Novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment

Abstract

The utility model provides a novel two-way powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, which comprises a powder falling component, a powder spreading component, a scraper, a powder spreading bottom plate and an inflatable air bag, the powder spreading bottom plate is arranged on the bottom surface of a printing bin, the scraper is arranged on the powder spreading component, and the powder spreading component is movably arranged above the powder spreading bottom plate; the powder falling assembly is arranged on the upper side of the powder laying assembly and used for conveying powder into the powder laying assembly. According to the powder spreading device, after metal powder is spread on the powder spreading base plate through a scraper to complete first powder spreading, a layer of metal powder can be stored in the air bag mounting groove; after the metal powder on the base plate is sintered and melted, the inflatable air bag expands to eject out the metal powder in the air bag mounting groove for secondary powder supply, a two-way powder laying structure does not need to be arranged, cost is low, meanwhile, consumption of the metal powder can be reduced in the two-way powder laying process, and the utilization rate of the powder can be increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of metal additive manufacturing equipment, in particular to a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment. Background Art

[0002] At present, many manufacturing technologies have been produced according to the principles of 3D printing manufacturing methods, and many materials have been divided according to actual conditions. Commonly used materials for 3D printing include PLA, stainless steel, titanium alloy, aluminum, gypsum, rubber, durable nylon, etc. The technologies for realizing 3D printing mainly include photopolymerization molding technology, granular material molding technology, extrusion molding technology, wire molding technology, lamination molding technology and powder layer nozzle technology.

[0003] Therefore, 3D printing can easily meet people's creative ideas and needs at a very low cost and faster production speed, and can provide more ideas and more powerful help for people on the road of artistic creation. In addition, in terms of education, 3D printing can allow students to more intuitively observe the production process of things from scratch, and stimulate children's creativity. 3D printing will be the main technological force leading the progress of the times and new social changes.

[0004] However, there are still many problems for the metal 3D printing industry. The most prominent disadvantage is that the cost of use is not low. The key reason for this problem is the utilization rate and loss rate of powder. Low utilization rate of powder will lead to high loss rate of powder, which in turn leads to high cost of equipment use. Whether it is two-way powder spreading or one-way powder spreading, the amount of powder required to be supplied during use needs to be 50% more. Although this 50% of powder can be recycled, the recycling cycle of the powder will be greatly reduced. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a structure is needed that can reduce powder loss and increase powder utilization without affecting the printing efficiency of the equipment. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a new two-way powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, which reduces the consumption of powder, increases the utilization rate of powder, and increases the recycling cycle of powder during the two-way powder spreading process.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, comprising a powder falling component, a powder spreading component, a scraper, a powder spreading base plate, and an inflatable airbag, wherein the powder spreading base plate is arranged on the bottom surface of the printing chamber, the scraper is arranged on the powder spreading component, and the powder spreading component is movably arranged above the powder spreading base plate; the powder falling component is arranged on the upper side of the powder spreading component for conveying powder into the powder spreading component; an airbag mounting groove is opened at one end of the powder spreading base plate away from the powder falling component, and the inflatable airbag is arranged in the airbag mounting groove.

[0007] Preferably, the powder dropping assembly includes a powder bin, a powder dropping cylinder, and a powder dropping shaft. The upper end of the powder dropping cylinder is provided with a feed port, the lower end of the powder dropping cylinder is provided with a discharge port, the powder dropping shaft is rotatably arranged in the powder dropping cylinder, the powder dropping shaft is provided with a discharge trough, and the discharge trough can be communicated with the feed port and the discharge port; the powder bin is arranged on the upper side of the powder dropping cylinder and the outlet of the powder bin is communicated with the feed port.

[0008] Preferably, the powder spreading component includes a powder spreading box and a powder spreading box driving component. The powder spreading box is provided with a powder receiving groove, and the powder in the powder bin enters the powder receiving groove of the powder spreading box through a powder dropping tube and a powder dropping shaft; the powder spreading box driving component drives the powder spreading box to move above the powder spreading base plate.

[0009] Preferably, the scraper is arranged on the side wall of the powder spreading box away from the inflatable airbag.

[0010] Preferably, a powder recovery hole is provided through one end of the powder-laying base plate away from the airbag mounting groove.

[0011] Preferably, the inflatable airbag is connected with an air pipe for inflating or exhausting the inflatable airbag.

[0012] As mentioned above, the novel bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment involved in the present invention has the following features:

[0013] Beneficial effects:

[0014] The utility model relates to a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, wherein the powder spreading component is located at the lower side of the powder dropping component, the powder dropping component provides the first powder supply, the powder enters the powder spreading component, and then the powder spreading component and the scraper move on the powder spreading base plate under the action of the powder spreading box driving component, thereby realizing the first powder spreading on the powder spreading base plate. During the first powder spreading process, the inflatable airbag is in an uninflated state, and the excess powder in the first powder spreading falls into the airbag mounting groove. After the powder on the powder spreading base plate is melted under the scanning of the laser, the inflatable airbag is inflated, and the expanded inflatable airbag pushes out the powder in the airbag mounting groove, and then the powder spreading box driving component drives the powder spreading component and the scraper to move in the opposite direction and return to the lower side of the powder dropping component. In the process of the powder spreading component and the scraper returning to the lower side of the powder dropping component, the scraper flattens the powder pushed out of the airbag mounting groove, thereby realizing the second powder spreading. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a spatial structure diagram of a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment of the utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 It is a top view of a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment of the utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the first state of the novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the second state of the novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment of the utility model.

[0019] Description of reference numerals:

[0020] 1. Powder box; 101. Powder receiving slot; 2. Powder bin; 3. Scraper; 4. Powder dropping tube; 5. Powder base plate; 501. Powder inlet hole; 6. Powder box drive assembly; 7. Airbag installation slot; 8. Inflatable airbag; 9. Powder recovery hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following is a description of the implementation of the present invention by means of specific embodiments. People familiar with the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification.

[0022] It should be noted that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc. drawn in the drawings of this specification are only used to match the contents disclosed in the specification for people familiar with this technology to understand and read, and are not used to limit the limiting conditions for the implementation of the utility model, so they have no substantial technical significance. Any modification of the structure, change of the proportional relationship or adjustment of the size, without affecting the effects and purposes that can be achieved by the utility model, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed by the utility model. At the same time, the terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "middle" and so on quoted in this specification are only for the convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the implementation of the utility model. The change or adjustment of their relative relationship should also be regarded as the scope of the implementation of the utility model without substantial change of the technical content.

[0023] The utility model provides a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment. For the convenience of description, the length direction of the powder spreading base plate 5 is defined as the left-right direction, the width direction of the powder spreading base plate 5 is the front-back direction, and the height direction of the powder spreading base plate 5 is the up-down direction. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, the left direction and the right direction of the paper are respectively the left direction and the right direction, the upper direction and the lower direction of the paper are respectively the upper direction and the lower direction, and the front and the back of the paper are respectively the front direction and the back direction.

[0024] like Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the utility model provides a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, including a powder dropping component, a powder spreading component, a scraper 3, a powder spreading base plate 5, and an inflatable airbag 8. The powder spreading base plate 5 is arranged on the bottom surface of the printing chamber, the scraper 3 is arranged on the powder spreading component, and the powder spreading component is movably arranged above the powder spreading base plate 5; the powder dropping component is arranged on the upper side of the powder spreading component, and is used to transport powder into the powder spreading component; an airbag mounting groove 7 is opened at the left end of the powder spreading base plate 5, and the inflatable airbag 8 is arranged in the airbag mounting groove 7.

[0025] The scraper 3 in the utility model is arranged on the powder spreading component, and the metal powder in the powder falling component enters the powder spreading component, and the powder spreading component places the metal powder on the powder spreading base plate 5, and then the powder spreading component drives the scraper to move, and completes the first powder spreading. During the first powder spreading process, the inflatable airbag 8 is in an uninflated state, and the excess powder in the first powder spreading process falls into the airbag mounting groove 7. After the first powder spreading is completed, the metal powder on the powder spreading base plate 5 is melted by laser. Then, the inflatable airbag 8 is inflated, and the inflatable airbag 8 is in an expanded state to push out the excess powder in the airbag mounting groove 7, and then the powder spreading component and the scraper 3 move in the opposite direction to return to the lower side of the powder falling component. During the reverse movement of the powder spreading component and the scraper 3, the scraper 3 pushes the metal powder pushed out of the airbag mounting groove 7 to achieve the second powder spreading. In this way, the consumption of powder can be reduced and the utilization rate of powder can be increased during the first and second powder spreading processes.

[0026] Preferably, Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the powder dropping assembly includes a powder bin 2, a powder dropping cylinder 4, and a powder dropping shaft (the powder dropping shaft is not shown). A feed port is provided at the upper end of the powder dropping cylinder 4, a discharge port is provided at the lower end of the powder dropping cylinder 4, and the powder dropping shaft is rotatably arranged in the powder dropping cylinder 4. A discharge trough is provided on the powder dropping shaft, and the discharge trough can be communicated with the feed port and the discharge port. The powder bin 2 is arranged on the upper side of the powder dropping cylinder 4, and the outlet of the powder bin 2 is communicated with the feed port. Furthermore, the powder dropping shaft is transmission-connected to a shaft driving source, and the shaft driving source drives the powder dropping shaft to rotate in the powder dropping cylinder 4. During the rotation of the powder dropping shaft, the discharge trough connects the feed port and the discharge port of the powder dropping cylinder 4, and the metal powder passes through the powder dropping cylinder 4 from the powder bin 2 into the powder spreading box 1. Furthermore, as Figure 3 As shown, the powder dropping assembly is arranged above the right side of the powder laying base plate 5, and the powder dropping assembly is arranged inside the printing chamber.

[0027] Preferably, Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the powder spreading assembly includes a powder spreading box 1 and a powder spreading box driving assembly 6. A powder receiving groove 101 is provided in the powder spreading box 1. The powder in the powder bin 2 enters the powder receiving groove 101 of the powder spreading box 1 through the powder dropping tube 4 and the powder dropping shaft. The powder spreading box driving assembly 6 drives the powder spreading box 1 to move left and right above the powder spreading bottom plate 5. In this embodiment, before the powder spreading bottom plate 5 moves left and right, the metal powder flows out of the powder spreading box 1 and falls on the powder spreading bottom plate 5. At this time, the scraper 3 is on the right side of the metal powder. Then, the powder spreading box driving assembly 6 drives the powder spreading box 1 and the scraper 3 to move leftward, and the scraper 3 fixed on the right side wall of the powder spreading box 1 spreads the metal powder flat. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the powder box driving assembly 6 is composed of a slide rail, a slider, and a driving motor. The slide rail extends in the left-right direction and is arranged on the upper side of the powder laying base plate 5. The slider slides left-right on the slide rail through the driving motor. The slider is fixedly connected to the powder laying box 1, so that the left-right movement of the slider drives the left-right movement of the powder laying box 1, and the left-right movement of the powder laying box 1 drives the scraper 3 to move on the powder laying base plate 5, and the scraper 3 scrapes the metal powder flat. In other embodiments, the powder laying box driving assembly 6 can also adopt other structures, as long as the powder laying box 1 can slide left-right above the powder laying base plate 5.

[0028] Preferably, Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the scraper 3 is arranged on the side wall on the right side of the powder spreading box 1. In this embodiment, the metal powder falls from the powder receiving slot 101 of the powder spreading box 1 onto the powder spreading base plate 5, and at this time, the scraper 3 is on the right side of the metal powder. When the powder spreading box 1 moves to the left under the action of the powder spreading box driving assembly 6, the scraper 3 spreads the metal powder onto the powder spreading base plate 5, completing the first powder spreading. Then the scraper 3 is on the right side of the airbag mounting slot 7, and when the scraper 3 moves to the right, it can push the metal powder in the airbag mounting slot 7 to the right.

[0029] Preferably, Figure 2-Figure 4 As shown, the right end of the powder spreading bottom plate 5 is also penetrated by a powder recovery hole 9. In this embodiment, the purpose of setting the powder recovery hole 9 is to push the metal powder after the second powder spreading is completed into the powder recovery hole 9, and to recover the remaining metal powder through the powder recovery hole 9, so as to realize the recycling of the metal powder.

[0030] Preferably, in this embodiment, an air pipe is connected to the inflatable airbag 8 for inflating or exhausting the inflatable airbag 8. In this embodiment, the purpose of providing the inflatable airbag 8 is to push the metal powder into the airbag installation groove 7, so that the scraper 3 moves to the left end of the airbag installation groove 7, so that the scraper 3 moves in the opposite direction to spread the remaining metal powder for the second time.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a molding assembly (not shown) is also provided in the printing chamber, the molding assembly includes a molding cylinder and a molding lifting shaft, a powder inlet hole 501 is provided at the center of the powder-laying base plate 5, the molding cylinder is a hollow part, the molding cylinder is arranged at the lower end of the powder-laying base plate 5, and the top of the molding cylinder is connected to the powder inlet hole 501. The molding lifting shaft includes a vertical molding push rod and a horizontal base plate, the base plate is arranged at the top of the molding push rod, and the molding push rod drives the base plate to move upward or downward. In the initial position, the forming push rod drives the substrate to be placed at a position one layer thickness away from the upper end surface of the powder-laying base plate 5. The powder-laying box 1 and the scraper 3 spread the metal powder on the powder-laying base plate 5 along the left direction, and the metal powder falls on the substrate through the powder inlet hole 501. The laser is focused on the metal powder on the substrate for sintering and melting. After sintering and melting, the forming push rod drives the substrate to drop a layer thickness, and then the powder-laying box 1 and the scraper 3 push the metal powder in the airbag mounting groove 7 to the right onto the substrate. The laser then sinters and melts the newly laid metal powder, and finally the finished product is obtained by stacking the powder materials on the substrate layer by layer.

[0032] The utility model relates to a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, and the steps are as follows:

[0033] S1: According to Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown in and described above, the various components are installed and metal powder is added to the powder bin 2.

[0034] S2: Make the powder box 1 in the initial position (the initial position of the powder box 1 is below the powder drop tube 4 at the right end, such as Figure 3As shown). Start the shaft driving source, the shaft driving source drives the powder dropping shaft to rotate in the powder dropping cylinder 4, and during the rotation of the powder dropping shaft, the discharge slot connects the feeding port and the discharge port of the powder dropping cylinder 4, and the metal powder passes through the powder dropping cylinder 4 from the powder bin 2 into the powder receiving slot 101 of the powder spreading box 1, and the metal powder in the powder receiving slot 101 of the powder spreading box 1 falls from the powder receiving slot 101 onto the powder spreading bottom plate 5. In this embodiment, the metal powder in the powder spreading box 1 is the amount of powder for two layers.

[0035] S3: Start the powder box driving assembly 6, which drives the powder box 1 to move to the left. During the movement of the powder box 1 to the left, the scraper 3 moves to the left together, and the scraper 3 pushes the metal powder on the powder base plate 5 to move to the left.

[0036] S4: When the scraper 3 pushes the metal powder into the powder inlet hole 501, the metal powder is spread flat on the substrate because the initial position of the substrate is lower than the upper end surface of the powder spreading bottom plate 5 by a layer thickness, and then the scraper 3 pushes the remaining layer of metal powder into the airbag installation groove 7 to complete the first powder spreading, and the inflatable airbag 8 is in a compressed state; at this time, the powder spreading box 1 and the scraper 3 are at the left end of the airbag installation groove 7. The laser is focused on the metal powder on the substrate to sinter and melt the metal powder. After sintering and melting, the molding push rod drives the substrate to drop by a layer thickness.

[0037] S5: Air is introduced into the air pipe of the inflatable airbag 8, and the inflatable airbag 8 expands to push out the metal powder in the airbag mounting groove 7; the powder box driving assembly 6 is started in reverse, and the powder box driving assembly 6 drives the powder box 1 to move to the right. During the movement of the powder box 1 to the right, the scraper 3 moves to the right together, and the scraper 3 pushes the metal powder pushed out of the airbag mounting groove 7 onto the substrate to complete the second powder spreading; then the powder box 1 and the scraper 3 return to the bottom of the powder dropping cylinder 4. The laser is focused on the metal powder of the substrate to sinter and melt the metal powder. After sintering and melting, the molding push rod drives the substrate to descend a layer thickness. After the scraper 3 moves from left to right, the gas in the inflatable airbag 8 is discharged through the air pipe, and the inflatable airbag 8 returns to a compressed state.

[0038] S6: Repeat steps S2-S5 until the 3D printing of the part is completed.

[0039] Furthermore, after the part is completed through 3D printing, the scraper 3 pushes the remaining metal powder on the powder-laying base plate 5 into the powder recovery hole 9 to recycle the metal powder.

[0040] The utility model relates to a novel bidirectional powder spreading structure applied to metal additive manufacturing equipment, wherein an airbag mounting groove 7 is provided at the left end of a powder spreading base plate 5, in which an inflatable airbag 8 is arranged; a powder dropping component inputs two layers of metal powder for powder spreading onto the powder spreading base plate 5 at one time; when the scraper 3 spreads the metal powder onto the powder spreading base plate 5 to complete the first powder spreading, a layer of metal powder will be stored in the airbag mounting groove 7; after the metal powder on the substrate is sintered and melted, the inflatable airbag 8 expands to push out the metal powder in the airbag mounting groove 7 for secondary powder supply, and there is no need to set up a bidirectional powder spreading structure, so the cost is low, and at the same time, the consumption of metal powder can be reduced in the process of bidirectional powder spreading, thereby increasing the utilization rate of powder.

[0041] In summary, the utility model effectively overcomes various shortcomings of the prior art and has high industrial utilization value.

[0042] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone familiar with the technology may modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention shall still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A new bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment, characterized in that: The invention comprises a powder dropping component, a powder spreading component, a scraper (3), a powder spreading base plate (5), and an inflatable airbag (8), wherein the powder spreading base plate (5) is arranged on the bottom surface of a printing chamber, the scraper (3) is arranged on the powder spreading component, and the powder spreading component is movably arranged above the powder spreading base plate (5); the powder dropping component is arranged on the upper side of the powder spreading component and is used for conveying powder into the powder spreading component; an airbag mounting groove (7) is provided at one end of the powder spreading base plate (5) away from the powder dropping component, and the inflatable airbag (8) is arranged in the airbag mounting groove (7).

2. The novel bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The powder dropping component comprises a powder bin (2), a powder dropping cylinder (4), and a powder dropping shaft. The upper end of the powder dropping cylinder (4) is provided with a feed inlet, the lower end of the powder dropping cylinder (4) is provided with a discharge outlet, the powder dropping shaft is rotatably arranged in the powder dropping cylinder (4), the powder dropping shaft is provided with a discharge trough, and the discharge trough can be communicated with the feed inlet and the discharge outlet; the powder bin (2) is arranged on the upper side of the powder dropping cylinder (4) and the outlet of the powder bin (2) is communicated with the feed inlet.

3. The novel bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The powder spreading component comprises a powder spreading box (1) and a powder spreading box driving component (6); a powder receiving groove (101) is provided in the powder spreading box (1); powder in the powder bin (2) enters the powder receiving groove (101) of the powder spreading box (1) through a powder dropping cylinder (4) and a powder dropping rotating shaft; the powder spreading box driving component (6) drives the powder spreading box (1) to move above the powder spreading bottom plate (5).

4. The novel bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The scraper (3) is arranged on the side wall of the powder spreading box (1) away from the inflatable airbag (8).

5. The novel bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A powder recovery hole (9) is also provided through one end of the powder spreading base plate (5) away from the airbag mounting groove (7).

6. The novel bidirectional powder spreading structure for metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The inflatable airbag (8) is connected with an air pipe for inflating the inflatable airbag (8) or exhausting the inflatable airbag (8).

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