Leveler for 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of 3D printing, in particular to a leveler for a 3D printer, the 3D printer comprises a spray head and a printing platform, the leveler comprises a base, a leveling device and a control device, the base extends in the length direction, and the base is constructed to be suitable for being supported on the printing platform in an upright posture; the leveling sheet is made of a conductive material and can be movably arranged on the base along the length direction, and at least part of the leveling sheet is exposed; the battery is provided with a first pole and a second pole which are opposite in electrical property; the prompting lamp is provided with a first end and a second end which can be electrically connected with the outside, the first end is electrically connected with the first pole of the power supply, and the second end is electrically connected with the leveling sheet; when the second end is electrically connected with the second pole, the prompting lamp is lightened; and the at least one electric connecting wire is electrically connected with the second pole of the power supply and is constructed to be suitable for being butted with the spray head.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of 3D printing, in particular to a leveler for a 3D printer. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a technology that uses digital model files as the basis, using powdered metal or plastic and other bondable materials to construct objects by printing layer by layer. Leveling is an important preparatory work for 3D printing, which refers to adjusting the distance between the nozzle and the printing platform so that the nozzle can maintain a fixed distance from the work platform when moving. If the above distance is too low, it will be difficult to discharge the material, affecting the printing effect; if the above distance is too far, it is easy to cause the first layer to fail to bond to the work platform, resulting in printing failure.

[0003] The existing leveling methods are roughly divided into two categories: manual leveling and printer built-in leveling. The former relies on the operator to move the handheld leveling card between the printhead and the platen, and use experience to infer whether the distance between the two is the best. It is experience-dependent and has a high threshold for mastering. The latter has specific requirements for the printer model, and the built-in leveling device will increase the printer.

[0004] The Chinese utility model patent with publication number CN216993087U provides an automatic leveling device for 3D printing, which includes a printer body, a printing plate and a leveling mechanism. A lifting mechanism is provided on the vertical surface of the printer body, and the lifting part of the lifting mechanism is connected to the printing plate to drive the printing plate to rise and fall. A material tray bottom is provided on the horizontal surface of the printer body, and multiple leveling mechanisms that shrink up and down are disassembled on both sides of the bottom of the material tray bottom. The printing plate descends and applies pressure to the bottom of the material tray, and the bottom of the material tray transmits the contraction to the leveling mechanism, so that the printing plate and the bottom of the material tray are close and parallel. By setting multiple leveling mechanisms at the bottom of the material tray bottom, when the bottom of the material tray is close to the printing plate, the pressure of the printing plate descending on each contact surface of the bottom of the material tray is different, and the pressure transmitted to the spring by the head in the leveling mechanism is also different, so that the bottom of the material tray is flat with the printing plate, and more accurate automatic leveling is achieved.

[0005] However, this technology still has shortcomings. On the one hand, 3D printers with automatic leveling basically use built-in leveling devices, which are difficult to transplant to multiple 3D printing devices. On the other hand, the built-in leveling device will increase the production cost of the printing equipment, which is low in cost performance and difficult to promote in large quantities in the market, thus limiting the practical value of this solution. Utility Model Content

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the utility model provides a portable leveler for a 3D printer.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions: a leveler for a 3D printer, the 3D printer includes a nozzle and a printing platform, the leveler includes: a base extending along a length direction, the base is configured to be supported on the printing platform in an upright posture; a leveling sheet made of a conductive material and movably arranged on the base along the length direction, the leveling sheet at least partially exposed to the outside; a battery having a first pole and a second pole with opposite electrical properties; a prompter having a first end and a second end for external electrical connection, the first end being electrically connected to the first pole of the power supply, and the second end being electrically connected to the leveling sheet; when the second end is electrically connected to the second pole, the prompter sends a prompt signal to the outside; and at least one electrical connection line being electrically connected to the second pole of the power supply and configured to be suitable for docking with the nozzle.

[0008] In the above technical solution, preferably, the base is provided with a sliding groove extending along the length direction, and the slider is placed in the sliding groove. It is also further preferred that the base is also provided with a pair of guide grooves extending along the length direction, the pair of guide grooves are arranged opposite to each other along the width direction perpendicular to the length direction and are connected to the sliding groove, and the leveling sheet is at least partially located in the sliding groove. It is also further preferred that the groove depth of each guide groove in the thickness direction perpendicular to both the length direction and the width direction is equal to the thickness of the leveling sheet, and the maximum distance of the pair of guide grooves in the width direction is equal to the width of the leveling sheet.

[0009] In the above technical solution, preferably, the warning light is arranged on the top of the slider. It is also further preferred that the base further includes at least one conductive strip electrically connected to the first pole of the power supply, the at least one conductive strip is configured to continuously contact the slider, and the warning light is electrically connected to the at least one conductive strip. It is also further preferred that the at least one pair of conductive strips extend along the length direction.

[0010] In the above technical solution, preferably, an alligator clamp is provided at one end of the electrical connection line suitable for docking with the nozzle.

[0011] In the above technical solution, preferably, a permanent magnet is provided at one end of the electrical connection line suitable for docking with the nozzle.

[0012] In the above technical solution, preferably, a power cavity is opened on the base, and the battery is placed in the power cavity.

[0013] In the above technical solution, preferably, the leveler further comprises a slider slidably disposed on the base along the length direction, and the leveling sheet is fixedly connected to the slider and can be driven by the slider to move along the length direction.

[0014] In the above technical solution, preferably, the reminder is an LED light.

[0015] When the leveler provided by the technical solution of the utility model is leveling, the base can be supported on the printing platform in an upright posture and at least one electrical connection line can be connected to the nozzle of the 3D printer. When the nozzle contacts the leveling plate of the leveler, the second end of the indicator light forms an electrical connection with the second pole of the power supply, and the indicator light is lit. Compared with the prior art, the leveler provided by the technical solution of the utility model is independent of the 3D printer and can adaptively adjust the leveling distance through the slider, which can be applied to the leveling operation of almost all similar 3D printers on the market. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 A three-dimensional exploded view of the leveler provided by the utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the working principle of the leveler shown in the figure; wherein the leveling piece of the leveler contacts the nozzle of the 3D printer.

[0018] 100, leveler; 200, nozzle; 300, printing platform;

[0019] 1. Base; 11. Sliding groove; 12. Power cavity; 13. Conductive strip; 14. Guide groove;

[0020] 2. Slider; 21. Sliding seat; 22. Prompt device; 23. Pin;

[0021] 3. Leveling sheet;

[0022] 4. Battery;

[0023] 5. Electrical connecting wire; 51. Alligator pliers; 52. Permanent magnet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to explain in detail the technical content, structural features, objectives and effects of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0025] In this application, spatially relative terms such as "under", "below", "under", "down", "above", "upper", "above", "higher", "side" (for example, as in "sidewall"), etc., are used to describe the relationship of one element to another (other) element as shown in the accompanying drawings. The spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use, operation and / or manufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, the elements described as "under" or "beneath" other elements or features will then be positioned as "above" the other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "under" can include both above and below orientations. In addition, the device can be positioned otherwise (for example, rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), so the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0026] In the present application, the term "electrical connection" means that a path is formed between two objects for current to flow, which may be achieved by direct connection between the two objects or by connection via several conductive intermediate objects.

[0027] Figure 1-2 The leveler 100 provided in this embodiment is shown, which can be hand-held by a user to adjust the distance between the nozzle 200 of the 3D printer and the printing platform 300 (the distance is the leveling distance mentioned herein). Specifically, the leveler 100 includes a base 1, a slider 2 slidably disposed on the base 1, a leveling sheet 3 made of a conductive material, a battery 4 used as a power source, and a plurality of electrical connection wires 5.

[0028] The base 1 is in a rectangular shape, and has a front surface (not shown in the figure) and a rear surface (not shown in the figure) that are mutually opposed in the length direction, an upper surface (not shown in the figure) and a lower surface (not shown in the figure) that are mutually opposed in the thickness direction, and a left surface (not shown in the figure) and a right surface (not shown in the figure) that are mutually opposed in the width direction. The base 1 is configured to be supported on the printing platform 300 of the 3D printer in an upright posture (such as Figure 2 ), the upright posture means that the base 1 is at the bottom, the leveling sheet 3 is at the top and the length direction is aligned with the vertical direction. Among them, the width direction is perpendicular to the length direction, and the thickness direction is perpendicular to both the length direction and the width direction.

[0029] The base 1 is provided with a sliding groove 11 formed by being recessed from the upper surface to the lower surface along the thickness direction. The sliding groove 11 extends along the length direction and is exposed to the outside from the front surface of the base 1. The base 1 is also provided with a power cavity 12 that can accommodate the battery 4, and a first wiring hole (marked in the figure) connecting the power cavity 12 and the sliding groove 11 along the length direction, a second wiring hole (marked in the figure) connecting the power cavity 12 and the left surface along the width direction, and a second wiring hole (marked in the figure) connecting the power cavity 12 and the right surface along the width direction. The above wiring holes are for wires to pass through so that the battery 4 can be electrically connected to various required components. Among them, the sliding groove 11 and the power cavity 12 are arranged along the length direction.

[0030] The slider 2 can be slidably installed in the sliding groove 11 along the length direction. The slider 2 includes a slide seat 21 that can be slidably matched with the sliding groove 11, a warning light 22 arranged on the top of the slide seat 21, and a pin 23 for connecting the leveling plate 3. Among them, the battery 4 has a first pole and a second pole with opposite electrical properties, the warning light 22 has a first end and a second end that can be electrically connected to the outside, and the first end of the warning light 22 is electrically connected to the first pole of the battery 4.

[0031] This embodiment provides a method for electrically connecting the first end of the warning light 22 to the first pole of the battery 4. Specifically, the base 1 is also provided with a pair of conductive strips 13 extending along the length direction, the pair of conductive strips 13 are laid on the bottom of the sliding groove 11 and are electrically connected to the first pole of the battery 4 via the first wiring hole. The warning light 22 is electrically connected to the pair of conductive strips 13 via the sliding seat 21 and maintains contact with the pair of conductive strips 13. For example, the bottom of the sliding seat 21 is made of a metal sheet and maintains continuous contact with the pair of conductive strips 13, and the first end of the warning light 22 is electrically connected to the metal sheet.

[0032] In other embodiments, the electrical connection may be achieved by providing a flexible wire to directly connect the first end of the warning light 22 and the first pole of the battery 4 .

[0033] In other embodiments, the warning light 22 may also be fixedly disposed on the base 1 , and it can be lit when the leveling sheet 3 contacts the nozzle 200 of the 3D printer (see below for details).

[0034] In other embodiments, the slider 2 and the base 1 may also adopt other sliding cooperation modes, such as setting the base 1 as an I-shaped track, which can ensure that it does not interfere with the electrical connection of the prompt light 22 and the movement of the leveling plate 3.

[0035] In other embodiments, a buzzer or the like may be used instead of the indicator light 22 as an indicator installed on the leveler 100. The indicator may send out an indication signal (such as a light signal or a sound signal) when the first and second ends of the indicator are connected to opposite electrodes respectively, so as to remind the user that the leveling sheet 3 is in contact with the nozzle of the 3D printer.

[0036] The leveling piece 3 is in the shape of a cuboid extending in the length direction, and is fixedly connected to the slider 2 and can be moved in the length direction by the slider 2. One end of the leveling piece 3 away from the slider 2 is exposed from the front surface of the base 1.

[0037] Furthermore, the base 1 is also provided with a pair of guide grooves 14 arranged opposite to each other in the width direction, each of which extends in the length direction and is connected to the sliding groove 11. Each guide groove 14 is formed by the side wall of the sliding groove 11 being recessed toward the left surface or the right surface of the corresponding side of the base 1. The groove depth of each guide groove 14 in the thickness direction is the same as the thickness of the leveling sheet 3, and the maximum distance of a pair of guide grooves 14 in the width direction is the same as the width of the leveling sheet 3. Therefore, when the slider 2 drives the leveling sheet 3 to slide, the movement of the leveling sheet 3 in the width direction and the thickness direction is limited by the pair of guide grooves 14, thereby preventing the leveling sheet 3 from being offset. In addition, the pair of guide grooves 14 can also prevent the leveling sheet 3 from contacting with a pair of conductive strips 13 located at the bottom of the groove, causing the prompt light 22 to short-circuit.

[0038] The leveling sheet 3 is fixedly connected to the pin 23 of the slider 2, and the second end of the indicator light 22, the pin 23, and the leveling sheet 3 are electrically connected in sequence. It can be understood that after the leveling sheet 3 is electrically connected to the second pole of the battery 4, the indicator light 22 is lit. In other embodiments, the electrical connection between the leveling sheet 3 and the second end of the indicator light 22 can also be achieved by direct docking or wire connection.

[0039] This embodiment provides a pair of electrical connection wires 5, each of which is configured to be suitable for docking with the nozzle 200 of the 3D printer. The pair of electrical connection wires 5 are electrically connected to the second pole of the battery 4 via the second and third wiring holes, respectively. One end of one of the electrical connection wires 5 is suitable for docking with the nozzle 200 and is fixedly provided with an alligator clamp 51, and the other end of the electrical connection wire 5 is suitable for docking with the nozzle 200 and is fixedly provided with a permanent magnet 52.

[0040] Combination Figure 2, the working principle of the leveler 100 is described below: when leveling is required, the relative position of the slider 2 can be adjusted according to the actual needs of the 3D printer to be leveled, that is, the distance between the rear surface of the base 1 and the outer end of the leveling plate 3 can be adjusted. In some embodiments, corresponding scales or position marks can also be set on the base 1 to facilitate the control of the above distance; thereafter, any one of the electrical connection lines 5 is connected to the nozzle 200 so that the nozzle 200 is electrically connected to the second pole of the battery 4; then, the leveler 100 is supported on the printing platform 300 in an upright position, the leveling program of the 3D printer is turned on, and the nozzle 200 is slowly lowered; after the nozzle 200 contacts the leveling plate 3 of the leveler 100, an electrical connection path is formed between the second pole of the battery 4, the electrical connection line 5, the nozzle 200 and the leveling plate 3, and the second end of the indicator light 22 is electrically connected to the second pole of the battery 4, and the indicator light 22 is lit.

[0041] Compared with the prior art, the leveler 100 provided by the present invention has the following advantages:

[0042] 1. Portable and lightweight, low threshold for use: The leveler 100 provided by the utility model is independent of the 3D printer, has the characteristics of small size, simple structure, and easy to carry; at the same time, it has a low threshold for users to use, and is simpler to operate than traditional manual leveling;

[0043] 2. Low cost: Compared with printers with built-in leveling devices, the leveler 100 provided by the utility model can be generally applied to a variety of printers that do not have an automatic leveling function, and can achieve effective leveling, reduce material loss and time cost, and reduce the development cost of the 3D printer itself, which is convenient for promotion and application;

[0044] 3. Accuracy and portability: The leveler 100 provided by the utility model adopts a visual adjustment process and can be applied to almost all types of 3D printers on the market, realizing the efficient use of a set of devices to connect multiple printers; through visual observation, the accuracy of leveling is maximized to ensure the smoothness of the printing process.

[0045] Finally, in order to verify the actual performance of the leveler 100 provided by the present invention, a comparative test is provided here: an operator who is not familiar with the 3D printing leveling technology (operator 1) and an operator who is familiar with the 3D printing leveling technology (operator 2) use A4 paper and the leveler 100 in this embodiment to level the same model of 3D printer. After each leveling, the 3D printer is used to perform a model printing test to detect the leveling effect.

[0046] Table 1: Operator 1

[0047] plan Number of successful prints Number of failed prints Total number of tests Success rate A4 paper leveling 4 11 15 26.67％ Device assisted leveling 11 4 15 73.33％

[0048] Table 2: Operator 2

[0049] plan Number of successful prints Number of failed prints Total number of tests Success rate A4 paper leveling 9 6 15 60.00％ Device assisted leveling 13 2 15 86.67％

[0050] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present application, and their purpose is to enable people familiar with the technology to understand the content of the present application and implement it accordingly, and they cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A leveler for a 3D printer, the 3D printer comprising a nozzle and a printing platform, characterized in that: The leveler comprises: A base extending along a length direction, wherein the base is configured to be supported on the printing platform in an upright posture; A leveling sheet, made of a conductive material and movably disposed on the base along the length direction, wherein at least a portion of the leveling sheet is exposed to the outside; A battery having a first electrode and a second electrode of opposite electrical properties; A reminder device having a first end and a second end for external electrical connection, wherein the first end is electrically connected to the first pole of the battery, and the second end is electrically connected to the leveling sheet; when the second end is electrically connected to the second pole, the reminder device sends a reminder signal to the outside; and At least one electrical connection line is electrically connected to the second pole of the battery and is configured to be suitable for docking with the nozzle.

2. The leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a slider which is slidably arranged on the base along the length direction, and the leveling sheet is fixedly connected to the slider and can be driven by the slider to move along the length direction.

3. The leveler according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base is provided with a sliding groove extending along the length direction, and the sliding block is arranged in the sliding groove.

4. The leveler according to claim 3, characterized in that: The base is also provided with a pair of guide grooves extending along the length direction. The pair of guide grooves are arranged opposite to each other along the width direction perpendicular to the length direction and are connected to the sliding groove. At least a part of the leveling piece is located in the sliding groove.

5. The leveler according to claim 4, characterized in that: The depth of each guide groove in the thickness direction perpendicular to both the length direction and the width direction is equal to the thickness of the leveling sheet, and the maximum distance between the pair of guide grooves in the width direction is equal to the width of the leveling sheet.

6. The leveler according to claim 2, characterized in that: The prompter is arranged on the top of the sliding block.

7. The leveler according to claim 6, characterized in that: The base also includes at least one conductive strip electrically connected to the first pole of the battery, the at least one conductive strip is constructed to continuously contact the slider, and the indicator is electrically connected to the at least one conductive strip.

8. The leveler according to claim 7, characterized in that: The at least one pair of conductive strips extends along the length direction.

9. The leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that: An alligator clamp is provided at one end of the electrical connection line suitable for docking with the spray head.

10. The leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the electrical connection line suitable for docking with the nozzle is provided with a permanent magnet.

11. The leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that: A power cavity is provided on the base, and the battery is placed in the power cavity.

12. The leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that The reminder is an LED lamp.

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