Light curing device for 3D printing

Abstract

The present invention discloses a light-curing device for 3D printing, which includes: a box body having a chamber capable of accommodating a 3D printer; two sets of guide rails, the two sets of guide rails being fixedly connected to the left and right walls of the chamber respectively; a pair of scanning rods, the pair of scanning rods being arranged opposite to each other in the chamber, each of the pair of scanning rods being provided with a plurality of scanning holes arranged in sequence and a plurality of scanners corresponding to the plurality of scanning holes respectively; a pair of moving rods, the pair of moving rods being movably connected to the two sets of guide rails respectively; a plurality of light curers, the plurality of light curers being arranged in sequence on the pair of moving rods; and a control panel, the control panel being located on the box body and simultaneously coupled to the scanner and the plurality of light curers, the control panel being configured to control each light curer to emit light outward; wherein the box body, the pair of scanning rods and the pair of moving rods can be split into two mutually engageable front and rear parts, so as to cover the 3D printer from the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a light-curing device for 3D printing. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing (3DP), a type of rapid prototyping technology, also known as additive manufacturing, uses a digital model file as its foundation and uses adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic to construct objects layer by layer. 3D printers require post-printing illumination for reinforcement. Existing technologies typically use exposed light sources, which causes light pollution in the work environment and results in low energy efficiency, resulting in wasted electricity. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems of light pollution to the working environment and low energy utilization during the light curing process of 3D printed objects, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a closed light curing device that can irradiate 3D printed objects at a fixed point.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a light-curing device for 3D printing, the light-curing device comprising: a box body, the interior of the box body having a chamber capable of accommodating a 3D printer, the chamber having a lower opening; two sets of guide rails, the two sets of guide rails being fixedly connected to the left and right walls of the chamber respectively and being configured to extend in the up-down direction; a pair of scanning rods, the pair of scanning rods being arranged in the chamber opposite to each other on the left and right sides, the pair of scanning rods being movably connected to the guide rails of the corresponding groups and being capable of moving up and down along the guide rails, the pair of scanning rods being provided with a plurality of scanning holes arranged in sequence and a plurality of scanners corresponding to the plurality of scanning holes respectively, the scanning holes being configured to face the interior of the chamber ... two sets of guide rails being configured to The plurality of scanners are located inside the pair of scanning rods; a pair of moving rods, the pair of moving rods extend in the front-to-back direction and are respectively movably connected to the two sets of guide rails, and the pair of moving rods can move up and down along the guide rails; a plurality of light curing devices, the plurality of light curing devices are arranged in sequence on the pair of moving rods; and a control panel, the control panel is located on the box body and is simultaneously coupled to the plurality of scanners and the plurality of light curing devices, and the control panel is configured to control each of the light curing devices to emit light to the outside; wherein the box body, the pair of scanning rods and the pair of moving rods can be disassembled into two front and rear parts that can be connected to each other, so as to cover the 3D printer from the outside of the 3D printer.

[0005] In the above technical solution, preferably, the box body includes a front box part and a rear box part that are detachable from each other, one of the front box part and the rear box part is provided with a lock slot and the other is provided with a lock buckle that can engage with and separate from the lock slot.

[0006] In the above preferred solution, further preferably, the front box part and the rear box part are both fixedly connected to a handle, and the handle is for the user to hold.

[0007] In the above preferred embodiment, it is further preferred that the front box portion and the rear box portion are supported on the ground by a plurality of legs, and the lower ends of the plurality of legs are each provided with a movable wheel. It is further preferred that the movable wheels are provided with brake pads.

[0008] In the above technical solution, preferably, each of the pair of movable rods is provided with a groove opening toward the chamber, and the plurality of light curing devices are disposed in the groove. Further preferably, the light curing device comprises a planar light sheet, a lamp bead, and a lamp body plate. The lamp bead is located inside the planar light sheet and fixedly connected to the lamp body plate, and the lamp body plate is coupled to the control panel. Further preferably, the lamp bead is an ultraviolet lamp bead.

[0009] In the above technical solution, preferably, the scanner is an infrared scanner.

[0010] In the above technical solution, preferably, the wall surface of the chamber is covered with a shielding layer, and the shielding layer is made of a material that can reflect the light emitted by the light curing device.

[0011] Compared to existing technologies, this invention offers the following advantages: 1. By placing the 3D object inside a semi-enclosed box for light curing, it prevents light pollution from the work environment caused by scattered light. 2. After scanning and obtaining the position information of the 3D printed object, it is illuminated by a specific light curing device, saving electricity and improving the energy efficiency of the light curing device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the light-curing device for 3D printing provided by the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view at AA is shown with the scanbar and foot column removed from the drawing;

[0014] Figure 3 A left side cross-sectional view of the rear box portion provided by the present invention, wherein the foot column is removed from the figure;

[0015] Figure 4 A left side cross-sectional view of the front box portion provided by the present invention, wherein the foot column is removed from the figure;

[0016] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A cross-sectional view at BB is shown;

[0017] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Cross-sectional view at CC shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to describe the technical content, structural features, achieved purposes and effects of the invention in detail, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a detailed description of various exemplary embodiments or implementations of the invention. However, various exemplary embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details or in the presence of one or more equivalent arrangements. In addition, various exemplary embodiments may be different, but are not necessarily exclusive. For example, without departing from the inventive concept, the specific shape, structure and characteristics of the exemplary embodiment may be used or implemented in another exemplary embodiment.

[0019] Hereinafter, the terms "first," "second," etc., 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 identified with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0020] Furthermore, in this application, spatially relative terms such as "under," "beneath," "under," "down," "above," "upper," "above," "higher," "side" (e.g., as in "sidewall"), etc., are used to describe the relationship of one element to another (other) element as shown in the accompanying drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, operation, and / or manufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, an element described as "under" or "beneath" other elements or features would subsequently be positioned "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "under" can include both above and below orientations. Furthermore, the device can be otherwise positioned (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and as such, the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0021] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium.

[0022] Figure 1 The light curing device 100 for 3D printing provided by the present invention is shown. The light curing device 100 can automatically position the 3D printed object and perform light curing on the object. Figure 2-4 The light-curing device 100 includes a housing 1, two sets of guide rails 2 located inside the housing 1, a pair of scanning rods 3 movably connected to the two sets of guide rails 2, a pair of moving rods 4 movably connected to the two sets of guide rails 2, and a control panel 6 located on the housing 1. The control panel 6 includes a display screen (not shown) for displaying information and control buttons (not shown) located below the display screen. The control buttons allow a user to control the operation of the light-curing device 100.

[0023] The housing 1 has a chamber 13 for accommodating the 3D printer. The chamber 13 has an opening at the lower end of the housing 1. The housing 1 is configured to be split into a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12 that can be joined together, thereby enclosing the 3D printer from the outside. A plurality of spaced latches 14 are fixedly connected to the joint of the front portion 11. These latches 14 protrude rearwardly relative to the outer contour of the front portion 11. A plurality of latch slots 15 are defined at the joint of the rear portion 12, corresponding to the latches 14. The latch slots 15 are configured to engage and disengage with the corresponding latches 14. The inner wall of the chamber 13 is also covered with a shielding layer 131. This shielding layer 131 is made of a material that reflects light emitted by the lamp beads 52 (described below) to prevent light pollution and improve the energy efficiency of the light-curing device 100.

[0024] The front box portion 11 and the rear box portion 12 are both supported on the ground by four legs 16. The four legs 16 extend in the vertical direction and are fixedly connected to the four corners of the front box portion 11 or the rear box portion 12. A movable wheel 161 is provided at the lower end of each leg 16. The movable wheel 161 is used to move the box body 1 on the ground. Each movable wheel 161 is equipped with a brake pad 162. The brake pad 162 is used to limit the rotation of the movable wheel 161 to fix the position of the box body 1. The front and rear end surfaces of the box body 1 are fixedly connected to handles 17. The handles 17 are used by the user to grasp and move the front box portion 11 and the rear box portion 12.

[0025] The two guide rails 2 are fixedly connected to the left and right walls of the chamber 13 and are configured to extend in the vertical direction. Each guide rail 2 has two guide rails 2 arranged one in front and one in the back. The two guide rails 2 of each group are respectively located at the front end and the rear end of the chamber 13.

[0026] See Figure 3-5 A pair of scanning rods 3 extend in a front-to-back direction and are positioned opposite each other within the chamber 13. A scanning wheel 33 is fixedly connected to each of the front and rear ends of each scanning rod 3. The scanning wheel 33 is movably connected to the corresponding guide rail 2 and configured to move the scanning rod 3 up and down along the guide rail 2. The scanning wheel 33 is configured to be signal-connected to and controlled by the control panel 6. Each scanning rod 3 is provided with a plurality of scanning holes 31 arranged sequentially thereon, each facing the interior of the chamber 13. The scanning rod 3 has a cavity 34 within it, within which are positioned a plurality of scanners 32 corresponding to the scanning holes 31. The scanners 32 scan the surrounding environment through the corresponding scanning holes 31. Each scanner 32 is signal-connected to the control panel 6 and can transmit scanned data to the control panel 6. The control panel 6 is configured to generate positional information related to the 3D printed object based on the data transmitted by the scanner 32. The scanner in this example is an infrared scanner.

[0027] Each scanning rod 3 is configured to separate front and back into a front scanning rod body 36 and a rear scanning rod body 37. The front scanning rod body 36 and the rear scanning rod body 37 are configured to separate as a whole with the corresponding front box portion 11 or rear box portion 12. The front rod body 36 and the rear rod body 37 are separated and joined together by a pair of corresponding protrusions 35 and grooves (not shown). The protrusions 35 are fixedly connected to the joint of the rear rod body 37, while the grooves are defined at the joint of the front rod body 36.

[0028] Combine Figure 2 and Figure 6 A pair of movable rods 4 extend in the front-to-back direction and are arranged oppositely in the left-right direction inside the chamber 13. The front and rear ends of each movable rod 4 are respectively fixedly connected to a driving wheel 43. The driving wheel 43 is movably connected to the corresponding guide rail 2 and is configured to drive the movable rod 4 to move up and down along the guide rail 2. The driving wheel 43 is configured to be connected to the control panel 6 by signal and controlled by the control panel 6. Each movable rod 4 is configured to be able to separate front and back into a movable front rod body 41 and a movable rear rod body 42. The movable front rod body 41 and the movable rear rod body 42 are configured to be able to separate together with the corresponding front box part 11 or rear box part 12 as a whole. The movable front rod body 41 and the movable rear rod body 42 are separated and connected by a pair of corresponding protrusions 45 and grooves 46. Among them, the protrusion 45 is fixedly connected to the joint of the rear rod body 42, and the groove 46 is opened at the joint of the front rod body 41.

[0029] A recess 44 is provided on the movable rod 4. The recess 44 is configured to open toward the chamber 13 and extend left and right along the axis of the movable rod 4. A number of light curing devices 5 are arranged in sequence on the recess 44. The light curing device 5 includes a flat plate 51 made of a transparent material, a lamp bead 52 located on the inner side of the flat plate 51, and a lamp body plate 53 fixedly connected to the wall of the recess 44. Each lamp body plate 53 is configured to be coupled to and controlled by the control panel 6. The lamp bead 52 is fixedly connected to the lamp body plate 53 and electrically connected to the lamp body plate 53. The lamp bead 52 is configured to emit light for curing 3D printed objects. The control panel 6 is configured to be able to connect and disconnect the power supply of each lamp body plate 53 to control the corresponding lamp bead 52 to emit light. In this example, the lamp bead 52 is an ultraviolet lamp bead.

[0030] The operating principle of the light-curing device 100 is described below: From outside the 3D printer, the user aligns and engages the front and rear housings 11 and 12, placing the 3D printer within the chamber 13 of the housing 1. The scanning rod 3 moves up and down, scanning the interior of the chamber 13. The controller 6 determines the position and shape of the 3D printed object based on the scanned data. Furthermore, the controller 6 controls the movement rod 4 to move to the corresponding position and activates a specific light-curing device 5 to perform light-curing on the 3D object.

[0031] The basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention are shown and described above. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and improvements may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection claimed in the present invention is defined by the appended claims, the description and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A light curing device for 3D printing, characterized in that: The light curing device (100) comprises: A box body (1), wherein the box body (1) has a chamber (13) capable of accommodating a 3D printer, and the chamber (13) has a lower opening; Two sets of guide rails (2), the two sets of guide rails (2) are respectively fixedly connected to the left and right walls of the chamber (13) and are both configured to extend in the up-down direction; A pair of scanning rods (3), the pair of scanning rods (3) are arranged in the chamber (13) in a left-right relative manner, the pair of scanning rods (3) are respectively movably connected to the guide rails (2) of the corresponding group and can move up and down along the guide rails (2), the pair of scanning rods (3) are each provided with a plurality of scanning holes (31) arranged in sequence and a plurality of scanners (32) corresponding to the plurality of scanning holes (31), the scanning holes (31) are configured to face the interior of the chamber (13), and the plurality of scanners (32) are located inside the pair of scanning rods (3); A pair of moving rods (4), the pair of moving rods (4) extending in the front-back direction and being movably connected to the two sets of guide rails (2), respectively, and the pair of moving rods (4) being able to move up and down along the guide rails (2); A plurality of light curing devices (5), wherein the plurality of light curing devices (5) are arranged in sequence on the pair of moving rods (4); and a control panel (6), the control panel (6) being located on the box body (1) and being coupled to the plurality of scanners (32) and the plurality of light curing devices (5), the control panel (6) being configured to control each of the light curing devices (5) to emit light externally; The box body (1), the pair of scanning rods (3) and the pair of moving rods (4) can be split into two mutually engageable front and rear parts to cover the 3D printer from the outside of the 3D printer. The box body (1) includes a mutually detachable front box part (11) and a rear box part (12). One of the front box part (11) and the rear box part (12) is provided with a locking groove (15) and the other is provided with a locking buckle (14) that can be engaged with and separated from the locking groove (15).

2. The light curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front box portion (11) and the rear box portion (12) are both fixedly connected to a handle (17), and the handle (17) is for a user to hold.

3. The light curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The front box part (11) and the rear box part (12) are respectively supported on the ground by a plurality of foot posts (16), and the lower ends of the plurality of foot posts (16) are all provided with moving wheels (161).

4. The light curing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The moving wheel (161) is provided with a brake pad (162).

5. The light curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pair of moving rods (4) are both provided with grooves (44) opening toward the chamber (13), and the plurality of light curing devices (5) are all provided on the grooves (44).

6. The light curing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The light curing device (5) comprises a flat light sheet (51), a lamp bead (52) and a lamp body plate (53); the lamp bead (52) is located on the inner side of the flat light sheet (51) and is fixedly connected to the lamp body plate (53); and the lamp body plate (53) is coupled to the control panel (6).

7. The light curing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The lamp beads (52) are ultraviolet lamp beads.

8. The light curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scanner (32) is an infrared scanner.

9. The light curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wall surface of the chamber (13) is covered with a shielding layer (131), and the shielding layer (131) is made of a material capable of reflecting light emitted by the light curing device (5).

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