Nozzle assembly for 3D printing and 3D printing method

Abstract

The invention provides a nozzle assembly used for 3D printing, the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle and a heating device installed on the nozzle, and the heating device is arranged to be capable of heating a printing material which is cooled and formed in the moving direction of the nozzle. The invention further provides a 3D printing method. According to the 3D printing method, the nozzle assembly according to the principle of the application is used for 3D printing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of 3D printing, and specifically relates to a nozzle assembly for 3D printing and a 3D printing method. Background Art

[0002] The background art provided here is used to generally introduce the background of this application. The work of the currently named inventors to the extent described in this background art section, and aspects of this description that do not constitute prior art at the time of application, are neither expressly nor implicitly admitted to be prior art conflicting with this application.

[0003] Since its inception, 3D printing technology has been widely used in the industrial field. The traditional FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing technology uses the fused deposition manufacturing process, that is, by heating the solid material inside the nozzle to make it into a molten state with fluidity. At the same time, the nozzle evenly extrudes the molten material on the plane according to a preset trajectory. The extruded molten material then cools and solidifies to form a component of a layer of the workpiece being processed. During the entire 3D printing process, the nozzle continuously extrudes the molten material according to a preset trajectory and accumulates it on the previously extruded layer of material until a complete workpiece is formed. However, in the traditional 3D printing technology, the previously extruded layer of molten material often cools within a short period of time. When the nozzle then extrudes and accumulates new molten material on the already cooled layer of material, it will cause the newly extruded molten material not to fuse well with the already cooled material, resulting in a weak connection between the two layers of material, low interlayer adhesion strength, easy delamination, and affecting the structural strength of the workpiece. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing 3D printing technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This section introduces the selection of inventive concepts in a simplified form, which will be further embodied in the following detailed description. This section is not intended to identify the key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, on the one hand, this application provides a nozzle assembly for 3D printing. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle and a heating device installed on the nozzle. Wherein, the nozzle includes a spraying portion, and the heating device is arranged around the spraying portion such that the heating device can heat the printed material that has cooled and solidified in the moving direction of the nozzle.

[0006] Preferably, the heating device is an electric heating device.

[0007] Preferably, the heating device is a laser heating device.

[0008] Preferably, the electric heating device is generally annular, and the spraying portion of the nozzle is located within the general annulus.

[0009] Preferably, the electric heating device comprises an outer cover and an electric heating tube, wherein the outer cover is arranged above the electric heating tube, and a tube clamp is arranged on the outer cover to clamp the electric heating tube.

[0010] Preferably, the electric heating tube comprises a tube body and an electric heating wire arranged inside the tube body.

[0011] Preferably, the heating wire is made of carbon fiber or metal material.

[0012] Preferably, the tube body of the electric heating tube is transparent.

[0013] Preferably, the shroud is mounted on the nozzle by means of legs.

[0014] In another aspect of the present application, a 3D printing method is also provided, which performs 3D printing using a nozzle assembly according to the principles of the present application.

[0015] The nozzle assembly and 3D printing method for 3D printing according to the principles of the present application can heat the printing material previously extruded by the nozzle to an appropriate molten state, so that the molten material newly extruded by the nozzle can be better fused with the previously extruded layer of material, thereby strengthening the interlayer connection strength of the material, avoiding delamination, and significantly enhancing the structural strength of the workpiece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other or additional features, advantages and details are presented by way of example only in the following detailed description of the embodiments. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 Schematically illustrates a schematic diagram of a nozzle assembly according to the principles of the present application from one perspective;

[0018] Figure 2 Schematically shows a schematic diagram of another perspective of a nozzle assembly according to the principles of the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 An electric heating tube according to the principle of the present application is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present application, application, or uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be limited by any express or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background technology and invention content or the following detailed description. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals identify similar or corresponding parts or features.

[0021] The present application will now be further elaborated. In the following paragraphs, different aspects of the present application are defined in more detail. Unless explicitly indicated to the contrary, each aspect so defined can be combined with any other aspect(s). In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous can be combined with any other feature(s) indicated as being preferred or advantageous.

[0022] Referring to the appended Figure 1 and the appended Figure 2 , a nozzle assembly 100 for 3D printing according to the principles of the present application is shown. The nozzle assembly 100 includes a nozzle 110 and a heating device 120. The heating device 120 is mounted on the nozzle 110 such that the heating device 120 can move along with the movement trajectory of the nozzle 110. The nozzle 110 includes a base 111 and a spraying portion 112 for spraying printing material. The heating device 120 is disposed around the spraying portion 112 such that the heating device 120 can heat a layer of printed material that has cooled and formed and was previously extruded in the moving direction of the nozzle 110, so that the newly extruded molten material from the nozzle 110 can better fuse with the previously extruded layer of material. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that the specific manner of disposing the heating device 120 around the spraying portion 112 can be either to dispose a plurality of heating devices 120 around the spraying portion 112, or to dispose a single heating device 120 in a circular or substantially circular shape around the spraying portion 112, or other ways. Advantageously, the heating device 120 is substantially circular, and the spraying portion 112 is located within the circle or directly above the circle, that is to say, the spraying portion 112 is located within the hollow of the circle or above the hollow of the circle. Thus, when the nozzle 110 moves in any direction, the heating device 120 can pre-heat the cooled material in the moving direction of the nozzle 110 and below the nozzle 110, so that the material subsequently ejected by the spraying portion 112 can fuse with it. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that the circle can be a circular ring or other shapes, as long as it can heat the cooled material in any moving direction of the nozzle 110, and those skilled in the art can make a choice according to the actual situation.

[0023] Referring to the appended Figure 1, the heating device 120 is an electric heating device. The electric heating device includes an outer cover 121 and an electric heating tube 122. Among them, the outer cover 121 is a generally annular groove, and the electric heating tube 122 is generally annular. The outer cover 121 is arranged above the electric heating tube 122, so as to play a role in protecting the electric heating tube 122. At the same time, it can also play a role in blocking the heat radiated by the electric heating tube 122 upward and horizontally, ensuring that the electric heating tube 122 only radiates heat downward, thereby avoiding the heat generated by the electric heating tube 122 from causing damage to the equipment or the human body. Advantageously, at least three pipe clamps 123 are arranged on the outer cover 121 to clamp the electric heating tube 122, so that the outer cover 121 and the electric heating tube 122 are detachably connected, which is convenient for maintenance and cleaning. Alternatively, the heating device 120 can also be a laser heating device. At this time, a plurality of laser light sources can be installed around the nozzle 110 to ensure that when the nozzle 110 moves in any direction, the laser light source can heat the cooled material in the moving direction of the nozzle 110.

[0024] Refer to the attached Figure 2 , the nozzle assembly according to the principle of the present application further includes a leg 124. One end of the leg 124 is fixedly connected to the base 111 of the nozzle 110, and the other end is fixedly connected to the outer cover 121, so as to install the outer cover 121 on the base 111. The number of legs 124 is at least three, so as to ensure the stable connection between the outer cover 121 and the base 111.

[0025] Refer to the attached Figure 3 , the electric heating tube 122 includes a tube body 125 and an electric heating wire 126 arranged inside the tube body 125. The electric heating wire 126 is connected to an external power supply at the end 127 of the tube body 125 to generate heat in the energized state. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that in the actual application process, the voltage applied to the electric heating tube 122 can be adjusted according to the specific material used for 3D printing, so that the heat generated by the electric heating tube 122 is sufficient to heat the cooled material to an appropriate molten state, so that the newly extruded material of the nozzle 110 can fuse with it. Advantageously, the electric heating wire 126 is made of carbon fiber, so that the electric heating wire 126 has the characteristics of high strength and corrosion resistance, and the electric heating wire 126 has a longer service life. Alternatively, the electric heating wire 126 can also be made of a metal material, such as iron-chromium-aluminum alloy or nickel-chromium alloy. Advantageously, the tube body 125 is transparent, so that the heat generated by the electric heating wire 126 can be radiated outward as much as possible.

[0026] The present application also provides a 3D printing method, which uses a nozzle assembly according to the principles of the present application for 3D printing. Specifically, after printing one layer, when printing a new layer, the nozzle assembly according to the principles of the present application is used to heat the previously cooled material to a molten state, so that the material extruded from the nozzle in a molten state with fluidity and the material heated to a molten state with fluidity are fused together. After these materials are cooled simultaneously, they are formed. The structural strength formed in this way enhances the interlayer bonding strength.

[0027] Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been described in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that there are numerous variations. It should also be understood that one exemplary embodiment or multiple exemplary embodiments described herein are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or construction of the present application in any way. On the contrary, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient guide for implementing one exemplary embodiment or multiple exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes, variations, or alterations can be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements without departing from the scope of the present application as set forth by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A nozzle assembly for 3D printing, characterized in that, the nozzle assembly includes a nozzle and a heating device mounted on the nozzle. Wherein, the nozzle includes a spraying portion, and the heating device is arranged around the spraying portion so that the heating device can heat the printed material that has cooled and formed in the moving direction of the nozzle.

2. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, the heating device is an electric heating device.

3. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, the heating device is a laser heating device.

4. The nozzle assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, the electric heating device is generally annular, and the spraying portion of the nozzle is located within the general annulus.

5. The nozzle assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, the electric heating device includes an outer cover and an electric heating tube. Wherein, the outer cover is arranged above the electric heating tube, and a pipe clamp is arranged on the outer cover to clamp the electric heating tube.

6. The nozzle assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, the electric heating tube includes a tube body and an electric heating wire arranged inside the tube body.

7. The nozzle assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, the electric heating wire is made of carbon fiber or made of a metal material.

8. The nozzle assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, the tube body of the electric heating tube is transparent.

9. The nozzle assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, the outer cover is mounted on the nozzle through legs.

10. A method for 3D printing, characterized in that, the method uses the nozzle assembly according to any one of claims 1-9 for 3D printing.

Images