A resin fiber quick switching continuous fiber composite material 3D printing head device

Abstract

The application relates to the field of 3D printing, in particular to a resin fiber quick switching continuous fiber composite material 3D printing head device. The resin fiber quick switching continuous fiber composite material 3D printing head device comprises a fixing support, a feeding device, an inner nozzle switch mechanism, a resin feeding pipe, a continuous fiber feeding pipe and a two-in-one-out printing hot end; the fixing support is used for fixing various components of the printing head and fixing the whole printing head on a motion system of a printer; the feeding device is two sets of independent material feeding devices corresponding to supplying continuous fibers and resin wires respectively; the inner nozzle switch mechanism is used for controlling the on-off of the continuous fiber feeding channel; the resin feeding pipe is communicated with the two-in-one-out printing hot end and is used for conveying the resin wires; the resin fiber quick switching continuous fiber composite material 3D printing head device avoids the problems of printing head switching and printing head alignment in the material switching process, and improves manufacturing efficiency and manufacturing precision.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 3D printing, and more specifically to a continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers. Background Technology

[0002] Existing additive manufacturing equipment for continuous fiber reinforced composite materials typically includes at least two printheads: one printhead prints pure resin, and the other prints reinforcing fibers. Frequent printhead switching during the printing process necessitates additional steps such as preheating and material preparation, leading to time-consuming processes, significant material waste, reduced printing efficiency, and increased manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the dual-printhead assembly structure inevitably introduces dimensional and positional errors between the two printheads, reducing printing accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the above problems, this invention proposes a continuous fiber composite material 3D printing head device for rapid resin fiber switching, thereby avoiding the problems of print head switching and multi-print head alignment during material switching, and improving manufacturing efficiency and manufacturing accuracy.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0005] A 3D printing head device for rapid resin-fiber switching continuous fiber composite materials includes a fixed bracket, a feeding device, an internal nozzle switching mechanism, a resin feeding tube, a continuous fiber feeding tube, and a two-in-one-out printing hot end. The fixed bracket is used to fix the various components of the printing head and to fix the entire printing head to the printer's motion system. The feeding device consists of two independent material supply devices, which respectively supply continuous fibers and resin filaments. The internal nozzle switching mechanism is used to control the opening and closing of the continuous fiber feeding channel. The resin feeding tube is connected to the two-in-one-out printing hot end and is used to transport resin filaments. The continuous fiber feeding tube passes through the inside of the two-in-one-out printing hot end and is used to transport continuous fibers. The two-in-one-out printing hot end can realize separate extrusion or switching extrusion of resin materials and continuous fiber materials.

[0006] The feeding device includes a first feeding pipe, a second feeding pipe, a fiber feeding motor, a resin feeding motor, a continuous fiber feeding wheel, and a resin filament feeding wheel; the first feeding pipe is a continuous fiber conveying channel, and the second feeding pipe is a resin filament conveying channel; the fiber feeding motor and the continuous fiber feeding wheel are driven together to form a continuous fiber supply drive mechanism; the resin feeding motor and the resin filament feeding wheel are driven together to form a resin filament supply drive mechanism; both drive mechanisms achieve material supply by rotating gear sets driven by motors.

[0007] The internal nozzle switching mechanism includes a drive servo motor, a servo motor rocker arm, a rotating screw, and a metal wire; the metal wire is connected to the servo motor rocker arm by the rotating screw and can rotate relative to it; the lower end of the metal wire passes through the side opening of the continuous fiber feed tube of the two-in-one-out printing hot end, and the metal wire moves up and down inside the continuous fiber feed tube by the rotation of the drive servo motor.

[0008] The dual-inlet, single-outlet printing hot end includes a fiber feed tube holder, a resin extrusion hot end radiator, a printhead holder, a temperature sensor, a heating block, a sealing bolt, an external printhead nozzle, a heating rod, an internal nozzle transition nut, and an internal nozzle. The printhead holder consists of three parts: a resin extrusion hot end radiator and a fiber feed tube holder; a fiber feed tube holder for securing the continuous fiber feed tube; a heating block made of thermally conductive metal, connected at the top to both the continuous fiber feed tube and the resin extrusion hot end radiator, with mounting holes on the side for installing the heating rod and temperature sensor, and an internal resin flow channel; a sealing bolt for sealing the resin flow channel to prevent resin overflow; an external printhead nozzle is mounted at the lower end of the heating block; and an internal nozzle transition nut is mounted on the left side of the heating block, with the internal nozzle mounted at its end.

[0009] The flow channel of the inner nozzle has a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The upper end can accommodate and fit tightly with the continuous fiber feeding tube, and the inner diameter of the lower extension section is adapted to the diameter of the metal wire, so that the metal wire can be inserted to achieve a seal.

[0010] The continuous fiber feed tube has a long slot on its side for inserting the metal wire of the inner nozzle switching mechanism, and the end of the continuous fiber feed tube is inserted into the inner nozzle.

[0011] The resin material enters the heating block through the resin extrusion hot end radiator and melts. It then flows through the transverse channel inside the heating block to the space between the inner nozzle transition nut and the outer space of the inner nozzle, and is finally extruded from the outer nozzle of the print head. The continuous fiber material passes through the continuous fiber feed tube, through the inner nozzle, and is then extruded from the outer nozzle of the print head.

[0012] The drive servo motor can pull the end of the metal wire out of the slender extension of the inner nozzle by rotating the servo motor arm upward, thus opening the continuous fiber feeding channel; the drive servo motor can also insert the end of the metal wire into the slender extension of the inner nozzle by rotating the servo motor arm downward, thus sealing the continuous fiber feeding channel.

[0013] When printing continuous fiber material, the drive servo motor that controls the inner nozzle switching mechanism drives the servo motor rocker arm to rotate upward, pulling the metal wire out from the slender extension section of the inner nozzle, starting the fiber feeding motor, and the continuous fiber material is extruded from the outer nozzle of the print head through the continuous fiber feeding tube and the inner nozzle.

[0014] When printing pure resin material, after the continuous fiber consumable in the continuous fiber feeding tube is completely extruded, the control drive servo motor drives the servo motor rocker arm to rotate downward, and the metal wire is inserted into the slender extension section of the inner nozzle to achieve sealing. The resin feeding motor is started, and the resin material is extruded from the nozzle outside the print head through the resin feeding tube and the resin flow channel in the heating block.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid resin fiber switching of the present invention are:

[0016] This invention adopts a single printhead integrated structure, which achieves seamless switching between resin and continuous fiber materials through an internal nozzle switching mechanism. It eliminates the need for additional printhead preheating, material preparation, and switching actions, significantly shortening the material switching time, greatly improving printing efficiency, and reducing material waste.

[0017] Compared to existing dual-printhead equipment, this device avoids the dimensional and positional errors caused by dual-printhead assembly, ensuring that the extrusion paths of the resin and continuous fibers are coaxial, effectively improving printing accuracy and dimensional stability of the formed parts.

[0018] The internal nozzle adopts a flow channel structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, combined with a precise sealing design of the metal wire. This ensures smooth and continuous fiber delivery while preventing resin from entering the fiber channel and causing blockage. It also ensures high switching reliability and reduces printing failures.

[0019] The feeding device uses two independent stepper motor drive systems, which can accurately control the feeding speed of resin and continuous fiber respectively, adapt to the extrusion requirements of different materials, and simplify the overall structure of the device, reducing the difficulty of assembly and maintenance.

[0020] The integrated design of the two-in-one-out printing hot end makes the resin melting and fiber transport path compact and reasonable, and the heat conduction is efficient and concentrated. This not only ensures the stable melting of resin, but also reduces energy loss and improves the stability of the printing process.

[0021] This device enables arbitrary switching between resin and continuous fiber materials for printing, and can complete the integrated molding of reinforced composite materials and pure resin structures without changing the print head, expanding the application scenarios of 3D printing and making it suitable for the manufacturing of a variety of complex structural parts. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding device.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal nozzle switching mechanism;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a two-inlet, one-outlet printing hot end;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the heating block;

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating printing with arbitrary material switching;

[0029] In the diagram: 1. Fixed bracket; 2. Feeding device; 3. Internal nozzle switching mechanism; 4. Resin feeding pipe; 5. Continuous fiber feeding pipe; 6. Two-in-one-out printing hot end;

[0030] Feed pipe 1 21; Feed pipe 2 22; Fiber feeding motor 23; Resin feeding motor 24; Continuous fiber feeding wheel 25; Resin wire feeding wheel 26;

[0031] Servo rocker arm 31; Rotary screw 32; Drive servo 33; Metal wire 34;

[0032] Fiber feed tube holder 61; Resin extrusion hot end radiator 62; Print head holder 63; Temperature sensor 64; Heating block 65; Sealing bolt 66; Print head outer nozzle 67; Heating rod 68; Inner nozzle transition nut 69; Inner nozzle 70. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-6 This paper provides a detailed description of the specific implementation of a continuous fiber composite material 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to the present invention.

[0034] I. Device Composition and Assembly Relationship

[0035] The resin fiber rapid switching continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device of the present invention includes a fixed bracket 1, a feeding device 2, an internal nozzle switching mechanism 3, a resin feeding tube 4, a continuous fiber feeding tube 5, and a two-in-one-out printing hot end 6. The assembly relationship of each component is as follows:

[0036] The mounting bracket 1 is used to fix the various components of the printhead and to fix the printhead as a whole to the printer's motion system, providing an installation foundation and structural support for the entire device.

[0037] The feeding device 2 is assembled and connected to the fixed bracket 1. Its output end is connected to the two-in-one-out printing hot end 6 through the resin feeding pipe 4 and the continuous fiber feeding pipe 5 respectively, so as to realize the directional conveying of the two materials.

[0038] The internal nozzle switching mechanism 3 is installed on one side of the fixed bracket 1. Its metal wire 34 passes through the long slot on the side of the continuous fiber feed tube 5 and extends to the internal nozzle 70 inside the two-in-one-out printing hot end 6, forming the control structure of the fiber channel.

[0039] The two-in-one-out printing hot end 6 is fixed to the lower end of the fixed bracket 1, and each component is assembled in the preset position to ensure that the resin flow channel and fiber channel are smoothly connected to the nozzle 67 outside the print head.

[0040] II. Structure and Functional Implementation of Each Component

[0041] (1) Feeding device 2

[0042] The feeding device 2 consists of two independent material supply devices, used to supply continuous fibers and resin filaments respectively:

[0043] The continuous fiber supply section includes a feed pipe 21, a fiber feeding motor 23, and a continuous fiber feeding wheel 25. The feed pipe 21 is the conveying channel for continuous fiber consumables. The fiber feeding motor 23 is a driving device that drives the gear set to rotate, thereby driving the continuous fiber feeding wheel 25 to rotate and thus realizing the conveying of continuous fibers.

[0044] The resin wire supply section includes a second feed pipe 22, a resin feeding motor 24, and a resin wire feeding wheel 26. The second feed pipe 22 is the conveying channel for the resin wire. The resin feeding motor 24 is a driving device that drives the resin wire feeding wheel 26 to rotate by driving the gear set, thereby completing the supply of resin wire.

[0045] The two supply units work independently and can be started or stopped separately according to printing needs to achieve precise delivery of the corresponding materials.

[0046] (ii) Internal nozzle switching mechanism 3

[0047] The internal nozzle switching mechanism 3 consists of a drive servo motor 33, a servo motor rocker arm 31, a rotating screw 32, and a metal wire 34.

[0048] The metal wire 34 is connected to the servo rocker arm 31 by a rotating screw 32, and the two can rotate relative to each other to ensure flexibility in the transmission process.

[0049] The lower end of the metal wire 34 is inserted into the side opening of the continuous fiber feeding tube 5 of the two-in-one-out printing hot end 6. When the servo motor 33 is working, it drives the servo motor rocker arm 31 to rotate, which in turn drives the metal wire 34 to move up and down in the continuous fiber feeding tube 5, thereby realizing the on-off control of the fiber channel.

[0050] (III) Two-in-one-out printing hot end 6

[0051] The dual-input, single-output printing hot end 6 includes a fiber feed tube holder 61, a resin extrusion hot end heat sink 62, a printhead holder 63, a temperature sensor 64, a heating block 65, a sealing bolt 66, an external printhead nozzle 67, a heating rod 68, an internal nozzle transition nut 69, and an internal nozzle 70. The functions of each component are as follows:

[0052] The continuous fiber feed tube 5 has a long slot on its side for inserting the metal wire 34 of the inner nozzle switching mechanism 3. Its end is inserted into the inner nozzle 70 to provide a conveying channel for the continuous fiber.

[0053] The fiber feed tube holder 61 is used to fix the continuous fiber feed tube 5 to the print head holder 63 to ensure the installation stability of the continuous fiber feed tube 5.

[0054] The printhead holder 63 consists of three parts, which are used to fix the resin extrusion hot end heat sink 62 and the fiber feed tube holder 61, so as to achieve the orderly assembly of each component.

[0055] The heating block 65 is made of thermally conductive metal. The fiber feeding pipe 5 and the resin extrusion hot end heat sink 62 are connected to the top. The openings on its side are used to install the heating rod 68 and the temperature sensor 64, respectively. The interior is provided with resin flow channels to guide the molten resin to the coaxial position of the fiber. The sealing bolt 66 is used to seal the resin flow channels to prevent resin from overflowing. The lower end of the heating block 65 is equipped with the print head external nozzle 67 to provide an outlet for material extrusion.

[0056] An inner nozzle transition nut 69 is installed on the left side of the heating block 65, and an inner nozzle 70 is installed at its end. The flow channel of the inner nozzle 70 has a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The upper end can accommodate the fiber feeding tube 5 and fit it tightly. The inner diameter of the lower extension section matches the diameter of the metal wire 34 to form a sealed structure.

[0057] III. Device Working Process

[0058] (I) Continuous Fiber Printing Process

[0059] When continuous fiber material needs to be printed, the drive servo motor 33 of the inner nozzle switching mechanism 3 drives the servo motor rocker arm 31 to rotate upward, pulling the end of the metal wire 34 out from the slender extension of the inner nozzle 70, thus opening the continuous fiber feeding channel; then the fiber feeding motor 23 of the feeding device 2 starts, driving the continuous fiber feeding wheel 25 to rotate, feeding the continuous fiber consumable from the feed pipe 21 into the continuous fiber feeding pipe 5, and the continuous fiber material passes through the inner nozzle 70 through the continuous fiber feeding pipe 5, and is finally extruded from the outer nozzle 67 of the print head, completing the continuous fiber printing.

[0060] (II) Pure Resin Printing Process

[0061] When printing pure resin material, first ensure that the continuous fiber consumable inside the inner nozzle 70 has been completely printed and pulled out; then drive the servo motor 33 to rotate the servo motor rocker arm 31 downwards, inserting the end of the metal wire 34 into the slender extension section of the inner nozzle 70 to seal the continuous fiber feeding channel; then the resin feeding motor 24 of the feeding device 2 starts, driving the resin filament feeding wheel 26 to rotate, feeding the resin filament from the feed pipe 22 into the resin feeding pipe 4, and the resin material enters the heating block 65 through the resin extrusion hot end radiator 62 and melts. The melted resin flows through the transverse channel inside the heating block 65 to the inner nozzle transition nut 69 and the external space of the inner nozzle 70, and is finally extruded from the outer nozzle 67 of the print head to complete the pure resin printing.

[0062] (III) Material Switching Process

[0063] By repeating the above continuous fiber printing process and pure resin printing process, and by using the forward and reverse rotation of the drive servo motor 33 to control the up and down movement of the metal wire 34, the continuous fiber feeding channel can be switched on and off, thereby enabling arbitrary switching between continuous fiber and resin materials during the printing process.

Claims

1. A continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers, characterized in that: The device includes a fixed bracket (1), a feeding device (2), an internal nozzle switching mechanism (3), a resin feeding tube (4), a continuous fiber feeding tube (5), and a two-in-one-out printing hot end (6). The fixed bracket (1) is used to fix the various components of the print head and fix the print head as a whole to the motion system of the printer. The feeding device (2) consists of two independent material supply devices, which respectively supply continuous fiber and resin filament. The internal nozzle switching mechanism (3) is used to control the opening and closing of the continuous fiber feeding channel. The resin feeding tube (4) is connected to the two-in-one-out printing hot end (6) and is used to transport resin filament. The continuous fiber feeding tube (5) is installed inside the two-in-one-out printing hot end (6) and is used to transport continuous fiber. The two-in-one-out printing hot end (6) can realize the separate extrusion or switching extrusion of resin material and continuous fiber material. The internal nozzle switching mechanism (3) includes a drive servo motor (33), a servo motor rocker arm (31), a rotating screw (32), and a metal wire (34); the metal wire (34) is connected to the servo motor rocker arm (31) by the rotating screw (32) and can rotate relative to each other; the lower end of the metal wire (34) passes through the side opening of the continuous fiber feed tube (5) of the two-in-one-out printing hot end (6), and the metal wire (34) is driven to move up and down in the continuous fiber feed tube (5) by the rotation of the drive servo motor (33); The dual-inlet, single-outlet printing hot end (6) includes a fiber feed tube holder (61), a resin extrusion hot end radiator (62), a printhead holder (63), a temperature sensor (64), a heating block (65), a sealing bolt (66), an external printhead nozzle (67), a heating rod (68), an internal nozzle transition nut (69), and an internal nozzle (70). The printhead holder (63) consists of three parts, used to fix the resin extrusion hot end radiator (62) and the fiber feed tube holder (61). The fiber feed tube holder (61) is used to fix... Continuous fiber feed tube (5); The heating block (65) is made of thermally conductive metal and is connected to the continuous fiber feed tube (5) and the resin extrusion hot end heat sink (62) at the top. It has mounting holes on the side for installing heating rods (68) and temperature sensors (64) and resin flow channels inside. The sealing bolt (66) is used to seal the resin flow channels to prevent resin from overflowing. The lower end of the heating block (65) is equipped with the print head outer nozzle (67). The inner nozzle transition nut (69) is installed on the left side of the heating block (65) and the inner nozzle (70) is installed at its end.

2. The continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding device (2) includes a feed pipe one (21), a feed pipe two (22), a fiber feeding motor (23), a resin feeding motor (24), a continuous fiber feeding wheel (25), and a resin wire feeding wheel (26); the feed pipe one (21) is a continuous fiber conveying channel, and the feed pipe two (22) is a resin wire conveying channel; the fiber feeding motor (23) is connected to the continuous fiber feeding wheel (25) to form a continuous fiber supply drive mechanism; the resin feeding motor (24) is connected to the resin wire feeding wheel (26) to form a resin wire supply drive mechanism; both drive mechanisms achieve material supply by driving the gear set to rotate through the motor.

3. The continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow channel of the inner nozzle (70) has a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The upper end can accommodate the continuous fiber feeding tube (5) and fit it tightly. The inner diameter of the lower extension section is adapted to the diameter of the metal wire (34), and the metal wire (34) can be inserted to achieve sealing.

4. The continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The continuous fiber feed tube (5) has a long slot on its side for inserting the metal wire (34) of the inner nozzle switching mechanism (3), and the end of the continuous fiber feed tube (5) is inserted into the inner nozzle (70).

5. The continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The resin material enters the interior of the heating block (65) through the resin extrusion hot end heat sink (62) and melts. It then flows through the transverse channel inside the heating block (65) to the external space between the inner nozzle transition nut (69) and the inner nozzle (70), and is finally extruded from the outer nozzle (67) of the print head. The continuous fiber material is extruded from the outer nozzle (67) of the print head after passing through the inner nozzle (70) via the continuous fiber feed tube (5).

6. The continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to claim 5, characterized in that: The drive servo motor (33) can pull the end of the metal wire (34) out of the slender extension of the inner nozzle (70) by driving the servo motor rocker arm (31) to rotate upward, so as to open the continuous fiber feeding channel; the drive servo motor (33) can drive the servo motor rocker arm (31) to rotate downward, so as to insert the end of the metal wire (34) into the slender extension of the inner nozzle (70), thereby sealing the continuous fiber feeding channel.

7. The continuous fiber composite 3D printing head device for rapid switching of resin fibers according to claim 6, characterized in that: When printing continuous fiber material, the drive servo (33) of the control inner nozzle switching mechanism (3) drives the servo rocker arm (31) to rotate upward, and pulls the metal wire (34) out from the slender extension section of the inner nozzle (70). The fiber feeding motor (23) is started, and the continuous fiber material is extruded from the outer nozzle (67) of the print head through the continuous fiber feeding tube (5) and the inner nozzle (70). When printing pure resin material, after the continuous fiber consumable in the continuous fiber feeding tube (5) is completely extruded, the control drive servo motor (33) drives the servo motor rocker arm (31) to rotate downward, and the metal wire (34) is inserted into the slender extension section of the inner nozzle (70) to achieve sealing. The resin feeding motor (24) is started, and the resin material is extruded from the outer nozzle (67) of the print head through the resin flow channel in the resin feeding tube (4) and the heating block (65).

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