Method and 3D printing apparatus for additive manufacturing of plurality of components by displacing printheads per print path

Abstract

The proposed solution relates in particular to a method for the additive manufacturing of a plurality of components (1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.5), wherein the components (1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.5) are produced on a printing platform (P) layer by layer and following one another along an axis (X). 2.1-2.5) of the material (1). According to the invention, in the layer plane, for each component (1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.5) first produces an outer contour (K) by means of the at least one print head, said outer contour surrounding an outer contour for the respective component (1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.5), and a method for manufacturing the same. Subsequently, the at least one printhead is displaced along an axis (X) in order to sequentially introduce printing material along a first printing path into the plurality of components (1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.5), after which the print head is re-displaced along the print axis (X) in order to sequentially introduce the print material into the plurality of components (1.1-1.4; 2.1-2.5) in the filled region (F).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The proposed solution particularly relates to a method for manufacturing a plurality of components and using at least one print head of a 3D printing device. Background Art

[0002] In the manner of additive manufacturing of components by means of a 3D printing device, the components are constructed layer by layer. Via at least one extruder and in particular via at least one extruder screw provided in the extruder, metal particles, ceramic particles, and / or plastic particles are thus melted and transported to the print head of the extruder, in order to thereby construct the components layer by layer. In practice, hitherto in 3D printing, the solid body sections of the components to be manufactured are usually produced by coating the print material over the entire surface in the respective component layer. For this purpose, the print head is moved completely across the corresponding surface in the component layer while continuously dispensing the print material.

[0003] Thus, for example, when manufacturing a plurality of components at the print platform, it is common that a component layer of one of the components to be produced is completely made, and then the print head starts to manufacture the component layer of another component. Since the print head may have to be displaced along a plurality of print paths when creating the component layer and then displaced towards another area of the print platform, where the print material is dispensed along a plurality of print paths again, the print head is repeatedly accelerated and decelerated. Therefore, when producing a plurality of components at the print platform in an additive manufacturing process, a relatively large number of deceleration and acceleration processes must be performed. At the same time, there is always a need to accelerate the additive manufacturing process.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an improved printing strategy for 3D printing and thus a method for accelerating the additive manufacturing of a plurality of components at the print platform. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Here, the solution proposed according to independent claims 1 and 11 provides a remedy.

[0006] In the proposed method for additive manufacturing of a plurality (at least two) of components using at least one print head of a 3D printing device, it is proposed that

[0007] - in the layer plane, for each component to be constructed layer by layer that follows one another along a (print) axis, an outer contour is first generated via at least one print head, which outer contour encloses the filling area for the respective component, and

[0008] - subsequently, at least one print head is displaced along the axis in order to introduce the print material into the filling areas of the plurality of components successively along a first print path, and then the print head is displaced again along the axis in order to introduce the print material into the filling areas of the plurality of components successively along a second print path that is offset from the first print path.

[0009] Accordingly, the proposed solution is based on the following basic concept: among a plurality of components to be manufactured at the printing platform along the (printing) axis, for each component, first the desired outer contour is formed in the layer plane, and then the filling of the component is printed path by path, thus vector by vector or line by line, across all components. Thus, for each component layer of the components, first the outer contour is printed, and then the filling area of the component, which is (optionally completely) surrounded by the outer contour, is successively provided with printing material by at least one print head displaced along the printing path. Thus, a component layer in the filling area of the component is generated by means of the printing material, and the printing material is spread when the print head is displaced along a plurality of printing paths. When displaced along the printing path, the print head spans a plurality of areas at the printing platform where components are to be manufactured. Correspondingly, via the print head, the component layer of just one component is not completely formed in the corresponding filling area in the layer plane (as has usually been the case in practice to date), and then the component layer for another component is completely formed in its filling area in the corresponding layer plane.

[0010] In additive manufacturing according to the proposed solution, more precisely, the printing material for all components is spread successively along the printing path, and the components are to be produced side by side along the printing path or - from the perspective of the software that generates the (control) instructions for the 3D printing device to produce the components - are arranged side by side. Thus, the printing material is spread across components. In this way, for example, component layers for a plurality of components can be generated respectively by means of at least one extruder having a print head by

[0011] - in a first working step, first the outer contour for the component to be manufactured is generated in the respective component layer, which component layer extends respectively in the layer plane and respectively includes at least one outer wall portion extending in an extension direction perpendicular to the layer plane to at least partially surround the filling area, such that at least one volume cavity open in the extension direction is formed within the filling area; and

[0012] - in a subsequent, second working step, the printing material is introduced into the filling area of the component (in particular all components along the axis) along a first printing path, and then in a further subsequent third working step the printing material is introduced into the filling area of the component along a second printing path.

[0013] Here, of course, it can be proposed that for forming the filling area in a preset manner, the print head must also be guided more than twice and thus along more than two printing paths through the filling area in order to coat enough printing material in the component layer.

[0014] The proposed solution in particular offers the following advantages, namely that the print head distributes the printing material for a plurality of components during the displacement movement along the printing path and then changes the printing path, whereby the number of deceleration and acceleration processes can be partially significantly reduced compared to 3D printing methods that have been common in practice to date. This in turn is accompanied by a significant reduction in the manufacturing time. In other words, in the manufacturing process, a defined number of components can be manufactured simultaneously on the printing platform in a shorter time.

[0015] In one embodiment variant, at least one print head is displaced along a (displacement) axis in a first displacement direction when displaced along a first printing path, while the print head is displaced along the printing axis in a second displacement direction opposite to the first displacement direction when displaced along a second printing path.

[0016] In principle, it can be proposed that the print head performs a turning and / or lateral movement at the end of the displacement movement along one of the printing paths, such that the print head is displaced parallel and offset to the previous printing path during the subsequent displacement movement along the subsequent printing path. Thus, the print head is driven to perform a turning and / or lateral movement at the end of the displacement movement covering a plurality of components along one printing path, via which turning and / or lateral movement the print head is displaced such that the print head subsequently moves along another printing path in the region of the area of the component to be manufactured at the printing platform, the other printing path extending parallel and offset to the previous printing path.

[0017] In principle, it can be proposed that the print head must first decelerate for the turning and / or lateral movement, whereby the printing time can already be further reduced. It can also be proposed that in the layer plane, the printing material is introduced into the filling areas of a plurality of components by moving the print head back and forth along mutually offset, parallel printing paths past all the outer contours of the components to be manufactured side by side along the axis. However, within the scope of the manufacturing process, it is also feasible that the displacement axis and the printing axis are changed between two component layers, wherein the print head changes from one printing path to the subsequent printing path along the displacement axis. For example, the component layers can be printed along the X axis on a plurality of printing paths that are offset along the Y axis with respect to the Cartesian coordinate system. At least one subsequent component layer is then printed along the Y axis. Here, the printing paths are then offset along the X axis.

[0018] A further reduction of the printing time can be achieved in the following exemplary variants, in which it is proposed that, in order to change the printing direction, the turning radius for the print head is selected such that the vector velocity of the print head remains unchanged. Thus, the velocity components of the displacement velocity in the following spatial directions can then be reduced, along which the print head is displaced along the printing path, while the velocity components perpendicular thereto increase. This includes, for example, the following variant, in which, with respect to a Cartesian coordinate system, the displacement velocity of the print head along the X-axis is reduced, but for this purpose increased along the Y-axis, such that the print head performs a turning movement in the XY plane with a displacement velocity that is substantially or even exactly the same as the displacement velocity with which the print head was previously displaced along the printing path along the X-axis. In particular, in this context it can also be proposed that the magnitude of the turning radius is selected such that the print head first skips at least one printing path by means of the turning movement and only then is displaced along the printing path after at least one further turn at the other end.

[0019] Furthermore, it is obvious that the basic idea of the proposed solution is also realized in the case where, instead of displacing the print head relative to the printing platform (and thus, for example, relative to the printing bed) in an externally operated manner or supplementarily thereto, the printing platform is displaced relative to the print head in an externally operated manner, in particular in order to spread the filling material along the printing axis with the aid of the print head and / or in order to change from one printing path to the next.

[0020] In principle, it can be proposed that a plurality of elements are arranged side by side or successively in a row along an axis and the printing material is introduced into the filling regions of this row of elements along a first printing path, and then the printing material is further introduced along a second printing path into the same filling regions of the same row of elements. Thus, the displacement movement along the printing path is designed to introduce the printing material into a plurality of different filling regions. This - as already explained above - in particular includes introducing the printing material repeatedly into the filling regions of one or more of the elements by moving along a plurality of printing paths, since the layer of elements in the respective filling region has not yet been completely formed after one pass and / or since, due to the correspondingly large turning radius of the print head selected previously, one or more printing paths were first skipped.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the components are separated from each other along the axis by a gap respectively. In the displacement movement of the print head along the print path in which the printing material is introduced into the filling areas of the plurality of components, in one embodiment variant, the dispensing of the printing material from the print head is (temporarily) stopped when crossing the gap. The width of the gap between two adjacent components can be the same respectively here, however, it can also be different. Decisive in the corresponding embodiment variant is only that, for example, controlled by the electronic control unit of the 3D printing device, when the print head is above the corresponding gap existing between two adjacent components or sections of their outer contours, the dispensing of the printing material from at least one print head is temporarily stopped so that no printing material is introduced into the gap. The dispensing of the printing material can be stopped in an electronically controlled manner in coordination with the dispensing of the printing material and the 3D printing device so that the displacement speed of the print head along the print path remains unchanged. In particular, when the print head moves in the direction of the gap, the displacement speed does not have to be decelerated.

[0022] Thus, in an improved solution, the print head can be displaced along the print path over a plurality of components (or the area provided at the print platform therefor) at a constant displacement speed. Then, the dispensing of the printing material is stopped only briefly in the gaps to be provided between the components to be produced. The size of the gap between the components can be preset to be small in particular here and coordinated with the displacement speed of the print head so that the width of the gap is just large enough to ensure that no printing material drips from the print head into the gap when the dispensing of the printing material is stopped. For example, the print head is the part of the extruder of the 3D printing device having a rotatable extruder screw, and the printing material is transported to the print head via the extruder screw. The width of the gap between two components is then dimensioned respectively such that when crossing the gap, the dispensing of the printing material can be stopped by stopping or rotating the extruder screw. Therefore, the width of the gap is dimensioned such that when crossing the gap, the rotation of the extruder screw can be stopped, and the end of the extruder and in particular the nozzle opening of the nozzle head do not have to be mechanically closed via a closing element. It goes without saying, however, that it can also be easily considered to temporarily close via a closing element. Here, the actuator for the closing element is correspondingly controlled by the electronic control unit to close and open in the area of the gap.

[0023] In this case, the displacement speed of the print head is understood as the speed at which the print head is displaced along the print bed. This speed typically also corresponds to the so-called printing speed in a 3D printing device having at least one extruder screw. This speed is different from the construction rate and thus is the speed indicating how many components are produced per unit time, for example, per minute.

[0024] In principle, it is also possible to manufacture multiple rows of components or component segments at the printing platform. Thus, each row has multiple components or component segments arranged one after another along the axis. Here, the components or component segments can generate their outer contours row by row and then, via the displacement of parallel printing paths, have printing material provided within their respective outer contours. After that, the print head moves to the components or component segments of another row. In particular, the rows can be arranged parallel to each other such that the print head only moves along parallel printing paths past the printing platform in order to print component layers vector by vector or line by line in the layer plane (after forming an attractive outer contour). Here, by spreading the printing material into successive layers, it can also be proposed that the component segments of different rows are connected to each other in a further manufacturing process.

[0025] Via the printing material introduced into the respective filling areas, the respective filling areas can in principle be at least partially filled with the printing material. This is particularly understood to mean that the filling areas surrounded by the outer contours are, if necessary, completely filled with the printing material in the component layer. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also possible to form at least one inner wall portion, in particular a grid structure, within the filling area. Via at least one inner wall portion and in particular a grid structure in the filling area, at least one (additional) volume cavity can be formed in the filling area. The corresponding volume cavity can in this case remain in the component to be produced as a cavity filled with air. Alternatively, one or more volume cavities formed in the filling areas of the component can be filled again with the printing material in a subsequent working step.

[0026] In principle, multiple identical components can be produced at the printing platform by means of the proposed manufacturing method. It goes without saying, however, that the proposed method is also unproblematically suitable for producing different components that are to be printed at the printing platform in the manufacturing process. At least one component for generating the outer contour of the component and / or for introducing into the filling area can be plastic, metal or ceramic.

[0027] The proposed solution also relates to a 3D printing device for additive manufacturing of multiple components at the printing platform of a 3D printing device. The proposed 3D printing device includes, for layer-by-layer construction of the components: at least one extruder having at least one print head for spreading the printing material; and at least one electronic control unit for controlling the extruder, the electronic control unit having at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory then contains (control) instructions which, when implemented by the at least one processor, cause the extruder in additive manufacturing

[0028] - in the layer plane, for each component to be followed along the axis and constructed layer by layer, first generate an outer contour via at least one print head, the outer contour surrounding the filling area for the respective component, and

[0029] - Subsequently, at least one printhead is displaced along an axis such that printing material is introduced successively into the filling regions of the plurality of components along a first printing path, and then the printhead is displaced again along the axis in order to introduce the printing material successively into the filling regions of the plurality of components along a second printing path that is offset from the first printing path.

[0030] Thus, the proposed 3D printing device is configured to print, in a first working step when introducing the printing material, the outer contours for the respective components for the layer planes of the plurality of components, such that within the component layer there are a plurality of outer contours for the plurality of components, and then subsequently the respective filling regions for the components are printed by displacing at least one printhead path by path.

[0031] One implementation variant of the proposed 3D printing device is particularly suitable for implementing an implementation variant of the proposed additive manufacturing method. Thus, the advantages and features set forth above and below for the implementation variant of the proposed manufacturing method also apply to the implementation variant of the proposed 3D printing device and vice versa. Description of the Drawings

[0032] The drawings schematically illustrate possible implementation variants of the proposed solution.

[0033] Shown herein:

[0034] Figure 1 A top view of a printing platform of an implementation variant of the proposed 3D printing device is schematically shown, at which an implementation variant of the proposed manufacturing method is used to additively print a plurality of rows of components;

[0035] Figure 2 Shows for printing Figure 1 the displacement movement speed-time graph of the printhead for the components, the printhead performing the displacement movement along the printing path;

[0036] Figure 3 Also shown Figure 1 a top view of the printing platform, in which a plurality of rows of components to be manufactured are shown, the components at least partially having outer contours with different geometries;

[0037] Figure 4 Shows a 3D schematic view of a 3D printing device with a printing platform having Figure 1 and Figure 3 ;

[0038] Figure 5 Shows a printing platform, in which a method known from the prior art for additively manufacturing a plurality of rows of components at the printing platform is illustrated;

[0039] Figure 6A speed-time graph is shown for illustrating the acceleration and deceleration processes in a method known from the prior art for additive manufacturing of a plurality of components at a printing platform corresponding to Figure 5 . Detailed Description

[0040] Figure 4 Exemplarily, a 3D printing device 3 is shown, by means of which an implementation variant of the proposed solution can be carried out. The 3D printing device 3 has a printing platform P for the components to be additively manufactured. Above the printing platform P, a printing unit or an extruder 30 with a print head 300 is provided. Inside the extruder 30, an extruder screw rotatable about its longitudinal axis is provided, through which the molten printing material can be transported to the print head 300. The extruder screw obtains the printing material here from the material supply section 32 of the 3D printing device 3. The printing material can, for example, contain metal particles, ceramic particles, and / or plastic particles.

[0041] The extruder 30 with the print head 300 is supported displaceably above the printing platform P via a displacement assembly 31 having one or more motor-driven drives. Here, the extruder 30 is displaceable, for example, along two mutually perpendicular spatial axes X and Z or X and Y of a Cartesian coordinate system. Additionally, the printing platform P can be displaceable along the spatial axis Y or Z. Generally, the printing platform P is displaceable, for example, along a vertical line and thus along the Z axis, while the extruder 30 with the print head 300 is displaceable in the XY plane.

[0042] Via the 3D printing device 3, a plurality of components or individual components can be additively constructed layer by layer at the printing platform P, i.e., printed. In Figure 4 the component 1.1 at the printing platform P is shown exemplarily. Via an electronic control unit 33 of the 3D printing device 3 having at least one processor and at least one memory, the drives of the displacement assembly 31, for example, electric motor-driven, hydraulic, and / or pneumatic drives, are controlled here such that one or more components are constructed layer by layer in a proposed geometry at the printing platform P by means of the printing material dispensed at the print head 300. Thus, for example, control instructions for displacing the extruder 30 together with its print head 300 are provided in the memory of the electronic control unit 33 in order to produce a plurality of components during the manufacturing process at the printing platform P.

[0043] In order to be able to efficiently produce a plurality of components corresponding to the Figure 5 top view at the printing platform P here, it can be proposed to construct the components to be produced layer by layer at the printing platform P in a plurality of mutually parallel rows R1 to R5. Figure 5A grid of 5×5 components is shown here by way of example. Each row R1 to R5 respectively has components to be manufactured side by side along the X-axis. Thus, for the first row R1, for example, five components 1.1 to 1.5 are provided, which components respectively - at least in the shown layer plane - have a rectangular outer contour. Each row R1 to R5 thus has a number of components N X = 5 to be produced. The rows R1 to R5 are also oriented parallel to each other along the Y-axis. Here, there are a number of N Y = 5 rows R1 to R5.

[0044] The components to be manufactured at the printing platform P here have a (component) width S along the X-axis B and are respectively spaced apart from each other by a gap width S T In the manufacturing known from the prior art, for example, the components 1.1 to 1.5 of the first row R1 are completely successively constructed layer by layer for each component. In other words, for example, in the first row R1, first a component layer for the first component 1.1 is completely formed via the print head 300, and then the print head 300 completely forms this component layer for the next component 1.2. For each component layer of the components in the first row R1, the print head 300 here must move back and forth along the X-axis multiple times until a complete component layer is created for the corresponding component. In the Figure 5 example shown, the print head 300, for example, must perform a number of N B = 6 direction changes in order to form a component layer within the defined outer contour for the component, and then the print head subsequently spans the gap of width S T along the X-axis and continues with the construction layer for the next component of this row.

[0045] Therefore, as illustrated by the speed-time diagram according to Figure 6 , the print head 300 must be repeatedly accelerated and decelerated in an externally forced manner in order to perform different direction changes. After a component layer for one of the components has been completely created, the print head 300 must then be accelerated again and decelerated again in order to span S T .

[0046] An implementation variant of the proposed solution now selects another way in order to additively manufacture a plurality of components at the printing platform P by means of a 3D printing device 3. Here, corresponding to Figure 1The illustration shows that for all components 1.1 to 1.5 of row R1 that should be manufactured along the X-axis, first, in a first working step, the corresponding outer contour K is formed via the printing material dispensed at the print head 300. Then, in the layer plane of the currently to-be-produced component layer for components 1.1 to 1.5 of row R1, the print head 300 moves along the X-axis in all areas of the printing platform P along parallel printing paths, in which areas the filling regions F enclosed by the corresponding outer contours for components 1.1 to 1.5 should be further printed. Thus, the print head 300, for example, first moves in the +X direction along a first printing path parallel to the X-axis (or a printing axis extending in the ±X direction) in a second working step in order to introduce the printing material into each filling region for components 1.1 to 1.5. At the end of the first printing path, thus in the region of the edge of the printing platform P here, the print head 300 performs an arc-shaped turning movement and / or a transverse movement along the Y-axis superimposed thereon, in order to be displaced in the subsequent third working step in the opposite direction -X along a second printing path parallel and offset to the first printing path, and to be displaced again here - however in the reverse order - in all areas of the printing platform P where components 1.1 to 1.5 of row R1 should be formed. In principle, it is not excluded that there is a displacement along the Z-axis between successive printing paths.

[0047] The gap width S of the gap L existing between adjacent components along the X-axis T This is selected relatively small here (for example, in the range of 4 mm to 12 mm) and matched to the displacement speed of the print head 300 along the X-axis. Currently, the extruder 30 can be switched on and off in a targeted manner by means of the electronic control unit 33 here, such that no printing material is dispensed when crossing the gap L and there is no need to reduce the displacement speed of the print head 300 when passing through the gap L.

[0048] In Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment variant, the components of different rows R1 to R5 are spaced apart from each other along the Y-axis by a distance d. The distance d can be in the range of the offset of the printing paths of the print head 300. For example, the distance d is at least twice as large or larger than the distance between the printing paths. Preferably, the offset between the parallel printing paths of the print head 300 again substantially corresponds to or exactly corresponds to the width of the printing material path that can be dispensed at the print head 300. For example, the offset is in the range of 0.6 mm and the distance d is in the range of 20 mm to 100 mm.

[0049] As according to Figure 2As illustrated by the speed-time diagram, in the illustrated embodiment variant, the print head 300 can move along the printing path at a constant displacement speed after an initial acceleration. The dispensing of the printing material at the nozzle head 300 is then stopped only by stopping the rotation of the extruder screw in the extruder 30 each time when passing through the gap L to be set. The print head 300 must be decelerated only at the end of the row R1 in order to be displaced along the parallel-offset printing path in the opposite displacement direction. Compared to the manufacturing methods known from the prior art, and thus compared to the acceleration process corresponding to Figure 6 significantly fewer acceleration and deceleration processes are required for applying the printing material to the filling areas F of the components 1.1 to 1.5 to be produced. This results in a significantly shorter manufacturing time. For example, the smaller the component width S B and / or the gap width S T the greater the achievable time savings. The same applies to the number N X of components in a row R1 to R5 or the number N Y of rows. The greater the corresponding number of components to be produced, the greater the time savings achieved with the proposed solution compared to the Figure 5 sketched and prior art known methods. Thus, for example, it can be verified that in the Figure 1 and Figure 5 shown setting of a total of 25 components to be produced, the achievable time savings exceed 25%. In the case of N X = 15 and N Y = 15, the time savings increase to more than 50% (exemplary assumption S B = 20 mm and S T = 5 mm).

[0050] Therefore, the proposed solution has a great time and cost advantage during so-called nesting, i.e., when placing as many small components as possible on the printing platform P, which is not exploited in the extrusion methods commonly used to date for additive manufacturing. Thus, the proposed filling of a row of components path-by-path or vector-by-vector in combination with the targeted switching on and off of the dispensing of the printing material at the moving print head 300 can significantly increase the number of components to be produced per unit time via the manufacturing process on the printing platform P.

[0051] According to Figure 3 explanation, different from the illustration in the Figure 1 embodiment variant, it is not mandatory during the process of the proposed method that the same components must be produced within the rows R1 to R5. Differences can exist in the components to be produced within the rows R1 to R5 and between the rows R1 to R5 in terms of their geometry and outer contour K and also, for example, in terms of the configuration of their filling areas. Figure 3For this purpose, the combination of the first row R1 and four identical components 1.1 to 1.4 to be manufactured side by side along the X-axis is shown exemplarily. In the row R2 offset therefrom in the -Y direction, components 2.1 to 2.4 are to be manufactured at the printing platform P, which components are different not only from components 1.1 to 1.4 but also from each other in terms of their outer contour K. However, here too, the printing material is introduced into the filling area F surrounded by the correspondingly first-generated outer contour K row by printing path. Where the printing material is to be introduced into the filling area F of the components 1.1 - 1.4, 2.1 - 2.4 to be manufactured along the printing path of the print head 300, the extruder screw of the extruder 30 is driven. For the gaps between adjacent components, the extruder screw is stopped while the print head 300 is continued to be moved along the X-axis without changing the displacement direction and preferably also without changing the displacement speed.

[0052] In Figure 3 a circular steering path with a radius r is also described, along which the print head 300 is moved at the end of the printing path in order to achieve the misalignment required for the subsequent printing path. The corresponding steering radius r is greater here than the technically minimum achievable steering radius of the extruder 30, which is determined, for example, by the acceleration of the print head 300 and the weight and the possible closing at the nozzle head 300.

[0053] In Figure 3 the row R3 and R4 also shown exemplarily, component segments 2.5a and 2.5b of the component 2.5 can also be produced, which component segments are connected to each other during the manufacturing process such that these component segments transition into the only (here central) component segment 2.5c of the component 2.5. Here, therefore, the component segments 2.5a and 2.5b of different rows are connected to each other in a further manufacturing process such that the component segments - together with the further component segment 2.5c - form the component 2.5. The component 2.5 is designed, for example, as a pipe fitting in a Y-shape in cross-section.

[0054] In the method shown, of course, it is not mandatory to completely fill the filling area F of each component layer with the introduced printing material either. When moving along the printing path, the print head 300 can, of course, also form one or more inner wall parts, in particular a grid structure, in the filling area F of the component, controlled via the electronic control unit 33. Thereby, for example, a hollow volume cavity can be printed targeted within the filling area F. The hollow volume cavity can be left without further filling or can be partially filled in another working step, if necessary also with another printing material.

[0055] The proposed solution can in particular achieve an improved filling strategy for additive manufacturing or 3D printing in terms of time, cost, and the amount of components to be produced. The corresponding control instructions for controlling the displacement movement of the extruder 30 and thus the one or more print heads 300 can hereby be easily implemented in a software manner in the electronic control unit 33 of a conventional 3D printing device 3.

[0056] The basic idea of the proposed solution is furthermore realized in such a way that the print platform P is displaced relative to the print head 300 by means of an external force, without displacing the print head 300 relative to the print platform P (and thus, for example, relative to the print bed) by means of an external force. Furthermore, the proposed solution is not limited to applications based on the Cartesian coordinate system. Thus, for example, the (print) axis along which the printing material is spread and thus the printing path can also have a curved course. In particular, a polar coordinate system can be based on. Thus, the printing path can also extend, for example, along a circular line and thus along a curved (print) axis.

[0057] The printing material for producing the outer contour and / or the filling area can have plastics, metals, or ceramics as components. In particular, metal particles, ceramic particles, and / or plastic particles can be fed to the extruder 30 of the 3D printing device 3. Alternatively, for example, production by means of wire generation or in the manner of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is also possible.

[0058] List of reference signs

[0059] 1.1 - 1.5, 2.1 - 2.5 components

[0060] 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.5c component segments

[0061] 3 3D printing device

[0062] 30 printing unit / extruder

[0063] 300 print head

[0064] 31 displacement assembly

[0065] 32 material conveying section

[0066] 33 control unit

[0067] d spacing

[0068] F filling area

[0069] K outer contour

[0070] L void

[0071] NB Number of paths

[0072] N X Number of components per row

[0073] N Y Number of rows

[0074] P Printing platform

[0075] r Radius

[0076] R1 - R5 Component rows

[0077] S B Width

[0078] S T Gap width

Claims

1. A method for additive manufacturing of a plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) using at least one print head (300) of a 3D printing device (3), wherein the components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) are manufactured at a print platform (P) layer by layer and following one another along an axis (X-axis). Characterized in that, - in a layer plane, for each component (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) following one another along the axis (X), first an outer contour (K) is generated via the at least one print head (300), the outer contour enclosing a filling area (F) for the respective component (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5), and - then the at least one print head (300) is displaced along the axis (X-axis) so as to introduce printing material into the filling areas (F) of the plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) in sequence along a first printing path, and thereafter the print head (300) is displaced again along the axis (X-axis) so as to introduce printing material into the filling areas (F) of the plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) in sequence along a second printing path offset from the first printing path.

2. The method according to claim 1, Characterized in that, the at least one print head (300) is displaced along the axis (X-axis) in a first displacement direction (+X) when displaced along the first printing path, and the print head (300) is displaced along the printing axis (X-axis) in a second displacement direction (-X) opposite to the first displacement direction (+X) when displaced along the second printing path.

3. The method according to claim 2, Characterized in that, in the layer plane, by moving the print head (300) back and forth along mutually offset, parallel printing paths past all the outer contours (K) of the components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) to be manufactured side by side along the axis (X-axis), printing material is introduced into the filling areas (F) of the plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Characterized in that, the plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) are arranged in a row (R1 - R5) along the axis (X-axis) and printing material is introduced into the filling areas (F) of the components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) of the row along the first printing path, and thereafter printing material is further introduced into the filling areas (F) of the components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) of the same row along the second printing path.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Characterized in that, The components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) are separated from each other along the axis (X-axis) by a gap (L) respectively, and during the displacement movement of the print head (300) along the printing path in which the printing material is introduced into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5), the dispensing of the printing material from the print head (300) is stopped when crossing the gap.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the print head (300) is part of an extruder (30) of the 3D printing device (3) having a rotatable extruder screw, through which the printing material is transported to the print head (300), and two components (1.1 - 1.5; The width (S) of the gap (L) between 2.1 - 2.5) is respectively determined such that when crossing the said gap (L), the extrusion screw can be stopped to halt the spreading of the printing material. T ) are sized such that when crossing the said gap (L), the extrusion screw can be stopped to halt the spreading of the printing material.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) are arranged in a row (R1 - R5) along the axis (X-axis) and multiple rows (R1 - R5) of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) or multiple rows (R1 - R5) of component segments (2.5a, 2.5b) separated from each other in at least one layer plane are manufactured at the printing platform (P).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling region (F) is at least partially filled with the printing material and / or at least one inner wall portion, in particular a grid structure, is formed within the filling region (F) via the printing material introduced into the corresponding filling region.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) to be manufactured along the axis (X-axis) are the same or different.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one component of the printing material for manufacturing at least one outer contour (K) or for introduction into at least one filling region (F) is plastic, metal or ceramic.

11. A 3D printing device for additively manufacturing a plurality of components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) at a printing platform (P) of the 3D printing device (3), wherein the 3D printing device (3) constructs the components (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) and includes: at least one extruder (30) having at least one print head (300) for dispensing the printing material; and at least one electronic control unit (33) controlling the extruder (30), the electronic control unit having at least one processor and at least one memory, characterized in that the at least one memory contains instructions which, when implemented by the at least one processor, cause the extruder (30) in additive manufacturing - in the layer plane, for each component (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) following one another along the axis (X), first generate an outer contour (K) via the at least one print head (300), the outer contour surrounding the filling region (F) for the corresponding component (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5), and - Then displace the at least one print head (300) along the axis (X-axis) such that printing material is introduced successively into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of elements (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) along a first printing path, and thereafter displace the print head (300) again along the printing axis (X-axis) so as to introduce printing material successively into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of elements (1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5) along a second printing path offset from the first printing path.

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