Coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process and device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of high-end equipment manufacturing, and discloses a coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device. A motor B supporting plate and a motor A supporting plate are arranged at the two ends of the surface of the suspension plate correspondingly, a motor B connecting plate and a motor A connecting plate are arranged at the upper end of the motor B supporting plate and the upper end of the motor A supporting plate correspondingly, the motor B connecting plate is connected with a motor B, the motor A connecting plate is connected with a motor A, and the motor A is connected with a transmission shaft through a coupler A; the motor B is connected with the screw rod through the coupler B, the synchronizing wheel B and the cutter are connected through screws and rotate synchronously, and a cavity is formed between the inner wall face of the friction deposition mechanism and the outer wall of the charging barrel, so that friction is avoided; the rotary power conveying process and the continuous feeding process needed by friction additive manufacturing are integrated, the process system is relatively simple, deposition additive manufacturing of powder materials is achieved, the additive manufacturing efficiency is improved, the cost is reduced, and meanwhile high quality and accuracy of products are guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of high-end equipment manufacturing, and specifically relates to a coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process and a method for using the device. Background Art

[0002] In the field of high-end equipment manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing, as an advanced manufacturing technology, has been widely used in aerospace, biomedicine, mold manufacturing and automotive industries. At present, the relatively mature additive manufacturing technologies in China are mainly laser additives, arc additives, electron beam additives, etc. This type of additive technology is completed by melting and reconsolidating the material, which will cause irreversible effects on the form of the material, and cannot be used for materials with strict requirements on material properties and some special operations. With the development of emerging friction additive technologies in China, including the use of rods and wires for manufacturing, there are also many problems. In the process of conveying rods and wires to the deposition gap, extremely strong axial force is required, which requires the equipment to have strong rigidity and strength. The rod itself also requires a device to constantly propel it axially. In addition, for small-sized parts, the subsequent machining process also removes a lot of material. These two methods are difficult to achieve one-time molding. The feeding system structure and transmission of the rod are relatively complex, which is not conducive to the reliability and life of the equipment.

[0003] For friction additive manufacturing using powder materials, the motor drives the screw to convey the powder material. The rapid rotation of the tool causes the powder material to be heated, plasticized, and deposited by friction. Then, it is conveyed and moved laterally by the slide rail to deposit a continuous coating on the substrate to achieve the purpose of additive manufacturing. The advantage of this technology is that the material only reaches 60% to 80% of the melting temperature during the additive process, and the melting and solidification process does not occur. After additive molding, the internal microstructure and its physical properties are little affected. Therefore, it is very suitable for additive manufacturing of materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloys. This technology achieves rapid manufacturing of complex parts and optimization of material properties by precisely controlling the delivery and stirring of powder materials. However, although the existing technology has made certain progress in many aspects, there are still certain limitations in powder delivery efficiency, precision control, material utilization and ease of operation. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art such as the change of material physical properties during the additive manufacturing technology, low material utilization rate, and complex deposition equipment process system, the present invention provides a coaxial powder feeding stir friction manufacturing process and device. The present invention can perform refined additive manufacturing of powder materials and can also be used for the manufacture of small components. It has the characteristics of a relatively simple process system and the ability to deposit a variety of powder materials.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is: The core of the present invention is that motor A controls the tool speed, and motor B controls the discharge amount through the screw. The two cooperate with each other to realize the solid-phase friction additive of powder materials. The powder conveying and stirring friction process can be carried out on the same axis, thereby realizing the uniform delivery and efficient stirring of powder materials. This design greatly improves the utilization rate of materials and the homogeneity of products. The device uses two motors (motor A and motor B) to drive the stirring tool and the screw conveying system respectively. By accurately controlling the speed of the motor, the powder feeding rate and stirring speed can be finely adjusted, thereby ensuring the stability of the additive manufacturing process and the quality of the product. The power transmission system composed of a synchronous belt and a synchronous pulley effectively transmits the power of the motor to the stirring tool, ensuring the efficient operation of the system and the stability of the power output. The special design of the tool and the screw not only ensures the smoothness of powder conveying, but also optimizes the heat generation and material mixing during the stirring friction process, and promotes the uniform plastic deformation and deposition molding of the powder. The entire device is operated and managed through an automated control system. Users only need to set relevant manufacturing parameters, such as tool speed, feed speed, etc., and the system will automatically complete the additive manufacturing process, significantly reducing operational complexity and human errors and improving production efficiency.

[0006] A coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device, characterized by comprising: a motor A, a suspension plate and a motor B; The two ends of the suspension plate surface are respectively provided with a motor B support plate and a motor A support plate, and the upper ends of the motor B support plate and the motor A support plate are respectively provided with a motor B connecting plate and a motor A connecting plate, the motor B connecting plate is connected to the motor B, the motor A connecting plate is connected to the motor A, the motor A is connected to the transmission shaft through the coupling A, and the motor B is connected to the screw rod, The transmission shaft passes through the suspension plate and is positioned by the bearing seat, and the lower part is provided with fasteners and synchronous pulley A in sequence; The screw rod passes through the barrel, the suspension plate, the upper end cover, the bearing, the lower end cover, the synchronous pulley B and the cutter in sequence, and the lower end cover, the synchronous pulley B and the cutter are connected by screws. The synchronous pulley A and the synchronous pulley B are connected by a synchronous belt The motor A is mounted on the motor A connecting plate, one end of the motor A supporting plate is connected to the motor A connecting plate, and the other end is connected to the suspension plate, and the motor A is connected to the transmission shaft through a coupling A; The transmission shaft passes through the suspension plate and is positioned by the bearing seat, and the lower part is provided with fasteners and synchronous pulley A in sequence; the synchronous pulley A is connected to the synchronous pulley B by a synchronous belt The tool is fixed to the lower end cover by screws and arranged coaxially with the synchronous pulley B so as to receive the power of the motor A by connecting the synchronous pulley A through the synchronous belt; The barrel is fixed to the suspension plate, a screw is inserted inside and the bottom of the screw is flush with the contraction section at the bottom of the barrel. Furthermore, the motor B and the screw are tightened through a coupling B, the screw is coaxially matched with the inner wall surface of the barrel, and the barrel is separately fixed on the suspension plate.

[0007] Furthermore, the suspension plate cooperates with the lower end cover, the lower part of the lower end cover is connected to the stator of the bearing, the bearing rotor cooperates with the lower end cover with a cavity in the middle, and the lower end cover is connected downwardly to the synchronous pulley B and the tool in sequence and is positioned and locked by multiple screws; the upper end cover, bearing, lower end cover, synchronous pulley B, and tool are coaxially matched and tightly connected, and a cavity is left between their inner wall surfaces and the outer wall surface of the barrel.

[0008] Furthermore, the process uses a screw driven by motor B to continuously transport the powder, while a cutter driven by motor A is responsible for stirring and depositing the material.

[0009] Furthermore, the rotation speed of the screw and the rotation speed of the cutter can be independently adjusted according to the material properties and the required deposition thickness.

[0010] Further, the process includes a synchronous control system.

[0011] The method for using the above-mentioned coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process and device comprises the following steps: Step 1: Pre-feed part of the powder material into the barrel evenly through a vibrating feeder, and the powder flows smoothly to fill the cavity between the screw and the inner wall of the barrel.

[0012] Step 2: Start motor A and the drive system drives the tool to rotate Step 3: Start motor B and turn on the vibrating feeder to continue feeding. Under the action of the screw, the powder material is continuously fed to the gap between the bottom of the tool and the substrate.

[0013] Step 4: Under the stirring friction of the tool, the powder forms a uniform layered structure in the target deposition area, completing a layer of additive manufacturing.

[0014] Step 5: Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all additive manufacturing layers of the desired part or product are completed.

[0015] Step 6: During the additive manufacturing process, monitor the powder material delivery and tool stirring speed, and make adjustments if necessary to ensure part quality and dimensional accuracy.

[0016] Step 7: After the additive manufacturing is completed, all motors are turned off and post-processing work is carried out, such as removing undeposited powder, heat treatment, machining, etc., to meet the performance requirements of the final product.

[0017] Beneficial effects: The coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device of the present invention integrates the powder delivery and stir friction processes, simplifies the equipment structure and improves production efficiency. Its precise control system can achieve detailed adjustment of the tool rotation speed and feeding speed, ensure uniform deposition of materials, and thus improve the dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of the products. The design of the synchronous belt and synchronous pulley optimizes the power transmission efficiency, reduces energy loss and operating costs. In addition, due to the simplicity of its operating process and automation potential, the device is suitable for large-scale production, reducing the professional skills requirements for operators. The efficient material utilization rate and stable product quality give the device a significant competitive advantage and broad application prospects in the field of additive manufacturing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the device of the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a tool of the device of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of continuous feeding of the vibrating feeder of the device of the present invention; Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the screw of the device of the present invention; Figure 5 a. Figure 5 b. Figure 5 c is a diagram of the deposition process of the coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process of the device of the present invention; Motor A-1, motor A connecting plate-2, motor A support plate-4, coupling A-3, drive shaft-5, suspension plate-6, bearing seat-7, fastener-8), synchronous belt-9, synchronous pulley A-10, tool-11, screw-12, synchronous pulley B-13, lower end cover-14, cross roller-15, upper end cover-16, barrel-17, screw-18, motor B support plate-19, coupling B-20, motor B connecting plate-21, motor B-22, vibration feeder-171. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present invention provides a coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process and device and a method of using the same. Figures 1 to 5 c schematic diagram, illustrating the present invention.

[0020] Embodiment 1, the present invention provides a coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process and device, such as Figure 1As shown, the device includes a motor A1 and its connecting plate and support plate, which are connected to a transmission shaft 5 through a coupling A3. The transmission shaft 5 is connected to a screw 18 for powder delivery, and is stabilized and ensured to rotate efficiently through a suspension plate 6, a bearing seat 7 and a fastener 8. The synchronous belt 9) and its synchronous pulley A10 and synchronous pulley B13 realize effective transmission of power. The barrel 17 is fixed to the upper end cover 14 through a bearing 15 to ensure the stability of powder delivery. The motor B22 and the associated coupling B20 are used to drive the screw to achieve uniform delivery of the powder. The tool 11 is fixed to the lower end of the device by a screw 12 for stirring and depositing the material.

[0021] like Figure 2 The figure shows the detailed structure of the tool 11, which is a key component of the coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device of the present invention. The tool 11 is designed for stirring and friction during the coaxial powder feeding process to ensure that the powder material can be evenly distributed and efficiently solidified in the desired area. The figure reveals the geometry of the tool, shows how it is connected to the lower end cover 14, and the working position of the tool 11 during the additive manufacturing process. Figure 2 The detailed display of the tool can provide a deeper understanding of the impact of the tool on the performance of the entire additive manufacturing process, as well as its key role in achieving precise control of powder material deposition and promoting plastic deposition of materials.

[0022] like Figure 3 As shown, a cross-sectional view of the barrel 17 of the present invention is shown, with emphasis on the auxiliary device at the upper end of the barrel 17, the vibrating feeder 171. The key to the design of the vibrating feeder 171 is to ensure that the powder material can be continuously and evenly supplied from the barrel 17 to the screw 18, thereby achieving a stable powder flow to the stirring zone. Through this view, we can understand the role of the vibrating feeder 171 in the powder conveying system. It not only helps to avoid the bridging phenomenon caused by the weight or accumulation of the powder, but also optimizes the fluidity of the powder through its driving effect, providing the necessary stable powder flow for the subsequent stirring friction process.

[0023] like Figure 4 , which shows a three-dimensional view of the screw 18, which is the core component for powder conveying. The screw 18 pushes the powder material from the barrel 17 to the mixing zone through its spiral blades, and its design is sophisticated to ensure that the powder can be conveyed efficiently and evenly. Each stage of the spiral blades of the screw 18 is carefully designed to match the flow characteristics of the specific powder material and the required powder delivery rate. Figure 4 It not only reveals the shape of the screw, but also shows how it is connected to the drive device, which is crucial for understanding how to adjust the powder delivery rate by controlling the speed of the screw. Through this view, the technical solution of the present invention shows the great importance attached to the accuracy of powder delivery in the additive manufacturing process.

[0024] like Figure 5 As shown in a, Figure 5 Figure a shows the initial stage of powder feeding into the stirring area in the coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device. In this stage, the powder in the barrel 17 is gradually transported to the lower end contraction section through the rotation of the screw 18. This figure particularly emphasizes the importance of uniformity and precise control of powder delivery, showing how the device ensures that the powder material is supplied to the stirring area at a constant speed and amount, laying the foundation for high-quality additive manufacturing.

[0025] like Figure 5 As shown in b, Figure 5 b further shows the process of powder being transported into the stirring area and starting to be stirred by the cutter 11. In this process, the cutter 11 rotates at a set speed, which not only promotes the uniform distribution of the powder material, but also helps the powder to plastically deform to form a deposition layer through friction heat. Figure 5 b focuses on the dynamic state of the powder material during the stirring process and the interaction between the tool 11 and the powder, highlighting the core mechanism of stir friction additive manufacturing.

[0026] like Figure 5 As shown in c, Figure 5 c depicts a layer of additive manufacturing material formed by powder material on a substrate after the stir friction process. This figure shows the morphology and quality of the material layer after the entire additive manufacturing is completed, showing the important role of the stirring and friction process in achieving uniform deposition of powder material and good additive manufacturing. Figure 5 b, the surface smoothness and structural density of the final product can be observed, thus intuitively understanding the efficiency of the coaxial powder stirring friction additive manufacturing process and the high-quality characteristics of the finished product.

[0027] The steps of using a coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process and device proposed by the present invention are as follows: Step 1: Part of the powder material is evenly conveyed into the barrel through the vibrating feeder 171 in advance, and the powder flows smoothly to fill the cavity between the screw and the inner wall of the barrel.

[0028] Step 2: Start motor A1, and the drive system drives the tool to rotate Step 3: Start the motor B and turn on the vibrating feeder 171 to continuously feed the material. Under the action of the screw, the powder material is continuously fed to the gap between the bottom of the tool and the substrate.

[0029] Step 4: Under the stirring friction of the tool, the powder forms a uniform layered structure in the target deposition area, completing a layer of additive manufacturing.

[0030] Step 5: Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all additive manufacturing layers of the desired part or product are completed.

[0031] Step 6: During the additive manufacturing process, monitor the powder material delivery and tool stirring speed, and make adjustments if necessary to ensure part quality and dimensional accuracy.

[0032] Step 7: After the additive manufacturing is completed, all motors are turned off and post-processing work is carried out, such as removing undeposited powder, heat treatment, machining, etc., to meet the performance requirements of the final product.

[0033] In the present invention, the device integrates three key steps of powder delivery, friction heat stirring and material deposition through a coaxial design. The device includes a motor A1 and its connecting plate and support plate, which are connected to a transmission shaft 5 through a coupling A3. The transmission shaft 5 is connected to a screw for powder delivery, and is stabilized and ensured to rotate efficiently through a suspension plate, a bearing seat and fasteners. The synchronous belt 9 and its synchronous pulley A10 and synchronous pulley B13 realize effective transmission of power. The barrel is fixed to the upper end cover through a bearing to ensure the stability of powder delivery. The motor B and the associated coupling B are used to drive the screw to achieve uniform delivery of the powder. The tool is fixed to the lower end of the device by a screw for stirring and depositing the material. The overall structure of the device of the present invention is simple, which realizes the high efficiency and low cost of the additive manufacturing process, while ensuring the high quality and precision of the product. It is highly practical and worthy of promotion.

[0034] The above description is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For those skilled in the art, improvements can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device, characterized in that: include: Motor A (1), suspension plate (6) and motor B (22); A motor B support plate (19) and a motor A support plate (4) are respectively provided at both ends of the surface of the suspension plate (6); a motor B connecting plate (21) and a motor A connecting plate (2) are respectively provided at the upper ends of the motor B support plate (19) and the motor A support plate (4); the motor B connecting plate (21) is connected to the motor B (22); the motor A connecting plate (2) is connected to the motor A (1); the motor A (1) is connected to the transmission shaft (5) via a coupling A (3); the motor B (22) is connected to the screw rod (18) via a coupling B (20); The transmission shaft (5) passes through the suspension plate (6) and is positioned by a bearing seat (7), and a fastener (8) and a synchronous pulley A (10) are sequentially provided at the lower part; The screw rod (18) passes through the barrel (17), the suspension plate (6), the upper end cover (16), the bearing (15), the lower end cover (14), the synchronous pulley B (13) and the cutter (11) in sequence, and the lower end cover (14), the synchronous pulley B (13) and the cutter (11) are connected by a screw (12); The synchronous pulley A (10) is connected to the synchronous pulley B (13) via a synchronous belt (9); The motor A (1) is mounted on the motor A connecting plate (2); one end of the motor A supporting plate (4) is connected to the motor A connecting plate (2) and the other end is connected to the suspension plate (6); the motor A (1) is connected to the transmission shaft (5) via a coupling A (3); The transmission shaft (5) passes through the suspension plate (6) and is positioned by a bearing seat (7), and a fastener (8) and a synchronous pulley A (10) are sequentially provided at the lower part; the synchronous pulley A (10) is connected to the synchronous pulley B (13) by a synchronous belt (9); The tool (11) is fixed to the lower end cover (14) by means of screws (12) and is coaxially arranged with the synchronous pulley B (13) so as to be connected to the synchronous pulley A (10) via a synchronous belt (9) to receive power from the motor A (1); The barrel (17) is fixed to the suspension plate (6), and a screw rod (18) is inserted into the barrel, and the bottom of the screw rod (18) is flush with the contraction section at the bottom of the barrel.

2. The coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The motor B (22) and the screw (18) are tightened via a coupling B (20), the screw (18) and the inner wall surface of the barrel (17) are coaxially matched, and the barrel (17) is fixed separately on the suspension plate (6).

3. The coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suspension plate (6) cooperates with the lower end cover (14), the lower part of the lower end cover (14) is connected to the stator of the bearing (15), the bearing rotor cooperates with the lower end cover with a cavity in the middle, the lower end cover is connected downwardly in sequence to the synchronous pulley B (13) and the cutter (11) and is positioned and locked by a plurality of screws; the upper end cover (16), the bearing (15), the lower end cover (14), the synchronous pulley B (13), and the cutter (11) are coaxially matched and tightly connected, and a cavity is left between their inner wall surfaces and the outer wall surface of the barrel (17).

4. A coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing process using the device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The process uses a screw (18) driven by motor B (22) to continuously transport the powder, while a cutter (11) driven by motor A (1) is responsible for stirring and depositing the material.

5. The process according to claim 4, characterized in that The rotation speed of the screw (18) and the rotation speed of the cutter (11) can be independently adjusted according to the material properties and the required deposition thickness.

6. A method for using a coaxial powder feeding friction stir additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: a portion of the powder material is uniformly conveyed into the barrel through a vibrating feeder (171) in advance, and the powder flows smoothly to fill the cavity between the screw and the inner wall of the barrel; Step 2: Start the motor A (1), and the drive system drives the tool (11) to rotate; Step 3: Start the motor B (22) and turn on the vibrating feeder (171) to continuously feed the material. Under the action of the screw (18), the powder material is continuously fed to the gap between the bottom of the tool (11) and the base plate; Step 4: Under the stirring friction of the tool (11), the powder forms a uniform layered structure in the target deposition area, completing a layer of additive manufacturing; Step 5: Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all additive manufacturing layers of the desired part or product are completed; Step 6: During the additive manufacturing process, the powder material delivery amount and the stirring speed of the tool (11) are monitored and adjusted if necessary to ensure part quality and dimensional accuracy; Step 7: After the additive manufacturing is completed, all motors are turned off and post-processing work is carried out, such as removing undeposited powder, heat treatment, machining, etc., to meet the performance requirements of the final product.

Images