A scraper high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjusting and quick release system for SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and particularly relates to a scraper high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjusting and quick release system for SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing, which comprises a mounting base, a quick lifting platform, an automatic leveling mechanism, an angle adjusting mechanism, a quick release scraper assembly and a control system, and each component cooperates to realize three core functions of automatic leveling, angle adjusting and quick release and quick assembly, and all the components are designed in view of the characteristics of high viscosity, particle containing, easy adhesion and easy wear of SLA ceramic slurry. The present application has the advantages of simple structure, strong implementability, batch injection production of PEEK and POM materials, controllable cost, convenient and reliable quick release mechanism, greatly improved efficiency and quality of SLA ceramic slurry printing after being put into use, reduced labor intensity of operators, adaptation to SLA ceramic slurries of different formulas, and high practicality and industrial application value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to, but is not limited to, the field of additive manufacturing technology, and particularly relates to a high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment and quick-release system for scrapers used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing. Background Technology

[0002] SLA ceramic 3D printing is a core technology in ceramic additive manufacturing. Its core process involves uniformly coating a high-viscosity slurry containing ceramic particles onto a support platform using a squeegee, followed by laser curing to achieve layered molding, and finally sintering to obtain the ceramic product. Unlike the powder-laying process in metal 3D printing, SLA ceramic slurry has unique characteristics such as high viscosity, the presence of hard particles, easy adhesion, and easy wear on the squeegee. Furthermore, different ceramic slurry formulations (with significant viscosity differences) require different squeegee cutting angles. This makes the leveling accuracy, angle adaptability, and ease of maintenance of the squeegee system crucial to determining printing quality and efficiency.

[0003] Currently, the doctor blade systems used in SLA ceramic slurry printing mostly follow the design of metal printing or ordinary doctor blades, without being specifically optimized for the unique characteristics of ceramic slurry. This results in three unavoidable core pain points in practical applications, and existing technologies have not formed targeted integrated solutions.

[0004] The core pain points of existing technologies are as follows: (1) Manual leveling: It is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and has extremely low precision, which cannot meet the micron-level scraping requirements of ceramic slurry. Current SLA ceramic printing squeegees mostly employ manual leveling. Operators must visually observe and manually adjust the squeegee blade repeatedly to calibrate the gap between the blade and the slurry-bearing platform, ensuring a stable and consistent distance. This means the blade blade and the corresponding position on the platform surface must be parallel, ultimately laying the solid foundation for achieving a stable and consistent printing layer thickness. This method is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive (approximately 20 minutes per leveling session), but the leveling accuracy also relies entirely on the operator's experience, making it impossible to achieve micron-level gap control of 30-100μm. This results in uneven slurry layer thickness, leading to uneven ceramic body density, cracking and deformation after sintering, and significantly reducing product yield. Furthermore, the need for manual re-leveling after each use further reduces efficiency.

[0005] (2) Angle adaptation: The cutting angle is fixed, which cannot be adapted to ceramic slurries of different viscosities, resulting in poor versatility. Ceramic slurries exhibit significant viscosity variations (e.g., 2000-9000 mPa·s), and different viscosities require different cutting angles from the doctor blade. Due to differences in rheological properties, the appropriate doctor blade cutting angles vary considerably depending on the slurry's viscosity. For lower viscosity slurries, an excessively large cutting angle can cause slurry splashing due to the normal force applied by the doctor blade, contaminating the working environment and wasting slurry. Therefore, a smaller cutting angle is used to maintain laminar flow during coating. For higher viscosity slurries, the yield stress and internal friction increase significantly. If the cutting angle is too small, the doctor blade cannot generate sufficient downward pushing force to force the slurry to fill the coating gaps, easily leading to uneven coating or slurry accumulation. Therefore, a larger cutting angle is required to ensure effective spreading. The cutting angle of existing scrapers is mostly fixed. The "one-cut" structure cannot be adapted to ceramic slurries of different viscosities. This results in either severe splattering when scraping low-viscosity slurries or uneven scraping and excessive residue when scraping high-viscosity slurries. It cannot meet the printing needs of different ceramic slurry formulations and limits the application range of the equipment.

[0006] (3) Maintenance pain points: The scraper is cumbersome to disassemble and assemble, and cleaning and maintenance are inconvenient. The printing accuracy is easily affected by the adhesion of the ink. Because ceramic slurries contain hard particles that easily adhere to the surface, the blades of the scraper will wear down after a period of use, and slurry clumps will easily adhere to the surface, requiring regular disassembly, cleaning, and replacement. Most existing scrapers are one-piece structures, requiring specialized tools for disassembly and assembly, a cumbersome process (approximately 5 minutes per disassembly / assembly), and the scraper or adjustment mechanism can easily be damaged during disassembly and assembly. Furthermore, the cumbersome disassembly and assembly process leads to low maintenance efficiency, and frequent disassembly and assembly can reduce the positioning accuracy of the scraper, further affecting the coating effect.

[0007] Research indicates that currently, there is no integrated solution in domestic or international doctor blade systems for SLA ceramic slurry printing that simultaneously addresses the three core pain points mentioned above. Existing related technologies all have significant shortcomings and cannot meet actual needs: Solutions that only address a single pain point: Some technologies only achieve automatic leveling without considering quick-release blades and angle adaptation, thus failing to solve the problems of inconvenient maintenance and slurry universality; some technologies only achieve angle adjustment without combining leveling and quick release, thus failing to meet accuracy and maintenance requirements. All of these are single-function designs and cannot systematically solve the core pain points of SLA ceramic slurry printing.

[0008] Non-ceramic-specific solutions: Most existing automatic leveling and quick-release scraper technologies are designed for metal 3D printing (powder-spreading type) and do not take into account the characteristics of SLA ceramic slurry, such as high viscosity, particle content, easy adhesion, and easy wear. Directly applying these technologies will result in poor compatibility and will not meet the printing requirements of SLA ceramic slurry.

[0009] Common-sense design flaws: Existing manual leveling methods are routine operations in this field, and their inefficiency and low precision are pain points that are generally known to those skilled in the art but have not been resolved; the fixed angle and cumbersome disassembly and assembly of the scraper are limitations of conventional designs, not insurmountable technical bottlenecks. Existing technologies have not been optimized for the characteristics of SLA ceramic slurry, resulting in the long-term existence of the above-mentioned pain points, which provides room for innovation for this invention.

[0010] In summary, existing technologies cannot simultaneously solve the three core pain points of SLA ceramic slurry printing: "inefficient and low-precision manual leveling, poor compatibility with slurries of different viscosities, and inconvenient cleaning and maintenance of the scraper." There is an urgent need for a scraper system specifically designed for SLA ceramic slurry printing that integrates automatic leveling, adjustable angle, and quick-release and quick-installation functions to fill the gap in existing technologies, improve the efficiency and quality of SLA ceramic printing, and reduce the labor intensity of operators.

[0011] Based on the above analysis, the urgent technical problems that need to be solved in the existing technology are: The three core pain points in SLA ceramic slurry printing process are: low efficiency and low precision of manual leveling, poor compatibility with slurries of different viscosities, and inconvenience in cleaning and maintaining the scraper. Summary of the Invention

[0012] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention provides a high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for squeegees used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing, suitable for SLA ceramic slurry printing.

[0013] This invention is implemented as follows: a high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for squeegees used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing. The system includes: a mounting base, a rapid lifting platform, an automatic leveling mechanism, an angle adjustment mechanism, a quick-release squeegee assembly, and a control system. All components work together to achieve three core functions: automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release assembly / disassembly. All components are designed specifically for the characteristics of SLA ceramic slurry, such as high viscosity, particle content, easy adhesion, and easy wear.

[0014] Furthermore, the mounting base is a gantry frame, with overall dimensions adapted to the printing station of the SLA ceramic 3D printer. Cylinders are mounted on the crossbeams, and linear guide rails are mounted on the columns.

[0015] Furthermore, the rapid lifting platform is connected to a cylinder, enabling rapid lifting and lowering. Square holes on both sides of the platform house guide sliding seats, forming a guiding mechanism with the column guide rails to ensure stable and offset movement of the platform. Three precision servo motors drive lead screws on the platform, with servo motor accuracy ±1μm and lead screw stroke 50-100μm. Built-in displacement sensors enable closed-loop control.

[0016] Furthermore, the automatic leveling mechanism includes three precision laser rangefinders, three universal joint supports for lead screws, and a floating platform. The three universal joint supports for lead screws are arranged in an equilateral triangle and connected to the rapid lifting platform via lead screws. The three laser rangefinders are high-precision laser displacement sensors, installed below the floating platform in an equilateral triangle arrangement, with the laser emitting end facing the surface of the slurry bearing platform, detecting the gap data between the scraper and the bearing plane, and transmitting it to the control system. The control system has a built-in fitting algorithm that calculates the adjustment amount of each lead screw based on the detection data and controls the lead screws to lift independently.

[0017] Furthermore, the angle adjustment mechanism includes a scraper, a quick-release buckle, an L-shaped connecting plate, a scraper body, an angle adjustment servo motor, a precision planetary reducer, an angle adjustment drive module support frame, a coupling, and a main shaft. The drive motor is a small servo motor, fixed below the floating platform. The drive shaft is connected to a key transmission assembly through a reduction mechanism. The transmission assembly is connected to the scraper body of the quick-release scraper assembly, driving the scraper body to rotate around its own long axis to achieve precise adjustment of the scraper blade edge. The control system presets the correspondence between different viscosities of ceramic slurry and the cutting angle. The operator only needs to input the viscosity parameter to automatically adjust to the appropriate angle without manual intervention.

[0018] Furthermore, the quick-release scraper assembly includes a PEEK scraper body, a carbide scraper blade, and a POM elastic buckle. The scraper blade is elongated, with a one-piece boss at the top, 5mm high, and its width matches the groove of the scraper body for positioning and guidance. Symmetrical latches are located on both sides in the middle, 3mm deep and 2mm wide, precisely engaging with the elastic buckle. The bottom is the scraper cutting edge, 5mm thick. The scraper body is made of PEEK (polyetheretherketone) material through injection molding, with an injection precision of ±0.01mm. The scraper body has a slot, with symmetrical elastic buckles on both sides of the slot. The buckles are made of POM material through one-piece injection molding, with rounded chamfers on the inner side. The top of the scraper body is rigidly connected to the transmission component of the angle adjustment mechanism to ensure synchronous movement during angle adjustment.

[0019] Furthermore, the high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for the scraper used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing has the following specific workflow: (1) Initialization preparation: The operator loads the SLA ceramic slurry into the printer and inputs the slurry viscosity parameters; the control system automatically matches and presets the cutting angle of the scraper blade according to the preset viscosity-angle correspondence. (2) Automatic leveling: The control system starts the automatic leveling mechanism. Three laser rangefinders detect the gap data between the scraper and the support platform in real time and transmit the data to the control system. The control system calculates the adjustment amount of each lead screw through the fitting algorithm, controls the three precision motors to drive the lead screws to lift independently, adjusts the attitude of the floating platform until the gap is stable within the preset range, and completes the automatic leveling. (3) Angle adaptation: If the viscosity of the slurry changes, the operator only needs to re-enter the viscosity parameters. The control system will automatically control the angle adjustment mechanism to drive the scraper blade to rotate to the appropriate angle. After locking the angle, the scraping operation can be performed without manual adjustment. (4) Scraper maintenance: If the scraper blade is worn or has slurry on its surface, the operator should manually open the elastic buckles on both sides of the scraper body. The scraper blade will pop out automatically. Clean the slurry on the surface or replace the scraper blade with a new one. Align the new scraper blade with the groove of the scraper body and gently insert it. The buckles on both sides will automatically engage with the elastic buckles to achieve self-locking, and the operation can continue.

[0020] Another objective of this invention is to provide an information data processing terminal, which includes the aforementioned high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for the scraper used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing.

[0021] Based on the above technical solutions and the technical problems solved, the advantages and positive effects of the technical solution to be protected by this invention are as follows:

[0022] This invention uses three laser rangefinders to detect the gap between the doctor blade and the slurry-bearing platform in real time. Three independent lead screw drive mechanisms, in conjunction with universal joint supports, provide three-point attitude compensation for the floating platform, ensuring the doctor blade maintains a stable parallel state even with minimal gaps, reducing uneven layer thickness caused by platform tilt or doctor blade wobbling. An angle adjustment mechanism automatically adjusts the doctor blade's entry angle according to the slurry characteristics, improving the spreading uniformity of high-viscosity ceramic slurries. The quick-release doctor blade assembly achieves rapid positioning and locking through bosses, slots, and elastic clips, shortening replacement time and ensuring repeatable installation accuracy, thereby improving printing stability, forming accuracy, and equipment maintenance efficiency.

[0023] This invention addresses the unique needs of SLA ceramic slurry printing, focusing on three core pain points and integrating three functions. Combined with a quick-release mechanism and high-performance material optimization, the resulting benefits are clear and specific, distinguishing it from existing technologies and avoiding common-sense statements. Specifically: This invention addresses the pain points of manual leveling: automatic leveling replaces manual leveling, reducing leveling time from 10-20 minutes to ≤2 minutes, increasing efficiency by more than 10 times; it achieves precise leveling at the 30-100μm level, compensates for the inherent errors of the platform and scraper, ensures uniform thickness of the applied ceramic slurry layer, consistent density of the ceramic blank, and increases the pass rate after sintering to over 98%, thus solving the industry pain points of low precision and low efficiency of manual leveling.

[0024] This invention addresses the pain point of angle adaptation: a wide range of angle adjustment from -60° to +60°, which can adapt to SLA ceramic slurries of different viscosities (2000-9000mPa·s), avoiding a "one-size-fits-all" approach. It can adapt to ceramic slurries with different formulations without changing the scraper, thus broadening the application range of the equipment, improving its versatility and practicality, and solving the problem of poor compatibility of existing scrapers.

[0025] This invention addresses maintenance pain points: the scraper assembly includes a tool-free quick-release mechanism, allowing for disassembly and assembly in ≤20 seconds, facilitating cleaning, maintenance, and replacement of the scraper, significantly improving maintenance efficiency. The scraper assembly features optimized structure and materials, employing a rigid-flexible split design strategy. The main body of the scraper is made of high-modulus PEEK material, utilizing its excellent rigidity and dimensional stability to provide stable support for the blade; while the elastic clips on both sides are independently made of POM material.

[0026] This invention is highly innovative: focusing on the exclusive application of SLA ceramic paste printing, the core innovation lies in the "three major functions integrated to adapt to ceramic paste + quick-release scraper mechanism + rigid-flexible dual material design", which is different from existing single-function or non-ceramic exclusive technical solutions, and is highly creative.

[0027] This invention features a simple structure and controllable cost: the novel plastic material can be mass-produced through injection molding with high molding precision, eliminating the need for complex processing techniques and reducing manufacturing costs; the quick-release mechanism is simple in structure, highly reliable, and facilitates mass production and widespread application.

[0028] (1) The expected benefits and commercial value of the technical solution of this invention after transformation are as follows: a) Improved production efficiency: By automating and achieving high-precision leveling of the scraper, the leveling time is reduced from about 20 minutes for manual leveling to about 2 minutes (efficiency improvement of about 90%), significantly reducing equipment downtime and operator labor intensity; the designed quick-release scraper structure makes equipment maintenance more convenient.

[0029] b) Increased equipment added value: The market price of 3D printers equipped with the technical solution of this invention is expected to be more than 30% higher than that of manually leveled models, which will significantly improve the market competitiveness and gross profit margin of the products.

[0030] This invention can be widely applied to various SLA ceramic 3D printers, especially in fields requiring high-precision ceramic components, including dental restoration (all-ceramic crowns, implants), aerospace (high-temperature resistant ceramic components, ceramic cores), industrial ceramics (semiconductor equipment components, 5G ceramic filters), and biomedicine (orthopedic implants). The technical solution of this invention has excellent market prospects and considerable commercial value, and is expected to achieve tens of millions in sales within 3-5 years after production commences.

[0031] (2) The technical solution of this invention fills a technical gap in the industry both domestically and internationally: a) Technological Gaps: Research indicates that existing SLA ceramic 3D printer scraper leveling technologies are primarily manual; existing automatic scraper leveling devices are mainly designed for powder spreading in metal 3D printing, not for slurry application. The technical solution of this invention has not been publicly reported or commercially applied domestically or internationally, filling a technological gap in the field of high-precision automatic leveling for SLA ceramic 3D printing.

[0032] b) Functional Integration Gaps: This invention integrates multiple functions such as automatic scraper leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release maintenance into a single system, achieving automated scraper leveling and convenient maintenance. This systematic integration of functions is unprecedented in similar technologies both domestically and internationally, representing a unique contribution of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 Here is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment and quick-release system for squeegee used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing provided in this embodiment of the invention: (a) front axonometric view; (b) rear axonometric view; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the angle adjustment mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 Here are schematic diagrams of the quick-release scraper assembly and key components provided in the embodiments of the present invention: (a) Schematic diagram of the elastic quick-release buckle assembly; (b) Schematic diagram of the elastic quick-release buckle structure; (c) Schematic diagram of the scraper structure; (d) Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the scraper body. Figure 4 Here are schematic diagrams of the automatic leveling mechanism and rapid lifting platform provided in the embodiments of the present invention: (a) Schematic diagram of the automatic leveling mechanism; (b) Schematic diagram of the rapid lifting platform. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the gantry and cylinder provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the system workflow provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 These are scanning electron microscope (SEM) morphology (a) and structural schematic diagram (b) of the expected uniform layer thickness of the printed alumina spline cross section provided in the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a displacement cloud diagram of the scraper assembly under horizontal shear load provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In the diagram: 10. Cylinder; 20. Gantry frame; 3. Rapid lifting platform; 40. Automatic leveling mechanism; 50. Angle adjustment mechanism; 21. Crossbeam; 22. Column; 23. Linear guide rail; 31. Intermediate platform; 32. Guide sliding seat; 33. Screw drive mechanism; 34. Floating connecting plate (connecting cylinder); 41. Laser rangefinder (equilateral triangle distribution); 42. Screw universal joint support (equilateral triangle distribution); 43. Floating platform; 51. Scraper; 52. Quick release buckle; 53. L-shaped connecting plate; 54. Scraper body; 55. Angle adjustment servo motor; 56. Precision planetary reducer; 57. Angle adjustment drive module support frame; 58. Coupling; 59. Main shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0036] like Figures 1-5 As shown in the figure, the high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for scraper in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing provided in this embodiment is installed at the printing station and mainly consists of a gantry frame 20, a rapid lifting platform 30, an automatic leveling mechanism 40, an angle adjustment mechanism 50, a quick-release scraper assembly, and a control system. The gantry frame 20 serves as the mounting base and includes a crossbeam 21, a column 22, and a linear guide rail 23. The crossbeam 21 is used to mount the cylinder 10, and the linear guide rail 23 is installed on the column 22 to provide stable guidance for platform lifting and ensuring sufficient rigidity and vibration resistance during the scraping process. The rapid lifting platform 30 includes a middle platform 31, a guide sliding seat 32, a lead screw drive mechanism 33, and a floating connecting plate 34. The middle platform 31 is connected to the cylinder 10 through the floating connecting plate 34, enabling rapid lifting and lowering under cylinder drive. The guide sliding seats 32 on both sides of the platform cooperate with the linear guide rail 23 to prevent swaying during lifting. The lead screw drive mechanism 33 is mounted on the intermediate platform 31 and is distributed in three points. It is used to make minor position adjustments to the floating platform 43 below.

[0037] The automatic leveling mechanism 40 includes three laser rangefinders 41, three universal joint supports 42, and a floating platform 43. The three laser rangefinders 41 are arranged in an equilateral triangle to detect the gap between the scraper's working area and the slurry-bearing platform in real time. The three universal joint supports 42 are also arranged in an equilateral triangle and connected to the screw drive mechanism 33, enabling the floating platform 43 to achieve lifting and attitude adjustment within a small range. The angle adjustment mechanism 50 is installed below the floating platform 43 and includes a scraper 51, a quick-release buckle 52, an L-shaped connecting plate 53, a scraper body 54, an angle adjustment servo motor 55, a precision planetary reducer 56, a drive module support frame 57, a coupling 58, and a main shaft 59. The scraper 51 is connected to the scraper body 54 via the quick-release buckle 52 for easy replacement after wear. The servo motor 55 drives the main shaft 59 to rotate via the reducer 56 and coupling 58, thereby driving the scraper to adjust its angle around its long axis.

[0038] Cylinder 10 first drives the rapid lifting platform 30 to descend, bringing the scraper assembly closer to the slurry support platform. Subsequently, three laser rangefinders 41 collect the distances between different measuring points near the scraper and the support platform, transmitting the data to the control system. The control system fits the plane of the support platform based on the three-point distance measurements, calculates the tilt of the floating platform 43 relative to this plane and the required compensation for each lead screw drive mechanism 33, and controls the independent lifting and lowering of the three lead screws. Through minor adjustments to the three-point support, the floating platform 43 drives the scraper 51 to achieve posture correction, ensuring that the scraper blade edge remains parallel to the support platform and that the scraping gap is stably controlled within the range of 30–100 μm.

[0039] After leveling, the control system, based on the viscosity, particle content, and coating thickness requirements of the ceramic slurry, calls preset parameters to control the rotation of the angle adjustment servo motor 55. The motor output, after being reduced in speed and increased in torque by the precision planetary reducer 56, drives the main shaft 59 to rotate via the coupling 58, adjusting the scraper 51 to a suitable entry angle. For high-viscosity slurries, the scraper entry angle can be appropriately increased to improve spreading ability; for low-viscosity slurries, the angle can be decreased to obtain a more uniform liquid film. When the scraper wears out due to long-term use or needs to be replaced with a different specification scraper, the scraper 51 can be removed simply by opening the quick-release clip 52. After reinstallation, the system will again perform the distance measurement, leveling, and angle adjustment processes. Thus, this system can achieve rapid scraper positioning, micron-level automatic leveling, adaptive angle adjustment, and convenient replacement, meeting the requirements of SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing for high precision, high stability, and ease of maintenance.

[0040] This embodiment provides a high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for squeegees used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing. It is suitable for ceramic slurry forming scenarios involving high viscosity, solid particles, easy adhesion, and high requirements for squeegee clearance. The system includes a gantry-type mounting base 20, a rapid lifting platform 30, an automatic leveling mechanism 40, an angle adjustment mechanism 50, a quick-release squeegee assembly, and a control system. These mechanisms work together to achieve rapid squeegee lifting, micron-level automatic leveling, automatic squeegee angle adjustment, and rapid squeegee blade assembly and disassembly.

[0041] The mounting base 20 adopts a high-rigidity gantry structure, which is fixed to the printing station of the SLA ceramic 3D printer to withstand the resistance during the ceramic slurry coating process and reduce vibration. The gantry 20 includes a crossbeam 21 and a column 22. The crossbeam 21 is equipped with a cylinder for driving the rapid lifting platform 30 to move up and down, and the column 22 is equipped with a linear guide rail 23 to guide the lifting movement of the platform and ensure that there is no swaying during the lifting process.

[0042] The rapid lifting platform 30 includes a platform 31, a guide slide 32, and three precision servo motors 33. The platform 31 is connected to a cylinder, which drives the rapid lifting mechanism. Square holes are provided on both sides of the platform 31, and the guide slide 32 is installed in these holes, cooperating with the linear guide rail 23 on the column 22 to form a linear guiding structure. Three precision servo motors 33 are mounted on the platform 31, each driving a corresponding lead screw. The control accuracy of the servo motors is ±1μm, and the lead screw stroke is 50-100μm. Displacement sensors are configured to form a closed-loop feedback system to achieve micro-displacement control during subsequent leveling.

[0043] The automatic leveling mechanism 40 includes three precision laser rangefinders 41, three universal joint supports 42, and a floating platform 43. The three universal joint supports 42 are arranged in an equilateral triangle and connected to the rapid lifting platform 30 via the lead screws, enabling the floating platform 43 to achieve fine-tuning of its attitude under the independent lifting action of the three support points. The three precision laser rangefinders 41 are installed below the floating platform 43, also arranged in an equilateral triangle, with their laser emitters facing the surface of the slurry-bearing platform. They are used to detect the gap data between the scraper blade and the platform in real time. The laser rangefinders 41 have a measurement accuracy of ±1μm and a detection frequency of 100Hz. After the detection data is transmitted to the control system, the control system calculates the compensation adjustment amount of the three lead screws using a plane fitting algorithm and controls the three servo motors 33 to operate independently, keeping the scraper blade parallel to the slurry-bearing platform while stably controlling the scraper gap within the range of 30-100μm.

[0044] The angle adjustment mechanism 50 includes a scraper 51, a quick-release buckle 52, an L-shaped connecting plate 53, a scraper body 54, an angle adjustment servo motor 55, a precision planetary reducer 56, an angle adjustment drive module support frame 57, a coupling 58, and a main shaft 59. The angle adjustment servo motor 55 is fixed below the floating platform 43. Its output shaft is connected to the main shaft 59 via the precision planetary reducer 56 and the coupling 58. The main shaft 59 is rigidly connected to the scraper body of the quick-release scraper assembly, thereby driving the scraper body to rotate around its own long axis, achieving precise adjustment of the scraper blade's cutting angle. The control system presets the correspondence between different viscosities of ceramic slurry and the scraper's cutting angle. After the operator inputs the slurry viscosity parameters, the control system automatically calls up the corresponding angle and drives the angle adjustment mechanism 50 to complete the angle adjustment.

[0045] The quick-release scraper assembly includes a PEEK scraper body, a carbide scraper blade, and POM elastic clips. The scraper blade is elongated, with an integrated boss at the top, 5mm high and matching the width of the groove in the scraper body. Symmetrical latches, 3mm deep and 2mm wide, are located on both sides of the blade's center. A 5mm thick scraper cutting edge is formed at the bottom. The scraper body is injection molded from PEEK material with an injection precision of ±0.01mm. Internally, it features slots that mate with the boss, and POM elastic clips on both sides of the slots. The elastic clips have a deformation range of 0-3mm, accommodating repeated insertion and removal. During installation, the top boss of the scraper blade is inserted into the groove in the scraper body. When the latch moves to the position of the elastic clip, the clip automatically engages, forming a self-locking mechanism. During disassembly, the operator pushes the elastic clips outwards to release them from the latches, allowing the scraper blade to pop out under its own weight and the clips' resetting action, without the need for tools. The precise fit between the boss and the groove, along with the self-locking of the elastic buckle, ensures the repeatability of the positioning accuracy and the stability of the coating after the scraper blade is replaced.

[0046] During operation, the control system first controls the cylinders on the mounting base 20 to move the rapid lifting platform 30 up and down along the column 22 of the gantry-type mounting base 20, based on the process parameters of SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing. The platform 31, through the guide sliding seat 32 and the linear guide rail 23, rapidly descends or rises under cylinder drive, completing the coarse positioning of the scraper assembly relative to the slurry support platform. The high-rigidity support structure formed by the beam 21 and the column 22 suppresses vibration and sway caused by scraping resistance. After the platform 31 reaches a preset height, the automatic leveling mechanism 40 starts working. Three precision laser rangefinders 41, installed below the floating platform 43, are distributed in an equilateral triangle to detect the gap between the scraper 51 cutting edge and the slurry support platform in real time. After the detection data is transmitted to the control system, the control system calculates the height error and tilt state of the scraper 51 relative to the support platform based on the three-point distance data.

[0047] When a gap difference is detected at both ends or in the middle of the scraper 51, the control system sends compensation commands to the three precision servo motors 33, which drive the corresponding lead screws to produce a slight lifting and lowering. Since the three lead screw universal joint supports 42 form a triangle to support the floating platform 43, the independent displacement of the three support points can change the spatial attitude of the floating platform 43, causing the floating platform 43 to drive the angle adjustment mechanism 50 and the scraper 51 to perform micron-level attitude correction until the gap values ​​fed back by the three precision laser rangefinders 41 tend to be consistent, thereby keeping the cutting edge of the scraper 51 parallel to the slurry carrying platform and stabilizing the scraping gap within the range of 30-100μm. After leveling is completed, the control system calls the preset scraper cutting angle according to the ceramic slurry viscosity parameters input by the operator. The angle adjustment servo motor 55 outputs power, which is reduced in speed and increased in torque by the precision planetary reducer 56, and then drives the main shaft 59 to rotate through the coupling 58. The main shaft 59 then drives the scraper body 54, which is rigidly connected to it, to rotate around its own long axis, thereby changing the cutting angle of the scraper 51. The L-shaped connecting plate 53 and the angle adjustment drive module support frame 57 are used to ensure the installation rigidity and transmission stability of the angle adjustment mechanism 50, while the quick-release buckle 52 is used to achieve a reliable connection between the scraper 51 and the scraper body 54.

[0048] During actual coating, the scraper blade 51, under the combined action of the automatic leveling mechanism 40 and the angle adjustment mechanism 50, applies a stable scraping gap and a suitable cutting angle to the high-viscosity ceramic slurry, ensuring a uniform slurry layer on the surface of the support platform. This reduces problems such as material accumulation, missed coating, ripples, and inconsistent layer thickness caused by scraper blade tilting, gap fluctuations, or improper angle. When the scraper blade needs to be replaced, the operator simply needs to release the POM elastic clip in the quick-release scraper assembly, disengaging it from the clips on both sides of the scraper blade. The carbide scraper blade can then be released from the slot in the PEEK scraper body. When installing a new scraper blade, the top boss of the scraper blade is inserted along the groove of the scraper body, and the elastic clip automatically engages in the clip to achieve self-locking. This allows for quick disassembly and assembly without tools and ensures repeatability and positioning accuracy after replacement.

[0049] like Figure 6 As shown in the figure, the high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for scraper in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention addresses three core pain points in its workflow, with simple steps and clear logic, as detailed below: (1) Initialization preparation: The operator loads the SLA ceramic slurry into the printer and inputs the slurry viscosity parameters; the control system automatically matches and presets the cutting angle of the scraper blade according to the preset viscosity-angle correspondence.

[0050] (2) Automatic leveling: The control system starts the automatic leveling mechanism 40, and the three laser rangefinders 41 detect the gap data between the scraper and the support platform in real time. The data is transmitted to the control system. The control system calculates the adjustment amount of each lead screw through the fitting algorithm, controls the three precision motors to drive the lead screws to lift independently, adjusts the attitude of the floating platform until the gap is stable within the preset range, and completes the automatic leveling. The preset range is 30-100μm, and the single leveling time is ≤2 minutes.

[0051] (3) Angle adaptation: If the viscosity of the slurry changes, the operator only needs to re-enter the viscosity parameters. The control system will automatically control the angle adjustment mechanism to drive the scraper blade to rotate to the appropriate angle. After locking the angle, the scraping operation can be performed without manual adjustment.

[0052] (4) Scraper maintenance: If the scraper blade is worn or has slurry on its surface, the operator should manually open the elastic buckles on both sides of the scraper body. The scraper blade will pop out automatically. Clean the slurry on the surface or replace the scraper blade with a new one. Align the new scraper blade with the groove of the scraper body and gently insert it. The buckles on both sides will automatically engage with the elastic buckles to achieve self-locking, and the operation can continue.

[0053] Evidence related to the technical effects obtained by the embodiments of the present invention.

[0054] (1) Compared with the scraper system installed on the CeraBuilder 100Pro (Wuhan Intal Laser) currently in use by our unit, which relies on manual scraper leveling, the present invention has the following advantages.

[0055]

[0056] (2) The fundamental difference between the original manual leveling on the equipment and the automatic leveling of the present invention

[0057] (3) Mechanical performance analysis of the new scraper assembly Figure 8The finite element deformation analysis results of the SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing scraper assembly under horizontal load are presented to verify the stiffness and stability of the scraper structure during the high-viscosity ceramic slurry coating process. The color scale on the right side of the figure represents the total displacement (URES), in mm, with the color gradually increasing from blue to red. Blue areas indicate smaller deformation, while red areas indicate areas with relatively concentrated deformation. The analysis considered the horizontal viscous shear resistance of the 79wt% solids content alumina slurry at a viscosity of approximately 2500 mPa·s on the scraper, and applied a 50 N horizontal load to the scraper assembly to simulate actual coating conditions and dynamic safety margins. As shown in the displacement contour plot, most of the scraper body remains dark blue, indicating very small overall deformation. The maximum deformation mainly occurs at the lower end and corners of the scraper edge, with a maximum displacement of approximately 1 μm, far less than the 50 μm printing layer thickness and the 30-100 μm coating gap control range. The results demonstrate that the doctor blade assembly exhibits high structural rigidity under working loads and does not experience significant deflection due to slurry resistance. This ensures stable doctor blade gaps, uniform slurry spreading, and improved forming accuracy and repeatability during the printing process. This invention clarifies the collaborative working process of three main functions: automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release assembly / disassembly. It emphasizes the convenience of the quick-release mechanism and the advantages of the PEEK material. All steps are designed specifically for the printing requirements of SLA ceramic slurry, highlighting the advantages of this invention in addressing three core pain points. Furthermore, the specific parameters and operational details of each mechanism are clearly defined, enhancing the feasibility of the solution.

[0058] The expected uniform layer thickness effect of the printing material in this invention is shown in the figure below. Figure 7 As shown. Among them, Figure 7 (a) is a schematic diagram of the cross section or surface texture of the ceramic strip after printing. It can be seen that the layers are continuous, straight and evenly distributed. There are no obvious local material accumulation, discontinuity, ripples or sudden changes in layer thickness. This indicates that the scraper can stably control the thickness of the slurry during the material spreading process. Figure 7 (b) is a schematic diagram of the layer thickness structure. The black horizontal dividing line represents the boundary between adjacent ceramic strip cross-sections, and the diagonally filled area represents the ceramic material layer formed by layer-by-layer curing. The thickness of each layer is basically consistent, and the interlayer interfaces are clear and parallel, indicating that the present invention can make the high-viscosity ceramic slurry spread evenly on the support platform through automatic leveling, angle adjustment and stable gap control of the scraper, thereby improving the layer thickness consistency, forming stability and cross-sectional quality of the printed parts.

[0059] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0060] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for a scraper used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing, characterized in that, include: An automatic leveling mechanism, comprising three laser rangefinders, three universal joint supports for lead screws, and a floating platform; Three laser rangefinders are arranged in an equilateral triangle below the floating platform to detect the gap between the scraper blade and the slurry carrying platform; three universal screw supports are distributed in an equilateral triangle and connected above the floating platform, and each universal screw support is connected to an independent screw drive mechanism, which is used to independently adjust the height of the corresponding support point to adjust the attitude of the floating platform. An angle adjustment mechanism is installed below the floating platform and includes an angle adjustment drive assembly and a scraper body; the angle adjustment drive assembly drives the scraper body to rotate around its own long axis to adjust the cutting angle of the scraper blade. A quick-release scraper assembly includes a scraper blade and a spring clip; the scraper body is provided with a slot, and the scraper blade is provided with a boss and a locking slot; the boss is inserted into the slot, and the spring clip is installed on the scraper body, and the spring clip engages with the locking slot to lock the scraper blade.

2. The high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for the doctor blade used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the lead screw drive mechanisms includes a precision servo motor and a displacement sensor. The control accuracy of the precision servo motor is ±1μm, and the displacement sensor forms a closed-loop feedback.

3. The high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for the doctor blade used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser rangefinder has a measurement accuracy of ±1μm and a detection frequency of 100Hz.

4. The high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for the scraper used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle adjustment drive assembly includes an angle adjustment servo motor, a precision planetary reducer, and a coupling. The output shaft of the angle adjustment servo motor is connected to the scraper body via the precision planetary reducer and the coupling.

5. The high-precision automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release system for the doctor blade used in SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a gantry frame and a rapid lifting platform; the gantry frame includes a crossbeam and a column, and a linear guide rail is provided on the column; the rapid lifting platform includes an intermediate platform, a guide sliding seat and a cylinder, the intermediate platform is connected to the cylinder, and the guide sliding seat cooperates with the linear guide rail; the lead screw drive mechanism is installed on the intermediate platform.

6. A method for automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release of an SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing scraper based on the system described in claim 1, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Leveling steps: Use three laser rangefinders to detect the three-point gap data between the scraper blade and the support platform; fit the plane of the support platform based on the three-point gap data and calculate the compensation adjustment amount of each lead screw drive mechanism; control the three lead screw drive mechanisms to lift and lower independently to adjust the attitude of the floating platform until the three-point gaps are all within the preset range. Angle adjustment steps: Obtain the viscosity parameters of the ceramic slurry, and according to the preset correspondence between viscosity and scraper cutting angle, control the angle adjustment drive component to drive the scraper body to rotate to the corresponding angle and lock it; Quick-release steps: Push the elastic buckle outward to disengage it from the scraper blade's latch, and the scraper blade will pop out automatically; insert the protrusion of the new scraper blade into the slot of the scraper body, and the elastic buckle will automatically engage and lock itself in place.

7. The method for automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release of the SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing scraper according to claim 6, characterized in that, The preset range is 30 micrometers to 100 micrometers, and the single leveling time does not exceed 2 minutes.

8. The method for automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release of the SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing scraper according to claim 6, characterized in that, The angle adjustment drive assembly drives the scraper body to rotate, specifically by: the torque output by the angle adjustment servo motor being reduced and increased by a precision planetary reducer, and then driving the scraper body to rotate through a coupling.

9. The method for automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release of the SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing scraper according to claim 6, characterized in that, The scraper blade is made of cemented carbide, the scraper body is made of PEEK, and the elastic buckle is made of POM.

10. The method for automatic leveling, angle adjustment, and quick-release of the SLA ceramic slurry 3D printing squeegee according to claim 6, characterized in that, The boss has a height of 5 mm, the latch has a depth of 3 mm and a width of 2 mm, and the elastic buckle has an elastic deformation range of 0 to 3 mm.

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