Drive device for a piston-based stage of a metal 3D printer

Abstract

The present application relates to metal 3D printing technology, and specifically provides a driving device for a piston base of a metal 3D printer, aiming to solve the problem that the existing metal 3D printer with large forming height has high height of appearance size, has high requirement on the net height of a factory building, and is not suitable for factory demand. For this purpose, the driving device comprises a bottom plate, a plurality of speed reducers, a plurality of multi-section ball screw mechanisms, and a plurality of support mechanisms. The plurality of speed reducers are configured as speed reducers without transmission gap in forward and reverse directions, and provide power and transmit power for the driving device. The plurality of multi-section ball screw mechanisms are configured as multi-section ball screw mechanisms without transmission gap in forward and reverse directions, and can drive the piston base to rise or fall. The plurality of support mechanisms are configured to stretch or compress with the rising or falling of the plurality of multi-section ball screw mechanisms. Since the piston base can be contracted, the height of the forming cylinder lower bin is reduced, the requirement on the net height of the factory building is reduced, and the factory demand is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to metal 3D printing technology, specifically providing a driving device for a piston base of a metal 3D printer. Background Technology

[0002] Metal 3D printing is an advanced manufacturing technology that directly creates complex metal parts by depositing layers of metal material. It breaks through the limitations of traditional processing methods on the structural complexity of parts and is hailed as one of the core technologies of the "Third Industrial Revolution." Metal 3D printing technology can be divided into various processes according to different material forms and energy sources. Among them, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) metal 3D printers, commonly known as SLM equipment, belong to the mainstream industrial metal 3D printing equipment of Powder Bed Laser Melting (LPBF). It directly and completely melts metal powder with a laser to manufacture high-performance metal functional parts.

[0003] Selective laser melting metal 3D printers include a forming cylinder and a lower chamber of the forming cylinder, a base and a base drive device. The base drive device is mostly installed in the lower chamber of the forming cylinder at the bottom of the forming cylinder. Due to the limitations of traditional drive methods, the height of the forming cylinder is basically equal to the height of the lower chamber of the forming cylinder. Therefore, metal 3D printers with large forming heights have relatively high external dimensions, which imposes strict requirements on the net height of the factory and is not suitable for factory needs.

[0004] To solve the above problems, it is urgent to develop a driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer that can compress the height of the metal 3D printer. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, namely, to solve the problem that the existing large-forming-height metal 3D printers have excessively high external dimensions, which imposes stringent requirements on the net height of the factory and is not suitable for factory needs.

[0006] This invention provides a driving device for a piston base of a metal 3D printer, the driving device comprising: The base plate serves as the mounting base for other parts in the drive unit besides the base plate itself. Multiple sets of reducers are mounted on the base plate and configured as reducers with no transmission backlash in both directions, used to provide and transmit power; Multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms are mounted on the base plate. Each set of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms is connected to a corresponding reducer in the multiple sets of reducers, forming a multi-segment ball screw mechanism with no transmission backlash in both forward and reverse directions. This mechanism is used to drive the piston base to rise or fall. Multiple sets of support mechanisms are installed between the base plate and the piston base, and are configured to extend or compress as the multiple sets of multi-section ball screw mechanisms rise or fall. Among them, multiple sets of reducers, multiple sets of multi-section ball screw mechanisms and multiple sets of support mechanisms correspond one-to-one.

[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the drive device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, each reducer includes: Servo motors are used to provide driving force; A servo motor drive gear, which is connected to the shaft end of the servo motor; and The left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear both mesh with the servo motor drive gear and the corresponding multi-section ball screw mechanism to transmit power.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer, each of the left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear includes a large gear and a small gear. The large gear meshes with the servo motor drive gear, and the small gear meshes with the corresponding multi-section ball screw mechanism.

[0009] In the preferred technical solution of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer, the pinions corresponding to the left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear are integrally formed with the corresponding intermediate shaft. Each reducer also includes an intermediate gear clamping nut, which is provided corresponding to the left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear. The corresponding double intermediate gear is provided with a corresponding large gear tapered shaft hole. The intermediate gear clamping nut is attached to the end face of the large gear tapered shaft hole of the corresponding double intermediate gear and presses the large gear at the tapered mating surface of the intermediate shaft.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, each set of reducers further includes: A speed reducer base plate, which is mounted on the base plate; A reducer housing, which is fixedly connected to the reducer base plate to protect the reducer; A motor base, which is mounted in the reducer housing to support the servo motor; and The servo motor gear engagement preload bolt is used to preload the reducer housing and the motor base.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, each set of multi-section ball screw mechanisms includes: A double-nut sleeve is disposed on the outermost layer of the multi-section ball screw mechanism; A short sleeve shaft, which is disposed inside the double nut sleeve, serves as a rotating shaft; An angular contact bearing, which is sleeved on the short shaft of the sleeve, is used to support the double-nut sleeve; An angular contact bearing thrust ring is disposed at the end face of the angular contact bearing and the double nut sleeve; A sleeve drive gear is sleeved on the outside of the double nut sleeve and fixedly connected to it. The sleeve drive gear meshes with a corresponding reducer to drive the double nut sleeve to rotate. A multi-section ball screw, comprising elastic damping washers disposed on the bottom surface of the piston base to brake each section of the ball screw. Each ball screw section includes: corresponding Lead screw, The lead screw main nut and lead screw auxiliary nut are fitted onto the lead screw and mesh with it. A preload adjusting shim is disposed between the main nut and the auxiliary nut of the lead screw. A lead screw brake ring, which is fitted onto the lead screw and located at its bottom end, brakes the ball screw section when the lead screw brake ring is in contact with the end face of the lead screw nut. One end of the innermost ball screw in the multi-section ball screw is fixedly connected to the piston base. Under the drive of the double nut sleeve and the action of the elastic damping washer and the screw brake ring, the multi-section ball screw extends out section by section from the outside to the inside.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, the fixed connection between the sleeve drive gear and the double nut sleeve is achieved by a tapered bolt, a tapered washer, and a fastening nut.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, the double nut sleeve is provided with a sleeve tapered bolt hole, the sleeve drive gear is provided with a tapered bolt hole, the tapered bolt includes a threaded section, a tapered section and a cylindrical section, the threaded section connects to the angular contact bearing thrust ring, the tapered section passes through the sleeve tapered bolt hole to fix the angular contact bearing thrust ring, the cylindrical section passes through the tapered bolt hole of the sleeve drive gear, and is fixedly connected to the double nut sleeve and the angular contact bearing thrust ring by the tapered washer and the fastening nut.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, the support mechanism includes: A center pin, one end of which is fixedly connected to the piston base, serves to guide the movement; and A truncated conical spiral spring, one end of which passes through the central pin and abuts against the piston base, and the other end of which abuts against the base plate.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the driving device for the piston base of the metal 3D printer described above, the number of the multiple reducers is four, the number of the multiple multi-section ball screw mechanisms is four, and the number of the multiple support mechanisms is four.

[0016] With the above technical solution adopted, the driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer of the present invention includes a base plate, multiple sets of reducers, multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms, and multiple sets of support mechanisms. The multiple sets of reducers create reducers with no transmission backlash in both forward and reverse directions, providing power and transmitting power to the driving device. The multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms are connected to the corresponding reducers, forming multi-segment ball screw mechanisms with no transmission backlash in both forward and reverse directions, capable of driving the piston base to rise or fall. The multiple sets of support mechanisms are configured to extend or compress with the rise or fall of the multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms, serving as the main load-bearing components. Because the present invention can retract the piston base, the height of the lower chamber of the molding cylinder is reduced, lowering the net height requirement of the factory, which is suitable for factory needs. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of the piston base drive device for a metal 3D printer of the present invention installed in a metal 3D printer. Figure 2 This is a schematic perspective view of the piston base drive device for a metal 3D printer of the present invention in a compressed state. Figure 3 This is a schematic perspective view of the piston base drive device for a metal 3D printer of the present invention in an extended state. Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A schematic 3D view of the speed reducer in the diagram; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic 3D view of the speed reducer from another angle; Figure 6 Figure 5 A schematic main sectional view of the speed reducer; Figure 7 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view along line AA of the drive mechanism for the piston base of a metal 3D printer. Figure 8 yes Figure 2 A schematic 3D diagram of a multi-section ball screw mechanism; Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A schematic main sectional view of a multi-section ball screw mechanism; Figure 10 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view along line BB of the drive mechanism for the piston base of a metal 3D printer. Figure 11 yes Figure 10 A schematic enlarged view of a portion of D; Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A schematic enlarged view of a portion of E in the diagram; Figure 13 yes Figure 11 A schematic enlarged view of a portion of F; Figure 14 yes Figure 13 A schematic enlarged view of a portion of G; Figure 15 yes Figure 14 A schematic three-dimensional diagram of a tapered bolt; Figure 16 yes Figure 14 A schematic three-dimensional diagram of a conical washer; Figure 17 yes Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view along the CC line of the piston base drive mechanism for a metal 3D printer.

[0018] The symbols in the diagram represent the following meanings: 1. Molding cylinder, 2. Molding cylinder lower chamber, 3. Piston base. 100 drive unit, 10 base plate, 20. Gear reducer; 21. Servo motor; 22. Servo motor drive gear; 23. Gear reducer base plate; 24. Gear reducer housing; 25. Motor base; 26. Servo motor gear meshing preload bolt; 27. Left-hand double intermediate gear; 271. Intermediate shaft; 272. Large gear; 273. Large gear tapered shaft hole; 274. Small gear; 28. Right-hand double intermediate gear; 29. ​​Intermediate gear clamping nut. The system includes: a ball screw mechanism with over 30 sections; a double nut sleeve; a sleeve with tapered bolt holes; an angular contact bearing; a sleeve drive gear; a tapered bolt hole; a multi-section ball screw; an elastic damping washer; a screw; a main screw nut; a secondary screw nut; a preload adjusting shim; a screw brake ring; a tapered bolt; a threaded section; a tapered section; a cylindrical section; a tapered washer; a fastening nut; an angular contact bearing thrust ring; and a short sleeve shaft. 40 Support mechanism, 41 Center pin, 42 Conical spiral spring. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications.

[0020] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0021] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] Figure 1 An assembly diagram is shown showing the piston base drive unit for a metal 3D printer installed in the lower chamber of the forming cylinder of a metal 3D printer. Figure 2 A structural diagram of the drive mechanism for a piston base in a compressed state is shown. Figure 3 A structural diagram of the drive mechanism for a piston base in a metal 3D printer in an extended state is shown. Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The specific structure of the speed reducer is shown. Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 , Figure 11 , Figure 12 , Figure 13 and Figure 14 The specific structure of a multi-section ball screw mechanism is shown. Figure 15 The specific structure of the tapered bolt is shown. Figure 16 The specific structure of the conical washer is shown. Figure 17 The specific structure of the support mechanism is shown. Among them, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 17Each of them conceals a truncated cone spiral spring. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 17 The three truncated cone scroll springs have different heights, which is only to illustrate the process of the truncated cone scroll spring being compressed and released. The shortest truncated cone scroll spring represents the fully compressed state, the middle height truncated cone scroll spring represents the released state, and the highest height truncated cone scroll spring represents the fully released state. In actual use, the truncated cone scroll spring rises or falls with the piston base.

[0023] like Figures 1-17 As shown, to address the issue that existing large-scale metal 3D printers have excessively high dimensions, imposing stringent requirements on factory ceiling height and thus unsuitable for factory needs, [further details are needed]. Figure 1 As shown, a metal 3D printer generally includes a forming cylinder 1, a lower chamber of the forming cylinder 2, a piston base 3, and a drive unit 100. For example... Figure 1 As shown, see also Figures 2-3 This invention provides a drive device 100 for a piston base 3 in a metal 3D printer. The drive device 100 generally includes: a base plate 10, multiple sets of reducers 20, multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms 30, and multiple sets of support mechanisms 40. The base plate 10 serves as the mounting base for other components in the drive device 100 besides itself. Multiple sets of reducers 20 are mounted on the base plate 10, each set configured as a backlash-free reducer in both directions, used to provide and transmit power. Multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms 30 are mounted on the base plate 10, each set connected to a corresponding reducer 20 in the multiple sets of reducers 20, each set configured as a backlash-free multi-segment ball screw mechanism 30, used to drive the piston base 3 to rise or fall. Multiple sets of support mechanisms 40 are installed between the base plate 10 and the piston base 3. Each set of support mechanisms 40 is configured to extend or compress as multiple sets of multi-section ball screw mechanisms 30 rise or fall. Among them, multiple sets of reducers 20, multiple sets of multi-section ball screw mechanisms 30 and multiple sets of support mechanisms 40 correspond one-to-one.

[0024] like Figure 1-3As shown, the drive device 100 for the piston base 3 of a metal 3D printer according to the present invention includes a base plate 10, multiple sets of reducers 20, multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms 30, and multiple sets of support mechanisms 40. The multiple sets of reducers 20 are configured to have no transmission backlash in both directions, providing power and transmitting power to the drive device 100. The multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms 30 are connected to the corresponding reducers 20, and are configured to have no transmission backlash in both directions, enabling the piston base 3 to rise or fall. The multiple sets of support mechanisms 40 are configured to extend or compress with the rising or falling of the multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms 30, and are the main load-bearing components. Because the present invention can retract the piston base 3, the height of the lower chamber 2 of the forming cylinder is reduced, effectively compressing the height dimension of the metal 3D printer, reducing the net height requirement of the factory, and meeting factory needs.

[0025] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 4 As shown, see also Figures 5-7 Each reducer 20 includes: a servo motor 21 and a servo motor drive gear 22 (see...). Figure 5 , Figure 6 The system includes a left-hand double intermediate gear 27 and a right-hand double intermediate gear 28. A servo motor 21 provides the driving force. Figure 6 As shown, the servo motor drive gear 22 is connected to the shaft end of the servo motor 21. Figure 5 As shown, see also Figure 7 Both the left-hand double intermediate gear 27 and the right-hand double intermediate gear 28 are connected to the servo motor drive gear 22 and the corresponding multi-segment ball screw mechanism 30 (see...). Figure 2 , Figure 3 They mesh together to transmit power.

[0026] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 5 As shown, see also Figures 6-7 Each of the left-hand double intermediate gears 27 and the right-hand double intermediate gears 28 includes a large gear 272 and a small gear 274, such as... Figure 5 As shown, see also Figure 6 The large gear 272 meshes with the servo motor drive gear 22, such as Figure 7 As shown, the pinion 274 meshes with the sleeve drive gear 33 of the corresponding multi-segment ball screw mechanism 30.

[0027] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 7As shown, the pinions 274 corresponding to the left-hand double intermediate gear 27 and the right-hand double intermediate gear 28 are integrally formed with the corresponding intermediate shaft 271. Each reducer 20 also includes an intermediate gear clamping nut 29, which is provided corresponding to the left-hand double intermediate gear 27 and the right-hand double intermediate gear 28. The corresponding double intermediate gear has a corresponding large gear tapered shaft hole 273. The end face of the intermediate gear clamping nut 29 is attached to the end face of the large gear tapered shaft hole 273 of the corresponding double intermediate gear, pressing the large gear 272 against the tapered mating surface of the intermediate shaft.

[0028] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 4 As shown, see also Figures 5-7 Each reducer 20 also includes: a reducer base plate 23, a reducer housing 24, a motor base 25, and a servo motor gear meshing preload bolt 26. The reducer base plate 23 is mounted on the base plate 10. The reducer housing 24 is fixedly connected to the reducer base plate 23 to protect the reducer 20. The motor base 25 is mounted in the reducer housing 24 to support the servo motor 21. The servo motor gear meshing preload bolt 26 is used to preload the reducer housing 24 and the motor base 25.

[0029] like Figure 5 As shown, the left-hand double intermediate gear 27 and the right-hand double intermediate gear 28 are respectively connected to the sleeve drive gear 33 (see...). Figure 7 ) and the servo motor drive gear 22 mesh, such as Figure 4 As shown, the servo motor gear meshing preload bolt 26 mounted on the reducer housing 24 tightens the motor base 25, and the servo motor drive gear 22 mounted on the shaft end of the servo motor 21 (see...) Figure 5 Under this force, it engages with the left-hand double intermediate gear 27 and the right-hand double intermediate gear 28, eliminating the need for the servo motor 21 to drive the sleeve drive gear 33 (see...). Figure 7 (This refers to the gap during the left-right reverse rotation reversal process.)

[0030] As one possible implementation method, such as Figures 8-13 As shown, specifically as follows Figure 13As shown, each multi-section ball screw mechanism 30 generally includes: a double-nut sleeve 31, a sleeve short shaft 39, an angular contact bearing 32, an angular contact bearing thrust ring 38, and a sleeve drive gear 33. The double-nut sleeve 31 is located on the outermost layer of the multi-section ball screw mechanism 30. The sleeve short shaft 39 is located inside the double-nut sleeve 31 and serves as a rotation shaft. The angular contact bearing 32 is sleeved on the sleeve short shaft 39 and supports the double-nut sleeve 31. The angular contact bearing thrust ring 38 is located at the end faces of the angular contact bearing 32 and the double-nut sleeve 31. The sleeve drive gear 33 is sleeved on the outside of the double-nut sleeve 31 and fixedly connected to it. The sleeve drive gear 33 meshes with a corresponding reducer 20 to drive the double-nut sleeve 31 to rotate. Figure 9 As shown, see also Figure 12 and Figure 13 Each multi-section ball screw mechanism 30 may further include a multi-section ball screw 34. The multi-section ball screw 34 may include an elastic damping washer 341 and each ball screw section. Each ball screw section generally includes a corresponding screw 342, a main screw nut 343, a secondary screw nut 344, a preload adjusting washer 345, and a screw brake ring 346. The elastic damping washer 341 is disposed on the bottom surface of the piston base 3 to brake each ball screw section. The main screw nut 343 and the secondary screw nut 344 are fitted onto and mesh with the screw 342. The preload adjusting washer 345 is disposed between the main screw nut 343 and the secondary screw nut 344. The main nut 343 and auxiliary nut 344 of each ball screw section 342 are preloaded relative to the ball screw 342 by preload adjusting shims 345, ensuring that they are in a positive and negative preload state. The main nut 343 bears the positive motion pressure of the ball screw 342, and the auxiliary nut 344 bears the negative motion pressure of the ball screw 342. This preload eliminates the axial transmission clearance between the ball screw 342 and the nut. A ball screw brake ring 346 is fitted onto the ball screw 342 and located at its bottom end. When the ball screw brake ring 346 is in contact with the end face of the auxiliary nut 344, it brakes that section of the ball screw. For example... Figure 12 As shown, see also Figure 13 In the multi-section ball screw 34, one end of the innermost screw 342 is fixedly connected to the piston base 3. Under the action of the double nut sleeve 31 and the elastic damping washer 341 and screw brake ring 346, the multi-section ball screw 34... Figure 3 As shown, the ball screw 342 extends segment by segment from the outside in. In specific implementations, each group of multi-segment ball screws 34 may include four ball screw segments. Of course, in other embodiments, each group of multi-segment ball screws 34 may also include three, five, or six ball screw segments, depending on the design requirements.

[0031] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 13 As shown, see also Figure 14The fixed connection between the sleeve drive gear 33 and the double nut sleeve 31 is achieved by the tapered bolt 35, the tapered washer 36 and the fastening nut 37.

[0032] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 14 As shown, see also Figure 15 and Figure 16 The double-nut sleeve 31 is provided with a tapered bolt hole 311. The sleeve drive gear 33 is provided with a tapered bolt hole 331. Figure 15 As shown, the tapered bolt 35 includes a threaded section 351, a tapered section 352, and a cylindrical section 353. (As...) Figure 14 As shown, the threaded section 351 connects to the thrust ring 38 of the angular contact bearing, the tapered section 352 passes through the tapered bolt hole 311 of the sleeve to fix the thrust ring 38 of the angular contact bearing, and the cylindrical section 353 passes through the tapered bolt hole 331 of the sleeve drive gear 33 and is fixedly connected to the double nut sleeve 31 and the thrust ring 38 of the angular contact bearing through the tapered washer 36 and the fastening nut 37.

[0033] As one possible implementation method, such as Figure 17 As shown, the support mechanism 40 generally includes a center pin 41 and a truncated conical spiral spring 42. One end of the center pin 41 is fixedly connected to the piston base 3 to provide motion guidance. One end of the truncated conical spiral spring 42 passes through the center pin 41 and abuts against the piston base 3, while the other end of the truncated conical spiral spring 42 abuts against the base plate 10. The truncated conical spiral spring 42 is used to balance the base load to reduce the pressure of the piston base 3 on the lead screw 342.

[0034] like Figure 5 As shown, viewed from the side of the servo motor drive gear 22, when the servo motor 21 receives the right-hand rotation command from the driver and rotates to the right, the servo motor drive gear 22 engages the right-hand double intermediate gear 28 to drive the sleeve drive gear 33, as shown. Figure 12 As shown, the screw main nut 343 inside the double nut sleeve 31 rotates clockwise. At this time, the multi-section ball screw 34 is braked by the elastic damping washer 341, so the multi-section ball screw 34 extends. See [link / reference]. Figure 13 When the multi-section ball screw 34 moves to the point where the screw brake ring 346 contacts the end face of the screw pair nut 344, the outermost ball screw is braked, and the second ball screw continues to extend, and so on. Figure 3 As shown, the piston base 3 is driven to the designated position. During this process, the elastic force of the truncated conical spiral spring 42 is gradually released, and the metal powder above the piston base 3 is also gradually removed. Therefore, the multi-section ball screw mechanism 30 acting on the piston base 3 is basically in equilibrium.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the number of multiple reducers 20 can be four, the number of multiple multi-section ball screw mechanisms 30 can be four, and the number of multiple support mechanisms 40 can be four. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of multiple reducers 20 can also be three, five, or other numbers, the number of multiple multi-section ball screw mechanisms 30 can also be three, five, or other numbers, and the number of multiple support mechanisms 40 can also be three, five, or other numbers, depending on the design requirements.

[0036] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A driving device for a piston base in a metal 3D printer, characterized in that, The driving device includes: The base plate serves as the mounting base for other parts in the drive unit besides the base plate itself; Multiple speed reducers are mounted on the base plate and configured as speed reducers with no transmission backlash in both directions, used to provide and transmit power; Multiple sets of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms are mounted on the base plate. Each set of multi-segment ball screw mechanisms is connected to a corresponding reducer in the multiple sets of reducers, forming a multi-segment ball screw mechanism with no transmission backlash in both forward and reverse directions. This mechanism is used to drive the piston base to rise or fall. Multiple sets of support mechanisms are installed between the base plate and the piston base, and are configured to extend or compress as the multiple sets of multi-section ball screw mechanisms rise or fall. Among them, multiple sets of reducers, multiple sets of multi-section ball screw mechanisms and multiple sets of support mechanisms correspond one-to-one.

2. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each set of speed reducers includes: Servo motors are used to provide driving force; A servo motor drive gear, which is connected to the shaft end of the servo motor; and The left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear both mesh with the servo motor drive gear and the corresponding multi-section ball screw mechanism to transmit power.

3. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the left-hand double intermediate gears and the right-hand double intermediate gears includes a large gear and a small gear. The large gear meshes with the drive gear of the servo motor, and the small gear meshes with the corresponding multi-section ball screw mechanism.

4. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pinions and corresponding intermediate shafts of the left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear are integral structures. Each reducer also includes an intermediate gear clamping nut, which is provided corresponding to the left-hand double intermediate gear and the right-hand double intermediate gear. The corresponding double intermediate gear is provided with a corresponding large gear tapered shaft hole. The intermediate gear clamping nut is attached to the end face of the large gear tapered shaft hole of the corresponding double intermediate gear and presses the large gear at the tapered mating surface of the intermediate shaft.

5. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each set of speed reducers also includes: A speed reducer base plate, which is mounted on the base plate; A reducer housing, which is fixedly connected to the reducer base plate to protect the reducer; A motor base, which is mounted in the reducer housing to support the servo motor; and The servo motor gear engagement preload bolt is used to preload the reducer housing and the motor base.

6. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each group of multi-section ball screw mechanisms includes: A double-nut sleeve is disposed on the outermost layer of the multi-section ball screw mechanism; A short sleeve shaft, which is disposed inside the double nut sleeve, serves as a rotating shaft; An angular contact bearing, which is sleeved on the short shaft of the sleeve, is used to support the double-nut sleeve; An angular contact bearing thrust ring is disposed at the end face of the angular contact bearing and the double nut sleeve; A sleeve drive gear is sleeved on the outside of the double nut sleeve and fixedly connected to it. The sleeve drive gear meshes with a corresponding reducer to drive the double nut sleeve to rotate. A multi-section ball screw, comprising elastic damping washers disposed on the bottom surface of the piston base to brake each section of the ball screw. Each ball screw section includes: corresponding Lead screw, The lead screw main nut and lead screw auxiliary nut are fitted onto the lead screw and mesh with it. A preload adjusting shim is disposed between the main nut and the auxiliary nut of the lead screw. A lead screw brake ring, which is fitted onto the lead screw and located at its bottom end, brakes the ball screw section when the lead screw brake ring is in contact with the end face of the lead screw nut. One end of the innermost ball screw in the multi-section ball screw is fixedly connected to the piston base. Under the drive of the double nut sleeve and the action of the elastic damping washer and the screw brake ring, the multi-section ball screw extends out section by section from the outside to the inside.

7. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 6, characterized in that, The fixed connection between the sleeve drive gear and the double nut sleeve is achieved by a tapered bolt, a tapered washer, and a fastening nut.

8. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 7, characterized in that, The double-nut sleeve is provided with a tapered bolt hole, and the sleeve drive gear is provided with a tapered bolt hole. The tapered bolt includes a threaded section, a tapered section, and a cylindrical section. The threaded section connects to the thrust ring of the angular contact bearing. The tapered section passes through the tapered bolt hole of the sleeve to fix the thrust ring of the angular contact bearing. The cylindrical section passes through the tapered bolt hole of the sleeve drive gear and is fixedly connected to the double-nut sleeve and the thrust ring of the angular contact bearing through the tapered washer and the fastening nut.

9. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The supporting structure includes: A center pin, one end of which is fixedly connected to the piston base, serves to guide the movement; and A truncated conical spiral spring, one end of which passes through the central pin and abuts against the piston base, and the other end of which abuts against the base plate.

10. The driving device for the piston base of a metal 3D printer according to claim 9, characterized in that, The number of the multiple reducers is four, the number of the multiple multi-section ball screw mechanisms is four, and the number of the multiple support mechanisms is four.

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