Adjustable 3D printer gantry structure
By setting up stress relief components and independently driven Z-axis motors on the 3D printer gantry, the problem that the gantry expansion stress cannot be released during box heating in traditional 3D printers is solved, achieving higher printing quality and flexible printing methods.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420662872.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-04-02
AI Technical Summary
When traditional 3D printers seal and heat the box, the gantry expansion causes the stress to be unable to be released, resulting in frame deformation and excessive tolerance to the planet of the tool head operating area, affecting the printing quality.
An adjustable 3D printer gantry structure is designed to achieve thermal stress relief and tilt operation of the gantry by setting a stress relief assembly and an independently driven Z-axis motor on the gantry.
Effectively eliminate stress during the expansion process of the gantry, keep the gantry flat, improve printing quality, and reduce support use to achieve unsupported printing.
Smart Images
Figure CN222959213U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the field of printers, in particular to an adjustable gantry structure of a 3D printer. Background Art
[0002] A 3D printer, also known as a three-dimensional printer, is a kind of additive manufacturing technology, that is, a machine of rapid prototyping technology. It is based on a digital model file and uses special wax materials, powdered metals or plastics and other bondable materials to manufacture three-dimensional objects by printing layers of bondable materials. After the user inputs the required file into the 3D printer, the 3D printer prints according to the file data, and the intelligent system controls the driving mechanism.
[0003] When the gantry is heated during case sealing, it will expand. The installation points between the gantry and the frame cannot move, and the gantry has no space to expand to both sides and will be forced to bend (upward or downward), resulting in the inability to release the structural stress, causing the frame to deform and the flatness tolerance of the tool head operation area to be too large, resulting in poor printing quality. Content of the Utility Model
[0004] Currently, in fdm 3D printers, very few can have a chamber temperature exceeding 100 °C after case sealing. However, the heated bed is a component with a high temperature change and extremely resistant to thermal deformation. When the gantry is heated during case sealing, if their installation points cannot move, the gantry has no space to expand to both sides and will be forced to bend (upward or downward), such as voron2.4. In the prior art, a similar temperature stress release mechanism is used on the heated bed with remarkable effects. This solution releases the temperature stress of the aluminum substrate of the heated bed to prevent the heated bed from deforming (upward or downward) and improves the printing success rate. However, this solution only solves the problem of the deformation of the heated bed, and the printer still cannot perform high-temperature case-sealing printing.
[0005] To solve the above problems, the 3 ball heads connected to the gantry are located on the guide rails. Guide their movement as the gantry expands and ensure that only radial movement is possible - the allowance for lateral movement is zero. When the gantry is fixed in place, it can still remain completely flat during expansion.
[0006] On the other hand, due to its structural limitations, traditional FDM 3D printers need to add supports at large overhang angle positions. For an infinite z-axis 3D printer with a fixed tilt angle, although no support is needed at a 90-degree overhang, support is needed at a 45-degree overhang. The gantry of traditional printers cannot be tilted, so supports need to be added when printing special workpieces.
[0007] To solve the above problems, the present utility model can print with variable tilt angles, greatly solving the support problem. Specifically, since the gantry has only 3 mounting points, these mounting points are connected to 3 independently driven Z motors, so the leveling is completely determined by the motor positions. And the gantry plane can work in an inclined state, reducing the use of supports. The gantry uses a 3z-axis structure and is independently driven, enabling the gantry to tilt within a certain angle range to achieve support-free printing.
[0008] The purpose of the present utility model is to solve the defect that the gantry in the prior art will have expanding stress that cannot be released during case sealing and heating, and to propose an adjustable 3D printer gantry structure.
[0009] To solve the problems existing in the prior art, the present utility model adopts the following technical solutions:
[0010] An adjustable 3D printer gantry structure, including a gantry. There are three guide shafts distributed in a triangle on the outer side of the gantry. Lifting plates are fixedly arranged on the guide shafts. Four connecting blocks are fixedly arranged at the corner positions of the gantry. A fixed plate is fixedly arranged on the surface of the gantry. Stress release components are arranged on the lower surfaces of the two connecting blocks and the fixed plate.
[0011] The existing FDM 3D printer usually has a case sealing temperature not exceeding 60°C, and the forming size is generally not more than 250mm 3 . Under this condition, the deformation caused by temperature stress is not obvious. However, when printing materials such as PEEK, the case sealing temperature needs to reach 80 - 140°C. In this temperature environment, the traditional 3D printer structure cannot ensure the flatness of the gantry plane, and at the same time, the stress acts on the moving parts, resulting in poor printing quality.
[0012] Similarly, due to temperature stress, it is difficult for traditional structure 3D printers to achieve large-size case sealing printing. Even for open large-size printers, the printing effect is unsatisfactory due to the accumulation of frame accuracy.
[0013] The structure proposed by the present utility model can separate the gantry from the frame. Only by ensuring the stiffness of the gantry and the perpendicularity of the Z axis can better production quality be obtained, reducing the production and assembly costs.
[0014] Preferably, the stress release component includes sliders. The sliders are fixedly connected to the lower surfaces of the two connecting blocks and the fixed plate. Linear rails are slidably arranged on the sliders. Connecting supports are fixedly arranged on the linear rails. Connecting shafts are fixedly arranged on the connecting supports. Eyeball bearings are fixedly arranged on one side of the lifting plates. The eyeball bearings are connected to the connecting shafts.
[0015] Preferably, a Z axis is arranged on one side of each guide shaft. The Z axis is threadedly connected to the lifting plate.
[0016] Preferably, a moving frame is slidably provided in the middle of the gantry. Moving frames are fixedly provided at both ends of the moving frame. The moving frames are slidably connected to the inner side of the gantry. Two first rotating shafts are rotatably provided in each moving frame, and first synchronous wheels are fixedly provided on the first rotating shafts.
[0017] Preferably, five second rotating shafts are rotatably provided in each connecting block, second synchronous wheels are fixedly provided on the second rotating shafts, and a synchronous belt is sleeved on the second synchronous wheels and the first synchronous wheels.
[0018] Preferably, drive motors are fixedly provided on the connecting blocks, and the output ends of the drive motors are fixedly connected to the upper ends of the middle second rotating shafts.
[0019] Preferably, baffles are fixedly provided on both sides of the connecting blocks, and the baffles are all attached to the upper surface of the gantry.
[0020] The gantry of the present utility model can change the inclination angle according to production requirements. Compared with an infinite Z-axis 3D printer with a fixed inclination angle, the printing method is more flexible. Multi-angle combination realizes higher structural strength and support-free printing in more directions. Compared with the conical slicing algorithm based on the inclined printing of the traditional horizontal gantry structure, the gantry is parallel to the working surface after inclination, improving the extrusion uniformity and also enhancing the product strength.
[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:
[0022] 1. In the present utility model, a stress release component is added to the gantry of the 3D printer. Realize the thermal stress contact of the gantry and the inclined work of the gantry. There are three such components on the gantry, and each component consists of a ball head and a set of linear guides. The three sets of linear guides can only move radially and point to the center, realizing the self-centering of the gantry and eliminating stress, improving the printing quality;
[0023] 2. In the present utility model, three installation points are arranged in a triangle on the gantry. These three installation points are connected to the motors of three independently driven Z-axes. Therefore, the leveling is completely determined by the motor positions. And a spherical eye bearing is provided in the stress release component. By rotating the connecting shaft in the spherical eye bearing, the inclined work of the gantry plane is adjusted, reducing the use of supports. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present utility model and constitute a part of this application. The schematic embodiments of the present utility model and their descriptions are used to explain the present utility model and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present utility model. In the drawings:
[0025] Figure 1 is the front view structural schematic diagram of the present utility model;
[0026] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the synchronous belt structure of the present utility model;
[0027] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the connecting block of the present utility model;
[0028] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the stress release component structure of the present utility model;
[0029] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the moving frame structure of the present utility model;
[0030] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the offset convex grid on the gantry;
[0031] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the deformed grid when the gantry moves downward.
[0032] Reference numerals in the figure: 1. Gantry; 11. Guide shaft; 12. Lifting plate; 13. Connecting block; 14. Slide block; 15. Linear guide; 16. Connecting support; 17. Ball eye bearing; 18. Connecting shaft; 19. Fixed plate; 2. Z-axis; 3. Moving frame; 31. Moving frame; 32. First rotating shaft; 33. First synchronous pulley; 4. Second rotating shaft; 41. Second synchronous pulley; 42. Synchronous belt; 5. Driving motor; 6. Baffle. Detailed implementation manners
[0033] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all the embodiments.
[0034] 1. In a traditional moving gantry Fdm3D printer, during leveling and temperature changes, the structural stress cannot be released, resulting in frame deformation and excessive flatness tolerance in the tool head operation area, leading to problems with hot bed compensation calibration changing with temperature. The present utility model solves the problem of gantry deformation caused by inconsistent thermal deformation amounts of the gantry and the frame under high-temperature sealing conditions through a ball head and linear guide mechanism, in cooperation with a three-point motion gantry.
[0035] 2. Due to its structural limitations, traditional FDM3d printers need to add supports at large overhang angles. The gantry of the present utility model uses a 3z-axis architecture and is independently driven, enabling the gantry to tilt within a certain angle range to achieve support-free printing.
[0036] Embodiment: This embodiment provides an adjustable 3D printer gantry structure. Refer to Figures 1-5, specifically, it includes a gantry 1. There are three guide shafts 11 distributed in a triangle on the outer side of the gantry 1. Four connecting blocks 13 are fixedly arranged at the corner positions of the gantry 1. A fixed plate 19 is fixedly arranged on the surface of the gantry 1. Stress release components are arranged on the lower surfaces of the two connecting blocks 13 and the fixed plate 19. A Z-axis 2 is arranged on one side of each guide shaft 11. The Z-axis 2 is threadedly connected to a lifting plate 12;
[0037] The existing "FDM 3D printer" usually has a sealing box temperature not exceeding 60 °C. And the forming size is relatively small, generally not exceeding 250 mm. 3 . Under this condition, the deformation caused by temperature stress is not obvious. However, when printing materials such as PEEK, the sealing box temperature needs to reach 80 - 140 °C. In this temperature environment, the structure of traditional 3D printers cannot ensure the flatness of the gantry plane. At the same time, stress acts on the moving parts, resulting in poor printing quality. When the printer of the present utility model performs the sealing box operation, when the temperature inside the box is relatively high, the gantry 1 will have thermal deformation. The stress release component eliminates the stress driven by the overheating expansion of the gantry 1, enabling the gantry 1 to remain flat during the expansion process and improving the printing quality.
[0038] In the specific implementation process, as Figure 1 and Figure 4 shown, the stress release component includes sliders 14. The sliders 14 are fixedly connected to the lower surfaces of the two connecting blocks 13 and the lower surface of the fixed plate 19. Linear rails 15 are slidably arranged on the sliders 14. A connecting support 16 is fixedly arranged on the linear rails 15. A connecting shaft 18 is fixedly arranged on the connecting support 16. Eyeball bearings 17 are fixedly arranged on one side of the lifting plate 12. The eyeball bearings 17 are connected to the connecting shaft 18;
[0039] When the gantry 1 deforms, it will drive the connecting blocks 13 on the guide shafts 11 and the Z-axis 2 to move synchronously. The connecting blocks 13 slide along the sliders 14 through the linear rails 15 below. Since the three groups of linear rails 15 can only move radially and point to the center, the lateral movement margin is zero, eliminating the stress generated by the gantry 1 and enabling the gantry 1 to remain completely flat during expansion; through the cooperation of the connecting shaft 18 and the eyeball bearings 17, the angle of the gantry 1 is adjusted, and the gantry can change the inclination angle according to production requirements. Compared with the "infinite Z-axis 3D printer" with a fixed inclination angle, the printing method is more flexible and variable, and multi-angle combination realizes higher structural strength and supportless printing in more directions. Compared with the conical slicing algorithm for inclined printing based on the traditional horizontal gantry structure, the gantry is parallel to the working surface after tilting, improving the extrusion uniformity and also enhancing the product strength;
[0040] Similarly, due to temperature stress, it is difficult for traditional structure 3D printers to achieve large-size sealed box printing. Even for open large-size printers, the printing effect is less than satisfactory due to the accumulation of frame accuracy. This structure can separate the gantry from the frame. By only ensuring the stiffness of the gantry and the perpendicularity of the Z-axis 2, better production quality can be obtained, reducing the production and assembly costs.
[0041] During the specific implementation process, as Figure 2 and Figure 5 shown, a moving frame 3 is slidably arranged in the middle of the gantry 1. Moving frames 31 are fixedly arranged at both ends of the moving frame 3. The moving frames 31 are slidably connected to the inner side of the gantry 1. Two first rotating shafts 32 are rotatably arranged in each of the moving frames 31. First synchronous wheels 33 are fixedly arranged on the first rotating shafts 32. Five second rotating shafts 4 are rotatably arranged in each of the connecting blocks 13. Second synchronous wheels 41 are fixedly arranged on the second rotating shafts 4. A synchronous belt 42 is sleeved on the second synchronous wheels 41 and the first synchronous wheels 33. Driving motors 5 are fixedly arranged on each of the connecting blocks 13. The output ends of the driving motors 5 are fixedly connected to the upper ends of the middle second rotating shafts 4.
[0042] The two first synchronous wheels 33 in the moving frame 31 are at different heights. By driving the second rotating shaft 4 in the middle of the connecting block 13 to rotate through the driving motor 5, the second rotating shaft 4 drives the second synchronous wheel 41 to rotate. The second synchronous wheel 41 drives the synchronous belt 42 to move. The synchronous belt 42 drives the moving frame 3 on the gantry 1 to move in the Y-axis direction and drives the nozzle on the moving frame 3 to move in the X-axis direction. The synchronous wheel and the synchronous belt 42 are prior arts. For the detailed connection and operation method, reference can be made to the corexy printer.
[0043] During the specific implementation process, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, baffles 6 are fixedly arranged on both sides of the connecting block 13. The baffles 6 are all in contact with the upper surface of the gantry 1. The ends of the baffles 6 on two adjacent connecting blocks 13 are initially in contact state to protect the gantry 1. When the gantry 1 undergoes thermal deformation, the distance between the separated ends of the baffles 6 can be used to judge.
[0044] Specifically, the working principle and operation method of the present utility model are as follows:
[0045] When the printer performs the sealed box operation, since the temperature inside the box is relatively high, the gantry 1 will undergo thermal deformation. When the gantry 1 deforms, it will drive the guide shaft 11 and the connecting block 13 on the Z-axis 2 to move synchronously. The connecting block 13 slides along the slider 14 through the lower wire rail 15. Since the three groups of wire rails 15 can only move radially and point to the center, the lateral movement margin is zero, eliminating the stress generated on the gantry 1 and enabling the gantry 1 to remain completely flat during expansion.
[0046] The angle of the gantry 1 is adjusted by the cooperation of the connecting shaft 18 and the spherical bearing 17 for tilting work.
[0047] Taking the most common voron2.4 in the moving gantry 3D printer as an example, the gantry is fixed on the linear guide of the frame inside the printer. The whole gantry is driven by a belt to move in the z-axis direction. During sealed box printing, the internal temperature rises, and the gantry starts to thermally expand, and the profiles forming the gantry start to elongate. Since both ends of the profiles are fixed, the profiles cannot elongate radially and will bend (upward or downward). The fixed points of the voron2.4 gantry are located below the profiles, so after the temperature rises, the gantry bends upward. Correspondingly, the movement plane of the gantry follows and offsets upward convexly, as follows Figure 6 shown.
[0048] In the 3D printer system, the deformation of the heated bed can be compensated, which is called mesh compensation (mesh bed) in the system. When the gantry bends upward and the nozzle is at the highest point, when the nozzle touches the heated bed, the gantry needs to move to a lower point, which results in the heated bed (printing plane) being equivalent to the gantry deforming downward in the mesh compensation test result, as follows Figure 7 , and the heated bed actually does not deform at this time.
[0049] Performance test
[0050] Experiments were carried out on the enlarged voron2.4 with a gantry length of 800mm. When the temperature was 20 degrees Celsius (room temperature), after debugging, the mesh compensation test was carried out. At this time, the heated bed plane was flat without obvious convexity or concavity.
[0051] If the printer is not adjusted and the sealed box is made to raise the temperature inside the box to 60 degrees Celsius, and the mesh compensation test is carried out again. At this time, the test result shows that the heated bed is sunken, which conforms to the above analysis, and the difference between the highest point and the lowest point reaches 1.2mm, which is much larger than the common layer height of 0.2mm of the 3D printer. This has a catastrophic impact on the accuracy of the finished product.
[0052] In the present utility model, the use of linear guides releases the deformation of the gantry due to thermal expansion after heating, so that the gantry no longer bends. This design is used for high-temperature sealed box printing. For example, when the temperature rises by 100°C, 1m of aluminum will elongate by 2.43mm, which causes large-sized 3D printers to be greatly affected by temperature. Using the solution of the present utility model to release this part of the deformation amount can ensure that the frame of the printer is relatively flat after a large temperature change.
[0053] As described above, in the present utility model, a stress release component is added to the gantry of the 3D printer. The thermal stress contact of the gantry and the inclined operation of the gantry are realized. There are three such components on the gantry, and each component consists of a ball head and a set of linear guides. The three sets of linear guides can only move radially and point to the center, realizing the self-centering of the gantry and eliminating stress, improving the printing quality; at the same time, in the present utility model, by arranging three mounting points on the gantry in a triangular shape, these three mounting points are connected to the motors of three independently driven Z-axes. Therefore, the leveling is completely determined by the positions of the motors. And a spherical plain bearing is provided in the stress release component. By rotating the connecting shaft in the spherical plain bearing, the inclined operation of the gantry plane is adjusted, reducing the use of supports.
[0054] As described above, the above is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present utility model, according to the technical solution of the present utility model and its inventive concept, making equivalent replacements or changes should be covered within the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. An adjustable 3D printer gantry structure, comprising a gantry (1), characterized in that: The gantry (1) is provided with three guide shafts (11) distributed in a triangular shape on the outside, and a lifting plate (12) is fixedly provided on the guide shafts (11), and four connecting blocks (13) are fixedly provided at the corners of the gantry (1), and a fixing plate (19) is fixedly provided on the surface of the gantry (1), and a stress release component is provided on the lower surface of the two connecting blocks (13) and the fixing plate (19), and the stress release component comprises a slider (14), and the slider (14) is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the two connecting blocks (13) and the lower surface of the fixing plate (19), and a linear rail (15) is slidably provided on the slider (14), and a connecting support (16) is fixedly provided on the linear rail (15), and a connecting shaft (18) is fixedly provided on the connecting support (16), and a fisheye bearing (17) is fixedly provided on one side of the lifting plate (12), and the fisheye bearing (17) is connected to the connecting shaft (18).
2. The adjustable 3D printer gantry structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A Z axis (2) is provided on one side of the guide shaft (11), and the Z axis (2) is threadedly connected to the lifting plate (12).
3. The adjustable gantry structure of a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A moving frame (3) is slidably provided in the middle of the gantry (1), moving frames (31) are fixedly provided at both ends of the moving frame (3), the moving frame (31) is slidably connected to the inner side of the gantry (1), two first rotating shafts (32) are rotatably provided in the moving frame (31), and first synchronous wheels (33) are fixedly provided on the first rotating shafts (32).
4. The adjustable 3D printer gantry structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: Five second rotating shafts (4) are rotatably arranged in the connecting block (13), a second synchronous wheel (41) is fixedly arranged on the second rotating shaft (4), and a synchronous belt (42) is sleeved on the second synchronous wheel (41) and the first synchronous wheel (33).
5. The adjustable 3D printer gantry structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connection blocks (13) are all fixedly provided with drive motors (5), and the output ends of the drive motors (5) are all fixedly connected to the upper end of the middle second rotating shaft (4).
6. The adjustable gantry structure of a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Baffles (6) are fixedly provided on both sides of the connection block (13), and the baffles (6) are in contact with the upper surface of the gantry (1).