) along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film (7).

3. The multi-material additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scraper (d) comprises a first scraper and a second scraper; the first scraper and the second scraper are symmetrically arranged on the side wall of the raw material storage bin (b) along the moving direction of the raw material transmission film (7).

4. The multi-material additive manufacturing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The raw material transport film movement devices (9) are in two groups. The two groups of raw material transport film movement devices (9) are respectively connected to the raw material transport film (7). The two groups of raw material transport film movement devices (9) simultaneously drive the raw material transport film (7) to move freely at the bottom of the light-transmitting plate (4).

5. The multi-material additive manufacturing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The raw material transport film moving device (9) comprises a driving device, which is a chain, a gear or a transmission roller.

6. The multi-material additive manufacturing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The raw material transport film moving device (9) also includes a raw material transport film tensioning device (6) acting on the raw material transport film (7), and the raw material transport film tensioning device (6) is one group or multiple groups.

7. The multi-material additive manufacturing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The part supporting device comprises a Z-axis lifting device (1), a part support plate (2) and a part forming surface cleaning device (8); the Z-axis lifting device (1) is connected to the part support plate (2) and drives the part support plate (2) to move up and down, the part forming surface cleaning device (8) is arranged around the part support plate (2), and the part forming surface cleaning device (8) is a negative pressure suction device; the cleaning working surface of the part forming surface cleaning device (8) covers the upper surface of the part support plate (2).

8. A multi-material additive manufacturing method based on the multi-material additive manufacturing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The multi-material additive manufacturing method comprises the following steps: 1) Determine the materials required for forming according to the structure of the part to be formed, and place the materials required for forming in the corresponding raw material supply and recovery devices respectively; 2) The first raw material supply and recovery device supplies the raw material required for the current layer formation to the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) with a preset layer thickness. The first raw material supply and recovery device is used to supply the raw material required for the current layer formation; specifically: 2.1) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device (9), the raw material transport film (7) moves horizontally, wherein the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the first raw material supply and recovery device; 2.2) driving the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device to move by means of a scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surface of the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the first raw material supply and recovery device; driving the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device to move by means of a scraper motion unit, so that the height of the upper end surface of the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device is lower than the height of the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the first raw material supply and recovery device, and the distance between the upper end surface of the second scraper and the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the first raw material supply and recovery device is a preset height; 2.3) starting the raw material support plate lifting drive device (a) of the first raw material supply and recovery device, the raw material support plate lifting drive device (a) of the first raw material supply and recovery device drives the raw material support plate (c) of the first raw material supply and recovery device to move upward, so that the raw material required for the current layer forming stored in the first raw material supply and recovery device is in contact with the lower surface of the raw material transfer film (7), and during the translation process of the raw material transfer film (7), the raw material required for the current layer forming is scraped flat by the upper end surface of the second scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device, so that the raw material required for the current layer forming is supplied to the lower surface of the raw material transfer film (7) with a preset layer thickness; 3) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device (9), the raw material transport film (7) brings the raw material required for forming the current layer of preset thickness to the top of the part support plate (2); 4) starting the Z-axis lifting device (1) to drive the part support plate (2) to move up to a preset height from the raw material transfer film (7), wherein the preset height is equal to the preset layer thickness; 5) Turning on the laser forming light source (5), the forming laser emitted by the laser forming light source (5) passes through the light-transmitting plate (4) and the raw material transfer film (7), so that the raw material required for the current layer of the preset layer thickness is formed into the current printing layer between the raw material transfer film (7) and the part support plate (2); 6) The Z-axis lifting device (1) drives the part support plate (2) to move downward, and the part support plate (2) separates the current printing layer from the raw material transfer film (7); 7) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device (9), the raw material transport film (7) moves to the top of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the second raw material supply and recovery device recovers and stores the raw materials required for the current layer forming that are not involved in the forming on the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7); 8) Repeat steps 1) to 7) until the additive manufacturing of the entire part is completed.

9. The additive manufacturing method according to claim 8, characterized in that: If the second raw material supply and recovery device is different from the first raw material supply and recovery device, the step 7) includes: 7.1) Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device (9), the raw material transport film (7) moves horizontally, wherein the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the second raw material supply and recovery device; 7.2) The first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the height of the upper end surface of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is lower than the height of the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and the distance between the upper end surface of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device and the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the second raw material supply and recovery device is a preset height; the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is driven to move by the scraper motion unit, so that the upper end surface of the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device is flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the second raw material supply and recovery device; during the translation of the raw material transport film (7), the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) that is not involved in the forming falls onto the raw material support plate (c) under the scraping action of the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device; If the second raw material supply and recovery device and the first raw material supply and recovery device are the same device, then the step 7) includes: Under the traction of the raw material transport film moving device (9), the raw material transport film (7) moves in the reverse direction. During the reverse movement of the raw material transport film (7), the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) that has not participated in the forming falls onto the raw material support plate (c) under the scraping action of the first scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device (i.e., the first scraper of the first raw material supply and recovery device).

10. The additive manufacturing method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The step 7) further comprises: after the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) that has not participated in the forming falls onto the raw material support plate (c), the first scraper and the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device are driven to move by the scraper movement unit, so that the upper end surfaces of the first scraper and the second scraper of the second raw material supply and recovery device are flush with the upper end surface of the raw material storage bin (b) of the second raw material supply and recovery device, and then the raw material support plate lifting drive device (a) of the second raw material supply and recovery device is started, and the raw material support plate lifting drive device (a) of the second raw material supply and recovery device drives the raw material support plate (c) of the second raw material supply and recovery device to move downward, and under the action of the adsorption force, the raw material on the lower surface of the raw material transport film (7) that has not participated in the forming and has not been removed is completely separated from the raw material transport film (7) and falls onto the raw material support plate (c) of the second raw material supply and recovery device, thereby completing the raw material recovery; The raw material required for forming in step 1) is a high-viscosity slurry that can move under the action of an external force, and the viscosity of the high-viscosity slurry is greater than or equal to 10 Pa·s.

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