3D continuous printing device and method for manufacturing surface elastic body of optical fiber sensor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a 3D continuous printing device and printing method for manufacturing surface elastomers for optical fiber sensors, wherein the printing device includes an optical fiber fixture, a material storage device, a solidifier, a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform and a control device; the optical fiber fixture is provided with an optical fiber, the material storage device is sleeved on the optical fiber, the solidifier is arranged below the material storage device and directly faces the optical fiber, the solidifier is movably connected to the material storage device, the material storage device is movably connected to the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, and the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform is electrically connected to the control device. The device and method of the present invention can realize continuous 3D printing of elastic structures with various spatial three-dimensional shape characteristics on the surface of optical fiber, providing a new technical platform for the manufacture of various optical fiber sensor elastomers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical fiber sensor manufacturing, and more specifically, to a 3D continuous printing device and method for manufacturing an optical fiber sensor surface elastic body. Background Art

[0002] Fiber optic sensors have been widely used in many sensing and measurement fields due to their advantages such as small size, high sensitivity, one-line multi-point, multi-physical quantity perception, strong anti-interference ability, and good safety performance. Common fiber optic sensors such as FBG, FP, and MZ interferometric fiber optic sensors are only sensitive to temperature and strain and cannot perceive other physical quantities. In order to measure other physical quantities such as pressure, humidity, and leakage, it is necessary to design various elastic structures on the surface of the optical fiber. The shape and size of the elastomer seriously affect the sensitivity, range, and linearity of the fiber optic sensor to various physical quantities such as pressure, humidity, and leakage. Li et al. (Xiaojin L, Min Z, Dan H, et al. Advantageous Strain Sensing Performances of FBG Strain Sensors Equipped with Planar UV-Curable Resin [J]. Sensors, 2023, 23 (5): 2811-2811.) used the mold method to encapsulate the FBG in a rectangular UV-curable resin with a flat plane. After strain and temperature tests, it was found that the strain measurement range of the optical fiber FBG sensor with this elastomer structure was significantly expanded, the high temperature sensitivity was enhanced, and the measurement linear performance was excellent. Ren et al. (Ren Y, Song H, Cai Q, et al. Modeling analysis and experimental study on epoxy packaged FBG sensor for cryogenic temperature measurement [J]. Optical Fiber Technology, 2024, 84103710-.) used the mold method to produce an optical fiber FBG sensor with a cylindrical epoxy resin elastomer structure. After testing, its low temperature sensitivity and linearity performed well.

[0003] The mold method is one of the most commonly used methods for manufacturing fiber optic sensor elastomers. However, the mold making and demolding processes are very difficult, and the demolding process is very likely to cause surface defects of the elastomer. In addition, the mold method cannot manufacture elastomer structures with complex shapes, and the relative positions are not easy to accurately control when multiple materials are composited. Therefore, in the field of fiber optic sensor manufacturing, there is an urgent need for a manufacturing method and device that can deposit materials on demand on a cylindrical optical fiber surface (curved surface).

[0004] There is also an online coating method for manufacturing optical fiber surface materials, which is to add a hot coating machine in the middle of the optical fiber drawing tower during the optical fiber preparation stage. When the optical fiber is pulled out from the preform rod and passes through the hot coating machine, a layer of polymer material is attached to the surface of the optical fiber. This device allows the optical fiber to continuously pass through the hot coating machine, and a uniform plastic coating layer will be continuously produced on the surface of the optical fiber. This plastic coating layer is mainly used to enhance the strength and waterproofness of the optical fiber. It is generally used for communication optical fiber and cannot be used for the preparation of elastomers on the surface of optical fiber sensors. In the drawing continuous coating manufacturing device, the coating machine does not move, the optical fiber continuously passes through the coating machine, and the optical fiber completes the surface coating in the coating machine. Due to the limitations of the structure and function of the device, this device cannot realize the free change of the shape of the optical fiber surface polymer, nor can it realize repeated coating. Therefore, it cannot produce elastomers of complex shapes on the surface of the optical fiber, and can only be used for radial thickening of the coating layer.

[0005] 3D printing technology has the advantages of high freedom of innovative design, strong material diversity, fast production, and cross-industry application in the field of additive manufacturing. It can realize the rapid manufacturing of complex shapes and has been applied in many fields. However, traditional 3D printing technology deposits materials on a plane and stacks them layer by layer to form complex shapes. There is no corresponding technical solution for how to deposit materials on the cylindrical curved surface of optical fiber and stack them on demand to manufacture sensor elastomers. The deposition plane of traditional planar 3D printing technology is perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the sediment is easy to adhere to the plane and does not flow. However, if the optical fiber filament is placed horizontally like a flat plate and the material is printed on its surface, the deposited material will easily flow down along the cylindrical surface and cannot be accurately formed. Therefore, traditional 3D printing technology cannot be directly applied to the production of elastomers on the surface of optical fiber filaments as thin as hair. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a 3D continuous printing device and method for the manufacture of surface elastomers for optical fiber sensors, which realizes the continuous 3D printing of elastomer structures with various spatial three-dimensional shape characteristics on the surface of optical fiber, and provides a new technical platform for the manufacture of various optical fiber sensor elastomers.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is: constructing a 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing surface elastomers of optical fiber sensors, including an optical fiber fixture, a material storage device, a curing device, a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform and a control device; the optical fiber fixture is clamped with an optical fiber, the material storage device is sleeved on the optical fiber, the curing device is arranged below the material storage device and faces the optical fiber, the curing device is movably connected to the material storage device, the material storage device is movably connected to the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, and the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform is electrically connected to the control device.

[0008] According to the above solution, the optical fiber holder includes a guide rail component and a moving component. The guide rail component is vertically arranged on a horizontal workbench, and the moving component includes two components which are respectively arranged at the upper and lower ends of the guide rail component.

[0009] According to the above scheme, the guide rail component includes a guide rail, a base and a scale, the base is set on a horizontal workbench, the guide rail is vertically fixed on the base, and the scale is set on the surface of the guide rail; the moving component includes a slider, a micro-motion device and an optical fiber clamp, the slider is clamped on the guide rail, the micro-motion device is set on the upper part of the slider and fixedly connected to the slider, and the optical fiber clamp is fixedly set on the right side of the slider.

[0010] According to the above scheme, the reservoir is used to hold the raw materials of 3D printed elastomers; a flow-conducting hole is provided at the bottom of the reservoir, and the flow-conducting hole is used to control the spatial cross-sectional shape of the printed elastomer, and the cross-sectional contour shape of the through hole is a closed curve pattern of a circle, rectangle, polygon or ellipse.

[0011] According to the above scheme, the curing device is used to cure the liquid 3D printing material passing through the through hole of the storage device to form the surface elastomer of the optical fiber sensor; the curing device is an ultraviolet light irradiator, a heater or a cooler.

[0012] According to the above scheme, the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform and the control device are used to control the relative position between the optical fiber and the guide hole of the material storage device, the flow direction and flow rate of the printing material in real time;

[0013] The three-degree-of-freedom motion platform includes an independent motion mechanism in three directions of X, Y, and Z, a motor, and a drive circuit, wherein the independent motion mechanism in three directions of X, Y, and Z can perform independent or combined motion in three directions of X, Y, and Z;

[0014] The control device includes a motion controller and an operation panel. The motion trajectory of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform is determined by inputting a motion command signal to the motion controller on the operation panel. The motion command signal is transmitted to the drive circuit to drive the motor, and the motor drives the independent motion mechanisms in the X, Y, and Z directions to complete the motion command.

[0015] According to the above scheme, after the motion instruction program is input on the operation panel of the control device, the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform will drive the stocker to perform three-dimensional motion in space. The 3D printing raw materials in the stocker flow out through the guide holes at the bottom of the stocker and adhere to the surface of the optical fiber to be processed, and are solidified by the solidifier at the bottom of the stocker to form a solid elastomer attached to the surface of the optical fiber.

[0016] According to the above scheme, the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform and control device can use the program to control the relative position between the optical fiber and the flow hole of the reservoir and the flow direction and flow rate of the printing material in real time. The cross-sectional shape of the flow hole at the bottom of the reservoir is used to control the spatial cross-sectional shape characteristics of the printed elastomer. The functional coupling of the two realizes continuous 3D printing of elastomer structures with different three-dimensional shapes in space on the surface of the optical fiber sensor.

[0017] The present invention also provides a 3D continuous printing method for manufacturing a surface elastic body of an optical fiber sensor, using the 3D continuous printing device, comprising the following steps:

[0018] S1, passing the optical fiber of the surface elastic body to be printed vertically through the bottom through hole of the stocker and fixing it on the optical fiber holder;

[0019] S2. storing sufficient fluid 3D printing materials in the stocker;

[0020] S3, open the curing device;

[0021] S4, using a program to control a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform to allow the 3D printing material to be deposited along the optical fiber surface according to a set program trajectory;

[0022] S5. The spatial three-dimensional shape of the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor is precisely controlled by adjusting the hole type of the guide hole of the storage device, the motion trajectory of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, the outflow and curing speed of the raw material.

[0023] According to the above solution, in step S2, the material of the storage container is selected according to the physical and chemical properties and curing method of the liquid elastomer material.

[0024] According to the above scheme, it is characterized in that the material of the optical fiber is silica or polymer.

[0025] According to the above scheme, the material of the 3D printing raw material is a solidified fluid material of a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer, a polymer monomer before polymerization, a liquid metal or a liquid mixture slurry.

[0026] The 3D continuous printing device and method for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0027] 1. The present invention overcomes the technical problem that traditional 3D printing cannot deposit flowing liquid materials on the surface of filaments or thin cylinders, and realizes continuous 3D printing of elastomer structures on the surface of optical fibers. The device is suitable for the manufacture of a variety of raw materials. The spatial three-dimensional shape characteristics of the elastomer structure are rich and diverse, the manufacturing completion degree is high, and the surface defects of the structure are few;

[0028] 2. The present invention creatively changes the traditional 3D printing deposition direction, and changes the fiber placement direction to vertical placement, that is, consistent with the gravity direction, so that the material accumulation direction changes from top to bottom to horizontal coating, and then proposes a new 3D continuous printing device and method for the manufacture of surface elastomers for optical fiber sensors, which realizes the continuous 3D printing of elastomer structures with various spatial three-dimensional shape characteristics on the surface of optical fiber, and provides a new technical platform for the manufacture of various optical fiber sensor elastomers;

[0029] 3. The present invention can realize the manufacture of optical fiber sensors for measuring different types of objects to be measured by actually adjusting the material of the elastomer, and realize the manufacture of elastomers with various spatial three-dimensional morphological characteristics by inputting different 3D printing running programs, so as to further improve the performance of optical fiber sensors and expand their application scenarios;

[0030] 4. The present invention can realize continuous 3D printing of elastomeric structures with various spatial three-dimensional morphological features on the surface of optical fiber, further improving the diversity and feasibility of the elastomeric structures of optical fiber sensors, increasing the measurement types of optical fiber sensors, and providing a new technical platform for the manufacture of various optical fiber sensor elastomers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing an elastic body on the surface of an optical fiber sensor according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the optical fiber holder of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cylindrical ultraviolet-curing resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 1 of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of a rectangular UV-curable resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 2 of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of an elliptical cylindrical ultraviolet-curing resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 3 of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6Schematic diagram of the structure of a truncated cone-shaped ultraviolet-curing resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 4 of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of an eccentric cylindrical ultraviolet-cured resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 5 of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of a curved cylindrical ultraviolet-cured resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 6 of the present invention;

[0040] Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of a cylindrical epoxy resin elastomer optical fiber according to Example 7 of the present invention;

[0041] In the figure: 1. optical fiber holder, 2. material storage device, 3. curing device, 4. three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, 5. control device, 101. guide rail component, 102. moving component, 101-1. guide rail, 101-2. base, 101-3. scale, 102-1. slider, 102-2. micro-motion device, 102-3. optical fiber clamp, 501. motion controller, 502. operation panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to have a clearer understanding of the technical features, purposes and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] like Figure 1-9 As shown, the 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastomer of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention includes an optical fiber holder 1, a stocker 2, a curing device 3, a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 and a control device 5; the optical fiber holder 1 is clamped with an optical fiber, the stocker 2 is sleeved on the optical fiber, the curing device 3 is arranged below the stocker 2 and directly facing the optical fiber, the curing device 3 is movably connected to the stocker 2, the stocker 2 is movably connected to the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4, and the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 is electrically connected to the control device 5.

[0044] The optical fiber holder 1 comprises a guide rail component 101 and a moving component 102 . The guide rail component 101 is vertically arranged on a horizontal workbench, and the moving component 102 comprises two moving components 102 which are respectively arranged at the upper and lower ends of the guide rail component 101 .

[0045] The guide rail component 101 includes a guide rail 101-1, a base 101-2 and a scale 101-3. The base 101-2 is arranged on a horizontal workbench, the guide rail 101-1 is vertically fixed on the base 101-2, and the scale 101-3 is arranged on the surface of the guide rail 101-1. The length of the fixed optical fiber is measured by the scale 101-3.

[0046] The moving part 102 includes a slider 102-1, a micro-motion device 102-2 and a fiber clamp 102-3. The slider 102-1 is clamped on the guide rail 101-1. The micro-motion device 102-2 is arranged on the upper part of the slider 102-1 and is fixedly connected to the slider 102-1. The fiber clamp 102-3 is fixedly arranged on the right side of the slider 102-1. The fiber clamp 102-3 is located at the upper and lower ends of the guide rail 101-1 and is used to clamp the optical fiber. The micro-motion device 102-2 is used to slightly adjust the clamp position, adjust the length, tension and posture of the clamped optical fiber in space.

[0047] The stock container 2 is used to hold the raw materials of the 3D printed elastomer; a flow-conducting hole is provided at the bottom of the stock container 2, and the flow-conducting hole is used to control the spatial cross-sectional shape of the printed elastomer, and the cross-sectional contour shape of the through hole is a closed curve pattern of a circle, rectangle, polygon or ellipse.

[0048] The curing device 3 is used to cure the liquid 3D printing material passing through the through hole of the storage device 2 to form the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor; the curing device 3 is an ultraviolet light irradiator, a heater or a cooler.

[0049] The three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 and the control device 5 are used to control the relative position between the optical fiber and the guide hole of the stocker 2, the flow direction and flow rate of the printing material in real time. The three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 includes an independent motion mechanism in the three directions of X, Y, and Z, a motor, and a drive circuit; the independent motion mechanism in the three directions of X, Y, and Z can perform independent or joint motion in the three directions of X, Y, and Z. The control device 5 includes a motion controller 501 and an operation panel 502. The motion trajectory of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 is obtained by inputting a motion command signal to the motion controller 501 on the operation panel 502, and the motion command signal is transmitted to the drive circuit to drive the motor, and the motor drives the independent motion mechanism in the three directions of X, Y, and Z to complete the motion command.

[0050] The present invention also provides a 3D continuous printing method for manufacturing a surface elastic body of an optical fiber sensor, using the 3D continuous printing device, comprising the following steps:

[0051] S1. Pass the optical fiber with the surface elastic body to be printed through the bottom through hole of the stocker 2 in the vertical direction and fix it on the optical fiber holder 1; the material of the optical fiber is silicon dioxide or polymer.

[0052] S2. Store enough fluid 3D printing raw materials in the stocker 2. The material of the stocker 2 is selected according to the physical and chemical properties of the liquid elastomer material and the curing method; the material of the 3D printing raw material is a solidified fluid material of a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer, a pre-polymer monomer, a liquid metal or a liquid mixture slurry.

[0053] S3, open the curing device 3;

[0054] S4, using a program to control the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 to allow the 3D printing material to be deposited along the surface of the optical fiber according to a set program trajectory;

[0055] S5. The spatial three-dimensional shape of the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor is precisely controlled by adjusting the hole type of the guide hole of the stocker 2, the motion trajectory of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4, the outflow of the raw material and the curing speed.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stocker 2 has a certain depth for containing the raw materials of the 3D printed elastomer; the bottom of the stocker 2 is provided with flow-conducting holes of various cross-sectional shapes for controlling the cross-sectional shape of the printed elastomer space, and the cross-sectional contour of the through-hole can be a circle, rectangle, polygon, ellipse, or other closed curve patterns surrounded by curves. The curing device 3 can be an ultraviolet irradiator, a heater, or a cooler for curing the liquid 3D printed raw materials passing through the through-hole of the stocker 2 to form the surface elastomer of the optical fiber sensor.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 and a control device 5 are used to control the relative position between the optical fiber and the guide hole of the storage device 2 and the flow direction and flow rate of the printing material in real time, including an independent motion mechanism in the three directions of X, Y, and Z, a motor and a drive circuit, a motion controller 501, and an operation panel 502; the independent motion mechanism in the three directions of X, Y, and Z can perform independent or joint motion in the three directions of X, Y, and Z, and its specific motion trajectory is achieved by inputting motion instructions to the motion controller 501 on the operation panel 502, and the instruction signal is transmitted to the drive circuit to drive the motor, and the motor drives the three-directional motion mechanism to complete the motion instruction.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positional relationship of the various instruments of the 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastomer of the optical fiber sensor is as follows: the optical fiber holder 1 is placed vertically on a horizontal workbench, and the optical fiber to be processed is clamped by the optical fiber holder 1; the stocker 2 containing the 3D printing raw material is placed between the upper and lower clamps of the optical fiber holder 1, and the optical fiber to be processed is passed through the bottom through hole of the stocker 2; the curing device 3 is located below the stocker 2, and the distance between the two can be adjusted and fixed, and the 3D printing raw material flowing out of the bottom of the stocker 2 can be cured; the stocker 2 is connected to the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4, and can realize free movement in the three directions of X, Y, and Z in space with the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4; the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 is connected to the control device 5, and can move under program control.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movement mode of each device of the 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor is as follows: after the motion instruction program is input on the operation panel 502 of the control device 5, the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 will drive the stocker 2 to perform three-dimensional movement in space. The 3D printing raw material in the stocker 2 flows out through the guide hole at the bottom of the stocker 2 and adheres to the surface to be processed, and is solidified by the solidifier 3 located at the bottom of the stocker 2 to form a solid elastic body attached to the surface of the optical fiber. The three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 and the control device 5 can use the program to control the relative position between the optical fiber and the guide hole of the stocker 2 and the flow direction and flow rate of the printing material in real time. The cross-sectional shape of the guide hole at the bottom of the stocker 2 is used to control the spatial cross-sectional shape characteristics of the printed elastic body. The functional coupling of the two realizes the continuous 3D printing of elastic body structures with different spatial three-dimensional shapes on the surface of the optical fiber sensor.

[0060] Example 1

[0061] The method comprises the following steps: manufacturing a cylindrical ultraviolet curing resin elastomer on the surface of an optical fiber by using a 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing an optical fiber sensor surface elastomer of the present invention;

[0062] S1. Assemble and place the optical fiber holder 1 on a horizontal workbench, install the stocker 2 on a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4, install the curing device 3 below the stocker 2 and adjust the distance between them. The cross-section of the guide hole at the bottom of the stocker 2 is circular with a diameter of 1 mm.

[0063] S2, clean the part of the silica optical fiber to be printed and pass it through the bottom through hole of the stocker 2, then fix it on the optical fiber holder 1, adjust the length and verticality of the optical fiber, and adjust the optical fiber to the center position of the through hole of the stocker 2;

[0064] S3, injecting an appropriate amount of ultraviolet curing resin into the storage container 2;

[0065] S4, turn on the curing device 3; input the motion program of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 on the operation panel 502 of the control device 5, so as to keep still in the X and Y directions and make uniform linear motion in the Z direction; the printing length is 100 mm, and the printing speed is constant at 1000 mm / min;

[0066] S1. After printing is completed, the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform 4 and the control device 5 are turned off, the curing device 3 is turned off, and the printed optical fiber is collected.

[0067] like Figure 3 The figure shows the structure of the cylindrical UV-curable resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 1, where AA is the axial cross-sectional view and BB is the radial cross-sectional view. The light-colored part in the figure is the optical fiber, the dark-colored part is the elastomer, the shape of the elastomer is a uniform cylinder, and the optical fiber is located at the central axis of the cylinder.

[0068] Example 2

[0069] A cuboid-shaped ultraviolet curing resin elastomer is manufactured on the surface of an optical fiber by using the 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastomer of an optical fiber sensor of the present invention. The difference from Example 1 is that:

[0070] The cross-sectional shape of the guide hole at the bottom of the stocker 2 is rectangular.

[0071] like Figure 4 The figure shows the structure of the rectangular UV-curable resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 2, wherein AA is an axial cross-sectional view and BB is a radial cross-sectional view. The light-colored part in the figure is the optical fiber, the dark-colored part is the elastomer, the shape of the elastomer is a uniform rectangular parallelepiped, and the optical fiber is located at the central axis of the rectangular parallelepiped.

[0072] Example 3

[0073] The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention is used to manufacture the elliptical cylindrical ultraviolet curing resin elastic body on the surface of the optical fiber. The difference from Example 1 is:

[0074] The cross-sectional shape of the flow-conducting hole at the bottom of the stocker 2 is an ellipse.

[0075] like Figure 5 The figure shows the structure of the elliptical cylindrical UV-curable resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 3, wherein AA is an axial cross-sectional view and BB is a radial cross-sectional view. The light-colored part in the figure is the optical fiber, the dark-colored part is the elastomer, the shape of the elastomer is a uniform rectangular parallelepiped, and the optical fiber is located at the central axis of the elliptical cylinder.

[0076] Example 4

[0077] The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention is used to manufacture the truncated cone-shaped ultraviolet curing resin elastic body on the surface of the optical fiber. The difference from Example 1 is that:

[0078] The stocker 2 makes a uniformly decelerated linear motion in the Z direction, with a printing start speed of 1000mm / min and an acceleration of 100mm / min2.

[0079] like Figure 6 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the uniform truncated cone-shaped UV-curable resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 4, wherein AA is an axial cross-sectional view, and BB and CC are radial cross-sectional views. The light-colored portion in the figure is the optical fiber, and the dark-colored portion is the elastomer. The shape of the elastomer is a uniform rectangular parallelepiped, and the optical fiber is located at the central axis of the truncated cone.

[0080] Example 5

[0081] The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention is used to manufacture an eccentric cylindrical ultraviolet curing resin elastic body on the surface of the optical fiber. The difference from Example 1 is that:

[0082] The optical fiber is located at an eccentric position of the guide hole at the bottom of the stocker 2.

[0083] like Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an eccentric cylindrical UV-curable resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 5, wherein AA is an axial cross-sectional view and BB is a radial cross-sectional view. The light-colored portion in the figure is the optical fiber, and the dark-colored portion is the elastomer. The shape of the elastomer is a uniform cylinder, and the optical fiber is located at an eccentric position of the cylinder.

[0084] Example 6

[0085] The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention is used to manufacture the curved cylindrical ultraviolet curing resin elastic body on the surface of the optical fiber. The difference from Example 1 is that:

[0086] The stocker 2 performs a uniform reciprocating motion in the X or Y direction within a certain range.

[0087] like Figure 8 The figure shows the structure of the curved cylindrical UV-cured resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 6, wherein AA is an axial cross-sectional view, and BB and CC are radial cross-sectional views. The light-colored portion in the figure is the optical fiber, and the dark-colored portion is the elastomer. The shape of the elastomer is a uniform curved cylinder, and the optical fiber is located at the central axis of the curved cylinder.

[0088] Example 7

[0089] The cylindrical epoxy resin elastomer is manufactured on the surface of the optical fiber by the 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastomer of the optical fiber sensor of the present invention. The difference from Example 1 is:

[0090] The 3D printing material is epoxy resin, and the curing device 3 is a ring heater.

[0091] like Fig. 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cylindrical epoxy resin elastomer optical fiber manufactured in Example 7, wherein AA is an axial cross-sectional view and BB is a radial cross-sectional view. The light-colored portion in the figure is the optical fiber, and the dark-colored oblique line portion is the elastomer. The shape of the elastomer is a uniform cylinder, and the optical fiber is located at the central axis of the cylinder.

[0092] The embodiments of the present invention are described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementation methods. The above-mentioned specific implementation methods are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the enlightenment of the present invention, ordinary technicians in this field can also make many forms without departing from the scope of protection of the purpose of the present invention and the claims, which all fall within the protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing surface elastic bodies of optical fiber sensors, characterized in that: The invention comprises an optical fiber holder, a material storage device, a curing device, a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform and a control device; the optical fiber holder is provided with an optical fiber, the material storage device is sleeved on the optical fiber, the curing device is arranged below the material storage device and faces the optical fiber, the curing device is movably connected to the material storage device, the material storage device is movably connected to the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, and the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform is electrically connected to the control device.

2. The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber holder comprises a guide rail component and a moving component. The guide rail component is vertically arranged on a horizontal workbench. The moving component comprises two parts and is respectively arranged at the upper and lower ends of the guide rail component.

3. The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guide rail component includes a guide rail, a base and a scale, the base is arranged on a horizontal workbench, the guide rail is vertically fixed on the base, and the scale is arranged on the surface of the guide rail; the moving component includes a slider, a micro-motion device and an optical fiber clamp, the slider is clamped on the guide rail, the micro-motion device is arranged on the upper part of the slider and fixedly connected to the slider, and the optical fiber clamp is fixedly arranged on the right side of the slider.

4. The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material storage container is used to hold the raw materials of the 3D printed elastomer; a flow-conducting hole is provided at the bottom of the material storage container, and the flow-conducting hole is used to control the spatial cross-sectional shape of the printed elastomer, and the cross-sectional contour shape of the through hole is a closed curve pattern of a circle, rectangle, polygon or ellipse.

5. The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that: The curing device is used to cure the liquid 3D printing material passing through the through hole of the material storage device to form the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor; the curing device is an ultraviolet light irradiator, a heater or a cooler.

6. The 3D continuous printing device for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The three-degree-of-freedom motion platform and the control device are used to control the relative position between the optical fiber and the guide hole of the material storage device, the flow direction and flow rate of the printing material in real time; The three-degree-of-freedom motion platform includes an independent motion mechanism in three directions of X, Y, and Z, a motor, and a drive circuit, wherein the independent motion mechanism in three directions of X, Y, and Z can perform independent or combined motion in three directions of X, Y, and Z; The control device includes a motion controller and an operation panel. The motion trajectory of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform is determined by inputting a motion command signal to the motion controller on the operation panel. The motion command signal is transmitted to the drive circuit to drive the motor, and the motor drives the independent motion mechanisms in the X, Y, and Z directions to complete the motion command.

7. A 3D continuous printing method for manufacturing a surface elastic body of an optical fiber sensor, using the 3D continuous printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1, passing the optical fiber of the surface elastic body to be printed vertically through the bottom through hole of the stocker and fixing it on the optical fiber holder; S2. storing sufficient fluid 3D printing materials in the stocker; S3, open the curing device; S4, using a program to control a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform to allow the 3D printing material to be deposited along the optical fiber surface according to a set program trajectory; S5. The spatial three-dimensional shape of the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor is precisely controlled by adjusting the hole type of the guide hole of the storage device, the motion trajectory of the three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, the outflow of raw materials and the curing speed.

8. The 3D continuous printing method for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 7, characterized in that: The optical fiber is made of silicon dioxide or polymer.

9. The 3D continuous printing method for manufacturing the surface elastic body of the optical fiber sensor according to claim 7, characterized in that: The material of the 3D printing raw material is a solidified fluid material of a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer, a polymer monomer before polymerization, a liquid metal or a liquid mixture slurry.

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