Flow monitoring method and device for 3D printing extruder

Abstract

The invention provides a flow monitoring method and device for a 3D printing extruder, and relates to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and the method comprises the steps that material flow data are collected in real time through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder; transmitting the collected real-time flow data to a control system, and judging whether the material flow is within a preset range or not; according to the deviation between the flow data monitored in real time and the target flow, working parameters of the extruder are automatically adjusted, and adjustment is conducted through a closed-loop feedback control system till the flow is stable; and in the extrusion process, if flow data monitored in real time exceeds a normal working range, an abnormal alarm is triggered, and a corresponding fault processing program is started. The material flow can be accurately monitored in real time, and the working parameters of the extruder can be automatically adjusted according to the monitoring result, so that the stable supply of the material and the quality of the printing process are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and in particular to a flow monitoring method and device for a 3D printing extruder. Background Art

[0002] In 3D printing, the extruder is a key device that extrude printing materials (such as thermoplastics, resins, metal powders, etc.) from the nozzle along a predetermined path. The stability of the material flow directly affects the printing quality and the reliability of the printing process. If the flow is too large or too small, it will lead to problems such as poor bonding between printed layers, rough surface, and even nozzle clogging.

[0003] At present, traditional flow monitoring methods mainly rely on mechanical transmission components or simple pressure sensors. These methods often cannot accurately reflect the actual flow of extruder materials in real time, and are prone to errors, resulting in unstable printing quality. Especially in the printing process of high-precision and complex models, real-time monitoring and adjustment of flow has become the key to improving printing quality.

[0004] Therefore, developing an accurate, real-time, and automated 3D printing extruder flow monitoring method and device to ensure uniform material supply and high-quality printing has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to propose a flow monitoring method and device for a 3D printing extruder, which is used to monitor and adjust the precise control of material flow in real time during 3D printing to improve printing quality and production efficiency. It can realize real-time and accurate monitoring of material flow and automatically adjust the working parameters of the extruder according to the monitoring results, thereby ensuring a stable supply of materials and the quality of the printing process.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: Based on the above purpose, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a flow monitoring method for a 3D printing extruder, comprising the following steps: Real-time material flow data is collected through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder; The collected real-time flow data is transmitted to the control system to determine whether the material flow is within the preset range; According to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, the extruder operating parameters are automatically adjusted and adjusted through a closed-loop feedback control system until the flow is stable; During the extrusion process, if the real-time monitored flow data exceeds the normal working range, an abnormal alarm is triggered and the corresponding fault handling procedure is started; After the flow rate is adjusted, the flow data is monitored in real time, and based on the feedback results, it is determined whether further adjustments are needed until the flow rate remains within the predetermined range.

[0007] As a further solution of the present invention, a multidimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder collects flow data of materials in the extruder in real time through multiple different types of sensors. The multidimensional sensor array includes flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, optical sensors and visual sensors.

[0008] As a further solution of the present invention, the flow sensor is a mass flow sensor, an ultrasonic flow sensor, a pressure difference flow sensor or a capacitive flow sensor installed in the extruder, and is used to monitor the amount of material flowing through the extruder.

[0009] As a further solution of the present invention, when judging whether the material flow is within a preset range, data from multiple sensors are fused and processed, and the control system is used to judge whether the material flow is within the preset range and correct the noise and error in the data.

[0010] As a further solution of the present invention, when the control system processes the flow data, it smoothes, filters and corrects the flow data, and determines whether the material flow is within a preset range based on the processed flow data.

[0011] As a further solution of the present invention, the target flow rate is an ideal flow rate value preset according to the printing task, material type, printing speed and printing accuracy.

[0012] As a further solution of the present invention, when adjusting the working parameters of the extruder, the material feeding speed, heater power and nozzle temperature are adjusted, and the adjustment process is realized by a closed-loop control system, wherein the closed-loop control system is composed of a sensor module, a control module and an execution module, wherein the sensor module is responsible for real-time collection of working status data of nozzle temperature, material flow, nozzle pressure and printing speed; the control module is responsible for processing sensor data and calculating the nozzle speed adjustment value; the execution module receives the command of the control module and adjusts the actual ejection speed of the nozzle and the material feeding speed; the closed-loop control system adopts PID control and automatically adjusts the nozzle speed through closed-loop feedback and correction, wherein, after each adjustment of the nozzle speed, the sensor continues to monitor the working status data of the nozzle and feeds back to the control module in real time, and when the nozzle speed deviates from the expected adjustment range, the control system will adjust the nozzle speed again.

[0013] As a further solution of the present invention, after adjusting the working parameters of the extruder until the actual flow rate is consistent with the target flow rate, it also includes feeding back the adjustment result, monitoring the flow data in real time and judging whether further adjustment is needed according to the feedback result until the flow rate remains within a predetermined range.

[0014] As a further solution of the present invention, if the flow data monitored in real time exceeds the normal working range and the flow is too high or too low, printing is suspended, the nozzle is cleaned and the heating system is adjusted.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a flow monitoring device for a 3D printing extruder, comprising: A data acquisition module for collecting material flow data in real time through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder; The flow monitoring module is used to transmit the collected real-time flow data to the control system to determine whether the material flow is within the preset range; The flow adjustment module is used to automatically adjust the extruder operating parameters according to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, and adjust through a closed-loop feedback control system until the flow is stable; The early warning processing module is used to trigger an abnormal alarm and start the corresponding fault handling procedure if the real-time monitored flow data exceeds the normal working range during the extrusion process; The feedback adjustment module is used to monitor the flow data in real time after the flow is adjusted, and determine whether further adjustment is needed based on the feedback results until the flow remains within a predetermined range.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, a computer device is provided, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, any one of the above-mentioned flow monitoring methods for a 3D printing extruder according to the present invention is executed.

[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, storing computer program instructions, which, when executed, implement any of the above-mentioned flow monitoring methods for a 3D printing extruder according to the present invention.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the flow monitoring method and device of the 3D printing extruder proposed in the present invention, by combining a multi-dimensional sensor array and a closed-loop feedback control system, has the following significant beneficial effects: 1. Improved flow monitoring accuracy: The present invention can comprehensively and accurately monitor material flow and its changes by real-time collection of multi-dimensional sensor data (such as pressure, temperature, optical, visual sensors, etc.), making up for the measurement blind spots or errors that may exist in traditional single sensors, and improving the reliability and accuracy of flow control.

[0019] 2. Automatic adjustment and real-time feedback: Based on the deviation between real-time flow data and target flow, the present invention can automatically adjust the working parameters of the extruder, such as feeding speed, nozzle temperature, etc., to ensure stable flow. The closed-loop feedback control mechanism can monitor the adjustment results in real time and automatically feedback the adjustment strategy to ensure that the flow is always kept within the preset working range, effectively avoiding printing defects caused by flow fluctuations.

[0020] 3. Abnormal detection and fault handling are realized: when the flow rate is monitored in real time to exceed the normal working range, the present invention can promptly trigger the abnormal alarm, start the fault handling procedure, and automatically take measures to avoid potential risks in the printing process, such as blockage, material overflow and other problems, thereby ensuring the safety and stability of the printing process.

[0021] 4. Possessing adaptive capabilities, improving production efficiency and quality stability: The flow monitoring method of the present invention can not only be adjusted according to real-time data, but also has adaptive capabilities. In complex or changing printing environments, it can automatically optimize the flow adjustment strategy according to changes in the external environment or different material properties, effectively improving printing quality and efficiency. Through precise flow control, the present invention can reduce printing defects caused by unstable flow (such as poor interlayer adhesion, rough surface, etc.), significantly improve printing accuracy and finished product quality, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality stability.

[0022] 5. An intelligent fault warning system is realized: The method of the present invention can respond quickly when an abnormality occurs through monitoring and alarming of abnormal flow, combined with automatic adjustment and fault handling procedures, thereby reducing manual intervention, improving the intelligence level of the equipment and reducing maintenance costs.

[0023] In summary, the flow monitoring method and device of the 3D printing extruder of the present invention can significantly improve the flow control accuracy, printing stability and safety of the 3D printing extruder, and at the same time, through automated and intelligent feedback control, greatly improve production efficiency and printing quality, and have strong practical application value.

[0024] These and other aspects of the present application will be more concise and understandable in the following description of the embodiments. It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory and cannot limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or related technologies, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the exemplary embodiments or related technical descriptions. The drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation to the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 The present invention is a flow chart of a method for monitoring flow of a 3D printing extruder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 4 is a structural block diagram of a flow monitoring device for a 3D printing extruder according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Below, the present application is further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods. It should be noted that, under the premise of no conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form a new embodiment.

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

[0029] It should be noted that all expressions using "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present invention are intended to distinguish two non-identical entities or non-identical parameters with the same name. It can be seen that "first" and "second" are only for the convenience of expression and should not be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, other steps or units inherent to a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units.

[0030] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are only examples and do not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor must they be executed in the order described. For example, some operations / steps may be decomposed, combined or partially merged, so the actual execution order may change according to actual conditions.

[0032] In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, some embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0033] Traditional flow monitoring methods often fail to accurately reflect the actual flow of extruder materials in real time, and are prone to errors, resulting in unstable printing quality. The present invention proposes a flow monitoring method and device for a 3D printing extruder, which is used to monitor and adjust the precise control of material flow in real time during 3D printing to improve printing quality and production efficiency. It can realize real-time and accurate monitoring of material flow and automatically adjust the working parameters of the extruder according to the monitoring results, thereby ensuring the stable supply of materials and the quality of the printing process.

[0034] See also Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a flow monitoring method for a 3D printing extruder, the method comprising the following steps: Step S10: collecting material flow data in real time through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder.

[0035] In this step, the multidimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder collects the flow data of the material in the extruder in real time through multiple different types of sensors. The multidimensional sensor array includes flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, optical sensors and visual sensors.

[0036] The flow sensor is a mass flow sensor, an ultrasonic flow sensor, a pressure difference flow sensor or a capacitive flow sensor installed in the extruder to monitor the amount of material flowing through the extruder.

[0037] The multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder is responsible for real-time monitoring of changes in material flow. Through multiple different types of sensors in the sensor array (such as flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, optical sensors, and visual sensors), the working status inside the extruder can be fully monitored. These sensors work together to form a collaborative working mechanism to ensure accurate perception and data collection of flow.

[0038] Among them, flow sensors (such as mass flow sensors, ultrasonic flow sensors, pressure difference flow sensors or capacitive flow sensors) are used to accurately monitor the flow of materials and detect the flow of materials in the extruder. Pressure sensors are used to detect pressure changes during the operation of the extruder and indirectly infer the resistance and flow of material flow. Temperature sensors are used to monitor the temperature of the nozzle and material to ensure that the temperature is maintained within an appropriate range in order to accurately control the flow. Optical sensors and visual sensors are used to visually monitor the flow state and ejection effect of the material and promptly detect material defects or abnormalities (such as nozzle blockage or insufficient material).

[0039] For example, in a certain 3D printing task, an ultrasonic flow sensor is used to monitor the material flow, a pressure sensor is used to monitor the nozzle pressure, a temperature sensor is used to monitor the material temperature, and a visual sensor is used to detect the outflow at the nozzle in real time. All these data are transmitted to the control system in real time.

[0040] Step S20: Transmit the collected real-time flow data to the control system to determine whether the material flow is within a preset range.

[0041] In this step, when judging whether the material flow is within the preset range, the data from multiple sensors are fused and processed, and the control system is used to judge whether the material flow is within the preset range and correct the noise and error in the data.

[0042] When the control system processes the flow data, it smoothes, filters and corrects the flow data, and determines whether the material flow is within a preset range based on the processed flow data.

[0043] In this embodiment, the control system fuses the data from different sensors to form a more comprehensive view of the flow data. The control system does not rely solely on the data from a single sensor, but also integrates the output of each sensor to eliminate noise and errors, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the judgment result. The control system processes the raw data to eliminate fluctuations caused by environmental interference or sensor errors. Finally, based on the processed data, it is determined whether the material flow is within the preset normal working range.

[0044] For example, suppose the flow sensor reports a flow rate of 100 g / min, the temperature sensor reports a nozzle temperature of 210°C, and the pressure sensor reports a pressure of 5 Pa. In this case, the control system will combine these three data, process them through a data fusion algorithm, determine whether the flow rate is within the target range (e.g. 120 ± 10 g / min), and provide timely feedback.

[0045] Step S30: automatically adjust the extruder operating parameters according to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, and adjust through a closed-loop feedback control system until the flow is stable.

[0046] In this step, the target flow rate is an ideal flow rate value preset according to the printing task, material type, printing speed and printing accuracy.

[0047] When adjusting the working parameters of the extruder, the material feeding speed, heater power and nozzle temperature are adjusted, and the adjustment process is realized through a closed-loop control system, wherein the closed-loop control system is composed of a sensor module, a control module and an execution module, wherein the sensor module is responsible for real-time collection of working status data of nozzle temperature, material flow, nozzle pressure and printing speed; the control module is responsible for processing sensor data and calculating the nozzle speed adjustment value; the execution module receives the command of the control module and adjusts the actual ejection speed of the nozzle and the material feeding speed; the closed-loop control system adopts PID control and automatically adjusts the nozzle speed through closed-loop feedback and correction, wherein after each adjustment of the nozzle speed, the sensor continues to monitor the working status data of the nozzle and feeds back to the control module in real time, and when the nozzle speed deviates from the expected adjustment range, the control system will adjust the nozzle speed again.

[0048] In this embodiment, after adjusting the working parameters of the extruder until the actual flow rate is consistent with the target flow rate, it also includes feeding back the adjustment results, monitoring the flow data in real time and judging whether further adjustment is needed based on the feedback results until the flow rate remains within a predetermined range. If the flow data monitored in real time exceeds the normal working range and the flow rate is too high or too low, printing is suspended, the nozzle is cleaned and the heating system is adjusted.

[0049] In this embodiment, according to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, the control system will automatically adjust the working parameters of the extruder to stabilize the flow. The target flow is an ideal flow value set in advance based on factors such as the printing task requirements, the characteristics of the materials used, and the printing accuracy. The control system dynamically adjusts the extruder parameters through a closed-loop feedback mechanism to ensure that the flow is always within the target range. Among them, the methods for adjusting the working parameters include: Material feed speed: By controlling the speed of the feed system, the speed at which the material flows in is adjusted, thereby affecting the flow rate.

[0050] Nozzle temperature: The nozzle temperature is adjusted by the heater to ensure optimal material fluidity and printing quality.

[0051] Heater power: By adjusting the power of the heater, the melting state of the material is controlled, which indirectly affects the stability of the flow.

[0052] The closed-loop control system uses PID control (proportional-integral-differential control). The control system automatically adjusts parameters according to flow deviation and provides feedback through the sensor module. When the adjusted nozzle speed deviates from the expected range, the control system will adjust again. For example, assuming that the target flow rate is 120g / min and the actual monitored flow rate is 110g / min, the control system will automatically increase the material feed speed or increase the heater power, and adjust through feedback until the actual flow rate is consistent with the target flow rate. During the whole process, the control system continuously monitors the nozzle status through sensors and makes necessary adjustments.

[0053] Step S40: During the extrusion process, if the flow data monitored in real time exceeds the normal working range, an abnormal alarm is triggered and a corresponding fault handling procedure is started.

[0054] In this step, if the real-time monitoring of flow data exceeds the normal working range (for example, the flow is too high or too low) during the extrusion process, the control system will immediately trigger an abnormal alarm. The alarm signal will notify the operator or automatically start the fault handling procedure. The fault handling procedure may include pausing printing, cleaning the nozzle, adjusting the heating system, etc.

[0055] Step S50: After the flow rate is adjusted, the flow rate data is monitored in real time, and it is determined whether further adjustment is needed according to the feedback result until the flow rate remains within a predetermined range.

[0056] In this step, after the flow rate is adjusted, the system will continue to monitor the flow data and determine whether further adjustments are needed based on the feedback results until the flow rate stabilizes within the predetermined range. If the flow rate deviation still exists, the system will continue to adjust according to the target value until the flow rate remains within a reasonable range.

[0057] Assuming the target flow rate is 120g / min, and after adjustment, the actual flow rate is 115g / min, the system will continue to adjust the nozzle temperature or material feed speed based on the feedback until the actual flow rate is close to the target flow rate of 120g / min and the fluctuation range is within the allowable range.

[0058] The 3D printing extruder flow monitoring method of the present invention can realize accurate monitoring and automatic adjustment of the extruder flow through means such as multi-dimensional sensor array, data fusion and feedback control. Through fine adjustment of working parameters, real-time feedback adjustment and abnormality detection, the system can greatly improve the printing quality and ensure the stability and safety of the printing process. The whole process is based on the closed-loop control principle to ensure that the flow rate is always kept within the preset range, thereby improving the efficiency of 3D printing and the consistency of the product.

[0059] The flow monitoring method of the 3D printing extruder of the present invention can comprehensively and accurately monitor the material flow and its changes by real-time acquisition of multi-dimensional sensor (such as pressure, temperature, optical, visual sensor, etc.) data, making up for the measurement blind area or error that may exist in the traditional single sensor, and improving the reliability and accuracy of flow control. Based on the deviation between the real-time flow data and the target flow, the present invention can automatically adjust the working parameters of the extruder, such as feeding speed, nozzle temperature, etc., to ensure the stability of the flow. Through the closed-loop feedback control mechanism, the adjustment results can be monitored in real time and the adjustment strategy can be automatically fed back to ensure that the flow is always kept within the preset working range, effectively avoiding printing defects caused by flow fluctuations. When the flow is monitored in real time to exceed the normal working range, the present invention can trigger an abnormal alarm in time, start the fault handling program, and automatically take measures to avoid potential risks in the printing process, such as blockage, material overflow, etc., so as to ensure the safety and stability of the printing process. The flow monitoring method of the present invention can not only be adjusted according to real-time data, but also has adaptive capabilities. In a complex or changing printing environment, the flow adjustment strategy can be automatically optimized according to changes in the external environment or different material properties, effectively improving the printing quality and efficiency. Through precise flow control, the present invention can reduce printing defects caused by unstable flow (such as poor interlayer adhesion, rough surface, etc.), significantly improve printing accuracy and finished product quality, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality stability.

[0060] It should be noted that the above figures are only schematic illustrations of the processes included in the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting. It is easy to understand that the processes shown in the above figures do not indicate or limit the time sequence of these processes. In addition, it is also easy to understand that these processes can be performed synchronously or asynchronously, for example, in multiple modules.

[0061] It should be understood that, although described in a certain order, these steps are not necessarily performed in sequence in the above order. Unless there is a clear explanation in this article, the execution of these steps does not have a strict order restriction, and these steps can be performed in other orders. Moreover, a part of the steps of the present embodiment may include a plurality of steps or a plurality of stages, and these steps or stages are not necessarily performed at the same time, but can be performed at different times, and the execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily performed in sequence, but can be performed in turn or alternately with at least a part of the steps or stages in other steps or other steps.

[0062] In the second aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 2 As shown, the present invention also provides a flow monitoring device for a 3D printing extruder, comprising: The data acquisition module 100 is used to collect material flow data in real time through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder; The flow monitoring module 200 is used to transmit the collected real-time flow data to the control system to determine whether the material flow is within a preset range; The flow adjustment module 300 is used to automatically adjust the extruder operating parameters according to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, and to make adjustments through a closed-loop feedback control system until the flow is stable; The early warning processing module 400 is used to trigger an abnormal alarm and start a corresponding fault handling procedure if the flow data monitored in real time exceeds the normal working range during the extrusion process; The feedback adjustment module 500 is used to monitor the flow data in real time after the flow is adjusted, and determine whether further adjustment is needed according to the feedback result until the flow is kept within a predetermined range.

[0063] Through the above detailed steps, the flow monitoring device of the 3D printing extruder of the present invention is used to execute the steps of the flow monitoring method of the 3D printing extruder in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here. The flow monitoring device of the 3D printing extruder of the present invention can respond quickly when an abnormality occurs through monitoring and alarm of abnormal flow, combined with automatic adjustment and fault handling procedures, thereby reducing manual intervention, improving the intelligence level of the equipment, and reducing maintenance costs. The flow monitoring method and device of the 3D printing extruder of the present invention can significantly improve the flow control accuracy, printing stability and safety of the 3D printing extruder, and at the same time, through automated and intelligent feedback control, greatly improve production efficiency and printing quality, and have strong practical application value.

[0064] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a computer device is provided, including a memory and a processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the method of any one of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0065] The computer device includes a processor and a memory, and may also include: an input system and an output system. The processor, memory, input system and output system may be connected via a bus or other means, and the input system may receive input digital or character information, and generate signal input related to the migration of flow monitoring of the 3D printing extruder. The output system may include display devices such as a display screen.

[0066] As a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, the memory can be used to store non-volatile software programs, non-volatile computer executable programs and modules, such as the program instructions / modules corresponding to the flow monitoring method of the 3D printing extruder in the embodiment of the present application. The memory may include a storage program area and a storage data area, wherein the storage program area may store an operating system, an application required for at least one function; the storage data area may store data created by the use of the flow monitoring method of the 3D printing extruder, etc. In addition, the memory may include a high-speed random access memory, and may also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. In some embodiments, the memory may optionally include a memory remotely arranged relative to the processor, and these remote memories may be connected to the local module via a network. Examples of the above-mentioned network include, but are not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and combinations thereof.

[0067] The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or other data processing chip in some embodiments. The processor is generally used to control the overall operation of the computer device. In the present embodiment, the processor is used to run the program code stored in the memory or process data. The processors of the multiple computer devices of the computer device of the present embodiment execute various functional applications and data processing of the server by running the non-volatile software programs, instructions and modules stored in the memory, i.e., the steps of the flow monitoring method of the 3D printing extruder of the above-mentioned method embodiment are implemented.

[0068] It should be understood that, unless they conflict with each other, all embodiments, features and advantages described above for the flow monitoring method of the 3D printing extruder according to the present invention are also applicable to the flow monitoring and storage medium of the 3D printing extruder according to the present invention.

[0069] It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various exemplary logic blocks, modules, circuits and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the disclosure herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of the two. In order to clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, a general description has been given to the functions of various schematic components, blocks, modules, circuits and steps. Whether this function is implemented as software or hardware depends on specific applications and the design constraints imposed on the entire system. Those skilled in the art can implement the function in various ways for each specific application, but this implementation decision should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the disclosed scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that the computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory) herein may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. As an example and not by way of limitation, a non-volatile memory may include a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. A volatile memory may include a random access memory (RAM), which may act as an external cache memory. As an example and not by way of limitation, RAM may be obtained in a variety of forms, such as synchronous RAM (DRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDRSDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The storage devices of the disclosed aspects are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and other suitable types of memory.

[0071] The various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or executed using the following components designed to perform the functions herein: a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination of these components. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP, and / or any other such configuration.

[0072] The above are exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present invention, but it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention as defined in the claims. The functions, steps and / or actions of the method claims according to the disclosed embodiments described herein do not need to be performed in any particular order. In addition, although the elements disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be described or required in individual form, they may also be understood as multiple unless explicitly limited to the singular.

[0073] It should be understood that, as used herein, the singular form "a" or "an" is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly supports an exception. It should also be understood that, as used herein, "and / or" refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more of the items listed in association. The serial numbers of the embodiments disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention are for description only and do not represent the advantages and disadvantages of the embodiments.

[0074] A person skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is only exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of the disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention (including the claims) is limited to these examples; under the concept of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, and there are many other changes in different aspects of the above embodiments of the present invention, which are not provided in detail for the sake of simplicity. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the embodiments of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flow monitoring method for a 3D printing extruder, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: Real-time material flow data is collected through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder; The collected real-time flow data is transmitted to the control system to determine whether the material flow is within the preset range; According to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, the extruder operating parameters are automatically adjusted and adjusted through a closed-loop feedback control system until the flow is stable; During the extrusion process, if the real-time monitored flow data exceeds the normal working range, an abnormal alarm is triggered and the corresponding fault handling procedure is started; After the flow rate is adjusted, the flow data is monitored in real time, and based on the feedback results, it is determined whether further adjustments are needed until the flow rate remains within the predetermined range.

2. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder collects the flow data of the material in the extruder in real time through multiple different types of sensors. The multi-dimensional sensor array includes flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, optical sensors and visual sensors.

3. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The flow sensor is a mass flow sensor, an ultrasonic flow sensor, a pressure difference flow sensor or a capacitive flow sensor installed in the extruder, and is used to monitor the amount of material flowing through the extruder.

4. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder according to claim 1, characterized in that: When judging whether the material flow is within the preset range, the data from multiple sensors are fused and processed, and the control system is used to judge whether the material flow is within the preset range and correct the noise and errors in the data.

5. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: When the control system processes the flow data, it smoothes, filters and corrects the flow data, and determines whether the material flow is within the preset range through the processed flow data.

6. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target flow rate is the ideal flow rate value preset according to the printing task, material type, printing speed and printing accuracy.

7. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder according to claim 6, characterized in that: When adjusting the working parameters of the extruder, the material feeding speed, heater power and nozzle temperature are adjusted, and the adjustment process is realized through a closed-loop control system, wherein the closed-loop control system is composed of a sensor module, a control module and an execution module, wherein the sensor module is responsible for real-time collection of working status data of nozzle temperature, material flow, nozzle pressure and printing speed; the control module is responsible for processing sensor data and calculating the nozzle speed adjustment value; the execution module receives the command of the control module and adjusts the actual ejection speed of the nozzle and the material feeding speed; the closed-loop control system adopts PID control and automatically adjusts the nozzle speed through closed-loop feedback and correction, wherein after each adjustment of the nozzle speed, the sensor continues to monitor the working status data of the nozzle and feeds back to the control module in real time, and when the nozzle speed deviates from the expected adjustment range, the control system will adjust the nozzle speed again.

8. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder according to claim 6, characterized in that: After adjusting the working parameters of the extruder until the actual flow rate is consistent with the target flow rate, it also includes feedback of the adjustment results, real-time monitoring of the flow data and judging whether further adjustment is needed based on the feedback results until the flow rate remains within the predetermined range.

9. The flow monitoring method of a 3D printing extruder according to claim 8, characterized in that: The flow data monitored in real time exceeds the normal working range. If the flow is too high or too low, printing will be suspended, the nozzle will be cleaned and the heating system will be adjusted.

10. A flow monitoring device for a 3D printing extruder, characterized in that: A method for monitoring the flow rate of a 3D printing extruder according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the device comprising: A data acquisition module for collecting material flow data in real time through a multi-dimensional sensor array installed in the 3D printing extruder; The flow monitoring module is used to transmit the collected real-time flow data to the control system to determine whether the material flow is within the preset range; The flow adjustment module is used to automatically adjust the extruder operating parameters according to the deviation between the real-time monitored flow data and the target flow, and adjust through a closed-loop feedback control system until the flow is stable; The early warning processing module is used to trigger an abnormal alarm and start the corresponding fault handling procedure if the real-time monitored flow data exceeds the normal working range during the extrusion process; The feedback adjustment module is used to monitor the flow data in real time after the flow is adjusted, and determine whether further adjustment is needed based on the feedback results until the flow remains within a predetermined range.

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