Printing head management method and system for additive manufacturing

Abstract

The invention provides a printing head management method and system for additive manufacturing, and relates to the field of additive manufacturing, and the method comprises the steps: collecting the working state data of a printing head in real time through a sensor, and adjusting the nozzle speed of the printing head according to a printing material; constructing a printing path of the printing head according to the geometric model of the printing task, the material type and the characteristics of the printing head; the nozzle speed and the printing path of printing are monitored in real time through a sensor, the task load, the nozzle state and the material flow data of printing are collected, and the working load is dynamically distributed; and when the task load, the nozzle state and the material flow data exceed the preset threshold values, a self-repairing mechanism is started, automatic nozzle cleaning, heating system temperature adjustment and material flow rate readjustment are carried out, the normal working state of the printing head is automatically recovered, and the printing precision, efficiency, quality and stability in the additive manufacturing process are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of additive manufacturing, and in particular to a print head management method and system for additive manufacturing. Background Art

[0002] Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing technology, is a type of manufacturing technology that creates three-dimensional objects by adding materials layer by layer. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing methods, additive manufacturing does not require processing operations such as cutting and milling, and can directly generate actual objects from computer three-dimensional model files. It is widely used in aerospace, automotive, medical, construction and other industries. Among them, additive manufacturing technology uses a high-precision controlled print head to stack materials such as powder, liquid or wire layer by layer to eventually form the desired three-dimensional shape. In this process, the accuracy, stability, adaptability and control of the print head directly determine the quality of the finished product and manufacturing efficiency.

[0003] As one of the core components of additive manufacturing equipment, the main function of the print head is to accurately spray or extrude the raw materials onto the printing platform and perform high-precision path control according to the requirements of the printing task. The performance of the print head has a crucial impact on the accuracy, surface smoothness, printing speed and material utilization rate of the additive manufacturing process. Currently, the common types of print heads are FDM (fused deposition modeling) print heads, SLA (stereolithography) print heads, SLS (selective laser sintering) print heads and Jetting (jetting print heads). In the existing technology, the print head management method is relatively simple, which is achieved through manual adjustment or simple automatic control. It is difficult to adapt to multi-head printing or complex printing tasks. Most devices can only achieve basic temperature control and material output control, and cannot perform intelligent fault diagnosis and adaptive optimization.

[0004] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, there is an urgent need for a more intelligent and automated print head management method that can monitor and adjust the working status of the print head in real time and optimize the printing process, especially in multi-head printing, complex material printing and fault detection, to achieve more efficient and precise additive manufacturing. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to propose a print head management method and system for additive manufacturing, which, by introducing intelligent monitoring, dynamic adjustment and path optimization, can significantly improve the printing accuracy, efficiency, quality and stability in the additive manufacturing process, and solve the problem of the relatively single print head management method in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: Based on the above objectives, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a print head management method for additive manufacturing, comprising the following steps: Start the printing system and perform self-test, configure the working parameters of the print head, initialize the print head and perform preheating and nozzle cleaning; The sensor collects the working status data of the print head in real time and adjusts the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material; Construct the printing path of the print head according to the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; The sensor monitors the nozzle speed and printing path in real time, collects the printing task load, nozzle status and material flow data, and dynamically distributes the workload; When the task load, nozzle status and material flow data exceed the preset thresholds, the self-repair mechanism is activated to automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the heating system temperature and readjust the material flow rate, automatically restoring the normal working state of the print head.

[0007] As a further solution of the present invention, configuring the operating parameters of the print head includes the following steps: After the printing system is started, the print head performs a comprehensive self-test through embedded sensors to detect whether the nozzles, heating system, and feeding mechanism are working properly; The system identifies the characteristics of the printing material's melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient based on the printing material used in additive manufacturing, and dynamically adjusts the operating parameters of the print head's nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size.

[0008] As a further solution of the present invention, the embedded sensor includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a nozzle speed sensor, a material flow sensor and a displacement sensor. When the print head is subjected to a comprehensive self-inspection through the embedded sensor, the sensor detects the temperature, pressure and working status of the nozzle in real time, and after comparing with the standard threshold range, detects whether there is blockage or temperature abnormality; if the nozzle temperature is too low, the system automatically adjusts the heater power; if the pressure is too high, the system adjusts the material feed speed or nozzle gap.

[0009] As a further solution of the present invention, adjusting the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material comprises the following steps: Obtain working status data from sensors in real time, including nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and printing speed; Set the adjustment range of nozzle speed according to the viscosity and melting point of the printing material; A closed-loop control system is used to automatically adjust the nozzle speed based on sensor data feedback in real time.

[0010] As a further solution of the present invention, the closed-loop control system consists 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 to adjust 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.

[0011] As a further solution of the present invention, constructing a printing path of the print head includes the following steps: Obtain the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; convert the geometric model of the printing task into a mesh, decompose the surface of the geometric model into a series of triangles or quadrilaterals, where each mesh patch represents a local area of ​​the model, and perform path calculation and connection planning between the mesh patches to plan the printing path; Convert the meshed geometric model into a graph, where nodes represent points, edge points, and turning points on the model surface, edges represent printing paths from one position to another, and assign weights to each edge; Calculate the shortest path from the starting point to the target based on the Dijkstra algorithm, and perform path smoothing on the basis of the Dijkstra algorithm; The printing task is processed in layers, and the printing path of each layer is planned at different heights. For each layer, the printing path on the two-dimensional plane is planned using graphics, and the temperature and nozzle diameter of the path are adjusted according to the melting point characteristics of the additive manufacturing material.

[0012] As a further solution of the present invention, before dynamically allocating the workload, it also includes dividing the printing area into multiple sub-areas, and allocating different loads to each area according to printing accuracy and time. When dynamically allocating the workload, all data collected by the sensor are processed in real time. Based on the collected sensor data, a regression model is used to analyze and predict the printing load of each area, and the printing path is divided according to different loads. According to the monitoring data of the real-time speed and pressure of the nozzle, the nozzle speed is dynamically adjusted, and the workload is dynamically adjusted.

[0013] As a further solution of the present invention, when identifying the characteristics of the melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient of the printing material, it includes establishing a database containing the characteristics of the printing material and loading the melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient information of the printing material used for additive manufacturing.

[0014] As a further solution of the present invention, when dynamically adjusting the working parameters of the print head's nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size, the working status data of the material during the printing process is monitored in real time by a sensor, and the sensor data and the material property database are used for analysis to identify the current state of the material; the nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size of the print head are adjusted according to the current real-time monitoring data of the material; if an increase in the viscosity of the material is detected, the nozzle temperature is increased to reduce the viscosity, and a closed-loop feedback control mechanism is implemented to optimize the printing parameters.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a print head management system for additive manufacturing, comprising: Initialization module, used to start the printing system and perform self-test, configure the working parameters of the print head, initialize the print head and perform preheating and nozzle cleaning; A data acquisition module is used to collect the working status data of the print head in real time through sensors and adjust the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material; The path planning module is used to construct the printing path of the print head according to the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; The load distribution module is used to monitor the nozzle speed and printing path of the printing in real time through sensors, collect the printing task load, nozzle status and material flow data, and dynamically distribute the workload; The repair and adjustment module is used to activate the self-repair mechanism when the task load, nozzle status and material flow data exceed the preset thresholds, automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the heating system temperature and readjust the material flow rate, and automatically restore the normal working state of the print head.

[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 print head management methods for additive manufacturing 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 one of the above-mentioned print head management methods for additive manufacturing according to the present invention.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the print head management method and system for additive manufacturing provided by the present invention solves the common problems in the existing additive manufacturing process, such as nozzle blockage, mismatched printing parameters, unstable material flow, etc., by real-time monitoring, data analysis and dynamic adjustment of the working status of the print head, thereby improving the printing quality and production efficiency. The specific beneficial effects are as follows: 1. Improved printing quality and accuracy: The present invention uses sensors to collect real-time working status data of the print head (such as nozzle temperature, nozzle speed, material flow rate, etc.), and can accurately monitor changes in the fluidity, viscosity, thermal expansion, etc. of the material during the printing process. When nozzle blockage or inappropriate printing parameters occur, the system can detect and adjust immediately to ensure the stability of the printing process, thereby greatly improving the printing quality and accuracy.

[0019] 2. Automatic optimization of working parameters: The present invention can dynamically adjust the working parameters of the print head (such as nozzle temperature, nozzle speed, material flow rate, etc.) according to the characteristics of different materials (such as melting point, fluidity, viscosity, etc.), thereby ensuring that the material can flow under the most suitable conditions during each layer of printing. This dynamic adjustment method based on material characteristics and real-time data feedback can effectively avoid printing failures or substandard quality caused by improper parameter settings.

[0020] 3. Real-time monitoring and feedback repair mechanism: The present invention can monitor the nozzle status, task load and material flow data in real time through integrated sensors. By dynamically allocating workloads, the operating status of the print head is detected in real time. Once an abnormality is found (such as nozzle speed, nozzle status, material flow, etc. exceeding the preset threshold), the self-repair mechanism is immediately activated, which can automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the heating system temperature, readjust the material flow rate, etc., effectively avoiding nozzle blockage and other common problems, thereby improving the stability of the print head and the reliability of the printing system.

[0021] 4. Enhanced self-repair capability of the system: The present invention can automatically detect and repair potential faults of the print head, reduce manual intervention, and improve the level of automation in production. This self-repair mechanism can not only extend the service life of the print head, but also minimize production stagnation and waste caused by equipment failure. Through intelligent management of the print head, the system can adjust the working parameters in real time, avoid unforeseen problems in the production process, and improve the continuity and reliability of production.

[0022] 5. Improved production efficiency: The present invention uses an automated print head management method and system to not only adjust working parameters in real time during the printing process, but also reduce errors caused by improper human operation. The repair and adjustment module can quickly respond to and repair potential problems, avoiding downtime caused by print head blockage or other problems. These optimization measures can significantly improve production efficiency, especially in large-scale production and complex tasks.

[0023] 6. Strong scalability and adaptability: The print head management method and system of the present invention have strong adaptability and can support various types of additive manufacturing tasks. Through the characteristic analysis of different materials, task load monitoring and intelligent algorithm optimization, the system can be flexibly adjusted according to different application scenarios. For example, for different printing materials (such as thermoplastics, metals, composite materials, etc.), the system can automatically optimize parameters such as nozzle temperature and material flow rate to meet the printing requirements of different materials.

[0024] 7. Reduced human intervention and operational errors: The automated monitoring and repair mechanism of the present invention greatly reduces reliance on human intervention, reduces the probability of operational errors, reduces production losses caused by human errors, and provides users with a more convenient and efficient printing experience. Especially in applications that require high precision and mass production, it significantly improves production stability and consistency. Through automatic monitoring, real-time adjustment, and self-repair, the system can reduce failures caused by problems such as nozzle blockage and uneven temperature, and reduce the frequency and cost of equipment maintenance. In addition, the long life and high stability of the print head also reduce the cost of replacing parts due to equipment failure, thereby reducing overall maintenance costs.

[0025] In summary, the print head management method and system provided by the present invention significantly improve the printing quality, stability and production efficiency in the additive manufacturing process, ensure that the parameters in the printing process are always in the optimal state; improve the system's ability to respond to abnormal situations and avoid the occurrence of common faults; reduce manual intervention and enhance the system's self-repair and self-adaptation capabilities; effectively improve production efficiency and reduce maintenance and production costs. The management method and system of the present invention will have an important technical driving effect on the additive manufacturing industry, especially for high-precision, large-scale production and complex material application scenarios, and will have significant application value.

[0026] 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

[0027] 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 figure is a flow chart of a print head management method for additive manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2The present invention is a flowchart of configuring the working parameters of a print head in a print head management method for additive manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3 The present invention is a flow chart of adjusting the nozzle speed of a print head according to printing materials in a print head management method for additive manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 The present invention is a flowchart of constructing a printing path of a print head in a print head management method for additive manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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 also be decomposed, combined or partially merged, so the actual execution order may change according to actual conditions.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Aiming at the problem that the print head management method in the prior art is relatively single, the present invention proposes a print head management method and system for additive manufacturing, which significantly improves the printing accuracy, efficiency, quality and stability in the additive manufacturing process by introducing intelligent monitoring, dynamic adjustment and path optimization.

[0038] See also Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a print head management method for additive manufacturing, the method comprising the following steps: Step S10, start the printing system and perform a self-check, configure the working parameters of the print head, initialize the print head and perform preheating and nozzle cleaning.

[0039] In this step, see Figure 2 As shown, configuring the working parameters of the print head includes the following steps: Step S101, after the printing system is started, a comprehensive self-check is performed on the print head through the embedded sensor to detect whether the nozzle, heating system, and feeding mechanism are working properly; Step S102: The system identifies the characteristics of the printing material's melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient according to the printing material used in additive manufacturing, and dynamically adjusts the working parameters of the print head's nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size.

[0040] In this embodiment, the sensor checks whether the temperature of the nozzle is within the normal range. If the temperature is too low, the heater power is automatically adjusted. At the same time, the pressure of the nozzle is checked. If the pressure is too high, the system will automatically adjust the material feeding speed to ensure stable operation of the nozzle. When the viscosity of the material increases, the system will increase the nozzle temperature and reduce the viscosity of the material, thereby optimizing the printing quality.

[0041] Among them, the embedded sensors include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, photoelectric sensors, nozzle speed sensors, material flow sensors and displacement sensors. When the print head is fully self-checked through the embedded sensors, the sensors detect the temperature, pressure and working status of the nozzle in real time, and after comparing with the standard threshold range, detect whether there is blockage or temperature abnormality; if the nozzle temperature is too low, the system automatically adjusts the heater power; if the pressure is too high, the system adjusts the material feed speed or nozzle gap.

[0042] Among them, when identifying the characteristics of the melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient of the printing material, it includes establishing a database containing the characteristics of the printing material, and loading the melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient information of the printing material used in additive manufacturing.

[0043] When dynamically adjusting the working parameters of the print head's nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size, the working status data of the material during the printing process is monitored in real time through sensors, and the sensor data and material property database are used for analysis to identify the current state of the material; the nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size of the print head are adjusted based on the current real-time monitoring data of the material; if an increase in material viscosity is detected, the nozzle temperature is increased to reduce the viscosity, and a closed-loop feedback control mechanism is implemented to optimize printing parameters.

[0044] Step S20: collect the working status data of the print head in real time through the sensor, and adjust the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material.

[0045] In this step, see Figure 3 As shown, adjusting the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material includes the following steps: Step S201, obtaining working status data fed back by sensors in real time, including nozzle temperature, material flow rate and printing speed; Step S202, setting the adjustment range of the nozzle speed according to the viscosity and melting point of the printing material; Step S203: using a closed-loop control system to automatically adjust the nozzle speed in real time according to sensor data feedback.

[0046] 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 the working status data of the nozzle temperature, material flow, nozzle pressure and printing speed; the control module is responsible for processing the sensor data and calculating the nozzle speed adjustment value; the execution module receives the command of the control module to adjust 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.

[0047] For example, the sensor reads a nozzle temperature of 230°C, a material flow rate of 10mm³ / s, and a printing speed of 50mm / s; when setting the adjustment range of the nozzle speed according to the viscosity and melting point of the printing material used, the printing material is PLA (lower viscosity), and the nozzle speed is set between 30-60mm / s. When printing with higher viscosity materials (such as nylon), the nozzle speed is adjusted to a lower value (20mm / s) to ensure smooth material flow.

[0048] A closed-loop control system is used to dynamically adjust the material feed speed and nozzle speed based on sensor data. If the nozzle temperature is too low or the material flow is insufficient, the system automatically reduces the nozzle speed and increases the nozzle temperature and material feed speed; if the nozzle temperature is too high or the material flow is excessive, the system increases the nozzle speed and reduces the nozzle temperature and material feed speed. During the PLA printing process, if the material flow decreases, the control module will automatically increase the nozzle speed to ensure stable material output.

[0049] Step S30: construct a printing path of the print head according to the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task.

[0050] In this step, see Figure 4 As shown, constructing the printing path of the print head includes the following steps: Step S301, obtaining the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; converting the geometric model of the printing task into a mesh, decomposing the surface of the geometric model into a series of triangular or quadrilateral facets, wherein each mesh facet represents a local area of ​​the model, and performing path calculation and connection planning for printing paths between the mesh facets; Step S302, converting the meshed geometric model into a graph, wherein nodes represent points, edge points, and turning points on the model surface, edges represent printing paths from one position to another, and assigning a weight to each edge; Step S303, calculating the shortest path from the starting point to the target based on the Dijkstra algorithm, and performing path smoothing processing on the basis of the Dijkstra algorithm; Step S304: the printing task is processed in layers, and the printing path of each layer is planned at different heights. For each layer, the printing path on the two-dimensional plane is planned using graphics, and the temperature and nozzle diameter of the path are adjusted according to the melting point characteristics of the additive manufacturing material.

[0051] For example, the 3D model of the printing task (such as a small mechanical part) is obtained, and the type of printing material (such as PLA) and the characteristics of the print head (such as nozzle diameter 0.4mm) are input; the model surface is divided into multiple patches, each patch represents a local area, and the printing path will be calculated and connected between these patches. According to the layer height information of the task, the printing task is divided into different levels, and the nozzle temperature and nozzle diameter are adjusted according to the material characteristics of different layers. When printing the first layer, the nozzle temperature is 230℃, and the second layer temperature is 240℃ to ensure good adhesion between layers.

[0052] Step S40: monitor the printing nozzle speed and printing path in real time through sensors, collect printing task load, nozzle status and material flow data, and dynamically distribute the workload.

[0053] In this step, before dynamically allocating the workload, the printing area is also divided into multiple sub-areas, and different loads are allocated to each area according to printing accuracy and time. When the workload is dynamically allocated, all data collected by the sensor are processed in real time. Based on the collected sensor data, a regression model is used to analyze and predict the printing load of each area, and the printing path is divided according to different loads. According to the monitoring data of the real-time speed and pressure of the nozzle, the nozzle speed is dynamically adjusted, and the workload is dynamically adjusted.

[0054] Sensors are used to monitor the nozzle speed, printing path, and material flow data in real time to ensure that the print head works as planned. If the nozzle speed fluctuates, the sensor will report it in a timely manner and the control module will make dynamic adjustments based on the data. When printing complex parts, higher workloads are allocated to areas with high precision requirements, while low-precision areas have their loads reduced to ensure efficiency.

[0055] Step S50: When the task load, nozzle status and material flow data exceed the preset threshold, the self-repair mechanism is activated to automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the temperature of the heating system and readjust the material flow rate, and automatically restore the normal working state of the print head.

[0056] In this step, if the sensor detects that the nozzle is clogged, the system will automatically activate the cleaning program, start nozzle cleaning and adjust the heater power; if the material flow rate is unstable, the system will adjust the material supply mechanism to resume normal printing. If the temperature is too high, the system will reduce the heating power; if the temperature is too low, the system will heat the nozzle until it returns to normal working temperature.

[0057] The print head management method for additive manufacturing of the present invention can significantly improve the printing quality and efficiency of additive manufacturing through real-time monitoring, dynamic adjustment of working parameters and automatic repair mechanism. In an embodiment, the system can intelligently adjust parameters such as nozzle temperature, nozzle speed, material flow rate, etc. through sensor feedback data combined with a material property database, and quickly restore normal working state when a fault occurs, thereby improving the stability and automation level of the additive manufacturing process. The present invention can not only adjust working parameters in real time during the printing process, but also reduce errors caused by improper human operation. The repair adjustment module can quickly respond to and repair potential problems, avoiding downtime caused by blockage or other problems of the print head. These optimization measures can significantly improve production efficiency, especially in large-scale production and complex tasks. The automated monitoring and repair mechanism of the present invention greatly reduces the reliance on manual intervention, reduces the probability of operating errors, reduces production losses caused by human errors, and provides users with a more convenient and efficient printing experience, especially in applications requiring high precision and mass production, significantly improving the stability and consistency of production. Through automatic monitoring, real-time adjustment and self-repair, the system can reduce failures caused by problems such as nozzle blockage and uneven temperature, and reduce the frequency and cost of equipment maintenance. In addition, the long life and high stability of the print head also reduce the cost of replacing parts due to equipment failure, thereby reducing overall maintenance costs.

[0058] Therefore, the print head management method provided by the present invention significantly improves the printing quality, stability and production efficiency in the additive manufacturing process, ensuring that the parameters in the printing process are always in the optimal state; improves the system's ability to respond to abnormal situations and avoid the occurrence of common faults; reduces manual intervention and enhances the system's self-repair and self-adaptation capabilities; effectively improves production efficiency and reduces maintenance and production costs. The management method and system of the present invention will have an important technical driving effect on the additive manufacturing industry, especially for high-precision, large-scale production and complex material application scenarios, and will have significant application value 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention further provides a print head management system for additive manufacturing, comprising: Initialization module, used to start the printing system and perform self-test, configure the working parameters of the print head, initialize the print head and perform preheating and nozzle cleaning; A data acquisition module is used to collect the working status data of the print head in real time through sensors and adjust the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material; The path planning module is used to construct the printing path of the print head according to the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; The load distribution module is used to monitor the nozzle speed and printing path of the printing in real time through sensors, collect the printing task load, nozzle status and material flow data, and dynamically distribute the workload; The repair and adjustment module is used to activate the self-repair mechanism when the task load, nozzle status and material flow data exceed the preset thresholds, automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the heating system temperature and readjust the material flow rate, and automatically restore the normal working state of the print head.

[0061] Through the above detailed steps, the print head management system for additive manufacturing of the present invention is used to execute the steps of the print head management method for additive manufacturing in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0062] The print head management system for additive manufacturing of the present invention collects the working status data of the print head (such as nozzle temperature, nozzle speed, material flow rate, etc.) in real time through sensors, and can accurately monitor the changes in the fluidity, viscosity, thermal expansion, etc. of the material during the printing process. When nozzle blockage or inappropriate printing parameters occur, the system can detect and adjust them in real time to ensure the stability of the printing process, thereby greatly improving the printing quality and accuracy.

[0063] The present invention can dynamically adjust the working parameters of the print head (such as nozzle temperature, nozzle speed, material flow rate, etc.) according to the characteristics of different materials (such as melting point, fluidity, viscosity, etc.), so as to ensure that the material can flow under the most suitable conditions during each layer of printing. This dynamic adjustment method based on material characteristics and real-time data feedback can effectively avoid printing failure or substandard quality caused by improper parameter settings. The present invention can monitor the nozzle status, task load and material flow data in real time through integrated sensors. By dynamically allocating workloads and detecting the operating status of the print head in real time, once an abnormality is found (such as nozzle speed, nozzle status, material flow, etc. exceeding the preset threshold), the self-repair mechanism is immediately activated, which can automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the temperature of the heating system, readjust the material flow rate, etc., effectively avoiding nozzle blockage and other common problems, thereby improving the stability of the print head and the reliability of the printing system.

[0064] The print head management method and system of the present invention have strong adaptability and can support various types of additive manufacturing tasks. Through the characteristic analysis of different materials, task load monitoring and intelligent algorithm optimization, the system can be flexibly adjusted according to different application scenarios. For example, for different printing materials (such as thermoplastics, metals, composite materials, etc.), the system can automatically optimize parameters such as nozzle temperature and material flow rate to meet the printing requirements of different materials.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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 the print head management for additive manufacturing. The output system may include a display device such as a display screen.

[0067] 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 print head management method for additive manufacturing in the embodiment of the present application. The memory may include a program storage area and a data storage area, wherein the program storage area may store an operating system, an application required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created by the use of the print head management method for additive manufacturing, 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 device. 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.

[0068] 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 this 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 this embodiment execute various functional applications and data processing of the server by running non-volatile software programs, instructions and modules stored in the memory, that is, implementing the steps of the print head management method for additive manufacturing of the above method embodiment.

[0069] It should be understood that, without conflicting with each other, all embodiments, features and advantages described above for the print head management method for additive manufacturing according to the present invention are also applicable to the print head management and storage medium for additive manufacturing according to the present invention.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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 print head management method for additive manufacturing, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: Start the printing system and perform self-test, configure the working parameters of the print head, initialize the print head and perform preheating and nozzle cleaning; The sensor collects the working status data of the print head in real time and adjusts the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material; Construct the printing path of the print head according to the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; The sensor monitors the printing nozzle speed and printing path in real time, collects the printing task load, nozzle status and material flow data, and dynamically distributes the workload; When the task load, nozzle status and material flow data exceed the preset thresholds, the self-repair mechanism is activated to automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the heating system temperature and readjust the material flow rate, automatically restoring the normal working state of the print head.

2. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: Configuring the print head operating parameters includes the following steps: After the printing system is started, the print head performs a comprehensive self-test through embedded sensors to detect whether the nozzles, heating system, and feeding mechanism are working properly; The system identifies the characteristics of the printing material's melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient based on the printing material used in additive manufacturing, and dynamically adjusts the operating parameters of the print head's nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size.

3. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 2, characterized in that: Embedded sensors include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, photoelectric sensors, nozzle speed sensors, material flow sensors and displacement sensors. When the print head is fully self-checked through the embedded sensors, the sensors detect the temperature, pressure and working status of the nozzle in real time, and after comparing with the standard threshold range, detect whether there is blockage or temperature abnormality; if the nozzle temperature is too low, the system automatically adjusts the heater power; if the pressure is too high, the system adjusts the material feed speed or nozzle gap.

4. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: Adjust the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material, including the following steps: Obtain working status data from sensors in real time, including nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and printing speed; Set the adjustment range of nozzle speed according to the viscosity and melting point of the printing material; A closed-loop control system is used to automatically adjust the nozzle speed based on sensor data feedback in real time.

5. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 4, characterized in that: The closed-loop control system consists of a sensor module, a control module and an execution module, wherein the sensor module is responsible for real-time collection of the working status data of the nozzle temperature, material flow, nozzle pressure and printing speed; the control module is responsible for processing the 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.

6. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: Constructing the printing path of the print head includes the following steps: Obtain the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; convert the geometric model of the printing task into a mesh, decompose the surface of the geometric model into a series of triangles or quadrilaterals, where each mesh patch represents a local area of ​​the model, and perform path calculation and connection planning between the mesh patches to plan the printing path; Convert the meshed geometric model into a graph, where nodes represent points, edge points, and turning points on the model surface, edges represent printing paths from one position to another, and assign weights to each edge; Calculate the shortest path from the starting point to the target based on the Dijkstra algorithm, and perform path smoothing on the basis of the Dijkstra algorithm; The printing task is processed in layers, and the printing path of each layer is planned at different heights. For each layer, the printing path on the two-dimensional plane is planned using graphics, and the temperature and nozzle diameter of the path are adjusted according to the melting point characteristics of the additive manufacturing material.

7. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before dynamically allocating the workload, the printing area is also divided into multiple sub-areas, and different loads are allocated to each area according to printing accuracy and time. When dynamically allocating the workload, all data collected by the sensor are processed in real time. Based on the collected sensor data, a regression model is used to analyze and predict the printing load of each area, and the printing path is divided according to different loads. Based on the monitoring data of the nozzle's real-time speed and pressure, the nozzle speed is dynamically adjusted, and the workload is dynamically adjusted.

8. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 2, characterized in that: When identifying the characteristics of the melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient of the printing material, it includes establishing a database containing the characteristics of the printing material, and loading the melting point, fluidity, viscosity, and thermal expansion coefficient information of the printing material used in additive manufacturing.

9. The print head management method for additive manufacturing according to claim 8, characterized in that: When dynamically adjusting the working parameters of the print head's nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size, the working status data of the material during the printing process is monitored in real time through sensors, and the sensor data and material property database are used for analysis to identify the current state of the material; the nozzle temperature, material flow rate, and nozzle size of the print head are adjusted based on the current real-time monitoring data of the material; if an increase in material viscosity is detected, the nozzle temperature is increased to reduce the viscosity, and a closed-loop feedback control mechanism is implemented to optimize printing parameters.

10. A print head management system for additive manufacturing, characterized in that: A system for executing a print head management method for additive manufacturing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the system comprising: Initialization module, used to start the printing system and perform self-test, configure the working parameters of the print head, initialize the print head and perform preheating and nozzle cleaning; A data acquisition module is used to collect the working status data of the print head in real time through sensors and adjust the nozzle speed of the print head according to the printing material; The path planning module is used to construct the printing path of the print head according to the geometric model, material type and print head characteristics of the printing task; The load distribution module is used to monitor the nozzle speed and printing path of the printing in real time through sensors, collect the printing task load, nozzle status and material flow data, and dynamically distribute the workload; The repair and adjustment module is used to activate the self-repair mechanism when the task load, nozzle status and material flow data exceed the preset thresholds, automatically clean the nozzle, adjust the heating system temperature and readjust the material flow rate, and automatically restore the normal working state of the print head.

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