Powder cleaning device and metal additive manufacturing equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of 3D printing, aims to solve the problems that manual operation efficiency is low and health damage is possibly caused by long-term contact with powder, and provides a powder cleaning device and metal additive manufacturing equipment. The powder cleaning device comprises a powder cleaning cover, a top spray head, a lateral spray head and a powder collecting assembly. The powder cleaning cover covers the upper end of the powder cylinder, and a closed cavity is defined by the powder cleaning cover and the powder cylinder; the powder cleaning cover is provided with an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The top spray head is arranged on the top wall of the powder cleaning cover, faces the printing substrate in the lifting direction of the printing substrate and is used for blowing air to the printing substrate. And the lateral spray head is arranged on the side wall of the powder cleaning cover and is used for blowing air along the lateral closed cavity. The powder collecting assembly communicates with the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet, and the powder collecting assembly is configured to be capable of blowing air to the airflow inlet and blowing air in the closed cavity and blown powder out of the closed cavity from the airflow outlet. The powder cleaning device has the beneficial effects that the powder cleaning efficiency is high, and personnel are prevented from making contact with powder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of 3D printing, and more specifically, to a powder cleaning device and metal additive manufacturing equipment. Background Art

[0002] Metal additive manufacturing equipment generally uses laser or electron beam energy sources to melt metal powder, causing the metal powder to fuse and accumulate layer by layer to form a complete print. After the print is completed, the remaining powder needs to be cleared out of the device. The cleared powder may be discarded or reused depending on the situation.

[0003] In some known technologies, after printing is completed, the operator generally recycles the remaining powder into a powder storage tank, and then filters and dries it for reuse.

[0004] However, manual operation is inefficient and long-term exposure to powder may cause health damage. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present application provides a powder cleaning device and a metal additive manufacturing device to solve the problem that manual operation is inefficient and long-term contact with powder may cause health damage.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a powder cleaning device for a metal additive manufacturing device, wherein the metal additive manufacturing device comprises a printing chamber, a powder cylinder and a printing substrate, wherein the printing substrate is arranged on the powder cylinder in a liftable manner, and the printing chamber is located above the powder cylinder; the powder cleaning device comprises a powder cleaning cover, a top nozzle, a side nozzle and a powder collecting assembly. The powder cleaning cover is arranged at the upper end of the powder cylinder and forms a closed cavity with the powder cylinder; the powder cleaning cover is provided with an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet. The top nozzle is arranged on the top wall of the powder cleaning cover, and the top nozzle faces the printing substrate along the lifting direction of the printing substrate, and is used to blow air in the direction of the printing substrate. The side nozzle is arranged on the side wall of the powder cleaning cover, and is used to blow air into the closed cavity along the side. The powder collecting assembly is connected to the air flow inlet and the air flow outlet, and the powder collecting assembly is configured to be able to blow air into the air flow inlet, and blow the gas in the closed cavity and the blown powder out of the closed cavity from the air flow outlet.

[0007] In one possible implementation:

[0008] There are multiple top nozzles, and the multiple top nozzle surfaces are distributed on the top wall.

[0009] In one possible implementation:

[0010] There are a plurality of lateral spray heads, and the plurality of lateral spray heads are distributed on a group of opposite side walls of the powder cleaning cover.

[0011] In one possible implementation:

[0012] The multiple side nozzles are oriented at different angles respectively.

[0013] In one possible implementation:

[0014] The air flow inlet and the air flow outlet are arranged on the other side wall of the powder cleaning cover, and the air flow inlet and the air flow outlet are spaced apart in the horizontal direction.

[0015] In one possible implementation:

[0016] The powder cleaning cover comprises a cover body and a connecting folded edge;

[0017] The cover body is a box-shaped structure opening toward the powder cylinder, and the connecting fold is connected to one side of the opening of the cover body for connecting to the printing cabin.

[0018] In one possible implementation:

[0019] The connecting fold is connected to the bottom wall of the printing chamber through connecting screws.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present application provides a metal additive manufacturing device, which includes a powder cylinder, a printing substrate, a printing chamber and the aforementioned powder cleaning device. The powder cylinder is used to contain powder for printing. The printing substrate can be lifted and lowered in the powder cylinder to carry the powder and the printed part. The printing chamber is located above the powder cylinder. The powder cleaning device is arranged in the printing chamber, and the powder cleaning cover of the powder cleaning device and the powder cylinder form a closed cavity.

[0021] In one possible implementation:

[0022] The metal additive manufacturing equipment also includes a lifting component, which is transmission-connected to the printing substrate and is used to drive the printing substrate to rise and fall along the lifting direction, and can drive the powder and printed parts carried by the printing substrate to rise into the powder cleaning cover.

[0023] In one possible implementation:

[0024] The metal additive manufacturing equipment is a SLM additive manufacturing equipment.

[0025] The metal additive manufacturing equipment of the present application starts the powder collecting component when powder cleaning is needed, and the powder collecting component forms an airflow loop through the closed cavity through the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet. At the same time, the top nozzle sprays downward (such as spraying high-pressure gas) to blow up the remaining powder carried on the printing substrate. The remaining powder forms a powder airflow driven by the airflow loop and is blown out of the powder cleaning cover for easy collection (such as collection in a powder collector). In the process of the printing substrate gradually rising, the printed part and the remaining powder carried by the printing substrate rise into the powder cleaning cover. At this time, the lateral nozzle located on the side wall of the powder cleaning cover sprays sideways (such as spraying high-pressure gas) to blow up the powder located on the side of the printed part, and it is taken out of the closed cavity by the airflow loop. After the printed part rises into place, the remaining powder on the printing substrate is also blown and cleared out more thoroughly.

[0026] Therefore, the powder cleaning device and metal additive manufacturing equipment of the present application can realize powder cleaning conveniently and quickly, and avoid the operator from being injured by contact with powder, and the powder cleaning effect is good, and powder is not easy to remain on the printed part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of a metal additive manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the metal additive manufacturing equipment along line AA.

[0030] Description of main component symbols:

[0031] Metal Additive Manufacturing Equipment 100

[0032] Printing Chamber 10

[0033] Powder cylinder 20

[0034] Printing substrate 30

[0035] Lifting assembly 40

[0036] Powder cleaning device 50

[0037] Powder cleaning cover 51

[0038] Cover body 51a

[0039] Connecting hem 51b

[0040] Top wall 51c

[0041] Side wall 51d

[0042] Top nozzle 52

[0043] Side nozzle 53

[0044] Powder collecting component 54

[0045] Intake pipe 55

[0046] Exhaust pipe 56

[0047] Connecting screw 57

[0048] Closed cavity Q1

[0049] Airflow inlet K1

[0050] Airflow outlet K2

[0051] Airflow circuit L1

[0052] Lifting direction Z

[0053] Powder 201

[0054] Print 202 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments.

[0056] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may also be a centered element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may also be a centered element. When an element is considered to be "set on" another element, it may be directly set on the other element or there may also be a centered element. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0057] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present application. The terms used herein in the specification of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The term "or / and" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0058] Some embodiments of the present application are described in detail. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features of the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0059] Example

[0060] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 , this embodiment provides a metal additive manufacturing device 100, which can be, for example, an additive manufacturing device based on SLM (Selective Laser Melting) technology.

[0061] In this embodiment, the metal additive manufacturing device 100 includes a powder cylinder 20, a printing base plate 30, a lifting assembly 40, a printing cabin 10 and a laser assembly.

[0062] The powder cylinder 20 is used to contain the powder 201 for printing. The printing substrate 30 is arranged in the powder cylinder 20 in a liftable manner, and is used to carry the powder 201 and the printed product 202. The lifting component 40 (such as a lifting cylinder, a lifting hydraulic cylinder, etc.) is connected to the printing substrate 30 in a transmission manner, and is used to drive the printing substrate 30 to lift and lower along the lifting direction Z. In this embodiment, the lifting direction Z is vertical. The printing cabin 10 is located above the powder cylinder 20.

[0063] During printing, the laser assembly emits a laser, and the emitted laser scans the powder 201 on the printing surface of the powder cylinder 20 along the scanning path, so that the powder 201 melts and then cools and solidifies to form a layer of the printed part 202. Then, the lifting assembly 40 drives the printing substrate 30 to move down one layer along the lifting direction Z, and the laser assembly scans the powder 201 again. In this cycle, the powder 201 is formed layer by layer, and finally the desired printed part 202 is obtained.

[0064] After the printing of the print piece 202 is completed, the lifting assembly 40 drives the printing substrate 30 to rise, so that the formed print piece 202 rises into the printing chamber 10 for easy removal.

[0065] In this embodiment, the metal additive manufacturing equipment 100 further includes a powder cleaning device 50 for cleaning the powder after the printed part 202 is printed, that is, cleaning the remaining powder 201 after printing outside the printing chamber 10 and the powder cylinder 20.

[0066] Continue to cooperate Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the powder cleaning device 50 includes a powder cleaning cover 51, a top nozzle 52, a side nozzle 53 and a powder collecting component 54.

[0067] The powder cleaning cover 51 is disposed in the printing chamber 10. The powder cleaning cover 51 is disposed on the upper end of the powder cylinder 20 and forms a closed cavity Q1 with the powder cylinder 20. For example, the powder cleaning cover 51 can be connected to the bottom wall of the printing chamber 10, and the upper end of the powder cylinder 20 corresponds to the opening on the bottom wall of the printing chamber 10.

[0068] The powder cleaning cover 51 is provided with an air flow inlet K1 and an air flow outlet K2. The top nozzle 52 is arranged on the top wall 51c of the powder cleaning cover 51, and the top nozzle 52 faces the printing substrate 30 along the lifting direction Z of the printing substrate 30, and is used to blow air in the direction of the printing substrate 30. The lateral nozzle 53 is arranged on the side wall 51d of the powder cleaning cover 51, and is used to blow air along the lateral closed cavity Q1. The powder collecting component 54 is connected to the air flow inlet K1 and the air flow outlet K2, and the powder collecting component 54 is configured to be able to blow air into the air flow inlet K1, and blow the gas in the closed cavity Q1 and the blown powder 201 out of the closed cavity Q1 from the air flow outlet K2. The powder collecting component 54 can be a powder collecting machine, which can form an air flow cycle and collect the powder entering it. Optionally, the powder collecting component 54 is connected to the air flow inlet K1 through the air inlet pipe 55, and is connected to the air flow outlet K2 through the air outlet pipe 56, so as to form an air flow channel.

[0069] When powder cleaning is required, the powder collecting assembly 54 is started, and the powder collecting assembly 54 forms an airflow loop L1 passing through the closed chamber Q1 through the airflow inlet K1 and the airflow outlet K2. At the same time, the top nozzle 52 sprays downward (such as spraying high-pressure gas) to blow up the remaining powder 201 carried on the printing substrate 30. The remaining powder 201 forms a powder airflow driven by the airflow loop L1 and is blown out of the powder cleaning cover 51 for easy collection (such as collecting in a powder collector). In the process of the printing substrate 30 gradually rising, the printing part 202 and the remaining powder 201 carried by the printing substrate 30 rise into the powder cleaning cover 51. At this time, the lateral nozzle 53 located on the side wall 51d of the powder cleaning cover 51 sprays sideways (such as spraying high-pressure gas) to blow up the powder 201 located on the side of the printing part 202, and is taken out of the closed chamber Q1 by the airflow loop L1. After the printing part 202 rises to its place, the remaining powder 201 on the printing substrate 30 is also blown and cleaned out more thoroughly.

[0070] Therefore, by using the powder cleaning device 50 in the embodiment of the present application, the remaining powder 201 can be cleaned out more thoroughly through top and side blowing, and is not easily left in the top depression or side depression of the print part 202 due to obstruction by the print part 202.

[0071] The powder cleaning cover 51 in this embodiment can be detachably arranged, so that it can be removed after the powder cleaning is completed to avoid affecting the next printing.

[0072] In this embodiment, there are multiple top nozzles 52, and the multiple top nozzles 52 are distributed on the top wall 51c, which can improve the coverage and effect of the top blowing and help the remaining powder 201 to be blown up more effectively.

[0073] In this embodiment, there are multiple side nozzles 53, and the multiple side nozzles 53 are distributed on a group of opposite side walls 51d of the powder cleaning cover 51. The side nozzles 53 arranged oppositely can ensure that the powder 201 on the side of the print 202 is reliably blown up. Optionally, the multiple side nozzles 53 are respectively oriented at different angles, which is conducive to reducing dead angles and ensuring that the remaining powder 201 is effectively cleared to avoid remaining on the print 202 or in the print chamber 10.

[0074] In this embodiment, optionally, the air flow inlet K1 and the air flow outlet K2 are opened on the other side wall 51d of the powder cleaning cover 51, and the air flow inlet K1 and the air flow outlet K2 are spaced apart in the horizontal direction (perpendicular to the lifting direction Z), combined with the lateral nozzles 53 distributed on both sides, which is conducive to the formed air flow loop L1 to better carry away the blown powder 201.

[0075] In this embodiment, the powder cleaning cover 51 includes a cover body 51a and a connecting fold 51b. The cover body 51a is a box-shaped structure opened toward the powder cylinder 20. The connecting fold 51b is connected to one side of the opening of the cover body 51a and is used to be connected to the printing cabin 10. The connecting fold 51b is connected to the bottom wall of the printing cabin 10 by connecting screws 57. Before cleaning the powder, the powder cleaning cover 51 can be connected to the printing cabin 10 by connecting screws 57; after the powder cleaning is completed, the powder cleaning cover 51 can be removed and taken out.

[0076] In summary, the powder cleaning device 50 in the embodiment of the present application is easy to use and can efficiently clean out the remaining powder 201 , thereby reducing the risk of injury to operators caused by contact with the powder 201 .

[0077] The above implementation modes are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above preferred implementation modes, a person skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present application may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

Claims

1. A powder cleaning device for metal additive manufacturing equipment, the metal additive manufacturing equipment comprising a printing cabin, a powder cylinder and a printing substrate, the printing substrate is movably arranged on the powder cylinder, and the printing cabin is located above the powder cylinder; characterized in that: The powder cleaning device comprises: A powder cleaning cover is arranged at the upper end of the powder cylinder and forms a closed cavity with the powder cylinder; the powder cleaning cover is provided with an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet; A top nozzle is arranged on the top wall of the powder cleaning cover, and the top nozzle is directed toward the printing substrate along the lifting direction of the printing substrate, and is used for blowing air in the direction of the printing substrate; A lateral nozzle, arranged on the side wall of the powder cleaning cover, for blowing air into the closed cavity laterally; A powder collecting component is connected to the air flow inlet and the air flow outlet. The powder collecting component is configured to blow air toward the air flow inlet and blow the gas and the blown powder in the closed cavity out of the closed cavity from the air flow outlet.

2. The powder cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are multiple top nozzles, and the multiple top nozzle surfaces are distributed on the top wall.

3. The powder cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are a plurality of lateral spray heads, and the plurality of lateral spray heads are distributed on a group of opposite side walls of the powder cleaning cover.

4. The powder cleaning device according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The multiple side nozzles are oriented at different angles respectively.

5. The powder cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The air flow inlet and the air flow outlet are arranged on the other side wall of the powder cleaning cover, and the air flow inlet and the air flow outlet are spaced apart in the horizontal direction.

6. The powder cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder cleaning cover comprises a cover body and a connecting folded edge; The cover body is a box-shaped structure opening toward the powder cylinder, and the connecting fold is connected to one side of the opening of the cover body for connecting to the printing cabin.

7. The powder cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The connecting fold is connected to the bottom wall of the printing chamber through connecting screws.

8. A metal additive manufacturing device, characterized in that: include: A powder cylinder for containing powder for printing; A printing substrate is movably disposed in the powder cylinder and is used to carry the powder and the printed part; A printing cabin, located above the powder cylinder; The powder cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is arranged in the printing cabin, and the powder cleaning cover of the powder cleaning device and the powder cylinder form a closed cavity.

9. The metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The metal additive manufacturing equipment also includes a lifting component, which is transmission-connected to the printing substrate and is used to drive the printing substrate to rise and fall along the lifting direction, and can drive the powder and printed parts carried by the printing substrate to rise into the powder cleaning cover.

10. The metal additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The metal additive manufacturing equipment is a SLM additive manufacturing equipment.

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