Additive manufacturing powder circulating system

Abstract

The utility model provides an additive manufacturing powder circulation system which comprises a circulation feeding pipe, the output end of the circulation feeding pipe is communicated with a powder screening mechanism, the powder screening mechanism is installed above SLM printing equipment, and the powder screening mechanism is communicated with a feeding port of the SLM printing equipment. The middle section of the circulating feeding pipe communicates with a powder supplementing opening, and the input end of the circulating feeding pipe communicates with a powder recycling mechanism installed at the bottom end of the SLM printing equipment. The utility model solves the problem of labor consumption in the existing powder circulation mode, saves the manpower, ensures the chemical properties of the powder and increases the utilization rate of the powder raw material due to the oxygen-free protection of the whole process of the powder, and is economical, practical and safe due to the static screening of the powder and the unified recovery treatment of large particles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of powder circulation systems, and in particular relates to an additive manufacturing powder circulation system. Background Art

[0002] Selective laser melting technology, one of the additive manufacturing technologies, uses powder as raw material. During the manufacturing process, the powder container needs to be moved to the top of the printing device manually to add powder to the device. The powder overflowing during the printing process will flow into the powder collection bucket, which also needs to be taken out manually. The powder is then poured into a vibrating screen for filtration, and the filtered powder is then manually added back to the printing device. The entire powder flow process during the printing process requires manual operation, which has the following shortcomings:

[0003] 1) Low labor efficiency and high labor intensity;

[0004] 2) Powder exposed to air may cause dust and explosion risks;

[0005] 3) The powder comes into contact with the operator, which is harmful to the operator's health.

[0006] 4) The powder flows slowly, and a large amount of powder is required for turnover.

[0007] Based on the above problems, an additive manufacturing powder circulation system is proposed. Utility Model Content

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an additive manufacturing powder circulation system in view of the deficiencies of the above-mentioned prior art, so as to solve the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0009] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is: an additive manufacturing powder circulation system, including a powder recovery mechanism and a circulating feeding pipe, the input end of the circulating feeding pipe is connected to the powder recovery mechanism, the output end of the circulating feeding pipe is connected to the powder screening mechanism, the powder screening mechanism is installed above the SLM printing device, and the powder screening mechanism is connected to the feed port of the SLM printing device; the middle section of the circulating feeding pipe is connected to a powder replenishing port, and the input end of the circulating feeding pipe is connected to the powder recovery mechanism installed at the bottom of the SLM printing device.

[0010] As a further explanation of the present utility model, a powder screening mechanism is installed between the top end of the circulating feeding pipe and the feed port of the SLM printing equipment, the powder screening mechanism includes a cyclone separator, the output end of the circulating feeding pipe is connected to the cyclone separator, a powder screening mechanism is arranged in the cyclone separator, and the cyclone separator is installed above the SLM printing equipment; a negative pressure generating device is installed on the cyclone separator, and a filter element is arranged at the connection between the cyclone separator and the negative pressure generating device to prevent powder from entering the negative pressure generating device.

[0011] As a further description of the present utility model, the powder screening mechanism includes an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic generator and a screening mesh. The screening mesh is obliquely installed in a cyclone separator. An impurity recovery port is provided on one side of the cyclone separator located at the lower end of the screening mesh. The ultrasonic transducer is installed on the outside of the cyclone separator near the highest point of the screening mesh, and the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the ultrasonic generator.

[0012] As a further illustration of the present invention, the impurity recovery port is connected to an impurity storage bucket.

[0013] As a further illustration of the present invention, the negative pressure generating device is a vacuum generator or a fan.

[0014] As a further illustration of the present invention, a level meter is installed on the cyclone separator.

[0015] As a further illustration of the present invention, a first pneumatic butterfly valve is installed on the pipeline between the cyclone separator and the feed port of the SLM printing device.

[0016] As a further explanation of the present invention, the powder recovery mechanism includes an overflow powder bucket installed at the bottom of the SLM printing device, and a powder recovery pipe is also installed at the bottom of the overflow powder bucket. One end of the powder recovery pipe is connected to the input end of the circulating feeding pipe, and the other end of the powder recovery pipe is a pressure replenishing end.

[0017] As a further illustration of the present invention, the number of the powder recovery mechanisms is one or more.

[0018] As a further illustration of the present invention, a level meter is installed on the overflow powder barrel, and a second pneumatic butterfly valve is installed on the connecting pipeline between the overflow powder barrel and the powder recovery pipe.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following advantages:

[0020] 1. The utility model solves the labor consumption in the existing powder circulation mode and saves manpower.

[0021] 2. The utility model provides oxygen-free protection for the powder throughout the entire process, ensuring the chemical properties of the powder while avoiding the risk of dust explosion.

[0022] 3. The utility model improves the circulation speed of powder, increases the utilization rate of powder raw materials, and statically screens the powder, and uniformly recycles and processes large-particle powder, which is economical and practical.

[0023] 4. The utility model sets a powder screening mechanism above the SLM printing device, which can reduce the space occupancy rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the utility model.

[0025] Description of reference numerals:

[0026] 1-SLM printing equipment; 2-circulating feeding pipe; 21-powder replenishing port; 31-cyclone separator; 32-negative pressure generating device; 33-filter element; 34-screening net; 35-impurity recovery port; 36-impurity storage bucket; 37-ultrasonic transducer; 38-ultrasonic generator; 39-first pneumatic butterfly valve; 4-overflow powder bucket; 41-second pneumatic butterfly valve; 42-powder recovery pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the utility model provides a technical solution: an additive manufacturing powder circulation system, comprising a circulating feeding pipe 2, the input end of the circulating feeding pipe 2 is connected to the powder recovery mechanism of the SLM printing device 1, the number of the powder recovery mechanisms is two, the powder recovery mechanism comprises an overflow powder bucket 4 installed at the bottom end of the SLM printing device 1, the bottom end of the overflow powder bucket 4 is also installed with a powder recovery pipe 42, one end of the powder recovery pipe 42 is connected to the input end of the circulating feeding pipe 2, and the other end of the powder recovery pipe 42 is a pressure replenishment port.

[0029] A level meter is installed on the overflow powder barrel 4, and a second pneumatic butterfly valve 41 is installed on the connecting pipeline between the overflow powder barrel 4 and the powder recovery pipe 42. One end of the powder recovery pipe 42 is a pressure replenishing port, through which the pressure in the circulating feeding pipe 2 can be replenished. The other end of the powder recovery pipe 42 is connected to the bottom end of the circulating feeding pipe 2.

[0030] The output end of the circulating feeding pipe 2 is connected to the powder screening mechanism, and the powder screening mechanism is installed between the top end of the circulating feeding pipe 2 and the feed inlet of the SLM printing device 1;

[0031] Specifically, the powder screening mechanism is installed above the SLM printing device 1 and is connected to the feed port of the SLM printing device 1;

[0032] The powder screening mechanism includes a cyclone separator 31, the feeding end of the circulating feeding pipe 2 is connected to the cyclone separator 31, a first pneumatic butterfly valve 39 is installed on the pipeline between the cyclone separator 31 and the feed port of the SLM printing device 1, and a level meter is installed on the cyclone separator 31.

[0033] In this embodiment, a powder screening mechanism is provided in the cyclone separator 31, and the cyclone separator 31 is installed above the SLM printing device 1; a negative pressure generating device 32 is installed on the cyclone separator 31, and a filter element 33 is provided at the connection between the cyclone separator 31 and the negative pressure generating device 32 to prevent powder from entering the negative pressure generating device 32, and the negative pressure generating device 32 is a vacuum generator.

[0034] In this embodiment, the powder screening mechanism includes an ultrasonic transducer 37, an ultrasonic generator 38 and a screening mesh 34. The screening mesh 34 is obliquely installed in the cyclone separator 31. An impurity recovery port 35 is provided on the side of the cyclone separator 31 located at the lower end of the screening mesh 34. The impurity recovery port 35 is connected to an impurity storage bucket 36. The screening mesh 34 is specifically a filter mesh or a filter plate for completing powder screening. When the ultrasonic system composed of the ultrasonic transducer 37 and the ultrasonic generator 38 is working, the screening mesh 34 is caused to vibrate, and powder with a qualified particle size falls to the bottom of the cyclone separator 31 after passing through the screening mesh 34, while large particle impurities on the screening mesh 34 accumulate. An impurity recovery port 35 for recovering large particle impurities is provided on the side of the cyclone separator 31 located at the lower end of the screening mesh 34. An impurity storage bucket 36 is fixed to the outer end of the impurity recovery port 35, and impurities can be recovered into the impurity storage bucket 36 through the impurity recovery port 35.

[0035] In this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 37 is installed outside the cyclone separator 31 near the highest point of the screening net 34 , and the ultrasonic transducer 37 is connected to the ultrasonic generator 38 .

[0036] In this embodiment, the middle section of the circulating feeding pipe 2 is connected to a powder replenishing port 21, which is specifically a funnel-shaped feeding port with a control valve, and the connecting pipe between the powder replenishing port 21 and the circulating feeding pipe 2 is inclined toward the flow direction of the powder in the circulating feeding pipe 2.

[0037] In summary, when in use, in the printing preparation stage of the SLM printing device 1, the first pneumatic butterfly valve 39 is closed, the powder container is connected to the powder replenishing port 21, and the powder enters the cyclone separator 31 through the circulating feeding pipe 2 by the negative pressure generated by the vacuum generator, and the powder is blocked by the filter element 33 and stored in the cyclone separator 31;

[0038] The ultrasonic system composed of the ultrasonic transducer 37 and the ultrasonic generator 38 provides mechanical vibration when working. The powder with qualified particle size falls to the bottom of the cyclone separator 31 after passing through the screening net 34, while the large particle impurities accumulated on the screening net 34 are recovered to the impurity storage bucket 36 through the impurity recovery port 35. The flow direction of the powder in the circulating feeding pipe is as follows: Figure 1 Indicated by the direction of the arrow.

[0039] When the level meter on the cyclone separator 31 detects that the powder is full, the addition of new powder is stopped, the first pneumatic butterfly valve 39 is opened, and the powder is added to the SLM printing device 1 by gravity.

[0040] During the printing process of the SLM printing device 1, excess powder is recovered into the overflow powder bucket 4. When the level meter of the overflow powder bucket 4 detects that the powder is full, the vacuum generator or fan 32 is turned on, and argon or other protective gas is filled into the pressure replenishing port of the powder recovery pipe 42 to replenish the pressure in the circulating feeding pipe 2. When the negative pressure in the circulating feeding pipe is constant, the second pneumatic butterfly valve 41 is opened, and the powder enters the circulating feeding pipe 2. The powder is transmitted through the circulating feeding pipe 2 and enters the cyclone separator 31. After screening by the ultrasonic system and the screening net 34, the recyclable powder is reused and the large impurity particles in the powder are removed, which is economical and practical.

[0041] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0042] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An additive manufacturing powder circulation system, characterized in that: It comprises a powder recovery mechanism and a circulating feed pipe (2), wherein the input end of the circulating feed pipe (2) is connected to the powder recovery mechanism, and the output end of the circulating feed pipe (2) is connected to the powder screening mechanism, the powder screening mechanism is installed above the SLM printing device (1), and the powder screening mechanism is connected to the feed port of the SLM printing device (1); The middle section of the circulating feeding pipe (2) is connected to a powder replenishing port (21), and the input end of the circulating feeding pipe (2) is connected to a powder recovery mechanism installed at the bottom end of the SLM printing device (1).

2. The additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder screening mechanism comprises a cyclone separator (31), the output end of the circulating feeding pipe (2) is communicated with the cyclone separator (31), a powder screening mechanism is arranged in the cyclone separator (31), and the cyclone separator (31) is installed above the SLM printing device (1); a negative pressure generating device (32) is installed on the cyclone separator (31), and a filter element (33) is arranged at the connection between the cyclone separator (31) and the negative pressure generating device (32) to prevent powder from entering the negative pressure generating device (32).

3. The additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The powder screening mechanism comprises an ultrasonic transducer (37), an ultrasonic generator (38) and a screening net (34); the screening net (34) is obliquely installed in a cyclone separator (31); an impurity recovery port (35) is provided on one side of the cyclone separator (31) located at the lower end of the screening net (34); the ultrasonic transducer (37) is installed on the outer side of the cyclone separator (31) near the highest point of the screening net (34); and the ultrasonic transducer (37) is connected to the ultrasonic generator (38).

4. The additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The impurity recovery port (35) is connected to an impurity storage bucket (36).

5. An additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The negative pressure generating device (32) is a vacuum generator or a fan.

6. An additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The cyclone separator (31) is provided with a level meter.

7. An additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: A first pneumatic butterfly valve (39) is installed on the pipeline between the cyclone separator (31) and the feed inlet of the SLM printing device (1).

8. The additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder recovery mechanism comprises an overflow powder bucket (4) installed at the bottom of the SLM printing device (1), and a powder recovery pipe (42) is also installed at the bottom of the overflow powder bucket (4), one end of the powder recovery pipe (42) is connected to the input end of the circulating feeding pipe (2), and the other end of the powder recovery pipe (42) is a pressure replenishing end.

9. An additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that: At least one powder recovery mechanism is provided.

10. The additive manufacturing powder circulation system according to claim 8, characterized in that: A level meter is installed on the overflow powder barrel (4), and a second pneumatic butterfly valve (41) is installed on the connecting pipeline between the overflow powder barrel (4) and the powder recovery pipe (42).

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