Additive manufacturing equipment and multifunctional light path system thereof

Abstract

The utility model discloses additive manufacturing equipment and a multifunctional light path system thereof, the multifunctional light path system comprises a laser, a collimating lens, a galvanometer unit, a field lens, a shaping lens and a driving mechanism, laser emitted by the laser enters the collimating lens, enters the field lens under the action of the collimating lens and the galvanometer unit in sequence, enters a working plane through the field lens, and then enters the working plane through the shaping lens; the shaping lens is arranged on the driving mechanism and moves under the driving of the driving mechanism, so that when the shaping lens moves to a light path between the collimating lens and the galvanometer unit, the shaping lens shapes laser entering the galvanometer unit to obtain an annular light spot; and when the shaping lens moves to be far away from the light path between the collimating lens and the galvanometer unit, the laser entering the galvanometer unit directly enters the field lens to obtain a Gaussian spot. According to the utility model, flexible switching between Gaussian light spots and annular light spots can be realized, details on the surface of a workpiece can be printed by using the Gaussian light spots with small light spot sizes, and large filling entities can be printed by using the annular light spots with large light spot sizes, so that the forming precision and efficiency are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and particularly relates to an additive manufacturing device and a multi-functional optical path system thereof. Background Technique

[0002] Additive manufacturing technology is an advanced manufacturing technology with distinct characteristics such as digital manufacturing, high flexibility and adaptability, direct CAD model drive, rapidity, and a rich variety of material types. Due to its unrestricted by the complexity of part shapes and the absence of any tooling and dies, its application scope is very wide. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is one of the rapidly developing additive manufacturing technologies in recent years. It uses powder materials as raw materials and adopts a laser to scan the cross-section of a three-dimensional entity layer by layer to complete prototype manufacturing. Its basic working process is as follows: The powder feeding device sends a certain amount of powder to the working platform surface, and the powder spreading device spreads a layer of powder material evenly on the upper surface of the working chamber pressing plate or the already formed part. The laser galvanometer system controls the laser to scan the solid part powder layer according to the cross-section contour of this layer with an approximately constant spot size and beam energy, causing the powder to melt and bond with the already formed part below; after a cross-section is sintered, the working platform descends by the thickness of one layer, and the powder spreading device spreads a new layer of uniform and dense powder on it, and then conducts the scanning and sintering of the new cross-section. After several layers of scanning and superposition, the entire prototype manufacturing is completed.

[0003] With the pursuit of the printing efficiency of additive manufacturing equipment by people, the scanning line spacing and layer thickness during the forming process are getting larger and larger; however, while people are pursuing printing efficiency, the requirements for the detailed surface are also getting higher and higher. The current optical path system generally only uses one form of spot (such as a Gaussian spot) for laser scanning, making it difficult to balance both efficiency and quality. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art, the utility model provides an additive manufacturing device and a multi-functional optical path system thereof. The multi-functional optical path system of this additive manufacturing device can flexibly switch between a Gaussian spot and an annular spot, so that the details of the surface of the part can be printed with a Gaussian spot with a small spot size, and the large filling entity of the part can be printed with an annular spot with a large spot size, thereby not only ensuring the forming accuracy but also improving the forming efficiency.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present utility model provides a multi-functional optical path system for an additive manufacturing device, which includes a laser, a collimating mirror, a galvanometer unit, a field lens, a shaping lens, and a driving mechanism. The laser emits laser light that is incident on the collimating mirror and is successively incident on the field lens under the action of the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, and is incident on the working plane through the field lens. The shaping lens is arranged on the driving mechanism and moves under the drive of the driving mechanism. When the shaping lens moves to the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the shaping lens shapes the laser light incident on the galvanometer unit so that the laser light incident on the working plane is an annular light spot; when the shaping lens moves away from the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the laser light incident on the galvanometer unit directly enters the field lens so that the laser light incident on the working plane is a Gaussian light spot.

[0006] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the driving mechanism includes a robotic arm and a servo motor. The robotic arm is fixed on the rotating shaft of the servo motor, and the shaping lens is installed at the end of the robotic arm.

[0007] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the multi-functional optical path system further includes a mounting base, and both the collimating mirror and the servo motor are installed on the side surface of the mounting base.

[0008] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the multi-functional optical path system further includes a first position detection switch and a second position detection switch arranged on the mounting base. When the shaping lens moves to the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the first position detection switch senses and lights up; when the shaping lens moves away from the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the second position detection switch senses and lights up.

[0009] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, an induction piece is provided at the end of the robotic arm for induction with the first position detection switch or the second position detection switch.

[0010] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, a limiting pin shaft is provided on the mounting base, and a kidney-shaped groove matching with the limiting pin shaft is provided on the robotic arm.

[0011] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the multi-functional optical path system further includes a support plate. The galvanometer unit is fixed on the upper part of the support plate, and the field lens is connected to the lower part of the support plate by threads.

[0012] As a further preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the laser includes an optical fiber head for inserting into and fixing at the end of the collimating mirror.

[0013] The present utility model also provides an additive manufacturing device, which includes the multi-functional optical path system of the additive manufacturing device described in any one of the above.

[0014] The additive manufacturing equipment and its multi-functional optical path system of the present utility model include a laser, a collimating mirror, a galvanometer unit, a field lens, a shaping lens, and a driving mechanism. The laser emits laser light that is incident on the collimating mirror, and successively enters the field lens under the action of the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, and then enters the working plane through the field lens. The shaping lens is arranged on the driving mechanism and moves under the drive of the driving mechanism. When the shaping lens moves to the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the shaping lens shapes the laser light incident on the galvanometer unit so that the laser light incident on the working plane is an annular light spot; when the shaping lens moves away from the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the laser light incident on the galvanometer unit directly enters the field lens so that the laser light incident on the working plane is a Gaussian light spot. This enables the present utility model to flexibly switch between Gaussian light spots and annular light spots, so that the details on the surface of the workpiece can be printed using a Gaussian light spot with a small light spot size, and the large filling entity of the workpiece can be printed using an annular light spot with a large light spot size, thereby not only ensuring the forming accuracy but also improving the forming efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 The front view of an embodiment provided for the multi-functional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment of the present utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 the left view (position in the annular light spot state);

[0017] Figure 3 is Figure 1 the top view;

[0018] Figure 4 is Figure 1 the left view (position in the Gaussian light spot state).

[0019] The component labels in the figure are as follows:

[0020] 1. Galvanometer unit, 2. Field lens, 3. Servo motor, 4. Collimating mirror, 5. Fiber optic head, 6. Mounting seat, 7. Shaping lens, 8. Robot arm, 9. Limit pin, 10. Second position detection switch, 11. First position detection switch, 12. Support plate, 13. Light passing hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and implement the technical solutions of the present utility model, the following will further elaborate in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of the specification and specific embodiments.

[0022] As Figures 1-4As shown in the figure, the present utility model provides a multi-functional optical path system for an additive manufacturing device, which includes a laser, a collimating mirror 4, a galvanometer unit 1, a field lens 2, a shaping lens 7, and a driving mechanism. The laser emitted by the laser is incident on the collimating mirror 4, and then is incident on the field lens 2 under the action of the collimating mirror 4 and the galvanometer unit 1 in sequence, and is incident on the working plane through the field lens 2. The shaping lens 7 is arranged on the driving mechanism and moves under the drive of the driving mechanism. When the shaping lens 7 moves to the optical path between the collimating mirror 4 and the galvanometer unit 1, the shaping lens 7 shapes the laser incident on the galvanometer unit 1 so that the laser incident on the working plane is an annular light spot; when the shaping lens 7 moves away from the optical path between the collimating mirror 4 and the galvanometer unit 1, the laser incident on the galvanometer unit 1 directly enters the field lens 2 so that the laser incident on the working plane is a Gaussian light spot. In this way, the details on the surface of the part can be printed with a Gaussian light spot with a small spot size, and the large filling entity of the part can be printed with an annular light spot with a large spot size, thus ensuring both the forming accuracy and improving the forming efficiency.

[0023] In specific implementation, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 4 , the driving mechanism includes a robotic arm 8 and a servo motor 3. The robotic arm 8 is fixed on the rotating shaft of the servo motor 3, and the shaping lens 7 is installed at the end of the robotic arm 8.

[0024] The multi-functional optical path system further includes a mounting seat 6. The collimating mirror 4 and the servo motor 3 are both installed on the side of the mounting seat 6. The multi-functional optical path system further includes a first position detection switch 11 and a second position detection switch 10 arranged on the mounting seat 6. When the shaping lens 7 moves to the optical path between the collimating mirror 4 and the galvanometer unit 1, the first position detection switch 11 senses and lights up; when the shaping lens 7 moves away from the optical path between the collimating mirror 4 and the galvanometer unit 1, the second position detection switch 10 senses and lights up. Specifically, an induction sheet can be provided at the end of the robotic arm 8 for induction with the first position detection switch 11 or the second position detection switch 10.

[0025] In order to avoid the head of the robotic arm 8 colliding and damaging the shaping lens 7 when the servo motor 3 loses power and the position is lost, resulting in abnormal operation, preferably, a limit pin shaft 9 is provided on the mounting seat 6, and a kidney-shaped groove is provided on the robotic arm 8 to cooperate with the limit pin shaft 9. During the movement of the shaping lens 7, the movement of the robotic arm 8 can be inhibited by the limit pin shaft 9, thereby preventing the shaping lens 7 from being damaged.

[0026] As an implementation manner of the present utility model, the multi-functional optical path system further includes a support plate 12. The galvanometer unit 1 is fixed on the upper part of the support plate 12, and the field lens 2 is connected to the lower part of the support plate 12 by a thread.

[0027] As another embodiment of the present utility model, the laser ( Figures 1-4 not shown in the figure) includes an optical fiber head 5 for inserting into and fixing to the end of the collimating mirror 4.

[0028] The present utility model also provides an additive manufacturing device, which includes the multi-functional optical path system of the additive manufacturing device described in any one of the above embodiments. It should be noted here that since the core protected by this application lies in the above multi-functional optical path system, in this application, for other existing components included in the additive manufacturing device, such as a powder spreading device, a forming cylinder, etc., they will not be listed one by one here.

[0029] Figure 2 This is the left view (position of the annular spot state) of the multi-functional optical path system of the additive manufacturing device in this embodiment. At this time, the servo motor 3 drives the robotic arm 8 to rotate. When it rotates to the position of the annular spot state, the shaping lens 7 just blocks the light passing hole 13, and the output spot at this time is an annular spot. Figure 4 This is the left view (position of the Gaussian spot state) of the multi-functional optical path system of the additive manufacturing device in this embodiment. At this time, the servo motor 3 drives the robotic arm 8 to rotate. When it rotates to the position of the Gaussian spot state, the shaping lens 7 avoids the light passing hole 13, and the output spot at this time is a Gaussian spot. The light passing hole 13 here refers to the optical path channel between the collimating mirror 4 and the galvanometer unit 1. The shaping lens 7 generates an annular spot based on a diffractive optical element (DOE), and its specific shaping principle belongs to the prior art. Therefore, it will not be introduced in detail in this application.

[0030] This embodiment is a method for generating an annular light spot based on a diffractive optical element (DOE). After entering the collimating mirror 4, this DOE element is loaded at the parallel light beam before reaching the galvanometer unit 1 to achieve beam shaping and obtain an annular light spot. The beam shaping is performed by the servo motor 3, the mounting base 6, the robotic arm 8, the shaping lens 7, the limit pin 9, the first position detection switch 11, and the second position detection switch 10. When it is necessary to print a large filled solid to improve the forming efficiency, the servo motor 3 rotates to drive the robotic arm 8 to rotate. The shaping lens 7 is mounted on the robotic arm 8. When the robotic arm 8 and the shaping lens 7 rotate together to the light passing hole 13 of the galvanometer unit 1, the first position detection switch 11 lights up, and the servo motor 3 stops rotating. The laser emits light, and printing of the large filled solid starts with an annular light spot having a large spot size. After the printing of the large filled solid is completed, the laser stops emitting light, and the servo motor 3 starts to rotate to drive the robotic arm 8 and the shaping lens 7 to rotate away from the light passing hole 13 of the galvanometer unit 1. The second position detection switch 10 lights up, and the servo motor 3 stops rotating. The laser emits light, and printing of the contour surface starts with a Gaussian light spot having a small spot size. During the operation of the driving mechanism, a waist-shaped groove is provided on the robotic arm 8, and the limit pin 9 is mounted on the mounting base 6. When the servo motor 3 loses power and causes abnormal operation due to position loss, the limit pin 9 can inhibit the movement of the robotic arm 8 to avoid damage to the shaping lens 7 due to the collision of the head of the robotic arm 8.

[0031] The above embodiments are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Any technical solutions falling within the idea of the present invention shall belong to the protection scope of the present invention. It should be noted that several modifications and decorations made without departing from the principle of the present invention shall be regarded as within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multifunctional optical path system for additive manufacturing equipment, characterized in that: The invention comprises a laser, a collimator, a galvanometer unit, a field lens, a shaping lens, and a driving mechanism. The laser emitted by the laser enters the collimator, and enters the field lens in turn under the action of the collimator and the galvanometer unit, and enters the working plane through the field lens. The shaping lens is arranged on the driving mechanism and moves under the drive of the driving mechanism. When the shaping lens moves to the optical path between the collimator and the galvanometer unit, the shaping lens shapes the laser incident on the galvanometer unit so that the laser incident on the working plane is a ring-shaped spot. When the shaping lens moves to the optical path away from the collimator and the galvanometer unit, the laser incident on the galvanometer unit directly enters the field lens so that the laser incident on the working plane is a Gaussian spot.

2. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving mechanism comprises a mechanical arm and a servo motor, the mechanical arm is fixed on the rotating shaft of the servo motor, and the plastic surgery lens is installed on the end of the mechanical arm.

3. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The multifunctional optical path system also includes a mounting seat, and the collimating mirror and the servo motor are both mounted on the side of the mounting seat.

4. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The multifunctional optical path system also includes a first position detection switch and a second position detection switch arranged on the mounting base. When the shaping lens moves to the optical path between the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the first position detection switch senses and lights up; when the shaping lens moves to the optical path away from the collimating mirror and the galvanometer unit, the second position detection switch senses and lights up.

5. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: A sensing sheet is provided at the end of the mechanical arm for sensing the first position detection switch or the second position detection switch.

6. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mounting seat is provided with a limit pin shaft, and the mechanical arm is provided with a waist-shaped groove matched with the limit pin shaft.

7. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multifunctional optical path system further comprises a supporting plate, the galvanometer unit is fixed on the upper part of the supporting plate, and the field lens is connected to the lower part of the supporting plate via threads.

8. The multifunctional optical path system of the additive manufacturing equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The laser comprises an optical fiber head which is used for being inserted into and fixed at the end of the collimating lens.

9. An additive manufacturing device, characterized in that: A multifunctional optical path system comprising the additive manufacturing equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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