3D printing resin tank with fluidity detection function and detection method

Abstract

The present application relates to a resin tank for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function and a detection method, wherein the resin tank for 3D printing includes a resin tank, a heating element and a temperature detection component, wherein the heating element is connected to the side wall of the resin tank; the temperature detection component includes a first temperature detection element, a second temperature detection element and a third temperature detection element arranged at intervals along the same height, the first temperature detection element is connected to the side wall of the resin tank and is spaced apart from the heating element, and the second temperature detection element and the third temperature detection element are both located inside the resin tank, and the fluidity detection method includes recording the temperature of the first temperature detection element from room temperature T room The time when the first set temperature T1 is detected is P1, and the time when the second temperature detection component detects the first set temperature T1 is P2; based on P1 and P2, the fluidity of the resin is judged; the heating target temperature of the heating component is adjusted according to the fluidity of the resin; the above scheme can judge the fluidity of the resin, so that it can adapt to resin materials with different fluidities.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of light-curing 3D printing technology, and in particular to a 3D printing resin tank with a fluidity detection function and a detection method. Background Art

[0002] Stereolithography 3D printing is a commonly used technology in additive manufacturing. SLA (Stereo lithography Appearance) works by hardening liquid resin in a container using a high-power laser to create a 3D shape. Simply put, a machine uses photopolymerization and a low-power laser to gradually transform a photosensitive liquid into 3D solid plastic layer by layer to achieve printing. Liquid photosensitive resin is used as the material, and a resin tank must be used as the container. During printing, the resin in the tank must reach a certain temperature for the photopolymerization reaction to proceed properly. Therefore, heating the resin in the tank is crucial, and ensuring that it is heated evenly and reaches the rated temperature is crucial.

[0003] In existing SLA resin heating technology, a heating plate is mounted on the resin tank, and a temperature sensor is installed on the tank wall. This temperature sensor and heating plate form a closed-loop control loop for resin heating. In existing technology, the actual temperature of the resin in the tank is not detected. Instead, the temperature of the tank is detected by the temperature sensor, and the heat is assumed to be conducted through heat conduction, causing the temperature of the resin in the tank to approach that of the tank wall.

[0004] Furthermore, resins with different fluidities require different heating temperatures. For resins with poor fluidity, the target heating temperature for the resin tank cannot be too high, as this can cause the resin near the tank wall to overheat and deteriorate. For resins with good fluidity, the target heating temperature cannot be too low, as this will cause the resin to heat up very slowly and, if the external temperature drops, the resin will not be able to reach the set temperature. Existing resin tanks do not account for these issues and fail to determine the resin's fluidity to adjust the heating temperature. This can lead to resin deterioration or low temperatures, which in turn affects the quality of 3D printing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a resin tank and detection method for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function, aiming to solve the problem that the resin tank in the prior art cannot detect the actual temperature of the resin in the resin tank and cannot know the fluidity of the resin.

[0006] In the first aspect, the present application provides a resin tank for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function, comprising a resin tank, a heating element, and a temperature detection assembly. The resin tank is a hollow structure with one end open, used to hold resin; the heating element is connected to the side wall of the resin tank, and the heating element can heat and keep the temperature of the resin warm; the temperature detection assembly includes a first temperature detection element, a second temperature detection element, and a third temperature detection element arranged at intervals along the same height, the first temperature detection element is connected to the side wall of the resin tank, and is spaced apart from the heating element, the second temperature detection element and the third temperature detection element are both located inside the resin tank, and the second temperature detection element is located between the first temperature detection element and the third temperature detection element.

[0007] In a second aspect, the present application also provides a method for detecting fluidity, using the resin tank for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function as described above, the method for detecting fluidity comprises the following steps: room The initial temperature is set as the control temperature, the heating element starts heating, the first temperature detection element starts detecting the temperature, and the first temperature detection element detects the temperature from room temperature T room The time for heating to the first set temperature T1 is P1; the heating element is controlled to start keeping warm, the second temperature detection element starts detecting the temperature, and the time P2 when the second temperature detection element detects the first set temperature T1 is recorded; based on P1 and P2, the fluidity of the resin is judged.

[0008] In one embodiment, the step of determining the fluidity of the resin based on P1 and P2 includes: obtaining the resin tank thermal conductivity factor based on P1 and the distance H between the first temperature detection component and the heating component; obtaining the resin thermal conductivity factor based on P2 and the distance L between the second temperature detection component and the first temperature detection component; and obtaining the resin fluidity based on the resin tank thermal conductivity factor and the resin thermal conductivity factor.

[0009] In one embodiment, in the step of obtaining the thermal conductivity of the resin tank according to P1 and the distance H between the first temperature detecting element and the heating element, the thermal conductivity of the resin tank = P1 / H.

[0010] In one embodiment, in the step of obtaining the resin thermal conductivity according to P2 and the distance L between the second temperature detection component and the first temperature detection component, the resin thermal conductivity = P2 / L.

[0011] In one embodiment, the step of obtaining resin fluidity based on the resin tank thermal conductivity factor and the resin thermal conductivity factor includes: calculating a resin fluidity level value; comparing the resin fluidity level value with a set resin fluidity medium value and a set resin fluidity excellent value, and selecting a corresponding temperature detection component as a temperature sampling component during the temperature control process.

[0012] In one embodiment, in the step of calculating the resin fluidity level, the resin fluidity level = the resin thermal conductivity factor / the resin tank thermal conductivity factor.

[0013] In one embodiment, if the resin fluidity level is lower than a set resin fluidity medium value, the first temperature detecting element serves as a temperature sampling element during the temperature control process.

[0014] In one embodiment, if the resin fluidity level is between a set resin fluidity medium value and a set resin fluidity excellent value, the second temperature detecting element serves as a temperature sampling element during the temperature control process.

[0015] In one embodiment, if the resin fluidity level is higher than a set excellent resin fluidity value, the third temperature detecting element serves as a temperature sampling element during the temperature control process.

[0016] In the above scheme, a first temperature detection member, a second temperature detection member and a third temperature detection member are set at three positions at the same height in the resin tank, wherein the first temperature detection member is connected to the side wall of the resin tank and is located above the heating member at a fixed height from the heating member, and the distance between the second temperature detection member and the first temperature detection member is L. In combination with the fluidity detection method, the resin fluidity is judged by the speed at which the first temperature detection member and the second temperature detection member are heated to the first set temperature T1, and the optimal resin heating strategy is selected based on the judgment result of the resin fluidity, so that the resin tank for 3D printing can adapt to resin materials with different fluidities, improve the efficiency and adaptability of resin heating, and increase the intelligence level of the equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The drawings that constitute a part of this application are used to provide further understanding of this application. The schematic implementation methods and descriptions of this application are used to explain this application and do not constitute improper limitations on this application.

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of a resin tank for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function shown in one embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Description of reference numerals:

[0021] 100 , resin tank for 3D printing; 110 , resin tank; 120 , heating element; 130 , temperature detection assembly; 131 , first temperature detection element; 132 , second temperature detection element; 133 , third temperature detection element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0024] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0025] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0026] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0027] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0029] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element.

[0030] The preferred implementation of the present application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, a resin tank 100 for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function is shown in one embodiment of the present application, which is used to store printing materials during the light-curing 3D printing process. In this application, the printing material is liquid photosensitive resin as an example for description.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the resin tank 100 for 3D printing shown in this application includes a resin tank 110, a heater 120, and a temperature detection assembly 130. The resin tank 110 is a hollow structure with one end open, which is used to hold resin. The heater 120 is connected to the side wall of the resin tank 110. The heater 120 can heat and maintain the temperature of the resin. Optionally, the heater 120 can be a heat radiation heating plate, and the temperature of the heater 120 is controllable.

[0033] The temperature detection component 130 is used to detect the temperature of the resin in the resin tank 110. Figure 1As shown, the temperature detection assembly 130 includes a first temperature detection member 131 , a second temperature detection member 132 and a third temperature detection member 133 which are spaced apart at the same height.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the first temperature detecting member 131 is connected to the side wall of the resin tank 110 and is spaced apart from the heating member 120. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the first temperature detecting member 131 is located above the heating member 120, and can detect the temperature of the side wall of the resin tank 110. By heat transfer between the resin and the resin tank 110, the temperature of the side wall of the resin tank 110 is detected, and the temperature of the resin located near the side wall of the resin tank 110 is obtained. In this embodiment, the first temperature detecting member 131 is located on the outside of the side wall of the resin tank 110 to detect the temperature of the outside of the side wall of the resin tank 110. At this time, the resin tank 110 is made of a material with good thermal conductivity to avoid errors in the temperature detection of the first temperature detecting member 131 due to the thermal conductivity of the resin tank 110. In other embodiments, the first temperature detecting member 131 can also be located on the inside of the side wall of the resin tank 110 to detect the temperature of the inside of the side wall of the resin tank 110. The distance between the first temperature detecting member 131 and the heating member 120 is H. As Figure 1 As shown, the second temperature detecting member 132 and the third temperature detecting member 133 are both located inside the resin tank 110, and the second temperature detecting member 132 is located between the first temperature detecting member 131 and the third temperature detecting member 133. The distance L between the second temperature detecting member 132 and the first temperature detecting member 131 is.

[0035] The present application also provides a fluidity detection method, which uses the 3D printing resin tank 100 with fluidity detection function as described above to detect the fluidity of the resin, so as to adopt different heating methods for resins with different fluidity properties to obtain better printing effects.

[0036] The fluidity testing method comprises the following steps:

[0037] S10: at room temperature T room The initial temperature is set, the heating element 120 is controlled to start heating, the first temperature detection element 131 starts to detect the temperature, and the temperature of the first temperature detection element 131 is recorded from the room temperature T room The time when the first set temperature T1 is detected is P1. The heating element 120 starts heating, that is, the heating element 120 continuously emits heat, so that the temperature of the resin continues to rise. It is understandable that the initial temperature of the resin and the resin tank 110 are both room temperature T room Therefore, the initial temperatures of the first temperature detection member 131, the second temperature detection member 132 and the third temperature detection member 133 are all room temperature T roomThe temperature detected by the first temperature detecting element 131 reaches the first set temperature T1. The first set temperature T1 is a temperature set for detecting the fluidity of the resin. The specific temperature value can be selected according to actual needs. The first set temperature T1 remains unchanged during the process of detecting the fluidity of the resin.

[0038] As the heating element 120 heats, the temperature of the sidewalls of the resin tank 110 and the resin gradually rises. Due to the thermal conductivity of the resin tank 110 itself and the flow of the resin, the resin inside the resin tank 110 begins to heat up. The first temperature sensing element 131, the second temperature sensing element 132, and the third temperature sensing element 133 will sequentially detect the temperature increase. During the resin flow process, the first temperature sensing element 131 is closer to the heating element 120 than the second temperature sensing element 132 and the third temperature sensing element 133. Therefore, the temperature of the first temperature sensing element 131 begins to rise first, and the first temperature sensing element 131 reaches the first set temperature T1 first.

[0039] After the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting element 131 reaches the first set temperature T1, S20: the heating element 120 is controlled to start heat preservation, the second temperature detecting element 132 begins to detect the temperature, and the time P2 when the second temperature detecting element 132 detects the first set temperature T1 is recorded. It will be understood that the start of heat preservation by the heating element 120 means that the heating element 120 intermittently heats the resin to maintain a certain temperature range.

[0040] The temperature value detected by the second temperature detection member 132 reaches the first set temperature T1. In some embodiments, due to the short distance L between the first temperature detection member 131 and the second temperature detection member 132, or the good fluidity of the resin, or the high value of the first set temperature T1, it is possible that before the second temperature detection member 132 starts to detect, the resin temperature around the second temperature detection member 132 is already higher than the room temperature T1. room , but higher than room temperature T room At this time, the time it takes for the second temperature detecting member 132 to rise from the temperature T to the first set temperature T1 is recorded as P2.

[0041] Preferably, the length of the distance L between the first temperature detection member 131 and the second temperature detection member 132 can be adjusted so that the resin temperature around the second temperature detection member 132 is at room temperature T before the second temperature detection member 132 starts detecting. room At this time, the second temperature detection member 132 is recorded from the room temperature T room The time P2 for heating to the first set temperature T1.

[0042] S30: Determine the fluidity of the resin based on P1 and P2. By comparing the values ​​of P1 and P2 for different resins, a comparison of the fluidity of different resins can be obtained. Under the same heating power of the heating element 120, the larger the values ​​of P1 and P2, the worse the fluidity of the resin. In some embodiments, the fluidity range of the resin with unknown fluidity can be obtained by testing resins P1 and P2 with known fluidity levels and comparing them with resins P1 and P2 with known fluidity levels.

[0043] The resin fluidity level determined in the above scheme can be used to adjust the target heating temperature of the heating element 120 according to the resin fluidity. Resins with good fluidity can use a higher target heating temperature to avoid slow heating or even failure to reach the set temperature due to a low target heating temperature in the resin tank. Resins with poor fluidity can use a lower target heating temperature to avoid overheating and deterioration of the resin due to excessively high temperatures.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, step S30: judging the fluidity of the resin according to P1 and P2, includes:

[0045] S31: Obtain the resin tank thermal conductivity factor based on P1 and the distance H between the first temperature detection element 131 and the heating element 120, where the resin tank thermal conductivity factor = P1 / H. It should be understood that the resin tank thermal conductivity factor is merely a parameter in this method, representing the average time it takes for the temperature to change per unit distance as the temperature is transferred from the heating element 120 to the first temperature detection element 131.

[0046] S32: Obtain the resin thermal conductivity factor based on P2 and the distance L between the second temperature sensing member 132 and the first temperature sensing member 131, where the resin thermal conductivity factor = P2 / L. It should be understood that the resin thermal conductivity factor is merely a parameter in this method, representing the average time it takes for the temperature to change per unit distance as the temperature transfers from the resin near the first temperature sensing member 131 to the resin near the second temperature sensing member 132.

[0047] S33: Obtaining resin fluidity based on the resin tank thermal conductivity factor and the resin thermal conductivity factor. The resin tank thermal conductivity factor and the resin thermal conductivity factor can be used to provide feedback on the resin fluidity level, thereby facilitating selection of an optimal resin heating strategy.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present application, optionally, step S33: obtaining resin fluidity according to the resin tank thermal conductivity factor and the resin thermal conductivity factor includes:

[0049] S331: Calculate and obtain a resin fluidity level value, where the resin fluidity level value = resin thermal conductivity factor / resin tank thermal conductivity factor.

[0050] S332: The resin fluidity level is compared with the set medium and excellent resin fluidity values, and the corresponding temperature detection assembly 130 is selected as the temperature sampling component during the temperature control process. The medium and excellent resin fluidity values ​​are obtained by testing the fluidity of resins with known fluidity levels using the above method. The medium and excellent resin fluidity values ​​are reference values ​​for determining the resin fluidity level.

[0051] If the resin fluidity level value is lower than the set resin fluidity medium value, the resin fluidity level is poor. The first temperature detection component 131 serves as a temperature sampling component in the temperature control process to prevent the resin near the side wall of the resin tank 110 from being overheated and deteriorated due to excessive temperature.

[0052] If the resin fluidity level value is between the set resin medium fluidity value and the resin excellent fluidity value, the resin fluidity level is medium. The second temperature detection component 132 serves as a temperature sampling component in the temperature control process. It can not only prevent the resin near the side wall of the resin tank 110 from overheating and deteriorating due to excessive temperature, but also can more accurately feedback the actual temperature of the resin.

[0053] If the resin fluidity level is higher than the set excellent resin fluidity value, the resin fluidity level is considered excellent, and third temperature sensor 133 serves as a temperature sampling element during the temperature control process to obtain more accurate temperature detection values. Due to the excellent resin fluidity level, the heat exchange rate between the resin and resin tank 110 is faster. However, since the outside of resin tank 110 is at room temperature, first temperature sensor 131 and second temperature sensor 132 located near the sidewalls of resin tank 110 cannot accurately reflect the actual temperature of the resin.

[0054] In the above scheme, three first temperature detection components 131, second temperature detection components 132 and third temperature detection components 133 are set at the same height but different positions in the resin tank 110, wherein the first temperature detection component 131 is connected to the side wall of the resin tank 110 and is located above the heating component 120, with a fixed height from the heating component 120, and the distance between the second temperature detection component 132 and the first temperature detection component 131 is L. In combination with the fluidity detection method, the resin fluidity is judged by the speed at which the first temperature detection component 131 and the second temperature detection component 132 are heated to the first set temperature T1, and the optimal resin heating strategy is selected according to the judgment result of the resin fluidity, so that the resin tank 100 for 3D printing can adapt to resin materials with different fluidities, improve the efficiency and adaptability of resin heating, and increase the intelligence level of the equipment.

[0055] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A resin tank for 3D printing with a fluidity detection function, characterized in that: include: A resin tank, which is a hollow structure with one end open and is used to hold resin; a heating element connected to a side wall of the resin tank, the heating element being capable of heating and maintaining the temperature of the resin; A temperature detection component, the temperature detection component includes a first temperature detection member, a second temperature detection member and a third temperature detection member arranged at intervals along the same height, the first temperature detection member is connected to the side wall of the resin tank and is spaced apart from the heating member, the second temperature detection member and the third temperature detection member are both located inside the resin tank, and the second temperature detection member is located between the first temperature detection member and the third temperature detection member.

2. A method for detecting fluidity, characterized in that: The 3D printing resin tank with a fluidity detection function according to claim 1 is used, and the fluidity detection method includes the following steps: At room temperature T room The initial temperature is set as the control temperature, the heating element starts heating, the first temperature detection element starts detecting the temperature, and the first temperature detection element detects the temperature from room temperature T room The time it takes to heat up to the first set temperature T1 is P1; The heating element is controlled to start heat preservation, the second temperature detection element starts to detect the temperature, and the time P2 when the second temperature detection element detects the first set temperature T1 is recorded; According to P1 and P2, the fluidity of the resin is determined. In this step, the following steps are included: According to P1 and the distance H between the first temperature detecting element and the heating element, the resin tank thermal conductivity factor = P1 / H is obtained; According to P2 and the distance L between the second temperature detection member and the first temperature detection member, the resin thermal conductivity factor = P2 / L is obtained; The resin fluidity level is calculated based on the resin tank thermal conductivity and the resin thermal conductivity = resin thermal conductivity / resin tank thermal conductivity.

3. The method for detecting fluidity according to claim 2, wherein: Step: After calculating the resin fluidity level value based on the resin tank thermal conductivity and the resin thermal conductivity, the following steps are included: The resin fluidity level value is compared with the set resin fluidity medium value and resin fluidity excellent value, and the corresponding temperature detection part is selected as the temperature sampling part in the temperature control process.

4. The method for detecting fluidity according to claim 3, wherein: If the resin fluidity level is lower than the set resin fluidity medium value, the first temperature detecting element serves as a temperature sampling element in the temperature control process.

5. The method for detecting fluidity according to claim 3, wherein: If the resin fluidity level value is between the set resin fluidity medium value and the resin fluidity excellent value, the second temperature detecting element serves as the temperature sampling element in the temperature control process.

6. The method for detecting fluidity according to claim 3, wherein: If the resin fluidity level value is higher than the set resin fluidity excellent value, the third temperature detecting element is used as a temperature sampling element in the temperature control process.

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