Assembly and method for making an object

Abstract

A system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) object from a template. The system has a base assembly with a frame and a platform on top of the frame. The platform is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The base assembly has a rod protruding vertically from the platform and a slider assembly. The slider assembly has a slider bar securely secured to the frame, a slider tool slidably and rotatably attached to the slider bar via a central opening, and at least two horizontal bars configured to slide horizontally via corresponding side openings. A fastener for securing the horizontal bar in a predetermined position is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to making three-dimensional (3D) objects using a 3D pen. More specifically, the present invention relates to an assembly for creating a 3D object from a template and a method of using the assembly to create a 3D object from a template. Background Art

[0002] 3D pens are commonly used to create a variety of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D objects "freehand". 3D pens work by heating a filament of plastic and extruding it through the tip of the pen. As the plastic cools and hardens, it can be used to "draw" 3D objects. 3D pens are often used for prototyping and model making because they allow the user to quickly create complex shapes.

[0003] For prototyping and model making, a template is generally used. The template contains multiple grooves and shapes to provide an outline for the 3D object to be constructed. The template is often made of silicon or plastic to assist in using a 3D pen.

[0004] Such "freehand" object building is inherently difficult due in large part to the instability of plastic before it cools and hardens. In other words, when the filament is extruded from the 3D pen, it is not stable until it cools and hardens, resulting in incorrect and inaccurate 3D object formation.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for components for making 3D objects from templates that feature precise and rigid structures. Summary of the invention

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) object from a template. The system has a base assembly with a frame and a platform on top of the frame. The platform is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis. The base assembly has a rod and a slider assembly, the rod protruding vertically from the platform. The slider assembly has a slide bar firmly fixed to the frame, a slide tool slidably and rotatably attached to the slide bar via a central opening, and at least two horizontal rods configured to slide horizontally via corresponding side openings. A fastener for fixing the horizontal rod in a predetermined position is also provided.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for creating a three-dimensional object from a template. The method has the following steps: placing the template on a rotatable platform, creating a two-dimensional (2D) shape from the template using a 3D pen by rotating the template via the rotatable platform, and concentrically placing the 2D shape around a rod protruding vertically from the rotatable platform. In addition, the method may have a step of fixing the 2D shape by a slider assembly, wherein the slider assembly may have a slider bar firmly fixed to a frame, a slider tool slidably and rotatably attached to the slider bar via a central opening, and at least two horizontal rods configured to slide horizontally via corresponding side openings. The final step provides fusing a fill layer from the template with the 2D shape to create a 3D object.

[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, the template has grooves forming geometric and / or non-geometric shapes. For example, the grooves can form at least one predetermined shape defined by five concentric triangular path grooves and a straight line groove perpendicularly passing through the centers of the five triangular path grooves. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to make the present invention easy to understand, the specific embodiments of the present invention briefly described above will be described in more detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these drawings have only depicted typical embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be considered to limit the scope of the present invention, and various aspects of the present invention will be described and explained in more detail by utilizing the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 A diagram depicting a system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) object from a template according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 depicts a diagram of another embodiment of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 depicts a base assembly without a template of a system according to various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 4 depicts a diagram of a slide assembly of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5A depicts an illustration of a template according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5B depicts a diagram of a template according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5C depicts a diagram of a template according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5D A diagrammatic representation of a template according to another embodiment of the present invention is depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Mentioning "a specific embodiment" or similar expressions in the specification means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in the specific embodiment are included in at least one specific embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, "in a specific embodiment" or similar expressions in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same specific embodiment.

[0012] Hereinafter, various specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be modified by those skilled in the art according to the following description to achieve the excellent effects of the present invention. Therefore, the following description should be regarded as a general and explanatory description related to the present invention provided to those skilled in the art, rather than for limiting the claims of the present invention.

[0013] The reference to "specific implementation", "a specific implementation" or similar expressions in the specification means that the relevant features, structures or characteristics described in the specific implementation are included in at least one specific implementation of the present invention. Therefore, "in a specific implementation", "in a specific implementation" or similar expressions in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same specific implementation.

[0014] The popularity of 3D printers has led to the use of 3D freehand pens, which use plastic wire made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("ABS"), polylactic acid ("PLA"), or "FLEXY", thermopolyurethane ("TPU"), or similar materials that are melted and then cooled to hand-make two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects.

[0015] This type of "freehand" 3D printing is inherently difficult due to the instability of the plastic thread before it cools and hardens. As the plastic thread is extruded from the 3D pen, there is a period of instability before it cools and hardens, often resulting in objects that are poor quality, imprecise, and inconsistent with desired specifications.

[0016] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a system for creating 3D objects from a template using a 3D paint pen. The system allows obtaining accurate, stable and high-quality 3D objects when using "freehand" 3D printing. Specifically, Figures 1 to 5D As shown, the system has a base assembly and templates with various geometric and non-geometric shapes that are compatible with each other to build 3D objects.

[0017] Figure 1A system 100 for creating a 3D object from a template 150 using a 3D paint pen (not shown) according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown. The system 100 is provided with a base assembly 110. The base assembly has a frame 130 and a platform 140. The frame 130 may be rectangular or square, while the platform 140 is preferably circular. The frame 130 may preferably have a length of 20 to 25 centimeters (cm) and a width of 16 to 20 cm. The platform 140 may preferably have a diameter of about 14 to 16 cm.

[0018] The platform 140 is positioned on top of the frame 130 and is preferably configured to extend about a longitudinal axis (eg, Figure 2 In addition, the base assembly has a rod 160 that protrudes vertically from the platform 140 to concentrically accommodate the template 150.

[0019] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the base assembly 110 can have a slider assembly 120 positioned adjacent to the platform 140 and placed on top of the frame 130. The slider assembly 120 can have a slider bar 165 fixedly secured to the frame 130 via slider bar supports 167.

[0020] The slide bar 165 may have scale graduations, in centimeters and / or inches, implemented by etching or other known techniques. The slide bar 165 is preferably made of a stainless steel composite.

[0021] The slide 170 is slidably and rotatably attached to the slide bar 165 via the central opening 168. At least two horizontal bars 177 are configured to slide horizontally via corresponding side openings 178 (see Figure 2 ). The horizontal rod 177 can also be configured to slide inwardly and / or outwardly and rotate laterally via a corresponding rotating gear 179 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 ).

[0022] Figure 3 The base assembly 110 is shown without the template 150. According to a modification of the present invention, the platform 140 may include a supporting rotating portion 190 (such as Figure 1 and 2 The rim 240 may preferably have a height of 1 cm. The rotating portion 190 may be a circular shape with a central opening (not shown) for the rod 160. The rotating portion 190 is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the rotating portion 190 may have a diameter of about 14 to 16 cm. The template 150 may then be placed on top of the rotating portion 190. A rod support 260 is also provided to support the rod 160.

[0023] Figure 4The slide 170 of the slide assembly 120 according to the modification of the present invention is shown in more detail. Specifically, the slide 170 has a slide platform 180. The slide platform 180 is provided with a rotating gear 179 that is movably attached to the slide platform and is configured with a side opening 178. The side opening 178 is configured to receive a horizontal rod 177. The side opening 178 has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the horizontal rod 177, which allows the horizontal rod 177 to slide inwardly and outwardly and also to be securely held in a certain position without any auxiliary movement. A fastener 185 is also provided for fixing the horizontal rod 177 in a predetermined position.

[0024] In addition, a screw assembly 250 may be provided to secure the position of the slider 170 on the slide bar 165. Any known configuration of screw assembly 250 that allows the slider 170 to be fixedly held on the slide bar 165 and allows the horizontal rod 177 to be manipulated inwardly and / or outwardly and / or laterally may be used. According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the screw assembly may use an M3 hexagonal nut (not shown).

[0025] Figures 5A to 5C Various embodiments of the template 150 are shown. The template 150 can be made of silicon or any other flexible, non-adhesive and heat-resistant material. The template 150 can be of any geometric shape. According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the template 150 preferably has a circular or square shape. The thickness of the template is preferably 5 millimeters (mm).

[0026] The template 150 includes various geometric and / or non-geometric grooves 550. For example, Figures 5A to 5C A slot configuration is shown that may be used to construct a 3D object when operating the system 100 according to the present invention.

[0027] like Figure 5A As shown, the template 150 has a template opening 505 for the rod 160. The template opening 505 may have a raised wall 507 around the opening 505 to improve the alignment and accuracy of the 3D object.

[0028] The groove 550 serves as a forming crucible for the 2D shape of the 3D design. When the melted plastic filament drawn by the 3D pen in the groove 550 of the template 150 hardens, the hardened plastic can then be extracted by bending the template 150. The flexibility of the template 150 allows the user to bend the template 150 to extract the plastic 2D object formed in the groove 550.

[0029] Detailed descriptions of using the template 150 in conjunction with a 3D paint pen to extrude plastic filaments and utilize "fusion and bonding areas" to construct various 3D objects have been disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,123,901B2, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

[0030] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 allows the user to place the template 150 on the rod 160 of the rotating platform 140 via the template opening 505. The 2D shape formed using the 3D paint pen can then be stacked concentrically using the rod 160 at the center of the rotating portion 190.

[0031] The slidable slide 170 can be used to layer 2D shapes at various heights using the horizontal rod 177 of the slide assembly 120, allowing the user to gradually guide the 3D object into perfect alignment. The horizontal rod 177 can temporarily hold successive 2D shape layers of previously printed shapes at specific heights to fuse them with fill layers in between.

[0032] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "include" and / or "comprise" specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or increase of one or more than one other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups thereof.

[0033] The corresponding structures, materials, actions and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the claims are intended to include any structure, material or action for performing functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been given for the purpose of example and illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the described forms of the present invention. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Specific embodiments are selected and described in order to best explain the principles and practical applications of the present invention and to enable other persons of ordinary skill in the art to understand that various specific embodiments of the present invention have various modifications suitable for the intended specific use.

Claims

1. A system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) object from a template, the system comprising: A base assembly, wherein the base assembly comprises: frame; a platform atop the frame, the platform configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis; and a rod protruding vertically from the platform; and A sliding member assembly, wherein the sliding member assembly comprises: a slide bar, the slide bar being securely fixed to the frame; a slider tool slidably and rotatably attached to the slide bar via the central opening; at least two horizontal rods configured to slide horizontally through corresponding side openings; and a fastener, the fastener being used to fix the horizontal rod in a predetermined position, wherein the template is configured to be placed on the platform to allow the 3D object to be created using a 3D pen by stacking two-dimensional (2D) shapes printed from the template by the 3D pen, and the 2D shape is secured by the slide assembly to allow the 2D shape to fuse with a fill layer from the template.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The template is made of non-stick, heat-resistant and transparent material.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The template includes grooves forming geometric and / or non-geometric shapes.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The template includes a template opening that is centrally located and surrounded by a raised wall.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The slide bar includes a ruler scale.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The frame has a rectangular shape.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The platform further includes a rim supporting the rotating portion.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The slider tool further comprises: Sliding platform; a rotating gear movably attached to the slider platform to allow the horizontal rod to rotate sideways; and A fastener is used to fix the horizontal rod.

9. The system according to claim 3, wherein: The template includes at least one groove of a predetermined shape formed by five concentric triangular path grooves and a straight groove perpendicularly passing through the centers of the five triangular path grooves.

10. A method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) object from a template, the method comprising the following steps: placing the template on a rotatable platform; creating a two-dimensional (2D) shape from the template using a 3D pen by rotating the template via the rotatable platform; placing the 2D shape concentrically around a rod protruding vertically from the rotatable platform; The 2D shape is fixed by a slider assembly, wherein the slider assembly includes: a slide bar fixedly fixed to the frame; a slide tool slidably and rotatably attached to the slide bar via a central opening; and at least two horizontal rods configured to slide horizontally through corresponding side openings, and The 2D shape is fused with a fill layer from the template to create the 3D object.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The template comprises silicon.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The template includes grooves forming geometric and / or non-geometric shapes.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The template includes a template opening that is centrally located and surrounded by a raised wall.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The slider tool further comprises: Sliding platform; a rotating gear movably attached to the slider platform to allow the horizontal rod to rotate sideways; and A fastener is used to fix the horizontal rod.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The template includes at least one groove of a predetermined shape formed by five concentric triangular path grooves and a straight groove perpendicularly passing through the centers of the five triangular path grooves.

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