Shaping time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of 3D printing, and relates to a forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, comprising: 1) obtaining parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process; 2) respectively calculating the total time T 机总 of mechanical movement, the scanning time T 内扫 of internal filling, the internal filling switch light delay time T 内延 , the scanning time T 上扫 of the upper skin, the scanning time T 下扫 of the lower skin, the delay time T 上延 of the laser when scanning the upper skin, and the delay time T 下延 of the laser when scanning the lower skin according to the parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process obtained in step 1); and 3) adding the time calculated in step 2) to obtain the forming time T suitable for additive manufacturing. The present application provides a forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, which has high estimation accuracy and can effectively improve the forming efficiency.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of 3D printing, and relates to a forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, in particular to a forming time estimation method suitable for SLM forming process. BACKGROUND

[0002] Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing technology that integrates computer-aided design, material processing and forming technology, and is based on digital model files. Through software and numerical control system, special metal materials, non-metal materials and medical biological materials are stacked layer by layer in the form of extrusion, sintering, melting, light curing and spraying to manufacture solid objects. Compared with the traditional machining mode of removing and cutting the raw materials and assembling, it is a "bottom-up" manufacturing method through material accumulation. This makes it possible to manufacture complex structures that were previously constrained by traditional manufacturing methods.

[0003] According to different principles, additive manufacturing technology is divided into: additive manufacturing based on sintering and melting, such as selective laser sintering technology (SLS), selective laser melting technology (SLM) and electron beam melting technology (EBM); additive manufacturing based on light polymerization forming technology, such as stereolithography (SLA), continuous liquid interface manufacturing (CLIP), polymer jetting (polyJet) and digital light processing (DLP) etc.; additive manufacturing based on powder-binder, such as three-dimensional printing technology (3DP) etc.; and additive manufacturing such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), aerosol printing technology (aerosol printing) and cell 3D printing (cell bioprinting) etc.

[0004] Regardless of the way of additive manufacturing, before the forming stage, the forming time of the model often needs to be planned and arranged for subsequent printing work, so as to improve the forming efficiency. However, in the prior art, the calculation or estimation of the forming time of the model in the additive manufacturing process is often based on artificial experience, and the time is more or less, and the precision is not enough, which will inevitably affect the forming efficiency. SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems existing in the background art, the present application provides a forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, which can estimate the forming time conveniently and quickly through additive manufacturing model parameters, laser scanning parameters and forming equipment operation parameters, has high estimation accuracy, and can effectively improve the forming efficiency based on the estimated time.

[0006] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application adopts the following technical scheme:

[0007] A forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, characterized in that the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing comprises the following steps:

[0008] 1) obtaining parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process;

[0009] 2) calculating the total time T 机总 of mechanical movement, the scanning time T 内扫 of internal filling, the switching light delay time T 内延 of internal filling, the scanning time T 上扫 of upper skin, the scanning time T 下扫 of lower skin, the delay time T 上延 of laser when scanning the upper skin, and the delay time T 下延 of laser when scanning the lower skin, respectively according to the parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process obtained in step 1);

[0010] 3) adding the time calculated in step 2) to obtain the forming time T suitable for additive manufacturing.

[0011] The parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process in the above step 1) include additive manufacturing model parameters, forming parameters and device parameters, the model parameters include volume V, surface area S, forming height h and minimum containing body three-dimensional size x, y, z;

[0012] The forming parameters include slice thickness P, laser switching light delay time R, internal filling strip width W, internal filling path spacing G1, internal filling scanning speed v1, upper skin path spacing G2, upper skin scanning speed v2, upper skin width d2, lower skin path spacing G3, lower skin scanning speed v3 and lower skin width d3;

[0013] The device parameters include the mechanical movement time T m of each layer.

[0014] The calculation method of the total time T 机总 of mechanical movement in the above step 2) is:

[0015]

[0016] Wherein:

[0017] h is the forming height;

[0018] P is the slice thickness;

[0019] T m is the mechanical movement time of each layer.

[0020] The scanning time T 内扫The calculation method of T

[0021]

[0022] Wherein:

[0023] G1 is the inner filling track spacing;

[0024] v1 is the inner filling scanning speed;

[0025] S 内 is the total area of the inner filling scanning;

[0026] V is the volume;

[0027] P is the slice thickness.

[0028] The calculation method of T 内延 in the above step 2) is:

[0029]

[0030] Wherein:

[0031] R is the laser switch light delay time;

[0032] S 内 is the total area of the inner filling scanning;

[0033] W is the inner filling strip width;

[0034] G1 is the inner filling track spacing;

[0035] V is the volume;

[0036] P is the slice thickness.

[0037] The calculation method of T 上扫 and the scanning time T 下扫 of the lower skin in the above step 2) is:

[0038]

[0039]

[0040] Wherein:

[0041] S 上 is the area scanned by the upper skin scanning strategy;

[0042] S 下 is the area scanned by the lower skin scanning strategy;

[0043] G2 is the upper skin track spacing;

[0044] G3 is the lower skin track spacing;

[0045] v2 is the upper skin scan speed;

[0046] v3 is the lower skin scan speed;

[0047] S is the surface area;

[0048] P is the slice thickness;

[0049] d2 is the upper skin width;

[0050] d3 is the upper skin width;

[0051] a, b, c are the three semi-axis lengths of the model simplified as an ellipsoid of equal volume;

[0052]

[0053]

[0054]

[0055] wherein:

[0056] k is the equivalent ratio;

[0057] x, y, z are the three dimensions of the minimum containing volume, respectively;

[0058] V is the volume.

[0059] The calculation method of the time delay T of the laser in the upper skin in the above step 2) 上延 and the time delay T of the laser in the lower skin 下延 is:

[0060]

[0061]

[0062] wherein:

[0063] S 上 is the area scanned by the upper skin scan strategy;

[0064] S 下 is the area scanned by the lower skin scan strategy;

[0065] d2 is the upper skin width;

[0066] d3 is the upper skin width;

[0067] G2 is the upper skin track spacing;

[0068] G3 is the lower skin track spacing;

[0069] R is the laser switch light delay time;

[0070] S is the surface area;

[0071] P is the slice thickness;

[0072] a, b, c are the three semi-axis lengths of the model simplified as an equal-volume ellipsoid;

[0073]

[0074]

[0075]

[0076] wherein:

[0077] k is the equivalent ratio;

[0078] x, y, z are the three-dimensional dimensions of the minimum containing body, respectively;

[0079] V is the volume.

[0080] The calculation method of the sum of the above step 3) is:

[0081] T = T 机总 + T 内扫 + T 内延 + T 上扫 + T 上延 + T 下扫 + T 下延 .

[0082] A computing system for implementing the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as described above, characterized in that: the computing system comprises a memory, the memory stores the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as described above, and the computing system executes the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing in the memory when running.

[0083] A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that: the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program capable of running the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as described above.

[0084] The advantages of the present application are:

[0085] The present application provides a forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, which comprises: 1) obtaining parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process; 2) calculating the total time T 机总 of mechanical movement, the scanning time T 内扫 of internal filling, and the switch light delay time T 内延the scanning time T of the upper skin 上扫 the scanning time T of the lower skin 下扫 the time delay T of the laser when scanning the upper skin 上延 the time delay T of the laser when scanning the lower skin 下延 ; 3) adding the time calculated in step 2) to obtain the forming time T suitable for additive manufacturing. The present application estimates the time required for additive manufacturing, especially SLM forming process, by the "model simplification method". Through the estimation method provided by the present application, the forming time of SLM can be obtained conveniently and quickly, the human participation factor is reduced or lowered, the estimation accuracy is high, which provides effective guarantee for subsequent printing and processing, facilitates more reasonable arrangement of production process, and can effectively improve the forming efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0086] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of internal filling area scanning;

[0087] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of simplifying the model into an ellipsoid with equal volume;

[0088] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of internal filling area and upper and lower skin area scanning;

[0089] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the operation interface of the calculation system provided by the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] The present application provides an estimation method of forming time suitable for additive manufacturing, which estimates the forming time by the "model simplification method", and the specific estimation method is as follows:

[0091] 1) obtaining the parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process;

[0092] 2) calculating the total time T of mechanical movement 机总 the scanning time T of the internal filling 内扫 the time delay T of the internal filling switch light 内延 the scanning time T of the upper skin 上扫 the scanning time T of the lower skin 下扫 the time delay T of the laser when scanning the upper skin 上延 the time delay T of the laser when scanning the lower skin 下延 of the additive manufacturing process according to the parameters obtained in step 1) respectively;

[0093] 3) adding the time calculated in step 2) to obtain the forming time T suitable for additive manufacturing.

[0094] When performing step 1), the following information needs to be obtained: model parameters, forming parameters (which can also be referred to as laser scanning parameters), and device parameters.

[0095] The model parameters can include volume V, surface area S, forming height h, minimum containing body three-dimensional size x, y, and z. The forming parameters, i.e., the laser scanning parameters, can include slice thickness P, laser switch light delay time R, internal filling strip width W, internal filling path spacing G1, internal filling scanning speed v1, upper skin path spacing G2, upper skin scanning speed v2, upper skin width d2, lower skin path spacing G3, lower skin scanning speed v3, and lower skin width d3. The device parameters can include mechanical movement time T of each layer. m .

[0096] Among the above parameters, the forming parameters are parameters that can be directly obtained by the system, and the model parameters and the device parameters can be obtained by user input. For example, the user can input the model parameters and the device parameters in the interactive interface as shown in FIG. 1. Figure 4 The system can automatically estimate the forming time and present it to the user in response to the user clicking the “Calculate” button. If the user inputs an error or wants to modify the parameters, the user can click the “Reset” button, and the system will clear the previously input parameters in response to the user's clicking operation, so as to facilitate the user to re-input the model parameters and the device parameters.

[0097] After the system obtains the above parameters, the system can automatically estimate the forming time of the additive manufacturing according to the following algorithm and present it to the user, so as to facilitate the user to more reasonably arrange the production process, and thus effectively improve the forming efficiency.

[0098] In the embodiments of the present application, when calculating each time in step 2) by using the above parameters, the following is specifically performed:

[0099] The total time of mechanical movement is calculated by the forming height h, the slice thickness p, and the mechanical movement time T of each layer. m

[0100]

[0101] The total scanning area of the internal filling is approximately calculated by the volume V and the slice thickness p.

[0102]

[0103] The scanning time of the internal filling is obtained in combination with the internal filling path spacing G1 and the internal filling scanning speed v1.

[0104]

[0105] The total internal filling switch light delay time is approximately calculated according to the laser switch light delay time R, the internal filling strip width W, and the internal filling path spacing G1.​

[0106]

[0107] As the larger the surface area of the model is, the more complex the model is, the "model simplification method" simplifies the model into an ellipsoid (see Figure 2 ), and the volume of the simplified ellipsoid is equal to that of the model. It should be noted that the model can also be simplified into other simple shapes according to requirements, and the present application does not limit this. For ease of description, the subsequent description is taken as an example of simplification into an ellipsoid.

[0108] In addition, the model has a certain angle between the surface triangle and the horizontal plane when it is shaped. Based on the size of the angle, the model can be divided into a region using the lower skin scanning strategy, a region using the inner filling scanning strategy, and a region using the upper skin scanning strategy. In the model simplification method in the embodiments of the present application, the surface area using the inner filling scanning strategy is set as the surface area of the simplified ellipsoid, and the surface areas using the upper and lower skin scanning strategies are respectively set as half of the difference between the surface area of the model and the surface area of the ellipsoid, in combination with user experience and in order to further simplify the calculation process.

[0109] As shown in Figure 2 , the model is simplified into an ellipsoid with the same volume, and the lengths of the three semi-axes of the ellipsoid are a, b, and c, respectively. Let the equivalent ratio be According to the ellipsoid volume formula , the following relationship expression can be derived:

[0110]

[0111] Thus, the following can be calculated:

[0112]

[0113]

[0114]

[0115] According to the ellipsoid surface area formula , in combination with the model surface area S, the surface areas using the upper and lower skin scanning strategies are respectively:

[0116]

[0117] In combination with the slice thickness P and the upper and lower skin widths d2 and d3, the areas scanned by the upper and lower skin scanning strategies are respectively calculated as:

[0118]

[0119]

[0120] The scanning time of the upper and lower skins can be calculated according to the scanned area, the upper and lower skin track spacings G2 and G3, and the upper and lower skin scanning speeds v2 and v3

[0121]

[0122]

[0123] Since the scanning vector direction changes constantly with the height, for the convenience of calculation, the vector direction is fixed as 45° with the skin angle, and the delay time of the laser when scanning the upper and lower skins can be approximately calculated in combination with the laser switch light delay time R and the upper and lower skin track spacings G2 and G3

[0124]

[0125]

[0126] In summary, the time required for model forming is the sum of each part of time, that is:

[0127] T=T 机总 +T 内扫 +T 内延 +T 上扫 +T 上延 +T 下扫 +T 下延

[0128] The present application provides a forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as described above, and also provides a computing system for implementing the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as described above, which comprises a memory, the memory storing the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as described above, and the computing system executes the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing in the memory when running. In addition, the computing system also comprises an operation interface, as shown in the figure, in which a parameter input box is left, when the relevant parameters are input in the parameter input box, the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing stored in the memory is read, and the time required for printing or additive manufacturing, especially SLM, is generated directly on the operation interface. When the parameters are input incorrectly, the corresponding settings or inputs can also be made through the reset on the operation interface to ensure that the total time generated is accurate. Figure 4

[0129] ​For the convenience of use, the application further provides a computer readable storage medium, such as a U disk, an optical disk or a mobile hard disk, which stores a computer program capable of running the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing as recorded above, such as an off-network state (stand-alone version) forming device. The computer readable storage medium can directly read or execute the stored computer program capable of running the forming time estimation method suitable for additive manufacturing, thereby generating a corresponding forming time.

Claims

1. A method for estimating forming time suitable for additive manufacturing, characterized in that: The method for estimating forming time applicable to additive manufacturing includes the following steps: 1) Obtain the parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process; the parameters include additive manufacturing model parameters, forming parameters, and equipment parameters. The model parameters include volume V, surface area S, forming height h, and the three-dimensional dimensions x, y, and z of the minimum containment body; the forming parameters include slice thickness P, laser switching delay time R, inner filler strip width W, inner filler channel spacing G1, inner filler scanning speed v1, upper skin channel spacing G2, upper skin scanning speed v2, upper skin width d2, lower skin channel spacing G3, lower skin scanning speed v3, and lower skin width d3. The equipment parameters include the mechanical movement time T for each layer. m 2) Calculate the total mechanical motion time T based on the parameters involved in the additive manufacturing process obtained in step 1). 机总 The scan time T for internal filling 内扫 Internal filling switch optical delay T 内延 The scanning time T of the upper epidermis 上扫 Scanning time T of the lower epidermis 下扫 The delay time T of the laser when scanning the upper epidermis 上延 And the laser delay time T when scanning the lower epidermis. 下延 ; 3) Sum the times calculated in step 2) to obtain the forming time T suitable for additive manufacturing; The scanning time T of the upper epidermis in step 2) 上扫 and the scanning time T of the lower epidermis 下扫 The calculation method is as follows: in: S 上 It is the area scanned by the upper epidermal scanning strategy; S 下 This refers to the area scanned using the lower epidermal scanning strategy; G2 is the distance between upper epidermal canals; G3 is the lower epidermal canal spacing; v2 is the upper epidermal scanning speed; v3 is the lower skin scanning speed; S is the surface area; P is the slice thickness; d2 is the width of the upper epidermis; d3 is the width of the upper epidermis; a, b, and c are the lengths of the three semi-axis of the model simplified to an ellipsoid of equal volume; in: k is the equivalent ratio value; x, y, and z are the three-dimensional dimensions of the smallest containment volume; V is the volume.

2. The forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The total time T of mechanical motion in step 2) 机总 The calculation method is as follows: in: h is the forming height; P is the slice thickness; T m It is the mechanical movement time for each layer.

3. The forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scan time T for internal filling in step 2) 内扫 The calculation method is as follows: in: G1 is the spacing between the inner filling channels; v1 is the inner fill scan speed; S 内 It is the total scanned area of ​​the inner filling; V is the volume; P is the slice thickness.

4. The forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 2), the internal filling switch optical delay T 内延 The calculation method is as follows: in: R is the laser switching optical delay time; S 内 It is the total scanned area of ​​the inner filling; W is the width of the inner padding strip; G1 is the spacing between the inner filling channels; V is the volume; P is the slice thickness.

5. The forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 2), the delay time T of the laser on the upper epidermis 上延 And the delay time T of the laser on the lower epidermis 下延 The calculation method is as follows: in: S 上 It is the area scanned by the upper epidermal scanning strategy; S 下 This refers to the area scanned using the lower epidermal scanning strategy; d2 is the width of the upper epidermis; d3 is the width of the upper epidermis; G2 is the distance between upper epidermal canals; G3 is the lower epidermal canal spacing; R is the laser switching optical delay time; S is the surface area; P is the slice thickness; a, b, and c are the lengths of the three semi-axis of the model simplified to an ellipsoid of equal volume; in: k is the equivalent ratio value; x, y, and z are the three-dimensional dimensions of the smallest containment volume; V is the volume.

6. The method for estimating forming time for additive manufacturing according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The summation in step 3) is calculated as follows: T=T 机总 +T 内扫 +T 内延 +T 上扫 +T 上延 +T 下扫 +T 下延 。 7. A computational system for implementing the forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The computing system includes a memory storing a forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing as described in any one of claims 1-5. When the computing system is running, it executes the forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing stored in the memory.

8. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program capable of running the forming time estimation method for additive manufacturing as described in any one of claims 1-5.

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