Metal 3D printing device in orbit zero-gravity state

Abstract

A kind of metal 3D printing equipment in orbit zero-gravity state belongs to space 3D printing technical field, solve the technical problem of 3D printing in space weightlessness environment, solution is as follows: the 3D printing equipment includes vertical lifting system, horizontal moving system, material supply system, laser scanning device and support frame, vertical lifting system includes vertical lifting motor and slide rail, vertical lifting motor drives lifting platform to ascend or descend along slide rail;Horizontal moving system includes horizontal sliding motor, horizontal sliding beam and horizontal sliding base, laser scanning device includes support leg and laser scanner, horizontal moving system drives laser scanning device to reciprocate along horizontal sliding beam;Material supply system includes motor one, motor two, drive roller, compression roller and pressure material beam.The present application adopts steel belt as the material supply mode for 3D printing, adopts laser scanning sintering process, and the printing efficiency is high, no dust splashing, suitable for working in space zero-gravity environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of space 3D printing technology, specifically relating to an on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device. Background Technology

[0002] The space environment is very different from the Earth environment, so space manufacturing technology is an essential path for mankind to explore space, and space 3D printing is a key technology to realize space manufacturing.

[0003] Currently, space 3D printing technology mainly includes fused deposition modeling (FDM) and other molding technologies that use filaments as printing raw materials. Due to the influence of vacuum, weightlessness, and extreme temperature changes in the printing environment, existing metal printers are less efficient, and powder printing and other technologies are difficult to adapt to the zero-gravity environment of space. Therefore, higher requirements are placed on space 3D printing molding equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and solve the technical problems of 3D printing in space. This invention provides an on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device that uses a 3D printing metal strip to transport 3D printing materials and employs laser scanning sintering to overcome the problem of material splashing in the weightless environment of space and improve printing efficiency.

[0005] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution: an on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device, comprising a vertical lifting system, a horizontal moving system, a material supply system, a laser scanning device, and a support frame, wherein: The support frame includes an upper support frame and a lower support frame. Both the upper and lower support frames are configured as a grid-shaped frame structure, and the upper and lower support frames are arranged parallel to each other in the horizontal direction. The vertical lifting system includes a vertical lifting motor and slide rails. The slide rails include a left front slide rail 1, a left rear slide rail 2, a right front slide rail 3, and a right rear slide rail 4. These slide rails are vertically positioned at the four corners between the upper and lower support frames. Motor mounts are located at the top of the left front slide rail 1 and the right front slide rail 3, and the vertical lifting motors are mounted on their respective mounts. Shaft seats are located at the top of the left rear slide rail 2 and the right rear slide rail 4. A drive shaft spans the motor mounts and shaft seats, and the drive shaft connects to the vertical lifting motor... The rotor of the machine is connected, and drive bevel gears are set at opposite ends of the drive shaft; threaded rods are set inside the left front slide rail one, left rear slide rail two, right front slide rail three and right rear slide rail four, and the threaded rods are threaded with the slide table at the same height position. The slide tables set at the four corner positions are fixedly connected to the four corners of the lifting platform respectively. A driven bevel gear is set at the upper end of the threaded rod. The drive bevel gear meshes with the driven bevel gear for transmission. The vertical lifting motor drives the threaded rod to rotate through the drive bevel gear and the driven bevel gear. The threaded rod drives the slide table to drive the lifting platform to rise or fall along the slide rail. The horizontal movement system includes a horizontal sliding motor, a horizontal sliding beam, and a horizontal sliding base. A horizontal sliding beam is set across the middle of the left front slide rail 1 and the left rear slide rail 2, and a horizontal sliding beam is also set across the middle of the right front slide rail 3 and the right rear slide rail 4. The two horizontal sliding beams are set parallel to each other and are at the same height as the ground. The horizontal sliding base is installed on the horizontal sliding beam. A horizontal sliding motor is installed at either end of the horizontal sliding beam. The horizontal sliding motor drives the horizontal sliding base to reciprocate along the horizontal sliding beam. The material supply system includes a first motor, a second motor, a drive roller, a clamping roller, and a pressing beam. The first and second motors are respectively mounted on corresponding horizontal sliding bases. Drive rollers are mounted on the rotors of the first and second motors, respectively. Clamping rollers are located on the upper and lower sides of the drive rollers, pressing the 3D printed metal strip onto the drive rollers. The first and second motors drive the corresponding drive rollers to rotate, and the drive rollers feed the 3D printed metal strip from one side of the material supply system and continuously feed it out from the other side. The pressing beam includes a front upright plate, a rear upright plate, and a guide port. The front upright plate and the rear upright plate... The uprights are arranged opposite each other, with both the front and rear uprights being hollow structures. Air inlets / outlets are provided on the front and rear uprights, communicating with the cavities of either the front or rear upright. Air jets are provided on the opposing surfaces of the front and rear uprights, with the gas ejected from the jets directed downwards to press the 3D-printed metal strip firmly onto the surface of the lifting platform. The guide ports are horizontally located between the beginning and end of the front and rear uprights, each consisting of two parallel guide plates with a gap between them. The 3D-printed metal strip is fed into or out of the pressure beam through the guide ports. The laser scanning device includes a support leg and a laser scanner. The support leg is positioned horizontally above the horizontal sliding base on both sides and is shaped like an "eight". The laser scanner is vertically mounted in the middle of the support leg, and the laser point emitted by the laser scanner is aligned with the 3D printed metal strip between the front and rear uprights.

[0006] Furthermore, the first motor is a position control mode motor, used to control the feeding of the 3D printed metal strip; the second motor is a torque mode motor, used to provide tension to the 3D printed metal strip.

[0007] Furthermore, a pressure plate is provided at the lower part of the front upright plate, the front upright plate and the pressure plate are perpendicular to each other, and a stepped surface for pressing the 3D printed metal strip is provided on the lower surface of the pressure plate near the side of the 3D printed metal strip.

[0008] Furthermore, the front upright plate and the pressure plate are integrally formed, and a reinforcing rib is provided between the front upright plate and the pressure plate.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1) 3D printed metal strips (steel strips) are used as the material supply method for 3D printing. The laser scanning sintering process is adopted, which has high printing efficiency, no dust splashing, and is suitable for working in the zero gravity environment of space. 2) Gas pressure is used to bond the 3D printed metal strip to the workpiece, pressing the sintered molten material onto the workpiece surface to prevent splashing. It also has a fast cooling speed, which solves the problem of difficult heat dissipation in vacuum, and improves printing efficiency and reliability. 3) A dual-motor material feeding system is adopted. One set of motors controls the feeding of the steel strip in position control mode, while the other set of motors provides tension to the steel strip in torque mode, ensuring the flatness of the 3D printed metal strip surface and enabling the material and workpiece to fit better. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the left-side structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a vertical lifting system; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission principle of a vertical lifting system. Figure 5 Three-dimensional view of the assembly structure of the horizontal movement system, material supply system and laser scanning device; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the material supply system; Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of the structure at position A in the middle; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of the structure at position B in the middle; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the laser scanning device.

[0011] In the diagram, 1 is the left front slide rail one, 2 is the left rear slide rail two, 3 is the right front slide rail three, 4 is the right rear slide rail four, 5 is the vertical lifting motor, 6-1 is the drive shaft, 6-2 is the drive bevel gear, 6-3 is the driven bevel gear, 6-4 is the motor base, 6-5 is the shaft base, 6-6 is the slide table, 6-8 is the lifting platform, 7 is the support frame, 7-1 is the upper support frame, 7-2 is the lower support frame, 8-1 is the horizontal sliding motor, 8-2 is the horizontal sliding beam, 8-3 is the horizontal sliding base, 9-1 is the motor one, 9-2 is the motor two, 9-3 is the drive roller, 9-4 is the pressure roller, 9-5 is the pressure beam, 9-6 is the front upright plate, 9-7 is the rear upright plate, 9-8 is the guide port, 9-9 is the air jet port, 9-10 is the pressure plate, 9-11 is the 3D printed metal strip, 10 is the support leg, and 11 is the laser scanner. Detailed Implementation

[0012] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0013] like Figures 1 to 9 The on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing equipment shown includes a vertical lifting system, a horizontal moving system, a material supply system, a laser scanning device, and a support frame 7, wherein: The support frame 7 includes an upper support frame 7-1 and a lower support frame 7-2. Both the upper support frame 7-1 and the lower support frame 7-2 are configured as a grid-shaped frame structure, and the upper support frame 7-1 and the lower support frame 7-2 are arranged parallel to each other in the horizontal direction. The vertical lifting system includes a vertical lifting motor 5 and slide rails. The slide rails include a left front slide rail 1, a left rear slide rail 2, a right front slide rail 3, and a right rear slide rail 4. The left front slide rail 1, left rear slide rail 2, right front slide rail 3, and right rear slide rail 4 are respectively arranged vertically at the four corner positions between the upper support frame 7-1 and the lower support frame 7-2. The top of the left front slide rail 1 and the right front slide rail 3 are respectively provided with motor seats 6-5, and the vertical lifting motor 5 is respectively installed on the corresponding motor seats 6-5. The top of the left rear slide rail 2 and the right rear slide rail 4 are respectively provided with shaft seats 6-6. A drive shaft 6-1 is arranged across the motor seats 6-5 and the shaft seats 6-6, and the drive shaft 6-1 is connected to the rotor of the vertical lifting motor 5. Drive bevel gears 6-2 are arranged opposite each other at the two ends of the drive shaft 6-1; threaded rods 6-4 are arranged inside the left front slide rail 1, left rear slide rail 2, right front slide rail 3, and right rear slide rail 4. The threaded rods 6-4 are threadedly engaged with the slide table 6-7 at the same height position. The slide tables 6-7 at the four corner positions are fixedly connected to the four corners of the lifting platform 6-8 respectively. A driven bevel gear 6-3 is arranged at the upper end of the threaded rod 6-4. The drive bevel gear 6-2 and the driven bevel gear 6-3 mesh and drive each other. The vertical lifting motor 5 drives the threaded rod 6-4 to rotate through the drive bevel gear 6-2 and the driven bevel gear 6-3. The threaded rod 6-4 drives the slide table 6-7 to drive the lifting platform 6-8 to rise or fall along the slide rail. The horizontal movement system includes a horizontal sliding motor 8-1, a horizontal sliding beam 8-2, and a horizontal sliding base 8-3. The horizontal sliding beam 8-2 is set across the middle of the left front slide rail 1 and the left rear slide rail 2, and the horizontal sliding beam 8-2 is also set across the middle of the right front slide rail 3 and the right rear slide rail 4. The two horizontal sliding beams 8-2 are set parallel to each other and are at the same height as the ground. The horizontal sliding base 8-3 is installed on the horizontal sliding beam 8-2. The horizontal sliding motor 8-1 is installed at either end of the horizontal sliding beam 8-2. The horizontal sliding motor 8-1 drives the horizontal sliding base 8-3 to reciprocate along the horizontal sliding beam 8-2. The material supply system includes a motor 9-1, a motor 9-2, a drive roller 9-3, a clamping roller 9-4, and a pressing beam 9-5. Motors 9-1 and 9-2 are respectively mounted on corresponding horizontal sliding bases 8-3. Drive rollers 9-3 are respectively mounted on the rotors of motors 9-1 and 9-2. Clamping rollers 9-4 are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the drive rollers 9-3, pressing the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 against the drive rollers 9-3. Motors 9-1 and 9-2 drive the corresponding drive rollers 9-3 to rotate. The drive rollers 9-3 drive the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 to be fed in from one side of the material supply system and continuously fed out from the other side. The pressing beam 9-5 includes a front upright plate 9-6, a rear upright plate 9-7, and a guide port. 9-8, the front upright plate 9-6 and the rear upright plate 9-7 are arranged opposite to each other. Both the front upright plate 9-6 and the rear upright plate 9-7 are hollow structures. The front upright plate 9-6 and the rear upright plate 9-7 are respectively provided with air inlets / outlets, which are connected to the cavities of the front upright plate or the rear upright plate. The surfaces of the front upright plate 9-6 and the rear upright plate 9-7 are respectively provided with air jets 9-9. The direction of the gas ejected from the air jets 9-9 is inclined downward and presses the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 tightly onto the surface of the lifting platform 6-8. The guide port 9-8 is arranged horizontally between the first and last ends of the front upright plate 9-6 and the rear upright plate 9-7. The guide port 9-8 includes two parallel guide plates. A gap is provided between the upper and lower guide plates. The 3D printed metal strip 9-11 is fed into or out of the pressure beam 9-5 through the guide port 9-8. The laser scanning device includes a support leg 10 and a laser scanner 11. The support leg 10 is horizontally positioned above the horizontal sliding bases 8-3 on both sides and is shaped like the number "8". The laser scanner 11 is vertically mounted in the middle of the support leg 10, and the laser point emitted by the laser scanner 11 is aligned with the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 between the front upright plate 9-6 and the rear upright plate 9-7.

[0014] Furthermore, motor 9-1 is a position control mode motor used to control the feeding of the 3D printed metal strip 9-11; motor 9-2 is a torque mode motor used to provide tension to the 3D printed metal strip 9-11.

[0015] Furthermore, a pressure plate 9-10 is provided at the lower part of the front upright plate 9-6. The front upright plate 9-6 and the pressure plate 9-10 are perpendicular to each other. A stepped surface for pressing the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 is provided on the lower surface of the pressure plate 9-10 on the side near the 3D printed metal strip 9-11.

[0016] Furthermore, the front upright plate 9-6 and the pressure plate 9-10 are integrally formed, and a reinforcing rib is provided between the front upright plate 9-6 and the pressure plate 9-10.

[0017] The usage process of this invention is as follows: S1. Place the workpiece on the lifting platform 6-8. The horizontal moving system drives the laser scanner 11 to be directly above the workpiece. The 3D printed metal strip 9-11 is conveyed between the laser scanner 11 and the workpiece through the material supply system. S2. The vertical lifting system drives the lifting platform 6-8 to move upward until the workpiece contacts the lower surface of the 3D printed metal strip 9-11. The material supply system sprays inert gas to press the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 onto the surface of the workpiece. The laser scanner 11 performs laser scanning and cutting to sinter the 3D printed metal strip 9-11 onto the surface of the workpiece. S3. The vertical lifting system drives the lifting platform 6-8 to move downward, so that the workpiece is separated from the 3D printing metal strip 9-11. The material supply system stops air jetting. Motor 1 9-1 and Motor 2 9-2 drive the drive roller 9-3 to rotate, sending out the used 3D printing metal strip 9-11. At the same time, the 3D printing metal strip 9-11 to be printed is transported to the working position. S4. Repeat steps S1 to S3 above to print several layers of 3D printed metal strips 9-11 on the surface of the workpiece in sequence, and complete the on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing.

[0018] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device, comprising a vertical lifting system, a horizontal moving system, a material supply system, a laser scanning device, and a support frame (7), characterized in that: The support frame (7) includes an upper support frame (7-1) and a lower support frame (7-2). Both the upper support frame (7-1) and the lower support frame (7-2) are configured as a grid-shaped frame structure, and the upper support frame (7-1) and the lower support frame (7-2) are arranged parallel to each other in the horizontal direction. The vertical lifting system includes a vertical lifting motor (5) and slide rails. The slide rails include a left front slide rail 1 (1), a left rear slide rail 2 (2), a right front slide rail 3 (3), and a right rear slide rail 4 (4). The left front slide rail 1 (1), left rear slide rail 2 (2), right front slide rail 3 (3), and right rear slide rail 4 (4) are respectively set at the four corners between the upper support frame (7-1) and the lower support frame (7-2) in the vertical direction. The top of the left front slide rail 1 (1) and the right front slide rail 3 (3) are respectively provided with motor seats (6-5). The vertical lifting motor (5) is respectively installed on the corresponding motor seats (6-5). The top of the left rear slide rail 2 (2) and the right rear slide rail 4 (4) are respectively provided with shaft seats (6-6). A drive shaft (6-1) is set across the motor seat (6-5) and the shaft seat (6-6). The drive shaft (6-1) is connected to the rotor of the vertical lifting motor (5). Next, drive bevel gears (6-2) are arranged opposite to each other at the two ends of the drive shaft (6-1); threaded rods (6-4) are arranged inside the left front slide rail 1 (1), left rear slide rail 2 (2), right front slide rail 3 (3) and right rear slide rail 4 (4), and threaded rods (6-4) are arranged at the same height positions of the threaded rods (6-4) respectively with the slide table (6-7). The slide table (6-7) arranged at the four corner positions is fixedly connected to the four corners of the lifting platform (6-8) respectively. A driven bevel gear (6-3) is arranged at the upper end of the threaded rod (6-4). The drive bevel gear (6-2) meshes with the driven bevel gear (6-3) for transmission. The vertical lifting motor (5) drives the threaded rod (6-4) to rotate through the drive bevel gear (6-2) and the driven bevel gear (6-3). The threaded rod (6-4) drives the slide table (6-7) to drive the lifting platform (6-8) to rise or fall along the slide rail; The horizontal movement system includes a horizontal sliding motor (8-1), a horizontal sliding beam (8-2), and a horizontal sliding base (8-3). The horizontal sliding beam (8-2) is set across the middle of the left front slide rail 1 (1) and the left rear slide rail 2 (2). The horizontal sliding beam (8-2) is also set across the middle of the right front slide rail 3 (3) and the right rear slide rail 4 (4). The two horizontal sliding beams (8-2) are set parallel to each other and are at the same height as the ground. The horizontal sliding base (8-3) is installed on the horizontal sliding beam (8-2). The horizontal sliding motor (8-1) is installed at either end of the horizontal sliding beam (8-2). The horizontal sliding motor (8-1) drives the horizontal sliding base (8-3) to reciprocate along the horizontal sliding beam (8-2). The material supply system includes a first motor (9-1), a second motor (9-2), a drive roller (9-3), a pressure roller (9-4), and a pressure beam (9-5). The first motor (9-1) and the second motor (9-2) are respectively mounted on corresponding horizontal sliding bases (8-3). Drive rollers (9-3) are respectively mounted on the rotors of the first motor (9-1) and the second motor (9-2). Pressure rollers (9-4) are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the drive rollers (9-3). The side clamping roller (9-4) presses the 3D printed metal strip (9-11) onto the drive roller (9-3). Motor 1 (9-1) and Motor 2 (9-2) drive the corresponding drive roller (9-3) to rotate. The drive roller (9-3) drives the 3D printed metal strip (9-11) to be fed in from one side of the material supply system and continuously fed out from the other side of the material supply system. The pressing beam (9-5) includes a front upright plate (9-6), a rear upright plate (9-7), and a guide. The feed inlet (9-8), the front upright plate (9-6), and the rear upright plate (9-7) are arranged opposite to each other. Both the front upright plate (9-6) and the rear upright plate (9-7) are hollow structures. The front upright plate (9-6) and the rear upright plate (9-7) are respectively provided with air inlets and air outlets, which are connected to the cavities of the front upright plate or the rear upright plate. Air jets (9-9) are respectively provided on the opposite surfaces of the front upright plate (9-6) and the rear upright plate (9-7). The air jets (9-9) are ejected from the air jets. The body is tilted downwards and the 3D printed metal strip (9-11) is pressed against the surface of the lifting platform (6-8); the guide port (9-8) is set horizontally between the first and last ends of the front upright plate (9-6) and the rear upright plate (9-7), and the guide port (9-8) includes two parallel guide plates, with a gap between the upper and lower guide plates. The 3D printed metal strip (9-11) is fed into or out of the pressure beam (9-5) through the guide port (9-8). The laser scanning device includes a support leg (10) and a laser scanner (11). The support leg (10) is positioned horizontally above the horizontal sliding bases (8-3) on both sides. The support leg (10) is set in a figure-eight shape. The laser scanner (11) is installed vertically downward in the middle of the support leg (10). The laser point emitted by the laser scanner (11) is aligned with the 3D printed metal strip (9-11) between the front plate (9-6) and the rear plate (9-7).

2. The on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first motor (9-1) is a position control mode motor used to control the feeding of the 3D printed metal strip (9-11); the second motor (9-2) is a torque mode motor used to provide tension to the 3D printed metal strip (9-11).

3. The on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure plate (9-10) is provided at the lower part of the front upright plate (9-6). The front upright plate (9-6) and the pressure plate (9-10) are perpendicular to each other. A stepped surface for pressing the 3D printed metal strip (9-11) is provided on the lower surface of the pressure plate (9-10) on the side near the 3D printed metal strip (9-11).

4. The on-orbit zero-gravity metal 3D printing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The front upright plate (9-6) and the pressure plate (9-10) are integrally formed, and a reinforcing rib is provided between the front upright plate (9-6) and the pressure plate (9-10).

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