Overmolding device

Abstract

The application relates to a secondary forming device, which comprises a bearing mechanism, a 3D scanning mechanism, an inkjet printing mechanism, a curing mechanism and a controller. An intermediate model of an intermediate part is obtained through three-dimensional modeling, and is compared with a target model to obtain a to-be-formed model of a to-be-formed part. After slice processing is performed on a depth map of the to-be-formed model and a plurality of slice maps are obtained, the to-be-formed part is formed on the intermediate part by layer-by-layer printing and curing of forming materials in an inkjet printing mode, so that the to-be-formed part is formed on the intermediate part, secondary forming is realized, and a finished workpiece is obtained. Since the to-be-formed part is formed by layer-by-layer stacking in a mode that one layer of forming materials is cured by printing one layer of forming materials, the to-be-formed part does not need to be fused with the intermediate part by means of a high-temperature and high-pressure environment. Therefore, the above-mentioned secondary forming device can realize secondary forming in a normal-temperature and normal-pressure environment.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application based on the invention application with application number 202510060112.4, application date of February 14, 2025, entitled "Secondary Molding Method and Secondary Molding Apparatus". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of precision forming technology for parts, and in particular to a secondary forming device. Background Technology

[0003] Secondary molding technology is a common technique in the injection molding industry. After the raw material is molded into a semi-finished part in the first molding process, it is placed back into the mold. The raw material for secondary molding is melted at high temperature and injected into the mold. After cooling, the raw material fuses with the semi-finished part to obtain the final shape of the workpiece. When performing secondary molding through injection molding, the semi-finished workpiece needs to withstand high temperatures (generally above 150°C) and high pressures (generally above 0.1 MPa). However, many electronic components cannot withstand high-temperature and high-pressure environments due to their material properties, making secondary molding unsuccessful. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a secondary molding device that can achieve secondary molding under normal temperature and pressure conditions to address the above problems.

[0005] A secondary molding apparatus includes a support mechanism, a 3D scanning mechanism, an inkjet printing mechanism, a curing mechanism, and a controller; the support mechanism includes a transfer component and a worktable disposed on the transfer component; the inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead; the 3D scanning mechanism is capable of performing three-dimensional scanning on an intermediate component supported on the worktable; the controller is capable of controlling the working processes of the support mechanism, the 3D scanning mechanism, the inkjet printing mechanism, and the curing mechanism.

[0006] In one embodiment, the workbench is provided with an adsorption hole that communicates with a negative pressure device.

[0007] In one embodiment, the transfer assembly is capable of driving the worktable to translate along mutually perpendicular X, Y, and Z directions, and is capable of driving the worktable to rotate about a pivot extending along the Z direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the transfer assembly is capable of driving the worktable to translate along mutually perpendicular X and Y directions, and is capable of driving the worktable to rotate about a pivot extending along the Z direction.

[0009] In one embodiment, the controller can obtain an intermediate model of the intermediate part based on the scanning information of the 3D scanning mechanism, compare the intermediate model with the target model corresponding to the finished workpiece to obtain a model to be formed of the part to be formed, and perform slicing processing on the depth map of the model to be formed to obtain multiple slice images; the controller can also control the inkjet printhead to print the forming material layer by layer on the intermediate part and control the curing mechanism to cure the forming material layer by layer based on the multiple slice images, until the part to be formed is formed on the intermediate part and the finished workpiece is obtained.

[0010] In one embodiment, a 2D scanning mechanism is also included, which is capable of acquiring two-dimensional coordinate information of the middleware, and the controller is capable of controlling the transfer component to correct the deviation of the middleware based on the two-dimensional coordinate information.

[0011] In one embodiment, a point cloud scanning mechanism is also included, which is capable of using 3D point laser scanning to obtain point cloud data of the middleware, and the controller obtains the distance between the middleware and the inkjet printhead in the height direction and the tilt of the middleware based on the point cloud data.

[0012] In one embodiment, the controller can also control the inkjet printing mechanism to adjust the distance between the inkjet printhead and the intermediate component to a preset distance range.

[0013] In one embodiment, the inkjet printing mechanism includes a plurality of inkjet printheads, and the controller is capable of controlling any one of the inkjet printheads to print shaped material layer by layer on the intermediate component.

[0014] In one embodiment, a cleaning mechanism is also included, which includes a lint-free cloth and a conveying assembly.

[0015] In one embodiment, the lint-free cloth is wrapped around the conveying assembly and is movable under the drive of the conveying assembly, and the cleaning mechanism is movable to move below the inkjet printhead and bring the lint-free cloth into contact with the inkjet printhead.

[0016] The aforementioned secondary forming device first obtains an intermediate model of the intermediate part through 3D modeling, then compares it with the target model to obtain a model of the part to be formed. After slicing the depth map of the model to be formed to obtain multiple slice images, inkjet printing is used to print and solidify the molding material layer by layer on the intermediate part, thus forming the part to be formed on the intermediate part, achieving secondary forming and obtaining the finished workpiece. Since the part to be formed is stacked layer by layer by printing and solidifying the molding material, there is no need to rely on a high temperature and high pressure environment to fuse with the intermediate part. Therefore, the aforementioned secondary forming device can achieve secondary forming under normal temperature and pressure conditions. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of a secondary molding method in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the secondary molding device in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the secondary forming device from another angle; Figure 4 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the hidden part of the secondary molding device. Figure 5 for Figure 2 A partial structural diagram of the inkjet printing mechanism in the secondary forming device shown. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used 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 limitations on this invention.

[0021] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0022] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0024] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0025] This invention provides a secondary forming method, which can form parts on an intermediate part and finally obtain a complete finished workpiece. The intermediate part can be a certain type of purchased part, a workpiece output from the previous process, or an intermediate product obtained during the execution of the above-mentioned secondary forming method.

[0026] For example, the aforementioned intermediate component could be the hinge in a foldable phone that enables the screen to fold, which has a concave-convex structure that makes screen installation inconvenient. After the hinge is assembled onto the main body of the foldable phone, a matching part can be formed at the concave-convex structure of the hinge using the aforementioned secondary molding method, thereby forming an ideal surface on the hinge to facilitate screen installation and improve screen durability.

[0027] Please see Figure 1 The secondary molding method in one embodiment of the present invention includes steps S110 to S150. Wherein: S110, load the intermediate parts onto the worktable.

[0028] The worktable can be equipped with suction holes connected to a negative pressure device, allowing for the adsorption and stabilization of intermediate components fed onto it. Furthermore, the worktable can be connected to a transfer assembly, which can drive the worktable to translate and rotate in multiple degrees of freedom, thereby adjusting the position and angle of the intermediate components mounted on it. The worktable is typically designed with a contour-following structure for better fixation of the intermediate components.

[0029] S120 performs 3D modeling of the middleware to obtain an intermediate model of the middleware.

[0030] In one specific embodiment, step S120 includes: obtaining the three-dimensional coordinate information of the middleware through 3D line laser scanning, and obtaining an intermediate model based on the three-dimensional coordinate information. By using 3D line laser scanning to perform a full-range scan of the middleware, its precise three-dimensional coordinate information can be obtained. Based on this three-dimensional coordinate information, a three-dimensional model of the middleware, i.e., the intermediate model, can be constructed using professional 3D modeling software.

[0031] S130: Compare the intermediate model with the target model corresponding to the finished workpiece to obtain the model to be formed for the part to be formed.

[0032] The target model is a 3D model obtained by creating a 3D model of the finished workpiece. It is generally obtained in the same way as the intermediate model, or it can be directly created using modeling software. It can also be pre-acquired and stored for easy retrieval. In the 3D modeling software, comparing the intermediate model with the target model identifies the parts that need to be added, i.e., the parts to be formed. Through software simulation, the model data for these parts can be extracted from the target model, thus forming the model to be formed.

[0033] It should be noted that the finished workpiece in step S130 above refers to an ideal finished workpiece, which is a manually set reference standard, while the finished workpiece in step S150 below refers to the actual product obtained. The two have different meanings. Due to factors such as processing accuracy, the finished workpiece in step S150 below may deviate structurally from the finished workpiece in step S130 above.

[0034] S140: Slice the depth map of the model to be formed and obtain multiple slice maps.

[0035] Slicing is the process of cutting a model to be printed into multiple two-dimensional images, known as slices. The goal of slicing is to transform the model into a two-dimensional object, obtaining multiple sets of two-dimensional coordinates (each slice represents a set of coordinates) to facilitate subsequent inkjet printing. Slicing software can cut the model according to user-defined parameters (such as layer thickness), thus obtaining a certain number of slices. For the same model, the more slices obtained through slicing, the higher the accuracy of subsequent inkjet printing; conversely, the fewer slices obtained, the lower the accuracy of subsequent inkjet printing.

[0036] In addition, before slicing, it is generally necessary to perform resolution conversion on the depth map of the model to be printed, so that the depth map can show more details and textures, and the final sliced ​​image can better meet the resolution requirements of inkjet printing.

[0037] S150, based on multiple slice images, uses inkjet printing to print and solidify the molding material layer by layer on the intermediate part until the part to be molded is formed on the intermediate part and the finished workpiece is obtained.

[0038] The inkjet printhead can print molding material layer by layer according to a slice image. The molding material can be resin, plastic, etc., and is liquid at room temperature. Specifically, UV ink can be used as the molding material. After each layer of molding material is printed, it can be cured by ultraviolet light or other curing methods to ensure a tight bond between layers. Multiple slice images are pre-ordered according to a specific sequence. During inkjet printing, the first layer of molding material is printed on the surface of the intermediate part according to the first slice image (i.e., the first set of two-dimensional coordinates) and cured immediately. Then, the second layer of molding material is printed on top of the first layer of molding material according to the second slice image and cured immediately. This process is repeated until inkjet printing and curing are completed according to all slice images, forming a complete part to be molded. The part to be molded is integrated with the intermediate part, thus obtaining the finished workpiece.

[0039] The thickness of each layer of molding material is related to the molding precision. The thinner the layer, the higher the molding precision, and the closer the printed part will be to the ideal shape. Correspondingly, the number of slices that need to be output during slicing will be more, and the inkjet printing time will be longer. Optionally, setting the thickness of each layer of molding material to about 3 micrometers can ensure both high molding precision and high molding efficiency.

[0040] Since the part to be molded is formed by stacking layers of molding material one layer at a time through inkjet printing and then solidifying each layer, there is no need for high temperature and high pressure environments to fuse with intermediate components. Therefore, the above-mentioned secondary molding method can achieve secondary molding under normal temperature and pressure conditions. Moreover, the above-mentioned secondary molding method eliminates the need for molds during the molding process of the part to be molded, thus effectively reducing costs.

[0041] In one embodiment, prior to step S120, the method further includes: obtaining the distance in the height direction between the intermediate component and the inkjet printhead, and adjusting the distance between the inkjet printhead and the intermediate component to a preset distance range. Specifically, the distance in the height direction between the intermediate component and the inkjet printhead can be obtained first, and the position of the inkjet printhead can be adjusted according to the obtained distance information to keep it within the preset distance range from the intermediate component. This ensures that the molding material can be uniformly and accurately adhered to the intermediate component during the printing process, improving the accuracy of secondary molding.

[0042] Furthermore, in one embodiment, before step S120 above, the method further includes the step of: obtaining the tilt of the middleware and leveling the middleware whose tilt exceeds a threshold.

[0043] Tilt angle refers to the degree of inclination of the intermediate part relative to a reference datum. Ideally, the intermediate part loaded onto the worktable should coincide with the reference datum. However, due to factors such as tolerances and assembly errors, the intermediate part may deviate from the reference datum. If the deviation is too large, i.e., the tilt angle is too large, it will affect the accuracy of inkjet printing. Therefore, when the tilt angle of the intermediate part is detected to exceed a preset threshold, it can be leveled to within the allowable range by adjusting the position of the worktable or the intermediate part, thereby further improving the accuracy of secondary forming.

[0044] The purpose of leveling is to adjust the intermediate component to make it substantially overlap with the reference datum. Leveling can be done automatically by the transfer assembly connected to the worktable drive. Alternatively, an alarm signal can be issued and the machine can be temporarily stopped for manual leveling when the tilt of the intermediate component exceeds a threshold.

[0045] Specifically, in one embodiment, a 3D point laser scanning middleware is used to obtain point cloud data of the middleware, and the distance between the middleware and the inkjet printhead and the tilt of the middleware are obtained based on the point cloud data.

[0046] Point cloud data includes the three-dimensional coordinate information of each feature point in the middleware. The three-dimensional coordinate information of the inkjet printhead can be pre-calibrated, and the three-dimensional coordinate model used as a reference can also be obtained in advance. By comparing the point cloud data, the aforementioned distance and tilt can be obtained. Using 3D point laser, the middleware can be scanned from all directions to obtain its precise point cloud data, thereby accurately calculating the distance between the middleware and the inkjet printhead, as well as the tilt of the middleware. This method is more accurate and efficient than other measurement methods.

[0047] Moreover, the distance between the intermediate component and the inkjet printhead, as well as the tilt of the intermediate component, can be obtained simultaneously through a single 3D point laser scan, which helps to simplify the process and reduce computational burden.

[0048] In one embodiment, before step S120 above, the method further includes the step of: obtaining two-dimensional coordinate information of the middleware, and correcting the middleware according to the two-dimensional coordinate information.

[0049] Two-dimensional coordinate information generally refers to the coordinates of the plane parallel to the worktable's bearing surface, such as the coordinates in the XY plane. By comparing the obtained two-dimensional coordinate information with the reference coordinates, the offset of the intermediate part can be obtained. After correcting the offset of the intermediate part, the accuracy of the 3D modeling of the intermediate part can be ensured, and the precision of inkjet printing can also be ensured. Therefore, it will ultimately help to further improve the accuracy of secondary molding.

[0050] In addition, in one embodiment, the surface of the intermediate part has a recessed portion. Before step S120 above, the step further includes: obtaining a pre-printing amount according to the size parameters of the recessed portion, printing molding material in the recessed portion according to the pre-printing amount and using inkjet printing, and curing it to form a filling portion filling the recessed portion.

[0051] The dimensional parameters of the recessed portion can be obtained from the original 3D model of the intermediate part. This original 3D model can be pre-acquired and stored, or it can be acquired in real time using the same method as in step S120 above. When the surface of the intermediate part has a recessed portion, the recessed portion can be equivalent to the cavity of the molding mold. Therefore, the molding material required for the filling portion can be sprayed into the recessed portion and then cured at once to obtain the filling portion. Since the filling portion is not formed by stacking and curing layer by layer, but by spraying out a fixed amount of molding material at once and then curing it in a concentrated manner, there is no need for 3D modeling, slicing, or other operations during the forming process of the filling portion, resulting in high forming efficiency.

[0052] The filling part can constitute a portion of the intermediate part in step S120 above. After the filling part fills or partially fills the recessed part, steps S120 to S150 above are executed sequentially on the intermediate part, that is, three-dimensional modeling, obtaining the model to be formed, slicing processing are performed on the intermediate part, and finally the precise forming of the part to be formed is completed by printing and curing layer by layer, thereby balancing forming efficiency and forming accuracy. At this time, the intermediate part refers to the intermediate product obtained in the process of method execution.

[0053] In another embodiment, during the execution of step S150 and before the part to be formed is fully formed, the process returns to step S120 at least once and repeats steps S120 to S150 in sequence.

[0054] Before step S150 is completed, i.e., before the part to be formed is fully formed, the process can return to step S120 at any time to remodel the intermediate part in 3D, thereby obtaining a new intermediate model. Here, the intermediate part refers to the intermediate product obtained during the method execution process. By comparing the new intermediate model with the target model, it can be determined whether there are any deviations between the formed part of the part to be formed and the part to be formed in the finished product. Furthermore, after reconstructing the new intermediate model, it can be compared with the target model to obtain a new model to be formed. Slicing the new model to be formed yields several new slice images, which can then be used to adjust the inkjet printing process.

[0055] In other words, if the part to be formed is not yet fully formed, the process can return to step S120 and repeat steps S120 to S150 sequentially to achieve multiple iterations and corrections in inkjet printing. This method is suitable for complex parts or parts with high precision requirements. Through multiple iterations and corrections, the forming accuracy and quality of the part to be formed can be further improved.

[0056] It should be noted that during the execution of step S150 above, the molding material printed by the inkjet printer can be switched. That is to say, two or more molding materials can be used to form the part to be molded, thereby increasing the diversity of secondary molding. Moreover, if multiple parts to be molded are to be formed on the intermediate part, steps S120 to S150 above can be repeated.

[0057] Following step S150 above, the following steps are also included: performing 3D modeling on the finished workpiece to obtain a finished workpiece model, and comparing the finished workpiece model with the target model.

[0058] By comparing the finished product model with the target model, it can be determined whether there are any deviations between the obtained finished product and the reference standard, thus enabling a re-inspection of the forming process. If the deviation between the finished product model and the target model is less than a threshold, the re-inspection passes, indicating that the obtained finished product meets the accuracy requirements. Otherwise, it indicates that the obtained finished product does not meet the accuracy requirements and may need to be scrapped, or graded and labeled according to the degree of deviation.

[0059] The aforementioned secondary forming method first obtains an intermediate model of the intermediate part through 3D modeling, then compares it with the target model to obtain a model of the part to be formed. After slicing the depth map of the model to be formed to obtain multiple slice images, inkjet printing is used to print and solidify the molding material layer by layer on the intermediate part, thus forming the part to be formed on the intermediate part, achieving secondary forming and obtaining the finished workpiece. Since the part to be formed is stacked layer by layer by printing and solidifying the molding material, there is no need to rely on a high temperature and high pressure environment for fusion with the intermediate part. Therefore, the above-mentioned secondary forming method can achieve secondary forming under normal temperature and pressure conditions.

[0060] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The present invention also provides a secondary molding apparatus 200, which is capable of performing the above-described secondary molding method. In one embodiment of the present invention, the secondary molding apparatus 200 includes a support mechanism 210, a 3D scanning mechanism 220, an inkjet printing mechanism 230, a curing mechanism 240, and a controller (not shown).

[0061] Please refer to the following: Figure 4The supporting mechanism 210 includes a transfer assembly 211 and a worktable 212, with the worktable 212 supporting the intermediate component. The worktable 212 may be provided with suction holes communicating with a negative pressure device, thereby suctioning the intermediate component to maintain stability. The transfer assembly 211 can drive the worktable 212 to translate and rotate in multiple degrees of freedom, thereby adjusting the position and angle of the intermediate component supported on the worktable 212. Specifically, the transfer assembly 211 can generally drive the worktable 212 to translate along mutually perpendicular X, Y, and Z directions, and drive the worktable 212 to rotate about a pivot extending along the Z direction, where the Z direction is the height direction. Driven by the transfer assembly 211, the worktable 212 can drive the intermediate component to translate and rotate, thereby correcting the intermediate component's alignment, and can also transfer the intermediate component between components such as the 3D scanning mechanism 220 and the inkjet printing mechanism 230 to perform related processes.

[0062] The controller has built-in control programs and corresponding software, capable of controlling the operation of the support mechanism 210, the 3D scanning mechanism 220, the inkjet printing mechanism 230, and the curing mechanism 240. The 3D scanning mechanism 220 can perform 3D scanning of the intermediate component mounted on the worktable 212, and the controller obtains an intermediate model of the component. Specifically, the 3D scanning mechanism 220 obtains the 3D coordinate information of the intermediate component through 3D line laser scanning and uploads the 3D coordinate information to the controller. The controller's built-in 3D modeling software can then construct an intermediate model based on the 3D coordinate information.

[0063] After obtaining the intermediate model, the controller can compare it with the target model corresponding to the finished workpiece to obtain the model to be formed for the part to be formed. It then performs slicing processing on the depth map of the model to be formed to obtain multiple slice images. The methods for obtaining the model to be formed and the slicing processing have been described in detail in the relevant parts of steps S130 and S140 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0064] Please refer to the following: Figure 5 The inkjet printing mechanism 230 includes an inkjet printhead 231, through which liquid molding material is directionally ejected. The inkjet printing mechanism 230 generally also includes an ink supply assembly 232 and an adjustment assembly 233. The ink supply assembly 232 supplies liquid molding material to the inkjet printhead 231, while the adjustment assembly 233 adjusts the height of the inkjet printhead 231 along the height direction, i.e., the Z-direction. A curing mechanism 240 cures the liquid molding material by emitting curing light, such as ultraviolet light or other methods. The curing mechanism 240 is generally installed in the inkjet printing mechanism 230, thereby maintaining a fixed relative position with the inkjet printhead 231 to facilitate timely curing of the molding material ejected from the inkjet printhead 231.

[0065] Furthermore, the controller can also control the inkjet printhead 231 to print the molding material layer by layer on the intermediate part according to multiple slice images, and control the curing mechanism 240 to cure the molding material layer by layer until the part to be molded is formed on the intermediate part and the finished workpiece is obtained.

[0066] After each layer of molding material is printed by the inkjet printhead 231, the controller activates the curing mechanism 240 and uses ultraviolet light or other curing methods to cure the molding material, ensuring a tight bond between layers. This process is repeated until the inkjet printhead 231 completes inkjet printing according to all the slices, forming a complete part to be molded. The part to be molded is then fused with the intermediate part to obtain the finished workpiece. It is evident that the part to be molded is formed layer by layer by printing and curing each layer of molding material, without the need for high temperature and high pressure environments for fusion with the intermediate part. Therefore, the aforementioned secondary molding device 200 can achieve secondary molding under normal temperature and pressure conditions.

[0067] Please refer to it again. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the secondary molding device 200 also includes a 2D scanning mechanism 250, which can acquire the two-dimensional coordinate information of the intermediate part. The controller can control the transfer component 211 to correct the deviation of the intermediate part according to the two-dimensional coordinate information.

[0068] Two-dimensional coordinate information refers to the coordinate information within a plane, such as the XY plane. The controller compares the two-dimensional coordinate information obtained by the 2D scanning mechanism 250 with reference coordinates to obtain the intermediate part's offset. Based on this offset, the controller controls the transfer component 211 to translate and / or rotate, thereby correcting the intermediate part's deviation and ensuring the accuracy of the secondary forming process.

[0069] In this embodiment, the secondary forming device 200 further includes a point cloud scanning mechanism (not shown). The point cloud scanning mechanism can use 3D point laser scanning to obtain point cloud data of the intermediate part, and the controller obtains the distance between the intermediate part and the inkjet printhead 231 in the height direction and the tilt angle of the intermediate part based on the point cloud data. The tilt angle refers to the degree of tilt of the intermediate part relative to a reference datum, the specific meaning of which has been explained above.

[0070] Point cloud data includes the three-dimensional coordinate information of each feature point in the intermediate component. The aforementioned distance and tilt can be obtained by comparing the point cloud data. When the distance between the intermediate component and the inkjet printhead 231 is outside the preset distance range, the controller can also control the inkjet printing mechanism 230 to adjust the distance between the inkjet printhead 231 and the intermediate component to within the preset distance range. Specifically, the controller can control the adjustment component 233 to adjust the height of the inkjet printhead 231 along the Z direction. This ensures that the inkjet printhead 231 can print the molding material evenly and accurately on the intermediate component, improving the accuracy of secondary molding.

[0071] When the tilt of the intermediate part is detected to exceed the preset threshold, the intermediate part can be leveled to the allowable range by adjusting the worktable 212 or by directly adjusting the intermediate part, thereby further improving the accuracy of secondary forming.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inkjet printing mechanism 230 includes a plurality of inkjet printheads 231, and the controller can control any inkjet printhead 231 to print the shaped material layer by layer on the intermediate part.

[0073] Multiple inkjet printheads 231 can each be supplied with molding material by different ink supply components 232, and the types of molding materials supplied by different ink supply components 232 can be different. That is to say, during the inkjet printing process performed by the inkjet printing mechanism 230, the molding material can be switched by switching inkjet printheads 231. Therefore, two or more molding materials can be used to form the part to be molded, thereby improving the diversity of secondary molding.

[0074] Please refer to it again. Figure 4 In this embodiment, the secondary molding apparatus 200 further includes a cleaning mechanism 260, which is capable of cleaning the inkjet printhead 231. The cleaning mechanism 260 ensures that the inkjet printhead 231 remains clean, thereby preventing molding material from condensing at the exit of the inkjet printhead 231 and causing blockages, thus ensuring the accuracy of inkjet printing.

[0075] Specifically, the cleaning mechanism 260 may include a lint-free cloth 261 and a conveying assembly 262. The lint-free cloth 261 is wrapped around the conveying assembly 262 and can move under the drive of the conveying assembly 262. The cleaning mechanism 260 can move below the inkjet printhead 231 and bring the lint-free cloth 261 into contact with the inkjet printhead 231, so that the lint-free cloth 261 can wipe the inkjet printhead 231 during the movement.

[0076] The aforementioned secondary forming device 200 first obtains an intermediate model of the intermediate part through 3D modeling, then compares it with the target model to obtain a model of the part to be formed. After slicing the depth map of the model to be formed to obtain multiple slice images, inkjet printing is used to print and solidify the molding material layer by layer on the intermediate part, thus forming the part to be formed on the intermediate part, achieving secondary forming and obtaining the finished workpiece. Since the part to be formed is stacked layer by layer by printing and solidifying the molding material, there is no need to rely on a high temperature and high pressure environment to fuse with the intermediate part. Therefore, the aforementioned secondary forming device 200 can achieve secondary forming under normal temperature and pressure conditions.

[0077] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0078] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A secondary molding device, characterized in that, The device includes a support mechanism, a 3D scanning mechanism, an inkjet printing mechanism, a curing mechanism, and a controller. The support mechanism includes a transfer component and a worktable disposed on the transfer component. The inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead. The 3D scanning mechanism is capable of performing three-dimensional scanning on an intermediate component supported on the worktable. The controller is capable of controlling the working process of the support mechanism, the 3D scanning mechanism, the inkjet printing mechanism, and the curing mechanism.

2. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workbench is equipped with an adsorption hole that is connected to the negative pressure device.

3. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transfer assembly can drive the worktable to translate along mutually perpendicular X, Y and Z directions, and can drive the worktable to rotate about a pivot extending along the Z direction.

4. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transfer assembly can drive the worktable to translate along mutually perpendicular X and Y directions, and can drive the worktable to rotate about a pivot extending along the Z direction.

5. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller can obtain an intermediate model of the intermediate part based on the scanning information of the 3D scanning mechanism, and compare the intermediate model with the target model corresponding to the finished workpiece to obtain a model to be formed of the part to be formed. The controller can also perform slicing processing on the depth map of the model to be formed to obtain multiple slice images. The controller can also control the inkjet printhead to print the forming material layer by layer on the intermediate part and control the curing mechanism to cure the forming material layer by layer based on the multiple slice images until the part to be formed is formed on the intermediate part and the finished workpiece is obtained.

6. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a 2D scanning mechanism, which can acquire the two-dimensional coordinate information of the middleware, and the controller can control the transfer component to correct the deviation of the middleware according to the two-dimensional coordinate information.

7. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a point cloud scanning mechanism, which can use 3D point laser to scan the middleware to obtain point cloud data of the middleware, and the controller obtains the distance between the middleware and the inkjet printhead in the height direction and the tilt of the middleware based on the point cloud data.

8. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller can also control the inkjet printing mechanism to adjust the distance between the inkjet printhead and the intermediate component to a preset distance range.

9. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inkjet printing mechanism includes multiple inkjet printheads, and the controller can control any one of the inkjet printheads to print the shaped material layer by layer on the intermediate component.

10. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a cleaning mechanism, which includes a lint-free cloth and a conveying assembly.

11. The secondary molding apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The lint-free cloth is wrapped around the conveying assembly and can move under the drive of the conveying assembly. The cleaning mechanism can move to below the inkjet printhead and bring the lint-free cloth into contact with the inkjet printhead.

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