Centrifugal single-material photocuring 3D printing method and equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a centrifugal single-material photocuring 3D printing method and equipment. The equipment comprises a printer body, a rotating motor, a cleaning tank and a post-curing heat treatment tank; the rotating motor is fixedly connected with a printing platform of the printer body and used for driving the printing platform to rotate. A resin tank of the printer body is detachably arranged below the printing platform; the cleaning tank can be arranged at the station of the resin tank, so that after the rotary motor drives the printing platform to rotate to complete centrifugal operation and remove the resin tank, the cleaning tank can be arranged at the station, and the printing equipment executes cleaning operation that the cleaning tank is fixed and the printing platform and a printed piece rotate in cleaning liquid; the post-curing heat treatment tank is configured to be arranged at the station so that after the cleaning operation is completed and the cleaning tank is removed, the post-curing heat treatment tank can be arranged at the station for the printing equipment to execute post-curing heat treatment in which the post-curing heat treatment tank is fixed and the printing platform and the printed piece rotate in the post-curing heat treatment tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of photocuring 3D printing, and in particular to a centrifugal single-material photocuring 3D printing method and equipment. Background Art

[0002] The process of photocuring 3D printing includes three processes: printing → cleaning of printed parts → post-curing and heating of printed parts. After the first step of printing, a lot of resin will remain on the surface of the printed parts, so the second step is to clean the surface of the printed parts; after cleaning, the third step of post-curing and heating of printed parts is performed to improve the strength of the printed parts. Therefore, the process of photocuring 3D printing is usually very complicated, requiring not only a printer, but also an organic solvent cleaning machine and a post-curing heating machine, a total of three devices to complete the entire printing process. This not only makes the entire printing process cumbersome to operate, but also leads to a large number of equipment and high costs for the entire printing system. Summary of the invention

[0003] To this end, the present invention proposes an improved centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device, which can complete the complete printing process of printing, centrifugation, cleaning and post-curing heating on only one printer, solving the problems of complicated operating procedures, multiple equipment and high cost in existing light-curing 3D printing.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention proposes the following technical solutions:

[0005] A centrifugal single-material photocuring 3D printing device comprises a printer body, a rotating motor, a cleaning tank and a post-curing heat treatment tank; the rotating motor is fixedly connected to the printing platform of the printer body and is used to drive the printing platform to rotate; the resin tank of the printer body is detachably arranged under the printing platform; the cleaning tank is configured to be arranged at a station of the resin tank, so that after the rotating motor drives the printing platform to rotate to complete the centrifugal operation and remove the resin tank, it can be placed at the station for the printing device to perform a cleaning operation in which the cleaning tank is stationary and the printing platform and the printed part rotate in the cleaning liquid; the post-curing heat treatment tank is configured to be arranged at the station, so that after the cleaning operation is completed and the cleaning tank is removed, it can be placed at the station for the printing device to perform a post-curing heat treatment in which the post-curing heat treatment tank is stationary and the printing platform and the printed part rotate in the post-curing heat treatment tank.

[0006] Furthermore, the resin tank includes a bottom tank and a baffle, wherein the bottom tank is detachably fixed to a surface below the printing platform for containing printing resin and collecting residual resin during centrifugation; the baffle is used to be connected to the bottom tank during centrifugation to raise the side wall of the bottom tank.

[0007] Furthermore, the baffle is a frame-type baffle consistent with the contour of the bottom groove, and the height of the baffle is greater than the depth of the bottom groove; the frame-type baffle is configured to be nested inside the bottom groove.

[0008] Furthermore, the baffle is a frame-type baffle consistent with the contour of the bottom trough, and the frame-type baffle is configured to be connected to the top edge of the bottom trough.

[0009] Furthermore, the rotating motor is located above the printing platform; when performing the centrifugal operation, the cleaning operation, and the post-curing heat treatment, the rotating motor drives the printing platform to rotate at a first speed, a second speed, and a third speed, respectively; wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed and the third speed.

[0010] Furthermore, a curing lamp and an electric heating element are provided in the post-curing heat treatment tank; the curing lamp is symmetrically arranged on the inner wall of the post-curing heat treatment tank; the electric heating element is a resistance wire, which is arranged on the bottom of the post-curing heat treatment tank.

[0011] Furthermore, the rotary motor is located above the printing platform and is fixedly connected to the printing platform by a threaded connection.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes an outer shell cover which is openably connected to the printer body, and the printing platform, the rotary motor, the resin tank and its workstations can all be enclosed by the closed outer shell cover.

[0013] On the other hand, the present invention also proposes a centrifugal single-material photocuring 3D printing method, which is implemented using the aforementioned printing equipment. The printing method includes: driving the printing platform and the printed part thereon to rotate and centrifuge by the rotating motor to throw the residual resin on the surface into the resin tank for collection; removing the resin tank after centrifugation, placing a cleaning tank containing cleaning liquid at the working position of the resin tank, and driving the printing platform and the printed part thereon to rotate and clean in the cleaning liquid by the rotating motor; removing the cleaning tank after cleaning, placing the post-curing heat treatment tank at the working position of the resin tank, and driving the printing platform and the printed part thereon to rotate in the post-curing heat treatment tank by the rotating motor for post-curing and heating treatment.

[0014] Furthermore, after centrifugation is completed, the rotating motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lifted by the lifting motor of the printer body, and then the resin tank is removed, and the cleaning tank is placed on the work station, and the rotating motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lowered by the lifting motor so that the printing platform and the printed part are immersed in the cleaning liquid; after cleaning is completed, the rotating motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lifted by the lifting motor, and then the cleaning tank is removed, and the post-curing heat treatment tank is placed on the work station, and the rotating motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lowered by the lifting motor so that the printed part is in the post-curing heat treatment tank.

[0015] The beneficial effect of the technical solution of the present invention is reflected in that after the printed part is formed in the existing single-material light-curing 3D printing, the printed part with residual resin and the printing platform need to be placed in a cleaning machine (the second machine, the solvent inside will rotate evenly, produce small vortices, and fully contact the printed part and the printing platform) for cleaning. After cleaning, the printed part is placed in a post-curing-drying machine (the third machine, the printed part rotates in the machine, is evenly illuminated, and dried) to complete the entire printing process. The present invention installs a rotating motor above the printing platform. On the one hand, the rotating motor can drive the printing platform and the printed part to rotate and centrifuge before cleaning to collect most of the residual resin and avoid waste. On the other hand, based on the setting of the rotating motor to drive the printing platform to rotate synchronously, the present invention can realize the cleaning operation of rotating the printing platform and the printed part in the cleaning liquid by removing the resin tank and replacing it with a cleaning tank, without driving the cleaning liquid to rotate to generate a vortex, and no additional special cleaning equipment is required. Similarly, by removing the cleaning tank and replacing it with a post-curing heat treatment tank, the printing platform and the printed part can be rotated in the post-curing heat treatment tank for post-curing and heating, without the need for additional special post-processing equipment. Therefore, not only the residual resin is collected in an environmentally friendly way, but more importantly, the equipment of the single-material light-curing 3D printing cleaning system is greatly reduced and simplified, greatly reducing the printing cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 3D printing device of a centrifugal single-material light-curing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a resin tank of a centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a cleaning tank of a centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4Schematic diagram of a post-curing heat treatment tank of a centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the process of performing 3D printing by the centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Description of reference numerals:

[0022] 1- Printer body;

[0023] 2-housing cover;

[0024] 3- Printing platform;

[0025] 4-resin tank;

[0026] 41- bottom groove;

[0027] 42- baffle;

[0028] 5-Lifting motor;

[0029] 6- Optical machine;

[0030] 7- Rotating motor;

[0031] 8- cleaning tank;

[0032] 9-Post-curing heat treatment tank;

[0033] 91-Curing light;

[0034] 92-Electric heating element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods and examples. It should be understood that the purpose of providing the examples is only to illustrate, and not to impose any limitation.

[0036] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4The embodiment of the present invention provides a centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device, including a printer body 1, an outer shell cover 2, a printing platform 3, a resin tank 4, a lifting motor 5, an optical machine 6, a rotating motor 7, a cleaning tank 8 and a post-curing heat treatment tank 9. The outer shell cover 2 is connected to the printer body 1 in an openable manner, and its main function is to enclose the printing platform 3, the rotating motor 7 and the area where the resin tank is located. The rotating motor 7 is fixedly connected to the printing platform 3 and is used to drive the printing platform 3 to rotate. In this way, after the printed part is formed, the printing platform and the printed part thereon can be driven to rotate at high speed for centrifugal operation, and most of the residual resin can be thrown out and collected. The resin tank 4 is detachably arranged on a table below the printing platform 3, and the optical machine 6 is located below the table and can emit an ultraviolet beam upward to irradiate the resin in the resin tank 4. The printing platform 3 and the rotating motor 7 are fixed together on the lifting shaft of the lifting motor 5 to achieve vertical lifting. The cleaning tank 8 is used to hold a cleaning liquid, which can clean the uncured resin remaining on the printing platform and the printed part; the cleaning tank 8 can be configured at the station of the resin tank 4, so that after the rotating motor 7 drives the printing platform 3 to rotate to complete the centrifugal operation and remove the resin tank 4, the cleaning tank 8 can be placed at the resin tank station, and the printing platform 3 and the printed part are driven by the rotating motor 7 to rotate at a low speed in the cleaning liquid of the cleaning tank to perform a cleaning operation without driving the cleaning tank and the cleaning liquid to rotate. A curing lamp and an electric heating element are set in the post-curing heat treatment tank 9 for post-curing and heating the printed part; the post-curing heat treatment tank 9 can be configured at the station of the resin tank 4, so that after the rotating motor 7 drives the printing platform 3 to rotate to complete the cleaning operation and remove the cleaning tank 8, the post-curing heat treatment tank 9 can be placed at the resin tank station, and the printing platform 3 and the printed part are driven by the rotating motor 7 to rotate at a low speed again, and are evenly heated and post-cured in the post-curing heat treatment tank 9, and finally a printed part with higher strength is obtained. After completion, remove the post-curing heat treatment tank 9, install the resin tank again, and wait for the next round of printing.

[0037] The rotary motor of the embodiment of the present invention is located above the printing platform and is connected and fixed to the printing platform by means of, for example, threaded connection, so when the rotary motor rotates, the printing platform and the printed part formed on the printing platform will also rotate synchronously, and the rotary motor can control the rotation and rotation angle of the printing platform. When performing the above-mentioned centrifugal operation, cleaning operation, and post-curing heat treatment, the rotary motor can rotate at different speeds, such as the first speed during the centrifugal operation, the second speed during the cleaning operation, and the third speed during the post-curing heat treatment, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed and the third speed; further, the second speed is greater than the third speed.

[0038] like Figure 2As shown, in some preferred embodiments, the resin tank includes a bottom tank 41 and a baffle 42, and the bottom tank 41 is detachably fixed to the table below the printing platform 3. In this preferred embodiment, the bottom tank 41 contains liquid resin, and the baffle 42 may not be used during photocuring 3D printing. After the photocuring 3D printing forms the print, before centrifugation, the baffle 42 is installed on the bottom tank 41 to prevent the resin thrown out by the centrifugation from splashing outside the resin tank. In this way, the resin collected during centrifugation flows back to the resin tank, which is environmentally friendly and economical. In some exemplary embodiments, the baffle 42 is, for example, a frame-type baffle, which has a profile consistent with the bottom tank 41, and its height is greater than the depth of the bottom tank 41, and it is configured to be just nested inside the bottom tank 41, or it can be detachably fixed to the top edge of the bottom tank 41 to achieve the heightening of the side wall of the bottom tank 41.

[0039] like Figure 4 As shown, (a) is a schematic diagram of the post-curing heat treatment tank 9, and (b) is a partial wall cut away to show the interior of the post-curing heat treatment tank 9. It can be seen that the post-curing heat treatment tank 9 is symmetrically provided with curing lamps 91 on the side walls, and electric heating elements 92, such as resistance wires, are evenly arranged at the bottom. After the cleaning operation is completed and the cleaning tank is removed, the post-curing heat treatment tank 9 is placed at the resin tank station, and the printing platform and the printed part are driven to rotate by a rotating motor, so that the printed part can rotate at a low speed in the post-curing heat treatment tank 9. The internal heating resistance wire can control the temperature in the tank, realize uniform post-curing and heating treatment, improve the mechanical properties of the printed part, and finally obtain a printed part with higher strength.

[0040] like Figure 5 As shown, the method flow of printing using the centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device of the embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0041] Step 1: Prepare the required raw materials, turn on the printing equipment, and prepare to print the required parts (i.e., print parts);

[0042] Step 2: The printing platform moves to the resin tank, the optical machine starts projection, and the print starts printing layer by layer. It should be understood that the light source emitting ultraviolet light is not limited to the projection-type digital light processing DLP light source such as the optical machine, but can also be a micro-stereolithography SLA light source, a liquid crystal display LCD light source, etc.

[0043] Step 3: The printing platform moves upward layer by layer to print the printed part layer by layer, and solidifies to form a printed part;

[0044] Step 4: After the photocuring 3D printing is completed, the printed part leaves the resin liquid. However, since the printed part is solidified from the liquid, a lot of uncured resin will remain on the surface, which can be reused.

[0045] Step 5. Install a baffle on the bottom of the resin tank to form a resin tank with a baffle. At this time, the lifting motor lowers the printing platform so that the printed part is located in the space surrounded by the baffle. The rotating motor rotates at high speed to centrifugally remove the residual resin on the surface of the printed part. Since the resin tank is equipped with a baffle, the resin will not splash outside, but will be concentrated and returned to the resin tank for reuse;

[0046] Step 6. The lifting motor lifts the printing platform, removes the resin tank, installs the cleaning tank, and then lowers the printing platform. Since centrifugation cannot achieve some high-viscosity and surface-adhesive resins, alcohol and other organic solvents are required for secondary cleaning and post-processing. At this time, rotating the printing platform can achieve uniform cleaning of the surface of the printed part;

[0047] Step 7. After cleaning, the printing platform rises again, the cleaning tank is removed, and the post-curing heat treatment tank is installed. The printing platform is lowered so that the printed part is in the post-curing heat treatment tank. At this time, the ultraviolet light on both sides of the inner wall can make the cross-linked network inside the printed part more dense, and heating can promote the volatilization of the organic solvent on the surface and enhance the performance of the printed part, and finally obtain a stronger and denser printed part;

[0048] Step 8. Remove the printed part from the printing platform and the entire printing process is completed.

[0049] In summary, the centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing method and device proposed in the present invention aims to solve the cumbersomeness of the traditional single-material 3D printing process. Traditional light curing requires not only a printer, but also a cleaning machine and a post-curing machine, which are costly and occupy a lot of space. In addition to the printer, the present invention only requires simple low-cost accessories such as baffle accessories, cleaning tanks, and post-curing heat treatment tanks to meet the user's needs for printing high-quality parts. The printing process is clean and tidy, and the equipment cost is greatly reduced.

[0050] In addition to using the DLP optical projection shown in the figure of the present invention, the centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing method can also be applied to SLA (micro-stereolithography light-curing 3D printing) and LCD (liquid crystal display projection 3D printing), which can be achieved by simply replacing the light source system.

[0051] The above contents are further detailed descriptions of the present invention in combination with specific preferred embodiments, and it cannot be determined that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art of the present invention, several equivalent substitutions or obvious variations can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and the performance or use is the same, which should be regarded as belonging to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device, characterized in that: It includes a printer body, a rotating motor, a cleaning tank and a post-curing heat treatment tank; the rotating motor is fixedly connected to the printing platform of the printer body and is used to drive the printing platform to rotate; the resin tank of the printer body is detachably arranged under the printing platform; The cleaning tank is configured to be arranged at the station of the resin tank, so that after the rotary motor drives the printing platform to rotate to complete the centrifugal operation and remove the resin tank, it can be placed at the station for the printing device to perform a cleaning operation in which the cleaning tank is stationary and the printing platform and the printed part rotate in the cleaning liquid; The post-curing heat treatment tank is configured to be located at the work station so that after the cleaning operation is completed and the cleaning tank is removed, it can be placed at the work station for the printing device to perform post-curing heat treatment in which the post-curing heat treatment tank remains stationary and the printing platform and the printed part rotate in the post-curing heat treatment tank.

2. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The resin tank includes a bottom tank and a baffle. The bottom tank is detachably fixed on a table below the printing platform and is used to hold printing resin and collect residual resin during centrifugation. The baffle is used to connect to the bottom tank during centrifugation to raise the side wall of the bottom tank.

3. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The baffle is a frame-type baffle consistent with the contour of the bottom groove, and the height of the baffle is greater than the depth of the bottom groove; the frame-type baffle is configured to be nested inside the bottom groove.

4. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The baffle is a frame-type baffle consistent with the contour of the bottom trough, and the frame-type baffle is configured to be connected to the top edge of the bottom trough.

5. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotary motor is located above the printing platform; when the centrifugal operation, the cleaning operation, and the post-curing heat treatment are performed, the rotary motor drives the printing platform to rotate at a first speed, a second speed, and a third speed, respectively; The first rotation speed is greater than the second rotation speed and the third rotation speed.

6. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The post-curing heat treatment tank is provided with a curing lamp and an electric heating element; the curing lamp is symmetrically arranged on the inner side wall of the post-curing heat treatment tank; the electric heating element is a resistance wire, arranged on the bottom of the post-curing heat treatment tank.

7. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotary motor is located above the printing platform and is fixedly connected to the printing platform by means of a threaded connection.

8. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an outer shell cover which is openably connected to the printer body, and the printing platform, the rotary motor, the resin tank and its workstations can all be enclosed by the closed outer shell cover.

9. A centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing method, characterized in that: The printing method is implemented by using the printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and the printing method comprises: The printing platform and the printed part thereon are driven by the rotating motor to rotate and centrifuge, so as to throw the residual resin on the surface into the resin tank for collection; After the centrifugation is completed, the resin tank is removed, and a cleaning tank containing a cleaning liquid is placed at the station of the resin tank, and the printing platform and the printed parts thereon are driven by the rotating motor to rotate and clean in the cleaning liquid; After cleaning is completed, the cleaning tank is removed, and the post-curing heat treatment tank is placed at the station of the resin tank. The printing platform and the printed part thereon are driven by the rotating motor to rotate in the post-curing heat treatment tank for post-curing and heating treatment.

10. The centrifugal single-material light-curing 3D printing method according to claim 9, characterized in that: After centrifugation is completed, the rotary motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lifted by the lifting motor of the printer body, and then the resin tank is removed, and the cleaning tank is placed in the station, and the rotary motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lowered by the lifting motor, so that the printing platform and the printed part are immersed in the cleaning liquid; After cleaning is completed, the rotating motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lifted by the lifting motor, and then the cleaning tank is removed, and the post-curing heat treatment tank is placed on the work station, and the rotating motor, the printing platform and the printed part are lowered by the lifting motor so that the printed part is in the post-curing heat treatment tank.

Images