Method and integrated device for cleaning powder and changing substrate plate of an additive manufacturing forming cylinder

Abstract

The application discloses a method and an integrated device for cleaning powder and replacing a base material of a forming cylinder in additive manufacturing, and belongs to the field of additive manufacturing. The method comprises the following steps: arranging a powder cleaning station and a base material replacing station; arranging the powder cleaning station and the base material replacing station in two adjacent and independent closable spaces; the powder cleaning station comprises a turnover device and a rotating powder cleaning assembly installed thereon, and the base material replacing station comprises a rack for installing a forming cylinder; cleaning powder of a workpiece after printing is completed; after replacing a base material plate of the forming cylinder, the forming cylinder is removed, and a forming cylinder to be cleaned and replaced with a base material is placed; the turnover device is controlled to turn over the base material plate and the parts after the powder cleaning to above the rack, and then the base material plate and the workpiece after the powder cleaning are removed, so that the powder cleaning / base material replacing process is completed. The application solves the problem of repeated transportation between the base material plate replacing and the powder cleaning process in the prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of additive manufacturing, and specifically relates to a method and integrated device for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plates in additive manufacturing forming cylinders. Background Technology

[0002] Metal additive manufacturing (SLM) equipment requires powder cleaning and substrate replacement after printing. Traditional SLM equipment necessitates removing the substrate along with the printed part from the forming cylinder and transferring it to a powder cleaning machine. Simultaneously, the forming cylinder is cleaned and moved to the substrate installation station, where a new substrate is installed. This traditional method has several drawbacks: 1. It requires multiple transports of the forming cylinder and substrate, wasting manpower and resources; 2. It occupies significant space due to multiple workstations; 3. The heavy substrate often requires cranes; 4. The uncleaned forming cylinder and printed parts pose a safety threat due to metal powder during transport.

[0003] Existing technologies disclose integrated inversion and powder cleaning devices that can clean powder from 3D printed products by inverting the workpiece, but cannot simultaneously replace the substrate plate for the forming cylinder. Therefore, the replacement still requires the aforementioned transfer method. To solve the above-mentioned technical problems in the prior art, this invention provides an integrated additive manufacturing forming cylinder powder cleaning and substrate plate replacement device with good safety performance and a high degree of automation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved:

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a method and integrated device for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plates in additive manufacturing molding cylinders. The powder cleaning and substrate plate replacement stations are encapsulated within two independent, sealed spaces, ensuring independent, sealed operation of each station. A flipping device facilitates the transfer of workpieces between the two stations, saving on transportation and labor costs. This invention solves the problems caused by repeated transportation of workpieces between the substrate plate replacement and powder cleaning processes in existing technologies.

[0006] The technical solution of this invention is: a method for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plate in additive manufacturing molding cylinders, the specific steps of which are as follows:

[0007] Step 1: Set up the powder cleaning station and the substrate board replacement station;

[0008] The powder cleaning station and the substrate replacement station are arranged in two adjacent and independent enclosed spaces. The powder cleaning station includes a flipping device and a rotating powder cleaning assembly installed thereon. The flipping device is used to switch the workpiece between the two stations, and the rotating powder cleaning assembly is used to grip the workpiece and clean it by rotation and vibration. The substrate replacement station includes a frame for mounting the forming cylinder.

[0009] Step 2: Clean the powder from the printed workpiece;

[0010] The flipping device picks up the substrate board to be cleaned and the parts on the substrate board replacement station and moves them to the cleaning station for cleaning.

[0011] Step 3: After replacing the substrate plate of the forming cylinder, remove the forming cylinder and place the forming cylinder with the substrate plate to be replaced.

[0012] Step 4: Control the flipping device to flip the cleaned substrate board and parts to the top of the frame, and then remove the cleaned substrate board and parts to complete one cleaning and substrate board replacement process.

[0013] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the method for cleaning powder from the printed workpiece is as follows:

[0014] First, the forming cylinder that needs to be cleaned and the substrate board replaced after printing is placed on the frame, and the substrate board and workpiece are moved upward by the part lifting mechanism until the substrate board is removed from the forming cylinder and is located above the frame.

[0015] Then, the control flipping mechanism drives the rotating powder cleaning assembly to flip to the top of the substrate board replacement station. The workpiece clamp of the rotating powder cleaning assembly simultaneously grabs the substrate board and the workpiece. Then, the flipping mechanism drives the rotating powder cleaning assembly with the substrate board and the workpiece clamped to flip to the powder cleaning station, so that the substrate board and the workpiece are tilted and inverted.

[0016] Next, the rotating cleaning component is activated, and the cleaning process is completed through rotation and vibration.

[0017] A further technical solution of the present invention is as follows: In step 3, the enclosed space where the substrate replacement station is located is first cleaned with air, and then the moving cleaning mechanism on the frame is started to clean the forming cylinder. After cleaning, the door of the enclosed space where the substrate replacement station is located is opened to replace the substrate plate of the forming cylinder with a new substrate plate. Then, the part lifting mechanism is started to return the substrate plate to the zero position, and at the same time, the part lifting mechanism is lowered to its original position, and the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism is lowered. Then, the forming cylinder with the replaced substrate plate is moved away, and the forming cylinder to be cleaned and replaced with a new substrate plate is transferred to the substrate replacement station of the forming cylinder and then the door of the enclosed space where the substrate replacement station is located is closed.

[0018] A further technical solution of the present invention is as follows: In step 4, before flipping, the enclosed space where the substrate board replacement station is located is cleaned with air, and the opening of the frame is closed by flipping the door support plate; then the door of the enclosed space where the powder cleaning station is located is opened, and the flipping device is controlled to flip the powder-cleaned substrate board and workpiece together onto the flipping door support plate, and then the powder-cleaned substrate board and workpiece are removed, and the door of the enclosed space where the powder cleaning station is located is closed.

[0019] An integrated device for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plate in additive manufacturing molding cylinder includes a powder cleaning station and a substrate plate replacement station located in two adjacent and independent enclosed spaces.

[0020] The powder cleaning station includes a flipping base at the bottom, on which a flipping device is rotatably connected; the flipping device includes a rotating plate and a rotary drive component that drives the rotating plate to flip; a rotary powder cleaning assembly is installed on the rotating plate for gripping the workpiece and cleaning the powder by rotation and vibration; the flipping device 1 can drive the rotary powder cleaning assembly to flip, thereby completing the switching of the workpiece between the two stations.

[0021] The substrate replacement station includes a hollow frame with an open top, a forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism installed on the bottom surface of the frame, and a part lifting mechanism for lifting the substrate. The end face of the frame with the opening serves as the substrate replacement operating table, and the part lifting mechanism can move the substrate into the forming cylinder or the open end of the frame.

[0022] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the adjacent and independent enclosed spaces are an inner chamber and an outer chamber, and a first sealing door is provided between the inner and outer chambers to separate the two chambers into independent sealed environments; the outer chamber is provided with a second sealing door as an opening for taking out and putting in the substrate board.

[0023] A further technical solution of the present invention is: a flip-up door support plate is provided on the frame. The flip-up door support plate is a flat plate with an area larger than the opening area of ​​the frame. It is installed at the opening of the frame in a movable manner and can close and open the opening as needed.

[0024] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the rotating plate of the flipping device is an L-shaped plate, one end of the plate is rotatably connected to the upper side wall of the flipping base through a connecting shaft; the connecting shaft is horizontally arranged, and its input end is connected to a rotary drive component; a rotary powder cleaning component is installed on the other end of the plate.

[0025] A further technical solution of the present invention is: the rotary cleaning assembly includes a rotary assembly and a workpiece clamp mounted on the rotary assembly;

[0026] The rotating assembly is a two-dimensional rotating component, including a rotating shaft. One end of the rotating shaft is connected to a motor mounted on a rotating plate, and the other end passes perpendicularly through the other end of the rotating plate and is connected to a turntable. The rotating shaft and the rotating plate are rotatably connected. The turntable is used to mount workpiece fixtures.

[0027] The workpiece fixture includes symmetrically arranged left and right grippers, a gripper translation device for driving the left and right grippers, and a rotating base plate for mounting the left and right grippers. The rotating base plate is mounted on the end face of the turntable. The main body of each gripper is a clamping plate, with limiting protrusions extending from adjacent sides of the clamping plate in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface. One limiting protrusion is mounted on the rotating base plate via the gripper translation device, and the other limiting protrusion is fitted with a groove on the base plate. Vibration devices are respectively mounted on the left and right grippers. The gripper translation device includes a linear motor mounted on the rotating base plate, with one limiting protrusion of the gripper fixed to the slider of the linear motor. The linear motor drives the left and right grippers to move towards or away from each other, thereby clamping or releasing the workpiece.

[0028] A further technical solution of the present invention is: a mobile cleaning mechanism is installed on the open end face of the frame. The mobile cleaning mechanism includes a translation device installed parallel to both sides of the opening, a negative pressure powder suction device and a cleaning scraper brush installed on the translation device via a slider, for removing powder from the forming cylinder or the edge of the substrate plate.

[0029] Beneficial effects

[0030] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention provides a method for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plates in an additive manufacturing forming cylinder. The powder cleaning station and the substrate plate replacement station are arranged in two adjacent and independent encloseable spaces, allowing for workpiece switching between the two stations via a flipping device. The integrated device for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plates in an additive manufacturing forming cylinder employs adjacent powder cleaning and substrate plate replacement stations. The workpiece position is switched between the two stations via a flipping device at the powder cleaning station. A rotating powder cleaning component is installed on the flipping device, enabling powder cleaning of the workpiece through rotation and vibration while it is being flipped. A movable cleaning mechanism is installed at the substrate plate replacement station for further cleaning of the substrate plate edges. Specific advantages are as follows:

[0031] It reduces human contact with metal powder, improving safety. It also reduces manual intervention, saving labor costs. Substrate plate replacement and powder cleaning are completed within the same equipment, reducing the handling of forming cylinders, substrate plates, and parts. The use of nested inner and outer chambers for separate air cleaning reduces air consumption and cleaning time, improving work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1This is an overall structural diagram of an additive manufacturing molding cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement integrated device according to the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of each component at the substrate plate changing station of the forming cylinder in this invention.

[0034] Figure 3 This is an overall structural diagram of the substrate plate changing station of the forming cylinder in this invention;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the overall components of the powder cleaning station and the substrate replacement station of the present invention.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Tilting device; 2. Rotary powder cleaning assembly; 201. Left gripper; 202. Right gripper; 203. Vibration device; 204. Gripper translation device; 205. Rotating base; 3. Inner chamber; 4. Outer chamber; 5. Part; 6. Substrate plate; 7. Translation device; 8. Forming cylinder; 9. Frame; 10. Forming cylinder substrate plate changing station; 11. Forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism; 12. Part lifting mechanism; 13. Moving cleaning mechanism; 1301. Negative pressure powder suction device; 1302. Cleaning scraper brush; 14. Tilting door support plate; 15. Tilting base. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0039] In existing technologies, the powder cleaning and substrate replacement operations first require removing the substrate along with the printed parts from the forming cylinder and transferring it to a powder cleaning machine for cleaning. Simultaneously, the forming cylinder is cleaned and transferred to the substrate installation station, where a new substrate is installed. This process necessitates repeated workpiece transport, increasing costs and potentially creating safety hazards. This invention provides a method and integrated device for cleaning the forming cylinder and replacing the substrate in additive manufacturing. The specific steps of the method are as follows:

[0040] Step 1: Set up the powder cleaning station and the substrate board replacement station;

[0041] The powder cleaning station and the substrate replacement station are arranged in two adjacent and independent enclosed spaces. The powder cleaning station includes a flipping device and a rotating powder cleaning assembly installed thereon. The flipping device is used to switch the workpiece between the two stations, and the rotating powder cleaning assembly is used to grip the workpiece and clean it by rotation and vibration. The substrate replacement station includes a frame for mounting the forming cylinder.

[0042] Step 2: Clean the powder from the printed workpiece;

[0043] The flipping device picks up the substrate board to be cleaned and the parts on the substrate board replacement station and moves them to the cleaning station for cleaning.

[0044] Step 3: After replacing the substrate plate of the forming cylinder, remove the forming cylinder and place the forming cylinder with the substrate plate to be replaced.

[0045] Step 4: Control the flipping device to flip the cleaned substrate board and parts to the top of the frame, and then remove the cleaned substrate board and parts to complete one cleaning and substrate board replacement process.

[0046] The integrated device includes a powder cleaning station and a substrate replacement station located in two adjacent and independent enclosed spaces. The powder cleaning station includes a flipping base 15 at the bottom, on which a flipping device 1 is rotatably connected. The flipping device 1 includes a rotating plate and a rotary drive component that drives the rotating plate to flip. A rotary powder cleaning assembly 2 is installed on the rotating plate for gripping the workpiece and cleaning it by rotation and vibration. The flipping device 1 can drive the rotary powder cleaning assembly 2 to flip, thereby completing the switching of the workpiece between the two stations. The substrate replacement station includes a hollow frame 9 with an open top, a forming cylinder 8 installed in the frame by a lifting and fixing mechanism 11, and a part lifting mechanism 12 for moving the substrate. The open end of the frame 9 serves as a substrate replacement operating table, and the part lifting mechanism 12 can move the substrate 6 into the forming cylinder 8 or the open end of the frame 9.

[0047] In this method and apparatus, the powder cleaning and substrate replacement stations are set in adjacent but independent spaces, and the workpiece is transferred between the two stations by a flipping device, eliminating the intermediate transportation process.

[0048] Reference Figure 1 As shown, the additive manufacturing forming cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement integrated device includes an inner chamber 3 and an outer chamber 4 fitted outside it. The inner chamber 3 and the outer chamber 4 form adjacent and independent closed spaces. Both chambers are sealed structures with parts removal doors, that is, a first sealing door is provided between the inner and outer chambers, and a second sealing door is provided in the outer chamber 4. When their respective parts removal doors are closed, the inner and outer chambers are independent sealed cavities.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the inner chamber 3 is set as a powder cleaning station, and a flipping device 1 and a rotating powder cleaning device 2 are installed inside it. The flipping device is installed in the inner chamber 3 through a flipping base 15, and the rotating powder cleaning assembly 2 is installed on the flipping device 1.

[0050] Specifically, the rotating plate of the flipping device 1 is an L-shaped plate, with one end of the plate rotatably connected to the upper side wall of the flipping base via a connecting shaft; the connecting shaft is horizontally positioned, and its input end is connected to a rotary drive component, which in this embodiment is a motor; a rotary powder cleaning assembly 2 is mounted on the other end of the rotating plate; the rotary powder cleaning assembly 2 includes a rotating component and a workpiece clamp mounted on the rotating component. The rotating component is a two-dimensional rotating part, including a rotating shaft, one end of which is connected to a motor mounted on the rotating plate, and the other end of which passes vertically through the other end of the rotating plate and is connected to a turntable, and the rotating shaft and the rotating plate are rotatably connected; the turntable is used to mount the workpiece clamp.

[0051] The workpiece fixture includes a symmetrically arranged left jaw 201 and a right jaw 202, a jaw translation device 204 for driving the left and right jaws, and a rotating base plate 205 for mounting the left and right jaws. The rotating base plate 205 is mounted on the end face of the turntable. The main body of the jaw is a clamping plate, and limiting protrusions extend from adjacent sides of the clamping plate in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface. One limiting protrusion is mounted on the rotating base plate 205 by the jaw translation device, and the other limiting protrusion is aligned with a recess provided on the base plate 6. The slots are fitted together for installation; a vibration device 203 (which is existing technology and can be attached to mechanical equipment to generate excitation force) is installed on the left jaw 201 and the right jaw 202 respectively; the jaw translation device 204 includes a linear motor mounted on the rotating base plate 205, and a limiting protrusion on one side of the jaw is fixed to the slider of the linear motor; the left jaw 201 and the right jaw 202 are driven to move towards each other or away from each other by the linear motor to complete the clamping or loosening of the workpiece.

[0052] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the main clamping plate of the gripper is a right-angled triangular plate. The clamping plates of the left gripper 201 and the right gripper 202 are symmetrically and parallelly arranged on opposite sides of the workpiece, and the inner side of the clamping plate is provided with flexible material to protect and cover the workpiece during the gripping process. The two right-angled sides of the clamping plate extend into rectangular plates (and limiting protrusions) along the direction perpendicular to the plate surface. One side of the rectangular plate, mounted on the linear motor slider, is parallel to the rotating base plate 5. Rectangular grooves are opened along the length direction on opposite sides of the base plate. When gripping the workpiece, the left gripper 201 and the right gripper 202 are driven to move relative to each other by the linear motor, inserting the other side of the rectangular plate into the groove of the base plate 6 to prevent the workpiece from falling off during flipping.

[0053] Reference Figure 3 As shown, the frame 9 is provided with a flip-up door support plate 14. The flip-up door support plate 14 is a rectangular plate with an area larger than the opening area of ​​the frame 9. It is hinged to the edge of the opening end face of the frame 9 and can close and open the opening as needed.

[0054] The working process of the powder cleaning station is as follows: When the workpiece needs to be cleaned, the printed substrate board 6 and the workpiece 5 are moved to the top of the frame 9, and the first sealing door is opened. The rotating powder cleaning assembly 2 is flipped to the outer chamber 4 by the flipping device 1. The linear motor is started to control the relative movement of the left gripper 201 and the right gripper 202 until the workpiece is clamped and then stopped. The rotating powder cleaning assembly 2 holding the workpiece is flipped to the inner chamber 3 by the flipping device 1, so that the bottom of the workpiece is tilted upwards. The first sealing door is closed, and the flipping door support plate 14 is closed at the same time. The rotating assembly and the vibration assembly are started to shake off the powder on the workpiece by rotation and vibration. After the powder cleaning is completed, the rotating powder cleaning assembly 2 holding the workpiece is flipped to the outer chamber 4 by the flipping device 1 and placed on the flipping door support plate 14 of the frame 9, waiting to be picked up.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 As shown, one side of the outer chamber 4 is the inner chamber 3, and the other side is set as the forming cylinder substrate changing station 10. The forming cylinder substrate changing station 10 includes a substrate frame 9, a forming cylinder 8, a forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11, a part lifting mechanism 12, a moving cleaning mechanism 13, and a translation device 7; see reference. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the substrate board frame 9 is a frame mechanism used to mount other components. Its top surface serves as a substrate board changing platform, and an opening is provided on the top surface. The forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 is located on the inner bottom surface of the substrate board frame 9 and is used to adjust the height position of the forming cylinder 8 installed on it. The part lifting mechanism 12 is located below the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 and is used to adjust the height position of the substrate board 6 and the part 5 inside the forming cylinder. (Refer to...) Figure 2 As shown, the mobile cleaning mechanism 13 is installed on the top surface of the substrate board frame 9, and includes a translation mechanism 7 installed parallel to both sides of the opening, a negative pressure powder suction device 1301 and a cleaning scraper brush 1302 installed on the translation device 7 via a slider, for removing powder from the forming cylinder or the edge of the substrate board. In this embodiment, the translation device 7 is a linear motor.

[0056] Specifically, the negative pressure powder suction device 1301 includes a suction fan and a suction port connected to the suction fan via a pipeline; the suction port is installed on the slider of the translation mechanism 7 and faces the inside of the forming cylinder or the edge of the substrate plate. The cleaning scraper brush 1302 includes a scraper brush installed on the slider of the translation mechanism 7, and the scraper brush faces the inside of the forming cylinder or the edge of the substrate plate.

[0057] Specifically, the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 includes a lifting mechanism and a lifting plate for mounting the forming cylinder. The lifting mechanism can be selected from existing technologies such as rope wheel lifting mechanism, sprocket lifting mechanism, rack and pinion lifting mechanism, screw lifting mechanism, hydraulic lifting mechanism, and cylinder lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism is used to lift and fix the forming cylinder.

[0058] Specifically, the part lifting mechanism 12 includes a lifting plate and a guide rod. The guide rod passes through the bottom of the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 and the bottom surface of the forming cylinder in sequence from the bottom and is fixedly connected to the lifting plate. The base plate 6 and the part 5 are installed on the lifting plate. The part lifting mechanism 12 lifts the base plate 6 and the part 5 through a hydraulic lifting mechanism or a cylinder lifting mechanism.

[0059] The process of changing the substrate board is as follows: After the workpiece is printed in the forming cylinder, it is placed on the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11. The forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 is activated, bringing the upper edge of the forming cylinder into contact with the top surface of the frame 9, and aligning it with the opening on the top surface. Then, the part lifting mechanism 12 is activated, simultaneously lifting the substrate board 6 and the workpiece 5 upwards until the substrate board 6 is located at the exit of the frame 9. The linear motor in the moving cleaning mechanism 13 is activated, causing the negative pressure dust suction device 1301 and the cleaning scraper brush 1302 to move linearly along the opposite sides of the substrate board 6. At the same time, the negative pressure dust suction device 1301 and the cleaning scraper brush 1302 are activated to remove the powder from the edges of the substrate board 6. The negative pressure dust suction device 1301 can be any existing dust cleaning equipment, as long as it can suck up the powder around the substrate board 6.

[0060] The workflow of the integrated additive manufacturing molding cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement device in this embodiment is as follows:

[0061] Step 1: Transfer the forming cylinder that has finished printing and needs to be cleaned and have its substrate replaced to the outer chamber 4, and place it on the lifting and fixing mechanism 11 of the forming cylinder substrate replacement station 10. Close the second sealing door of the outer chamber 4 and purge the inner and outer chambers.

[0062] Step 2: Activate the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 to lift the forming cylinder 8 until its upper edge touches the upper top surface of the substrate replacement frame 9;

[0063] Step 3: Activate the part lifting mechanism 12 to lift the base plate 6 and part 5 together to the height at which the base plate 6 is completely separated from the forming cylinder, so that the base plate 6 is located outside the top opening of the frame 9.

[0064] Step 4: After the air washing is completed, open the first sealing door of the inner chamber 3, and control the flipping mechanism 1 to flip the rotating powder cleaning assembly 2 to the position above the substrate replacement station in the outer chamber 4; start the workpiece clamp of the rotating powder cleaning assembly 2, and use the workpiece clamp to simultaneously grab the substrate plate 6 and the part 5, and then use the flipping mechanism 1 to flip the rotating powder cleaning assembly 2 containing the substrate plate 6 and the part 5 to the powder cleaning station in the inner chamber 3; at this time, close the first sealing door of the inner chamber 3 and perform air washing on the inner chamber 3;

[0065] Step 5: After the inner chamber 3 is cleaned, the rotary powder cleaning device 2 is started to perform powder cleaning on the workpiece; at this time, the outer chamber 4 is cleaned. After the outer chamber 4 is cleaned, the moving cleaning mechanism 13 is started to clean the forming cylinder 8. After cleaning, the door of the outer chamber 4 is opened and a new base plate 6 is replaced for the forming cylinder 8; then the part lifting mechanism 12 is started to return the base plate 6 to the zero position, and at the same time the part lifting mechanism 12 is lowered to the original position, and the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism 11 is lowered; then the forming cylinder 8 with the base plate 6 replaced is moved away, and the forming cylinder to be cleaned and the base plate replaced is transferred to the forming cylinder base plate replacement station 10 and placed in place, and then the door of the outer chamber 4 is closed;

[0066] Step 6: Perform gas washing on the outer chamber 4, and simultaneously flip the door support plate 14 to close the opening of the frame 9;

[0067] Step 7: After the outer chamber 4 has completed the air washing, open the first sealed door of the inner chamber 3 and control the flipping device 1 to flip the cleaned substrate plate 6 and parts 5 together onto the flipping door support plate 14; at this time, close the first sealed door of the inner chamber 3, open the door of the outer chamber 4, remove the cleaned parts 5 and substrate plate 6, and close the door of the outer chamber 4.

[0068] Step 8: Perform air washing on the inner and outer chambers, and move the mobile cleaning mechanism 13 outward to its original position, repeating steps 2-8.

[0069] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plates in an additive manufacturing molding cylinder, characterized in that... The specific steps are as follows: Step 1: Set up the powder cleaning station and the substrate board replacement station; The powder cleaning station and the substrate replacement station are arranged in two adjacent and independent enclosed spaces. The powder cleaning station includes a flipping device and a rotating powder cleaning assembly installed thereon. The flipping device is used to switch the workpiece between the two stations, and the rotating powder cleaning assembly is used to grip the workpiece and clean it by rotation and vibration. The substrate replacement station includes a frame for mounting the forming cylinder. Step 2: Clean the powder from the printed workpiece; The substrate board to be cleaned and the parts on the substrate board replacement station are picked up by the flipping device and moved to the cleaning station for cleaning. The method for cleaning the printed workpiece is as follows: First, the forming cylinder that needs to be cleaned and the substrate board replaced after printing is placed on the frame, and the substrate board and workpiece are moved upward by the part lifting mechanism until the substrate board is removed from the forming cylinder and is located above the frame. Then, the control flipping mechanism drives the rotating powder cleaning assembly to flip to the top of the substrate board replacement station. The workpiece clamp of the rotating powder cleaning assembly simultaneously grabs the substrate board and the workpiece. Then, the flipping mechanism drives the rotating powder cleaning assembly with the substrate board and the workpiece clamped to flip to the powder cleaning station, so that the substrate board and the workpiece are tilted and inverted. Next, the rotating powder cleaning component is activated, and the powder cleaning is completed through rotation and vibration. Step 3: After replacing the substrate plate of the forming cylinder, remove the forming cylinder and place the forming cylinder with the substrate plate to be replaced. Step 4: Control the flipping device to flip the cleaned substrate board and parts to the top of the frame, and then remove the cleaned substrate board and parts to complete one cleaning and substrate board replacement process.

2. The method for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plate in additive manufacturing molding cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 3, the enclosed space where the substrate replacement station is located is first cleaned with air. Then, the moving cleaning mechanism on the frame is started to clean the forming cylinder. After cleaning, the door of the enclosed space where the substrate replacement station is located is opened to replace the substrate in the forming cylinder with a new substrate. Then, the part lifting mechanism is started to return the substrate to the zero position. At the same time, the part lifting mechanism is lowered to its original position, and the forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism is lowered. Then, the forming cylinder with the replaced substrate is moved away, and the forming cylinder to be cleaned and replaced with a new substrate is transferred to the substrate replacement station of the forming cylinder. Then, the door of the enclosed space where the substrate replacement station is located is closed.

3. The method for cleaning powder and replacing substrate plate in an additive manufacturing molding cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 4, before flipping, the enclosed space where the substrate board replacement station is located is cleaned with air, and the opening of the frame is closed by flipping the door support plate; then the door of the enclosed space where the powder cleaning station is located is opened, and the flipping device is controlled to flip the powder-cleaned substrate board and workpiece together onto the flipping door support plate, and then the powder-cleaned substrate board and workpiece are removed, and the door of the enclosed space where the powder cleaning station is located is closed.

4. An integrated apparatus for implementing the additive manufacturing molding cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: This includes a powder cleaning station and a substrate replacement station located in two adjacent and independent enclosed spaces; The powder cleaning station includes a flipping base at the bottom, on which a flipping device is rotatably connected; the flipping device includes a rotating plate and a rotary drive component that drives the rotating plate to flip; a rotary powder cleaning assembly is installed on the rotating plate, which is used to grip the workpiece and clean the powder by rotation and vibration; the flipping device can drive the rotary powder cleaning assembly to flip, thereby completing the switching of the workpiece between the two stations. The substrate replacement station includes a hollow frame with an open top, a forming cylinder lifting and fixing mechanism installed on the bottom surface of the frame, and a component lifting mechanism for lifting the substrate. The end face of the frame with the opening serves as the substrate replacement operating table, and the component lifting mechanism can move the substrate to the forming cylinder or the opening end of the frame. The adjacent and independent enclosed spaces are an inner chamber and an outer chamber. A first sealing door is provided between the inner and outer chambers to separate the two chambers into independent sealed environments. The outer chamber is provided with a second sealing door, which serves as an opening for taking out and putting in the substrate. The frame is equipped with a flip-up door support plate, which is a flat plate with an area larger than the opening area of ​​the frame. It is movably installed at the opening of the frame and can be closed and opened as needed.

5. The integrated apparatus for implementing the additive manufacturing forming cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating plate of the flipping device is an L-shaped plate, with one end of the plate surface rotatably connected to the upper side wall of the flipping base via a connecting shaft; the connecting shaft is horizontally set, and its input end is connected to a rotary drive component; a rotary powder cleaning component is installed on the other end of the plate surface.

6. The integrated apparatus for implementing the additive manufacturing forming cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rotary cleaning assembly includes a rotary assembly and a workpiece clamp mounted on the rotary assembly; The rotating assembly is a two-dimensional rotating component, including a rotating shaft. One end of the rotating shaft is connected to a motor mounted on a rotating plate, and the other end passes perpendicularly through the other end of the rotating plate and is connected to a turntable. The rotating shaft and the rotating plate are rotatably connected. The turntable is used to mount workpiece fixtures. The workpiece fixture includes symmetrically arranged left and right jaws, a jaw translation device for driving the left and right jaws, and a rotating base plate for mounting the left and right jaws. The rotating base plate is mounted on the end face of the turntable. The main body of each jaw is a clamping plate, and limiting protrusions extend from adjacent sides of the clamping plate in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface. One limiting protrusion is mounted on the rotating base plate via the jaw translation device, and the other limiting protrusion is fitted with a groove on the base plate. Vibration devices are respectively mounted on the left and right jaws. The jaw translation device includes a linear motor mounted on the rotating base plate, and one limiting protrusion of the jaw is fixed to the slider of the linear motor. The linear motor drives the left and right jaws to move towards or away from each other to clamp or release the workpiece.

7. The integrated apparatus for implementing the additive manufacturing forming cylinder powder cleaning and substrate replacement method according to claim 4, characterized in that: A mobile cleaning mechanism is installed on the open end face of the frame. The mobile cleaning mechanism includes a translation device installed parallel to both sides of the opening, a negative pressure powder suction device and a cleaning scraper brush installed on the translation device via a slider, for removing powder from the molding cylinder or the edge of the substrate.

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