Multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly and nozzle switching method

Abstract

The application discloses a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly and a nozzle switching method, comprising: a rack, a printing platform is arranged above the rack; a driving assembly is arranged on the rack; a clamping mechanism is arranged on the driving assembly; the application is provided with a main control mechanism, a temperature control module, a temperature pre-control module, a driving assembly, a nozzle position calibration module, a clamping mechanism and a storage seat for storing multiple printing nozzles; through cooperation of the Z-axis driving assembly, the X-axis moving assembly and the Y-axis driving assembly, and through use of the designed nozzle structure, multiple different printing processes can be realized, including micron-level printing such as fused extrusion, solution extrusion, high-pressure fused direct writing and high-pressure solution direct writing; and through a precise visual recognition system, precise composite 3D printing can be realized, macroscopic and microscopic printing is combined, and the cost can be greatly reduced due to use of the same nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly and nozzle switching method, belonging to the field of 3D printer technology. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing is an innovative manufacturing technology that creates objects by accumulating material layer by layer. It uses computer-aided design (CAD) models or scanned real-world objects as input, and controls the print head or nozzles in the printer to precisely place or solidify material layer by layer along a predetermined path, ultimately printing a complete object.

[0003] There are various types of 3D printers on the market, including desktop, industrial, and professional models. These printers typically employ different printing technologies, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), photopolymerization, and powder sintering. Users can create or download 3D models using computer software and convert them to a format suitable for printer operation (such as .STL files). Then, the user loads the required printing material into the printer, sets the printing parameters (such as temperature and printing speed), and finally starts the printing process.

[0004] While conventional 3D printers also feature multiple nozzles, the vast majority only utilize a single printing method, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), solution printing, or micron-level printing. It's rare to see multiple processes used simultaneously in composite printing, such as fused deposition modeling, liquid extrusion, conductive slurry printing, high-pressure direct writing, or electrospinning. This is primarily because the printheads of these machines have different requirements for different materials, making it difficult to adapt them to various materials. Multi-process composite printing suffers from poor printhead adaptability and high composite difficulty. When using a multi-process composite printing printhead with a high-voltage power supply for polymer solution-assisted printing, the printing printhead and printer as a whole become more complex and bulky because polymer solution-assisted printing usually requires high-voltage power and a complex printhead structure. It can usually only be used alone. When printing products that require multiple materials, it is difficult to combine it with the high-voltage printing process used for polymer solution materials that require a high-voltage power supply. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly, thereby solving the problems of poor printhead applicability, high lamination difficulty, and increased complexity and bulkiness of the printhead and printer in existing multi-process composite printing technologies. To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly, comprising: A frame, on which a printing platform is mounted; Drive components mounted on the rack; A clamping mechanism mounted on a drive assembly, the clamping mechanism including a clamping sleeve in which a print head is clamped; The print head includes an outer shell clamped in the clamping sleeve and a material tube inserted into the outer shell. The material tube contains material and a nozzle is provided below the material tube. The bottom inner side of the clamping sleeve is provided with a release plate for connecting to an external high-voltage power supply, and the release plate is provided with an extension plate perpendicularly facing the slotted side of the clamping sleeve. The middle part of the extension plate is provided with an open guide groove facing the slotted side of the clamping sleeve. The middle part of the open guide groove is provided with a round hole that matches the nozzle. The temperature control module is installed on both sides of the clamping sleeve. The temperature control module includes a heating module disposed on one side of the clamping sleeve and a cooling module disposed on the other side of the clamping sleeve. The heating module and the cooling module are electrically connected to the main control module. A temperature sensor is embedded on one side of the outer casing. The detection end of the temperature sensor abuts against the outer side of the material tube. An insulating sleeve is fitted on the outer ring of the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the material tube in use. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to a conductive terminal. Metal blocks are embedded on both sides of the outer casing, and the metal blocks are used to conduct heat quickly. The printhead position calibration module is installed on the printing platform, and the printhead position calibration module includes an infrared positioning module and a visual positioning module. The main control module is electrically connected to the infrared positioning module, the visual positioning module, and the drive component. The main control module is positioned by the infrared positioning module and the visual positioning module, and controls the clamping sleeve to move on the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis to the storage seat and switches the print head by cooperating with the drive component. Several storage seats are arranged side by side on one side of the rack, each storage seat is equipped with a printhead to be used, and each storage seat is equipped with a temperature pre-control module; The storage base has a slot on the side facing the clamping mechanism, the slot extends to the top, a support block is provided inside the slot, and a set of insert rods are vertically arranged above the support block.

[0006] As a further improvement, the print head also includes a top cover mounted on the outer casing and a clamp for fixing the top cover to the outer casing. An air source interface is provided on one side of the top cover for introducing external airflow. The clamping mechanism also includes an air source connector that is matched with an air source interface and a conductive terminal that is disposed inside the clamping sleeve.

[0007] As a further improvement, the upper part of the material tube is provided with a snap-fit ​​part, and the inside of the outer shell is provided with a limiting part. When the material tube is inserted into the inside of the outer shell, the downward movement of the material tube is restricted by the cooperation of the snap-fit ​​part and the limiting part. The clamp is a U-shaped clamp with a single-sided opening. The inner sides of the two ends near the opening are provided with a first protrusion, and the inner side of the end away from the opening is provided with a fixing pin. The top cover has grooves on both sides corresponding to the first protrusion. The inner side of the top cover and the outer shell facing the U-shaped clamp away from the opening is provided with a hole corresponding to the first pin. The outer casing has an internal mounting groove with a diameter larger than that of the material tube. A constraint component is provided inside the mounting groove. The constraint component includes a top ball embedded in the mounting groove and a spring welded to the back of the top ball. The spring is fixed inside the outer casing, and the top ball abuts against the outer side of the material tube.

[0008] As a further improvement, an auxiliary block is provided in the middle of the long side of the outer shell, and a set of through holes are symmetrically arranged on the auxiliary block, through which the shell is placed on the storage base.

[0009] As a further improvement, a set of first side mounting slots are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the long side of the outer shell, and a second side mounting slot is provided on the other long side of the outer shell corresponding to the side mounting slots. The printing nozzle is installed in the clamping sleeve through the first side mounting slots and the second side mounting slots. A set of symmetrically arranged rollers are installed on the inner side of the clamping sleeve. The back of the rollers abuts against a spring and is fixed to the inner side of the clamping sleeve by the spring. The rollers match the first side groove. A wedge block is provided between the two rollers on the inner side of the clamping sleeve. The wedge block is integrally formed with the clamping sleeve and matches the second side groove.

[0010] As a further improvement, the temperature pre-control module includes a preheating module disposed on one side of the storage seat and a precooling module disposed on the other side of the storage seat, and the precooling module and the preheating module are electrically connected to the main control module.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention, by setting up a main control mechanism, a temperature control module, a temperature pre-control module, a drive component, a clamping mechanism, and a storage seat for storing multiple printheads, allows the clamping sleeve to be initially in an empty clamping state. Through the cooperation of the Z-axis drive component, the X-axis moving component, and the Y-axis drive component, the clamping sleeve is controlled to move along the X, Y, and Z axes on the printing platform, thereby adjusting it to the storage seat for placing the printheads, so that the printheads are inserted and fixed in the clamping slots on the clamping sleeve. During this process, the printing nozzles on the storage base can be heated or cooled by the temperature pre-control module according to the characteristics of the materials. After clamping, the temperature control module can also continuously heat or cool the nozzles, allowing them to enter the working state in a short time.

[0012] After the printhead is inserted and fixed, the printing state can be entered. When it is necessary to change to another printhead during the printing process, the main control module on the rack can be used in conjunction with the control drive component to control the movement of the X, Y and Z axes of the clamping sleeve on the printing platform to switch the printhead placed on the storage seat, and then continue to enter the printing state. The above settings allow the nozzle to be adapted to various processes.

[0013] High-pressure direct-write printing involves using a high-voltage power supply assembly. When the material inside the material tube is a polymer, it is discharged from the print head. A release plate contacts the nozzle, creating a high-voltage electric field that draws the polymer into micro / nano filaments, which are then output onto the printing platform for micro / nano 3D printing. This process can involve heating and melting the polymer material or using a specially prepared polymer solution.

[0014] Melt printing involves heating and melting a polymer material, then using an air pump or gears to extrude the material from a nozzle.

[0015] Solution printing involves using a specially prepared high-concentration solution to extrude the solution in an environment that does not require heating.

[0016] Slurry printing uses materials containing particles, such as silver paste, conductive carbon black, and other polymeric pastes that are generally mixed with particles.

[0017] By utilizing the designed nozzle structure, various printing processes can be achieved, including 100-micron-scale printing such as melt extrusion and solution extrusion, as well as micron- and nanon-scale printing such as high-pressure melt direct writing and high-pressure solution direct writing. Furthermore, through a precise visual recognition system, accurate composite 3D printing can be performed, achieving a combination of macroscopic and microscopic printing. At the same time, the use of the same nozzle can significantly reduce costs. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a clamping mechanism according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point A in the middle.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a side view of the printing nozzle structure of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point A in the middle.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a printing nozzle according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the installation state of a printhead according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a storage base according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the storage state of a printhead according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the module control of a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 11 This is an exploded schematic diagram of a printing nozzle according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to represent selected embodiments of the invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] In the description of this invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] In existing 3D printers using high-voltage power supplies to assist in printing polymer solutions, the current passing through the conductive material in the printhead under the influence of the high-voltage power supply causes electro-erosion and electrochemical reactions. These reactions can lead to corrosion or oxidation of the printhead, causing it to lose its original mechanical properties and structural integrity, easily resulting in a reduction in the lifespan of the printhead. Therefore, to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this invention discloses the following technical solution: Reference Figure 1-11 As shown, a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly and nozzle switching method include: A frame 1, with a printing platform 2 mounted on top of the frame 1; The printhead position calibration module is installed on the printing platform 2. The printhead position calibration module includes an infrared positioning module 21 and a visual positioning module 22. Drive assembly 3 is mounted on the frame 1; A plurality of storage seats 4 are arranged side by side on one side of the frame 1, and a print head 5 is inserted into the storage seat 4; The clamping mechanism 6 is installed on the drive assembly 3. The clamping mechanism 6 includes a clamping sleeve 61, and the clamping sleeve 61 is provided with a clamping groove 62 on the side facing the storage base 4. The print head 5 includes an outer shell 51 clamped in the clamping sleeve 61 and a material tube 52 inserted inside the outer shell 51. The material tube 52 contains material, and a nozzle 53 is provided below the material tube 52. A high-voltage power supply assembly is mounted on the clamping mechanism 6, the high-voltage power supply assembly including a release plate 63, the release plate 63 being in contact with the nozzle 53; With the cooperation of the drive component 3, the clamping sleeve 61 is controlled to move on the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis to the storage seat 4, and the printing nozzle 5 is switched.

[0034] The drive assembly 3 includes a Z-axis drive assembly 33 mounted on the frame 1, an X-axis moving assembly 32 mounted on the Y-axis drive assembly 31, and a Z-axis drive assembly 33 mounted on the X-axis moving assembly 32. The clamping mechanism 6 is mounted on the Z-axis drive assembly 33. The Z-axis drive assembly 33, Y-axis drive assembly 31, and X-axis moving assembly 32 in the drive assembly 3 are common moving components used in conventional 3D printers and will not be described in detail here.

[0035] To ensure that the drive component 3 can be accurately positioned during movement, an infrared positioning module 21 and a visual positioning module 22 are set on the printing platform 2. Both the infrared positioning module 21 and the visual positioning module 22 are electrically connected to the main control module 7. The infrared positioning module 21 uses an infrared sensor, and the visual positioning module 22 uses a camera.

[0036] When the clamping sleeve 61 is in its initial empty clamping state, the Z-axis drive assembly 33, X-axis moving assembly 32, and Y-axis drive assembly 31 work together to control the movement of the clamping sleeve 61 along the X, Y, and Z axes on the printing platform 2, thereby adjusting it to the storage seat 4 for placing the print head 5. This allows the print head 5 to be inserted and fixed in the clamping groove 62 on the clamping sleeve 61. After fixing, the main control module 7, which is electrically connected to the drive assembly 3, is installed on the frame 1. The main control module 7 works in conjunction with the drive assembly 3 to control the drive assembly 3, thereby causing the material inside the print head 5 to be output on the printing platform 2. When the material inside the material tube 52 is a polymer solution, when the material inside the print head 5 is output, the high-voltage power supply assembly works in conjunction with the release plate 63 to contact the nozzle 53, thereby allowing the high-voltage current to form the output polymer solution into fine filaments for 3D printing on the printing platform 2.

[0037] Design of printhead 5: To ensure a stable output of material from inside the material tube 52, the print head 5 also includes a top cover 54 mounted on the outer casing 51 and a clamp 55 for fixing the top cover 54 to the outer casing 51. The top cover 54 has an air source interface 56 on one side for introducing external airflow. The top opening of the material tube 52 is inserted into the bottom of the top cover 54 and connected to the air source interface 56. The airflow is introduced into the material tube 52 through the air source interface 56, thereby pushing the material inside the material tube 52 downward. To stably insert the open material tube 52 into the outer casing 51, a locking part 511 is provided at the top of the material tube 52, and a limiting part 521 is provided inside the outer casing 51. When the material tube 52 is inserted into the outer casing 51, the locking part 511 and the limiting part 521 cooperate to restrict the downward movement of the material tube 52. Then, the top cover 54 is placed on top of the outer casing 51 to restrict the upward movement of the material tube 52.

[0038] The clamp 55 is a U-shaped clamp with an opening on one side. First protrusions 551 are provided on the inner sides of both ends near the opening, and a fixing pin is provided on the inner side of the end away from the opening. The top cover 54 has grooves 541 on both sides corresponding to the first protrusions 551. The top cover 54 and the outer shell 51 have insertion holes 542 on the inner side of the U-shaped clamp facing away from the opening, corresponding to the first pin 552. Therefore, the U-shaped clamp slides from the opening side and clamps onto the outside of the top cover 54, being fixed by the first protrusions 551 and the grooves 541. Simultaneously, the fixing pin is inserted into the insertion hole 542, and the cooperation of these two elements ensures the cap is stably mounted on the outer shell 51.

[0039] To facilitate smoother insertion of the material tube 52 into the outer casing 51, a mounting groove 512 is provided inside the outer casing 51. The diameter of the mounting groove 512 is larger than the diameter of the material tube 52. A constraint assembly is provided inside the mounting groove 512. The constraint assembly includes a top bead 513 embedded in the mounting groove 512 and a spring 514 welded to the back of the top bead 513. The spring 514 is fixed inside the outer casing 51, and the top bead 513 abuts against the outer surface of the material tube 52. In this embodiment, the diameter of the mounting groove 512 is 1mm-2mm larger than the diameter of the material tube 52. This gap difference allows for smoother insertion of the material tube 52 into the outer casing 51.

[0040] When the material tube 52 is inserted, the top bead 513 in the constraint assembly abuts against the side of the material tube 52, thereby causing the material tube 52 to abut against the inner side of the mounting groove 512, thus fixing the material tube 52 and making it less likely to shake during use.

[0041] Since some materials need to be used at specific temperatures, such as high or low temperatures, it is necessary to detect the temperature of the material inside the material tube 52 during use. Therefore, a temperature sensor 515 is embedded on one side of the outer casing 51. The detection end of the temperature sensor 515 abuts against the outer surface of the material tube 52. An insulating sleeve 516 is fitted around the outer ring of the temperature sensor 515. The temperature sensor 515 detects the temperature of the material tube 52 during use. The insulating sleeve 516 is made of alumina ceramic, which shields against high voltage and prevents breakdown. The temperature sensor 515 is specifically an NTC100 temperature sensor 515.

[0042] To facilitate the conduction of external temperature for heating or cooling the material tube 52, metal blocks 517 are embedded on both sides of the outer casing 51. These metal blocks 517 are used for temperature conduction and are specifically made of copper. When external heating or cooling occurs, the copper blocks conduct the temperature inward, thereby heating or cooling the material tube 52.

[0043] To facilitate the placement of the printhead 5 on the storage base 4, an auxiliary block 518 is provided in the middle of the long side of the outer shell 51. A set of through holes 5181 are symmetrically arranged on the auxiliary block 518, and the printhead 5 is placed on the storage base 4 through the through holes 5181.

[0044] To facilitate the installation of the print head 5 on the clamping sleeve 61 during use, a set of first side mounting slots 5191 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the long side of the outer shell 51, and a second side mounting slot 5192 is provided on the other long side of the outer shell 51 corresponding to the side mounting slot. The print head 5 is installed in the clamping sleeve 61 through the first side mounting slot 5191 and the second side mounting slot 5192.

[0045] The outer shell 51 is made of plastic. In this embodiment, PEEK material is specifically used to form a full-enclosed shell. PEEK material has the characteristics of high mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, high pressure breakdown resistance, and good heat insulation effect. Material tube 52 uses either plastic or stainless steel barrels. The barrels for PDMS, electrospinning, and liquid metal are disposable, hence the use of plastic. 2. The barrels for melt printing are reusable, therefore a metal material is used.

[0046] In this embodiment, there are 5 printing nozzles, each with a different material, as shown in Table 1 below: Table 1. Relevant parameters of print head 5

[0047] As shown in Table 1, the printhead 5 is divided according to its function and different usage requirements, and can use a variety of different consumable materials for printing on the same product.

[0048] In this embodiment, there are 5 printing nozzles 5, which are DIW nozzles, electrospinning nozzles, DW liquid metal nozzles, FDM nozzles and MEW nozzles. They all have the same structure, but are different from the material barrels. The material barrel material is determined by the material characteristics of the material.

[0049] In other embodiments, the type of nozzle can be adjusted according to actual needs. When the material requirement for a certain nozzle is large and the material types are few, multiple nozzles with the same material can also be used.

[0050] The above settings allow the nozzle to be adapted to various processes: High-pressure direct-write printing involves using a high-voltage power supply assembly. When the material inside the material tube is a polymer, it is discharged from the print head. A release plate contacts the nozzle, creating a high-voltage electric field that draws the polymer into micro / nano filaments, which are then output onto the printing platform for micro / nano 3D printing. This process can involve heating and melting the polymer material or using a specially prepared polymer solution.

[0051] Melt printing involves heating and melting a polymer material, then using an air pump or gears to extrude the material from a nozzle.

[0052] Solution printing involves using a specially prepared high-concentration solution to extrude the solution in an environment that does not require heating.

[0053] Paste printing uses materials containing particles, such as silver paste, conductive carbon black, and other polymer pastes that are generally mixed with particles.

[0054] Design of clamping mechanism 6: The clamping mechanism 6 also includes an air source connector 64 disposed inside the clamping sleeve 61. The air source connector 64 matches the air source interface 56. A conductive terminal 65 is disposed inside the clamping sleeve 61 and is electrically connected to a temperature sensor 515. When the print head 5 is installed inside the clamping sleeve 61, the air source connector 64 connects to an external air pipe and transmits airflow to the air source interface 56 to push out the material inside the material tube 52. At the same time, the conductive terminal 65 abuts against the conductive part of the temperature sensor 515, thereby activating the temperature sensor 515 to detect the temperature inside the material tube 52. While the conductive terminal 65 introduces current, it also exports temperature data from the temperature sensor 515 and exports the temperature data to the main control module 7.

[0055] To accommodate certain special printing materials, such as liquid metal polymer solutions, which require high-voltage current output, a release plate 63 for external high-voltage power supply is provided at the bottom inner side of the clamping sleeve 61. An extension plate 631 is vertically positioned on the side of the release plate 63 facing the slot 41 of the clamping sleeve 61. An open guide groove 632 is provided in the middle of the extension plate 631 facing the slot 41 of the clamping sleeve 61. A circular hole 363 matching the nozzle 53 is located in the center of the open guide groove, allowing the nozzle 53 to be inserted into the circular hole 363 in the extension plate 631 for proper contact and fixation. When the polymer solution is output through the nozzle 53, the release plate 63 releases high-voltage current to cooperate with the nozzle 53 for printing.

[0056] In this embodiment, the high voltage range is 0-15KV, and the high voltage fluctuation is <±0.1KV.

[0057] The electrospinning nozzle requires a voltage range of 5-15KV to generate sufficient electrostatic force to form fibers. During the electrospinning process, the liquid directly exiting the nozzle is acted upon by the electric field to form nanofibers.

[0058] The voltage directly affects the strength of the electric field. By using a higher voltage, a sufficiently strong electric field can be created, making fiber formation easier. Conversely, if the voltage is too low, the electric field strength may not be sufficient to overcome the surface tension of the liquid, making fiber formation difficult.

[0059] However, excessively high voltage can also cause problems, such as electric shock and discharge. Therefore, limiting the voltage range to 5-15KV is to ensure operational safety and stability while generating sufficient electric field strength. In this embodiment, the electrospinning nozzle requires a voltage of 10±0.1KV.

[0060] The required voltage range for MEW (Metal-on-Wear) printheads is 0-6.5KV. MEW printheads are charged near-field melt-write printheads with controllable fiber trajectory. Compared to traditional electrospinning printheads, their voltage range is lower, typically 0-6.5KV. This is mainly due to the following reasons: The formation mechanism of wet-spun fibers differs slightly from traditional electrospinning, as it does not require excessively high electric field strength. MEW (Metal-on-Wood) nozzles form relatively stable micro / nano jets from molten polymer solutions under an electric field, achieving a slower rate of change and meeting the requirements for controllable patterned printing. Furthermore, the voltage required for these molten polymers is generally relatively low.

[0061] A lower voltage range reduces the risk of electric shock and discharge. Using higher voltages may increase the risk of electric shock and discharge during operation, while a lower voltage range can reduce these risks and improve operational safety.

[0062] To accommodate various materials, heating or cooling is required during use depending on the characteristics of different materials. Therefore, the temperature control module includes a heating module 66 located on one side of the clamping sleeve 61 and a cooling module 67 located on the other side of the clamping sleeve 61. The heating module 66 and cooling module 67 are electrically connected to the main control module 7. In conjunction with the metal block 517 on the print head, when the material needs to be heated during use, the heating module 66 generates heat, and the metal block 517 conducts heat, thereby increasing the temperature of the material inside the material tube 52. The main control module 7 is an external computer, and the drive assembly 3 is electrically connected to the main control module 7. The main control module 7 inputs and executes commands, which control the movement and output of the print head 5 via the drive assembly 3.

[0063] Meanwhile, in order to improve the heat conduction rate and have a certain voltage resistance, ceramic heating elements are used in the heating components in the clamping sleeve 61 and the heating module 66, and ceramic cooling elements are used in the cooling components in the cooling module 67.

[0064] The cooling module 67 is a mini-cooler, and the heating module 66 is a mini-heater, which will not be described in detail here. In order to prevent the modules from having difficulty dissipating heat on their outside due to excessive temperature, a heat sink 661, which is a mini cooling fan, is also installed on the outside of the cooling module 67 and the heating module 66.

[0065] To enhance the stability and accuracy of the clamping sleeve 61 when clamping the print head 5, a set of symmetrically arranged rollers 68 are installed inside the clamping sleeve 61. The back of each roller 68 abuts against a spring 514, which fixes it to the inner side of the clamping sleeve 61. The rollers 68 match the first side mounting groove 5191. When the print head 5 is inserted laterally into the clamping sleeve 61, the rollers 68 compress the spring 514 to make way. After installation, the spring 514 pushes the rollers 68 into the first side mounting groove 5191. A wedge block 69 is provided between the two rollers 68 inside the clamping sleeve 61. The wedge block 69 is integrally formed with the clamping sleeve 61 and matches the second side mounting groove 5192. During the installation of the print head 5, if the installation position is slightly offset vertically, the installation position can be actively fine-tuned by the inclined part on the wedge block 69.

[0066] Design of storage base 4: In order to enable the storage base 4 to stably store the print head 5 and to replace the print head 5 in conjunction with the clamping mechanism 6, the storage base 4 is provided with a slot 41 on the side facing the clamping mechanism 6. The slot 41 extends to the top, and a support block 42 is provided inside the slot 41. A set of insert rods 43 is vertically arranged above the support block 42. When replacing the print head 5, the clamping sleeve 61 that holds the print head 5 is controlled by the drive component 3 to move toward the empty storage seat 4. The side of the print head 5 with the auxiliary block 518 faces the slot 41, and the insertion rod 43 is aligned with the through hole 5181 from top to bottom, so that the insertion rod 43 is inserted into the through hole 5181 and the auxiliary block 518 is inserted into the slot 41, thereby realizing the installation of the print head on the storage seat 4.

[0067] Then, by retracting the Y-axis drive assembly 31, the print head 5 placed on the storage seat 4 can be separated from the clamping sleeve 61.

[0068] After being adjusted to the target printhead 5 position on another storage seat 4 by the X-axis moving component 32, the printhead 5 is fed and moved by the Y-axis driving component 31 to complete the installation by inserting it into the clamping sleeve 61.

[0069] The print head 5 is then removed from the storage seat 4 by moving the Z-axis drive component 33 upwards, thus enabling printing to begin.

[0070] Some complex printed products require the use of multiple materials for printing. Depending on the characteristics of different materials, heating or cooling is necessary. If heating or cooling is required after switching materials, the interval can lead to obvious dividing lines at the joints of the products and lengthen the overall printing cycle. To solve this problem, the temperature pre-control module includes a preheating module 44 located on one side of the storage base 4 and a precooling module 45 located on the other side of the storage base 4. The precooling module 45 and the preheating module 44 are electrically connected to the main control module 7 and are controlled by the main control module 7 to pre-cool or pre-heat before switching. This keeps the material inside the print head 5 in a ready-to-use state. After replacing the print head 5, it can be put into use in a short time and printing can continue, thus shortening the printing cycle.

[0071] In this embodiment, the heating plate is a flat heating device that typically uses resistance wire as the heating element and is suitable for scenarios requiring diffuse and uniform heating. The pre-cooling module 45 uses a miniature magnetic refrigerator, which utilizes the heating effect or magnetic coupling effect of a magnet to achieve cooling. Due to its small size, its cooling and heating effects can only pre-treat the material, which still needs further processing. In other embodiments, more powerful equipment can be used to complete all heating or cooling processes during the pre-treatment stage.

[0072] A method for switching nozzles in multi-process 3D printing, comprising the following steps: S1, when the clamping sleeve 61 is in the initial empty clamping state, the clamping sleeve 61 is controlled to move along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis on the printing platform 2 through the cooperation of the Z-axis drive component 33, X-axis moving component 32 and Y-axis drive component 31, and then adjusted to the storage seat 4 where the print head 5 is placed, so that the print head 5 is inserted and fixed in the clamping groove 62 on the clamping sleeve 61, and the initial print head clamping is completed; S2, via the main control module 7 installed on the frame 1, the main control module 7 is electrically connected to the drive component 3, the main control module 7 cooperates to control the drive component 3, thereby causing the material in the print head 5 to be output on the printing platform 2; S3, during the printing process, when changing to a printhead with other printing processes according to usage requirements, the infrared positioning module 21 and vision positioning module 22 set on the printing platform 2 cooperate with the main control module 7 to position the initially clamped printhead. Through the cooperation of the Z-axis drive component 33, X-axis moving component 32 and Y-axis drive component 31, the clamping sleeve 61 is controlled to move along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis on the printing platform 2, and then adjusted to the storage seat 4 where the printhead 5 is placed. The printhead is then reset and placed on the storage seat, so that the clamping sleeve 61 is disengaged from the initially clamped printhead. S4. Repeat step S1 to perform the next printing process of printhead clamping.

[0073] Before step S4, a cooling module 67 and a heating module 66 are provided on the side of the clamping sleeve 61. Depending on the different printing process requirements, they work with the main control module 7 to heat or cool the material to ensure a continuous and stable output.

[0074] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the invention should be included within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly, characterized in that, include: A frame (1) is provided with a printing platform (2) on top of the frame (1); Drive assembly (3) mounted on the frame (1); A clamping mechanism (6) is mounted on a drive assembly (3), the clamping mechanism (6) including a clamping sleeve (61) in which a printing nozzle (5) is clamped; The print head (5) includes an outer shell (51) clamped in the clamping sleeve (61) and a material tube (52) inserted inside the outer shell (51). The material tube (52) contains material, and a nozzle (53) is provided below the material tube (52). The bottom inner side of the clamping sleeve (61) is provided with a release plate (63) for connecting to an external high voltage power supply, and the release plate (63) is provided with an extension plate (631) on the side facing the groove (41) of the clamping sleeve (61). The middle part of the extension plate (631) is provided with an open guide groove (632) on the side facing the groove (41) of the clamping sleeve (61). The middle part of the open guide groove is provided with a round hole (363) that matches the nozzle (53). Temperature control modules are installed on both sides of the clamping sleeve (61). The temperature control modules include a heating module (66) disposed on one side of the clamping sleeve (61) and a cooling module (67) disposed on the other side of the clamping sleeve (61). The heating module (66) and the cooling module (67) are electrically connected to the main control module (7). A temperature sensor (515) is embedded on one side of the outer casing (51). The detection end of the temperature sensor (515) abuts against the outer side of the material tube (52). An insulating sleeve (516) is fitted on the outer ring of the temperature sensor (515). The temperature sensor (515) detects the temperature of the material tube (52) in use. The temperature sensor (515) is electrically connected to the conductive terminal (65). Metal blocks (517) are embedded on both sides of the outer shell (51), and the metal blocks (517) are used for rapid heat conduction; The printhead position calibration module is installed on the printing platform (2), and the printhead position calibration module includes an infrared positioning module (21) and a visual positioning module (22). The main control module (7) is electrically connected to the infrared positioning module (21), the visual positioning module (22) and the drive component (3). The main control module (7) is positioned by the infrared positioning module (21) and the visual positioning module (22). With the cooperation of the drive component (3), it controls the clamping sleeve (61) to move to the storage seat (4) on the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis, and switches the printing nozzle (5). A number of storage seats (4) are arranged side by side on one side of the frame (1), and a print head (5) to be used is inserted on the storage seat (4). A temperature pre-control module is provided on the storage seat (4). The storage base (4) has a slot (41) on the side facing the clamping mechanism (6). The slot (41) extends to the top. A support block (42) is provided inside the slot (41). A set of insert rods (43) is vertically arranged above the support block (42).

2. The multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The print head (5) also includes a top cover (54) mounted on the outer casing (51) and a clamp (55) for fixing the top cover (54) to the outer casing (51). The top cover (54) has an air source interface (56) on one side for introducing external airflow. The clamping mechanism (6) also includes an air source connector (64) disposed inside the clamping sleeve (61), the air source connector (64) being matched with an air source interface (56), and a conductive terminal (65) disposed inside the clamping sleeve (61).

3. The multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The material tube (52) is provided with a snap-fit ​​part (511) at the upper part and a limiting part (521) is provided inside the outer shell (51). The material tube (52) is inserted into the outer shell (51). The downward movement of the material tube (52) is restricted by the cooperation of the snap-fit ​​part (511) and the limiting part (521). The clamp (55) is a U-shaped clamp with an opening on one side. The inner sides of the two ends near the opening are provided with a first protrusion (551), and the inner side away from the opening is provided with a fixing pin. The top cover (54) has grooves (541) on both sides corresponding to the first protrusion (551). The top cover (54) and the outer shell (51) have insertion holes (542) corresponding to the first pin (552) on the inner side of the U-shaped clamp away from the opening. The outer casing (51) has an installation groove (512) inside. The diameter of the installation groove (512) is larger than the diameter of the material tube (52). A constraint component is provided inside the installation groove (512). The constraint component includes a top ball (513) embedded in the installation groove (512) and a spring (514) welded to the back of the top ball (513). The spring (514) is fixed inside the outer casing (51), and the top ball (513) abuts against the outer side of the material tube (52).

4. The multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, An auxiliary block (518) is provided in the middle of the long side of the outer shell (51). A set of through holes (5181) are symmetrically provided on the auxiliary block (518), and the storage base (4) is placed through the through holes (5181).

5. A multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell (51) has a set of first side mounting slots (5191) symmetrically arranged on both sides of the long side. The outer shell (51) has a second side mounting slot (5192) on the other long side corresponding to the side mounting slot. The printing nozzle (5) is installed in the clamping sleeve (61) through the first side mounting slot (5191) and the second side mounting slot (5192). A set of symmetrically arranged rollers (68) are installed on the inner side of the clamping sleeve (61). The back of the rollers (68) abuts against a spring (514). The rollers (68) are fixed to the inner side of the clamping sleeve (61) by the spring (514). The rollers (68) match the first side mounting groove (5191). A wedge block (69) is provided between the two rollers (68) on the inner side of the clamping sleeve (61). The wedge block (69) is integrally formed with the clamping sleeve (61), and the wedge block (69) matches the second side mounting groove (5192).

6. A multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature pre-control module includes a preheating module (44) disposed on one side of the storage seat (4) and a precooling module (45) disposed on the other side of the storage seat (4). The precooling module (45) and the preheating module (44) are electrically connected to the main control module (7).

7. A nozzle switching method for a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly as described in any one of claims 1-6, comprising the following steps: S1, when the clamping sleeve (61) is in the initial empty clamping state, the clamping sleeve (61) is controlled to move along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis on the printing platform (2) through the cooperation of the Z-axis drive component (33), the X-axis moving component (32) and the Y-axis drive component (31), and then adjusted to the storage seat (4) where the print head (5) is placed, so that the print head (5) is inserted and fixed in the clamping groove (62) on the clamping sleeve (61) to complete the initial print head clamping; S2, through the main control module (7) installed on the frame (1), the main control module (7) is electrically connected to the drive component (3), the main control module (7) cooperates to control the drive component (3), thereby causing the material in the print head (5) to be output on the printing platform (2); S3. During the printing process, when the printhead of other printing processes is changed according to the usage requirements, the infrared positioning module (21) and vision positioning module (22) set on the printing platform (2) cooperate with the main control module (7) to position the initially clamped printhead. Through the cooperation of the Z-axis drive component (33), X-axis moving component (32) and Y-axis drive component (31), the clamping sleeve (61) is controlled to move on the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis of the printing platform (2), and then adjusted to the storage seat (4) where the printhead (5) is placed. The printhead (5) is reset and placed on the storage seat, so that the clamping sleeve (61) is separated from the initially clamped printhead (5). S4. Repeat step S1 to perform the next printing process of printhead clamping.

8. The nozzle switching method for a multi-process 3D printing nozzle assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, Before step S4, a cooling module (67) and a heating module (66) are provided on the side of the clamping sleeve (61). Depending on the different printing process requirements, they are used in conjunction with the main control module (7) to heat or cool the material so as to keep the material in a continuous and stable output.

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