Photocuring printing system and 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of 3D printing, in particular to a photocuring printing system and a 3D printer, the photocuring printing system comprises a printing screen, the printing screen comprises a plurality of printing areas capable of independently controlling display images, and each printing area has a first display state and a second display state; the light source mechanism comprises a plurality of light-emitting assemblies which can be independently controlled to emit light, and each printing area is correspondingly provided with at least one light-emitting assembly; the light-emitting assembly corresponding to the printing area in the first display state is configured to emit light for curing; and in the printing area in the second display state, the corresponding light-emitting assembly is configured to not emit light rays.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of 3D printing, and particularly to a light-curing printing system and a 3D printer. Background Art

[0002] Driven by the intelligence of computer digital technology, 3D printing technology is applied in a wider and wider range of fields. Especially, LCD light-curing printing technology is increasingly favored by DIY enthusiasts. LCD light-curing printing technology is a printing screen masking technology. Different printing patterns are presented through the printing screen. The presented printing pattern is white, and the part outside the printing pattern is black. After the lamp beads of the lamp board as the light source mechanism light up, the emitted light can cure the resin through the white area. However, the current printers have the problem of short service lives of the lamp board and the printing screen. The reason is that in conventional printing, regardless of what pattern the printing screen presents, all the lamp beads of the lamp board light up. Except for the ultraviolet light emitted by the lamp beads corresponding to the printing pattern area that can pass through the white part of the printing screen, the ultraviolet light emitted by the lamp beads corresponding to the black part of the printing screen will be absorbed by the printing screen. Under long-term printing, the heat of the light source mechanism will damage the printing screen, thus reducing the service life of the printing screen. And long-term exposure will also cause a certain attenuation of the service life and light intensity of the lamp beads. Utility Model Content

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a light-curing printing system and a 3D printer, which can effectively increase the service lives of the printing screen and the light source mechanism, thereby reducing the printing cost.

[0004] In a first aspect, the light-curing printing system provided by the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0005] A printing screen, including a plurality of printing areas capable of independently controlling the displayed image, and each of the printing areas has a first display state and a second display state; and,

[0006] A light source mechanism, including a plurality of light-emitting components capable of independently controlling light emission, and at least one of the light-emitting components is provided corresponding to each of the printing areas;

[0007] The light-emitting component corresponding to the printing area in the first display state is configured to emit light for curing; the light-emitting component corresponding to the printing area in the second display state is configured not to emit light.

[0008] In some embodiments, different light-emitting components are connected in parallel, and each light-emitting component includes a light source controller and at least one light-emitting light source.

[0009] In some embodiments, the printing screen further includes a first part and a second part;

[0010] Among them, for the printing area located in the first part, the corresponding light-emitting component includes at least two light-emitting light sources; for the printing area located in the second part, the corresponding light-emitting component includes at least one light-emitting light source.

[0011] In some embodiments, each light-emitting component includes a first light-emitting light source, a second light-emitting light source, and a light source controller;

[0012] Among them, the light source controller is configured to control the turning on and off of the first light-emitting light source and the second light-emitting light source, and the light source controller is further configured to control the second light-emitting light source to turn on when the first light-emitting light source cannot be turned on.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first part and the printing screen have the same center, and the area of the first part accounts for 50-80% of the area of the printing screen;

[0014] The second part is the other area of the printing screen except the first part.

[0015] In some embodiments, the light source controller is further configured to adjust the current of the light-emitting light source.

[0016] In some embodiments, the light can also form a light path area on the surface to be irradiated, and the light source controller is further configured to adjust the current of the light-emitting light source according to the light intensity of the light path area.

[0017] In some embodiments, the light-curing printing system further includes a base and a support assembly. The light source mechanism is fixed to the base, and the printing screen is erected above the light source mechanism through the support assembly fixed to the base.

[0018] In some embodiments, the support assembly includes a support frame part and support column parts fixed between the support frame part and the base. The support frame part has a receiving cavity penetrating through the support frame part, and the printing screen is fixed in the receiving cavity.

[0019] In a second aspect, the 3D printer provided by the embodiments of the present application includes the light-curing printing system provided in any of the above embodiments. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic three-dimensional structure diagram of the light-curing printing system according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic three-dimensional structure diagram of the light-curing printing system according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 3 For Figure 2 the schematic diagram of the explosion structure of the light-curing printing system shown in

[0023] Figure 4 For Figure 2 the schematic diagram of the partial cross-section of the light-curing printing system shown in

[0024] Wherein: 1-printing screen (101-printing area, 102-first part, 103-second part), 2-light source mechanism (201-light-emitting component (2011-light-emitting light source (2011a-first light-emitting light source, 2011b-second light-emitting light source)), 202-lamp board part), 3-surface to be irradiated (301-optical path area), 4-base, 5-support component (501-support frame part (5011-receiving cavity), 502-support column part). Specific embodiments

[0025] For the convenience of understanding the present application, the present application will be described more comprehensively below with reference to the relevant drawings. The preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0026] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there can also be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used in the description of this application herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , the light-curing printing system according to the embodiment of the present application includes a printing screen 1 and a light source mechanism 2. The printing screen 1 includes a plurality of printing areas 101 that can independently control the display of images. Each printing area 101 has a first display state and a second display state respectively. The light source mechanism 2 includes a plurality of light-emitting components 201 that can independently control light emission, and at least one light-emitting component 201 is provided corresponding to each printing area 101. For the printing area 101 in the first display state, the corresponding light-emitting component 201 is configured to emit light for curing. For the printing area 101 in the second display state, the corresponding light-emitting component 201 is configured not to emit light.

[0029] In this embodiment, whether each printing area 101 is in the first display state or the second display state is independent of the display states of other printing areas 101, and is only related to the pattern currently being printed. The light-emitting component 201 is correspondingly arranged with the printing area 101. Moreover, when the corresponding printing area 101 is in the first display state, the light-emitting component 201 emits light, and the light emitted by the light-emitting component 201 can pass through the corresponding printing area 101 to cure the model entity. When the corresponding printing area 101 is in the second display state, the light-emitting component 201 does not emit light. Therefore, the corresponding printing area 101 is not irradiated by the light-emitting component 201 either. Through the embodiment of the present application, the light-emitting component 201 and the printing area 101 are controlled in the same frequency. When different patterns are presented on the printing screen 1, only the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the printing area 101 in the first display state works, and the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the printing area 101 in the second display state does not work, which can effectively reduce the average working frequency and average working duration of each light-emitting component 201, and also reduce the average duration of each printing area 101 being irradiated by the light-emitting component 201, thereby increasing the service life of the printing screen 1 and the light source mechanism 2 and reducing the printing cost.

[0030] As an optional embodiment, please refer to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, each light-emitting component 201 is arranged directly below the corresponding printing area 101.

[0031] Exemplarily, the printing screen 1 can display the corresponding printing pattern according to the currently printed layer. When the printed layer changes, the printing pattern currently displayed on the printing screen 1 also changes accordingly. On the printing screen 1, the printing pattern is white, and the part other than the printing pattern is black. For a certain layer, one or more printing areas 101 cooperate to display the corresponding printing pattern together. The printing areas 101 currently participating in displaying the printing pattern are in the first display state, and the first display state is also the working state. The printing areas 101 currently not participating in displaying the printing pattern are in the second display state, and the second display state is also the non-working state. For a single printing area 101, if the printing area 101 is in the first display state, a part of the printing area 101 is white or the entire area is white, and the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the printing area 101 emits light, and the light emitted by the light-emitting component 201 can pass through the white part of the printing area 101 to cure the model entity. For a single printing area 101, if the printing area 101 is in the second display state, the entire area of the printing area 101 is black, and the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the printing area 101 does not emit light. Therefore, when printing the current layer, the printing area 101 is not irradiated by the corresponding light-emitting component 201.

[0032] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , different light-emitting components 201 are connected in parallel, and each of the above light-emitting components 201 may include a light source controller (not shown in the figure) and at least one light-emitting light source 2011.

[0033] As an example, the above light-emitting light source 2011 may be an LED (light-emitting diode) lamp bead. When the printing area 101 corresponding to a certain light-emitting light source 2011 is in the first display state, the light-emitting light source 2011 emits ultraviolet light, and the ultraviolet light passes through the white part of the corresponding printing area 101 to cure the model entity.

[0034] As an example, in the case where the corresponding printing area 101 is in the first display state, the light source controller controls the light-emitting light source 2011 to emit light to cure the model entity. In the case where the corresponding printing area 101 is in the second display state, the light source controller controls the light-emitting light source 2011 not to emit light, thereby increasing the service life of the printing screen 1 and the light source mechanism 2 and reducing the printing cost.

[0035] Each of the above printing areas 101 may be exactly the same, that is to say, the shapes of each printing area 101 are the same, and the sizes of each printing area 101 are equal, thereby improving the applicability of the printing screen 1.

[0036] It can be understood that in other embodiments, each printing area 101 may not be exactly the same and is set according to actual needs, which will not be elaborated here.

[0037] The above printing screen 1 may further include a first part 102 and a second part 103. A part of the printing area 101 of the printing screen 1 is located in the first part 102, and another part of the printing area 101 of the printing screen 1 is located in the second part 103. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 as shown. Among them, for the printing area 101 located in the first part 102, the corresponding light-emitting component 201 includes at least two light-emitting light sources 2011. When one of the light-emitting light sources 2011 is damaged, other light-emitting light sources 2011 can be used, which is more flexible. For the printing area 101 located in the second part 103, the corresponding light-emitting component 201 includes at least one light-emitting light source 2011.

[0038] In some preferred embodiments, the first part 102 and the printing screen 1 have the same center. The area of the first part 102 accounts for 50 - 80% of the area of the printing screen 1. The second part 103 is the other area of the printing screen 1 except the first part 102. In other words, the first part 102 is arranged close to the center of the printing screen 1, and the second part 103 is arranged close to the edge of the printing screen 1. The first part 102 is the common printing area of the printing screen 1. Generally, the model is default placed at the center of the printing screen 1. Therefore, theoretically, the central area of the printing screen 1 is the common printing area. The common printing area means a higher utilization rate of the light-emitting light source 2011, and then a higher damage rate. Therefore, it is considered to provide two or more light-emitting light sources 2011 on the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the first part 102, so that when one of the light-emitting light sources 2011 is damaged, other light-emitting light sources 2011 can be used.

[0039] Each of the above light-emitting components 201 may include a first light-emitting light source 2011a, a second light-emitting light source 2011b, and a light source controller. Wherein, the light source controller is configured to control the turning on and off of the first light-emitting light source 2011a and the second light-emitting light source 2011b. And the light source controller is further configured to control the second light-emitting light source 2011b to turn on when the first light-emitting light source 2011a cannot be turned on. Even if the first light-emitting light source 2011a cannot be turned on, the light-curing printing system can still be used normally, which is more flexible in use and improves the service life and printing quality of the light-curing system.

[0040] The above light source controller may further be configured to adjust the current of the light-emitting light source 2011, thereby changing the light intensity of the light-emitting component 201, and the light intensity of each light-emitting component 201 can be adjusted as needed, which is more flexible in use.

[0041] The light emitted by the above light-emitting component 201 can also form a light path area 301 on the surface 3 to be irradiated. Correspondingly, the light source controller may further be configured to adjust the current of the light-emitting light source 2011 according to the light intensity of the light path area 301, thereby improving the uniformity of the illumination intensity and effectively improving the printing accuracy.

[0042] The above light source mechanism 2 may further include a lamp board part 202, and the light-emitting light source 2011 is fixed on the lamp board part 202.

[0043] As an example, the printing screen 1 is divided into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of printing areas 101. Correspondingly, the light source mechanism 2 includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of light-emitting components 201. Each light-emitting component 201 includes one light-emitting light source 2011, and the light source controller is electrically connected to the light-emitting light source 2011. Please refer to Figure 4, the distance s between any two adjacent light-emitting light sources 2011 is less than the radius r of the optical path region 301. In this embodiment, there is partial overlap between the optical path regions 301 corresponding to any two adjacent light-emitting light sources 2011, and there is also partial overlap between the optical path regions 301 corresponding to two light-emitting light sources 2011 that are separated by one light-emitting light source 2011. That is to say, in this embodiment, although the light-emitting light sources 2011 are correspondingly arranged with the printing area 101, the light emitted by each light-emitting light source 2011 may not only pass through the corresponding printing area 101, but also may pass through the printing areas 101 corresponding to the surrounding light-emitting light sources 2011. It can be understood that the optical path region 301 corresponding to the light-emitting light source 2011 in the central region of the lamp board part 202 has a larger number of overlaps, and the light intensity corresponding to the overlapped optical path region 301 is larger, so the current of the light-emitting light source 2011 corresponding to this optical path region 301 needs to be adjusted smaller. The optical path region 301 corresponding to the light-emitting light source 2011 in the non-central region of the lamp board part 202 has a smaller number of overlaps, so that the light intensity corresponding to the overlapped optical path region 301 is smaller, and the current of the light-emitting light source 2011 corresponding to this optical path region 301 needs to be adjusted larger. For example, a certain light intensity value can be set for the photometric instrument first, and then the photometric instrument is used to measure the light intensity of all the optical path regions 301 on the surface to be irradiated 3 in turn, and finally the light source controller is used to adjust the current of the light-emitting light sources 2011 in turn, so as to improve the light uniformity of all the optical path regions 301.

[0044] It can be understood that in other embodiments, the light source controller can also adjust the current of the light-emitting light source 2011 based on other parameters. The light source controller is a prior art and will not be elaborated here.

[0045] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the light-emitting assembly 201 can be correspondingly arranged with the printing area 101, and the light emitted by the light-emitting assembly 201 will only pass through the corresponding printing area 101. That is to say, there will be no cross-overlap of the light emitted by each light-emitting assembly 201. In other words, there will be no overlap between the optical path regions 301 corresponding to any two light-emitting assemblies 201. Whether the optical paths of the light-emitting assemblies 201 overlap can be set according to actual needs and will not be elaborated here.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , the above-mentioned light-curing printing system may further include a base 4 and a support assembly 5. The light source mechanism 2 is fixed to the base 4, the support assembly 5 is fixed to the upper end of the base 4, and the printing screen 1 is fixed to the upper end of the support assembly 5. The printing screen 1 is erected above the light source mechanism 2 through the support assembly 5, so as to more effectively define the distance between the printing screen 1 and the light source mechanism 2.

[0047] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3, the above-mentioned support component 5 may include a support frame portion 501 and a support column portion 502. The support frame portion 501 has a receiving cavity 5011 that penetrates the support frame portion 501, and the printing screen 1 is fixed within the receiving cavity 5011, thereby better protecting the printing screen 1. The support column portion 502 is fixed between the support frame portion 501 and the base 4, thereby more effectively defining the distance between the printing screen 1 and the light source mechanism 2.

[0048] The above-mentioned printing screen 1 may be an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen. That is to say, the light-curing printing system can be applied to the field of LCD light-curing printing.

[0049] In other unillustrated embodiments, the printing screen is not limited to the LCD screen and can be extended to any display (such as a plasma display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a rear projection display, an LED array display, or an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display, etc.) that can display images.

[0050] The 3D printer according to the embodiment of the present application includes any one of the above-mentioned light-curing printing systems.

[0051] In this embodiment, whether each printing area 101 is in the first display state or the second display state has nothing to do with the display states of other printing areas 101 and is only related to the currently printed pattern. The light-emitting component 201 is correspondingly arranged with the printing area 101, and, when the corresponding printing area 101 is in the first display state, the light-emitting component 201 emits light, and the light emitted by the light-emitting component 201 can pass through the corresponding printing area 101 to cure the model entity. When the corresponding printing area 101 is in the second display state, the light-emitting component 201 does not emit light. Therefore, the corresponding printing area 101 is not irradiated by the light-emitting component 201 either. Through the embodiment of the present application, the light-emitting component 201 and the printing area 101 are controlled in the same frequency. When the printing screen 1 presents different patterns, only the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the printing area 101 in the first display state works, and the light-emitting component 201 corresponding to the printing area 101 in the second display state does not work, which can effectively reduce the average working frequency and average working duration of each light-emitting component 201, and can also reduce the average irradiation duration of each printing area 101 by the light-emitting component 201, thereby increasing the service life of the printing screen 1 and the light source mechanism 2 and reducing the printing cost.

[0052] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as the scope described in this specification.

[0053] The above embodiments only express the preferred embodiments of the present application, and the description is relatively specific and detailed. However, it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present application shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A light-curing printing system, characterized in that, Comprising: A printing screen, including a plurality of printing areas capable of independently controlling the displayed image, each of the printing areas having a first display state and a second display state respectively; And, A light source mechanism, including a plurality of light-emitting components capable of independently controlling light emission, at least one of the light-emitting components being provided corresponding to each of the printing areas; Wherein, for the printing area in the first display state, the corresponding light-emitting component is configured to emit light for curing; for the printing area in the second display state, the corresponding light-emitting component is configured not to emit light.

2. The photocuring printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The different light-emitting components are connected in parallel, and each light-emitting component includes a light source controller and at least one light-emitting light source.

3. The light-curing printing system according to claim 2, wherein The printing screen further includes a first part and a second part; Wherein, for the printing area located in the first part, the corresponding light-emitting component includes at least two of the light-emitting light sources; for the printing area located in the second part, the corresponding light-emitting component includes at least one of the light-emitting light sources.

4. The light-curing printing system according to claim 3, wherein The first part and the printing screen have the same center, and the area of the first part accounts for 50 - 80% of the area of the printing screen; The second part is the other area of the printing screen except the first part.

5. The photocuring printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Each light-emitting component includes a first light-emitting light source, a second light-emitting light source, and a light source controller; Wherein, the light source controller is configured to control the turning on and off of the first light-emitting light source and the second light-emitting light source, and the light source controller is further configured to control the second light-emitting light source to turn on when the first light-emitting light source cannot be turned on.

6. The photocuring printing system according to claim 2, wherein, The light source controller is further configured to adjust the current of the light-emitting light source.

7. The light-curing printing system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The light can also form a light path area on the surface to be irradiated, and the light source controller is further configured to adjust the current of the light-emitting light source according to the light intensity of the light path area.

8. The photocuring printing system according to claim 1, wherein The light-curing printing system further includes a base and a support assembly, the light source mechanism is fixed to the base, and the printing screen is erected above the light source mechanism through the support assembly fixed to the base.

9. The photocuring printing system according to claim 8, wherein The support assembly includes a support frame part and a support column part fixed between the support frame part and the base, the support frame part has a receiving cavity penetrating through the support frame part, and the printing screen is fixed in the receiving cavity.

10. A 3D printer, characterized in that, Comprising: The light-curing printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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