Multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing forming device

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-material metal additive manufacturing forming device which comprises a forming table, a forming laser source, an integration platform, a transfer module and a powder laying module, and the powder laying module is installed on the integration platform and can continuously or discontinuously form a single-layer powder pattern; the transfer module is installed between the powder laying module and the forming table to move in a reciprocating mode and ascend and descend, the single-layer powder pattern laid by the powder laying module is adsorbed, the integrated single-layer multi-material powder pattern is released at the corresponding position of the forming table at a time, and the forming laser source selectively melts the released powder by emitting laser; laying of various material powder between single-layer printing heights can be achieved, and larger design freedom and material diversity are provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of metal additive manufacturing, and in particular to a multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing forming device. Background Art

[0002] The rapid development of additive manufacturing (AM), particularly in aerospace, automotive, and medical device applications, is placing higher demands on metal powder materials and their processing methods. While traditional metal powder AM technology has made significant progress, it still faces numerous challenges when processing multi-material, complex metal parts.

[0003] Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is a powder bed-based additive manufacturing method that offers high build precision and excellent internal quality, making it one of the most widely used additive manufacturing methods. The laying of the metal powder bed is a key step in the LPBF process, directly impacting the performance and quality of the final product.

[0004] Currently, most additive manufacturing equipment on the market can only process a single or a few types of metal powders, and most of them are multi-material layers, making it difficult to lay down multiple metal powders in a single layer. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop an additive manufacturing forming device that can lay down multiple metal powders in a single layer. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing forming device that can effectively solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: a multi-material metal additive manufacturing forming device, comprising a forming table, a forming laser source, an integrated platform, a transfer module and a powder spreading module, wherein the powder spreading module is installed on the integrated platform and can continuously or intermittently form a single layer of powder pattern; and The transfer module is installed between the powder laying module and the forming table and moves back and forth, absorbing the single layer powder pattern laid by the powder laying module and releasing the powder at the corresponding position of the forming table. The forming laser source selectively melts the released powder by emitting laser.

[0007] Preferably, the powder spreading module includes two actions: discharging powder from the powder supply bin and feeding powder from the conveyor belt, which are linked by a sponge roller and a developing roller; the sponge roller transfers the powder in the powder supply bin to the round roller and docks with the developing roller, and the developing roller is magnetic and can absorb and transfer the powder and dock it with the photosensitive belt.

[0008] Preferably, the powder spreading module further includes: The powder supply hopper stores powder and is equipped with a powder supply hopper cover to prevent contamination. Slots, protrusions and hollow parts are set underneath. The sponge roller and developing roller are set at the lower part of the powder supply hopper and are half surrounded by the powder supply hopper. The slot can cooperate with the other parts to control the powder flow rate. The two protrusions cooperate with the developing roller respectively to control the powder layer thickness and recover the powder. The hollow part can pass the powder that has not been successfully transferred by the sponge roller and then fall into the recovery trough below.

[0009] The powder drop baffle is arranged below the powder supply bin, with one end obliquely inserted into the groove below the powder supply bin and matched with the groove at the lower end of the powder supply bin, and the other end is arranged between the two baffle rollers. An external motor controls the two baffle rollers to rotate towards each other, and uses friction to push the powder drop baffle to perform a small translation movement to control the powder flow rate; The stirring roller is hollow and is set near the powder outlet of the powder supply bin. It can stir the powder through an external motor to make the powder looser and more uniform, so that the powder can flow out of the powder supply bin evenly.

[0010] The photosensitive belt cooperates with the charging roller and the selective laser source to selectively transfer the powder on the developing roller; the charging roller is charged, the surface of the charging roller is tangent to the surface of the photosensitive belt, and the surface of the photosensitive belt is charged; the electrostatic selective laser source is set below the photosensitive belt, and emits a laser beam upward toward a specified area on the surface of the photosensitive belt, thereby changing the charge of the specified area and forming a powder spreading area pattern.

[0011] Preferably, there may be multiple powder spreading mechanisms, and the multiple powder supply bins are respectively used to store different types of powders, and each photosensitive belt is respectively used to carry the corresponding type of powder and form a corresponding single-layer powder pattern.

[0012] Preferably, the transfer module mainly includes three parts, which are used for movement in the X\Z directions and for adsorption and release of powder. The transfer module is provided with a first guide rail above the powder spreading module and the forming table, on which a first sliding plate is slidably provided, and a second guide rail and an electric push rod are provided on the first sliding plate. The powder adsorption device is connected to the second guide rail and the electric push rod respectively through the second sliding plate and the first connecting plate, and the first sliding plate moves along the first guide rail, and the second sliding plate moves along the second guide rail, so as to control the transfer module to move between the multiple powder spreading modules and the forming table. Preferably, the transfer module further includes: A sealed chamber is nested with the magnetic plate, and a cavity is formed between the sealed chamber and the magnetic plate; a sealing plate disposed in the cavity and attached to the electrostatic adsorption plate, wherein both the sealing plate and the magnetic plate are densely covered with micropores, and the sealing plate is disposed on the magnetic plate and slides so that the micropores on the sealing plate overlap or stagger with the micropores on the magnetic plate, and when staggered, the cavity is a sealed space; and The pore size of the micropores is smaller than the minimum diameter of the adsorbed powder particles; An air pipe has one end connected to the cavity and the other end connected to an air pump. The air pump is used to inflate air into the cavity through the air pipe to form an overpressure environment when the micropores are staggered.

[0013] Preferably, the powder adsorption device further comprises a driving motor and a translation device, the translation device is connected to the sealing plate, and the translation device uses the driving motor as power to drive the sealing plate to move.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: the present invention realizes the transfer of metal powder by utilizing the principle of charge interaction and the principle of magnetic interaction, which can adapt to the printing needs in microgravity or zero gravity; utilizes the effect of laser on electric charge to form a powder adsorption pattern, selectively adsorbs metal powder, integrates and releases the adsorbed different types of powder patterns, realizes the laying of single-layer multi-material powder, and provides greater design freedom and material diversity; this device has broad application prospects and can promote the development of metal additive manufacturing technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings are used to provide further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. They are used to explain the present invention together with the embodiments of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing molding device provided by the present invention; Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram and a partial enlarged diagram of the powder spreading module provided by the present invention; Figure 4 It is a structural diagram of the transfer module provided by the present invention; Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the powder supply bin provided by the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the stirring roller provided by the present invention; Figure 7 This is a flow chart of the adsorption transfer of different types of powders in a single layer in the embodiment; Explanation of reference numerals: 1. powder spreading module; 2. transfer module; 3. forming laser source; 4. forming table; 5. integrated platform; 101. electrostatic selective laser source; 102. first powder recovery tank; 103. first motor; 104. second motor; 105. powder supply bin; 106. powder supply bin cover; 107. photosensitive belt; 108. first bracket; 109. second powder recovery tank; 110. second bracket; 111. developing roller; 112. sponge roller ; 113. Third bracket; 114. Baffle roller; 115. Powder falling baffle; 116. Stirring roller; 117. First conveyor shaft; 118. Second conveyor shaft; 119. Fourth bracket; 120. Recovery scraper; 121. Second powder recovery trough; 122. Charging roller; 21. First guide rail; 22. First sliding plate; 23. Second guide rail; 24. Electric push rod; 25. Second sliding plate; 26. Powder adsorption device; 27. First connecting plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] To make the objects and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the following embodiments. It should be understood that the following description is merely intended to describe a multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing device or several specific embodiments of the present invention, and does not strictly limit the scope of protection specifically claimed in the present invention.

[0018] Example: Figure 1 As shown, a multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing forming device includes a forming table 4, a forming laser source 3, an integrated platform 5, a transfer module 2 and a powder spreading module 1. Figure 1 For example, the powder laying module 1 can continuously or intermittently form a single layer of powder pattern, and is installed on the integrated platform 5 from left to right with the forming table 4. The transfer module 2 is arranged above the powder laying module 1 and the forming table 4, and can move back and forth left and right and up and down, and sequentially adsorb the single layer of powder pattern on the photosensitive belt through the magnetic plate, and release the powder at the corresponding position of the forming table 4. The forming laser source 3 selectively melts the released powder by emitting laser.

[0019] For powdering module 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 For example, the powder spreading module 1 includes an electrostatic selective laser source 101, a first powder recovery tank 102, a first motor 103, a second motor 104, a powder supply bin 105, a powder supply bin cover 106, a photosensitive belt 107, a first bracket 108, a second powder recovery tank 109, a second bracket 110, a developing roller 111, a sponge roller 112, a third bracket 113, a baffle roller 114, a powder falling baffle 115, a stirring roller 116, a first conveying shaft 117, a second conveying shaft 118, a fourth bracket 119, a recovery scraper 120, a second powder recovery tank 121 and a charging roller 122; Regarding the laying of powder: the powder is stored in the powder supply bin 105 and falls to the sponge roller 112 through the notch at the lower end of the powder supply bin 105. The sponge roller 112 transfers the powder to the developing roller 111. The charging roller 122 is charged and can rotate by itself. Its surface is tangent to the photosensitive belt 107. During the movement of the photosensitive belt 107, the surface of the photosensitive belt is filled with electric charge, and negative charge is taken as an example here. The electrostatic selective laser source 101 is set below the photosensitive belt and emits a laser beam upward toward a specified area on the surface of the photosensitive belt 107. The area on the surface of the photosensitive belt 107 that is irradiated by the laser changes its charge, forming a positively charged area pattern. There is a small distance between the surface of the photosensitive belt 107 and the surface of the developing roller 111 to accommodate the adsorption and transfer of powder particles. The positively charged area on the surface of the photosensitive belt 107 adsorbs the powder and transfers it to the middle position between the two first conveying shafts 117, forming a powder pattern of this type of single-layer printing height. The powder supply bin 105 can store powder and is equipped with a powder supply bin cover 106 to prevent powder contamination. A notch, protrusions, and a hollow portion are provided below the powder supply bin 105. The sponge roller 112 and the developing roller 111 are arranged at the lower part of the powder supply bin 105 and are semi-enclosed by the powder supply bin 105. The groove can cooperate with the powder drop baffle 115 to control the powder flow rate. The two protrusions cooperate with the developing roller 111 to control the powder layer thickness and recover the powder. The hollow portion facilitates the recovery of powder that has not been successfully transferred by the sponge roller 112. The powder falling baffle 115 is arranged below the powder supply bin 105, with one end obliquely inserted into the groove below the powder supply bin 105 and matched with the groove at the lower end of the powder supply bin 105, and the other end is arranged between the two baffle rollers 114. The first motor 103 controls the two baffle rollers 114 to rotate towards each other, and uses friction to push the powder falling baffle 115 to perform a small translational motion to control the powder flow rate; the motor drives the roller to rotate, thereby pushing the powder falling baffle (the baffle roller and the powder falling baffle mainly move relative to each other through extrusion friction).

[0020] The stirring roller 116 has four blades and a hollow shape. It is arranged near the powder outlet of the powder supply bin 105 and can be stirred by the second motor 104 to make the powder looser and more uniform, so as to facilitate the uniform flow of the powder in the powder supply bin 105. In this embodiment, two stirring rollers are provided, which can be linked by a transmission form such as a gear, a pulley, or a sprocket. The surface of the photosensitive belt 107 is a trapezoidal photosensitive material and is stretched tight around two first conveyor shafts 117 and two second conveyor shafts 118. The two first conveyor shafts 117 are arranged at the top with a small distance between them, while the two second conveyor shafts 118 are arranged at the bottom with a large distance between them. A recycling scraper 120 is provided at the lower right side of the photosensitive belt 107 to remove the powder remaining on the surface of the photosensitive belt 107 and recycle it into a second powder recovery tank 121. The sponge roller 112, the developing roller 111, and the photosensitive belt 107 can be controlled individually or linked by gears, pulleys, sprockets, etc. For transfer module 2, Figure 4 For example, the transfer module 2 includes a first guide rail 21, a first sliding plate 22, a second guide rail 23, an electric push rod 24, a second sliding plate 25, a powder adsorption device 26 and a first connecting plate 27; Regarding the movement of the transfer module 2, the transfer module 2 is provided with a first guide rail 21 above the powder spreading module 1 and the forming table 4, on which a first sliding plate 21 is slidingly provided, and a second guide rail 23 and an electric push rod 24 are provided on the first sliding plate 21. The powder adsorption device 26 is connected to the second guide rail 23 and the electric push rod 24 through a second sliding plate 25 and a first connecting plate 27, respectively, and the first sliding plate 22 moves along the first guide rail 21, and the second sliding plate 25 moves along the second guide rail 23, so as to control the transfer module 2 to move between the multiple powder spreading modules 2 and the forming table 4; Regarding adsorption: the powder spreading mechanism 1 can be multiple, and the multiple powder supply bins 105 are respectively used to store different types of powders. Each photosensitive belt 107 is respectively used to carry the corresponding type of powder and form a corresponding single-layer powder pattern. The adsorption surface of the transfer module 2 is magnetic and moves along the first guide rail 21 and the second guide rail 22 to sequentially adsorb the single-layer powder patterns on each photosensitive belt 107 to form a single-layer multi-material powder pattern. Regarding release: After adsorption is completed, the transfer module 2 is transferred along the first guide rail 21 and the second guide rail 22 to a position a certain distance above the forming table 4. The powder adsorption device 26 also includes an air pipe and an air pump. One end of the air pipe is connected to the cavity, and the other end is connected to the air pump. When the micropores of the magnetic plate and the sealing plate are offset, the cavity is sealed. The air pump inflates the cavity through the air pipe to create an overpressure environment (the internal gas pressure is greater than the magnetic force). When release is required, the sealing plate is offset, and the internal gas automatically blows the powder off and releases it onto the forming table 4. The forming table 4 is set as a lifting structure, which can use an electric cylinder as a power source. A powder recovery tank is set on the rightmost side of the integrated platform 5 to recover residual powder; For the guide rail, a screw transmission mechanism can be used with a motor as the power source; See also Figure 7 As shown, the single-layer adsorption transfer process of different types of powders is schematically shown, (a) is the charge distribution and powder adsorption process on the surface of the photosensitive belt 107, and (b) is the powder adsorption transfer process on the surface of the transfer module 2; Taking two kinds of powder as an example, two kinds of powder require two powder laying modules. In the first powder laying module, the photosensitive belt 107 moves through the charging roller 122 and is covered with negative charge. The electrostatic selection laser source 101 emits laser to make part of the photosensitive belt 107 positively charged. The positive charge area passes through the developing roller 111 to adsorb the first kind of powder, and under the joint action of the first conveyor shaft 117 and the second conveyor shaft 118, it moves to the center position of the first conveyor shaft to wait for adsorption. In the second powder laying module, the photosensitive belt 107 uses the same process to adsorb the second kind of powder. The transfer module 2 moves through the first guide rail 21 and the second guide rail 23, adsorbing the two kinds of powder in turn, and finally moves to the top of the forming table to release all the powder, completing the laying of a single layer of different types of powder.

[0021] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. After knowing the contents described in the present invention, ordinary technicians in this technical field can make several equivalent changes and substitutions without departing from the principles of the present invention. These equivalent changes and substitutions should also be regarded as falling within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing device, characterized in that: It includes a forming table, a forming laser source, an integrated platform, a transfer module and a powder spreading module. The powder spreading module is installed on the integrated platform and can continuously or intermittently form a single layer of powder pattern. as well as The transfer module is installed between the powder laying module and the forming table for reciprocating movement, absorbs the single layer powder pattern laid by the powder laying module, and releases the powder at the corresponding position of the forming table. The forming laser source selectively melts the released powder by emitting laser.

2. The multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder spreading module includes a sponge roller and a developing roller. The powder spreading module is used to complete two actions: discharging powder from the powder supply bin and feeding powder from the conveyor belt. The sponge roller and the developing roller are linked together. The sponge roller transfers the powder in the powder supply bin to the round roller and docks with the developing roller. The developing roller is magnetic and absorbs and transfers the powder and docks it with the photosensitive belt.

3. The multi-material metal additive manufacturing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The powder transfer module includes: A powder supply hopper stores powder and has a powder supply hopper cover on its upper portion and a notch, protrusions, and hollow portions on its lower portion. The sponge roller and developing roller are disposed at the lower portion of the powder supply hopper and are semi-enclosed by the powder supply hopper. The notch cooperates with a powder drop baffle to control the powder flow rate, and the protrusions cooperate with the developing rollers to control the powder layer thickness and recover the powder. The hollow portions allow powder that has not been successfully transferred by the sponge roller to fall into a recovery trough below. A powder falling baffle is arranged below the powder supply bin, one end of which is obliquely inserted into the notch below the powder supply bin and matched with the groove at the lower end of the powder supply bin, and the other end is located between the two baffle rollers; The baffle rollers are arranged below the powder supply bin, and an external motor controls the two baffle rollers to rotate toward each other, using friction to push the powder drop baffle to perform a small translational motion to control the powder flow and the powder drop switch; A stirring roller, which is hollow and is located near the powder outlet of the powder supply bin, and stirs the powder via an external motor; A photosensitive belt cooperates with a charging roller and a selective laser source to selectively transfer powder from a developing roller; the charging roller carries an electric charge, and the surface of the charging roller is tangent to the surface of the photosensitive belt, and charges the surface of the photosensitive belt; the electrostatic selective laser source is installed below the photosensitive belt, and emits a laser beam upward toward a specified area on the surface of the photosensitive belt, thereby changing the charge of the specified area and forming a powder spreading area pattern.

4. The multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transfer module is used to achieve: movement in the X and / or Z directions, adsorption and release of powder. The transfer module is provided with a first guide rail above the powder spreading module and the forming table, and a first sliding plate is slidingly provided on the guide rail. A second guide rail and an electric push rod are provided on the first sliding plate. The powder adsorption device is connected to the second guide rail and the electric push rod through the second sliding plate and the first connecting plate respectively, and the first sliding plate moves along the first guide rail, and the second sliding plate moves along the second guide rail to control the transfer module to move between multiple powder spreading modules and the forming table.

5. The multi-material metal powder additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are multiple powder spreading mechanisms, and the multiple powder supply bins are respectively used to store different types of powders. Each photosensitive belt is respectively used to carry the corresponding type of powder and form a corresponding single-layer powder pattern.

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