3D printer powder cleaning and piece taking device and method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a 3D printer powder cleaning and part taking device and a method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of 3D printing equipment. A connecting base is arranged on a forklift, a rotating base is rotationally arranged around the central axis of the connecting base, two supporting arms are arranged on the rotating base and are in central symmetry about the rotating base, and the distance between the two supporting arms is larger than the width of a base plate; each supporting arm is provided with two pulley guiding parts, the two pulley guiding parts are fixed to the supporting arms at intervals, each pulley guiding part is composed of two vertically-symmetrical fixed pulleys, rope winding assemblies are arranged in the rotating base, the four steel wire lifting ropes are arranged, the rope winding assemblies correspond to the steel wire lifting ropes one to one, and one ends of the steel wire lifting ropes are provided with connecting parts. The other end of the connecting part is connected with the rope winding assembly through the pulley guide part; the 3D printer solves the problem that in the prior art, parts in a 3D printer are inconvenient to take and remove powder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of 3D printing equipment, and particularly relates to a powder cleaning and part taking device for a 3D printer and a method thereof. Background Art

[0002] A 3D printer is a cumulative manufacturing technology, that is, a kind of machine for rapid prototyping technology. It is based on a digital part file and uses special wax materials, powdered metals or plastics and other bondable materials to manufacture three-dimensional parts by printing layers of bondable materials. After the part is printed, there is some powder remaining on the surface and in the forming cylinder. Generally, an air gun is manually inserted into the printer to blow air on the surface of the article for cleaning, or the part and the substrate are taken out and cleaned by other means. Using an air gun for cleaning requires flexible operation to ensure that all corners of the part are cleaned. However, due to the space limitation of the printer, it cannot be cleaned thoroughly, and the operation is rather troublesome. For taking out and cleaning, on the one hand, it is not convenient to grab and transport the part and the substrate because they are attached with powder. In addition, when transporting, the powder scatters randomly and is not easy to collect and process, polluting the working environment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to propose a powder cleaning and part taking device for a 3D printer and a method thereof to solve the problem that the powder cleaning of the parts completed by 3D printing in the prior art is not thorough and inconvenient.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme: A powder cleaning and part taking device for a 3D printer includes a connecting base, a rotating seat, a connecting part and a steel wire sling. The connecting base is arranged on a forklift. The rotating seat is rotatably arranged around the central axis of the connecting base. Two support arms are arranged on the rotating seat along the central axis direction of the connecting base. The two support arms are symmetric about the center of the rotating seat. The distance between the two support arms is greater than the width of the substrate. Two pulley guiding parts are arranged on each support arm. The two pulley guiding parts are fixedly spaced on the support arm. The pulley guiding part is arranged on the side of the support arm facing the central axis of the rotating seat. The pulley guiding part is composed of two upper and lower symmetric fixed pulleys. A rope winding assembly is arranged in the rotating seat. There are four steel wire slings. The rope winding assembly corresponds to the steel wire slings one by one. The four steel wire slings correspond to the four pulley guiding parts one by one. One end of the steel wire sling is provided with a connecting part, and the other end is connected to the rope winding assembly via the pulley guiding part. The connecting part is used to connect to the substrate.

[0005] As a further description of the above technical scheme: An elevating seat is arranged on the forklift. The elevating seat is fixedly arranged on the mast of the forklift. The connecting base is slidably arranged left and right on the elevating seat. Guide rails are fixedly arranged left and right on the elevating seat. A linear bearing is arranged on the connecting base. The linear bearing is adapted to the guide rail.

[0006] As a further description of the above technical solution: A driven gear ring is provided on the end face of the rotating seat facing the connecting base. A circular mounting hole is formed on the end face of the connecting base. The driven gear ring is adapted to the circular mounting hole. A driving motor is arranged in the connecting base. A driving gear meshing with the driven gear ring is rotatably arranged in the connecting base, and the driving motor provides driving force for the driving gear.

[0007] As a further description of the above technical solution: An annular outward expansion plate is provided on the outer peripheral side of the connecting base. A silica gel sealing ring is provided on the end face of the annular outward expansion plate facing the rotating seat.

[0008] As a further description of the above technical solution: A plurality of deviation rectifying frames are provided on the end face of the connecting base, and the deviation rectifying frames are symmetrically arranged left and right with respect to the rotating seat.

[0009] As a further description of the above technical solution: The rope winding assembly includes a servo motor and a rope winding wheel. The steel wire lifting rope is wound around the rope winding wheel, and the servo motor drives the rope winding wheel to pay out or take in the rope.

[0010] As a further description of the above technical solution: The connecting part includes a hanging part, a hanging ring and a connecting bolt. The connecting bolt corresponds to the connecting screw hole on the substrate. The connecting bolt is rotatably arranged on the hanging part. The hanging part is composed of a horizontal plate and a vertical plate. The horizontal plate of the hanging part is parallel to the upper surface of the substrate. The vertical plate of the hanging part contacts the side surface of the substrate. A sliding hole is formed on the vertical plate. A sliding shaft is provided on the hanging ring, and the sliding hole is adapted to the sliding shaft.

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution: Mounting holes are formed on the annular outward expansion plate. A dust suction pipe is arranged in the mounting holes. One end of the dust suction pipe is provided with a dust suction port, and the other end is communicated with a vacuum cleaner. The dust suction port is located below the rotating seat.

[0012] As a further description of the above technical solution: A controller is further arranged in the connecting base. The servo motor and the driving motor are electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is electrically connected to a control panel arranged on the forklift handle.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for cleaning powder and picking parts of a 3D printer, which adopts the above-mentioned 3D printer cleaning powder and picking device, and the method is as follows: S1: The connecting part is connected to its corresponding connecting screw hole; S2: Adjust the position of the forklift so that the rotating seat and the connecting arm are located inside the printer, and adjust the length of the steel wire lifting rope so that the substrate is located at the central position of the four steel wire lifting ropes; S3: Adjust the four steel wire lifting ropes so that the substrate rises horizontally until the substrate is located between the two support arms, and at the same time turn on the vacuum cleaner; S4: Rotate the rotating seat by 180°, and then adjust the angle and inclination of the substrate by adjusting the length of the steel wire rope. S5: After the flour cleaning is completed, adjust the four steel wire suspension ropes so that the substrate rises horizontally until the substrate is located between the two support arms, and rotate the rotating seat by 180° to make the substrate face upwards again. S6: Drive the forklift to take out the substrate and parts from the printer.

[0014] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solutions, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: (1) The device of the present application can suspend and invert the substrate and the parts thereon after the parts processing is completed, so that the flour cleaning action can be directly carried out in the printer without transfer. By controlling the winding and unwinding of the steel wire suspension ropes, the position and inclination angle of the substrate and the parts are adjusted so that the powder falls automatically.

[0015] (2) The deviation correction frame arranged on the annular outer expansion plate can actively adjust the positions of the connecting base and the rotating seat, so as to ensure that the support arm and the rotating seat do not interfere with the internal parts of the printer when rotating in the printer.

[0016] (3) The arranged dust suction pipe, dust suction port and vacuum cleaner can directly recover the dust in the printer, improve the efficiency of flour cleaning. The silica gel sealing ring arranged on the end face of the annular outer expansion plate can ensure the sealing performance at the opening of the printer cabin door and effectively prevent dust leakage. Description of the Drawings

[0017] Figure 1 is the side view of the present invention; Figure 2 is the three-dimensional structure schematic diagram of the present invention, in which the forklift is not shown; Figure 3 is Figure 2 the enlarged view of part A in Figure 4 is Figure 2 the enlarged view of part B in Figure 5 is the cross-sectional view of the connecting base and the rotating seat of the present invention; Figure 6 is the first state diagram of the substrate suspension of the present invention; Figure 7 is the second state diagram of the substrate suspension of the present invention; Figure 8 is the inverted suspension state diagram of the substrate of the present invention.

[0018] Legend: 01. Substrate; 1. Forklift; 2. Lifting seat; 3. Connecting base; 4. Guide rail; 5. Linear bearing; 6. Rotating seat; 7. Circular mounting hole; 8. Driven gear ring; 9. Driving motor; 10. Driving gear; 11. Bevel gear set; 12. Annular outward expansion plate; 13. Silicone sealing ring; 14. Deviation correction frame; 15. Dust suction pipe; 16. Dust suction port; 17. Support arm; 18. Pulley guiding part; 19. Fixed pulley; 20. Servo motor; 21. Rope winding wheel; 22. Hanging part; 23. Eye ring; 24. Connecting bolt; 25. Horizontal plate; 26. Vertical plate; 27. Sliding hole; 28. Sliding shaft; 29. Steel wire suspension rope. Detailed implementation

[0019] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0020] Please refer to Figure 1-8 , the present invention provides a technical solution for a 3D printer powder cleaning and part taking device and its method: The 3D model is "sliced" into hundreds to thousands of two-dimensional thin slices (usually 0.05 - 0.3 mm thick) along the Z axis. The printer accurately stacks materials according to the contour data of each layer and stacks them layer by layer for forming. During manufacturing, the substrate 01 in the printer descends layer by layer along the forming cylinder. After the manufacturing of the part is completed, the substrate 01 in the printer also descends to the preset lowest position of the forming cylinder. Then the substrate 01 rises along the forming cylinder to the highest state. Generally, the forming cylinder is a rectangular groove. During the rising process of the substrate 01 and the printed part, the powder around the part automatically slides along the circumferential side without the limitation of the side wall of the forming cylinder.

[0021] After the substrate 01 and the part rise to the highest state, the dust at the connecting screw holes on the substrate 01 is cleaned, and then the subsequent powder cleaning and part taking operations are carried out using the device of the present application.

[0022] The 3D printer powder cleaning and part taking device of the present application includes a forklift 1. A lifting seat 2 is arranged on the forklift 1. The lifting seat 2 is fixedly arranged on the mast of the forklift 1, and the up and down movement of the mast drives the lifting seat 2 to move up and down, thereby adjusting the height of the lifting seat 2. A connecting base 3 is slidably arranged left and right on the lifting seat 2. Guide rails 4 are fixedly arranged left and right on the lifting seat 2. A linear bearing 5 is arranged on the connecting base 3, and the linear bearing 5 is adapted to the guide rail 4. The connecting base 3 can be adjusted left and right relative to the lifting seat 2.

[0023] A rotating seat 6 is rotatably arranged on a connecting base 3, and the rotating seat 6 is rotatably arranged around the central axis of the connecting base 3. A circular mounting hole 7 is formed in the end face of the connecting base 3. A driven gear ring 8 is arranged on the end face of the rotating seat 6 facing the connecting base 3. The driven gear ring 8 is adapted to the circular mounting hole 7 and rotates within the circular mounting hole 7. A driving motor 9 is arranged within the connecting base 3. A driving gear 10 meshing with the driven gear ring 8 is rotatably arranged within the connecting base 3. A bevel gear set 11 is arranged between the output shaft of the driving motor 9 and the driving gear 10. The power of the output shaft of the driving motor 9 is transmitted to the driving gear 10 through the bevel gear set 11. The driving gear 10 drives the driven gear ring 8 to rotate, thereby driving the rotating seat 6 to rotate.

[0024] An annular outward expansion plate 12 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the connecting base 3. A silica gel sealing ring 13 is arranged on the end face of the annular outward expansion plate 12 facing the rotating seat 6. A plurality of deviation rectifying frames 14 are arranged on the end face of the connecting base 3. The deviation rectifying frames 14 are symmetrically arranged about the left and right of the rotating seat 6. By pushing the deviation rectifying frames 14, the connecting base 3 can be driven to slide along the guide rail 4. Mounting holes are formed in the annular outward expansion plate 12. A dust suction pipe 15 is arranged within the mounting holes. One end of the dust suction pipe 15 is provided with a dust suction port 16, and the other end is communicated with a dust collector. The dust suction port 16 is located below the rotating seat 6.

[0025] Two support arms 17 are arranged on the rotating seat 6 along the central axis direction of the connecting base 3. The support arms 17 are steel pipes with hollow interiors. The two support arms 17 are centrosymmetric about the rotating seat 6. The distance between the two support arms 17 is greater than the width of the substrate 01. Two pulley guiding parts 18 are arranged on each support arm 17. The two pulley guiding parts 18 are fixedly arranged on the support arm 17 at intervals. The pulley guiding parts 18 are arranged on the side of the support arm 17 facing the central axis of the rotating seat 6. The pulley guiding parts 18 are composed of two upper and lower symmetric fixed pulleys 19.

[0026] A rope winding assembly is arranged within the rotating seat 6. The rope winding assembly includes a servo motor 20 and a rope winding wheel 21. The servo motor 20 is used to drive the rope winding wheel 21 to rotate.

[0027] It further includes a connecting part for connecting the base 3. There are four connecting parts. Connecting screw holes corresponding to the connecting parts are opened at the four corners of the substrate 01. The connecting part includes a hanging part 22, a hanging ring 23 and a connecting bolt 24. The hanging part 22 is composed of a horizontal plate 25 and a vertical plate 26. The horizontal plate 25 and the vertical plate 26 form an inverted "L" shape. A T-shaped shaft is provided at the top of the connecting bolt 24. The T-shaped shaft is rotatably arranged on the horizontal plate 25. The connecting bolt 24 is adapted to the connecting screw hole of the substrate 01. A sliding hole 27 is opened in the vertical plate 26. A sliding shaft 28 is provided on the hanging ring 23. The sliding hole 27 is adapted to the sliding shaft 28. The sliding shaft 28 slides along the sliding hole 27, and the sliding direction of the sliding shaft 28 is the vertical direction. When the connecting bolt 24 is adapted to the connecting screw hole, the horizontal plate 25 of the hanging part 22 is parallel to the upper surface of the substrate 01, and the vertical plate 26 of the hanging part 22 is in contact with the side surface of the substrate 01.

[0028] It further includes four wire suspension ropes 29 arranged along the support arm 17. The four wire suspension ropes 29 correspond to the connecting parts one by one. The four wire suspension ropes 29 correspond to the four pulley guiding parts 18 one by one. Each wire suspension rope 29 corresponds to a rope winding assembly. One end of the wire suspension rope 29 is wound around the corresponding rope winding wheel 21, and the other end passes through the corresponding support arm 17 and then passes between the two fixed pulleys 19 of the sliding guiding part and is connected to the hanging ring 23. The servo motor 20 is driven to release or wind the rope winding wheel 21 to drive the substrate 01 to move.

[0029] It further includes a controller (not shown in the figure) arranged in the connecting base 3. The servo motor 20 and the driving motor 9 are electrically connected to the controller. The controller is electrically connected to a control panel (not shown in the figure) arranged on the handle of the forklift 1. By pressing the buttons on the control panel, each servo motor 20 or driving motor 9 can be controlled to start, and the servo motor 20 and the driving motor 9 can be controlled to rotate forward or backward.

[0030] The method and working principle of adopting the powder cleaning and part picking device of the 3D printer of the present application: For the printed part and the substrate 01 has returned to the initial state: The first step: Connect the connecting part with its corresponding connecting screw hole; First, move the forklift 1 to the front of the printer and correspond to the hatch of the printer. Then open the hatch of the printer to simply clean the dust around the substrate 01. Then loosen the fixing bolts of the substrate 01 and thread the connecting bolt 24 of the connecting part with the connecting screw hole. During this process, the stretching lengths of the wire suspension ropes 29 from the pulley guiding part 18 to the hanging ring 23 are different.

[0031] Step 2: Adjust the position of the forklift 1 so that the rotating seat 6 and the connecting arm are inside the printer. Adjust the length of the wire sling 29 so that the substrate 01 is at the center position of the four wire slings 29. According to the position and height of the printer, adjust the height of the lifting seat 2 so that the support arm 17 can enter through the hatch opening. At the same time, adjust the wire sling 29 to take in the line. When the support arm 17 enters the printer, control the wire sling 29 to shorten accordingly until the substrate 01 is at the center position of the four wire slings 29. During this process, the deviation correction frame 14 contacts the side of the printer opening to adjust the left and right sliding of the connecting base 3 so that the central axis of the rotating seat 6 coincides with the central axis of the printer opening. When the connecting base 3, the rotating seat 6, and the support arm 17 completely enter the printer, the silicone sealing ring 13 provided on the end face of the annular outward expansion plate 12 presses tightly against the printer opening to ensure the sealing of the printer.

[0032] Step 3: Adjust the four wire slings 29 so that the substrate 01 rises horizontally until the substrate 01 is between the two support arms 17, and at the same time turn on the vacuum cleaner. During the rising process of the substrate 01, the dust falling from the substrate 01 is sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.

[0033] Step 4: Drive the rotating seat 6 to rotate 180°. Then, by adjusting the length of the steel wire rope, adjust the angle and inclination of the substrate 01. During the rotation of the rotating seat 6, the parts are also rotated to an inverted state. During this process, a large amount of powder falls, and at the same time, it is sucked up by the vacuum cleaner. By individually controlling the length of one or two or three wire slings 29, the substrate 01 and the parts can achieve different angles and different inclinations, so as to ensure that the powder completely falls. In addition, by quickly taking in and letting out the wire, the substrate 01 and the parts can also be shaken to shake off the dust.

[0034] Step 5: After completing the powder cleaning, adjust the four wire slings 29 so that the substrate 01 rises horizontally until the substrate 01 is between the two support arms 17. Drive the rotating seat 6 to rotate 180° so that the substrate 01 returns to face upward. Due to the adaptation of the sliding shaft 28 and the sliding hole 27 on the lifting ring 23 of the connecting part, when the substrate 01 is flipped, the wire sling 29 does not twist. At the same time, when adjusting the angle, the sliding shaft 28 can rotate or slide in the sliding hole 27 to stably suspend the substrate 01.

[0035] Step 6: Drive the forklift 1 to take out the substrate 01 and the parts from the printer to complete the powder cleaning and part taking.

[0036] It should be noted that the controller and the control panel mentioned in this application are both prior arts. The 3D printer powder cleaning and part taking device of this application performs powder cleaning on the substrate 01 and the printed parts and takes them out of the printer. For the powder remaining on the substrate 01 or inside the special-shaped parts, it can be transferred to a powder cleaning station for further cleaning later.

[0037] As described above, it is only the preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art of this technology, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, according to the technical solution of the present invention and its inventive concept, any equivalent replacement or change should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A powder cleaning and part picking device for a 3D printer, characterized in that: It includes a connecting base (3), a rotating seat (6), a connecting part, and a steel wire sling (29). The connecting base (3) is arranged on the forklift (1). The rotating seat (6) is rotatably arranged around the central axis of the connecting base (3). There are two support arms (17) arranged on the rotating seat (6) along the central axis direction of the connecting base (3). The two support arms (17) are centrosymmetric about the center of the rotating seat (6). The distance between the two support arms (17) is greater than the width of the substrate (01). There are two pulley guiding parts (18) arranged on each support arm (17). The two pulley guiding parts (18) are fixedly arranged on the support arm (17) at intervals. The pulley guiding part (18) is arranged on the side of the support arm (17) facing the central axis of the rotating seat (6). The pulley guiding part (18) is composed of two fixed pulleys (19) that are symmetrically arranged up and down. A rope winding assembly is arranged inside the rotating seat (6). There are four steel wire slings (29). The rope winding assembly corresponds to the steel wire slings (29) one by one. The four steel wire slings (29) correspond to the four pulley guiding parts (18) one by one. One end of the steel wire sling (29) is provided with a connecting part, and the other end is connected to the rope winding assembly via the pulley guiding part (18). The connecting part is used to connect to the substrate (01).

2. The powder cleaning and part picking device of the 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein: There is a lifting seat (2) arranged on the forklift (1). The lifting seat (2) is fixedly arranged on the mast of the forklift (1). The connecting base (3) is slidably arranged left and right on the lifting seat (2). There are guide rails (4) fixedly arranged left and right on the lifting seat (2). A linear bearing (5) is arranged on the connecting base (3). The linear bearing (5) is adapted to the guide rail (4).

3. The powder cleaning and part picking device of the 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end face of the rotating seat (6) facing the connecting base (3) is provided with a driven gear ring (8). A circular mounting hole (7) is opened on the end face of the connecting base (3). The driven gear ring (8) is adapted to the circular mounting hole (7). A driving motor (9) is arranged inside the connecting base (3). A driving gear (10) that meshes with the driven gear ring (8) is rotatably arranged inside the connecting base (3). The driving motor (9) provides driving force for the driving gear (10).

4. The 3D printer powder cleaning and part picking device according to claim 1, wherein: An annular outer expansion plate (12) is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the connecting base (3). A silica gel sealing ring (13) is arranged on the end face of the annular outer expansion plate (12) facing the rotating seat (6).

5. The powder cleaning and part picking device for 3D printer according to claim 2, wherein: A plurality of deviation rectifying frames (14) are arranged on the end face of the connecting base (3). The deviation rectifying frames (14) are arranged symmetrically left and right about the rotating seat (6).

6. The 3D printer powder cleaning and part picking device according to claim 3, wherein: The rope winding assembly includes a servo motor (20) and a rope winding wheel (21). The steel wire sling (29) is wound around the rope winding wheel (21). The servo motor (20) drives the rope winding wheel (21) to pay out or take in the wire rope.

7. The powder cleaning and part picking device for 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting part includes a hanging member (22), a lifting ring (23) and a connecting bolt (24). The connecting bolt (24) corresponds to a connecting screw hole on the substrate (01). The connecting bolt (24) is rotatably arranged on the hanging member (22). The hanging member (22) is composed of a horizontal plate (25) and a vertical plate (26). The horizontal plate (25) of the hanging member (22) is parallel to the upper surface of the substrate (01). The vertical plate (26) of the hanging member (22) contacts the side surface of the substrate (01). A sliding hole (27) is formed in the vertical plate (26). A sliding shaft (28) is arranged on the lifting ring (23). The sliding hole (27) is adapted to the sliding shaft (28).

8. The 3D printer powder cleaning and part picking device according to claim 4, wherein: Mounting holes are formed in the annular outer expansion plate (12). A dust suction pipe (15) is arranged in the mounting holes. One end of the dust suction pipe (15) is provided with a dust suction port (16), and the other end is communicated with a vacuum cleaner. The dust suction port (16) is located below the rotating seat (6).

9. The 3D printer powder cleaning and part picking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It further includes a controller arranged in the connecting base (3). The servo motor (20) and the driving motor (9) are electrically connected to the controller. The controller is electrically connected to a control panel arranged on the handle of the forklift (1).

10. A method for powder cleaning and part picking of a 3D printer, characterized in that: When using the 3D printer powder cleaning and part picking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method is as follows: S1: Connect the connecting part to its corresponding connecting screw hole; S2: Adjust the position of the forklift (1) so that the rotating seat (6) and the connecting arm are located inside the printer. Adjust the length of the steel wire suspension rope (29) so that the substrate (01) is located at the central position of the four steel wire suspension ropes (29); S3: Adjust the four steel wire suspension ropes (29) so that the substrate (01) rises horizontally until the substrate (01) is located between the two support arms (17), and at the same time turn on the vacuum cleaner; S4: Drive the rotating seat (6) to rotate 180°, and then adjust the angle and inclination of the substrate (01) by adjusting the length of the steel wire rope; S5: After the powder cleaning is completed, adjust the four steel wire suspension ropes (29) so that the substrate (01) rises horizontally until the substrate (01) is located between the two support arms (17), and drive the rotating seat (6) to rotate 180° so that the substrate (01) returns to face upwards; S6: Drive the forklift (1) to take out the substrate (01) and the part from the printer.

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