A continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device and control method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing equipment and a control method, which belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and comprises a friction additive device, a feeding device, a rod driving device and a rod transferring device. The structure transfers the rod to the feeding device through the rod transferring device. The posture adjustment mechanism provided in the feeding device can adjust the rod to a preset posture. Then the rod with the preset posture enters a feeding channel and enters the rod driving device through the feeding channel. The rod driving device drives the rod to move in the feeding channel along the axial direction of the feeding channel, applies a certain pressure to the rod, and the main shaft can rotate, so that the rod can be stirred and rubbed on a substrate, and then plasticized and deposited on the substrate, thereby realizing automated continuous feeding and continuous additive manufacturing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and in particular to a continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device and a control method. Background Art

[0002] Friction stir additive manufacturing is divided into rod-feeding friction stir additive manufacturing, particle-feeding friction stir additive manufacturing and wire-feeding friction stir additive manufacturing based on raw materials. In rod-feeding structure additive manufacturing, since the rods are in sections and the rods are in a rotating state during the additive manufacturing process, it is difficult to achieve continuous additive manufacturing. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve one of the technical problems in the related art at least to a certain extent.

[0004] To this end, an object of the present invention is to provide a friction stir additive manufacturing device, which includes: a friction additive device, a feeding device, a rod driving device, a rod transfer device and a rod bin, the friction additive device includes a rotatable main shaft, the main shaft is hollow to form a feed channel for accommodating rods; the feeding device is located upstream of the friction additive device, the feeding device includes a posture adjustment mechanism, the posture adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the posture of the rod to a preset posture, the posture adjustment mechanism includes a feeding channel, the feeding channel is coaxially arranged with the feeding channel, wherein the rod with a preset posture can enter the feeding channel through the feeding channel; the rod driving device is located between the friction additive device and the feeding device, the rod driving device is used to receive the rod in the feeding channel and drive the rod to move in the feeding channel along the axial direction of the feeding channel; the rod transfer device includes a clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism is suitable for transferring the rod to the feeding channel, the rod bin is used to store the rod, and the clamping mechanism is suitable for moving between the rod bin and the feeding device to transfer the rod in the rod bin to the feeding channel.

[0005] According to the above technical features, the present application transports the rods in the rod bin to the feeding device through a rod transfer device. The posture adjustment mechanism provided in the feeding device can adjust the rods to a preset posture. Then the rods with the preset posture enter the feeding channel and enter the rod driving device through the feeding channel. The rod driving device drives the rods to move in the feeding channel along the axial direction of the feeding channel, applies a certain pressure to the rods, and the main shaft can rotate, so that the rods can be stirred and rubbed on the substrate, and then plasticized and deposited on the substrate, thereby realizing automated continuous feeding and continuous material addition.

[0006] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the rod driving device includes a driving bracket, which is connected to the main shaft, and the driving bracket is provided with a first feeding meshing tooth and a second feeding meshing tooth arranged relatively to each other, and the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth are arranged at a radial interval along the first feeding meshing tooth to form a driving channel, and the driving channel is used to receive the rod in the feeding channel, and the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth drive the rod to move in the feeding channel along the axial direction of the feeding channel.

[0007] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the rod driving device also includes a first worm and a second worm, and the first worm and the second worm are respectively engaged with the first feed meshing tooth and the second feed meshing tooth; the first worm and the second worm are both arranged on the driving bracket, and the axes of the first worm and the second worm are parallel to the axis of the feed channel, and the first feed meshing tooth and the second feed meshing tooth are arranged between the first worm and the second worm, and the axes of the first feed meshing tooth and the second feed meshing tooth are both perpendicular to the axis of the feed channel.

[0008] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the feeding device includes a feeding bracket, a first receiving member, a second receiving member and a third receiving member, the second receiving member and the third receiving member are rotatably mounted on the feeding bracket, and the axes of the first receiving member, the second receiving member and the third receiving member are collinear; the first receiving member is hollow to form a feeding channel, the second receiving member is hollow to form a receiving channel, the third receiving member is hollow to form a feeding channel, the first receiving member, the second receiving member and the third receiving member are arranged in sequence along the axis of the feeding channel, and the second receiving member is slidably mounted on the feeding bracket along the axis of the feeding channel, so that the feeding channel, the receiving channel and the feeding channel can be selectively connected; wherein the feeding channel is arranged corresponding to the driving channel.

[0009] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the posture adjustment mechanism is a hollow rod-like structure, and the hollow rod-like structure includes a feeding part and a guiding part arranged in sequence, at least a portion of the feeding part forms a feeding channel, the guiding part is configured to be a flared shape, and the guiding part includes a first end arranged close to the feeding part and a second end arranged away from the feeding part, the cross-sectional shape of the first end is consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the rod, and the cross-sectional shape of the second end is circular, the first end and the second end are transitioned through a transition surface to form a guide surface, and the feeding channel is arranged corresponding to the driving channel.

[0010] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first supporting member is provided with a first limiting groove, the second supporting member is provided with a first limiting protrusion and a second limiting protrusion, and the third supporting member is provided with a second limiting groove. During the movement of the second supporting member toward the first supporting member, the first limiting protrusion can be inserted into the first limiting groove, and during the movement of the second supporting member toward the third supporting member, the second limiting protrusion can be inserted into the second limiting groove.

[0011] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the feed channel is provided with a first guide portion extending axially toward the second receiving member, the first limiting protrusion is formed on the side wall of the second receiving member, the first guide portion is formed as a ratchet extending axially, and the first limiting groove is formed at the root of the ratchet teeth of the first guide portion; the side wall of the feed channel is provided with a second guide portion extending axially toward the second receiving member, the second limiting protrusion is formed on the side wall of the second receiving member, the second guide portion is formed as a ratchet extending axially, and the second limiting groove is formed at the root of the ratchet teeth of the second guide portion.

[0012] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, it also includes a pressing device, the pressing device includes a pressing base, a pressing bracket and a pressing head, the pressing bracket includes a mounting plate and a mounting frame, the mounting plate is slidably installed on the pressing base along a first direction, the mounting frame is slidably installed on the mounting plate along a second direction, and the pressing head is installed on the mounting frame, wherein the first direction is the axial direction of the feed channel, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to propose a control method for a friction additive manufacturing device with continuous feeding, which includes a stir friction additive manufacturing device, and the control method includes: detecting whether there are rods stored in the rod bin; if so, driving the clamping mechanism to clamp the rods and transfer them to the feed channel, and the axis of the rods coincides with the axis of the feed channel; loosening the rods, and using the posture adjustment mechanism to adjust the posture of the rods so that the posture of the rods is consistent with the posture of the feeding channel; driving the rods in the feeding channel into the feed channel through the rod driving device.

[0014] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the bar is also pressed down by a pressing device, so that the bar in the feeding channel enters into a bar driving device, and the bar driving device drives the bar into the feeding channel.

[0015] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of a friction additive manufacturing device with continuous feeding according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a rod driving device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3is a schematic structural diagram of a rod driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 According to the present invention Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a structure with auxiliary wheels in an embodiment;

[0021] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of a rod driving device and a friction material adding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a material pressing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Fig. 9 A top view of a bar material bin and a bar material transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Fig.10 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of a bar material bin and a bar material transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.11 FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a rod driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] Rod 8, base plate 9, spindle 10, material feeding channel 11;

[0030] The first feeding meshing teeth 21, the second feeding meshing teeth 22, the first worm 31, the second worm 32, the first driven gear 33, the second driven gear 34, the auxiliary wheel 35, the driving channel 40, the second feeding meshing wheel 42, the driving bracket 50, the feeding driving motor 60, the first transmission member 61, the second transmission member 62, the hollow motor 70, the avoidance channel 71, the driving gear 72, and the second driving member 80;

[0031] The first mounting plate 107, the second mounting plate 108, the slide rail 109, the first receiving member 110, the feeding channel 111, the first limiting groove 112, the second receiving member 120, the first limiting protrusion 122-1, the second limiting protrusion 122-2, the sliding seat 123, the third receiving member 130, the feeding channel 131, and the second limiting groove 132;

[0032] Clamping mechanism 200;

[0033] The pressing base 310 , the pressing support 320 , and the pressing head 330 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the rotating spindle 10 can drive the rod 8 to rotate, and then rub it on the substrate 9, so that the rod 8 is plasticized and deposited on the substrate 9 to achieve stir friction additive. Composite materials, such as aluminum-copper composite materials, can be manufactured by this method. However, the rotating spindle 10 is not easy to achieve automated continuous feeding.

[0036] In the present invention, Figure 1-Figure 11 As shown, the continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing equipment includes: a friction additive device, a feeding device, a rod driving device, a rod transfer device and a rod bin.

[0037] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the friction stir material adding device includes a rotatable main shaft 10, and the main shaft 10 is hollow to form a feeding channel 11 for accommodating the rod material 8; in one embodiment, the friction material adding device also includes a second driving member 80 and a conveyor belt, and the second driving member 80 is driven by the main shaft 10 through the conveyor belt. The second driving member 80 can be a motor, which is arranged on the base, and the motor drives the main shaft 10 to rotate on the base through the conveyor belt.

[0038] The rod driving device is located upstream of the friction material adding device, and is used to drive the rod 8 to move in the feeding channel 11 along the axial direction of the feeding channel 11. Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, Figure 3 For the bar drive device, Figure 6 It is a feeding device, which is located upstream of the rod driving device, that is, the rod driving device is located between the friction additive device and the feeding device. The feeding device includes a posture adjustment mechanism, which is used to adjust the posture of the rod 8 to a preset posture. The posture adjustment mechanism includes a feeding channel 131, and the feeding channel 131 is coaxially arranged with the feed channel 11, wherein the rod 8 with a preset posture can enter the feed channel 11 through the feeding channel 131; the rod driving device can receive the rod 8 in the feeding channel 131 and drive the rod 8 to move in the feed channel 11 along the axial direction of the feed channel 11.

[0039] The bar bin is used to store bars, and can store a plurality of bars 8. Figure 6 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 As shown, the bar transfer device includes a clamping mechanism 200, which is suitable for transferring the bar 8 in the bar bin to the feeding channel 131. Specifically, the clamping mechanism 200 is suitable for moving between the bar bin and the feeding device to transfer the bar 8 in the bar bin to the feeding channel 111.

[0040] In the present invention, the bar material transfer device ( Fig. 9 and Fig.10 ) transports the bar material 8 in the bar material bin to the feeding device ( Figure 6 ), the posture adjustment mechanism provided in the feeding device can adjust the bar 8 to a preset posture, and then the bar 8 in the preset posture enters the feeding channel 131, and enters the bar driving device ( Figure 3 ), the rod driving device drives the rod 8 to move in the feeding channel 11 along the axial direction of the feeding channel 11, applies a certain pressure to the rod 8, and the spindle 10 can rotate, so that the rod 8 can stir and rub on the substrate 9, and then plasticize and deposit on the substrate 9, thus realizing automatic continuous feeding and continuous material addition. The setting of the posture adjustment mechanism can not only adapt to round, but also adapt to other shapes of rods 8, such as square, pentagonal and triangular.

[0041] The structure of the rod driving device will be specifically described below.

[0042] Specifically, in one embodiment, if Figure 2-Figure 4 As shown, the bar material driving device at least includes a first feeding meshing member and a second feeding meshing member which are arranged correspondingly, and the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member are arranged at intervals along the radial direction of the first feeding meshing member, and form a driving channel 40 corresponding to the feeding channel 11. The driving channel 40 is used to receive the bar material in the feeding channel 131, and the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member drive the bar material to move in the feeding channel 11 along the axial direction of the feeding channel 11, wherein the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member can both be meshing tooth structures; or, one of the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member is a meshing tooth structure, and the other is a meshing wheel structure.

[0043] like Figure 2As shown, when the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member are both meshing tooth structures, that is, the first feeding meshing member is the first feeding meshing tooth 21, and the second feeding meshing member is the second feeding meshing tooth 22, it can be understood that the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing tooth 22 can be arranged in parallel and spaced apart, and the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing tooth 22 can rotate relative to each other to form a driving channel 40. When the bar 8 enters the driving channel 40, the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing tooth 22 that rotate relative to each other can bite the bar 8 and move it toward the feed channel 11 and along the axial direction of the feed channel 11, and then drive the bar 8 to enter the feed channel 11. Then the main shaft 10 rotatably arranged on the base can drive the bar in the feed channel 11 to rotate, and the rotating bar 8 can continuously stir and rub with the substrate to generate heat, thereby achieving plastic softening to achieve stir friction additive manufacturing. Furthermore, the first feeding meshing teeth 21 and the second feeding meshing teeth 22 are used to drive the rod to move, which can form a thrust toward the substrate in the axial direction of the rod, which helps to stir and generate heat, and the magnitude of the thrust can be adjusted by adjusting the clamping force between the two meshing teeth. When this structure is applied to the stir friction additive manufacturing equipment, the pressure between the rod and the substrate can be adjusted by adjusting the clamping force during the stir friction between the rod and the substrate, so as to better realize additive manufacturing. When the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member are both meshing tooth structures, the meshing force is greater and can provide greater pressure.

[0044] like Fig.11As shown, when one of the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member is a meshing tooth structure and the other is a meshing wheel structure, that is, when the first feeding meshing member is the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing member is the second feeding meshing wheel 42, a driving channel 40 can also be formed between the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing wheel. Similarly, when the bar enters the driving channel 40, the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing wheel 42 that rotate relative to each other can bite the bar and move it toward the feed channel 11 and along the axial direction of the feed channel 11, and then drive the bar to enter the feed channel 11. Then the main shaft 10 that is rotatably arranged on the base can drive the bar in the feed channel 11 to rotate, and the rotating bar can continuously stir and rub with the substrate 9 to generate heat, thereby achieving plastic softening to achieve stir friction additive manufacturing. Furthermore, the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing wheel 42 are used to drive the rod to move, which can form a thrust toward the substrate in the axial direction of the rod, which helps to stir and friction generate heat, and the magnitude of the thrust can be adjusted by adjusting the clamping force between the two. When this structure is applied to the stir friction additive manufacturing equipment, the pressure between the rod and the substrate can be adjusted by adjusting the clamping force during the stir friction between the rod and the substrate, so as to better realize additive manufacturing. When one of the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member is a meshing tooth structure and the other is a meshing wheel structure, the friction of the meshing wheel structure is relatively small, which can increase the service life.

[0045] In the above scheme, the meshing teeth can be gears, or be helical gears, herringbone gears, etc.; the meshing wheels can be smooth wheels, wheels with grooves on the surface, or rubber wheels, etc.

[0046] The following specifically describes a solution in which both the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member are meshing tooth structures, that is, the first feeding meshing member is the first feeding meshing tooth 21 , and the second feeding meshing member is the second feeding meshing tooth 22 .

[0047] In one embodiment of the present application, the rod driving device also includes a first worm 31 and a second worm 32, which are respectively engaged with the first feed meshing teeth 21 and the second feed meshing teeth 22; the rod driving device also includes a first driving assembly, which drives the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate, thereby driving the first feed meshing teeth 21 and the second feed meshing teeth 22 to rotate relative to each other.

[0048] Because the present application uses the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to respectively drive the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 to rotate, the structure is simple, and the gap between the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 can be easily adjusted to adjust the clamping force of the rod, that is, the gap of the driving channel 40 is adjustable, thereby adjusting the magnitude of the downward thrust, that is, the greater the clamping force, the greater the thrust, and the smaller the clamping force, the smaller the thrust. In one embodiment of the present application, the rod driving device includes a driving bracket 50, the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 are arranged on the driving bracket 50, the axes of the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 are parallel to the axis of the feed channel 11, the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 are arranged between the first worm 31 and the second worm 32, and the axes of the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 are both perpendicular to the axis of the feed channel 11. Figure 2 As shown, the first feeding meshing teeth 21 and the second feeding meshing teeth 22 are arranged transversely and can rotate relative to each other, so that the rod material can be well driven into the feeding channel 11 along the axial direction of the feeding channel 11.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present application, the driving bracket 50 can be rotatably arranged on the base, and the spindle 10 rotates and the spindle 10 drives the bar to rotate relative to the driving bracket 50. In another embodiment of the present application, the driving bracket 50 can be connected to the spindle 10, and the driving bracket 50 can rotate with the rotation of the spindle 10. In this embodiment, the bar does not rotate relative to the driving bracket 50.

[0050] The specific structure of the driving bracket 50 being rotatably connected to the base will be described in detail below.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, the first driving assembly is a feed drive motor 60, which is fixedly mounted on a drive bracket 50, and the drive bracket 50 is rotatably mounted on a base, so that the main shaft 10 can rotate relative to the drive bracket 50. The first worm 31 and the second worm 32 are rotatably arranged on the drive bracket 50, and the first feed meshing teeth 21 and the second feed meshing teeth 22 are also rotatably arranged on the drive bracket 50. In this structure, if the feed drive motor 60 does not drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate, the rotating bar will drive the first feed meshing teeth 21 and the second feed meshing teeth 22 to rotate and then drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate, and then the transmission member such as a belt between the feed drive motor 60 and the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 will rotate in the opposite direction as the main shaft 10 rotates, and the bar is transported upward at this time, which is different from the expectation. In this way, if the bar is to be moved downward during the rotation process, it is required that the rotation speed of the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 is greater than the rotation speed of the main shaft 10.

[0052] In the above structure, a feeding drive motor 60 can be used to simultaneously drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate to avoid the problem of asynchronism during dual-motor control.

[0053] The following will specifically describe the specific structure of the driving bracket 50 connected to the main shaft 10, that is, the driving bracket 50 can rotate with the rotation of the main shaft 10. In this structure, a common motor can be used to drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate through, for example, a belt; or a hollow motor can be used to drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate through, for example, a gear.

[0054] like Figure 2 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , a common motor is used to drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate by, for example, a belt. Specifically, the first drive assembly includes a motor, which can be arranged, for example, on the side of the first worm 31 and can drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate by, for example, a belt.

[0055] Furthermore, if Figure 2 As shown, the motor includes a first drive shaft, and the bar drive device also includes a first transmission member 61 and a second transmission member 62 arranged axially spaced apart along the first drive shaft. The first drive shaft is connected to the first worm 31 through the first transmission member 61, and the first drive shaft is also connected to the second worm 32 through the second transmission member 62. That is, the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 are driven to rotate simultaneously through two transmission members of a first drive shaft. Under this structure, the first transmission member 61 and the second transmission member 62 can form a height difference to drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate simultaneously. The first transmission member 61 and the second transmission member 62 can be belts or chains, etc.

[0056] In another embodiment, auxiliary wheels 35 may also be provided. Figure 4 As shown, the auxiliary wheel 35, the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 are arranged on the driving bracket 50 at intervals along the circumference of the feeding channel 11, and the motor drives the auxiliary wheel 35, the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate simultaneously. It can be understood that the auxiliary wheel 35, the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 can be driven to rotate simultaneously by a transmission member such as a belt, so that one motor can drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate simultaneously to avoid the problem of asynchronism in the dual-motor control process.

[0057] In the embodiment where a hollow motor is used to drive the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 to rotate through, for example, gears, the first driving assembly includes a hollow motor 70. Figure 3As shown, the hollow motor 70 includes an avoidance channel 71, which is arranged corresponding to the driving channel 40. The avoidance channel 71 allows the bar to pass through the hollow motor 70 when entering the driving channel 40. The avoidance channel 71 is a hollow channel, and its axis coincides with the axis of the feeding channel 11.

[0058] In a specific embodiment, a hollow motor drive shaft is provided on the hollow motor 70, and the hollow motor drive shaft is hollow, and the hollow part of the hollow motor drive shaft is a part of the avoidance channel 71. A driving gear 72 is sleeved on the hollow motor drive shaft, and a first driven gear 33 and a second driven gear 34 are provided on the first worm 31 and the second worm 32, respectively, and the first driven gear 33 and the second driven gear 34 are meshed with the driving gear 72. In this way, the first worm 31 and the second worm 32 can be driven to rotate by a hollow motor 70 at the same time to avoid the problem of asynchronism in the dual motor control process.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present application, the gap of the drive channel 40 is adjustable. For example, the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 are detachably mounted on the drive bracket 50, and the radius of the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 can be adjusted to achieve the adjustable gap of the drive channel 40. For another example, the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the first worm 31 are arranged on the first support, and the second feed meshing tooth 22 and the second worm 32 are arranged on the second support, and the gap between the first support and the second support is adjusted to achieve the adjustable gap of the drive channel 40.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 As shown, a motor can be used to directly drive the first feed meshing tooth 21 or the second feed meshing tooth 22 to rotate. In addition, two motors can be used to respectively drive the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 to rotate. In this way, there are multiple implementation methods for driving the first feed meshing tooth 21 and the second feed meshing tooth 22 to rotate.

[0061] The following specifically describes a solution in which one of the first feeding meshing member and the second feeding meshing member is a meshing tooth structure and the other is a meshing wheel structure, that is, the first feeding meshing member is the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing member is the second feeding meshing wheel 42 .

[0062] like Fig.11As shown, the rod driving device includes a driving bracket 50, which is connected to the main shaft 10, that is, the driving bracket can rotate with the rotation of the main shaft. The first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing wheel 42 are rotatably arranged on the driving bracket, and the axes of the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing wheel 42 are perpendicular to the axis of the feeding channel 11. The first driving component is used to drive the first feeding meshing tooth 21 to rotate. The rotating first feeding meshing tooth 21 interacts with the second feeding meshing wheel 42 to engage the rod and move along the axis direction of the feeding channel 11 to achieve additive manufacturing.

[0063] The second feeding meshing wheel 42 may be polished to reduce friction.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present application, the first drive assembly may include a motor, which may directly drive the first feed meshing tooth 21 to rotate, or drive the first feed meshing tooth 21 to rotate through a reduction wheel, or drive the first feed meshing tooth 21 to rotate through a worm gear, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present application, a plurality of second feeding meshing wheels 42 are provided, and the plurality of second feeding meshing wheels 42 are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the feeding channel 11 , that is, form a sliding wall to reduce friction.

[0066] In the present application, the first feeding engaging members and the second feeding engaging members may be in multiple pairs or may not appear in pairs.

[0067] Similarly, in the above solution, the gap of the driving channel 40 is adjustable, for example, the second feeding meshing wheel 42 is rotatably arranged on the first bracket, the first bracket is fixedly arranged on the driving bracket 50, and the radius of the first feeding meshing tooth 21 is adjustable, so that the gap of the driving channel 40 is adjustable. Alternatively, the first feeding meshing tooth 21 is arranged on the support, and the gap between the support and the first bracket is adjusted, so that the gap of the driving channel 40 is adjustable.

[0068] The above specifically describes in detail the structure in which the bar driving device rotates along with the rotation of the main shaft 10 , and also describes the structure in which the bar driving device does not rotate along with the rotation of the main shaft 10 .

[0069] When the bar driving device rotates with the rotation of the main shaft 10, there are certain difficulties in automatic and continuous feeding, especially for the bar 8 whose cross-sectional shape is not circular.

[0070] The following will specifically describe a feeding device in which the bar driving device rotates along with the rotation of the main shaft 10 and can realize automatic and continuous feeding.

[0071] Specifically, Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the feeding device includes a feeding bracket, a first receiving member 110, a second receiving member 120 and a third receiving member 130, the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 are rotatably mounted on the feeding bracket, and the axes of the first receiving member 110, the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 are collinear; the first receiving member 110 is hollow to form a feeding channel 111, the second receiving member 120 is hollow to form a receiving channel, and the third receiving member 130 is hollow to form a feeding channel. Channel 131, the first receiving member 110, the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 are sequentially arranged at intervals along the axis of the feed channel 111, and the second receiving member 120 is slidably installed on the feeding bracket along the axis of the feed channel 111, so that the feed channel 111, the receiving channel and the feeding channel 131 can be selectively connected; wherein, the third receiving member 130 is connected to the driving bracket 50 or the main shaft 10, and the feeding channel 131 is correspondingly arranged with the driving channel 40. The third receiving member 130 is connected to the driving bracket 50, which means that when the driving bracket 50 rotates with the main shaft 10, the third receiving member 130 will also rotate. In the present invention, the third receiving member 130 is rotatably installed on the bracket, and it can rotate with the rotation of the welding head, so that the feeding channel 131 set by the third receiving member 130 can continuously transport the rod to the welding head. In order to connect the receiving channel provided by the second receiving member 120 with the feeding channel 131 provided by the rotating third receiving member 130, the second receiving member 120 is further provided with a second limiting protrusion 122-2, and the third receiving member 130 is further provided with a second limiting groove 132, so that the second limiting protrusion 122-2 is inserted into the second limiting groove 132, so that the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 rotate simultaneously, the receiving channel is connected with the feeding channel 131, and the bar material 8 can enter the feeding channel 131 from the receiving channel to realize feeding. The shape of the bar material 8 can be circular or other shapes, such as polygons such as square and triangle. Especially for square or polygonal rods 8, the above structure can well align the rod 8 in the receiving channel with the feeding channel 131, that is, by simultaneously rotating the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130, the posture of the receiving channel is consistent with the posture of the feeding channel 131, so that the rod 8 can enter the feeding channel 131 set on the third receiving member 130 in a rotating state from the receiving channel.

[0072] Furthermore, when it is necessary to fill the rod 8, the second receiving member 120 slides toward the first receiving member 110 along the axis of the feed channel 111. During the sliding process, the first limiting protrusion 122-1 can be inserted into the first limiting groove 112, so that the posture of the receiving channel is consistent with the posture of the feed channel 111, that is, the receiving channel and the feed channel 111 are connected, so that the rod 8 can enter the receiving channel from the feed channel 111.

[0073] Thus, after the bar 8 of the present invention, which has a square cross-section, enters the feeding channel 111, it enters the receiving channel from the feeding channel 111, and one end of the bar 8 moves together with the second receiving member 120 toward the third receiving member 130, and under the action of the second limiting protrusion 122-2 and the second limiting groove 132, the receiving channel and the feeding channel 131 are connected. When the bar 8 is square and the bar 8 is long enough, the first receiving member 110, the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 will rotate simultaneously under the action of the bar 8, so that the first receiving member 110 can be rotatably arranged.

[0074] When the rod 8 is square and relatively short, that is, when the rod 8 is separated from the feeding channel 111 after entering the receiving channel, the first receiving member 110 can be set without rotating, and the rod 8 separates from the first receiving member 110 with the second receiving member 120 and moves toward the third receiving member 130, and then, under the action of the second limiting protrusion 122-2 and the second limiting groove 132, the receiving channel and the feeding channel 131 guide the rod 8 into the feeding channel 131. At this time, the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 rotate at the same time, but will not drive the first receiving member 110 to rotate. In this way, the first receiving member 110 does not need to rotate. If the first receiving member 110 does not rotate, the posture of its feeding channel 111 can be fixed, which is convenient for automatic loading.

[0075] Furthermore, the power for the second receiving member 120 to move toward the third receiving member 130 may be that the bar 8 is driven to move the second receiving member 120 by friction due to the free fall of gravity. At this time, an elastic reset member may be provided between the second receiving member 120 and the third receiving member 130 to reset the second receiving member 120. Alternatively, a second receiving member driving structure may be adopted, such as a second receiving member driving cylinder driving the second receiving member 120 to slide on the bracket, which is a reliable structure.

[0076] Further, the side wall of the feed channel 111 is provided with a first guide portion extending axially toward the second receiving member 120, the first limiting protrusion 122-1 is formed on the side wall of the second receiving member 120, the first guide portion is formed as a ratchet extending axially, and the first limiting groove 112 is formed at the root of the ratchet teeth of the first guide portion; the second limiting protrusion 122-2 is formed on the side wall of the second receiving member 120, the side wall of the feed channel 131 is provided with a second guide portion extending axially toward the second receiving member 120, the second guide portion is formed as a ratchet extending axially, and the second limiting groove 132 is formed at the root of the ratchet teeth of the second guide portion. The first limiting protrusion 122-1 and the second limiting protrusion 122-2 are both provided with a rotating bearing, the axis of the rotating bearing is perpendicular to the axis of the first receiving member 110, and the rotating bearing is suitable for sliding along the inclined surface of the corresponding ratchet teeth.

[0077] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, even if the third receiving member 130 is rotated, the limiting protrusion can slide along the inclined surface of the corresponding ratchet tooth, thereby guiding the limiting protrusion to cooperate with the limiting groove.

[0078] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second receiving member 120 includes a sliding seat 123 and a rotating part, the rotating part is rotatably mounted on the sliding seat 123, the rotating part is hollow to form a receiving channel, the feeding bracket includes a slide rail 109 extending in the axial direction, and the sliding seat 123 is slidably matched with the slide rail 109. For example, the slide rail 109 is a guide column, and a sliding sleeve (not shown in the figure) is provided on the sliding seat 123, and the sliding seat 123 can slide reliably by sliding the sliding sleeve on the guide column.

[0079] The feeding bracket further includes a first mounting plate 107 and a second mounting plate 108, the first mounting plate 107 and the second mounting plate 108 are spaced apart in the axial direction, the slide rail 109 is installed between the first mounting plate 107 and the second mounting plate 108, the first mounting plate 107 is provided with a first through hole, the second mounting plate 108 is provided with a second through hole, the first through hole is hollowly sleeved outside the first receiving member 110, the second through hole is hollowly sleeved outside the third receiving member 130, and the slide rail 109 is installed between the first mounting plate 107 and the second mounting plate 108. The first elastic reset member stops between the second mounting plate 108 and the sliding seat 123 to keep the second limiting protrusion 122-2 out of the second limiting groove 132 under normal conditions.

[0080] In another specific embodiment, the posture adjustment mechanism can be a hollow rod-like structure, which includes a feeding part and a guiding part arranged in sequence, at least a part of the feeding part forms a feeding channel 131, the guiding part is configured to be a flared shape, and the guiding part includes a first end arranged close to the feeding part and a second end arranged away from the feeding part, the cross-sectional shape of the first end is consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the rod 8, and the cross-sectional shape of the second end is circular, and the first end and the second end are transitioned through a transition surface, so that even if the rod is a square, under the guidance of the transition surface, the posture of the rod can be gradually adjusted to a preset posture so as to enter the feeding channel 11.

[0081] like Figure 8As shown, it also includes a material pressing device, which includes a material pressing base 310, a material pressing bracket 320 and a material pressing head 330. The material pressing bracket 320 includes a mounting plate and a mounting frame. The mounting plate is slidably mounted on the material pressing base 310 along a first direction, and the mounting frame is slidably mounted on the mounting plate along a second direction. The material pressing head 330 is mounted on the mounting frame. The first direction is the axial direction of the material conveying channel 11, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. It can be understood that the pressing head 330 can extend into the upstream of the feed channel 111 along the second direction when necessary, and then apply a certain pressure to the rod 8 in the feed channel 111 along the first direction, so that one end of the rod 8 can pass through the feed channel 111, the receiving channel and the feeding channel 131 in sequence, and then enter the driving channel 40 formed between the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing tooth 22. After the first feeding meshing tooth 21 and the second feeding meshing tooth 22 rotate relative to each other to engage the rod 8, the pressing head 330 can return to the original path.

[0082] In one embodiment, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 As shown, the bar bin can be located beside the friction material adding device, and the bar transfer device is arranged between the bar bin and the friction material adding device, so that the bar transfer device can clamp the bar 8 from the bar bin through, for example, a clamping mechanism 200 arranged on a manipulator. For example, the bar 8 is placed vertically in the bar bin, and a plurality of bars 8 are arranged at intervals. The clamping mechanism 200 clamps the bar 8 and lifts it upward, then rotates a certain angle, and then extends into the upstream of the feed channel 111 along the second direction. The clamping mechanism 200 is released, and the bar 8 falls freely into the feed channel 111, and then the pressing head 330 starts to work.

[0083] The above description explains that the third receiving member 130 can be rotatably arranged. When the third receiving member 130 is rotatably arranged, a second material guide structure is also provided in order to receive, for example, a square bar. For example, a portion of the feed channel 111 forms the second material guide structure, and the second material guide structure is used to guide the bar 8 to a preset state. Specifically, the second material guide structure can be in the shape of a flared opening, with a circular cross-sectional shape at one end and a cross-sectional shape at the other end consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the bar, for example, a square. The first end and the second end are transitioned by a transition surface, so that, for example, a square bar can be gradually adjusted to a preset posture through the guidance of the transition surface and then enter the feed channel 111.

[0084] The control method of the friction stir additive manufacturing device will be described in detail below. The device has the friction stir additive manufacturing device described above, wherein the control method includes:

[0085] S1: Check whether there are bars stored in the bar bin;

[0086] S2: If yes, drive the clamping mechanism to clamp the bar material and transfer it to the feeding channel, and the axis of the bar material coincides with the axis of the feeding channel;

[0087] S3: Loosen the bar material, and use the posture adjustment mechanism to adjust the posture of the bar material so that the posture of the bar material is consistent with the posture of the feeding channel;

[0088] S4: The bar driving device drives the bar in the feeding channel into the conveying channel.

[0089] Before step S4, the bar is pressed down by a pressing device so that the bar in the feeding channel enters the bar driving device, and the bar driving device drives the bar into the feeding channel.

[0090] Specifically, after detecting that there is a bar 8 in the bar bin, the clamping mechanism 200 starts to clamp the bar, and then transfers it to the top of the first receiving member 110. The clamping mechanism 200 releases the bar, and the clamping mechanism 200 returns to its original position. The bar falls freely and enters the feeding channel 111 and the receiving channel. The pressing device works, and the second receiving member 120 and the receiving channel fall accordingly. During the falling process, the second limiting protrusion 122-2 on the second receiving member 120 is stuck in the second limiting groove 132, so that the receiving channel Consistent with the posture of the feeding channel 131, the rod continues to enter the feeding channel 131, and then enters the driving channel 40 formed between the first feeding engaging member and the second feeding engaging member through the feeding channel 131, driving the rod to continue to move along the first direction, the first feeding engaging member and the second feeding engaging member rotate relative to each other to engage the rod, and continue to drive the rod to continue to move along the axial direction of the feeding channel 11, the rod enters the feeding channel 11, and then stirs and rubs with the substrate 9 to achieve stir friction additive.

[0091] After the rod material has completely passed through the receiving channel, the second receiving member 120 can move toward the first receiving member 110. During the movement, the first limiting protrusion 122-1 can be inserted into the first limiting groove 112, so that the posture of the receiving channel is consistent with the posture of the feeding channel 111. In this way, the rod material can continue to enter the receiving channel from the feeding channel 111, and the cycle continues.

[0092] In the above-mentioned feeding process, the pressing head 330 of the pressing device resets after reaching the lower limit position, and the clamping mechanism 200 clamps and conveys the next bar material, and the cycle continues.

[0093] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0094] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0095] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is to be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and vary the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device, It is characterized in that include: A friction material adding device, the friction material adding device comprising a rotatable main shaft, the main shaft is hollow to form a material feeding channel for accommodating rod materials; A feeding device, the feeding device is located upstream of the friction material adding device, the feeding device includes a posture adjustment mechanism, the posture adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the posture of the rod to a preset posture, the posture adjustment mechanism includes a feeding channel, the feeding channel is coaxially arranged with the feed channel, wherein the rod in the preset posture can enter the feed channel through the feeding channel; A rod driving device, the rod driving device is located between the friction material adding device and the feeding device, and is used to receive the rod in the feeding channel and drive the rod to move in the feeding channel along the axial direction of the feeding channel; A bar material transfer device, the bar material transfer device comprising a clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism is suitable for transferring the bar material to the feeding channel; A bar bin, the bar bin is used to store bar materials; the clamping mechanism is suitable for moving between the bar bin and the feeding device to transfer the bar materials in the bar bin to the feeding channel; The bar material driving device at least comprises a first feeding engagement member and a second feeding engagement member which are arranged correspondingly, wherein the first feeding engagement member and the second feeding engagement member are arranged at intervals along the radial direction of the first feeding engagement member, and form a driving channel corresponding to the feeding channel; The feeding device comprises a feeding bracket, a first receiving member, a second receiving member and a third receiving member, the second receiving member and the third receiving member are rotatably mounted on the feeding bracket, and the axes of the first receiving member, the second receiving member and the third receiving member are collinear; the first receiving member is hollow to form a feeding channel, the second receiving member is hollow to form a receiving channel, and the third receiving member is hollow to form the feeding channel, the first receiving member, the second receiving member and the third receiving member are sequentially arranged at intervals along the axis of the feeding channel, and the second receiving member is slidably mounted on the feeding bracket along the axis of the feeding channel, so that the feeding channel, the receiving channel and the feeding channel can be selectively connected; wherein the feeding channel is arranged corresponding to the driving channel; The first receiving member is provided with a first limiting groove, the second receiving member is provided with a first limiting protrusion and a second limiting protrusion, and the third receiving member is provided with a second limiting groove. When the second receiving member moves toward the first receiving member, the first limiting protrusion can be inserted into the first limiting groove, and when the second receiving member moves toward the third receiving member, the second limiting protrusion can be inserted into the second limiting groove. The side wall of the feed channel is provided with a first guide portion extending axially toward the second receiving member, the first limiting protrusion is formed on the side wall of the second receiving member, the first guide portion is formed as a ratchet extending axially, and the first limiting groove is formed at the root of the ratchet of the first guide portion.

2. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The rod driving device includes a driving bracket, which is connected to the main shaft, the first feeding meshing member is a first feeding meshing tooth, and the second feeding meshing member is a second feeding meshing tooth. The driving bracket is provided with the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth which are arranged opposite to each other, and the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth are arranged at a radial interval along the first feeding meshing tooth to form a driving channel, and the driving channel is used to receive the rod in the feeding channel, and the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth drive the rod to move in the feeding channel along the axial direction of the feeding channel.

3. The device according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The rod driving device also includes a first worm and a second worm, and the first worm and the second worm are respectively meshed with the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth; the first worm and the second worm are both arranged on the driving bracket, and the axes of the first worm and the second worm are parallel to the axis of the feeding channel, and the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth are arranged between the first worm and the second worm, and the axes of the first feeding meshing tooth and the second feeding meshing tooth are both perpendicular to the axis of the feeding channel.

4. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that A second guide portion extending axially toward the second receiving member is provided on the side wall of the feeding channel, the second limiting protrusion is formed on the side wall of the second receiving member, the second guide portion is formed as a ratchet extending axially, and the second limiting groove is formed at the root of the ratchet of the second guide portion.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that It also includes a pressing device, which includes a pressing base, a pressing bracket and a pressing head. The pressing bracket includes a mounting plate and a mounting frame. The mounting plate is slidably mounted on the pressing base along a first direction, and the mounting frame is slidably mounted on the mounting plate along a second direction. The pressing head is mounted on the mounting frame, wherein the first direction is the axial direction of the feed channel, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

6. A control method for a continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device, It is characterized in that The continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device is the continuous feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and the control method comprises the following steps: S1: Detect whether there are bars stored in the bar bin; S2: If yes, drive the clamping mechanism to clamp the bar material and transfer it to the feeding channel, and the bar material and the axis of the feeding channel coincide with each other; S3: Loosen the bar material, and use a posture adjustment mechanism to adjust the posture of the bar material so that the posture of the bar material is consistent with the posture of the feeding channel; S4: driving the rods in the feeding channel into the conveying channel through the rod driving device.

7. The method according to claim 6, It is characterized in that Before step S4, the bar is pressed down by a pressing device so that the bar in the feeding channel enters the bar driving device, and the bar driving device drives the bar into the feeding channel.

Images