A Flexible Surface Control Method for Multi-Material Co-Reference Stereolithography Printing

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of photocuring printing, and more specifically to a flexible surface control method for multi-material co-reference photocuring printing. Step 1: Inject printing liquid into the flexible release material pool module, and the co-reference support module moves upward to pre-support the center of the flexible release film. Step 2: The printing substrate movement module drives the forming substrate to move downward to approach the upper surface of the printing liquid. Step 3: The co-reference support module moves upward to comprehensively support the bottom of the flexible release film from the center to the periphery. The printing substrate movement module moves downward to contact and immerse the upper surface of the printing liquid from the center to the periphery, and finally moves to the printing position. Step 4: Perform photocuring printing on the printing substrate movement module. Step 5: The co-reference support module moves downward to separate from the flexible release film. Step 6: The printing substrate movement module moves upward to gradually peel off the printed part and the flexible release film from the outside to the inside, which can ensure that the upper and lower surfaces of each formed thin layer in multi-material photocuring printing have high precision and high stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of photocuring printing, and more specifically to a flexible surface control method for multi-material co-reference photocuring printing. Background Art

[0002] Photocuring printing has the advantages of high precision and high forming efficiency, and is currently widely used in many fields such as aerospace, electronics, and medical. With the gradual expansion of its application fields and technological progress, the demand for multi-material integrated printing has also gradually increased.

[0003] Currently, there are mainly two methods for multi-material photocuring printing, namely single-pool cleaning and material replacement, and multi-pool switching and cleaning methods. The multi-pool switching and cleaning method prints and forms by coaxially switching the pools, avoiding the problems of low efficiency and huge material loss caused by frequent cleaning and material replacement in a single pool, so it has greater application potential.

[0004] In the multi-pool switching and cleaning method, different release films are used as curing limiting surfaces in different pools. Therefore, the single-layer curing precision is affected by the position error of the release films in different pools. The co-reference support can support the flexible release film to the same position, effectively improving the single-layer thickness precision. Among them, the printed part repeatedly enters and exits the liquid in the pool, affecting the stability of the upper surface of the thin layer, and the flexible film repeatedly releases the co-reference support, affecting the stability of the lower surface of the thin layer. Therefore, ensuring the high precision and high stability of the upper and lower surfaces of each thin layer in multi-material photocuring printing is an essential ability to achieve high-precision printing of multi-material co-reference photocuring. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible surface control method for multi-material co-reference photocuring printing, which can ensure that the upper and lower surfaces of each thin layer in multi-material photocuring printing have high precision and high stability.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0007] A flexible surface control method for multi-material co-reference photocuring printing, the method comprising the following steps:

[0008] Step 1: Inject printing liquid into the flexible release pool module, and the co-reference support module moves upward to pre-support the center of the flexible release film;

[0009] Step 2: The printing substrate movement module drives the forming substrate to move downward to approach the upper surface of the printing liquid in the flexible release pool module;

[0010] Step 3: The common reference support module moves upward to support the bottom of the flexible release film from the center to the whole, the printing substrate movement module moves downward to contact and immerse the upper surface of the printing liquid from the center to the periphery, and finally moves to the printing position;

[0011] Step 4: Perform photocuring printing on the printing substrate movement module;

[0012] Step 5: The common reference support module moves downward to separate from the flexible release film;

[0013] Step 6: The printing substrate movement module moves upward to gradually peel off the printed part and the flexible release film from the outside to the inside;

[0014] This method uses a multi-material common reference photocuring printing system, which includes a frame support. An X-axis displacement platform is fixedly connected to the frame support. An installation platform is arranged on the X-axis displacement platform. A cleaning and drying installation module and multiple flexible release material pool modules are arranged on the installation platform. A common reference support module for supporting the flexible release film at the bottom of the multiple flexible release material pool modules is arranged on the frame support. A printing substrate movement module for printing and forming is arranged on the frame support;

[0015] The cleaning and drying installation module includes an ultrasonic cleaning tank, and a drying module is arranged on the ultrasonic cleaning tank;

[0016] The flexible release material pool module includes a flexible release material pool, and a flexible release film is arranged at the bottom of the flexible release material pool;

[0017] A cavity body is fixedly connected to the side of the flexible release material pool. A floating block is arranged in the cavity body, and a distance sensor is fixedly connected to the cavity body;

[0018] A transparent window for observing the floating block is arranged on the cavity body; an air-liquid interface is arranged on the flexible release material pool;

[0019] The printing substrate movement module includes a mounting base Ⅰ, the mounting base Ⅰ is fixedly connected to the frame support, a Z1-axis displacement platform is fixedly connected to the mounting base Ⅰ, a cantilever mounting frame is fixedly connected to the displacement end of the Z1-axis displacement platform, a base mounting block is connected to the cantilever mounting frame through leveling screws, and a leveling rubber cushion block is arranged between the base mounting block and the cantilever mounting frame;

[0020] A formed substrate is connected to the base mounting block through a hand-tightening fastening bolt;

[0021] The common reference support module includes a mounting base Ⅱ, the mounting base Ⅱ is fixedly connected to the frame support, a Z2-axis displacement platform is fixedly connected to the mounting base Ⅱ, a cavity connecting frame is fixedly connected to the displacement end of the Z2-axis displacement platform, and a high-transparency support plate is fixedly connected to the cavity connecting frame;

[0022] An optical module for performing photocuring printing is provided on the frame bracket.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0024] Through the coordinated motion control of the printing substrate motion module and the common reference support module, when the lower surface of the flexible release film and the upper surface of the printing liquid are in contact with the common reference support module and the printing substrate motion module respectively, they are convex, and spread from the center point to the whole to form a stable interface without contact surface defects such as gas. When releasing, it is gradually peeled off from the outside to the inside, and finally realizes that the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid thin layer have high precision and high stability during single-layer photocuring exposure, and the micro-force non-destructive release after multi-material multi-layer photocuring. Description of the Drawings

[0025] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-material common reference photocuring printing system of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 It is a front view structure schematic diagram of the multi-material common reference photocuring printing system of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the X-axis displacement platform and the installation platform of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning and drying installation module and the flexible release material pool module of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible release material pool module of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the printing substrate motion module of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the common reference support module of the present invention.

[0034] In the figure:

[0035] Frame bracket 10;

[0036] X-axis displacement platform 20;

[0037] Installation platform 30;

[0038] Cleaning, drying and installation module 40; ultrasonic cleaning tank 41; drying module 42;

[0039] Flexible release material pool module 50; flexible release material pool 51; flexible release film 52; cavity body 53; floating block 54; distance sensor 55; gas-liquid interface 56; negative pressure suction material removal port 57;

[0040] Printing substrate movement module 60; installation base Ⅰ 61; Z1-axis displacement platform 62; cantilever mounting bracket 63; leveling rubber pad 64; substrate mounting block 65; formed substrate 66; leveling screw 67; hand-tightening bolt 68;

[0041] Common reference support module 70; installation base Ⅱ 71; Z2-axis displacement platform 72; cavity connecting frame 73; high-transparency support plate 74;

[0042] Optical module 80. Detailed implementation mode

[0043] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] As Figures 1 to 8 shown, in order to achieve the technical effect of "ensuring that the upper and lower surfaces of each thin layer of multi-material photocuring printing have high precision and high stability", the steps and functions of the flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing will be described in detail below;

[0045] A flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing, the method comprising the following steps:

[0046] Step 1: Inject printing liquid into the flexible release material pool module 50, and the common reference support module 70 moves upward to pre-support the center of the flexible release film 52; the common reference support module 70 controls the high-transparency support plate 74 to move upward quickly to reach a position close to the lowest point of the center of the surface of the flexible release film 52, and then slowly moves the high-transparency support plate 74 for support, and finally reaches the extremely small surface support state of the flexible release film 52;

[0047] Step 2: The printing substrate movement module 60 drives the formed substrate 66 to move downward into the flexible release material pool module 50; during the pre-support process in Step 1, the printing substrate movement module 60 controls the formed substrate 66 to move downward quickly, calculates and controls the position of the current curing surface based on the height of the current printing layer, and finally reaches a position only close to the liquid level of the material pool, at this time the liquid level of the material pool is horizontal and the printed parts previously completed on the formed substrate 66 do not contact the liquid in the material pool;

[0048] Step 3: The common reference support module 70 moves upward to support the bottom of the flexible release film 52 from the center to the full support, and the printing substrate movement module 60 moves downward to contact the center of the liquid surface of the material pool and spread outward; during this process, the common reference support module 70 controls the high-transparency support plate 74 to move upward at a constant and rapid speed, while the printing substrate movement module 60 controls the forming substrate 66 to move downward at a constant and slow speed;

[0049] During this process, under the action of gravity, the flexible release film 52 spreads outward from the center point to contact the high-transparency support plate 74, and finally completely adheres to the support plate, and the flexible surface of the flexible release film 52 is accurately supported to the projection focal plane, ensuring the high position accuracy and optical accuracy of the lower surface of the liquid thin layer;

[0050] At the same time, during the support process, affected by the support at the bottom of the flexible release material pool 51, the liquid surface of the material pool changes to a convex surface in the center. At this time, the current curing surface of the printed part gradually moves downward to contact the liquid surface, and contacts from the center and spreads outward to complete the liquid injection; after this process, the current curing surface is completely immersed in the liquid of the material pool, and the common reference support module 70 reaches the final support position; the printing substrate movement module 60 controls the forming substrate 66 to move downward slowly, calculates and controls the position of the current curing surface based on the height of the current printing layer, and finally reaches the position of the upper surface of the thin layer. At this time, both the upper and lower interfaces of the thin layer are accurately controlled, and the gas is discharged from the inside to the outside during the liquid injection process, avoiding air residue, and realizing high-precision layer thickness control of the liquid thin layer;

[0051] Through the above steps, accurate control of the upper and lower interfaces of the thin layer can be achieved, and the gas is discharged from the inside to the outside during the liquid injection process, avoiding defects formed by residual air in the thin layer, and realizing high-precision layer thickness control of the liquid thin layer;

[0052] Step 4: Accurately cure and form the thin layer through high-precision optical projection;

[0053] Step 5: The common reference support module 70 moves downward to separate from the flexible release film 52; during this process, the common reference support module 70 controls the high-transparency support plate 74 to move downward slowly, gradually releases the constraint on the lower surface of the flexible release film 52, and then moves downward to a position where there is no interference during material replacement;

[0054] Step 6: The printing substrate movement module 60 moves upward to gradually peel off the printed part and the flexible release film 52 from the outside to the inside; during this process, the printing substrate movement module 60 controls the forming substrate 66 to move upward slowly. The current printed part and the flexible release film 52 are bonded due to the curing effect. During the upward movement, the edge of the printed part forms a large force angle with the flexible release film 52 and peels off first. As the forming substrate 66 moves upward, the flexible release film 52 bonded to the printed part is gradually peeled off. The release force on the printed part during the release process is small, avoiding release damage caused by strong release impact or large release force. Finally, the forming substrate 66 moves upward to a position where there is no interference during material replacement.

[0055] This method uses a multi-material co-reference stereolithography printing system, which includes a frame support 10. A fixed X-axis displacement platform 20 is connected to the frame support 10. An installation platform 30 is arranged on the X-axis displacement platform 20. A cleaning and drying installation module 40 and multiple flexible release material pool modules 50 are arranged on the installation platform 30. A co-reference support module 70 for supporting the bottoms of the multiple flexible release material pool modules 50 is arranged on the frame support 10. A printing substrate movement module 60 for printing and forming is arranged on the frame support 10. Different printing liquids of different materials are respectively arranged in the multiple flexible release material pool modules 50. The X-axis displacement platform 20 can drive a cleaning and drying installation module 40 and multiple flexible release material pool modules 50 to move horizontally, so as to realize multi-pool material change forming and material change cleaning and drying.

[0056] The cleaning and drying installation module 40 includes an ultrasonic cleaning tank 41, and a drying module 42 is arranged on the ultrasonic cleaning tank 41. The ultrasonic cleaning tank 41 can clean the printed object, and the drying module 42 can blow out dry gas to dry the cleaned printed object.

[0057] The flexible release material pool module 50 includes a flexible release material pool 51, and a flexible release film 52 is arranged at the bottom of the flexible release material pool 51.

[0058] A cavity body 53 is fixedly connected to the side of the flexible release material pool 51. A floating block 54 is arranged in the cavity body 53, and a distance sensor 55 is fixedly connected to the cavity body 53. The floating block 54 is floated by the liquid level to trigger the distance sensor 55 to achieve the purpose of liquid level control. A transparent window for observing the floating block 54 is arranged on the cavity body 53. A gas-liquid interface 56 is arranged on the flexible release material pool 51.

[0059] The printing substrate movement module 60 includes an installation base Ⅰ 61, the installation base Ⅰ 61 is fixedly connected to the frame support 10. A Z1-axis displacement platform 62 is fixedly connected to the installation base Ⅰ 61. A cantilever installation frame 63 is fixedly connected to the displacement end of the Z1-axis displacement platform 62. A base installation block 65 is connected to the cantilever installation frame 63 through a leveling screw 67. A leveling rubber pad 64 is arranged between the base installation block 65 and the cantilever installation frame 63. A forming substrate 66 is connected to the base installation block 65 through a hand-tightening fastening bolt 68. When the Z1-axis displacement platform 62 is started, the displacement end of the Z1-axis displacement platform 62 can drive the cantilever installation frame 63 to move, and the cantilever installation frame 63 drives the forming substrate 66 to move, thereby adjusting the height of the forming substrate 66. The leveling rubber pad 64 is tightly compressed between the leveling screws 67 to level the forming substrate 66.

[0060] The common reference support module 70 includes a mounting base II 71, the mounting base II 71 is fixedly connected to the frame bracket 10, a Z2-axis displacement platform 72 is fixedly connected to the mounting base II 71, a cavity connecting frame 73 is fixedly connected to the displacement end of the Z2-axis displacement platform 72, and a high-light-transmission support plate 74 is fixedly connected to the cavity connecting frame 73; when the Z2-axis displacement platform 72 is started, the displacement end of the Z2-axis displacement platform 72 can drive the cavity connecting frame 73 to move, and the cavity connecting frame 73 drives the high-light-transmission support plate 74 to move, thereby adjusting the height of the high-light-transmission support plate 74.

[0061] An optical module 80 for performing light-curing printing is provided on the frame bracket 10, and the optical module 80 can be an optical instrument commonly used in the prior art for light-curing printing.

[0062] In this article, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principles and implementation manners of the present invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manners and application scopes. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: Step 1: Printing liquid is introduced into the flexible release material pool module (50), and the common reference support module (70) moves upward to pre-support the center of the flexible release film (52); Step 2: The printing substrate movement module (60) drives the forming substrate (66) to move downwards and approach the upper surface of the printing liquid in the flexible release material pool module (50); Step 3: The common reference support module (70) moves upward to support the bottom of the flexible release film (52) from the center to the entire surface. During the support process, the liquid surface of the material pool is affected by the bottom support of the flexible release material pool (51) and changes into a central raised surface. The printing substrate movement module (60) moves downward to contact and immerse the upper surface of the printing liquid from the center to the periphery, and finally moves to the printing position. Step 4: performing photocuring printing on the thin layer of printing liquid between the printed part and the flexible release film (52) on the printing substrate motion module (60); Step 5: the common reference support module (70) moves downward and separates from the flexible release film (52); Step 6: The printing substrate movement module (60) moves upward so that the printed part and the flexible release film (52) are gradually peeled off from the outside to the inside.

2. A flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method uses a multi-material common reference light-curing printing system, which comprises a frame support (10), an X-axis displacement platform (20) is fixedly connected to the frame support (10), a mounting platform (30) is arranged on the X-axis displacement platform (20), a cleaning and drying mounting module (40) and a plurality of flexible release material pool modules (50) are arranged on the mounting platform (30), a common reference support module (70) for supporting the bottoms of the plurality of flexible release material pool modules (50) is arranged on the frame support (10), and a printing base motion module (60) for printing and forming is arranged on the frame support (10).

3. A flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cleaning and drying installation module (40) comprises an ultrasonic cleaning tank (41), and a drying module (42) is provided on the ultrasonic cleaning tank (41).

4. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flexible release material pool module (50) comprises a flexible release material pool (51), and a flexible release film (52) is arranged at the bottom of the flexible release material pool (51).

5. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 4, characterized in that: A hollow cavity (53) is fixedly connected to the side of the flexible release material pool (51), a floating block (54) is arranged in the hollow cavity (53), and a distance sensor (55) is fixedly connected to the hollow cavity (53).

6. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 5, characterized in that: The hollow cavity (53) is provided with a transparent window for observing the floating block (54), and the flexible release material pool (51) is provided with a gas-liquid interface (56).

7. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The printing substrate motion module (60) comprises a mounting base I (61), the mounting base I (61) being fixedly connected to the frame support (10), a Z1-axis displacement platform (62) being fixedly connected to the mounting base I (61), a cantilever mounting frame (63) being fixedly connected to the displacement end of the Z1-axis displacement platform (62), a substrate mounting block (65) being connected to the cantilever mounting frame (63) via a leveling screw (67), and a leveling rubber pad (64) being provided between the substrate mounting block (65) and the cantilever mounting frame (63).

8. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 7, characterized in that: The base mounting block (65) is connected to a formed base (66) via hand-tightening bolts (68).

9. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference photocuring printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The common reference support module (70) comprises a mounting base II (71), the mounting base II (71) being fixedly connected to the frame support (10), a Z2-axis displacement platform (72) being fixedly connected to the mounting base II (71), a cavity connection frame (73) being fixedly connected to the displacement end of the Z2-axis displacement platform (72), and a high-light-transmittance support plate (74) being fixedly connected to the cavity connection frame (73).

10. The flexible surface control method for multi-material common reference light-curing printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: An optical module (80) for performing photocuring printing is arranged on the frame support (10).

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