Additional powder adding device for 3D printing and head-tail self-locking method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of metal additive manufacturing, and provides an external powder adding device for 3D printing and a head-tail self-locking method in order to achieve efficient, sealed, simple and convenient powder supplementing in 3D printing equipment and solve the technical problems of pressure balance, powder dust raising and operation complexity in the powder supplementing process. An upper cover is arranged above one barrel body, a powder falling opening is formed in the bottom of the barrel body, a cover plate movably connected with the inner bottom of the barrel body is arranged above the powder falling opening, a support is fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the barrel body, and an ejector pin used for ejecting the cover plate in the other barrel body is arranged at the top of the support. The lower portion of the barrel body is provided with a guide inclined face inclining inwards, and a step face is arranged between the top of the guide inclined face and the adjacent portion above the guide inclined face. Automatic flowing-in and sealed storage of powder are achieved, the operation process is remarkably simplified, dust raising of the powder is avoided, the powder supplementing efficiency is improved, meanwhile, the pollution risk to the environment and equipment is reduced, and the labor intensity and the operation error probability of operators are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of metal additive manufacturing, and in particular to an external powder adding device for 3D printing and a head-to-tail self-locking method. Background Art

[0002] In the actual operation of top-feed SLM (selective laser melting) 3D printing equipment, powder replenishment during printing is a crucial but also very complex operation link. Since the printing process needs to maintain continuity and high precision, the powder replenishment operation is not just a simple addition of powder to the equipment, but also involves the coordinated processing of multiple links, which affect each other and have a significant impact on equipment performance and printing quality.

[0003] First, during the powder replenishment operation, the pressure balance problem between the powder bin and the powder replenishment bin is a common technical difficulty. Since SLM equipment usually relies on a closed environment for printing, the air pressure condition in the powder bin directly affects the fluidity of the powder and the operating stability of the equipment. When replenishing powder in the middle of printing, the air pressure difference between the powder bin and the powder replenishment bin may cause airflow turbulence, further affecting the uniform distribution of the printed powder and the molding quality of the printed parts. This pressure balance problem not only requires precise control of the equipment design, but may also lead to extended operation time and reduced process efficiency.

[0004] Secondly, the control of powder dust during the powder replenishment process is another key issue. Metal powder is very easy to generate dust during powder replenishment, which not only pollutes the operating environment of the equipment, but also poses a threat to the health of operators. The accumulation of dust particles may enter the precision parts of the equipment, causing equipment failure or shortening the service life of the equipment. At the same time, the high activity of metal powder also poses certain safety hazards, increasing the risk of production operations. Therefore, how to effectively suppress powder dust and protect the working environment and operator safety are important challenges that must be addressed during the printing process.

[0005] In addition, the existing powder replenishment operation usually involves a large number of parts and operating links, which makes the process complicated and cumbersome. To ensure the smooth progress of powder replenishment, operators need to master the operating rules of the equipment and perform precise collaborative operations. In actual production, multiple people are often required to complete the powder replenishment task together, which not only increases labor costs, but also easily leads to mistakes due to the complexity of the operating steps.

[0006] In general, the above problems are intertwined in the mid-printing powder replenishment operation of top-feeding SLM metal 3D printing equipment, which poses many challenges to equipment design optimization, operation simplification, environmental safety and human resource management. Effectively solving these problems is a key link in the further development of current 3D printing technology, and is also a necessary condition for improving printing efficiency and reducing operating costs. Summary of the invention

[0007] In order to achieve efficient, sealed and simple powder replenishment in 3D printing equipment, and solve the technical problems of pressure balance, powder dust and operation complexity during the powder replenishment process, the present invention provides an external powder adding device for 3D printing and a head-to-tail self-locking method.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows:

[0009] A powder adding device for 3D printing comprises a barrel body, an upper cover is arranged above the barrel body, a powder dropping opening is arranged at the bottom of the barrel body, a cover plate movably connected to the inner bottom of the barrel body is arranged above the powder dropping opening, the size of the cover plate is larger than the size of the powder dropping opening, a bracket is fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the barrel body, a pin for pushing open the cover plate in another barrel body is arranged on the top of the bracket; an inwardly inclined guide slope is arranged at the lower part of the barrel body, and a step surface is arranged between the top of the guide slope and the upper adjacent part.

[0010] By adopting the above-mentioned external powder adding device, this technical solution can realize the automatic inflow and sealed storage of powder, significantly simplify the operation process, avoid powder dust, improve the efficiency of powder replenishment, and at the same time reduce the risk of pollution to the environment and equipment, and reduce the labor intensity of operators and the probability of operating errors.

[0011] Furthermore, a sealing strip is provided at the upper end of the barrel body. The design of the sealing strip enhances the sealing effect between the barrel body and the upper cover, can effectively prevent the powder from generating dust during operation, protect the operating environment of the equipment, and avoid waste and pollution caused by leakage of powder.

[0012] Furthermore, the upper cover is connected to the outer wall of the barrel body through a first hinge, and the cover plate is connected to the inner bottom of the barrel body through a second hinge. The setting of the hinge structure ensures that the upper cover is always connected to the barrel body, avoiding the risk of the upper cover falling off or being lost during operation, while simplifying the operation of opening and closing the cover, and improving the convenience and efficiency of use.

[0013] Furthermore, a handle is fixedly connected to the outer side wall of the barrel body. The design of the handle makes it easy for operators to move and place the barrel body, thereby improving the safety and convenience of equipment operation.

[0014] As another aspect of the present invention, a 3D printing head-to-tail self-locking method is provided, which is used for the above-mentioned external powder adding device, and is provided with at least two barrels, including the following method:

[0015] After the powder is added into the first barrel, the upper cover thereof is closed;

[0016] Open the upper cover of the second barrel;

[0017] Place the first barrel body on top of the second barrel body and use the guide slope to align the two barrel bodies so that they are concentric;

[0018] Press the first barrel downwards until the step surface at the bottom is in close contact with the sealing strip of the second barrel;

[0019] The cover plate of the first barrel body is pushed open by the ejector pin of the second barrel body, and the powder in the first barrel body flows into the second barrel body under the action of gravity.

[0020] The sealing effect of the upper cover prevents the powder from overflowing during movement, and protects the powder from external environmental pollution, preparing for subsequent powder replenishment operations. Open the upper cover of the lower barrel to provide a channel for powder replenishment, ensuring that the powder in the upper barrel can flow smoothly into the lower barrel. The design of the guide slope ensures that the two barrels can be quickly and accurately aligned and placed concentrically, improving operational efficiency and reducing the time and error of manual adjustment. After pressing, the step surface and the sealing strip are fitted to achieve fixation and sealing, effectively preventing powder dust from overflowing during the powder replenishment process and ensuring the stability of the entire system. The cooperation of the ejector pin and the movable cover plate realizes the automation of the powder replenishment process, without the need for additional manual operation, improving efficiency. At the same time, the gravity-driven powder replenishment method avoids complex mechanical structures and improves the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the system.

[0021] The beneficial effects brought by implementing the present invention are:

[0022] The present invention provides an external powder adding device for 3D printing and a head-to-tail self-locking method, thereby realizing efficient, sealed and simple powder replenishment, and effectively solving the problems of pressure balance, powder dust and operation complexity during the powder replenishment process. The device ensures the alignment, fixation and sealing of the powder replenishment process through the coordination of the guide slope, step surface and sealing strip, thereby avoiding the overflow of powder dust and environmental pollution; the sealing effect of the upper cover protects the powder from external pollution, while reducing the powder loss during operation; the hinge structure and handle design further simplify the operation process, and improve the convenience and safety of the equipment; the automation of the powder replenishment process is realized through the linkage of the ejector pin and the movable cover plate, and the powder inflow is completed by gravity drive, which reduces the complex requirements for the mechanical structure, significantly improves the efficiency, and reduces the labor intensity and error probability of the operator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of an external powder adding device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of an external powder adding device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 Usage status demonstration provided for the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 4 Usage status demonstration provided for the embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 .

[0027] In the figure: 1. upper cover; 2. barrel body; 3. handle; 4. sealing strip; 5. ejector pin; 6. bracket; 7. first hinge; 8. step surface; 9. powder drop port; 10. cover plate; 11. second hinge; 12. guide slope; 100. first barrel body; 200. second barrel body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0029] See also Figures 1 to 4 A powder adding device for 3D printing comprises a barrel body 2, an upper cover 1 is arranged above the barrel body 2, a powder dropping port 9 is arranged at the bottom of the barrel body 2, a cover plate 10 movably connected to the inner bottom of the barrel body 2 is arranged above the powder dropping port 9, the size of the cover plate 10 is larger than the size of the powder dropping port 9, a bracket 6 is fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the barrel body 2, and a pin 5 for pushing open the cover plate 10 in another barrel body 2 is arranged on the top of the bracket 6; an inwardly inclined guide slope 12 is arranged at the lower part of the barrel body 2, and a step surface 8 is arranged between the top of the guide slope 12 and the upper adjacent portion.

[0030] By adopting the above-mentioned external powder adding device, this technical solution can realize the automatic inflow and sealed storage of powder, significantly simplify the operation process, avoid powder dust, improve the efficiency of powder replenishment, and at the same time reduce the risk of pollution to the environment and equipment, and reduce the labor intensity of operators and the probability of operating errors.

[0031] Furthermore, a sealing strip 4 is provided at the upper end of the barrel body 2. The design of the sealing strip 4 enhances the sealing effect between the barrel body 2 and the upper cover 1, can effectively prevent the powder from generating dust during operation, protect the operating environment of the equipment, and avoid waste and pollution caused by leakage of powder.

[0032] Furthermore, the upper cover 1 is connected to the outer wall of the barrel body 2 via a first hinge 7, and the cover plate 10 is connected to the inner bottom of the barrel body (2) via a second hinge 11. The arrangement of the hinge structure ensures that the upper cover 1 is always connected to the barrel body 2, thereby avoiding the risk of the upper cover 1 falling off or being lost during operation, and at the same time simplifies the operation of opening and closing the cover, thereby improving the convenience and efficiency of use.

[0033] Furthermore, a handle 3 is fixedly connected to the outer side wall of the barrel body 2. The design of the handle 3 facilitates the operator to move and place the barrel body 2, thereby improving the safety and convenience of the equipment operation.

[0034] As another aspect of the present invention, a 3D printing head-to-tail self-locking method is provided, which is used for the above-mentioned external powder adding device, and is provided with at least two barrels 2, including the following method:

[0035] After adding powder into the first barrel 100, close the upper cover 1 thereof;

[0036] Open the upper cover 1 of the second barrel 200;

[0037] Place the first barrel body 100 on top of the second barrel body 200 and use the guide slope 12 to align the two barrel bodies so that they are concentric;

[0038] Press the first barrel 100 downwards until the step surface 8 at the bottom thereof is in close contact with the sealing strip 4 of the second barrel 200;

[0039] The cover plate 10 of the first barrel body 100 is pushed open by the ejector pin 5 of the second barrel body 200 , and the powder in the first barrel body 100 flows into the second barrel body 200 under the action of gravity.

[0040] The sealing effect of the upper cover 1 prevents the powder from overflowing during movement, and protects the powder from external environmental pollution, thus preparing for the subsequent powder replenishment operation. Open the upper cover 1 of the lower barrel 2 to provide a channel for powder replenishment, ensuring that the powder in the upper barrel 2 can flow smoothly into the lower barrel 2. The design of the guide ramp 12 ensures that the two barrels can be quickly and accurately aligned and placed concentrically, which improves operating efficiency and reduces the time and error of manual adjustment. After pressing, the step surface 8 is fitted with the sealing strip 4 to achieve fixation and sealing, effectively preventing the powder from overflowing during the powder replenishment process and ensuring the stability of the entire system. The cooperation between the ejector pin 5 and the movable cover plate 10 realizes the automation of the powder replenishment process, without the need for additional manual operation, thus improving efficiency. At the same time, the gravity-driven powder replenishment method avoids complex mechanical structures and improves the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the system.

[0041] The beneficial effects brought by implementing the present invention are:

[0042] The 3D printing powder adding device and the head-to-tail self-locking method provided by the present invention realize the high efficiency, sealing and simplicity of powder replenishment through improved design, and effectively solve the problems of pressure balance, powder dust and cumbersome operation during the powder replenishment process. The coordinated design of the guide slope, step surface and sealing strip ensures accurate alignment, firm fixation and effective sealing during the powder replenishment process, significantly reducing the risk of powder dust and environmental pollution; the sealing function of the upper cover effectively protects the powder from pollution and reduces loss; the hinge connection and handle design simplify the opening and moving operations, and improve the convenience and safety of the overall operation; the linkage design of the ejector pin and the movable cover plate realizes the automation of the entire powder replenishment process, and relies on gravity drive to complete the powder transmission, which not only improves the efficiency of powder replenishment, but also reduces the dependence on mechanical complexity, while reducing the labor burden and error rate of operators.

[0043] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A powder adding device for 3D printing, comprising a barrel (2), an upper cover (1) being arranged above the barrel (2), characterized in that: The bottom of the barrel (2) is provided with a powder dropping opening (9), and a cover plate (10) movably connected to the inner bottom of the barrel (2) is provided above the powder dropping opening (9), and the size of the cover plate (10) is larger than the size of the powder dropping opening (9). The inner side wall of the barrel (2) is fixedly connected with a bracket (6), and the top of the bracket (6) is provided with a pin (5) for pushing open the cover plate (10) in another barrel (2); the lower part of the barrel (2) is provided with an inwardly inclined guide slope (12), and a step surface (8) is provided between the top of the guide slope (12) and the upper adjacent portion.

2. The external powder adding device for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sealing strip (4) is provided at the upper end of the barrel body (2).

3. The external powder adding device for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper cover (1) is connected to the outer wall of the barrel body (2) via a first hinge (7), and the cover plate (10) is connected to the inner bottom of the barrel body (2) via a second hinge (11).

4. The external powder adding device for 3D printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: A handle (3) is fixedly connected to the outer side wall of the barrel body (2).

5. A 3D printing head and tail self-locking method, characterized in that: The powder adding device as claimed in claim 2 is provided with at least two barrels (2), comprising the following method: After adding powder into the first barrel (100), the upper cover (1) is closed; Opening the upper cover (1) of the second barrel (200); Placing the first barrel body (100) above the second barrel body (200), and aligning them using the guide slope (12) so that the two barrel bodies (2) are concentric; Pressing the first barrel body (100) downwards tightly until the step surface (8) at the bottom thereof is in close contact with the sealing strip (4) of the second barrel body (200); The cover plate (10) of the first barrel (100) is pushed open by the ejector pin (5) of the second barrel (200), and the powder in the first barrel (100) flows into the second barrel (200) under the action of gravity.

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