Powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts
By designing the powder cleaning mechanism, powder receiving mechanism, and powder supply mechanism of the powder cleaning equipment, the powder on the 3D printed parts is cleaned by the collision of powder, which solves the problem of the difficulty in recycling powder and realizes the effective recycling of powder and improves the cleaning efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI LIMI INTELLIGENT TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-02
AI Technical Summary
Existing 3D printing equipment uses airflow carrying sand and gravel to clean up powder during the cleaning process, which makes it difficult to recycle the powder.
A powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts was designed, including a powder cleaning mechanism, a powder receiving mechanism, and a powder supply mechanism. The device cleans the parts by outputting an airflow carrying powder through a spray gun assembly, and removes the attached powder by collision. The cleaned powder can be reused through the powder receiving mechanism and the powder supply mechanism.
This method ensures effective cleaning while allowing for efficient recycling of the powder, thus improving powder utilization and cleaning efficiency.
Smart Images

Figure CN122125906A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more particularly to a powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts. Background Technology
[0002] 3D printing is a type of rapid prototyping technology. It's a technique that uses digital model files as a basis and employs bondable materials such as powdered metals, plastics, and resins to construct objects layer by layer. With the rapid development of industrial technology, various 3D printing technologies using powdered materials as raw materials are constantly emerging, such as Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Laser Metal Deposition (DLMD), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), and Selective Heat Sintering (SHS). In all 3D printing equipment using powdered materials, the 3D printed parts are formed within their forming platform.
[0003] Taking SLS-type 3D printing equipment as an example, unsintered powder material adheres to the printed 3D parts, thus requiring cleaning. Generally, some manufacturers use an airflow carrying abrasive particles to blow away the powder adhering to the 3D printed parts. However, the material of this abrasive is different from the powder, making it difficult to recycle the powder after they mix. Therefore, how to provide a powder cleaning device with good cleaning effect and recyclable powder is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention
[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned related technologies, the purpose of this application is to provide a powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts, so as to solve the problem that the powder is difficult to recycle when using airflow carrying sand to clean 3D printed parts.
[0005] To achieve the above and other related objectives, this application provides a powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts, comprising: a base, including a cleaning table and a cleaning chamber formed surrounding the cleaning table, the cleaning chamber including a feeding area and a powder cleaning area, the feeding area being used to receive a transferred molding powder package; a powder cleaning mechanism, including a spray gun assembly disposed in the cleaning chamber, for outputting an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed part separated from the molding powder package in the powder cleaning area to clean the powder adhering to the 3D printed part by means of powder collision; a powder receiving mechanism, disposed on the base and connected to the powder cleaning area to recover the cleaned powder; and a powder supply mechanism, disposed on the base and connected to the powder cleaning mechanism and the powder receiving mechanism through an air passage, for supplying the powder recovered by the powder receiving mechanism to the powder cleaning mechanism through the air passage.
[0006] In summary, the 3D printed part cleaning equipment provided in this application cleans the powder adhering to the 3D printed part by setting a cleaning mechanism including a spray gun assembly. Furthermore, the spray gun assembly outputs an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed part to clean the 3D printed part by means of powder collision. While ensuring the cleaning effect, the powder in the cleaning operation can be reused for cleaning the 3D printed part through the powder receiving mechanism and the powder supply mechanism, and the powder can be recycled after the cleaning operation is completed. Attached Figure Description
[0007] The specific features involved in this application are shown in the appended claims. The features and advantages of the invention can be better understood by referring to the exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings described in detail below. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:
[0008] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a powder cleaning device for a 3D printed part in one embodiment of this application.
[0009] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the cleaning table in one embodiment of this application.
[0010] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the molding equipment in one embodiment of this application.
[0011] Figure 4 and Figure 5 The images shown are schematic diagrams of the molding equipment before and after entering the docking space in one embodiment of this application.
[0012] Figure 6 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the docking mechanism in one embodiment of this application.
[0013] Figure 7 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a powder pack pushing mechanism in one embodiment of this application.
[0014] Figure 8 This application is displayed. Figure 7 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the illustrated embodiment.
[0015] Figure 9 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the clamping block in one embodiment of this application.
[0016] Figure 10 and Figure 11 The images shown are schematic diagrams of the roller assembly from different perspectives in one embodiment of this application.
[0017] Figure 12 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the vibrating screen mechanism in one embodiment of this application.
[0018] Figure 13 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the powder supply mechanism in one embodiment of this application.
[0019] Figure 14 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the structure of a fan in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0020] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of this application. Those skilled in the art can easily understand the advantages and technical effects of this application from the content disclosed in this specification. In the following description, some embodiments may be referenced to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that other embodiments not shown in the drawings may also be used, and changes in specific structures, parts or mechanisms, components, and operations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. The following detailed description should not be considered limiting, and the scope of the embodiments of this application is limited only by the claims published in this application. The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application.
[0021] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, or third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements or parameters in some embodiments, these elements or parameters should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element or parameter from another, and not to define the order, priority, or importance of multiple elements. For example, a first opening may be referred to as a second opening, and similarly, a second opening may be referred to as a first opening, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments.
[0022] Furthermore, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “including” indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, kinds, and / or groups, but do not exclude the presence, occurrence, or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, kinds, and / or groups. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. Additionally, the term “and / or,” which may be used hereinafter, describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may exist; for example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Furthermore, the character “ / ”, unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an “and / or” relationship. Additionally, in the description of embodiments of this application, “multiple” refers to two or more. Furthermore, the terms “or” and “and / or” as used herein are interpreted as inclusive, or mean either one or any combination thereof. Exceptions to this definition only arise when a combination of elements, functions, steps, or operations is inherently mutually exclusive in some way.
[0023] It should also be understood that when an element, such as a layer, region, or substrate, is referred to as being "on" another element or extending "on" another element, the element may be directly on or directly extending onto the other element, or intermediate elements may be present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element or "directly extending onto" another element, no intermediate elements are present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "attached" to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or intermediate elements may be present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, no intermediate elements are present. Furthermore, the term "coupled" generally means physical, mechanical, magnetic, and / or electrical coupling or connection, and in the absence of specific contrasting language, the presence of intermediate elements between coupled or associated items is not excluded.
[0024] Relative terms such as “below,” “above,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element, layer, or region and another element, layer, or region illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms are intended to cover different device orientations other than those depicted in the figures. In this application, “vertical,” “horizontal,” and “parallel” are defined as including cases within ±10% of the standard definition. For example, vertical typically refers to an angle of 90° relative to a reference line, but in this application, vertical refers to cases including those within 80° to 100°. Unless otherwise expressly stated, comparative quantitative terms (such as “above” and “below”) are intended to cover the concept of equality. As an example, “above” can mean not only “greater than” in a mathematical sense but also “equal to.”
[0025] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. When used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that, when used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and / or “comprising” designate the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.
[0026] In view of the technical problems mentioned in the background art, this application discloses a powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts. The device cleans the powder adhering to the 3D printed parts by setting a powder cleaning mechanism including a spray gun assembly. Furthermore, the spray gun assembly outputs an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed parts to clean the powder by means of powder collision. While ensuring the cleaning effect, the powder in the powder cleaning operation can be reused for cleaning the 3D printed parts through the powder receiving mechanism and the powder supply mechanism. After the powder cleaning operation is completed, the powder can continue to be recycled.
[0027] The powder cleaning equipment described in this application is used to clean the powder adhering to 3D printed parts formed layer by layer by a 3D printing equipment. The powder is a powdered material, including nylon powder, metal powder, plastic powder, ceramic powder, and mixed powders. For example, the powder is thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or thermoplastic elastomer; wherein the thermoplastic elastomer includes any one of polyurethane elastomer (TPU), nylon elastomer (TPAE), polyester elastomer (TPEE), EVA elastomer, and silicone elastomer, or a mixture of two or more materials.
[0028] Thermoplastic elastomers are a class of elastomers that exhibit rubber-like elasticity at room temperature and plasticity at high temperatures. They are physical mixtures of copolymers or polymers (usually plastics and rubber), composed of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomer properties. Thermoplastic plastics are generally relatively easy to manufacture, for example, through injection molding.
[0029] In some embodiments, the powder may also be polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), PC-ABS, PLA, polystyrene, lignin, polyamide, polyamide foam, polyamide with additives such as glass or metal particles, methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, absorbable materials such as polymer-ceramic composites, and other similar materials suitable for SLS printing processes.
[0030] The 3D printing equipment used to form the 3D printed parts can be an SLS type 3D printing equipment, an SLM type 3D printing equipment, a DLMD type 3D printing equipment, an EBM type 3D printing equipment, and an SHS type 3D printing equipment, etc.
[0031] Please see Figure 1 The image shown is a schematic diagram of the structure of a powder cleaning device for a 3D printed part in one embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, the powder cleaning device 2 includes a base 21, a powder cleaning mechanism 22, a powder receiving mechanism 23, and a powder supply mechanism 24. The base 21 provides housing space for the powder cleaning mechanism 22, the powder receiving mechanism 23, and the powder supply mechanism 24. The powder cleaning mechanism 22 outputs an airflow carrying powder to clean the powder adhering to the 3D printed part by means of powder collision. The powder receiving mechanism 23 is disposed on the base 21 to collect the cleaned powder. The powder supply mechanism 24 is disposed on the base 21 and connected to the powder cleaning mechanism 22 and the powder receiving mechanism 23 via an air passage, and is used to supply the powder collected by the powder receiving mechanism 23 to the powder cleaning mechanism 22 through the air passage.
[0032] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the base 21 includes a cleaning table 210. In one example, the cleaning table 210 includes a tabletop body 211 and a support frame 212. Specifically, the powder cleaning mechanism 22 is disposed on the tabletop body 211, and the powder receiving mechanism 23 and the powder supply mechanism 24 are disposed within the support frame 212. In some examples, the tabletop body 211 may be configured with a high-strength material such as stainless steel, alloy, or cast iron to provide stable load-bearing capacity. In some examples, the bottom of the support frame 212 may be equipped with a roller structure to facilitate the transfer of the powder cleaning device 2, and a positioning structure may also be installed to position the powder cleaning device 2 when it moves to the desired position.
[0033] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the base 21 also includes a cleaning chamber 213 enclosing the cleaning platform 210. Specifically, the cleaning chamber 213 has a shell, which encloses the cleaning platform 210 to form a cleaning space. In one example, as... Figure 1 As shown, the cleaning chamber 213 includes a feeding area 2131 and a powder cleaning area 2132. The feeding area 2131 is used to receive the transferred molding powder bags 13. Figure 1 In the example shown, the feeding area 2131 and the cleaning area 2132 are located on opposite sides inside the cleaning chamber 213. In this example, the feeding area 2131 corresponds to the space area on the left side of the cleaning chamber 213, and the cleaning area 2132 corresponds to the space area on the right side of the cleaning chamber 213. This does not constitute a limitation on the orientation of the feeding area 2131 and the cleaning area 2132. It should be understood that... Figure 1 To facilitate the demonstration of the internal structure of the cleaning equipment, some wall structures of the cleaning chamber 213 shell are omitted. For example, Figure 1 The fact that the cleaning chamber 213 is open does not limit its actual structure. In practical applications, the cleaning chamber 213 needs to be kept closed to avoid powder leakage.
[0034] It should be noted that, in subsequent embodiments, to clearly illustrate the relative positions of the various components, structures, parts, mechanisms, components, equipment, or devices in the cleaning equipment 2, the feeding area 2131 and the cleaning area 2132 of the cleaning chamber 213 are used as a reference for differentiation. The side of each component, structure, part, mechanism, component, equipment, or device that is relatively closer to the feeding area 2131 is referred to as the first side, and the side that is relatively closer to the cleaning area 2132 is referred to as the second side. Furthermore, given that... Figure 1 Taking the example of the feeding zone 2131 being located on the left and the powder cleaning zone 2132 being located on the right, the first side will also be referred to as the left side and the second side as the right side in subsequent embodiments.
[0035] Among them, such as Figure 1 The molded powder bag 13 shown can be transferred to the loading area 2131, for example, via a molding device, or via other transfer devices, or it can be dropped into the loading area 2131 through a closable and openable door located on the cleaning chamber 213. The following description of the powder cleaning device 2 will focus on the ability of the molded powder bag 13 to be transferred to the loading area 2131 via a molding device, and should not be construed as a limitation on its structure.
[0036] Please see Figure 2 and combined Figure 1 ,in, Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the cleaning table in one embodiment of this application. Figure 2As shown, the cleaning table 210 has a first opening 214 corresponding to the loading area 2131. Below the first opening 214 is a docking space 215 for the molding equipment to enter and move the molding powder bag 13 to the loading area 2131. In this example, the molding equipment can act as a carrier for the molding powder bag 13 to enter the docking space 215, so as to transport the molding powder bag 13 directly below the first opening 214. Furthermore, the molding equipment can lift the molding powder bag 13 to enter the first opening 214. It should be noted that the state of the molding powder bag 13 after entering the first opening 214 is not as shown in the diagram. Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The image is only used to illustrate the presence of the forming powder bag in the feeding area 2131. In actual applications, the forming powder bag 13 is limited by the space inside the forming equipment and can be arranged as follows: Figure 1 The cuboid shown will gradually be released and collapse as it is lifted into the first opening 214. Of course, in embodiments where, for example, the molded powder bag 13 is directly thrown into the feeding area through the door on the cleaning chamber 213, the first opening 214 may not be provided.
[0037] In one embodiment, the molding equipment may be configured to originate from an SLS-type 3D printing device. See also... Figure 3 The image shown is a schematic diagram of the molding equipment in one embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, the molding device 3 includes a movable base 31 and a molding platform 1, the molding platform 1 being mounted on the movable base 31. In this example, the movable base 31 can move the molding platform 1 so that the molding device 3 enters the docking space 215.
[0038] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the movable base 31 includes a support portion 311 and movable wheels 312 disposed at the bottom of the support portion 311. In one example, the support portion 311 is configured to include a frame for supporting the molding platform 1. In this example, the frame may be configured to be made of a high-strength material such as stainless steel, alloy, or cast iron to provide stable load-bearing capacity. In one example, a handle for easy gripping may be provided on the support portion 311 to facilitate the transfer of the molding device 3. In one example, the movable wheels 312 may be configured as casters to improve the mobility of the movable base 31. In some examples, a limiting structure may be installed on the movable wheels 312 to achieve temporary positioning of the molding device 3 after it moves to the docking space 215.
[0039] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3As shown, the molding platform 1 includes a molding chamber 11 and a component platform disposed within the molding chamber 11. Molded powder bags 13 are supported on the component platform. The component platform is connected to a Z-axis drive mechanism to move upward under the drive of the Z-axis drive mechanism, allowing the molded powder bags to enter the feeding area 2131 through the first opening 214. In one example, the component platform is tightly fitted against the inner wall of the molding chamber 11.
[0040] In one embodiment, the size and shape of the molded powder bag 13 are determined by the molding chamber 11. For example, in Figure 3 In the example shown, both the molding chamber 11 and the molding powder pack 13 are cuboid in shape. In this example, if the dimensions of the accommodating space of the molding chamber 11 are 600 mm × 600 mm × 400 mm, then the dimensions of the molding powder pack 13 are also 600 mm × 600 mm × 400 mm. It should be understood that the molding powder pack 13 refers to the integral structure containing the 3D printed part and the unsintered powder.
[0041] In one embodiment, the Z-axis drive mechanism includes a drive unit and a Z-axis moving unit. The drive unit drives the Z-axis moving unit so that the Z-axis moving unit moves the component platform vertically. For example, the drive unit is a drive motor. In one example, the Z-axis moving unit includes a fixed rod with one end fixed to the component platform and an engaging moving component fixed to the other end of the fixed rod. The engaging moving component is driven by the drive unit to move the fixed rod vertically. An example of the engaging moving component is a limiting moving component with a toothed structure, such as a rack.
[0042] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 The figures shown are schematic diagrams of the molding device before and after entering the docking space in one embodiment of this application. Specifically, after the SLS device completes the printing operation, the molding platform can be located in the molding chamber to present... Figure 4 In the state shown, at this time, the molding device 3 can be moved along... Figure 4 The arrow, indicated by the dashed line, moves in the direction of the docking space 215. Subsequently, the Z-axis drive mechanism drives the platform upwards so that the formed powder bag 13 passes through the first opening 214 and enters the feeding area 2131, thus presenting... Figure 5 The state shown.
[0043] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, a docking mechanism 25 is provided within the docking space 215. The docking mechanism 25 is used to lift the molding device 3 to abut against the first opening 214 when the molding device 3 enters the docking space 215. In one example, the molding device 3 abutting against the first opening 214 means that the upper surface of the molding chamber 11 of the molding platform 1 is in contact with the lower surface of the cleaning table 210 so that the first opening 214 is closed by the molding chamber 11.
[0044] In one embodiment, the shape of the first opening 214 can be determined according to the shape of the molding chamber 11. For example, the size of the first opening 214 should not be greater than the size of the molding chamber 11, so that when the molding device 3 comes into contact with the first opening 214, the upper surface of the molding chamber 11 can fit with the lower surface of the table body 211 to ensure the closure of the first opening 214.
[0045] Please see Figure 6 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the docking mechanism in one embodiment of this application. Figure 6 As shown, the docking mechanism 25 can be configured to include a docking unit and a docking drive unit. In one example, as... Figure 6 As shown, the docking unit can be configured to include a docking guide rail 251, a docking bracket 253, and a docking component 254. The docking component 254 is mounted on the docking bracket 253 in a fork-arm manner. The docking bracket 253 is provided with a docking slider 252 connected to the docking guide rail 251, so that the docking bracket 253 can drive the docking component 254 to slide up and down along the docking guide rail 251. In this example, the docking drive unit can be configured to include a cylinder with a telescopic rod. The telescopic end of the telescopic rod is connected to the docking bracket 253 to drive the docking bracket 253 to move up and down.
[0046] Correspondingly, in one example, such as Figure 3 As shown, a support plate 3111 is provided at the bottom of the forming platform 1. The docking member 254 can extend under the support plate 3111 to lift the forming device 3 when the docking drive unit drives the docking bracket 253 to move, thereby causing the forming device 3 to abut against and close the first opening 214 to ensure the airtightness of the cleaning chamber 213. In some examples, the docking mechanism 25 also includes a sensor switch for activating the docking mechanism 25 to lift the forming device 3 when it moves to the docking space 215, and for stopping the lifting of the docking mechanism 25 when it detects that the forming device 3 abuts against the first opening 214.
[0047] In some examples, such as Figure 6As shown, the docking member 254 is provided with a plurality of guide rollers 2541 for guiding the movement of the molding device 3, so that when the molding device 3 enters the docking space 215 and moves between the docking members 254 at both ends, it can abut against the plurality of guide rollers 2541 and move in the direction of the rolling of the guide rollers 2541, while moving within the space restricted by the guide rollers 2541.
[0048] Specifically, the molding device 3 enters the docking space 215 via its movable base 31 and abuts against the guide roller 2541. Under the guidance and limiting action of the guide roller 2541, it moves to a position directly below the first opening 214. At this time, the docking member 254 extends under the support plate 3111. After the inductive switch detects that the molding device 3 has moved into position, it drives the docking drive unit to move the docking mechanism 25 upward, so that the docking member 254 moves the support plate 3111 upward, thereby lifting the molding device 3. This allows the molding device 3 to abut against and seal the first opening 214, ensuring the airtightness of the cleaning chamber 213. When the molding device 3 moves to abut against the first opening 214, the docking drive unit stops operating.
[0049] As mentioned above, the first opening 214 needs to remain closed during the powder cleaning operation to ensure the sealed environment of the cleaning chamber 213. Therefore, after feeding the molded powder bag 13, the molding device 3 needs to remain in the docking space to close the first opening 214. Furthermore, the design of the first opening 214 makes it difficult to accommodate applications where the molded powder bag 13 can be directly dropped into the feeding area 2131. In view of this, in one embodiment, the powder cleaning device 2 of this application further includes a powder bag pushing mechanism. The powder bag pushing mechanism is disposed on the cleaning table 210 of the base 21 and is used to move towards the first opening 214 while adhering to the cleaning table 210 to scoop up the molded powder bag 13, or to move towards the first opening 214 while adhering to the cleaning table 210 to close the first opening 214. In this embodiment, the powder pack pushing mechanism can selectively open and close the first opening 214 by translating on the cleaning table 210. For example, the first opening 214 can be opened when feeding with the molding equipment 3, and closed when the molded powder pack is directly thrown into the feeding area 2131, thereby improving the applicability of the powder cleaning equipment 2 provided in this application.
[0050] In applications where molding equipment 3 transfers molded powder bags 13 to the loading area 2131, molding equipment 3 can selectively stay or leave the docking space 215 according to production needs. For example, molding equipment 3 can remain in docking space 215 to seal the first opening 214 while cleaning equipment 2 is performing cleaning operations, or it can leave docking space 215 and be transferred back to printing equipment for 3D printing operations, thereby shortening the production cycle and improving production efficiency. In embodiments where molding equipment 3 stays in docking space 215, powder bag pushing mechanism can carry molded powder bags 13 to a more convenient cleaning position after scooping them up. In embodiments where molding equipment 3 needs to leave docking space 215, powder bag pushing mechanism can simultaneously scoop up molded powder bags 13 and seal the first opening 214 to ensure the sealing of cleaning chamber 213 during subsequent cleaning operations.
[0051] In applications where the formed powder bag 13 is directly dropped into the feeding area 2131, the powder bag pushing mechanism can directly close the first opening 214 to maintain a sealed environment in the cleaning chamber 213.
[0052] Please see Figure 7 The image shown is a schematic diagram of the powder pack pushing mechanism in one embodiment of this application. Figure 7 As shown, the powder bag pushing mechanism 26 includes a plate body 261 and a drive assembly 262. The plate body 261 is fitted to the cleaning table 210, and the drive assembly 262 is connected to the plate body 261 and is used to drive the plate body 261 to move between a first side and a second side of the first opening 214. For example, when the powder bag pushing mechanism 26 needs to scoop up the shaped powder bag 13 and seal the first opening 214, the drive assembly 262 can drive the plate body 261 from the second side of the first opening 214 toward its opposite first side to close the first opening 214. In some examples, the size of the plate body 261 is not smaller than the size of the first opening 214 to facilitate the plate body 261 scooping up the shaped powder bag 13 and sealing the first opening 214.
[0053] In one embodiment, such as Figure 7As shown, the powder pack pushing mechanism 26 also includes a frame 263, the size of which is the same as that of the cleaning table 210. The fit between the plate body 261 and the cleaning table 210 can be achieved by fixing the frame 261 on the cleaning table 210. In this example, the frame 263 includes a first part 2631 on a first side and a second part 2632 on a second side. The first part 2631 corresponds to the feeding area 2131, and the second part 2632 corresponds to the powder cleaning area 2132. Further, the second part 2632 has a clearance area to avoid the powder cleaning area 2132. The plate body 261 and the driving assembly 262 are disposed in the first part 2631, and the driving assembly 262 can drive the plate body 261 to move within the first part 2631.
[0054] In one embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the drive components 262 are configured as two parallel units. Of course, they can be configured in any number, and this application does not impose any limitation. In some examples, the drive components 262 are provided with a cover surrounding them, which prevents powder from the cleaning chamber 213 from entering the drive components 262, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of the drive components 262.
[0055] In some examples, the drive assembly 262 may be configured to include a movable guide rail, a telescopic rod, and a drive motor. The movable guide rail is disposed in the first portion 2631 and extends from a first side toward a second side. The plate body 261 can translate along the movable guide rail. One end of the telescopic rod is fixed to the frame 263, and the other end is fixed to the plate body 261. The drive motor drives the telescopic rod to extend and retract, thereby moving the plate body 261 along the movable guide rail. In other examples, the telescopic rod may be replaced with a threaded rod, and the drive motor drives the threaded rod to rotate, thereby moving the plate body 261 along the movable guide rail. Of course, the drive assembly 262 can also be configured in any other form, as long as it can move the plate body 261.
[0056] Please see Figure 8 This application is displayed as such. Figure 7 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of point A in the illustrated embodiment, as shown below. Figure 8As shown, the powder bag pushing mechanism 26 further includes a clamping component 264 disposed on the first side of the first opening 214 to clamp the plate body 261. It should be understood that in an embodiment where the powder bag pushing mechanism 26 moves from the second side of the first opening 214 towards the first side to close the first opening 214, the clamping component 264 can fix the plate body 261 at the first opening 214, so that the plate body 261 can stably cover the first opening 214, thereby preventing the plate body 261 from shifting due to vibration of the powder cleaning device 2 during the powder cleaning process, and thus preventing powder leakage. In this embodiment, the clamping component 264 can also serve as a limiting member to prevent the plate body 261 from moving excessively towards the first side.
[0057] In one embodiment, such as Figure 8 As shown, the clamping assembly 264 includes at least one clamping block 2641. Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the example shown, the clamping block 2641 is disposed on the first portion 2631 of the frame 263 and adjacent to the first side of the first opening 214. In this example, two clamping blocks 2641 are configured. Of course, in some other examples, one or more than two may be configured, depending on the actual production needs. In another embodiment, the clamping assembly 264 may also be configured to clamp the plate body 261 in other ways, such as using pneumatic grippers, electromagnetic adsorption, or shape memory alloys, etc. This application does not impose any limitations on this.
[0058] Please see Figure 9 and combined Figure 7 and Figure 8 ,in, Figure 9 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the clamping block in one embodiment of this application. Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the clamping block 2641 has a notch structure 2642, which is positioned towards the first opening 214 so that when the plate body 261 moves to the first side, it is inserted into the notch structure 2642 to be clamped. In this example, the plate body 261 moves to the first side under the drive of the drive assembly 262 to insert the notch structure 2642, thus achieving a stable closure of the first opening 214. Moving to the second side away from the notch structure 2642 opens the first opening 214. In other words, the clamping and releasing of the plate body 261 by the notch structure 2642 does not require additional actuation; the clamping of the plate body 261 is achieved by the movement of the plate body 261 itself, which simplifies the equipment structure and improves operating efficiency. In some examples, the clamping block 2641 can be interference-fitted with the plate body 261 so that when the plate body 261 is inserted into the notch structure 2642, the clamping block 2641 can provide a certain squeezing force to the plate body 261, thereby enhancing the clamping effect.
[0059] exist Figure 9 In the example shown, the clamping block 2641 is configured as a trapezoidal structure, and the notch structure 2642 is configured as a ramp formed at the bottom of the trapezoidal structure. In some other examples, the clamping block 2641 may also be configured as a "U"-shaped structure, with the plate body inserted into the opening of the "U"-shaped structure to be clamped when 261 moves to the first side.
[0060] As previously described, after the molding powder bag 13 enters the first opening 214 through the molding device 3 or is directly placed in the loading area 2131 to complete the loading, the operator can sort the 3D printed parts within the molding powder bag 13 and use the powder cleaning mechanism 22 to clean the 3D printed parts. The operator includes a person or machine that sorts the molding powder bags and operates the various parts, structures, components, mechanisms, or devices in the powder cleaning equipment. The person may be, for example, a technician trained in powder cleaning, and the machine may be configured, for example, include a robotic arm. In some examples, to facilitate operation, one or more steps can be provided near the powder cleaning equipment to raise the operator's standing position.
[0061] In one embodiment, the cleaning chamber 213 is provided with an operation window (not shown) corresponding to the powder cleaning area 2132. The operation window is equipped with gloves for the operator to wear through the window to transfer the 3D printed part separated from the molding powder package 13 to the powder cleaning area 2132. In one example, the operation window is made of a transparent material such as acrylic to allow the operator to observe and operate. In another example, the gloves are made of a durable and elastic material such as nitrile rubber to allow for repeated wear by the operator. In one example, an airtight structure such as a rubber gasket is provided at the junction of the operation window and the gloves to maintain a sealed environment within the cleaning chamber 213.
[0062] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the powder cleaning mechanism 22 includes a spray gun assembly 221 disposed in the cleaning chamber 213. The spray gun assembly 221 is used to output an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed part separated from the molding powder pack 13 in the powder cleaning zone 2132 to clean the powder adhering to the 3D printed part by means of powder collision. The powder cleaning mechanism 22 provided in this embodiment outputs an airflow carrying the same material as the powder adhering to the 3D printed part, and performs the powder cleaning operation through the mechanical impact between the high-speed powder in the airflow and the powder adhering to the 3D printed part. While ensuring the cleaning effect, the powder in the powder cleaning operation can be reused for cleaning the 3D printed part through the powder receiving mechanism and the powder supply mechanism, and the powder can continue to be recycled after the powder cleaning operation is completed.
[0063] In some examples, the air pressure of the airflow carrying the powder provided by the spray gun assembly 221 is 0.5-0.7 MPa, for example, approximately 0.5 MPa, 0.51 MPa, 0.52 MPa, 0.53 MPa, 0.54 MPa, 0.55 MPa, 0.56 MPa, 0.57 MPa, 0.58 MPa, 0.59 MPa, 0.6 MPa, 0.61 MPa, 0.62 MPa, 0.63 MPa, 0.64 MPa, 0.65 MPa, 0.66 MPa, 0.67 MPa, 0.68 MPa, 0.69 MPa, or 0.7 MPa. In some examples, the amount of powder carried by the airflow is configured to be approximately 840 g / min.
[0064] In certain application scenarios, operators can clean powder from 3D printed parts by hand. Therefore, in one embodiment, the spray gun assembly 221 includes a second spray gun mechanism (not shown), which outputs an airflow carrying powder toward the handheld 3D printed part. It should be noted that the handheld 3D printed part includes, but is not limited to, being grasped by a human hand or a robotic arm. Specifically, after sorting the 3D printed parts in the molding powder package 13 of the feeding area 2131, a human hand or robotic arm can hold the 3D printed part and then use the second spray gun mechanism to clean the powder. The second spray gun mechanism can be used for powder cleaning by a human hand or robotic arm, or it can be connected to a drive device for automatic powder cleaning. The following embodiments illustrate the use of a human hand or robotic arm to hold the second spray gun mechanism, and should not be construed as limiting this application.
[0065] In one embodiment, the second spray gun mechanism may be configured to include an air supply line, a powder supply line, a spray gun body, and a nozzle. In some examples, the powder supply line may be connected to the powder supply mechanism 24 to input powder, and the air supply line may be connected to a gas compression device to input compressed air. In this example, the nozzle, as the outlet end of the second spray gun mechanism, may be connected to the air supply line and the powder supply line to mix the powder and the compressed air, thereby forming a high-speed airflow carrying the powder. Further, the operator can hold the spray gun body and aim the nozzle at the 3D printed part to perform a powder cleaning operation. In some examples, the second spray gun mechanism may be configured as a "Y" or "r" shaped structure, but is not limited thereto. In some examples, the air supply line and the powder supply line may be configured as flexible structures to allow the operator to perform multi-angle blowing on the 3D printed part over a large range. In some examples, the spray gun body may be equipped with a switch to facilitate the operator's control of whether the airflow is output.
[0066] In some embodiments, multiple second spray gun mechanisms may be configured, for example, two, where one second spray gun mechanism has a diffuser nozzle configured for cleaning the entire 3D printed part. The other second spray gun mechanism has a spot spray nozzle configured for cleaning the crevices of the 3D printed part.
[0067] In one embodiment, a shelf for placing the second spray gun mechanism is provided on the inner wall of the cleaning chamber 213. In this embodiment, the operator can place the second spray gun mechanism on the shelf after use for easy management. In some examples, the shelf may be configured to include a slot structure or a hook structure for fixing the spray gun body of the second spray gun mechanism.
[0068] It should be understood that in some application scenarios, 3D printed parts require automatic powder removal. Based on this, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the powder cleaning mechanism 22 includes a roller assembly 222. In this embodiment, the operator can place the 3D printed parts sorted from the molding powder bag 13 into the roller assembly 222 for automatic powder cleaning. In some embodiments, the roller assembly 222 can be used in conjunction with the second spray gun mechanism. For example, when multiple 3D printed parts have a first size and a second size respectively, and the first size is smaller than the second size, the operator can place the 3D printed parts with the first size into the roller assembly 222 for automatic powder cleaning, while simultaneously holding the 3D printed parts with the second size and manually cleaning them using the second spray gun mechanism.
[0069] When the operator performs powder cleaning on the 3D printed part using the roller assembly 222 or the second spray gun mechanism, the generated powder can enter the powder receiving mechanism 23 through a powder receiving port. The powder receiving port refers to the opening structure of the powder receiving mechanism 23 for receiving powder, specifically, it can be an opening at the top of the powder receiving mechanism 23. In this embodiment, as... Figure 2 As shown, the cleaning table 210 of the base 21 has a second opening 216 corresponding to the powder cleaning area 2132. At this time, the powder receiving mechanism 23 is arranged in the base 21 with the powder receiving port facing the second opening 216.
[0070] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, a storage basket 217 for placing the cleaned 3D printed part is provided on the second opening 216. The storage basket 217 is designed with a hollow structure so that the loose powder on the 3D printed part falls into the powder receiving mechanism 23 through the second opening 216. Figure 2 In the example shown, the storage basket 217 is positioned adjacent to the retrieval port 2133 to facilitate the operator's retrieval of the 3D printed part after the powder cleaning process. In some examples, the perforated structure is configured as a plurality of perforated structures on the storage basket 217.
[0071] Please see Figure 10 and Figure 11 and combined Figure 1 ,in, Figure 10 and Figure 11 The following are schematic diagrams of the roller assembly from different perspectives in one embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 1 , Figure 10 ,as well as Figure 11 As shown, the roller assembly 222 includes a roller 2221 and a rotary drive mechanism 2222. The roller 2221 is disposed in the powder cleaning zone 2132, and the rotary drive mechanism 2222 is used to drive the roller 2221, which contains the 3D printed part separated from the molding powder pack 13, to rotate. In one example, the roller 2221 is disposed inside the cleaning chamber 213, and the rotary drive mechanism 2222 is disposed outside the cleaning chamber 213. The two are connected by a rotating shaft passing through the side wall of the cleaning chamber 213, so that the rotary drive mechanism 2222 drives the roller 2221 to rotate around the rotation axis L.
[0072] In some examples, the roller 2221 may be configured as a cylindrical or flared structure with an opening, forming a space within it to accommodate the 3D printed part. In some examples, the rotary drive mechanism 2222 may be configured to include a rotary motor associated with the rotation axis to drive the roller 2221 to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise about the rotation axis L. In some examples, the rotary drive mechanism 2222 may further include a speed reducer associated with the rotary motor for controlling the rotational speed of the roller 2221.
[0073] In one embodiment, such as Figure 11 As shown, the rotation axis L of the roller 2221 makes an angle α of 5°-30° with respect to the horizontal plane, for example, approximately 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°, 12°, 13°, 14°, 15°, 16°, 17°, 18°, 19°, 20°, 21°, 22°, 23°, 24°, 25°, 26°, 27°, 28°, 29°, or 30°. It should be understood that in this embodiment, the roller 2221 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane, which allows the opening of the roller 2221 to be relatively upward, thus preventing the 3D printed part from detaching from the inside of the roller 2221 during rotational powder cleaning. In some examples, a cover may be provided at the opening of the roller 2221, which the operator can operate to control the opening and closing of the roller 2221 to further prevent the 3D printed part from detaching.
[0074] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 10 and Figure 11The roller 2221 is located above the second opening 216 in the powder cleaning zone 2132. The roller 2221 is equipped with a powder dropping structure 2223 to allow the powder to be cleaned to enter the powder receiving mechanism 23 through the second opening 216. Figure 2 In the example shown, the powder dispensing structure 2223 is configured as multiple through holes on the roller 2221. Powder adhering to the 3D printed part inside the rotating roller 2221 leaves the roller 2221 through the multiple through holes under the action of centrifugal force, and then enters the powder receiving mechanism 23 through the second opening 216 and the powder guide. In some other examples, the powder dispensing structure 2223 may be configured as multiple slit structures arranged along the circumference or axial direction of the roller 2221, but is not limited thereto, as long as powder can pass through.
[0075] In one embodiment, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the roller assembly 222 further includes a guide structure 2224 disposed at the bottom of the roller 2221. The guide structure 2224 includes a support base 2225 and a guide member 2226. The support base 2225 is disposed on the inner wall of the cleaning chamber 213, and the guide member is disposed on the support base 2225 and fits against the roller 2221. In this embodiment, the guide member 2224 fits against the circumference of the roller 2221, conforming to the rotation of the roller 2221 and providing support to reduce the swaying of the roller 2221 during powder cleaning. In one example, the guide member 2224 may be configured as two rollers.
[0076] In an embodiment where the roller assembly 222 is used for powder cleaning, the spray gun assembly 221 includes a first spray gun mechanism for outputting an airflow carrying powder toward the 3D printed part inside the roller 2221 as the roller 2221 rotates, in conjunction with the roller assembly 222 to clean the 3D printed part. In this embodiment, the powder adhering to the 3D printed part can be more easily detached from the 3D printed part by the centrifugal force provided by the rotating roller 2221 and the high-speed airflow output by the first spray gun mechanism, thereby improving the powder cleaning efficiency. In some examples, the first spray gun mechanism may, for example, be suspended from the top of the cleaning chamber 213 corresponding to the roller 2221, and its specific structure may be the same as the aforementioned second spray gun mechanism. For details, please refer to the description in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.
[0077] In one embodiment, the spray gun assembly 221 further includes a first moving mechanism connected to the first spray gun mechanism, used to move the first spray gun mechanism to a preset cleaning position. The preset cleaning position can be understood as the target position where the first spray gun mechanism cleans the powder from the 3D printed part inside the roller 2221, and the first spray gun mechanism can output airflow only after moving to this target position.
[0078] In one example, the preset cleaning position may be located at the opening of the roller 2221. In this example, the first moving mechanism can drive the first spray gun mechanism to move vertically. For example, it can drive the first spray gun mechanism downward to the opening of the roller 2221 and output an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed part inside the roller 2221 to cooperate with the rotating roller 2221 for powder cleaning. After the powder cleaning is completed, the first moving mechanism can drive the first spray gun mechanism upward to return to the top of the cleaning chamber 213.
[0079] In another example, the preset cleaning position may be located inside the roller 2221. In this example, the first moving mechanism can drive the first spray gun mechanism to move vertically and horizontally. For example, it can drive the first spray gun mechanism downward to the opening of the roller 2221, then horizontally to extend into the interior of the roller 2221, and then output an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed part inside the roller 2221 to cooperate with the rotating roller 2221 for powder cleaning. After the powder cleaning is completed, the first moving mechanism drives the first spray gun mechanism to first move horizontally to return to the opening of the roller 2221, and then move upward to return to the top of the cleaning chamber 213.
[0080] In one implementation, the first moving mechanism may be configured to include a translation screw and a translation motor. The translation screw is associated with the first spray gun mechanism, and the translation motor and the translation screw can drive the first moving mechanism to perform translational movement of the first spray gun mechanism. The translational movement includes movement in the vertical direction and / or the horizontal direction. In some other implementations, the first moving mechanism may also be configured as a cylinder with a telescopic rod, but this is not a limitation, as long as it can drive the first spray gun mechanism to perform translational movement.
[0081] It should be noted that the operator can place the 3D printed parts after cleaning the powder using the second spray gun mechanism and / or the roller assembly 222 and the first spray gun mechanism into the aforementioned storage basket 217. The powder generated during the cleaning process and the floating powder on the 3D printed parts in the storage basket 217 are all recycled into the powder receiving mechanism 23 through the second opening 216.
[0082] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the cleaning chamber 213 has a retrieval port 2133 corresponding to the powder removal area 2132 for retrieving the cleaned 3D printed part. In one example, a door assembly is provided at the retrieval port 2133, which allows the operator to selectively open or close the retrieval port 2133. For example, the retrieval port 2133 can be closed during the powder removal process to maintain a closed environment in the cleaning chamber 213, and opened after the powder removal is completed to retrieve the 3D printed part.
[0083] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the powder receiving mechanism 23 is connected to the powder cleaning area 2132. Please refer to... Figure 4 The powder receiving mechanism 23 includes a buffer chamber 230 for receiving the cleaned powder. In one example, the buffer chamber 230 is configured as a funnel-shaped structure that gradually narrows from the second opening 216, and its inner wall can be smoothed to maximize powder recovery.
[0084] It should be understood that the powder entering the powder receiving mechanism 23 through the second opening 216 may contain impurities such as large powder particles agglomerated due to impact, debris from the support structure of the 3D printed part, or residue generated during sintering within the molding powder pack. These impurities may cause blockage of the powder cleaning mechanism 22. Therefore, in one embodiment, the powder receiving mechanism 23 may further include a vibrating sieve mechanism connected to the buffer chamber 230 to vibrate and sieve the powder from the buffer chamber 230 before conveying it to the powder supply mechanism 24 via the air passage. The powder receiving mechanism 23 provided in this embodiment can remove these impurities to prevent them from entering the powder supply mechanism 24 and causing blockage of the powder cleaning mechanism 22.
[0085] Please see Figure 12 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the vibrating screen mechanism in one embodiment of this application. Figure 12 As shown, the vibrating sieve mechanism 231 can be configured to include a sieve 2311, a vibrating device 2312, and a discharge port 2313. The vibrating device 2312 is associated with the sieve 2311 to cause the sieve 2311 to vibrate mechanically, thereby outputting powder with a qualified particle size from the discharge port 2313 to the powder feeding mechanism 24. In some examples, the aperture of the sieve 2311 can be determined according to the particle size of the powder required for the powder cleaning operation, and the vibrating device 2312 can be configured as a vibrating motor. In some examples, large particles of powder intercepted by the sieve 2311 can be crushed before entering the powder receiving mechanism 23.
[0086] Please see Figure 13 and combined Figure 1 ,in, Figure 13 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the powder supply mechanism in one embodiment of this application, as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 13 As shown, the powder supply mechanism 24 includes a powder supply cylinder 241, which is connected to the powder receiving mechanism 23 and has a first outlet 2412 and a second outlet 2413. The first outlet 2412 is used to connect to the spray gun assembly 221 to supply powder, and the second outlet 2413 is used to discharge excess powder. Specifically, in Figure 13In the example shown, the first outlet 2412 and the second outlet 2413 are located at the lower end of the powder supply cylinder 241, and the upper end of the powder supply cylinder 241 is provided with a powder inlet 2411. The powder inlet 2411 can be connected to the discharge port 2313 of the vibrating screen mechanism 231 via a flexible hose to receive the powder after vibrating screening. The first outlet 2412 is connected to the powder feeding pipeline of the spray gun assembly 221 to supply powder, and the second outlet 2413 can be connected, for example, to a storage tank externally placed in a powder cleaning device to recover excess powder.
[0087] In one embodiment, the dust removal device 2 further includes a negative pressure dust removal mechanism connected to the cleaning chamber 213, the negative pressure dust removal mechanism including a fan. Please refer to... Figure 14 The image shown is a schematic diagram of the fan structure in one embodiment of this application, as follows: Figure 14 As shown, the fan 25 includes a first inlet and a third outlet. The first inlet is connected to a filter mechanism to input filtered powder into the cleaning chamber 213, and the third outlet is connected to the external environment to discharge airflow. In one example, the filter mechanism can be configured as a dust collector filter element. In this embodiment, the negative pressure dust removal mechanism can maintain a negative pressure environment inside the cleaning chamber 213, which is beneficial for collecting the powder escaping from the cleaning chamber 213 to ensure a clean environment inside the cleaning chamber 213, while reducing the risk of explosion caused by powder accumulation inside the cleaning chamber 213.
[0088] Furthermore, the fan 25 can be specifically configured to include fan blades and a motor. The motor drives the fan blades to rotate to generate airflow. The airflow can generate negative pressure at the first inlet, causing the airflow carrying powder in the cleaning chamber 213 to enter the filtration mechanism, thereby trapping the powder in the airflow and forming powder and clean airflow respectively. The trapped powder can be collected and reused for the cleaning operation, thereby further reducing powder loss. The clean airflow can be discharged from the cleaning equipment, for example, from the third outlet.
[0089] It should be noted here that, Figure 1 , Figure 13 and Figure 14 The relative positions of the powder receiving mechanism 23, the powder supply cylinder 241, and the fan 25 are illustrated only by way of example, and the air passages connecting the various components are not shown. This should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
[0090] In summary, the powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts disclosed in this application cleans the powder adhering to the 3D printed parts by setting a powder cleaning mechanism including a spray gun assembly. Furthermore, the spray gun assembly outputs an airflow carrying powder towards the 3D printed parts to clean them through powder collision. While ensuring cleaning effectiveness, the powder used in the cleaning process can be reused for cleaning the 3D printed parts through a powder receiving mechanism and a powder supply mechanism. After the powder cleaning operation is completed, the powder can be recycled. By setting a powder pack pushing mechanism that can conform to the cleaning table and move towards the first opening to close it, the opening and closing of the first opening can be selectively achieved, simultaneously accommodating both feeding methods via molding equipment and direct placement of molding powder packs in the feeding area, thus improving the applicability of the powder cleaning equipment.
[0091] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the inventive essence and beneficial effects of this application, and are not intended to limit this application. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the principles and scope of this application. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations achieved by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in this application should still be covered by the claims of this application.
Claims
1. A powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts, characterized in that, include: The base includes a cleaning table and a cleaning chamber formed around the cleaning table. The cleaning chamber includes a feeding area and a powder cleaning area. The feeding area is used to receive the transferred molding powder bag. The powder cleaning mechanism includes a spray gun assembly disposed in the cleaning chamber for outputting an airflow carrying powder toward the 3D printed part separated from the molding powder pack in the powder cleaning area to clean the powder adhering to the 3D printed part by means of powder collision; A powder receiving mechanism is disposed on the base and connected to the powder cleaning area to recover the cleaned powder. A powder supply mechanism is provided on the base and connected to the powder cleaning mechanism and the powder receiving mechanism through an air passage. It is used to supply the powder recovered by the powder receiving mechanism to the powder cleaning mechanism through the air passage.
2. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning platform has a first opening corresponding to the feeding area, and the area below the first opening is configured as a docking space for a molding device to enter and transfer the molding powder bag to the feeding area.
3. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 2, characterized in that, The molding equipment is configured to be from a selective laser sintering 3D printer.
4. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 2, characterized in that, A docking mechanism is provided within the docking space. The docking mechanism is used to lift the molding equipment to abut against the first opening when the molding equipment enters the docking space.
5. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 4, characterized in that, The molding equipment includes: A movable base includes a support portion and movable wheels disposed at the bottom of the support portion; A forming platform is mounted on the movable base and includes a forming chamber and a component platform disposed within the forming chamber. The forming powder bag is supported on the component platform, and the component platform is connected to a Z-axis drive mechanism to move upward under the drive of the Z-axis drive mechanism so that the forming powder bag enters the feeding area through the first opening.
6. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 2, characterized in that, A powder bag pushing mechanism is also provided on the cleaning platform of the base, which is used to move against the cleaning platform toward the first opening to scoop up the powder bag when the molding equipment moves the molded powder bag to the feeding area, or to move against the cleaning platform toward the first opening to close the first opening.
7. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 6, characterized in that, The powder pack pushing mechanism includes a plate body that is fitted to the cleaning table and a driving component connected to the plate body for driving the plate body to move between a first side and a second side of the first opening.
8. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 7, characterized in that, The powder pack pushing mechanism also includes a clamping component disposed on the first side to press the plate body.
9. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 8, characterized in that, The clamping assembly includes at least one clamping block with a notch structure, the notch structure being disposed toward the first opening to be inserted into the notch structure for clamping when the plate body moves to the first side.
10. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning chamber is equipped with a retrieval port corresponding to the powder removal area for retrieving the cleaned 3D printed parts.
11. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning chamber is provided with a pair of operation windows corresponding to the powder cleaning area. The operation windows are equipped with gloves so that the operator can wear the gloves through the operation windows to separate the 3D printed parts from the molding powder package and transfer them to the powder cleaning area.
12. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning platform of the base has a second opening corresponding to the powder cleaning area, and the powder receiving mechanism is arranged inside the base with the powder receiving port facing the second opening.
13. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 12, characterized in that, A storage basket for placing the cleaned 3D printed parts is provided on the second opening. The storage basket is designed with a hollow structure so that the floating powder on the 3D printed parts falls into the powder receiving mechanism through the second opening.
14. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air pressure of the airflow provided by the spray gun assembly is 0.5-0.7 MPa, and the amount of powder carried by the airflow is 840 g / min.
15. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The powder cleaning mechanism further includes a roller assembly, which includes a roller disposed in the powder cleaning area and a rotary drive mechanism. The rotary drive mechanism is used to drive the roller containing the 3D printed part separated from the molding powder package to rotate.
16. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 15, characterized in that, The roller is located above the second opening in the cleaning area, and the roller is provided with a powder dropping structure so that the powder to be cleaned can enter the powder receiving mechanism through the second opening.
17. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 15, characterized in that, The spray gun assembly includes a first spray gun mechanism for outputting an airflow carrying powder toward the 3D printed part inside the roller as the roller rotates, in order to cooperate with the roller assembly to clean the 3D printed part.
18. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 17, characterized in that, The spray gun assembly also includes a first moving mechanism connected to the first spray gun mechanism, used to move the first spray gun assembly to a preset cleaning position.
19. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 15, characterized in that, The roller assembly further includes a guide structure disposed at the bottom of the roller, the guide structure including a support seat disposed on the inner wall of the cleaning chamber and a guide member disposed on the support seat and in contact with the roller.
20. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 15, characterized in that, The rotation axis of the roller is at an angle of 5°-30° relative to the horizontal plane.
21. The powder cleaning device for 3D printed parts according to claim 1 or 15, characterized in that, The spray gun assembly also includes a second spray gun mechanism for outputting an airflow carrying powder toward the handheld 3D printed part.
22. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 21, characterized in that, The inner wall of the cleaning chamber is provided with a mounting rack for placing the second spray gun mechanism.
23. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The powder receiving mechanism includes a buffer bin and a vibrating screen mechanism. The buffer bin is used to receive the cleaned powder, and the vibrating screen mechanism is connected to the buffer bin to vibrate and screen the powder from the buffer bin before conveying it to the powder supply mechanism through the air passage.
24. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The powder supply mechanism includes a powder supply cylinder connected to the powder receiving mechanism. The powder supply cylinder has a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet is used to connect to the spray gun assembly to supply powder, and the second outlet is used to discharge excess powder.
25. The powder cleaning equipment for 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a negative pressure dust removal mechanism connected to the cleaning chamber, the negative pressure dust removal mechanism including a fan having a first inlet and a third outlet, the first inlet being connected to a filter mechanism to input filtered powder into the cleaning chamber, and the third outlet being connected to the external environment to discharge airflow.