Continuous fiber reinforced composite curing apparatus and additive control method

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device and additive control method in the field of composite material additive manufacturing technology.The device includes fiber supply mechanism, extrusion mechanism, extrusion head and curing mechanism.Fiber supply mechanism is equipped with sealed fiber chamber and motor-driven winding reel, realize the stable release and tension adjustment of fiber.Extrusion mechanism adopts motor-driven micro-screw slide table to cooperate with push rod and storage cylinder, to accurately control the extrusion pressure of photosensitive resin in mechanical transmission mode.Extrusion head is merged extrusion by independent fiber guide pipe and resin guide pipe.Fiber and resin.Curing mechanism includes multiple ultraviolet light curing units and light shield distributed around extrusion needle, realize all-round rapid curing.The application improves the stability of fiber delivery, extrusion pressure accuracy and continuous operation ability through structure optimization and control strategy cooperation, suitable for high-precision, long-period industrial composite material printing working condition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of additive manufacturing technology for composite materials, and in particular to a curing apparatus and additive control method for continuous fiber reinforced composite materials. Background Technology

[0002] Continuous fiber reinforced composites are increasingly widely used in aerospace, automotive lightweighting, high-end equipment, and advanced manufacturing due to their excellent properties such as high specific strength, high specific modulus, high temperature resistance, and strong designability. This technology typically uses a printhead to deposit continuous fibers impregnated with a photosensitive resin matrix solution layer by layer along a preset path, and simultaneously cures them by ultraviolet light irradiation.

[0003] However, existing manufacturing equipment still faces numerous problems in actual production. First, during fiber transport, tension fluctuates significantly due to unwinding resistance and inertia. Traditional equipment lacks an effective tension adjustment mechanism, resulting in frequent fiber jamming or breakage, or loose entanglement. This not only affects the continuity of transport but also prevents the matrix solution from uniformly coating the fibers, ultimately impacting the quality of the finished product. Second, most current equipment uses air pumps to provide extrusion pressure. However, due to the compressibility of gas and the instability of the air source pressure, the extrusion force output fluctuates greatly, leading to low control precision. Consequently, it is difficult to flexibly and precisely adjust the pressure when dealing with matrix solutions of different viscosities or different types of continuous fibers, making it difficult to guarantee print consistency. Furthermore, the fiber storage space in existing equipment is generally too small. When printing large-sized or long-term continuous workpieces, the fiber is quickly depleted, necessitating frequent shutdowns for fiber replacement. This not only interrupts the entire printing process but also significantly reduces production efficiency, making it difficult to meet the demands of industrial-scale mass production. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a curing device for continuous fiber reinforced composite materials to solve one or more technical problems existing in the prior art, and at least provide a beneficial option or create conditions.

[0005] The technical solution adopted to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device includes: a fiber supply mechanism, an extrusion mechanism, an extrusion head, and a curing mechanism; The fiber supply mechanism includes a fiber chamber, a winding shaft, and a fiber take-up and release drive unit. The fiber chamber has a fiber storage space, the winding shaft is located in the fiber storage space, and the fiber take-up and release drive unit is used to drive the winding shaft to rotate. The extrusion mechanism includes a storage cylinder, a push rod, and an extrusion drive component. The storage cylinder has a resin storage space. At least a portion of the push rod is disposed within the resin storage space and is slidably and sealingly connected to the storage cylinder. The extrusion drive component is used to drive the push rod to move relative to the storage cylinder. The extrusion head has an extrusion cavity and an extrusion needle communicating with the extrusion cavity. A fiber guide tube is connected between the extrusion cavity and the fiber storage space. The push rod is located at one end of the resin storage space, and a resin guide tube is connected between the other end of the resin storage space and the extrusion cavity. The curing mechanism is used to cure the composite material extruded by the extruder head.

[0006] The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device provided by this invention has at least the following beneficial effects: By integrating fiber supply, resin extrusion, composite extrusion, and curing functions into the same device, online composite and instant curing of continuous fibers and resin are achieved. Fibers and resins enter the extrusion chamber through independent guide tubes, avoiding clogging or uneven wetting problems caused by premixing. The fiber release and take-up drive unit can actively control the fiber release speed and work in conjunction with the extrusion drive component, laying the structural foundation for subsequent precise tension control. The curing mechanism is arranged close to the extrusion needle, enabling the extruded composite material to quickly solidify, improving molding accuracy and interlayer bonding strength.

[0007] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the storage space is used to store photosensitive resin, and the curing mechanism includes multiple curing units, which are used to emit ultraviolet light. The multiple curing units are evenly distributed around the circumference of the extrusion needle.

[0008] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the curing mechanism also includes a light shield, which is fitted onto the extrusion needle, and multiple curing units are tunably connected to the extrusion head.

[0009] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the fiber chamber includes a sealing cylinder and end caps. The sealing cylinder is cylindrical in shape, and the two end caps are respectively located at both ends of the sealing cylinder along its axial direction. The end caps are detachably and sealed to the sealing cylinder to form the fiber storage space.

[0010] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the fiber chamber is cylindrical, the winding shaft is coaxially rotatably disposed within the fiber storage space, the fiber take-up and release drive unit is a motor, and the output end of the fiber take-up and release drive unit is connected to the winding shaft for transmission.

[0011] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the storage cylinder, resin storage space and push rod all extend along the first direction, and the extrusion driving component is a miniature lead screw slide table driven by a motor and arranged along the first direction. The extrusion driving component has an extrusion driving end that is pulsatically connected to the push rod.

[0012] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, there are multiple storage cylinders, and each of the multiple storage cylinders is provided with a push rod in a one-to-one correspondence. The extrusion driving component synchronously drives the multiple push rods to move.

[0013] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the reservoir and the push rod form a syringe structure. The reservoir is detachably connected to the extrusion head. The reservoir and the push rod are disposed between the resin guide tube and the extrusion drive end. One end of the reservoir in the first direction is detachably connected to the resin guide tube, and the other end of the push rod in the first direction is detachably connected to the extrusion drive end.

[0014] The present invention also provides an additive manufacturing control method, wherein the 3D printer includes a transfer device and the above-mentioned continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device, and the transfer device is used to drive the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device to move according to a preset trajectory; In the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device, the fiber take-up and release drive unit is a motor, and the output end of the fiber take-up and release drive unit is connected to the winding shaft via a transmission connection; the extrusion drive component is a miniature lead screw slide table driven by a motor, and the extrusion drive component has an extrusion drive end that is connected to the push rod via a transmission connection. The control method includes: controlling the fiber take-up and release drive unit to match the release speed of the fiber filaments with the moving speed of the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device; and controlling the extrusion drive component to match the extrusion rate of the composite material with the release speed of the fiber filaments.

[0015] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the 3D printer is equipped with Klipper firmware, which synchronously controls the extrusion drive component and the fiber take-up and release drive unit to synchronize the extrusion action with the fiber relaxation action. The Klipper firmware is configured to make the specific parameters of the extrusion drive component and the fiber take-up and release drive unit change synchronously at a preset numerical ratio, so that the resin extrusion displacement corresponds to the fiber pre-relaxation length, thereby keeping the fiber in a moderately relaxed state during the printing process. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments; Figure 1This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an embodiment of the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a rear view of an embodiment of the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a perspective schematic diagram of an embodiment of the extrusion head and curing mechanism provided by the present invention; Figure 4 This is a front exploded view of an embodiment of the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device provided by the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 100-fiber supply mechanism, 110-fiber chamber, 111-sealing cylinder, 112-left end cap, 113-right end cap, 120-winding shaft, 130-fiber take-up and unwinding drive unit, 200-extrusion mechanism, 210-storage cylinder, 220-push rod, 230-extrusion drive component, 240-resin guide tube, 300-extrusion head, 310-extrusion needle, 400-curing mechanism, 410-curing unit, 420-light shield, 430-clamp, 440-rotating hinge, 500-connecting substrate. Detailed Implementation

[0018] This section will describe in detail specific embodiments of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to supplement the textual description with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and overall technical solution of the present invention, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, if there are words such as "several", they mean one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than", "less than", "exceeding" etc. are understood to exclude the number itself, and "above", "below", "within" etc. are understood to include the number itself.

[0021] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0022] Reference Figures 1 to 4The continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in the following embodiments: A continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device includes: a fiber supply mechanism 100, an extrusion mechanism 200, an extrusion head 300, and a curing mechanism 400.

[0023] The fiber supply mechanism 100 includes a fiber chamber 110, a winding shaft 120, and a fiber take-up and unwinding drive unit 130. The fiber chamber 110 has a fiber storage space, and the winding shaft 120 is rotatably disposed within the fiber storage space. The fiber take-up and unwinding drive unit 130 drives the winding shaft 120 to rotate relative to the fiber chamber 110. The winding shaft 120 is used to wind fiber filaments, and when the fiber take-up and unwinding drive unit 130 drives the winding shaft 120 to rotate, it can loosen and release the fiber filaments on it.

[0024] The extrusion mechanism 200 includes a storage cylinder 210, a push rod 220, and an extrusion drive component 230. The storage cylinder 210 has a resin storage space, at least a portion of the push rod 220 is disposed within the resin storage space and is slidably and sealingly connected to the storage cylinder 210, and the extrusion drive component 230 is used to drive the push rod 220 to move relative to the storage cylinder 210.

[0025] The extrusion head 300 has an extrusion cavity and an extrusion needle 310 communicating with the extrusion cavity. A fiber guide tube is connected between the extrusion cavity and the fiber storage space. The push rod 220 is located at one end of the resin storage space, and a resin guide tube 240 is connected between the other end of the resin storage space and the extrusion cavity.

[0026] The curing mechanism 400 is used to cure the composite material extruded by the extruder 300.

[0027] The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device of this invention integrates fiber supply, resin extrusion, composite extrusion, and curing functions into a single device, achieving online composite and instant curing of continuous fibers and resin. Fibers and resins enter the extrusion chamber through independent guide tubes, avoiding clogging or uneven wetting problems caused by premixing. The fiber take-up and release drive unit 130 actively controls the fiber release speed and works in conjunction with the extrusion drive component 230, laying the structural foundation for subsequent precise tension control. The curing mechanism 400 is arranged adjacent to the extrusion needle 310, enabling rapid shaping of the extruded composite material and improving molding accuracy and interlayer bonding strength.

[0028] The extrusion chamber is cylindrical, with the end of the fiber guide tube connected to one end of the extrusion chamber, and the extrusion needle 310 connected to the other end of the extrusion chamber via a Luer adapter. The resin guide tube 240 is connected to one side of the extrusion chamber. In actual use, continuous fibers enter the extrusion chamber from the fiber chamber 110 along the fiber guide tube and merge with the resin in the extrusion chamber to achieve initial impregnation. During the resin extrusion process, the relaxed fiber filaments are extruded synchronously with the resin to form a composite material, which is then laid and cured along the moving path.

[0029] In this embodiment, the storage space is used to store photosensitive resin, and the curing mechanism 400 includes multiple curing units 410, each of which is a UV lamp for emitting ultraviolet light. The multiple curing units 410 are evenly distributed circumferentially around the extrusion needle 310. Using photosensitive resin as the matrix material, combined with the UV curing units 410, rapid curing at room temperature can be achieved, avoiding the thermal stress or energy consumption problems caused by heat curing. The even distribution of multiple curing units 410 around the extrusion needle 310 allows for comprehensive, no-dead-angle light curing of the extruded composite material, ensuring uniform curing of the fiber and resin in any extrusion direction, significantly improving the surface quality and mechanical isotropy of the printed parts. In other embodiments, for thermosensitive resins, the curing unit 410 can be a heating element, using thermal radiation to denature and cure the extruded composite material.

[0030] To ensure printing continuity and prevent UV light from directly hitting the extrusion needle 310 and causing clogging, the curing mechanism 400 in this embodiment also includes a light shield 420. The light shield 420 is circular and umbrella-shaped, and is coaxially sleeved on the extrusion needle 310, forming a barrier between the extrusion needle 310 and the curing unit 410. This effectively restricts the range of ultraviolet light irradiation, ensuring instantaneous curing of the composite material after extrusion, and preventing light from scattering to non-printing areas, thus avoiding affecting the resin in the extrusion needle 310 and causing clogging.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, to improve flexibility, multiple curing units 410 are adjustable. Specifically, the upper end of the extrusion head 300 is provided with a connecting base plate 500, and the fiber supply mechanism 100 and the extrusion mechanism 200 are both connected to the connecting base plate 500. Multiple elastically openable clamps 430 are arranged around the lower side of the connecting base plate 500 around the circumference of the extrusion head 300. The clamps 430 are hinged to the extrusion head 300 via rotating hinges 440, and the curing unit 410 is cylindrical and clamped and fixed to the clamps 430. In actual use, the damping force of the rotating hinges 440 themselves can keep the clamps 430 at their original angle. The angle of the clamps 430 can be adjusted by using the rotating hinges 440, thereby making the angle of the curing unit 410 adjustable. Secondly, the clamping position of the clamps 430 on the curing unit 410 is adjustable, so that the relative position of the curing unit and the corresponding clamp 430 can be adjusted as needed. The adjustable connection between the curing unit 410 and the extruder 300 allows for adjustment of the light angle, distance, or intensity, improving the device's adaptability to different materials and working conditions.

[0032] The fiber chamber 110 of this embodiment includes a sealing cylinder 111 and end caps. The sealing cylinder 111 is cylindrical in shape, and the two end caps are respectively disposed at the two axial ends of the sealing cylinder 111. The end caps are detachably and sealed to the sealing cylinder 111 to form the fiber storage space.

[0033] The fiber guide tube is connected to the middle of the sealing cylinder 111. A quick connector is provided in the middle of the sealing cylinder 111, arranged radially therein. The end of the fiber guide tube is connected to the fiber storage space through the quick connector. The fiber filaments are fed out of the fiber chamber 110 through the quick connector and conveyed to the extruder 300 along the fiber guide tube.

[0034] The sealed fiber chamber 110 formed by the sealing cylinder 111 and the end cap prevents the extrusion cavity from communicating with the outside world, eliminating the possibility of resin backflow. It also effectively isolates external dust, moisture, and other contaminants, preventing fiber contamination during long-term storage or printing and thus protecting the composite material's performance. The detachable end cap facilitates quick replacement of the fiber reel or internal cleaning, reducing maintenance difficulty. The cylindrical shape promotes smooth fiber delivery, reduces frictional resistance, and further improves the stability of fiber transport.

[0035] The fiber chamber 110 is cylindrical, and the winding shaft 120 is coaxially rotatably disposed within the fiber storage space. The fiber take-up and unwinding drive unit 130 is a motor, and its output end is connected to the winding shaft 120 for transmission. The coaxial arrangement of the winding shaft 120 and the fiber chamber 110 ensures uniform force on the fiber during unwinding, avoiding tension fluctuations caused by eccentricity. Using a motor as the fiber take-up and unwinding drive unit 130 enables precise closed-loop control of the fiber release speed, dynamically adjusting the unwinding speed based on the real-time movement speed of the print head. This effectively prevents excessive fiber stretching or loose entanglement, providing reliable fiber delivery for long-term continuous printing.

[0036] Specifically, the two end caps are a left end cap 112 and a right end cap 113, which are respectively located at the two axial ends of the sealing cylinder 111. In this embodiment, both the left end cap 112 and the right end cap 113 are threadedly connected to the sealing cylinder 111. A sealing ring is also provided between the left end cap 112 and the right end cap 113 and the sealing cylinder 111 to enhance the sealing performance between the left end cap 112 and the right end cap 113 and the sealing cylinder 111.

[0037] The fiber take-up and unload drive unit 130 is installed on the left end cover 112, and the output shaft of the fiber take-up and unload drive unit 130 extends toward the right end cover 113. The winding shaft 120 is coaxially disposed inside the sealing cylinder 111. One end of the winding shaft 120 is axially inserted into the output shaft of the fiber take-up and unload drive unit 130, thereby enabling a detachable drive connection between the fiber take-up and unload drive unit 130 and the winding shaft 120. The other end of the winding shaft 120 is rotatably connected to the right end cover 113. When the left end cover 112 and the right end cover 113 are screwed and sealed with the sealing cylinder 111, the winding shaft 120 is confined between the fiber take-up and unload drive unit 130 and the right end cover 113, allowing the fiber take-up and unload drive unit 130 to drive the winding shaft 120 to rotate.

[0038] The storage cylinder 210, resin storage space, and push rod 220 all extend along a first direction. The extrusion drive component 230 is a miniature lead screw slide arranged along the first direction and driven by a motor. The extrusion drive component 230 has an extrusion drive end that is pulsatorically connected to the push rod 220. The storage cylinder 210, push rod 220, and lead screw slide are arranged linearly in the same direction, resulting in a compact structure and high transmission efficiency. The use of a motor-driven miniature lead screw slide to replace the traditional air pump pressurization method completely eliminates the pressure fluctuation problem caused by the compressibility of gas, making the extrusion pressure output linearly controllable and with high repeatability. The mechanical self-locking characteristic of the lead screw drive can also maintain pressure stability when extrusion stops, preventing resin backflow or dripping.

[0039] As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the first direction is the vertical direction, and the storage cylinder 210 extends in the vertical direction. The storage cylinder 210 and the push rod 220 form a syringe structure. The storage cylinder 210 is detachably installed on the upper side of the extrusion head 300, and the lower end of the storage cylinder 210 is connected to the resin guide tube 240. The lower end of the push rod 220 is inserted into the storage cylinder 210. The lower end of the push rod 220 is provided with a sealing head, and the push rod 220 is dynamically sealed to the inner wall of the storage cylinder 210 through the sealing head to form the resin storage space. The upper end of the push rod 220 is exposed outside the storage cylinder 210 and is detachably connected to the extrusion drive end of the extrusion drive component 230.

[0040] The syringe-type detachable structure allows for quick replacement or cleaning of the reservoir 210, greatly simplifying resin material switching and equipment maintenance processes. One end of the reservoir 210 connects to the resin guide tube 240, and the other end connects to the extrusion drive end, forming a direct resin delivery path without unnecessary adapters, reducing resin flow resistance and residue risks. The detachable connection also facilitates the replacement of different specifications of the reservoir 210 according to different viscosities or batches of resin, enhancing the flexibility and scalability of the equipment.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the upper side of the connecting substrate 500 is provided with a mounting groove, the storage cylinder 210 is embedded in the mounting groove, the extrusion driving end of the extrusion driving member 230 is provided with a slot, and the upper end of the push rod 220 is embedded in the slot. In practical applications, the storage cylinder 210 is fixedly engaged in the mounting groove, and the extrusion driving member 230 drives the push rod 220 to move through the slot, thereby realizing extrusion driving. When it is necessary to replace or replenish the resin material, the storage cylinder 210 and the push rod 220 can be removed simultaneously, which is very convenient.

[0042] The number of storage cylinders 210 can be multiple, and each of the multiple storage cylinders 210 is correspondingly provided with a push rod 220. The extrusion drive component 230 synchronously drives the multiple push rods 220 to move. As shown in the figure, there are two storage cylinders 210 in this embodiment, which are arranged symmetrically from left to right. The two storage cylinders 210 are respectively connected to the left and right sides of the extrusion head 300 through resin guide pipes 240. The upper ends of the two push rods 220 are connected to the extrusion drive component 230.

[0043] Before printing begins, a certain amount of fiber filaments is first wound onto the winding spool 120, or the fiber filament roll is looped onto the winding spool 120. Then, the sealing cylinder 111 and end cap are assembled to form a complete fiber chamber 110. The loosened continuous fiber is then manually guided through a quick connector along the fiber guide tube to the extrusion chamber of the extruder head 300, and finally guided to the exit of the dispensing needle. A certain amount of photosensitive resin is then injected into the reservoir 210 and fixed onto the connecting substrate 500. Simultaneously, the irradiation area of ​​the curing unit 410 is adjusted to ensure that UV light can act on the extruded composite material without directly irradiating the dispensing needle. Finally, after checking the airtightness of the entire device, printing can begin.

[0044] This invention also provides an additive manufacturing control method applicable to 3D printers producing continuous fiber reinforced composite materials. The 3D printer includes a transfer device and the aforementioned continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device. The transfer device is used to move the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device along a preset trajectory.

[0045] The transfer device described in this embodiment is a three-axis transfer platform, employing three mutually perpendicular lead screw and nut drive modules to drive the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device to move within a preset space. In other embodiments, the transfer device may also be equipped with a rotary drive mechanism such as a rotary cylinder, servo motor, stepper motor, or pneumatic motor to drive the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device to rotate. In still other embodiments, the transfer device may employ a four-axis robot or a six-axis robot to drive the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device to move along the printing path; this application does not impose any limitations.

[0046] The control method includes: controlling the fiber take-up and release drive unit 130 to match the release speed of the fiber filaments with the moving speed of the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device; and controlling the extrusion drive member 230 to match the extrusion rate of the composite material with the release speed of the fiber filaments.

[0047] Specifically, the release rate of the fiber filaments is matched with the moving speed of the continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device. This means that the relaxation length of the fiber filaments released per unit time is not less than the moving distance of the continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device. Theoretically, the release length of the fiber filaments should be consistent with the printing moving distance. However, since the printing path generally involves twists and turns, and due to the differences in the physicochemical properties of the fiber filaments and resin materials, there will be a very slight deviation between the fiber filaments and the printing path. Therefore, it is preferable that the release length of the fiber filaments is greater than the printing moving distance, especially when the printing path contains loops, sharp turns, or small-radius curves. In practical use, the ratio coefficient between the release length of the fiber filaments and the printing moving distance can be set to α, where α is greater than or equal to 1. For example, in actual printing: if the printing distance in 1 second is 1 mm, then the relaxation length of the fiber filaments is (1*α) mm. α can be dynamically adjusted according to the characteristics of the printing path. For example, on a straight printing path, α=1; on a loop path, α=1.02; on a small-radius curved path, α=1.05.

[0048] Furthermore, the extrusion rate of the composite material refers to the extrusion throughput per unit time. Therefore, the extrusion rate of the composite material is matched with the release rate of the fiber filaments, which can be specifically calculated based on the cross-sectional area of ​​the extrusion port, the fiber filaments, and the storage cylinder 210. This application does not specify a specific distance.

[0049] By synchronizing the extrusion rate and fiber release speed with the printhead's movement speed, a constant supply of resin and fiber per unit length of the printing path is ensured, avoiding problems such as fiber exposure, resin accumulation, or discontinuous printing paths caused by speed mismatch. This control method provides core algorithmic support for achieving high dimensional accuracy and low defect rate printing of continuous fiber-reinforced composite materials, significantly improving molding consistency.

[0050] Furthermore, the 3D printer is equipped with Klipper firmware, which synchronously controls the extrusion drive component 230 and the fiber take-up and untake-down drive unit 130, synchronizing the extrusion action with the fiber relaxation action. The Klipper firmware is configured to synchronously change the specific parameters of the extrusion drive component 230 and the fiber take-up and untake-down drive unit 130 at a preset numerical ratio, so that the resin extrusion displacement corresponds to the fiber pre-relaxation length, thereby achieving synchronous coupling between fiber filament transport and resin material extrusion.

[0051] The synchronous control logic of the extrusion drive component 230 and the fiber take-up and untake-down drive unit 130 is configured and coordinated through Klipper firmware. In Klipper firmware, the ratio of the rotation_distance value in the configuration parameters of the two stepper motors is adjusted to accurately match and control the correspondence between the resin extrusion displacement and the fiber pre-relaxation length, thereby ensuring that the fiber pre-relaxation length and the resin extrusion displacement can be coupled with each other and are always not less than the printing displacement, thus ensuring that the continuous fiber is in a moderately relaxed state during the conveying process.

[0052] The additive manufacturing control method of this invention achieves high-precision timing synchronization between extrusion and fiber relaxation actions through Klipper firmware. It proportionally correlates the resin extrusion displacement with the fiber pre-relaxation length and couples the control based on the printing travel distance, ensuring the fiber remains moderately relaxed before entering the extrusion chamber. This prevents excessive tension from causing fiber breakage or jamming, while also avoiding insufficient tension from causing entanglement. This control strategy, at the algorithmic level, guarantees the continuity and stability of fiber delivery, solving the coupling delay problem caused by the independent extrusion and filament feeding in traditional 3D printers. It is a key technological support for the long-term reliable industrial operation of the entire system.

[0053] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0054] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art can make various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention. All such changes, modifications, equivalent alterations or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application, and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A curing device for continuous fiber-reinforced composite materials, characterized in that: include: A fiber supply mechanism, comprising a fiber chamber, a winding shaft, and a fiber take-up and release drive unit, wherein the fiber chamber has a fiber storage space, the winding shaft is disposed within the fiber storage space, and the fiber take-up and release drive unit is used to drive the winding shaft to rotate. An extrusion mechanism includes a storage cylinder, a push rod, and an extrusion drive component. The storage cylinder has a resin storage space, at least a portion of the push rod is disposed within the resin storage space and is slidably and sealingly connected to the storage cylinder, and the extrusion drive component is used to drive the push rod to move relative to the storage cylinder. An extruder has an extrusion cavity and an extrusion needle communicating with the extrusion cavity. A fiber guide tube communicates between the extrusion cavity and the fiber storage space. The push rod is located at one end of the resin storage space, and a resin guide tube communicates between the other end of the resin storage space and the extrusion cavity. A curing mechanism is used to cure the composite material extruded by the extruder head.

2. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage space is used to store photosensitive resin, and the curing mechanism includes multiple curing units. The curing units are used to emit ultraviolet light, and the multiple curing units are evenly distributed around the circumference of the extrusion needle.

3. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The curing mechanism also includes a light shield, which is fitted onto the extrusion needle, and multiple curing units are tunably connected to the extrusion head.

4. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fiber chamber includes a sealing cylinder and end caps. The sealing cylinder is cylindrical in shape, and the two end caps are respectively located at both ends of the sealing cylinder along its axial direction. The end caps are detachably and sealed to the sealing cylinder to form the fiber storage space.

5. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fiber chamber is cylindrical in shape, and the winding shaft is coaxially rotatably disposed within the fiber storage space. The fiber take-up and release drive unit is a motor, and the output end of the fiber take-up and release drive unit is connected to the winding shaft for transmission.

6. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage cylinder, resin storage space, and push rod all extend along a first direction. The extrusion drive component is a miniature lead screw slide table driven by a motor and arranged along the first direction. The extrusion drive component has an extrusion drive end that is pulsatically connected to the push rod.

7. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that: There are multiple storage cylinders, and each of the multiple storage cylinders is equipped with a push rod. The extrusion drive component synchronously drives the multiple push rods to move.

8. The continuous fiber-reinforced composite material curing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that: The reservoir and push rod form a syringe structure. The reservoir is detachably connected to the extrusion head. The reservoir and push rod are located between the resin guide tube and the extrusion drive end. One end of the reservoir in the first direction is detachably connected to the resin guide tube, and the other end of the push rod in the first direction is detachably connected to the extrusion drive end.

9. An additive manufacturing control method, characterized in that: The invention is applicable to a 3D printer, the 3D printer comprising a transfer device and a continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the transfer device is used to drive the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device to move along a preset trajectory; In the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device, the fiber take-up and release drive unit is a motor, and the output end of the fiber take-up and release drive unit is connected to the winding shaft via a transmission connection; the extrusion drive component is a miniature lead screw slide table driven by a motor, and the extrusion drive component has an extrusion drive end that is connected to the push rod via a transmission connection. The control method includes: The fiber take-up and release drive unit is controlled so that the release speed of the fiber filaments matches the moving speed of the continuous fiber reinforced composite material curing device; The extrusion drive component is controlled to match the extrusion rate of the composite material with the release rate of the fiber filaments.

10. The additive manufacturing control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The 3D printer is equipped with Klipper firmware, which synchronously controls the extrusion drive component and the fiber take-up and release drive unit to synchronize the extrusion action with the fiber relaxation action. The Klipper firmware is configured to synchronize the specific parameters of the extrusion drive component and the fiber take-up and release drive unit by a preset numerical ratio, so that the resin extrusion displacement corresponds to the fiber pre-relaxation length, thereby keeping the fiber in a moderately relaxed state during the printing process.

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