Intelligent adjusting system and method for 3D metal powder printing equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses an intelligent adjusting system and method for 3D metal powder printing equipment, and relates to the technical field of 3D additive manufacturing. The system comprises a scraper fixing frame, a driving device, a range finder, a scraper adjusting plate, a scraper fixing plate and a scraper, the scraper adjusting plate is arranged on the scraper fixing frame, the driving device is arranged on the scraper fixing frame, the driving device is connected with the scraper adjusting plate and used for driving the scraper adjusting plate to move, the scraper fixing plate is arranged on the scraper adjusting plate, the scraper is arranged on the scraper fixing plate, and the range finder is arranged on the scraper fixing plate. The method is applied to the system. According to the intelligent adjusting system of the 3D metal powder printing equipment, the position of the scraper is detected through the distance measuring instrument, the scraper adjusting plate is driven by the driving device to move so as to adjust the position of the scraper, and the position of the scraper can be automatically adjusted at any time according to needs in combination with an intelligent adjusting method; the device is used for powder taking, powder laying, obstacle avoiding and other scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D additive manufacturing, and in particular to an intelligent adjustment system and method for 3D metal powder printing equipment. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of 3D printing technology, 3D metal powder printing equipment has been widely used in industrial manufacturing, aerospace, medical and other fields. Selective laser melting is a major technology for additive manufacturing of metal materials. This technology uses laser as an energy source to scan the metal powder bed layer by layer according to the path planned by the three-dimensional model, and achieves the effect of metallurgical bonding through melting and solidification, and finally forms metal parts. In the 3D metal powder printing process, the scraper is one of the key components, and its main function is to evenly lay the powder and ensure the uniformity of the printing layer thickness. However, due to factors such as the accumulation of powder particles, scraper wear, and warping and deformation of the printed part during the printing process, the distance between the scraper and the printing platform may change, resulting in uneven printing layer thickness and accidental contact with the printed part, which affects the printing quality and even causes the printed part and the scrapper to be scrapped.

[0003] In order to ensure that the scraper is relatively level with the work surface, the scraper is usually adjusted manually. However, manual adjustment is limited by operation and is prone to errors. If the printed part is warped during printing, it is difficult for humans to detect and intervene in time. In addition, during the printing process, the scraper needs to scrape the metal powder in the powder bin onto the work surface. If this is repeated, the powder on the front and back sides is likely to accumulate until it overflows the work surface. This situation is likely to cause mechanical damage to the mobile module and increase the difficulty of cleaning the metal powder after printing.

[0004] Therefore, developing a system and method that can intelligently adjust the scraper level, avoid obstacles and clean powder in real time is of great significance to improving the printing quality and efficiency of 3D metal powder printing equipment. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that the existing 3D metal powder printing equipment has a large weight, is unable to intelligently adjust the scraper level in real time, avoid obstacles in real time, and clean powder autonomously.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following technical solutions:

[0007] In the first aspect, the present invention provides an intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment, comprising a scraper fixing frame, a driving device, a rangefinder, a scraper adjustment plate, a scraper fixing plate and a scraper; the driving device is arranged on the scraper fixing frame, the driving device is connected to the scraper adjustment plate, and is used to drive the scraper adjustment plate to move, the scraper fixing plate is arranged on the scraper adjustment plate, the scraper is arranged on the scraper fixing plate, and the rangefinder is arranged on the scraper fixing plate.

[0008] Furthermore, the driving device includes a scraper motor and an adjusting screw, the output shaft of the scraper motor is connected to the adjusting screw, and the adjusting screw is connected to the scraper adjusting plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the number of the driving devices is 2, and the two driving devices are respectively connected to two sides of the scraper adjustment plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the scraper fixing plate is connected to the scraper adjusting plate via a fastener.

[0011] Furthermore, the scraper is connected to the scraper fixing plate via a fastener.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a scraper fixing frame, a scraper motor and a scraper, the scraper fixing frame is connected to the scraper fixing frame, the scraper motor is arranged on the scraper fixing frame, and the scraper motor is connected to the scraper for driving the scraper to rotate.

[0013] Furthermore, the number of the scraper motors is 2, and the two scraper motors are respectively connected to two sides of the scraper.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a real-time intelligent adjustment method for a 3D metal powder printing device, which is applied to the intelligent adjustment system for a 3D metal powder printing device described in the first aspect, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0015] S1, controlling the scraper to complete powder collection at a preset first speed;

[0016] S2, controlling the speed of the scraper to decrease from the first speed to a preset second speed, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed;

[0017] S3, controlling the scraper to spread the powder at the second uniform speed;

[0018] S4, controlling the scraper to reset at the first speed.

[0019] Furthermore, the method further comprises:

[0020] The distance parameter between the scraper and the work surface is collected by a distance meter, and whether the scraper is in a horizontal state is determined based on the distance parameter;

[0021] If the scraper is not in a horizontal state, the scraper position is adjusted according to the distance parameter so that the scraper is in a horizontal state.

[0022] Further, the distance parameter includes distance values ​​between a plurality of sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface; and judging whether the scraper is in a horizontal state based on the distance parameter includes:

[0023] Determining whether the distance values ​​of multiple sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are the same;

[0024] If the distances between the multiple sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are the same, it is determined that the scraper is in a horizontal state;

[0025] If the distance values ​​between the plurality of sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are different, it is determined that the scraper is not in a horizontal state.

[0026] Furthermore, the method further comprises:

[0027] Determine by a distance meter whether there is an obstacle in front of the scraper moving direction;

[0028] If there is an obstacle in front of the scraper in the direction of movement;

[0029] The scraper is lifted to a position higher than the obstacle to avoid the obstacle.

[0030] Furthermore, the method further comprises:

[0031] Controlling the scraper to move to a preset powder cleaning position; when in the powder cleaning position, the scraper is in extrusion contact with the work surface;

[0032] The scraper is controlled to maintain a state of extrusion contact with the work surface to complete the powder cleaning.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects achieved by the present invention include:

[0034] The intelligent adjustment system of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention uses a rangefinder to detect the position of the scraper, and drives the scraper adjustment plate to move through a driving device to adjust the scraper position, so that the scraper position can be automatically adjusted according to needs at any time, which is used in scenes such as powder collection, powder spreading, and obstacle avoidance.

[0035] Furthermore, the intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention, the scraper fixing frame and the scraper fixing frame are both lightweight in design, reducing the amount of material in the components to reduce their overall weight without sacrificing reliability or function. Specifically, the material is selected from aluminum foam with high damping and shock absorption performance and impact energy absorption rate. In the process of driving the scraper or scraper to move, the aluminum foam can provide good shock absorption and improve the uniformity of the powder layer. The aluminum foam also has a high specific stiffness, and its bending specific stiffness is 1.5 times that of steel, which can provide stable support for the entire system. In terms of structural design, the force in the vertical direction is directly introduced to the main bearing structure, and reinforcing ribs are set at the three-divided points of the hollow part for connection, forming a closed structure to improve the bearing capacity and stability of the scraper fixing frame and the scraper fixing frame.

[0036] Furthermore, the 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system of the present invention also has the function of automatic powder cleaning. By driving the scraper to rotate to the powder cleaning position, and then the scraper fixing frame drives the scraper to clean the powder, the powder can be directly moved to the blanking hopper through the scraper without manual intervention, avoiding the occurrence of edge overflow caused by powder stacking, and improving the operation stability and work efficiency of the equipment. The most important thing is that this system does not require manual operation, and can realize scraper adjustment, automatic powder spreading and timely powder cleaning through pre-set programs, which greatly protects the health of equipment operators.

[0037] The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention is applied to the intelligent adjustment system of 3D metal powder printing equipment. By controlling the movement mode of the scraper in the powder taking and spreading stage, the powder spreading time can be effectively shortened and the working efficiency of the equipment can be improved.

[0038] Furthermore, the intelligent adjustment method of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention also includes timely collecting the distance parameters between the scraper and the work surface, adjusting the scraper position according to the distance parameters, and being able to timely adjust the scraper position to achieve the effects of automatic leveling and obstacle avoidance of the scraper. Furthermore, in the powder spreading stage, the automatic leveling of the scraper can improve the uniformity of the powder spreading, reduce the uneven layer thickness caused by human errors, and improve the yield and qualified rate of the equipment printouts. The automatic obstacle avoidance function of the scraper can effectively reduce the generation of scrapped parts caused by the scraper hitting the printout, thereby reducing production costs.

[0039] Furthermore, the intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention also includes executing a powder cleaning process to realize an automatic powder cleaning function. The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention does not require manual operation in the processes of spreading powder, adjusting the scraper, and cleaning powder. The scraper adjustment, automatic spreading of powder, and timely cleaning of powder can be realized through a pre-set program, which greatly protects the health of the equipment operator, reduces manual participation, ensures the stability of the equipment processing cabin environment, improves the consistency of the internal structure of the printed part, and improves work efficiency and yield rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other accompanying drawings can be obtained based on these accompanying drawings without paying any creative work.

[0041] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 A partial disassembled diagram of the intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 for Figure 1 AA section view in the figure;

[0044] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the powder spreading process state of the 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system provided by an embodiment of the present invention when executing the real-time intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment;

[0045] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an adjustment scraper of a 3D metal powder printing device intelligent adjustment system provided by an embodiment of the present invention when executing a real-time intelligent adjustment method for a 3D metal powder printing device;

[0046] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of obstacle avoidance by the intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention when executing the real-time intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment;

[0047] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of powder cleaning when the intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention executes the real-time intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment;

[0048] Reference numerals

[0049] Scraper fixing frame 10, rangefinder 11, scraper adjustment plate 12, scraper fixing plate 13, scraper 14, scraper motor 15, output shaft 151, adjustment screw 16, first reinforcing rib 17, connecting hole 131, top screw hole 132, scraper fixing frame 20, scraper motor 21, scraper 22, second reinforcing rib 23, work surface 30, obstacle 31. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The technical solutions in the embodiments will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Similar component numbers in the drawings represent similar components. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] It should be understood that when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "include" and "comprises" indicate the presence of described features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0052] It should also be understood that the terms used in this description of the embodiments of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. As used in the description of the embodiments of the present invention and the appended claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms of "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include plural forms.

[0053] Example 1

[0054] The embodiment of the present invention provides an intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment, see Figure 1-3 , which includes a structural schematic diagram of the intelligent adjustment system of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, it includes a scraper fixing frame 10, a driving device, a distance meter 11, a scraper adjustment plate 12, a scraper fixing plate 13 and a scraper 14; the driving device is arranged on the scraper fixing frame 10, the driving device is connected to the scraper adjustment plate 12, and is used to drive the scraper adjustment plate 12 to move, the scraper fixing plate 13 is arranged on the scraper adjustment plate 12, the scraper 14 is arranged on the scraper fixing plate 13, and the distance meter 11 is arranged on the scraper fixing plate 13.

[0055] The intelligent adjustment system of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention uses a rangefinder 11 to detect the position of a scraper 14, and drives the scraper adjustment plate 12 to move through a driving device to adjust the scraper position, so that the position of the scraper 14 can be automatically adjusted according to needs at any time, which is used in scenes such as taking powder, spreading powder, and avoiding obstacles.

[0056] In a specific embodiment, the driving device includes a scraper motor 15 and an adjusting screw 16 , the output shaft 151 of the scraper motor 15 is connected to the adjusting screw 16 , and the adjusting screw 16 is connected to the scraper adjusting plate 12 .

[0057] In this embodiment, the scraper fixing frame 10 adopts a lightweight design, and aluminum foam is selected instead of steel in terms of material. Aluminum foam has high damping and shock absorption performance and impact energy absorption rate. In the process of driving the scraper 14 to move, aluminum foam can provide good shock absorption and improve the uniformity of the powder layer. In addition, aluminum foam also has high specific stiffness, and its bending specific stiffness is 1.5 times that of steel, which can provide stable support for the entire system. The design of the scraper fixing frame 10 structure in this embodiment also directly introduces the force in the vertical direction to the main bearing structure, and sets a first reinforcing rib 17 at the hollow hair trisection point for connection, forming a closed structure to improve the bearing capacity and stability of the scraper fixing frame 10.

[0058] In this embodiment, two connection holes 131 are provided in the middle of the scraper fixing plate 13 and the middle of the scraper adjusting plate 12, and the scraper fixing plate 13 is fixed to the scraper adjusting plate 12 through the connection holes 131. Three top screw holes 132 are provided below the scraper fixing plate 13, and the top screws pass through the top screw holes 132 to connect and fix the scraper 14, thereby strengthening the fixing effect of the scraper 14 on the scraper fixing plate 13 and improving the reliability and stability of the scraper 14.

[0059] In this embodiment, the distance meter 11 is fixed on the scraper fixing plate 13 and can monitor the position of the scraper 14 in real time.

[0060] In this embodiment, the output shaft 151 of the scraper motor 15 rotates to drive the adjusting screw 16 to rotate, and then drives the scraper adjustment plate 12 to move axially to achieve the effect of adjusting the position of the scraper 14. This embodiment can be applied to the scene of adjusting the scraper 14 to avoid obstacles 31 or adjusting the scraper 14 to a horizontal state.

[0061] In this embodiment, the number of the driving devices is two, and the two driving devices are respectively connected to the two sides of the scraper adjustment plate 12 .

[0062] The intelligent adjustment system of the 3D metal powder printing equipment of this embodiment also includes a scraper fixing frame 20, a scraper motor 21 and a scraper 22. The scraper fixing frame 20 is connected to the scraper fixing frame 10, and the scraper motor 21 is arranged on the scraper fixing frame 20. The scraper motor 21 is connected to the scraper 22 for driving the scraper 22 to rotate.

[0063] In this embodiment, the number of the scraper motors 21 is two, and the two scraper motors 21 are connected to two sides of the scraper 22 respectively.

[0064] The scraper fixing frame 20 of this embodiment is the same as the scraper blade fixing frame 10 and is made of aluminum foam material. Second reinforcing ribs 23 are designed on both sides of the scraper fixing frame 20 to ensure the structural stability of the scraper fixing frame 20 while reducing the weight.

[0065] It should be noted that the scraper fixing frame 10 and the scraper fixing frame 20 of the 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system provided in this embodiment are both lightweight in design, reducing the amount of material in the components to reduce their overall weight without sacrificing reliability or function. Specifically, the material is selected from aluminum foam with high damping and shock absorption performance and impact energy absorption rate. In the process of driving the scraper or scraper to move, the aluminum foam can provide good shock absorption and improve the uniformity of the powder layer. In addition, the aluminum foam also has a high specific stiffness, and its bending specific stiffness is 1.5 times that of steel, which can provide stable support for the entire system. In terms of structural design, the scraper fixing frame 10 and the scraper fixing frame 20 directly introduce the vertical force to the main bearing structure, make a hollow design to reduce weight, and set reinforcing ribs at the three-divided points of the hollow to connect, forming a closed structure to improve the bearing capacity and stability of the scraper fixing frame 10 and the scraper fixing frame 20.

[0066] The scraper 22 of this embodiment has a powder cleaning end and a connection end, the powder cleaning end is T-shaped and is in extrusion contact with the work surface 30, and the connection end is connected to the scraper motor 21. The scraper 22 is made of soft silicone, and the Shore hardness of the soft silicone can meet the requirements of not missing powder during the powder cleaning process and not damaging the processing surface and printed parts.

[0067] The scraper motor 21 drives the scraper 22 to move in a preset direction to a designated powder cleaning position, and the powder cleaning effect can be achieved by moving the scraper fixing frame 20. In this embodiment, the scraper motor 21 drives the scraper to extend downward and rotate 75 degrees, so that the scraper 22 has an arc shape.

[0068] The intelligent adjustment system of the 3D metal powder printing equipment of the present invention drives the scraper 22 to rotate to the powder cleaning position, and then the scraper fixing frame 20 drives the scraper 22 to perform the powder cleaning work. The powder can be directly moved to the blanking funnel through the scraper without manual intervention, thereby avoiding the occurrence of edge overflow caused by powder stacking and improving operation stability.

[0069] The intelligent adjustment system of the 3D metal powder printing equipment of the present invention does not require manual operation. It can realize automatic adjustment of the scraper and timely powder cleaning through a pre-set program, which greatly ensures the stability of the processing cabin environment and the consistency inside the printed parts, improves the working efficiency of the printing equipment, and protects the health of the equipment operators.

[0070] Example 2

[0071] The 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system provided by the embodiment of the present invention is used to execute the real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment, which is specifically introduced as follows.

[0072] This embodiment provides a real-time intelligent adjustment method for a 3D metal powder printing device, which is applied to the intelligent adjustment system for a 3D metal powder printing device described in Embodiment 1. The method includes the following steps:

[0073] S1, controlling the scraper to complete powder collection at a preset first speed;

[0074] S2, controlling the speed of the scraper to decrease from the first speed to a preset second speed, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed;

[0075] S3, controlling the scraper to spread the powder at the second uniform speed;

[0076] S4, controlling the scraper to reset at the first speed.

[0077] In this embodiment, in order to improve the powder spreading efficiency of the scraper, the real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment controls the intelligent adjustment system to adopt a variable speed motion mode when spreading powder. This mode combined with the PID control algorithm can effectively shorten the powder spreading time and improve the working efficiency of the equipment.

[0078] The above steps S1-S4 are the process of spreading powder by scraper, for details, see Figure 4 , which is a schematic diagram of the powder spreading process state of the 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system provided by an embodiment of the present invention when executing the real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment. The scraper initially adopts a high-speed motion mode to complete the powder collection work of the powder cylinder, and the speed is the first speed. After the powder collection is completed, the scraper enters a deceleration motion mode, and the movement speed of the scraper drops sharply to the second speed in a very short time, and the scraper is controlled to complete the powder spreading work at a uniform speed at the second speed; when the scraper returns after completing the powder spreading work, it returns at a high speed at the first speed to improve efficiency.

[0079] See also Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of adjusting the scraper when the 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system provided by the embodiment of the present invention executes the real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment. This embodiment provides a real-time intelligent adjustment method of a 3D metal powder printing equipment, further comprising: collecting the distance parameter between the scraper and the work surface 30 by a distance meter, and judging whether the scraper is in a horizontal state based on the distance parameter;

[0080] If the scraper is not in a horizontal state, the scraper position is adjusted according to the distance parameter so that the scraper is in a horizontal state.

[0081] In a specific embodiment, the distance parameter includes distance values ​​between a plurality of sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface; and judging whether the scraper is in a horizontal state based on the distance parameter includes:

[0082] Determining whether the distance values ​​of multiple sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are the same;

[0083] If the distances between the multiple sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are the same, it is determined that the scraper is in a horizontal state;

[0084] If the distance values ​​between the plurality of sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are different, it is determined that the scraper is not in a horizontal state.

[0085] It can be understood that when the scraper is working, the preset position corresponding to the distance parameter collected by the distance meter is the standard distance parameter.

[0086] In a specific embodiment, if the scraper is not in a horizontal state, the distance parameter is compared with the standard distance parameter of the scraper at a preset position, and the left and right scraper motors on the scraper fixing frame or one of the scraper motors is controlled to drive the scraper adjustment plate to move, thereby adjusting the scraper position so that the distance parameter is the same as the standard distance parameter of the scraper at the preset position, thereby achieving the effect of real-time adjustment of the scraper horizontal position and real-time adjustment of the scraper position.

[0087] In actual printing scenarios, metal powder often melts unevenly during operation, resulting in bulges on the parts printed in the current layer. At this time, the scraper will hit the printed part when it moves in the normal working position, which is a damage to the processing quality of the part and the scraper body. Most importantly, the scraper will cause a gap at the bottom of the scraper or the body will no longer be level due to impact or friction, which will affect subsequent printing work.

[0088] See also Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of obstacle avoidance by the intelligent adjustment system of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by an embodiment of the present invention when executing the real-time intelligent adjustment method of 3D metal powder printing equipment. The real-time intelligent adjustment method of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by this embodiment also includes monitoring whether there is an obstacle 31 in the running direction of the scraper during the operation of the scraper. If there is an obstacle 31, the scraper position is adjusted so that the scraper passes over the obstacle 31. Specifically including:

[0089] Determine by a distance meter whether there is an obstacle in front of the scraper moving direction;

[0090] If there is an obstacle in front of the scraper in the direction of movement, the height of the obstacle is analyzed by calculation;

[0091] The scraper is lifted to a position higher than the obstacle to avoid the obstacle.

[0092] For example, when the scraper is running, the upper computer software will perform real-time analysis on the data collected by the rangefinder. When the software analyzes that the distance parameter detected by the rangefinder is less than the preset distance parameter, it is determined that there is an obstacle. The height of the obstacle is analyzed based on the calculation. For example, the height of the obstacle is analyzed to be 1.5 mm. The left and right scraper motors on the scraper fixing frame are controlled to simultaneously drive the adjustment screw in the scraper adjustment plate to move, increase the height, and make the distance between the bottom of the scraper and the bottom higher than the height of the obstacle, for example, 1.7 mm, and maintain a horizontal state to avoid the obstacle.

[0093] See also Figure 7 , which is a schematic diagram of powder cleaning when the 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment system provided by the embodiment of the present invention executes the real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment. During 3D printing, it is usually necessary to clean the powder on the work surface in time after the powder spreading-printing process is cycled 10-15 times. The real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by this embodiment also includes:

[0094] Controlling the scraper to move to a preset powder cleaning position; when in the powder cleaning position, the scraper is in extrusion contact with the work surface;

[0095] The scraper is controlled to maintain a state of extrusion contact with the work surface to complete the powder cleaning.

[0096] In a specific implementation, the scraper motor drives the scraper to move to a preset powder cleaning position. In this embodiment, the scraper motor drives the scraper to rotate 75 degrees so that the scraper is in squeeze contact with the work surface, and then the fixed frame drives the scraper to perform powder cleaning.

[0097] It can be understood that during the powder cleaning process, in order to improve the powder cleaning efficiency and prevent the powder from damaging the scraper, the real-time intelligent adjustment method of the 3D metal powder printing equipment provided in this embodiment also includes: lifting the scraper to a preset distance.

[0098] The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided in this embodiment can automatically perform the powder cleaning process and realize the automatic powder cleaning function. The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention does not require manual operation in the processes of spreading powder, adjusting the scraper, and cleaning powder. The scraper adjustment, automatic spreading of powder, and timely cleaning of powder can be realized through a pre-set program, which greatly protects the health of the equipment operator and improves work efficiency.

[0099] Specifically, the intelligent adjustment method of 3D metal powder printing equipment in this embodiment is applied to the intelligent adjustment system of 3D metal powder printing equipment. By controlling the movement mode of the scraper during the powder collection and spreading stage, the powder spreading time can be effectively shortened and the working efficiency of the equipment can be improved.

[0100] For example, by timely collecting the distance parameters between the scraper and the work surface and adjusting the scraper position according to the distance parameters, the scraper position can be adjusted in time to achieve the effects of automatic leveling and obstacle avoidance of the scraper. Specifically, in the powder spreading stage, the automatic leveling of the scraper can improve the uniformity of the powder spreading, reduce the uneven layer thickness caused by human errors, and improve the yield and qualified rate of equipment prints. The automatic obstacle avoidance function of the scraper can effectively reduce the generation of scrapped parts caused by the scraper hitting the print, thereby reducing production costs.

[0101] For example, the automatic powder cleaning function is realized by executing the powder cleaning process. The intelligent adjustment method of 3D metal powder printing equipment provided by the present invention does not require manual operation in the processes of spreading powder, adjusting the scraper, and cleaning powder. The scraper adjustment, automatic spreading powder, and timely cleaning powder can be realized through a pre-set program, which greatly protects the health of the equipment operator, reduces manual participation, ensures the stability of the equipment processing cabin environment, improves the consistency of the internal structure of the printed part, and improves work efficiency and yield rate.

[0102] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0103] The above is a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can easily think of various equivalent modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment, characterized in that: It includes a scraper fixing frame, a driving device, a distance meter, a scraper adjusting plate, a scraper fixing plate and a scraper; the driving device is arranged on the scraper fixing frame, the driving device is connected to the scraper adjusting plate and is used to drive the scraper adjusting plate to move, the scraper fixing plate is arranged on the scraper adjusting plate, the scraper is arranged on the scraper fixing plate, and the distance meter is arranged on the scraper fixing plate.

2. The intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving device comprises a scraper motor and an adjusting screw, wherein the output shaft of the scraper motor is connected to the adjusting screw, and the adjusting screw is connected to the scraper adjusting plate.

3. The intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the driving devices is at least two, and at least two of the driving devices are respectively connected to two sides of the scraper adjustment plate.

4. The real-time intelligent adjustment system for scrapers of 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that: It also includes a scraper fixing frame, a scraper motor and a scraper. The scraper fixing frame is connected to the scraper fixing frame. The scraper motor is arranged on the scraper fixing frame. The scraper motor is connected to the scraper and is used to drive the scraper to rotate.

5. The intelligent adjustment system for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The number of the scraper motors is at least two, and at least two of the scraper motors are respectively connected to two sides of the scraper.

6. A 3D metal powder printing equipment intelligent adjustment method, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1, controlling the scraper to complete powder collection at a preset first speed; S2, controlling the speed of the scraper to decrease from the first speed to a preset second speed, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed; S3, controlling the scraper to spread the powder at the second uniform speed; S4, controlling the scraper to reset at the first speed.

7. The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The distance parameter between the scraper and the work surface is collected by a distance meter, and whether the scraper is in a horizontal state is determined based on the distance parameter; If the scraper is not in a horizontal state, the scraper position is adjusted according to the distance parameter so that the scraper is in a horizontal state.

8. The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The distance parameter includes the distance values ​​of a plurality of sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface; The determining whether the scraper is in a horizontal state based on the distance parameter comprises: Determining whether the distance values ​​of multiple sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are the same; If the distances between the multiple sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are the same, it is determined that the scraper is in a horizontal state; If the distance values ​​between the plurality of sampling points on the bottom side of the scraper and the work surface are different, it is determined that the scraper is not in a horizontal state.

9. The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Determine by a distance meter whether there is an obstacle in front of the scraper moving direction; If there is an obstacle in front of the scraper in the direction of movement; The scraper is lifted to a position higher than the obstacle to avoid the obstacle.

10. The intelligent adjustment method for 3D metal powder printing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Controlling the scraper to move to a preset powder cleaning position; when in the powder cleaning position, the scraper is in extrusion contact with the work surface; The scraper is controlled to maintain a state of extrusion contact with the work surface to complete the powder cleaning.

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