Automatic powder removing machine for metal 3D printing parts with complex structures

By designing an automated powder depowder, using the combined movement of the swing arm and the rotating disc, and in combination with the inert gas environment, the low powder depowder efficiency and damage problems of 3D printed parts of complex structures are solved, and efficient and automated powder cleaning and recycling are achieved.

CN223146012UActive Publication Date: 2025-07-25CHONGQING MASCH & ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENT MFG CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202421938897.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-08-12
Publication Date
2025-07-25
Estimated Expiration
2034-08-12

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Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and particularly discloses an automatic powder removing machine for metal 3D printing parts with complex structures, which comprises a controller and a powder removing machine main body, a powder removing chamber and a powder collecting chamber are arranged in the powder removing machine main body, and the powder collecting chamber is used for collecting powder in the powder removing chamber; a powder removing assembly and a powder sucking assembly are arranged in the powder removing chamber and controlled by a controller, the powder removing assembly comprises a swinging arm, a rotating disc, a swinging driving part and a rotating driving part, the two sides of the swinging arm are rotationally connected to the two sides of the powder removing chamber, and the swinging driving part is used for driving the swinging arm to rotate longitudinally; the rotary driving part is fixed to the swing arm, the rotary disc is rotationally connected to the swing arm, and the rotary driving part is used for driving the rotary disc to horizontally rotate; the rotating disc is used for fixing a part with a base plate; the powder suction assembly is used for sucking powder on the surfaces of the parts and in the holes. And through the powder removing assembly and the powder sucking assembly, powder on the parts can be automatically cleaned.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and particularly relates to an automatic powder removing machine for 3D printed metal parts with complex structures. Background Art

[0002] Additive manufacturing technology has developed rapidly in recent years and achieved remarkable results in various fields. Especially in the field of metal material printing, high-performance metal materials can be used to manufacture more complex and delicate parts, especially in high-precision manufacturing fields such as aerospace, medical devices, and automotive manufacturing. Metal 3D printing has gradually become an important manufacturing method due to its advantages of high efficiency, precision, and high material utilization rate. However, the powder material used in the metal 3D printing process needs to be de-powdered after printing to remove the residual powder on the surface and inside of the parts. Generally, manual de-powdering is adopted, but this method is inefficient and easily damages the parts. There is an urgent need in the market for a de-powdering device that can efficiently and automatically process 3D printed metal parts with complex structures. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] The purpose of the utility model is to provide an automatic powder removing machine for 3D printed metal parts with complex structures, which can remove powder from 3D printed metal parts with complex structures.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution of the utility model is: an automatic powder removing machine for 3D printed metal parts with complex structures, including a controller and a powder removing machine main body. A powder removing chamber and a powder collecting chamber are arranged in the powder removing machine main body. The powder removing chamber is located above the powder collecting chamber, and the powder collecting chamber is used to collect the powder in the powder removing chamber. A powder removing component and a powder suction component are arranged in the powder removing chamber. The powder removing component and the powder suction component are controlled by the controller. The powder removing component includes a swing arm, a rotating disk, a swing driving part, and a rotating driving part. Both sides of the swing arm are rotatably connected to both sides of the powder removing chamber, and the swing driving part is used to drive the swing arm to rotate longitudinally. The rotating driving part is fixed on the swing arm, and the rotating disk is rotatably connected to the swing arm. The rotating driving part is used to drive the rotating disk to rotate horizontally. The rotating disk is used to fix the part with a substrate. The powder suction component is used to suck the powder on the surface and in the holes of the part.

[0005] Further, the powder suction assembly includes a robotic arm, a suction nozzle, a horizontal driving member, a lateral rotating member, and a longitudinal rotating member. A horizontal track is provided at the top of the powder removal chamber. The robotic arm includes a sliding arm, a lateral rotating arm, a large arm, and a longitudinal rotating arm connected in sequence. The sliding arm is slidably connected within the track and is driven by the horizontal driving member. One side of the lateral rotating arm is rotatably connected to the sliding arm, and the other side is fixedly connected to the large arm. The lateral rotating member is used to drive the lateral rotating arm to rotate laterally. One side of the longitudinal rotating arm is rotatably connected to the large arm, and the other side is fixedly connected to the suction nozzle. The longitudinal rotating member is used to drive the longitudinal rotating arm to rotate longitudinally. A negative pressure assembly is provided within the suction nozzle, and the negative pressure assembly is connected to the controller.

[0006] Further, the bottom of the powder removal chamber is communicated with the top of the powder collection chamber. A funnel and a powder tank are provided within the powder collection chamber. The large-diameter end of the funnel is connected to the bottom of the powder removal chamber, and the small-diameter end is connected to the feed port of the powder tank. The funnel is fixed within the powder collection chamber.

[0007] Further, a first opening is provided on one side of the powder removal chamber, and a sealed hatch door is provided at the first opening. A second opening is provided on one side of the powder collection chamber, and a collection chamber hatch door is provided at the second opening.

[0008] Further, a data interface, a control touch screen, and a set of operation buttons connected to the controller are provided on one side of the main body of the powder removal machine. The control touch screen is used to display the powder removal program, start tasks, and pause tasks. The data interface is used to receive the powder removal path file.

[0009] Further, the powder removal chamber is connected to a gas storage device through a pump body. An inert gas is stored within the gas storage device, and the pump body is used to fill the inert gas into the powder removal chamber.

[0010] The working principle of this technical solution is as follows: The 3D printed part together with the substrate is installed and fixed on the rotating disk, and the sealed hatch door is closed. The pump body is started, and the pump body fills the inert gas in the gas storage device into the powder removal chamber. The controller starts the swinging driving member and the rotating driving member. The swinging driving member drives the rotating disk and the part to swing through the swinging arm, and the rotating driving member drives the part to rotate through the rotating disk, so that the powder inside the part scatters and falls into the powder tank through the funnel for collection. During this process, the robotic arm will cooperate with the swinging arm and the rotating disk to suck the powder in the holes and on the entire surface of the part. After cleaning, the inert gas inside the main body of the powder removal machine is released, the sealed hatch door is opened, the part is removed from the rotating disk, and it is checked whether the powder removal is completely completed. The collection chamber hatch door is opened, the powder tank is removed, and the powder in the powder tank is screened and recycled.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are as follows: In this technical solution, through the powder removal component and the powder suction component, the powder on the parts can be automatically cleaned. Even for parts with complex structures, through the swinging of the swing arm and the rotation of the rotating disk, the powder can be shaken off. For parts with holes, the powder suction component can suck the powder in the holes, achieving the effect of quickly cleaning the parts and not easily damaging the parts. Description of the Drawings

[0012] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an automatic powder removal machine for 3D printed parts with complex structures of the present utility model;

[0013] Figure 2 is Figure 1 front elevation cross-sectional view;

[0014] Figure 3 is Figure 1 schematic structural diagram of the powder removal component in

[0015] Figure 4 schematic structural diagram when the swing driving part drives the swing arm to rotate 180 degrees;

[0016] Figure 5 schematic structural diagram of the powder suction component;

[0017] Figure 6 schematic structural diagram of the funnel and the powder tank;

[0018] Figure 7 schematic structural diagram of the data interface, control touch screen and operation button group. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0019] The following is a further detailed description through specific embodiments:

[0020] The reference numerals in the drawings of the specification include: powder removal machine main body 1, powder removal chamber 2, powder collection chamber 3, powder removal component 4, powder suction component 5, sealed hatch 6, collection chamber hatch 7, funnel 8, powder tank 9, swing arm 10, rotating disk 11, rotation driving part 12, sliding arm 13, horizontal rotating arm 14, large arm 15, vertical rotating arm 16, suction nozzle 17, control touch screen 18, data interface 19, first manual operation key 20, third manual operation key 21, emergency stop button 22, second manual operation key 23.

[0021] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0022] The embodiment is basically as shown in the attached Figures 1-7 figure: An automatic powder removal machine for 3D printed parts of complex structure metals, as Figures 1-2 shown, includes a controller and a powder removal machine main body 1. A powder removal chamber 2 and a powder collection chamber 3 are provided inside the powder removal machine main body 1. The powder removal chamber 2 is located above the powder collection chamber 3, and the powder collection chamber 3 is used to collect the powder in the powder removal chamber 2; a powder removal component 4 and a powder suction component 5 are provided inside the powder removal chamber 2, and the powder removal component 4 and the powder suction component 5 are controlled by the controller. The bottom of the powder removal chamber 2 is communicated with the top of the powder collection chamber 3. As Figure 6 shown, a funnel 8 and a powder tank 9 are provided inside the powder collection chamber 3. The large-diameter end of the funnel 8 is connected to the bottom of the powder removal chamber 2, and the small-diameter end is detachably connected to the feed port of the powder tank 9. The funnel 8 is fixed inside the powder collection chamber 3. As Figure 1 shown, a first opening is provided on one side of the powder removal chamber 2, and a sealed hatch door 6 is provided at the first opening; two through holes are provided on the sealed hatch door 6, and gloves are hermetically connected inside the two through holes. A second opening is provided on one side of the powder collection chamber 3, and a collection chamber hatch door 7 is provided at the second opening. The powder removal chamber 2 is connected to a gas storage device through a pump body. An inert gas is stored inside the gas storage device, and the pump body is used to fill the inert gas into the powder removal chamber 2. The pump body is connected to the controller.

[0023] As Figure 3 、 4 shown, the powder removal component 4 includes a swing arm 10, a rotating disk 11, a swing driving part and a rotation driving part 12. Both sides of the swing arm 10 are rotatably connected to both sides of the powder removal chamber 2. The swing driving part is used to drive the swing arm 10 to rotate longitudinally, and the swing arm 10 can rotate 180 degrees (as Figure 4 shown). The rotation driving part 12 is fixed on the swing arm 10, the rotating disk 11 is rotatably connected to the swing arm 10, and the rotation driving part 12 is used to drive the rotating disk 11 to rotate horizontally, and can rotate 360 degrees. The rotating disk 11 is used to fix the part with a substrate. A fixing component is provided on the rotating disk 11, and the fixing component fixes the substrate. The fixing component can adopt a pressing plate and a bolt, and the bolt fixes the substrate between the rotating plate and the pressing plate. The swing driving part and the rotation driving part 12 can adopt servo motors.

[0024] As Figure 5As shown, the powder suction assembly 5 is used to suck the powder on the surface of the part and in the holes. The powder suction assembly 5 includes a robotic arm, a suction nozzle 17, a horizontal drive, a lateral rotating member, and a longitudinal rotating member. The horizontal drive can be a cylinder, and the lateral rotating member and the longitudinal rotating member can be servo motors. A horizontal track is provided at the top of the powder removal chamber 2. The robotic arm includes a sliding arm 13, a lateral rotating arm 14, a large arm 15, and a longitudinal rotating arm 16 connected in sequence. The sliding arm 13 is slidably connected in the track and is driven by the horizontal drive. One side of the lateral rotating arm 14 is rotatably connected to the sliding arm 13, and the other side is fixedly connected to the large arm 15. The lateral rotating member is used to drive the lateral rotating arm 14 to rotate laterally. One side of the longitudinal rotating arm 16 is rotatably connected to the large arm 15, and the other side is fixedly connected to the suction nozzle 17. The longitudinal rotating member is used to drive the longitudinal rotating arm 16 to rotate longitudinally. A negative pressure assembly is provided in the suction nozzle 17, and the negative pressure assembly is connected to the controller. The powder in the suction nozzle 17 is concentrated at the suction head and can be subsequently disassembled manually and collected for secondary use.

[0025] As Figure 7 shown, on one side of the powder removal machine main body 1, there are a data interface 19 connected to the controller, a control touch screen 18, an emergency stop button 22, and a control button group. The control touch screen 18 is used to display the powder removal program, start tasks, and pause tasks. The data interface 19 is used to receive the powder removal path file. The control button group includes a first manual operation key 20, a second manual operation key 23, and a third manual operation key 21. The first manual operation key 20 is used to manually drive the rotary drive 12, the second manual operation key 23 is used to manually drive the swing drive, and the third manual operation key 21 is used to manually drive the longitudinal rotating member and the lateral rotating member.

[0026] The specific implementation process is as follows:

[0027] Before running the powder removal program, the three-dimensional model data of the part needs to be processed on a computer to analyze the internal structure of the part, and based on this, plan the outflow path of the powder, and finally convert it into the movement instructions of the swing arm 10 and the rotary disk 11. These data are uploaded to the controller of the device by a removable storage tool.

[0028] Fix the substrate of the 3D printed part on the rotary disk 11 and close the sealing hatch 6.

[0029] Start the pump body, and the pump body fills the inert gas in the gas storage device into the powder removal chamber 2.

[0030] The controller starts to run the powder removal program, driving the swing drive and the rotary drive 12. The swing drive and the rotary drive 12 are driven along the planned path. The swing drive drives the rotary disk 11 and the part to swing through the swing arm 10, and the rotary drive 12 drives the part to rotate through the rotary disk 11, so that the powder inside the part scatters and falls into the powder tank 9 through the funnel 8 for collection.

[0031] During this process, the robotic arm will cooperate with the swing arm 10 and the rotary disk 11 to suck the powder in the holes and on the entire surface of the part.

[0032] If there is still stubborn powder, the suction nozzle 17 can be manually operated by manually controlling the third manual operation key 21. It can also be operated by isolation with gloves (inert gas needs to be released first).

[0033] After cleaning, release the inert gas in the powder removal machine main body 1, open the sealed hatch 6, remove the part from the rotary disk 11, and check whether the powder removal is completely completed. Open the collection chamber hatch 7, remove the powder tank 9, screen the powder in the powder tank 9 and recycle it.

[0034] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the term "including", "comprising" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0035] The above are only the embodiments of the present utility model. Specific structures and common knowledge such as characteristics that are well-known in the art are not described in detail herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art know all the general technical knowledge in the technical field to which the utility model belongs before the filing date or the priority date, are able to know all the prior art in this field, and have the ability to apply the conventional experimental means before this date. Those of ordinary skill in the art can, under the inspiration given in this application, combine their own abilities to complete and implement this solution. Some typical well-known structures or well-known methods should not become obstacles for those of ordinary skill in the art to implement this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, without departing from the structure of the present utility model, several deformations and improvements can still be made, and these should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present utility model, and these will not affect the implementation effect of the present utility model and the practicality of the patent. The protection scope required by this application should be based on the content of its claims, and the specific implementation manners described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. An automated powder removal machine for 3D printed parts made of metal with complex structures, characterized in that: It includes a controller and a deflourinator main body (1). A deflourination chamber (2) and a powder collection chamber (3) are provided inside the deflourinator main body (1). The deflourination chamber (2) is located above the powder collection chamber (3), and the powder collection chamber (3) is used to collect the powder in the deflourination chamber (2). A deflourination component (4) and a powder suction component (5) are provided inside the deflourination chamber (2). The deflourination component (4) and the powder suction component (5) are controlled by the controller. The deflourination component (4) includes a swing arm (10), a rotating disk (11), a swing driving part, and a rotation driving part (12). Both sides of the swing arm (10) are rotatably connected to both sides of the deflourination chamber (2), and the swing driving part is used to drive the swing arm (10) to rotate longitudinally. The rotation driving part (12) is fixed on the swing arm (10), and the rotating disk (11) is rotatably connected to the swing arm (10). The rotation driving part (12) is used to drive the rotating disk (11) to rotate horizontally. The rotating disk (11) is used to fix the parts with substrates. The powder suction component (5) is used to suck the powder on the surface and in the holes of the parts.

2. The automated powder removal machine for complex-structure metal 3D printed parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder suction component (5) includes a robotic arm, a suction nozzle (17), a horizontal driving part, a lateral rotating part, and a longitudinal rotating part. A horizontal track is provided at the top of the deflourination chamber (2). The robotic arm includes a sliding arm (13), a lateral rotating arm (14), a large arm (15), and a longitudinal rotating arm (16) connected in sequence. The sliding arm (13) is slidably connected inside the track, and the sliding arm (13) is driven by the horizontal driving part. One side of the lateral rotating arm (14) is rotatably connected to the sliding arm (13), and the other side is fixedly connected to the large arm (15). The lateral rotating part is used to drive the lateral rotating arm (14) to rotate laterally. One side of the longitudinal rotating arm (16) is rotatably connected to the large arm (15), and the other side is fixed to the suction nozzle (17). The longitudinal rotating part is used to drive the longitudinal rotating arm (16) to rotate longitudinally. A negative pressure component is provided inside the suction nozzle (17), and the negative pressure component is connected to the controller.

3. An automated powder removal machine for complex-structure metal 3D printing parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the deflourination chamber (2) is communicated with the top of the powder collection chamber (3). A funnel (8) and a powder tank (9) are provided inside the powder collection chamber (3). The large-diameter end of the funnel (8) is connected to the bottom of the deflourination chamber (2), and the small-diameter end is connected to the feed port of the powder tank (9). The funnel (8) is fixed inside the powder collection chamber (3).

4. An automatic powder removal machine for complex structure metal 3D printing parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first opening is provided on one side of the deflourination chamber (2), and a sealed hatch door (6) is provided at the first opening. A second opening is provided on one side of the powder collection chamber (3), and a collection chamber hatch door (7) is provided at the second opening.

5. An automatic powder removal machine for complex structure metal 3D printing parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: A data interface (19), a control touch screen (18), and a control button group connected to the controller are provided on one side of the deflourinator main body (1). The control touch screen (18) is used to display the deflourination program, start tasks, and pause tasks. The data interface (19) is used to receive the deflourination path file.

6. An automatic powder removal machine for complex structure metal 3D printing parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder removal chamber (2) is connected to a gas storage device through a pump body. An inert gas is stored in the gas storage device, and the pump body is used to fill the inert gas into the powder removal chamber (2).