Powder conveying and spreading integrated device for LPBF

Abstract

The invention discloses a powder conveying and spreading integrated device for LPBF, which comprises a conveying structure, a storage box is mounted on the upper surface of the conveying structure in an embedded manner, a powder spreading structure is mounted on the lower surface of the conveying structure in an embedded manner, and a powder spreading scraper is mounted on the surface of one side of the powder spreading structure in an embedded manner; the storage box comprises a connecting pipe, feeding ports, a screw rod, a first conveying pipe and two box bodies, the feeding ports are embedded in the upper surfaces of the box bodies, the connecting pipe is embedded in the lower portion between the box bodies, and the first conveying pipe is fixedly installed in the middle of the surface of the connecting pipe; and a screw rod is embedded in the first conveying pipe. According to the powder conveying and laying integrated device for the LPBF, powder can be mixed and smoothly conveyed into the powder laying box, the powder can be preheated, so that the subsequent heating time is shortened, the height of the scraper can be freely adjusted according to needs, and the flexibility is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of laser powder bed fusion, and in particular to an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF. Background Art

[0002] LPBF is the abbreviation of laser powder bed fusion technology, which is an additive manufacturing technology. LPBF technology has the characteristics of high molding accuracy and the ability to print complex metal components. It is widely used in aerospace and other fields. Compared with other metal materials, aluminum alloy parts manufactured by LPBF technology can achieve lightweight structure and have better mechanical and chemical properties.

[0003] In the LPBF process, powder and material are mixed and transported to the powder spreading structure by a conveying structure, and then the powder is spread. If the powder and material are directly introduced into the powder spreading structure, it is difficult to mix them evenly, resulting in poor printing effect. In addition, laser printing requires heating of the powder during printing, which takes a long time. The position of the scraper during powder spreading is fixed by bolts, which is difficult to adjust. Therefore, we propose an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF. Summary of the invention

[0004] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF, which can effectively solve the problem that in the LPBF process, powder and materials are mixed, conveyed to the inside of the powder spreading structure by the conveying structure, and powder is spread. If the powder and material are directly passed into the powder spreading structure, it is difficult to mix them evenly, resulting in poor printing effect. In addition, laser printing requires heating of the powder during printing, which takes a long time. The position of the scraper during powder spreading is fixed by bolts and is difficult to adjust.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0006] A powder conveying and powder spreading integrated device for LPBF comprises a conveying structure, a material storage box is embedded in the upper surface of the conveying structure, a powder spreading structure is embedded in the lower surface of the conveying structure, and a powder spreading scraper is embedded in one side surface of the powder spreading structure.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the material storage box includes a connecting pipe, a feed port, a spiral rod, a first conveying pipe, and a box body. The box body is divided into two groups. The feed port is embedded and installed on the upper surface of the box body. A connecting pipe is embedded and installed below the box body. The first conveying pipe is fixedly installed in the middle of the surface of the connecting pipe, and a spiral rod is embedded and installed inside the first conveying pipe.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the conveying structure includes a first cross plate, an electric heating tube, a soft scraper, a second cross plate, a connecting rod, a shell, a motor shaft, and a stirring motor. The motor shaft is embedded and installed on the lower surface of the shell, and the stirring motor is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the motor shaft. The upper surface of the motor shaft is located inside the shell and is embedded and installed with a second cross plate. The upper surface of the second cross plate is fixedly installed with an electric heating tube, and there are eight groups of electric heating tubes. The upper surface of the electric heating tube is fixedly connected to the first cross plate, and the lower surface of the first cross plate is fixedly installed with a connecting rod at an edge position, and there are four groups of connecting rods. Soft scrapers are fixedly installed on one side surface of the connecting rod, and there are four groups of soft scrapers.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the material storage box and the conveying structure are embedded and installed on the upper surface of the shell at a middle position through a first conveying pipe.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the powder spreading structure includes a second conveying pipe, a powder spreading box, a slide, a discharge chute, a threaded rod, and a nut. The second conveying pipe is embedded in the middle of the upper surface of the powder spreading box, a discharge chute is provided on the lower surface of the powder spreading box, a slide is provided on one side surface of the powder spreading box, and a threaded rod is fixedly installed on one side surface of the powder spreading box below the slide.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the powder spreading scraper includes a scraper body, an adjusting rod, an adjusting slot, and a slider. The upper surface of the scraper body is fixedly installed with an adjusting rod, one side surface of the adjusting rod is provided with an adjusting slot, and one side surface of the adjusting rod is fixedly installed with a slider.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the powder spreading structure and the powder spreading scraper are embedded in the interior of the slide groove through a slider, the threaded rod is embedded in the interior of the adjusting groove, the nut sleeve is installed on the surface of the threaded rod and is located on one side of the adjusting rod, and the powder spreading box is embedded in the lower surface of the outer shell and is located on one side of the stirring motor.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0014] In the present invention, by means of the provided spiral rod, the powder and the material can be preliminarily mixed when they are conveyed; by means of the provided electric heating tube, the motor shaft and the stirring motor, the powder and the material can be stirred by the electric heating tube, so that the powder and the material are evenly mixed; and during stirring, the material mixture can be preheated by the electric heating tube, so that the time for subsequent laser printing is shortened; by means of the provided soft scraper, the inside of the outer shell can be stirred, so that the degree of uniform mixing of the materials is improved; by means of the provided adjusting rod, adjusting groove, threaded rod, nut, slider and slide groove, the height of the adjusting rod can be freely adjusted, so that the height of the scraper body can be adjusted; the entire device is an integrated structure with strong functionality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a box of an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the shell of an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a powder spreading box of an integrated powder conveying and spreading device for LPBF of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 A detailed view of a powder spreading scraper of an integrated powder conveying and spreading device for LPBF of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 The present invention is a powder conveying and powder spreading integrated device for LPBF Figure 5 A magnified detail of point A.

[0021] In the figure: 1. material storage box; 101. connecting pipe; 102. feeding port; 103. screw rod; 104. first conveying pipe; 105. box body; 2. conveying structure; 201. first cross plate; 202. electric heating tube; 203. soft scraper; 204. second cross plate; 205. connecting rod; 206. outer shell; 207. motor shaft; 208. stirring motor; 3. powder spreading structure; 301. second conveying pipe; 302. powder spreading box; 303. slide; 304. discharge chute; 305. threaded rod; 306. nut; 4. powder spreading scraper; 401. scraper body; 402. adjusting rod; 403. adjusting groove; 404. slider. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In order to make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects achieved by the present invention easy to understand, the present invention is further explained below in conjunction with specific implementation methods.

[0023] like Figure 1-6 As shown, a powder conveying and powder spreading integrated device for LPBF includes a conveying structure 2, a material storage box 1 is embedded and installed on the upper surface of the conveying structure 2, a powder spreading structure 3 is embedded and installed on the lower surface of the conveying structure 2, and a powder spreading scraper 4 is embedded and installed on one side surface of the powder spreading structure 3;

[0024] The material storage box 1 includes a connecting pipe 101, a feed port 102, a screw rod 103, a first conveying pipe 104, and a box body 105. The box body 105 is divided into two groups. The box bodies 105 store powder and materials respectively. The two boxes are opened at the same time, so that the powder and materials inside the two boxes can enter the interior of the connecting pipe 101 at the same time. The upper surface of the box body 105 is embedded with a feed port 102. The connecting pipe 101 is embedded and installed below the box body 105. The surface of the connecting pipe 101 is located in the middle and fixedly installed with the first conveying pipe 104. The screw rod 103 is embedded and installed inside the first conveying pipe 104. The screw rod 103 is spiral-shaped. When the powder and the material pass through the first conveying pipe 104, they are preliminarily mixed by the screw rod 103; the conveying structure 2 includes a first cross plate 2 01, electric heating tube 202, soft scraper 203, second cross plate 204, connecting rod 205, shell 206, motor shaft 207, stirring motor 208, the lower surface of the shell 206 is embedded with the motor shaft 207, the lower surface of the motor shaft 207 is fixedly installed with the stirring motor 208, the upper surface of the motor shaft 207 is located inside the shell 206 and is embedded with the second cross plate 204, the upper surface of the second cross plate 204 is fixedly installed with the electric heating tube 202, the electric heating tube 202 is eight groups, the electric heating tube 202 is HI8R far infrared quartz heating tube, it can be heated by power on, the heating temperature is controllable, and the electric heating tube 202 is powered by the battery and wires installed inside the second cross plate 204, the upper surface of the electric heating tube 202 is fixedly connected with the first Cross plate 201, the lower surface of the first cross plate 201 is located at the edge position and a connecting rod 205 is fixedly installed. The connecting rod 205 is divided into four groups. A soft scraper 203 is fixedly installed on one side surface of the connecting rod 205. The soft scraper 203 is divided into four groups and is made of soft silicone material, so as to prevent the powder and material from adhering to the shell 206 and causing uneven mixing; the storage box 1 and the conveying structure 2 are embedded and installed on the upper surface of the shell 206 through the first conveying pipe 104 in the middle position; the powder spreading structure 3 includes a second conveying pipe 301, a powder spreading box 302, a chute 303, a discharge chute 304, a threaded rod 305, and a nut 306. The upper surface of the powder spreading box 302 is located in the middle and the second conveying pipe 301 is embedded and installed. The lower surface of the powder spreading box 302 A material discharge chute 304 is provided, a slide groove 303 is provided on one side surface of the powder spreading box 302, a threaded rod 305 is fixedly installed on one side surface of the powder spreading box 302 below the slide groove 303, one side of the powder spreading box 302 is connected to the fan and filtered through a filter screen, so that powder and materials can smoothly reach the inside of the powder spreading box 302. When working, the powder spreading box 302 is driven to move by the driving structure, so as to achieve uniform powder spreading on the surface of the operating platform; the powder spreading scraper 4 includes a scraper body 401, an adjusting rod 402, an adjusting groove 403, and a sliding block 404, an adjusting rod 402 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the scraper body 401, an adjusting groove 403 is provided on one side surface of the adjusting rod 402, and a sliding block 404 is fixedly installed on one side surface of the adjusting rod 402;The powder spreading structure 3 and the powder spreading scraper 4 are embedded and installed in the slide groove 303 through the slider 404, the threaded rod 305 is embedded and installed in the adjustment groove 403, the nut 306 is sleeved and installed on the surface of the threaded rod 305 and is located on one side of the adjustment rod 402, the slider 404 can be inside the slide groove 303 and prevent the adjustment rod 402 from moving, and the powder spreading box 302 is embedded and installed on the lower surface of the housing 206 and is located on one side of the stirring motor 208. ;

[0025] It should be noted that the present invention is an integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF. When in use, the powder and the material are stored by the material storage box 1, the powder is mixed and heated by the conveying structure 2, and the material mixture is conveyed to the inside of the powder spreading structure 3, and the powder spreading operation is performed by the powder spreading structure 3 and the powder spreading scraper 4; the powder and the material are respectively loaded into the inside of the box body 105 through the feed port 102, and conveyed to the inside of the shell 206 through the connecting pipe 101 and the first conveying pipe 104. When passing through the first conveying pipe 104, the screw rod 103 performs preliminary mixing, and the stirring motor 208 and the electric heating tube 202 are started. The stirring motor 208 drives the second cross plate 204 to rotate through the motor shaft 207. Thereby, the electric heating tube 202 is driven to rotate, the powder and the material are stirred and mixed, and the powder and the material are preheated during mixing. When the second cross plate 204 rotates, the connecting rod 205 is driven to rotate, so that the soft scraper 203 rubs against the outer shell 206 to scrape off the powder on the inner wall of the outer shell 206. The powder mixture reaches the inside of the powder box 302 through the second conveying pipe 301 and is discharged from the discharge chute 304. The height of the scraper body 401 is adjusted by the adjusting rod 402. The adjusting rod 402 is moved up and down on one side of the powder box 302, so that the slider 404 moves inside the slide groove 303. When the appropriate height is adjusted, the nut 306 is put on the surface of the threaded rod 305 inside the adjusting groove 403 and tightened to fix it.

[0026] The above shows and describes the basic principles and main features of the present invention and the advantages of the present invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions are only for explaining the principles of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the present invention may have various changes and improvements, which fall within the scope of the present invention to be protected. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF, characterized in that: It comprises a conveying structure (2), wherein a material storage box (1) is embedded and installed on the upper surface of the conveying structure (2), a powder spreading structure (3) is embedded and installed on the lower surface of the conveying structure (2), and a powder spreading scraper (4) is embedded and installed on one side surface of the powder spreading structure (3).

2. The integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material storage box (1) comprises a connecting pipe (101), a feed port (102), a spiral rod (103), a first conveying pipe (104), and a box body (105). The box body (105) is divided into two groups. The feed port (102) is embedded and installed on the upper surface of each box body (105). A connecting pipe (101) is embedded and installed below the box bodies (105). The first conveying pipe (104) is fixedly installed in the middle of the surface of the connecting pipe (101). The spiral rod (103) is embedded and installed inside the first conveying pipe (104).

3. The integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conveying structure (2) comprises a first cross plate (201), an electric heating tube (202), a soft scraper (203), a second cross plate (204), a connecting rod (205), a housing (206), a motor shaft (207), and a stirring motor (208); the motor shaft (207) is embedded and installed on the lower surface of the housing (206); the stirring motor (208) is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the motor shaft (207); and the second cross plate (204) is embedded and installed on the upper surface of the motor shaft (207) located inside the housing (206). A cross plate (204), an electric heating tube (202) is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the second cross plate (204), and the electric heating tube (202) is in eight groups; the upper surface of the electric heating tube (202) is fixedly connected to the first cross plate (201); a connecting rod (205) is fixedly mounted on the edge of the lower surface of the first cross plate (201), and the connecting rod (205) is in four groups; a soft scraper (203) is fixedly mounted on one side surface of the connecting rod (205), and the soft scraper (203) is in four groups.

4. The integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The material storage box (1) and the conveying structure (2) are embedded and installed on the upper surface of the outer shell (206) at a middle position through a first conveying pipe (104).

5. The integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF according to claim 4, characterized in that: The powder spreading structure (3) comprises a second conveying pipe (301), a powder spreading box (302), a slide groove (303), a material discharge chute (304), a threaded rod (305), and a nut (306); the second conveying pipe (301) is embedded in the middle of the upper surface of the powder spreading box (302); the material discharge chute (304) is provided on the lower surface of the powder spreading box (302); a slide groove (303) is provided on one side surface of the powder spreading box (302); and a threaded rod (305) is fixedly installed below the slide groove (303) on one side surface of the powder spreading box (302).

6. The integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF according to claim 5, characterized in that: The powder spreading scraper (4) comprises a scraper body (401), an adjusting rod (402), an adjusting groove (403), and a sliding block (404); the adjusting rod (402) is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the scraper body (401); the adjusting groove (403) is formed on one side surface of the adjusting rod (402); and the sliding block (404) is fixedly mounted on one side surface of the adjusting rod (402).

7. The integrated powder conveying and powder spreading device for LPBF according to claim 6, characterized in that: The powder spreading structure (3) and the powder spreading scraper (4) are embedded and installed in the interior of the slide groove (303) through a slider (404), the threaded rod (305) is embedded and installed in the interior of the adjustment groove (403), the nut (306) is sleeved and installed on the surface of the threaded rod (305) and is located on one side of the adjustment rod (402), and the powder spreading box (302) is embedded and installed on the lower surface of the outer shell (206) and is located on one side of the stirring motor (208).

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