An automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device and its electronic control method

Abstract

The present invention provides an automatic powder cleaning device for a metal 3D printing substrate and its electric control method, which relates to the technical field of powder cleaning equipment. The automatic powder cleaning device for a metal 3D printing substrate includes a printing substrate body. A vibrator is arranged in the middle of the top end of the printing substrate body, and a vibration adjustment valve is arranged on the vibrator. A printed product is arranged in the middle of the bottom end of the printing substrate body. A vibration support is arranged at the bottom end of the printing substrate body. The four corners of the top end of the vibration support and the four peripheries of the middle part of the printing substrate body are connected by upper screws. After 3D printing, the printed product is vibrated to clean the powder by the vibrator, and at the same time, the vibration support is driven to make a reciprocating tilting movement up and down synchronously through the cooperation of a lead screw motor and a travel switch, so as to shake off the metal powder on the printed product, without the need for manual cleaning and multiple adjustments by workers, reducing the labor intensity of the workers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of powder cleaning equipment, and in particular to an automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device and an electric control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] A type of 3D printer technology, also known as 3D printing, is a technology that uses files as the basis and uses bondable materials such as metal or plastic to construct objects layer by layer. 3D printing is usually achieved using digital technology materials. It is often used to make models in the fields of mold manufacturing, industrial design, etc., and then gradually used for the direct manufacturing of some products. There are already parts printed using this technology. This technology is used in jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction, automobiles, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, civil engineering and other fields.

[0003] After metal 3D printers print, a lot of metal dust will be mixed on the printed parts, and a lot of excess powder will be inside the printing support and cannot be removed by the support, resulting in obvious cost waste and easy to cause dust sealing, which will affect the health of surrounding workers and even cause dust explosions in severe cases. Existing metal 3D printers need to be manually knocked and vibrated after printing, or a simple vibrator is used to vibrate and clean the powder. The powder cleaning efficiency is low and requires multiple manual adjustments, which is inconvenient to use. Therefore, technical personnel in this field have proposed an automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device and an electronic control method thereof to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides an automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device and an electric control method thereof, which solves the problem that a large amount of metal powder remains on products printed by a metal 3D printer and is difficult to remove.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions: an automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device, comprising a printing substrate body, a vibrator is arranged in the middle of the top of the printing substrate body, a vibration adjustment valve is arranged on the vibrator, a printed product is arranged in the middle of the bottom of the printing substrate body, a vibration bracket is arranged at the bottom of the printing substrate body, the four corners of the top of the vibration bracket are connected to the middle of the printing substrate body by upper screws, the middle and upper parts of the upper screws are provided with springs, the bottom end of the vibration bracket is provided with a vibration bottom plate, a metal powder receiving tray is arranged in the top of the vibration bottom plate, a filter screen is arranged in the middle and upper part of the inner side of the metal powder receiving tray, a screw motor is fixedly connected to the middle and lower part of one side of the vibration bracket, and a travel switch is arranged at the upper and lower ends of the middle and lower part of one side of the vibration bracket.

[0006] Preferably, an electronic control board is provided in the upper middle part of one side of the vibration bracket, and the electronic control board is electrically connected to the vibrator and the lead screw motor respectively. A dust shield is provided on the vibration bracket. An argon gas interface is provided in the upper middle part of one side of the vibration bracket, and the argon gas interface penetrates through the dust shield and extends outwards.

[0007] Preferably, a conducting wire is provided at one side of the bottom of the vibration bottom plate. Rubber floor feet are provided at the four corners of the bottom end of the vibration bottom plate. The vibration bottom plate is made of aluminum.

[0008] Preferably, an oxygen content detector is provided at the edge of the middle part of one side of the vibration bracket. The dust shield matches the vibration bracket. The dust shield is made of fiber material.

[0009] Preferably, an electronic control method for an automatic metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device includes the following execution steps:

[0010] S1: According to different materials of the printed product, the staff adjusts the vibration adjustment valve to different switches and locks the control program segment.

[0011] S2: When the material of the printed product is aluminum alloy powder, adjust the vibration gear of the vibration adjustment valve to the first gear and adjust the vibration frequency to 65 Hz for cleaning. The overall vibration powder cleaning effect of the part is the best.

[0012] S3: When the material of the printed product is stainless steel powder, adjust the vibration gear of the vibration adjustment valve to the second gear and adjust the vibration frequency to 70 Hz for cleaning. The overall vibration powder cleaning effect of the part is the best.

[0013] S4: When the material of the printed product is stainless steel powder, adjust the vibration gear of the vibration adjustment valve to the third gear and adjust the vibration frequency to 70 Hz for cleaning. The overall vibration powder cleaning effect of the part is the best.

[0014] Working principle: After metal printing, the staff places the printing substrate body with the printed finished product on the vibration bracket, and then connects the vibration bracket and the printing substrate body by screwing on screws and springs. After placing a clean filter screen and a metal powder receiving tray on the vibration bottom plate, the power supply can be started with one key through the electronic control board. At this time, the printing substrate body vibrates periodically driven by the vibrator, so as to shake off the excess metal powder around the printed finished product. At the same time, the vibration bracket is driven by the lead screw motor and makes a reciprocating tilting motion up and down under the limit of the travel switch, so as to ensure that the powder accumulated at different angles can be shaken off. And while vibrating, the staff connects argon gas into the dust-proof cover at the argon gas interface to reduce the oxygen content inside the equipment and reduce the possibility of combustion. At the same time, the oxygen content inside the equipment is also detected in real time by the oxygen content detector, and the equipment can only work when the oxygen content inside the equipment is within the effective range.

[0015] The present invention provides an automatic metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device and its electronic control method. It has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. After 3D printing, the present invention vibrates and cleans the powder of the printed finished product through the vibrator, and synchronously drives the vibration bracket to make a reciprocating tilting motion up and down through the cooperation of the lead screw motor and the travel switch, so as to shake off the metal powder on the printed finished product. The metal powder cleaning effect is good, and it does not require manual cleaning and multiple adjustments by the staff, reducing the labor intensity of the staff. And through the cooperation of the filter screen and the metal powder receiving tray, the shaken-off metal powder is screened and collected, reducing the waste of product raw materials during 3D printing.

[0017] 2. The present invention detects the oxygen content in the dust-proof cover in real time through the oxygen content detector, and synchronously introduces argon gas into the equipment through the argon gas interface, reducing the oxygen content and the possibility of combustion during the operation of the equipment inside. The overall equipment has high operating safety and is convenient for users to use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic side view of the equipment assembly state of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 It is an exploded schematic view of the overall equipment structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the frequency and powder falling amount analysis of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the motor speed and minutes of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the oxygen content of different materials of the present invention.

[0023] Among them, 1. Vibration adjustment valve; 2. Vibrator; 3. Upper screw; 4. Spring; 5. Printing substrate body; 6. Printed product; 7. Vibration support; 8. Filter screen; 9. Metal powder receiving tray; 10. Vibration bottom plate; 11. Rubber floor feet; 12. Travel switch; 13. Lead screw motor; 14. Conductive wire; 15. Dust cover; 16. Electric control board; 17. Argon gas interface; 18. Oxygen content detector. Specific implementation mode

[0024] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0025] Embodiment:

[0026] As Figure 1-2 shown, the embodiment of the present invention provides an automatic metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device, including a printing substrate body 5. A vibrator 2 is provided in the middle of the top end of the printing substrate body 5. A vibration adjustment valve 1 is provided on the vibrator 2. A printed product 6 is provided in the middle of the bottom end of the printing substrate body 5. A vibration support 7 is provided at the bottom end of the printing substrate body 5. The four corners of the top end of the vibration support 7 and the four peripheries of the middle part of the printing substrate body 5 are all connected by upper screws 3. Springs 4 are provided in the upper middle parts of the upper screws 3. A vibration bottom plate 10 is provided at the bottom end of the vibration support 7. A metal powder receiving tray 9 is provided in the middle of the top end of the vibration bottom plate 10. A filter screen 8 is provided in the upper middle part of the inner side of the metal powder receiving tray 9. A lead screw motor 13 is fixedly connected to the middle and lower part of one side of the vibration support 7. Travel switches 12 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the middle and lower part of one side of the vibration support 7.

[0027] The staff places the printing substrate body 5 with the printed product 6 on the vibration support 7, then connects the vibration support 7 and the printing substrate body 5 through the upper screws 3 and the springs 4. After that, place the clean filter screen 8 and the metal powder receiving tray 9 on the vibration bottom plate 10 and then start the power supply with one key through the electric control board 16. At this time, the printing substrate body 5 vibrates frequency - wise under the drive of the vibrator 2, so as to shake off the excess metal powder around the printed product 6. At the same time, the vibration support 7 makes a reciprocating tilting motion up and down under the drive of the lead screw motor 13 and under the limit of the travel switch 12, so as to ensure that the powder accumulated at different angles can be shaken off. The metal powder cleaning effect is good, and there is no need for the staff to manually clean and adjust multiple times, reducing the labor intensity of the staff. And through the cooperation of the filter screen 8 and the metal powder receiving tray 9, the shaken - off metal powder is screened and collected, reducing the waste of product raw materials during 3D printing.

[0028] An electric control board 16 is provided in the middle and upper part of one side of the vibration bracket 7, and the electric control board 16 is electrically connected to the vibrator 2 and the screw motor 13 respectively. A dust cover 15 is provided on the vibration bracket 7. An argon gas interface 17 is provided in the middle and upper part of one side of the vibration bracket 7, and the argon gas interface 17 penetrates the dust cover 15 and extends outward. An oxygen content detector 18 is provided at the edge of one side of the middle part of the vibration bracket 7. The dust cover 15 matches the vibration bracket 7, and the material of the dust cover 15 is fiber material.

[0029] When the whole equipment is running, the oxygen content in the dust cover 15 is monitored in real time through the oxygen content detector 18, and argon gas is introduced into the equipment through the argon interface 17 at the same time, so as to reduce the oxygen content and combustion possibility inside the equipment when it is working, and the whole equipment has high operation safety.

[0030] The dust cover 15 is made of fiber material. The fiber dust cover 15 can prevent the generation of static electricity during use and avoid dust flying from the source. The dust cover 15 also has an automatic locking function when installed in place, which can prevent the dust cover 15 from falling off during the operation of the equipment and cause metal dust to flow with the air, thereby ensuring the health of surrounding personnel and preventing metal powder from being inhaled by personnel and causing lung pollution.

[0031] A conductive wire 14 is disposed on one side of the bottom of the vibration base plate 10 , and rubber feet 11 are disposed at the four corners of the bottom end of the vibration base plate 10 . The vibration base plate 10 is made of aluminum.

[0032] Metal dust easily generates static electricity, and static electricity can easily cause dust explosions. Therefore, the vibration base plate 10 is made of aluminum, because aluminum can conduct away the static electricity generated by the metal dust, and conduct the static electricity generated during the operation of the equipment to the ground through the conductive wire 14, thereby increasing the safety of the overall equipment during operation.

[0033] In addition, the whole device will generate high-frequency vibration during operation, which is easy to spread vibration and sound, so four rubber feet 11 are added to the vibration base plate 10 to reduce the noise pollution generated during the operation of the device.

[0034] An electric control method for an automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device comprises the following steps:

[0035] S1: The staff adjusts the vibration adjustment valve 1 to different switches according to the different materials of the printed product 6, and locks the control program segment;

[0036] S2: When the material of the printed product 6 is aluminum alloy powder, adjust the vibration gear of the vibration adjustment valve 1 to the first gear, and adjust the vibration frequency to 65 Hz for cleaning. The overall vibration powder cleaning effect of the parts is the best;

[0037] S3: When the material of the printed product 6 is stainless steel powder, adjust the vibration gear of the vibration adjustment valve 1 to the second gear, and adjust the vibration frequency to 70 Hz for cleaning. The overall vibration powder cleaning effect of the parts is the best;

[0038] S4: When the material of the printed product 6 is stainless steel powder, adjust the vibration gear of the vibration adjustment valve 1 to the third gear, and adjust the vibration frequency to 70 Hz for cleaning. The overall vibration powder cleaning effect of the parts is the best.

[0039] As Figure 3-4 shown, for the powder accumulated in different positions, it is necessary to tilt at different angles to facilitate powder falling. Set different tilt speeds at different stages, and set the primary powder cleaning time to 10 minutes. At this stage, the motor makes a reciprocating motion. Different gears correspond to different vibration frequencies, and the powder falling amount reaches the maximum when it is 65 - 70 Hz respectively.

[0040] As Figure 5 shown, to reduce the possibility of vibration combustion of metal powder, it is necessary to reach a certain oxygen content before vibration to work. During operation, if it is greater than the set value, the equipment will automatically pause until the oxygen content reaches the target value. If it cannot reach the target value after waiting for 10 minutes, the equipment will stop working, the argon filling will stop, and wait for 5 minutes. Then the dust cover 15 will be automatically unlocked, and the dust cover 15 can be removed.

[0041] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, for those of ordinary skill in the art, it can be understood that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An automated metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device, comprising a printing substrate body (5), characterized in that: A vibrator (2) is provided in the middle of the top end of the printing substrate body (5). A vibration adjustment valve (1) is provided on the vibrator (2). A printed product (6) is provided in the middle of the bottom end of the printing substrate body (5). A vibration support (7) is provided at the bottom end of the printing substrate body (5). The four corners of the top end of the vibration support (7) and the four corners of the printing substrate body (5) are connected by upper screws (3). Springs (4) are provided in the upper middle parts of the upper screws (3). A vibration bottom plate (10) is provided at the bottom end of the vibration support (7). A metal powder receiving tray (9) is provided in the middle of the top end of the vibration bottom plate (10). A filter screen (8) is provided in the upper middle part of the inner side of the metal powder receiving tray (9). A lead screw motor (13) is fixedly connected to the middle and lower part of one side of the vibration support (7). A cross bar is provided in the middle and lower part of one side of the vibration support (7). Travel switches (12) are provided at both the upper and lower ends of the cross bar. An electronic control board (16) is provided in the upper middle part of one side of the vibration support (7). The electronic control board (16) is electrically connected to the vibrator (2) and the lead screw motor (13) respectively. A dust cover (15) is provided on the vibration support (7). An argon gas interface (17) is provided in the upper middle part of one side of the vibration support (7). The argon gas interface (17) penetrates through the dust cover (15) and extends outwards. A conducting wire (14) is provided on one side of the bottom of the vibration bottom plate (10). Rubber floor feet (11) are provided at the four corners of the bottom end of the vibration bottom plate (10). The vibration bottom plate (10) is made of aluminum material.

2. The automatic metal 3D printing substrate powder cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein: An oxygen content detector (18) is provided at the edge of the middle part of one side of the vibration support (7). The dust cover (15) matches the vibration support (7). The dust cover (15) is made of fiber material.

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