Sleeve cylinder and 3D printing equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing, and discloses a sleeve cylinder and 3D printing device.The sleeve cylinder comprises a first cylinder body assembly and a second cylinder body assembly, the first cylinder body assembly comprises a first cylinder body, a first piston and a first piston rod, the first piston is arranged in the first cylinder body, and the first piston rod is connected with the first piston; the first piston rod drives the first piston to move along a first direction relative to the first cylinder body; the second cylinder body assembly is arranged in the first cylinder body and comprises a second cylinder body, a second piston and a second piston rod; the second cylinder body is detachably connected with the inner wall of the first cylinder body; one end of the second piston rod is connected with the second piston, the other end of the second piston rod is detachably connected with the first piston, and the first piston drives the second piston to move in the first direction relative to the second cylinder body through the second piston rod. Flexible switching between the first cylinder body assembly and the second cylinder body assembly can be achieved without disassembling the first cylinder body assembly, operation is easy, and the cylinder changing efficiency of the 3D printing equipment can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, specifically to a cylinder sleeve and 3D printing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Powder 3D printing equipment is a device that uses powder materials (such as metal powder, plastic powder, etc.) for additive manufacturing. The equipment includes a powder feeding mechanism, an energy source, and a forming cylinder. The powder feeding mechanism distributes a fixed amount of powder into the forming cylinder to form a uniform thin layer. The energy source selectively acts on the powder layer based on the slice data, causing the irradiated area to melt, sinter, or solidify. A piston inside the forming cylinder descends by one layer thickness, repeating the above process continuously, thereby accumulating two-dimensional sections layer by layer into a three-dimensional solid.

[0003] In the existing technology, 3D printing equipment includes two sizes of forming cylinders: a large cylinder and a small cylinder. The small cylinder is used to develop new materials or print small parts, while the large cylinder is used for mass production of large parts. When switching between the large and small cylinders, the forming cylinder on the 3D printing equipment must be disassembled first, and then the forming cylinder of the other size must be installed.

[0004] However, switching between the large and small cylinders in the above way is quite complicated, resulting in a long cylinder-changing time and low efficiency for 3D printing equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a cylinder sleeve and a 3D printing device to solve the problems of long cylinder changing time and low efficiency in existing 3D printing devices.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a cylinder assembly for a 3D printing device, comprising: a first cylinder assembly including a first cylinder body, a first piston, and a first piston rod, wherein the first piston is movably disposed within the first cylinder body, the first piston rod is connected to the first piston, and the first piston rod is configured to drive the first piston to move relative to the first cylinder body along a first direction; a second cylinder assembly detachably disposed within the first cylinder body, including a second cylinder body, a second piston, and a second piston rod; the second cylinder body is detachably connected to the inner wall of the first cylinder body, and the top end of the second cylinder body is flush with the top end of the first cylinder body; one end of the second piston rod is connected to the second piston, and the other end of the second piston rod is detachably connected to the first piston, wherein the first piston drives the second piston to move relative to the second cylinder body along the first direction via the second piston rod.

[0007] According to the above-mentioned technical means, the first cylinder assembly is used for mass production of larger parts, while the second cylinder assembly is used for manufacturing smaller parts, developing new materials, or producing scaled-down samples. The first cylinder is fixed to the 3D printing equipment. The powder feeding mechanism of the 3D printing equipment feeds powder into the first cylinder, thus laying a layer of powder inside. The printing mechanism acts on the powder layer according to the slicing data, sintering a predetermined portion of the powder layer. Then, the first piston rod drives the first piston to descend in a first direction, and the powder feeding mechanism feeds powder again, repeating the above process to complete the printing of large-sized parts. The second cylinder assembly is detachably installed inside the first cylinder. When it is necessary to manufacture smaller parts, the second cylinder is fixed to the inner wall of the first cylinder. The second piston rod is connected to the first piston, and the first piston moves by driving the first piston through the first piston rod. The first piston, in turn, moves the second piston relative to the second cylinder through the second piston rod. Thus, the printing of small-sized parts is completed by the first piston rod driving the second piston to continuously descend. The cylinder assembly of this application allows for flexible switching between the first and second cylinder assemblies without disassembling the first cylinder assembly. This simplifies operation, reduces switching time, and improves switching efficiency. When printing with the second cylinder assembly is required, the second cylinder assembly is simply removed. In one optional embodiment, the second cylinder assembly further includes a fixing component, the fixing component including an elastic element; the elastic element is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the second cylinder, and when the second cylinder is located inside the first cylinder, the elastic element is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the first cylinder to fix the second cylinder.

[0008] In this way, the second cylinder can be quickly positioned and fixed by interference fit between the elastic element and the inner wall of the first cylinder. No additional structures such as threads and clips are required, making the structure simpler. When installing the second cylinder, it is only necessary to push the second cylinder into the first cylinder. The operation is simple and helps to improve the installation efficiency of the second cylinder, thereby further improving the cylinder changing efficiency of the 3D printing equipment.

[0009] In one optional embodiment, the fixing assembly further includes a transmission member and a connecting bolt; the top end of the second cylinder is provided with a connecting boss extending radially outward; the connecting bolt passes through the connecting boss and connects to the transmission member to fix the transmission member to the outer periphery of the second cylinder; the side of the transmission member facing away from the second cylinder is formed as a first transmission surface, and the side of the elastic member facing the second cylinder is formed as a second transmission surface; the first transmission surface and the second transmission surface are inclined, and the first transmission surface slides into contact with the second transmission surface; the elastic member is configured to slide relative to the first transmission surface to abut against or disengage from the inner wall of the first cylinder.

[0010] In this way, the driving elastic element slides relative to the first transmission surface of the transmission element, causing the first transmission surface to lift the elastic element so as to make an interference fit with the inner wall of the first cylinder, or the elastic element resets so as to disengage from the inner wall of the first cylinder. This enables the installation and removal of the second cylinder, which not only ensures the stability of the second cylinder within the first cylinder, but also prevents excessive resistance generated by the elastic element during removal, thus avoiding difficulties in removal. This further improves the efficiency of the removal and installation of the second cylinder assembly, thereby saving the switching time between the first and second cylinder assemblies.

[0011] In one alternative embodiment, the fixing assembly further includes a pressing bolt and a pressure block; the pressing bolt passes through the connecting boss and abuts against the pressure block, the pressure block abuts against the elastic member, and the pressing bolt is configured to push the elastic member along the first direction by the pressure block, so that the elastic member slides relative to the first transmission surface.

[0012] Thus, after the second cylinder is placed inside the first cylinder, the abutment bolt on the connecting boss can be turned to move it downwards in the first direction. This pushes the pressure block downwards in the first direction, causing the pressure block to push the elastic element to slide relative to the first transmission surface of the transmission component. The elastic element and the first cylinder are interference-fitted, thus stably fixing the second cylinder inside the first cylinder. When the second cylinder assembly needs to be removed, simply turn the abutment bolt in the opposite direction to move it upwards. After the pressure exerted by the abutment bolt on the pressure block disappears, the elastic element returns to its original position under the action of elastic force, thereby disengaging from the first cylinder and allowing the second cylinder to be easily removed. Therefore, by setting the abutment bolt and pressure block, the position of the pressure block can be flexibly adjusted by the abutment bolt, thereby adjusting the state of the elastic element, fixing the second cylinder inside the first cylinder or quickly removing it.

[0013] In one optional embodiment, the pressure block includes a pressing part and a driving part; the pressing part abuts against the pressing bolt, and a guide hole is formed on the pressing part, through which the connecting bolt passes and connects to the transmission member; the driving part is perpendicular to the pressing part, and the end of the driving part abuts against the elastic member.

[0014] This ensures that the pressure block does not interfere with the transmission components during its downward movement, thus improving the pressure block's limiting effect on the elastic element. Furthermore, the pressure block's abutting part fits snugly against the lower surface of the pressure bolt, ensuring that all pressure applied by the pressure bolt is transmitted to the elastic element through the pressure block, which helps guarantee the stability of the elastic element.

[0015] In one optional embodiment, a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole are provided on the connecting boss, the connecting bolt passes through the first connecting hole and connects to the transmission component, and the pressing bolt passes through the second connecting hole and abuts against the pressure block.

[0016] Thus, both the first and second connecting holes are located on the connecting boss. When assembling and disassembling the second cylinder block assembly, operations can be performed above the connecting boss to tighten the connecting bolts and the clamping bolts. The connecting boss provides a large operating space, which helps to further reduce the difficulty of assembling and disassembling the second cylinder block assembly.

[0017] In one alternative embodiment, the second cylinder assembly further includes a dust cover that covers the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

[0018] This prevents some powder from being carried into the first or second connecting hole when the scraper passes over it, which helps to reduce the maintenance cost of the sleeve cylinder and reduce the loss of powder material.

[0019] In one optional embodiment, the second piston rod includes a transmission rod and a connecting member; one end of the transmission rod is detachably connected to the first piston, and the other end of the transmission rod is connected to the connecting member; one of the connecting member and the second piston is provided with a connecting block, and the other is provided with a connecting hole, and the connecting block is detachably connected to the connecting hole.

[0020] In this way, the second piston can be replaced at any time according to the actual printing needs, which helps to expand the application range of the cylinder, improve the flexibility of the cylinder, and at the same time improve the maintenance efficiency of the cylinder and reduce maintenance costs.

[0021] In one alternative embodiment, the second cylinder assembly further includes a first seal and a second seal; the first seal is disposed between the connecting boss and the inner wall of the first cylinder; the second seal is disposed between the connecting member and the inner wall of the second cylinder.

[0022] This prevents dust from entering the gap between the first and second cylinders or the gap between the connector and the second cylinder, which helps reduce wear on the first, second, and second connectors, extending the overall service life of the cylinder assembly. Simultaneously, the felt component also provides some noise reduction, preventing rigid collisions between the first and second cylinders and lowering the noise generated during 3D printing equipment operation.

[0023] Secondly, the present invention also provides a 3D printing device, including the sleeve cylinder described in any of the above claims.

[0024] This effectively saves cylinder changing time in 3D printing equipment, improves cylinder changing efficiency, and thus improves overall production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cylinder sleeve structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 The AA-direction sectional view of the cylinder shown; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point B in the middle; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second cylinder body assembly of the cylinder sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the usage of the cylinder sleeve in a 3D printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100-cylinder sleeve; 110 - First cylinder block assembly; 111 - First cylinder block; 112 - First piston; 113 - First piston rod; 120 - Second cylinder assembly; 121 - Second cylinder; 1211 - Connecting boss; 122 - Second piston; 123 - Second piston rod; 1231 - Transmission rod; 1232 - Connecting part; 124 - Fixing assembly; 1241 - Elastic element; 1242 - Transmission element; 1243 - Pressing bolt; 1244 - Pressure block; 1244a - Pressing part; 1244b - Drive part; 125 - Dust cover; 126 - First seal; 127 - Second seal; 200 - fuselage. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] As described in the background art, powder 3D printing equipment is a device that uses powder materials (such as metal powder, plastic powder, etc.) for additive manufacturing. Powder 3D printing equipment includes a powder feeding mechanism, an energy source, and a forming cylinder. The powder feeding mechanism spreads a fixed amount of powder into the forming cylinder to form a uniform thin layer. The energy source selectively acts on the powder layer according to the slice data, causing the irradiated area to melt, sinter, or solidify. A piston inside the forming cylinder descends by one layer thickness, repeating the above process continuously, thereby accumulating two-dimensional sections layer by layer into a three-dimensional solid. In related technologies, 3D printing equipment includes two sizes of forming cylinders: a small cylinder for developing new materials or printing small parts, and a large cylinder for mass production of large parts. Switching between the large and small cylinders requires disassembling the existing forming cylinder and installing the new one. However, switching between large and small cylinders in this way is complex, resulting in long cylinder-changing times and low efficiency in 3D printing equipment.

[0030] To address this technical problem, this application provides a cylinder assembly and a 3D printing device. The cylinder assembly includes a first cylinder body component and a second cylinder body component. The first cylinder body component is used for mass production of larger parts, while the second cylinder body component is used for manufacturing smaller parts, developing new materials, or producing scaled-down samples. The first cylinder body is fixed to the 3D printing device. The powder feeding mechanism of the 3D printing device feeds powder into the first cylinder body, thereby laying a layer of powder inside the first cylinder body. The printing mechanism acts on the powder layer according to the slicing data, sintering a predetermined portion of the powder layer. Then, the first piston rod drives the first piston to descend in a first direction, and the powder feeding mechanism feeds powder again, repeating the above process to complete the printing of large-sized parts. The second cylinder body component is detachably disposed within the first cylinder body. When it is necessary to manufacture smaller parts, the second cylinder body is fixed to the inner wall of the first cylinder body. The second piston rod is connected to the first piston, and the first piston rod drives the first piston to move. The first piston, through the second piston rod, drives the second piston to move relative to the second cylinder body. Thus, the printing of small-sized parts is completed by the first piston rod driving the second piston to continuously descend. The cylinder assembly of this application allows for flexible switching between the first and second cylinder assemblies without disassembling the first cylinder assembly. This simplifies operation, reduces switching time, and improves switching efficiency. When printing with the second cylinder assembly is required, the second cylinder assembly is simply removed.

[0031] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 5 The following describes embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, a cylinder assembly 100 is provided for 3D printing equipment, including a first cylinder assembly 110 and a second cylinder assembly 120. The maximum capacity of the first cylinder assembly 110 is greater than the maximum capacity of the second cylinder assembly 120. Therefore, the first cylinder assembly 110 is used for mass production of larger parts, while the second cylinder assembly 120 is used for manufacturing smaller parts, developing new materials, or producing scaled-down samples.

[0033] The first cylinder assembly 110 includes a first cylinder 111, a first piston 112 and a first piston rod 113. The first piston 112 is movably disposed within the first cylinder 111, and the first piston rod 113 is connected to the first piston 112. The first piston rod 113 is configured to drive the first piston 112 to move relative to the first cylinder 111 in a first direction.

[0034] In practical implementation, Figure 2 The Y-direction is the first direction. The 3D printing equipment also includes a body 200, a powder feeding mechanism, and a printing mechanism. The first cylinder 111 is fixed on the body 200 of the 3D printing equipment. The powder feeding mechanism delivers powder material into the first cylinder 111. The powder material forms a first powder layer on the surface of the first piston 112. The printing mechanism draws a pattern on the first powder layer using a laser according to the preset pattern information, thereby sintering the powder in the corresponding part. Then, the first piston rod 113 drives the first piston 112 to descend a preset height along the first direction. The powder feeding mechanism continues to deliver powder, forming a second powder layer on the first powder layer. The printing mechanism continues to draw patterns, and the above process is repeated to complete the printing of the three-dimensional solid part.

[0035] Understandably, when developing new materials, in order to avoid material waste, a scaled-down sample can be printed first using the second cylinder assembly 120 to confirm that the parameters and proportions of the parts are correct before mass production using the first cylinder assembly 110. At this time, the first cylinder assembly 110 used for printing needs to be switched to the second cylinder assembly 120.

[0036] Specifically, the second cylinder assembly 120 is detachably disposed within the first cylinder 111, and includes a second cylinder 121, a second piston 122, and a second piston rod 123; the second cylinder 121 is detachably connected to the inner wall of the first cylinder 111, and the top end of the second cylinder 121 is flush with the top end of the first cylinder 111; one end of the second piston rod 123 is connected to the second piston 122, and the other end of the second piston rod 123 is detachably connected to the first piston 112, and the first piston 112 drives the second piston 122 to move relative to the second cylinder 121 in a first direction through the second piston rod 123.

[0037] For example, the inner walls of the second cylinder 121 and the first cylinder 111 can be fixed together by means of snap-fit, interference fit, etc. This application embodiment does not limit the specific connection method, as long as it can ensure that the relative position of the second cylinder 121 and the first cylinder 111 remains unchanged during the printing process. The top of the second cylinder 121 needs to be flush with the top of the first cylinder 111 to ensure that the powder feeding mechanism can smoothly deliver powder into the second cylinder 121. At the same time, the second piston rod 123 needs to be connected to the first piston 112. The second piston rod 123 and the first piston 112 can be connected by means of bolt connection, snap-fit, etc., or the second piston rod 123 can also pass through the first piston 112 and be connected to the first piston rod 113. This application embodiment does not limit this, as long as it can ensure that the second piston rod 123 can move synchronously with the first piston 112 in the first direction. In this way, after the second cylinder assembly 120 is fixed inside the first cylinder 111, the first piston rod 113 drives the first piston 112 to descend. The first piston 112 drives the second piston 122 to descend synchronously through the second piston rod 123, thereby driving the second piston 122 and ensuring that the second cylinder assembly 120 can complete the printing process.

[0038] Therefore, in the cylinder sleeve 100 provided in this application embodiment, the first cylinder body 111 is always fixed on the body 200 of the 3D printing equipment. When it is necessary to switch between the first cylinder body assembly 110 and the second cylinder body assembly 120, it is only necessary to fix the second cylinder body assembly 120 inside the first cylinder body 111 or remove the second cylinder body assembly 120. There is no need to disassemble the first cylinder body assembly 110. Compared with the prior art, which requires the entire first cylinder body assembly 110 to be disassembled before installing the second cylinder body assembly 120, the cylinder sleeve 100 in this application embodiment effectively simplifies the operation process of switching between the first cylinder body assembly 110 and the second cylinder body assembly 120, saves the cylinder changing time of the 3D printing equipment, improves the cylinder changing efficiency, and thus improves the overall production efficiency of the 3D printing equipment.

[0039] In one embodiment, see Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the second cylinder assembly 120 also includes a fixing assembly 124, which includes an elastic member 1241. The elastic member 1241 is disposed on the outer periphery of the second cylinder 121. When the second cylinder 121 is located inside the first cylinder 111, the elastic member 1241 is press-fitted with the inner wall of the first cylinder 111 to fix the second cylinder 121.

[0040] In practical implementation, the second cylinder 121 is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the first cylinder 111 through the elastic element 1241, which can quickly complete the positioning and fixing of the second cylinder 121 without the need for additional structures such as threads and clips, making the structure simpler. When installing the second cylinder 121, it is only necessary to push the second cylinder 121 into the first cylinder 111. The operation is simple and helps to improve the installation efficiency of the second cylinder 121, thereby further improving the cylinder changing efficiency of the 3D printing equipment.

[0041] In addition, the elastic element 1241 also has a vibration damping effect. By absorbing the energy generated by vibration, the elastic element 1241 can prevent hard collisions between the inner walls of the second cylinder 121 and the first cylinder 111, which helps improve the stability and reliability of the second cylinder assembly 120 during the printing process. At the same time, compared with fixing the second cylinder 121 by clips or other structures, the elastic element 1241 forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the first cylinder 111, which can also seal the gap between the first cylinder 111 and the second cylinder 121. This prevents powder material from falling into the first cylinder 111 through the gap between the first cylinder 111 and the second cylinder 121, thus affecting the processing. This helps to further improve the reliability of the cylinder assembly 100 and avoids the waste of powder material.

[0042] In one embodiment, see Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the fixing assembly 124 also includes a transmission member 1242 and a connecting bolt (not shown in the figure); the top end of the second cylinder 121 is provided with a connecting boss 1211 extending radially outward; the connecting bolt passes through the connecting boss 1211 and connects with the transmission member 1242 to fix the transmission member 1242 to the outer periphery of the second cylinder 121; the side of the transmission member 1242 facing away from the second cylinder 121 is formed as a first transmission surface, and the side of the elastic member 1241 facing the second cylinder 121 is formed as a second transmission surface. The first transmission surface and the second transmission surface are inclined and slide in cooperation with each other; the elastic member 1241 is configured to slide relative to the first transmission surface to abut against or disengage from the inner wall of the first cylinder 111.

[0043] Understandably, the drive elastic element 1241 slides relative to the first transmission surface of the transmission element 1242, causing the first transmission surface to lift the elastic element 1241 so as to make an interference fit with the inner wall of the first cylinder 111, or the elastic element 1241 resets so as to disengage from the inner wall of the first cylinder 111. This enables the installation and removal of the second cylinder 121, ensuring the stability of the second cylinder 121 within the first cylinder 111 and preventing excessive resistance generated by the elastic element 1241 during removal, which would make removal difficult. This further improves the efficiency of the removal and installation of the second cylinder assembly 120, thereby saving the switching time between the first cylinder assembly 110 and the second cylinder assembly 120.

[0044] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the fixing assembly 124 also includes a pressing bolt 1243 and a pressure block 1244; the pressing bolt 1243 passes through the connecting boss 1211 and abuts against the pressure block 1244, and the pressure block 1244 abuts against the elastic member 1241. The pressing bolt 1243 is configured to push the elastic member 1241 along a first direction through the pressure block 1244, so that the elastic member 1241 slides relative to the first transmission surface.

[0045] In a specific implementation, after the second cylinder 121 is placed inside the first cylinder 111, the pressing bolt 1243 on the connecting boss 1211 can be turned to move the pressing bolt 1243 downward in the first direction, thereby pushing the pressure block 1244 downward in the first direction, so that the pressure block 1244 pushes the elastic member 1241 to slide relative to the first transmission surface of the transmission member 1242. The elastic member 1241 is interference-fitted with the first cylinder 111, thereby stably fixing the second cylinder 121 inside the first cylinder 111.

[0046] When the second cylinder assembly 120 needs to be removed, simply turn the anti-pressing bolt 1243 in the opposite direction to move the anti-pressing bolt 1243 upward. After the pressure of the anti-pressing bolt 1243 on the pressure block 1244 disappears, the elastic element 1241 resets under the action of the elastic force, thereby disengaging from the first cylinder 111, so that the second cylinder 121 can be easily removed.

[0047] Therefore, by setting the pressure bolt 1243 and the pressure block 1244, the position of the pressure block 1244 can be flexibly adjusted by the pressure bolt 1243, thereby adjusting the state of the elastic element 1241, fixing the second cylinder 121 inside the first cylinder 111 or quickly removing it.

[0048] Furthermore, after long-term use, the elastic element 1241 may experience aging, deformation, and reduced elasticity. By setting the anti-pressure bolt 1243, the pressing depth of the anti-pressure bolt 1243 can be adjusted according to the specific condition of the elastic element 1241, thereby ensuring the stability of the second cylinder body 121, which is conducive to extending the service life of the sleeve cylinder 100 and improving the reliability of the sleeve cylinder 100.

[0049] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the pressure block 1244 includes a pressing part 1244a and a driving part 1244b; the pressing part 1244a abuts against the pressing bolt 1243, and a guide hole is provided on the pressing part 1244a, through which the connecting bolt passes and connects to the transmission member 1242; the driving part 1244b is perpendicular to the pressing part 1244a, and the end of the driving part 1244b abuts against the elastic member 1241.

[0050] It is understandable that, in order to ensure the structural strength of the pressing bolt 1243, the diameter of the pressing bolt 1243 is relatively large. When the thickness of the elastic element 1241 is relatively thin, if the pressing bolt 1243 is directly in contact with the elastic element 1241, the pressing bolt 1243 may interfere with the transmission element 1242 when pushing the elastic element 1241 downward, thus affecting the pressing effect on the elastic element 1241. Therefore, it is necessary to set up the pressure block 1244.

[0051] The thickness of the driving part 1244b of the pressure block 1244 is less than the thickness of the elastic member 1241, which ensures that the pressure block 1244 does not interfere with the transmission member 1242 during downward movement, thus improving the limiting effect of the pressure block 1244 on the elastic member 1241. The pressing part 1244a of the pressure block 1244 is in contact with the lower surface of the pressing bolt 1243, ensuring that all the pressure applied by the pressing bolt 1243 is transmitted to the elastic member 1241 by the pressure block 1244, thus protecting the stability of the elastic member 1241.

[0052] In addition, in order to prevent the pressure block 1244 from shifting or deforming when subjected to the pressure of the pressing bolt 1243, a guide hole can be opened on the pressing part 1244a. The connecting bolt passes through the guide hole and guides the pressure block 1244. This ensures that the pressure block 1244 moves only in the first direction, preventing the pressure block 1244 from shifting. This is beneficial to improving the stability and reliability of the fixing component 124.

[0053] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole are provided on the connecting boss 1211. The connecting bolt passes through the first connecting hole and connects with the transmission component 1242, and the pressing bolt 1243 passes through the second connecting hole and abuts against the pressure block 1244.

[0054] In practice, both the first connecting hole and the second connecting hole are located on the connecting boss 1211. When assembling and disassembling the second cylinder block assembly 120, operations can be performed above the connecting boss 1211 to tighten the connecting bolts and the clamping bolts 1243. A large operating space is provided above the connecting boss 1211, which helps to further reduce the difficulty of assembling and disassembling the second cylinder block assembly 120.

[0055] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second cylinder block assembly 120 also includes a dust cover 125, which covers the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

[0056] In practical implementation, after the powder feeding mechanism of the 3D printing equipment feeds powder into the second cylinder 121, it also needs to use a scraper to sweep across the top of the second cylinder 121 to smooth or scrape back any excess powder, ensuring that the powder layer inside the second cylinder 121 is full and flat. Therefore, dust covers 125 need to be installed on the first and second connecting holes to prevent some powder from being carried into the first or second connecting holes when the scraper sweeps across, which helps to reduce the maintenance cost of the cylinder 100 and reduce powder material loss.

[0057] It should be noted that, in order to ensure that the scraper passes smoothly, it is necessary to ensure that the dust cover 125 is flush with the upper surface of the connecting boss 1211, so as to ensure the flatness of the overall surface of the connecting boss 1211. A magnetic part can be provided on the dust cover 125 to remove the cover by magnetic attraction, or a small hole can be provided on the dust cover 125 for easy clamping. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0058] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second piston rod 123 includes a transmission rod 1231 and a connecting member 1232; one end of the transmission rod 1231 is detachably connected to the first piston 112, and the other end of the transmission rod 1231 is connected to the connecting member 1232; one of the connecting member 1232 and the second piston 122 is provided with a connecting block, and the other is provided with a connecting hole, and the connecting block and the connecting hole are detachably connected.

[0059] It should be noted that the material of the second piston 122, which is in direct contact with the powder material, may also be different when the powder material required for printing is different. In addition, after long-term use, the second piston 122 itself may wear down and affect the printing effect. Therefore, the second piston 122 can be set to be detachably connected to the connector 1232. The second piston 122 can be replaced at any time according to the actual printing needs, which is beneficial to expanding the application range of the cylinder 100, improving the flexibility of the cylinder 100, improving the maintenance efficiency of the cylinder 100, and reducing maintenance costs.

[0060] For example, the connecting block and the connecting hole can be bolted together to ensure the stability of the second piston 122. Alternatively, the connecting block can also be interference-fitted with the connecting hole so that the second piston 122 can be replaced by plugging and unplugging. This application embodiment does not limit this, as long as the second piston 122 and the connecting member 1232 can be detachably connected.

[0061] In one embodiment, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the second cylinder assembly 120 also includes a first seal 126 and a second seal 127; the first seal 126 is disposed between the connecting boss 1211 and the inner wall of the first cylinder 111; the second seal 127 is disposed between the connector 1232 and the inner wall of the second cylinder 121.

[0062] Specifically, both the first seal 126 and the second seal 127 can be made of felt. Felt has good elasticity and can effectively absorb dust, thus preventing dust from entering the gap between the second cylinder 121 and the first cylinder 111, or the gap between the connector 1232 and the second cylinder 121. This helps reduce wear on the first cylinder 111, the second cylinder 121, and the second connector 1232, extending the overall service life of the cylinder sleeve 100. Simultaneously, the felt also plays a role in noise reduction, preventing rigid collisions between the first cylinder 111 and the second cylinder 121, and reducing the noise generated during the operation of the 3D printing equipment.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, on the other hand, a 3D printing device is also provided, including any of the aforementioned cylinders 100.

[0064] In this embodiment, by applying the aforementioned cylinder 100, cylinder changing time in the 3D printing equipment is effectively saved, cylinder changing efficiency is improved, and thus overall production efficiency is increased. Furthermore, different sizes of second cylinder components 120 can be provided. In practical applications, different models of second cylinder components 120 can be selected according to the actual size of the printed parts, which helps improve the flexibility of the 3D printing equipment, increase the utilization efficiency of powder materials, avoid waste, and reduce production costs.

[0065] In summary, the cylinder assembly 100 and 3D printing equipment provided in this application embodiment allow for the selection of a suitable second cylinder assembly 120 based on the size of the scaled-down sample to be printed. The second cylinder assembly 120 is placed inside the first cylinder 111, connecting the second piston rod 123 to the first piston 112. Then, the clamping bolt 1243 is tightened to allow the elastic element 1241 to fit tightly against the inner wall of the first cylinder 111, thus completing the installation of the second cylinder assembly 120. When disassembling the second cylinder assembly 120, simply reverse the clamping bolt 1243 to disengage the elastic element 1241 from the inner wall of the first cylinder 111 and disconnect the second piston rod 123 from the first piston 112 to remove the second cylinder assembly 120. This simple and convenient operation improves the cylinder changing efficiency of the 3D printing equipment and saves production costs.

[0066] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sleeve cylinder (100) for use in 3D printing equipment, characterized in that, include: The first cylinder assembly (110) includes a first cylinder (111), a first piston (112) and a first piston rod (113). The first piston (112) is movably disposed within the first cylinder (111), and the first piston rod (113) is connected to the first piston (112). The first piston rod (113) is configured to drive the first piston (112) to move relative to the first cylinder (111) in a first direction. The second cylinder assembly (120) is detachably disposed within the first cylinder (111) and includes a second cylinder (121), a second piston (122), and a second piston rod (123). The second cylinder (121) is detachably connected to the inner wall of the first cylinder (111), and the top end of the second cylinder (121) is flush with the top end of the first cylinder (111). One end of the second piston rod (123) is connected to the second piston (122), and the other end of the second piston rod (123) is detachably connected to the first piston (112). The first piston (112) drives the second piston (122) to move relative to the second cylinder (121) in the first direction through the second piston rod (123).

2. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second cylinder assembly (120) also includes a fixing assembly (124), which includes an elastic element (1241). The elastic element (1241) is disposed on the outer periphery of the second cylinder (121). When the second cylinder (121) is located inside the first cylinder (111), the elastic element (1241) is press-fitted with the inner wall of the first cylinder (111) to fix the second cylinder (121).

3. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fixing assembly (124) also includes a transmission component (1242) and connecting bolts; The top of the second cylinder (121) is provided with a connecting boss (1211) extending outward along its own radial direction. The connecting bolt passes through the connecting boss (1211) and connects to the transmission member (1242) to fix the transmission member (1242) to the outer periphery of the second cylinder (121); The side of the transmission member (1242) facing away from the second cylinder (121) is formed as a first transmission surface, and the side of the elastic member (1241) facing the second cylinder (121) is formed as a second transmission surface. The first transmission surface and the second transmission surface are inclined and slide in cooperation with the second transmission surface. The elastic element (1241) is configured to slide relative to the first transmission surface to abut or disengage from the inner wall of the first cylinder (111).

4. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixing component (124) also includes a pressing bolt (1243) and a pressure block (1244). The pressing bolt (1243) passes through the connecting boss (1211) and abuts against the pressure block (1244). The pressure block (1244) abuts against the elastic member (1241). The pressing bolt (1243) is configured to push the elastic member (1241) along the first direction by the pressure block (1244) so ​​that the elastic member (1241) slides relative to the first transmission surface.

5. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pressing block (1244) includes a pressing part (1244a) and a driving part (1244b). The pressing part (1244a) abuts against the pressing bolt (1243), and a guide hole is provided on the pressing part (1244a). The connecting bolt passes through the guide hole and connects to the transmission member (1242). The driving part (1244b) is perpendicular to the pressing part (1244a), and the end of the driving part (1244b) abuts against the elastic member (1241).

6. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connecting boss (1211) has a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole. The connecting bolt passes through the first connecting hole and connects with the transmission member (1242). The pressing bolt (1243) passes through the second connecting hole and abuts against the pressure block (1244).

7. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second cylinder assembly (120) also includes a dust cover (125) that covers the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

8. The cylinder liner (100) according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, The second piston rod (123) includes a transmission rod (1231) and a connecting member (1232). One end of the transmission rod (1231) is detachably connected to the first piston (112), and the other end of the transmission rod (1231) is connected to the connector (1232); One of the connector (1232) and the second piston (122) is provided with a connecting block, and the other is provided with a connecting hole. The connecting block and the connecting hole are detachably connected.

9. The cylinder liner (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second cylinder assembly (120) also includes a first seal (126) and a second seal (127); The first sealing element (126) is disposed between the connecting boss (1211) and the inner wall of the first cylinder (111); The second seal (127) is disposed between the connector (1232) and the inner wall of the second cylinder (121).

10. A 3D printing device, characterized in that, Includes the liner cylinder (100) as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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