Reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method under microgravity environment

Abstract

The invention discloses a reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method under a microgravity environment. The printing device is provided with a metal printing end and a concrete printing end; a feeding mechanism is arranged in the printing device, and the feeding mechanism is used for feeding concrete to the concrete printing end and feeding metal materials to the metal printing end; the metal printing end is a stirring head, the stirring head can print metal materials into a metal rib frame in a stirring friction additive manufacturing mode, and then concrete is printed on the metal rib frame through the concrete printing end. A pressurizing mechanism is arranged on the printing device, and when the stirring head conducts printing, the pressurizing mechanism can pressurize the stirring head. The concrete printing end is an extrusion type nozzle, and the nozzle can squeeze and inject concrete onto the metal rib frame. The problem that metal printing is difficult in the microgravity environment can be solved, and 3D building printing in the microgravity environment is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] As the natural satellite of the Earth, the Moon has the characteristics of low gravity and vacuum. Its environment is close to that of space, rich in resources, and has high research and exploration value. In order to better explore the Moon and achieve long-term research on the Moon, it is essential to establish a solid and stable lunar base. However, due to the microgravity environment of the Moon, traditional construction methods on Earth cannot be reproduced on the Moon. As an emerging technology, 3D printing is mature, simple and convenient, and the most important thing is that it can achieve printing in a microgravity environment.

[0003] However, there is a major problem of microgravity in the space environment. For printing technology completed by metal melting on the ground, the surface tension effect of the molten droplets is prominent in the microgravity environment. If the parameters are not matched, the molten droplets are easily spheroidized and adhere to the metal wire, making it difficult to combine with the substrate. Summary of the invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: In order to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method in a microgravity environment, aiming to solve the problem of difficulty in metal printing in a microgravity environment, so as to realize 3D building printing in a microgravity environment.

[0005] Technical solution: To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method in a microgravity environment of the present invention are provided with a metal printing end and a concrete printing end; a feeding mechanism is provided in the printing device, the feeding mechanism supplies concrete to the concrete printing end and supplies metal material to the metal printing end; the metal printing end is a stirring head, and the stirring head can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame by means of stir friction additive manufacturing, and then the concrete printing end prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame.

[0006] Furthermore, the printing device is provided with a pressurizing mechanism, and the pressurizing mechanism can pressurize the stirring head when the stirring head is printing.

[0007] Furthermore, the concrete printing end head is an extrusion nozzle, which can squeeze concrete onto the metal reinforcement frame.

[0008] Furthermore, the printing device is provided with a grabbing mechanism, which can grab materials and place them on the building structure being printed.

[0009] Furthermore, the printing structure includes a metal reinforcement frame, a plurality of three-dimensional grids are formed inside the metal reinforcement frame, and the three-dimensional grids are filled with concrete; the three-dimensional grids in the metal reinforcement frame are interconnected, so that the concrete in the metal reinforcement frame is connected as a whole.

[0010] Furthermore, the metal reinforcement frame is formed by stacking a number of reinforcement row layers, a single reinforcement row layer is formed by arranging a plurality of metal reinforcement bars in the same direction, there is a reinforcement gap between two adjacent metal reinforcement bars in the same reinforcement row layer, and the metal reinforcement bars in two adjacent reinforcement row layers have a certain angle, so that the reinforcement gaps in two adjacent reinforcement row layers intersect with each other, thereby forming a three-dimensional grid that is interconnected in the metal reinforcement frame.

[0011] Furthermore, the metal ribs are formed by combining multiple layers of metal materials.

[0012] Furthermore, the metal ribs are formed by combining the bottom metal support bars and multiple layers of metal deposition materials on the metal support bars.

[0013] Furthermore, during the printing process, the feeding mechanism supplies metal material to the mixing head, and the pressure mechanism pressurizes the mixing head; the mixing head first prints the metal material on the foundation, and the mixing head rotates and moves back to the original position, thereby printing out metal ribs, and then the mixing head prints another metal rib at a certain distance, and gradually prints out the entire rib layer on the foundation; after completing the printing of one rib layer, the mixing head changes the direction of its back movement, and prints a new rib layer on the original rib layer, thereby stacking layer by layer to print out a metal reinforcement frame, and injecting concrete into the metal reinforcement frame through a nozzle.

[0014] Furthermore, when printing metal ribs, the grabbing mechanism first grabs a metal support bar and places it on the printing position, allowing the metal support bar to span the rib seams of the rib layer below, and then the stirring head prints metal material on the metal support bar to thicken the metal support bar and form metal ribs.

[0015] Beneficial effects: The reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method in a microgravity environment of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1) A stirring head is provided on the printing device, and the stirring head uses a stir friction additive manufacturing method to perform 3D printing in a microgravity environment, overcoming the problem that the traditional laser additive manufacturing has difficulty in transition of molten droplets in a microgravity environment;

[0017] 2) When printing metal ribs, place thinner metal support bars at the printing position, allow the metal support bars to cross the rib gaps, and then use a stirring head to thicken the metal support bars to solve the problem that the stirring head cannot directly cross the rib gaps during printing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] AttachedFigure 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device;

[0019] Attached Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the printing process of the metal reinforcement frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] As attached Figures 1 to 2 The reinforced concrete 3D printing device in a microgravity environment, the printing device 1 is provided with a metal printing end and a concrete printing end. The printing device 1 has a feeding mechanism 2, which supplies concrete to the concrete printing end and metal materials to the metal printing end. The metal printing end is a stirring head 3, which can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame 4 in a stir friction additive manufacturing manner, and then the concrete printing end prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame 4.

[0022] There is a feeding hole at the bottom of the stirring head 3, and the feeding mechanism 2 can feed metal wire or rod into the feeding hole. The stirring head 3 will rotate during operation and generate friction heat. The metal material coming out of the feeding hole will produce strong plastic deformation under the action of friction heat. The softened and deformed metal material will be combined with the base metal to print out the metal rib 4, so that the printing device 1 in the present invention can perform 3D printing in a microgravity environment, overcoming the problem that the molten droplet is difficult to transition in a microgravity environment in traditional laser additive manufacturing.

[0023] The printing device 1 is provided with a pressurizing mechanism. When the stirring head 3 is printing, the pressurizing mechanism can pressurize the stirring head 3. By applying downward pressure, the softened metal material and the base metal are more tightly combined, so that the printed metal rib 4 has higher strength.

[0024] The concrete printing end is an extrusion nozzle 5, which can squeeze the concrete stored in the feeding mechanism 2 onto the metal reinforcement frame 4, so that the concrete and the metal reinforcement frame 4 are combined into a reinforced concrete building.

[0025] In one embodiment, the printing device 1 is provided with a grabbing mechanism, which can grab materials and place them on the building structure being printed. In another embodiment, the printing device 1 has a matching external grabbing device. Through the grabbing mechanism or the external grabbing device, some other materials can be added to the building structure being printed to assist in the formation of the building structure.

[0026] As attached Figure 1In one embodiment shown in , the printing device 1 further includes a mechanical arm 9 disposed on a base, which can drive the mixing head 3 and the nozzle 5 to move to the printing position. In addition, the mechanical arm 9 can also act as a pressure mechanism to apply pressure to the mixing head 3. The mixing head 3 and the nozzle 5 should be staggered on the printing device 1 to avoid mutual interference during the printing process, or the nozzle 5 can be retracted, and the nozzle 5 is retracted when the mixing head 3 prints metal, and the nozzle 5 is extended when it is necessary to print concrete.

[0027] The present invention also provides a reinforced concrete 3D printing structure in a microgravity environment, wherein the printing structure includes a metal reinforcement frame 4, wherein a plurality of three-dimensional grids are formed inside the metal reinforcement frame 4, and the three-dimensional grids are filled with concrete. The three-dimensional grids in the metal reinforcement frame 4 are interconnected, so that the concrete in the metal reinforcement frame 4 is connected as a whole, thereby making the printing structure have good structural strength and suitable for building manufacturing in a microgravity environment.

[0028] Specifically, the metal rib frame 4 is formed by vertically stacking a plurality of rib rows 6. A single rib row 6 is formed by arranging a plurality of metal ribs 7 in the same direction, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the metal ribs 7 in the same rib row layer 6 are parallel to each other. Two adjacent metal ribs 7 in the same rib row layer 6 are spaced apart, so that a rib gap 8 is formed between the two adjacent metal ribs 7. The metal ribs 7 in two adjacent rib row layers 6 have a certain angle, so that the rib gaps 8 in the two adjacent rib row layers 6 cross each other, thereby forming a three-dimensional grid that is interconnected in the metal rib frame 4. As shown in the attached figure Figure 2 In one embodiment shown in , the metal ribs 7 in two adjacent rib rows 6 are arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction respectively, so as to form a three-dimensional grid interconnected in the metal rib frame 4. In practical applications, the metal ribs 7 in two adjacent rib rows 6 are not necessarily perpendicular to each other, but may be at other angles.

[0029] The metal rib 7 is formed by combining multiple layers of metal materials. Furthermore, the metal rib 7 is formed by combining a bottom metal support bar and multiple layers of metal deposited materials on the metal support bar, that is, the bottom layer of the metal rib 7 is a thinner metal support bar, and the stirring head 3 prints the metal material on the metal support bar to thicken the metal support bar.

[0030] The present invention also provides a reinforced concrete 3D printing method in a microgravity environment. During the printing process, the feeding mechanism 2 supplies metal material to the mixing head 3, and the pressure mechanism pressurizes the mixing head 3. Before printing, select the foundation 10, or the mixing head 3 prints a layer of metal on the ground to form the foundation 10. After the foundation 10 is built, the mixing head 3 first prints the metal material on the foundation 10, and the mixing head 3 rotates and moves back to the original position, thereby printing out metal ribs 7, and then the mixing head 3 prints another metal rib 7 at a certain distance, and gradually prints out the entire rib layer 6 on the foundation 10. After completing the printing of one rib layer 6, the mixing head 3 changes the direction of its back-moving position, for example, attaching Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the longitudinal reciprocating movement is changed to a lateral reciprocating movement, so that a new reinforcement layer 6 is printed on the original reinforcement layer 6, thereby stacking layer by layer to print the metal reinforcement frame 4. After the metal reinforcement frame 4 is cooled, concrete is injected into the interior of the metal reinforcement frame 4 through the nozzle 5, so as to form a reinforced concrete 3D printed structure.

[0031] During the printing process, since a rib gap 8 is formed between two adjacent metal ribs 7 and a pressure mechanism is applied to the mixing head 3, during the actual printing process, if the mixing head 3 passes directly through the rib gap 8, the mixing head 3 will be directly pressed into the rib gap 8, and the metal material will be filled into the rib gap 8, resulting in the inability to form an interconnected three-dimensional grid in the metal rib frame 4, and the concrete injected into the metal rib frame 4 cannot be connected as a whole, which in turn leads to a reduction in the structural strength of the printed building structure.

[0032] In order to overcome the influence of the rib seam 8 on printing, in the present invention, when printing the metal rib 7, the grabbing mechanism first grabs a metal support bar and places it at the printing position, so that the metal support bar straddles the rib seam 8 of the rib layer 6 below. The metal support bar is a thinner strip, but its thickness also needs to avoid the mixing head 3 directly crushing the metal support bar, and then the mixing head 3 prints the metal material on the metal support bar. The friction heat generated by the mixing head 3 during the mixing process will also soften the metal support bar and combine the metal support bar with the base metal. Then the metal material printed by the mixing head 3 thickens the metal support bar, thereby forming the metal rib 7. Therefore, the present invention solves the problem that the mixing head 3 cannot directly cross the rib seam 8 during the printing process by adding a metal support bar.

[0033] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A reinforced concrete 3D printing device in a microgravity environment, characterized by: The printing device (1) is provided with a metal printing end head and a concrete printing end head; a feeding mechanism (2) is provided inside the printing device (1), the feeding mechanism (2) supplies concrete to the concrete printing end head and supplies metal material to the metal printing end head; the metal printing end head is a stirring head (3), the stirring head (3) can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame (4) in a stir friction additive manufacturing manner, and then the concrete printing end head prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame (4).

2. The reinforced concrete 3D printing device in a microgravity environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The printing device (1) is provided with a pressurizing mechanism, and when the stirring head (3) is printing, the pressurizing mechanism can pressurize the stirring head (3).

3. The reinforced concrete 3D printing device in a microgravity environment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The concrete printing end is an extrusion type nozzle (5), and the nozzle (5) can squeeze concrete onto the metal reinforcement frame (4).

4. The reinforced concrete 3D printing device in a microgravity environment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The printing device (1) is provided with a grabbing mechanism, which can grab materials and place them on the building structure being printed.

5. The reinforced concrete 3D printing structure in a microgravity environment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The printing structure comprises a metal reinforcement frame (4), wherein a plurality of three-dimensional grids are formed inside the metal reinforcement frame (4), and the three-dimensional grids are filled with concrete; the three-dimensional grids inside the metal reinforcement frame (4) are interconnected, so that the concrete inside the metal reinforcement frame (4) is connected as a whole.

6. The reinforced concrete 3D printed structure in a microgravity environment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The metal reinforcement frame (4) is formed by stacking a plurality of reinforcement row layers (6); a single reinforcement row layer (6) is formed by arranging a plurality of metal reinforcement bars (7) in the same reinforcement row layer (6); a reinforcement gap (8) is provided between two adjacent metal reinforcement bars (7) in the same reinforcement row layer (6); the metal reinforcement bars (7) in two adjacent reinforcement row layers (6) have a certain angle, so that the reinforcement gaps (8) in two adjacent reinforcement row layers (6) intersect with each other, thereby forming a three-dimensional grid that is interconnected in the metal reinforcement frame (4).

7. The reinforced concrete 3D printing structure in a microgravity environment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The metal ribs (7) are formed by combining multiple layers of metal materials.

8. The reinforced concrete 3D printed structure in a microgravity environment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The metal ribs (7) are formed by combining a bottom metal support bar and multiple layers of metal deposition material on the metal support bar.

9. The reinforced concrete 3D printing method in a microgravity environment according to claim 8, characterized in that: During the printing process, the feeding mechanism (2) supplies metal material to the mixing head (3), and the pressure mechanism applies pressure to the mixing head (3); the mixing head (3) first prints the metal material on the foundation (10), and the mixing head (3) rotates while moving back and forth, thereby printing out metal ribs (7), and then the mixing head (3) prints another metal rib (7) at a certain distance, and gradually prints out the entire rib layer (6) on the foundation (10); after completing the printing of one rib layer (6), the mixing head (3) changes the direction of moving back and forth, and prints out a new rib layer (6) on the original rib layer (6), thereby stacking layer by layer to print out a metal rib frame (4), and injecting concrete into the metal rib frame (4) through a nozzle (5).

10. The reinforced concrete 3D printing method in a microgravity environment according to claim 9, characterized in that: When printing the metal ribs (7), the grabbing mechanism first grabs a metal support bar and places it on the printing position, so that the metal support bar straddles the rib gap (8) of the rib layer (6) below, and then the stirring head (3) prints metal material on the metal support bar to thicken the metal support bar and form the metal ribs (7).

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