A metamaterial 3D printing device and printing method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a metamaterial 3D printing device and printing method, including an X-axis support structure, an X-axis slider slidably connected to the X-axis support structure, a connecting member 1 and a connecting member 2 vertically connected to the X-axis slider, an extrusion syringe sliding up and down slider slidably connected to the connecting member 1, a scraper head sliding up and down slider slidably connected to the connecting member 2, the extrusion syringe sliding up and down slider is connected to the extrusion syringe via an extrusion syringe fixing member, and the scraper head sliding up and down slider is connected to the scraper head via a scraper head fixing member; a deposition platform is installed on the Z-axis slider, and the deposition platform can move up and down relative to the extrusion syringe or the scraper head. A metamaterial 3D printing method includes the following steps: S1: using the extrusion syringe to deposit a first layer of material on the deposition platform according to a preset path; S2: using the scraper head to move directionally according to preset requirements on the deposited first layer of material, changing the morphology of the locally deposited material, and forming the required metamaterial structure with high stretchability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a metamaterial 3D printing device and a printing method. Background Art

[0002] Metamaterials are a general term for artificial materials with unique properties. These materials often do not exist in nature and possess properties that cannot be achieved by traditional artificial materials, such as altering the propagation properties of light, sound, and electromagnetic waves. Metamaterials are used in a variety of fields, including but not limited to electromagnetic wave control, acoustic wave control, optics, thermal engineering, mechanics, and biomedicine. The performance of metamaterials does not depend on changes in the material composition, but rather on the design of the structure, namely its geometric characteristics and size.

[0003] The difficulty in manufacturing metamaterials lies in the fabrication and precision control of complex structures, which limits the reproducibility of complex structural designs. Methods such as photolithography, stacking, nanoparticle assembly, and material synthesis often require highly sophisticated equipment and process conditions, and may also be limited by cost and scalability in practical applications.

[0004] Additive manufacturing (3D printing), as a digital fabrication technique, offers a completely new and unprecedented solution for the design and manufacture of metamaterials. Both 3D printing and metamaterials are considered disruptive technologies, and their combined innovative applications undoubtedly hold immense value. However, while manufacturing is relatively straightforward in 3D printing, the design of metamaterial structural units is relatively complex, making path planning more complex during the manufacturing process. This can negatively impact printing quality and efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To simplify the complex steps of designing metamaterial structural units, the present invention proposes a 3D printing manufacturing method and printing device for structured metamaterials with adjustable stretchability, which utilizes a movable scraper to change the morphology of unsolidified materials during the material extrusion 3D printing process.

[0006] A metamaterial 3D printing device includes an X-axis support structure, an X-axis slider is slidably connected to the X-axis support structure, a first connector and a second connector are vertically connected to the X-axis slider, an extrusion syringe vertically movable slider is slidably connected to the first connector, a scraper vertically movable slider is slidably connected to the second connector, the extrusion syringe vertically movable slider is connected to the extrusion syringe via an extrusion syringe fixing member, and the scraper vertically movable slider is connected to the scraper via a scraper fixing member; a deposition platform is mounted on the Z-axis slider, the deposition platform can move up and down relative to the extrusion syringe or the scraper head, the deposition platform is used to deposit material, and the scraper head is used to change the local morphology of the deposited material.

[0007] A metamaterial 3D printing method, applied to the above-mentioned metamaterial 3D printing device, comprises the following steps:

[0008] S1: Deposit the first layer of material on the deposition platform according to the preset path using an extrusion syringe;

[0009] S2: Use the scraper to move in a directional manner on the deposited first layer of material according to preset requirements, change the morphology of the locally deposited material, and form the required metamaterial structure with high stretchability.

[0010] Furthermore, in S2, the scraping head does not contact the deposition platform during the movement.

[0011] Furthermore, in said S1, the selected deposition material cannot be instantaneously solidified and formed after printing, including but not limited to silicone rubber, hydrogel, liquid crystal elastomer, etc.

[0012] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0013] Compared with existing 3D printing metamaterial methods, this method does not require the design of complex geometric shapes. By simply changing 3D printing process parameters (including filling rate, layer thickness, extrusion speed and movement speed, etc.) and controlling the sinking height and movement direction of the scraper head, it can achieve diversified design and manufacturing of metamaterials, improve manufacturing efficiency, and propose a new idea for metamaterial processing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the printing effect of Example 1 of the present invention (the arrow in the figure represents the direction of movement of the scraper);

[0016] Figure 3 This is a printing effect diagram of Example 2 of the present invention (negative Poisson's ratio structured metamaterial);

[0017] Figure 4 This is a printing effect diagram of Example 3 of the present invention (orthogonal multi-layer bent structured metamaterial);

[0018] Figure 5 This is a printing effect diagram of Example 4 of the present invention (60° angle multi-layer bent structured metamaterial).

[0019] In the figure: 1: X-axis support structure, 2: extrusion syringe, 3: X-axis slider, 4: extrusion syringe fixing part, 5: extrusion syringe up and down moving slider, 6: connecting part 1, 7: connecting part 2, 8: scraper head up and down moving slider, 9: scraper head fixing part, 10: scraper head, 11: deposition platform. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention provides a metamaterial 3D printing method and printing device. To make the objectives, technical solutions, and effects of the present invention more clear and explicit, the present invention is further described below in detail. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] A metamaterial 3D printing device includes an X-axis support structure 1, an X-axis slider 3 is slidably connected to the X-axis support structure 1, a connector 1 6 and a connector 2 7 are vertically connected to the X-axis slider 3, an extrusion syringe vertical movement slider 5 is slidably connected to the connector 1 6, a scraper head vertical movement slider 8 is slidably connected to the connector 2 7, the extrusion syringe vertical movement slider 5 is connected to the extrusion syringe fixed part 4, and the scraper head vertical movement slider 8 is connected to the scraper head fixed part 9; a deposition platform 11 is installed on the Z-axis slider, the deposition platform 11 can move up and down relative to the extrusion syringe 2 or the scraper head 10, the deposition platform 11 is used to deposit material, and the scraper head 10 is used to change the local morphology of the deposited material.

[0022] A metamaterial 3D printing method comprises the following steps:

[0023] S1: Using a needle with an inner diameter of 0.6 mm, the extrusion syringe 2 is used on the deposition platform 11 in a linear filling mode with a filling angle of 0°, a filling rate of 25%, a line spacing of 2.356 mm, and a layer thickness of 0.48 mm. The extrusion speed is matched with the movement speed to ensure that the extruded line width is 0.56-0.64 mm. The first layer of material is deposited as parameters;

[0024] S2: Use the scraper 10 to move in a straight line on the first layer of deposited material, perpendicular to the printing direction of the first layer of material (at an angle of 90 degrees), with a line spacing of 2.356mm. Set the height of the bottom end of the scraper 10 from the deposition platform 11 to be 0.1mm as a parameter for movement. The two adjacent movement directions are opposite. The material at the intersection is driven by the scraper 10 to change its shape, forming the required bent metamaterial structure with high stretchability. The process effect is as follows Figure 2 shown.

[0025] Embodiment 2 of the present invention:

[0026] A metamaterial 3D printing method comprises the following steps:

[0027] S1: Select light-curable resin-based ink as the material, use a needle with an inner diameter of 0.4 mm, and use the extrusion syringe 2 on the deposition platform 11 in a linear filling mode. The layer thickness is set to 0.3 mm, the angle is 0°, the filling rate is 25%, and the line spacing is 1.675 mm. The extrusion speed is matched with the movement speed to ensure that the extruded line width is 0.56-0.64 mm as the parameters to deposit the first layer of material;

[0028] S2: The scraper 10 is moved in a straight line on the deposited first layer of material, perpendicular to the printing direction of the first layer of material (at an angle of 90°), at a height of 0.05 mm from the deposition platform 11, and with a line spacing of 1.675 mm. The movement directions of two adjacent deposition lines are opposite, and the material at the intersection is driven by the scraper 10 to change its shape. Then, UV curing is performed to fix the shape of the first layer of material;

[0029] S3: Repeat S1 to S2 several times to form Figure 3 The negative Poisson's ratio structured metamaterial shown in the figure has the following process effects: Figure 3 As shown, the arrow direction represents the moving direction of the scraper head 10 at the intersection with the deposited material.

[0030] Embodiment 3 of the present invention:

[0031] A metamaterial 3D printing method comprises the following steps:

[0032] S1: The material is thermosetting PDMS ink, and a needle with an inner diameter of 0.6 mm is used. The first layer of material is deposited on the deposition platform 11 using the extrusion syringe 2 in a linear filling mode with a filling angle of 0°, a filling rate of 25%, a line spacing of 2.356 mm, and a layer thickness of 0.48 mm. The extrusion speed is matched with the moving speed to ensure that the extruded line width is 0.56-0.64 mm.

[0033] S2: Use extrusion syringe 2 to deposit the second layer of material in a linear filling mode on the first layer of material with a filling angle of 90°, a filling rate of 25%, a line spacing of 2.356 mm, a layer thickness of 0.48 mm, and an extrusion speed that matches the moving speed to ensure that the extrusion line width is 0.56-0.64 mm.

[0034] S3: The scraper 10 is moved in a straight line on the deposited second layer of material, parallel to the printing direction of the first layer of material (angle is 0°), at a height of 0.72 mm from the deposition platform 11, and with a line spacing of 2.356 mm. The two adjacent movement directions are opposite, and the deposited material at the intersection is driven by the scraper 10 to change its shape;

[0035] S4: Repeat S1 to S3 for 9 times to form the printed component, and then perform thermal curing to fix the final shape. Figure 4 shown.

[0036] In the above-mentioned S3, the height between the scraping head 10 and the deposition platform 11 must be 50% of the sum of the thickness of the first layer of material and the thickness of the second layer of material.

[0037] Embodiment 4 of the present invention:

[0038] A metamaterial 3D printing method comprises the following steps:

[0039] S1: The material is selected as heat-curing PDMS ink, and a needle with an inner diameter of 0.6 mm is used. The first layer of material is deposited on the deposition platform 11 using the extrusion syringe 2 in a linear filling mode with a filling angle of 0°, a filling rate of 25%, a line spacing of 2.356 mm, and a layer thickness of 0.48 mm. The extrusion speed is matched with the moving speed to ensure that the extruded line width is 0.56-0.64 mm.

[0040] S2: Use extrusion syringe 2 to deposit the second layer of material in a linear filling mode on the first layer of material with a filling angle of 60°, a filling rate of 25%, a line spacing of 2.356 mm, a layer thickness of 0.48 mm, and an extrusion speed that matches the moving speed to ensure that the extrusion line width is 0.56-0.64 mm.

[0041] S3: The scraper 10 is moved in a straight line on the deposited second layer of material, parallel to the printing direction of the first layer of material (angle is 0°), at a height of 0.72 mm from the deposition platform 11, and with a line spacing of 2.356 mm. The two adjacent movement directions are opposite, and the deposited material at the intersection is driven by the scraper 10 to change its shape;

[0042] S4: Repeat S1 to S3 for 9 times to form the printed component, and then perform thermal curing to fix the final shape. Figure 5 shown.

[0043] In the above-mentioned S3, the height between the scraping head 10 and the deposition platform 11 must be 50% of the sum of the thickness of the first layer of material and the thickness of the second layer of material.

Claims

1. A metamaterial 3D printing method, characterized by: The printing device used comprises an X-axis support structure (1), an X-axis slider (3) is slidably connected to the X-axis support structure (1), a connecting piece 1 (6) and a connecting piece 2 (7) are vertically connected to the X-axis slider (3), an extrusion syringe vertically movable slider (5) is slidably connected to the connecting piece 1 (6), a scraper vertically movable slider (8) is slidably connected to the connecting piece 2 (7), the extrusion syringe vertically movable slider (5) is connected to the extrusion syringe (2) via the extrusion syringe fixing piece (4), and the scraper vertically movable slider (8) is connected to the scraper (10) via the scraper fixing piece (9); a deposition platform (11) is mounted on the Z-axis slider, the deposition platform (11) can move up and down relative to the extrusion syringe (2) or the scraper (10), the deposition platform (11) is used to deposit materials, and the scraper (10) is used to change the local morphology of the deposited material; The steps include: S1: using an extrusion syringe (2) to deposit a first layer of material on a deposition platform (11) according to a preset path; S2: Using the scraper (10) to move in a direction according to preset requirements on the deposited first layer of material, the morphology of the locally deposited material is changed to form the desired metamaterial structure with high stretchability, and the scraper (10) does not contact the deposition platform (11) during the movement.

2. A metamaterial 3D printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S2, the selected deposition material cannot be instantly solidified and formed after printing, including silicone rubber, hydrogel or liquid crystal elastomer.

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