Additive manufacturing powder conveying device

Abstract

The utility model provides an additive manufacturing powder conveying device, which belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing and comprises a vibration conveying structure and a forming chamber communicated with the vibration conveying structure. The vibration conveying structure generates directional vibration force to convey powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber. The powder is conveyed into the forming chamber through the vibration conveying structure, the technical effect that the powder is evenly and quantitatively supplied into the forming chamber is achieved through the vibration conveying structure under the action of directional vibration force, and the problem that in the prior art, powder can enter a transmission part; and aiming at the powder with relatively high viscosity, the transmission part cannot be uniformly supplied, so that the quality of a printed piece is influenced or printing failure is caused.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, relates to additive manufacturing powder conveying technology, and specifically is an additive manufacturing powder conveying device. Background Art

[0002] Additive manufacturing (AM) is a process that creates physical parts by adding material layer by layer based on 3D CAD data. Laser melting deposition (LMD) is a relatively mature AM technology. It uses a powder spreading process, continuously delivering and depositing powder within a build chamber. Each layer requires a quantitative supply of powder to a scraper for this spreading process.

[0003] Currently, for quantitative powder delivery, a drop-feed mechanism is typically used for quantitative replenishment. This requires bearings, shafts, and other transmission components. Due to the small particle size, high particle strength, and high viscosity of some powders, powder can enter the powder drop shaft transmission components during the powder delivery process, causing transmission anomalies or failure. Even with sealing, it is difficult to completely prevent powder from entering the transmission components, and regular maintenance is required, increasing the operating and maintenance costs of the equipment. For some powders with higher viscosities, hollowing can easily occur during the replenishment process, resulting in uneven powder replenishment, affecting the quality of the prints or causing print failures. Utility Model Content

[0004] In response to the technical problem described in the above background technology that the powder used in additive manufacturing will enter the interior of the transmission components, causing transmission abnormalities or transmission failures in the transmission components, and at the same time, for some powders with higher viscosity, it is easy to form a hollow state during the replenishment process, and the powder cannot be replenished evenly, affecting the quality of the printed parts or causing printing failures. To solve this technical problem, the utility model proposes an additive manufacturing powder conveying device.

[0005] The utility model changes the method of conveying powder used for additive manufacturing through transmission components in the prior art, and adopts a vibration conveying structure to convey powder into the forming chamber. The vibration conveying structure can generate a directional vibration force, and under the action of the directional vibration force, the technical effect of uniform and quantitative supply of powder into the forming chamber is achieved. It solves the technical problem in the prior art that powder can enter the interior of the transmission component, causing transmission abnormality or transmission failure of the transmission component, and solves the technical problem that the transmission component cannot uniformly supply powder with high viscosity, affecting the quality of the printed part or causing printing failure.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] The utility model discloses an additive manufacturing powder conveying device, comprising a vibration conveying structure and a forming chamber connected to the vibration conveying structure; the vibration conveying structure generates a directional vibration force to convey the powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber.

[0008] It is further defined that the vibration conveying structure includes a vibration plate and a vibrator connected to the vibration plate, the vibration plate is connected to the forming chamber; the vibrator provides a directional vibration force for the vibration plate; the vibration plate conveys the powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber under the action of the directional vibration force.

[0009] It is further defined that the vibration conveying structure also includes a vibration absorber connected to the vibration plate or the vibrator; the vibration absorber provides a vibration-damping force for the vibration plate.

[0010] It is further defined that the vibration frequency of the vibration device regulating the vibrator acting on the vibration plate is 20HZ-100HZ.

[0011] It is further defined that the vibration conveying structure also includes a vibration absorber bracket connected to the vibration absorber.

[0012] It is further defined that the additive manufacturing powder conveying device also includes a scraper placed in the forming chamber, and a scraper groove is provided on the scraper; when the scraper needs to be replenished with powder, the vibration conveying structure is connected to the scraper groove, and the powder used for additive manufacturing is conveyed into the scraper groove under the action of the directional vibration force.

[0013] It is further defined that the additive manufacturing powder conveying device also includes a powder dropping bucket, which is arranged outside the forming chamber and is connected to the vibrating conveying structure through a vibrating disk; the powder dropping bucket conveys powder to the vibrating conveying structure, and the powder conveyed into the vibrating conveying structure is stacked to form a repose angle.

[0014] It is further defined that the distance between the discharge port of the powder discharge barrel and the powder stacking surface of the vibration conveying structure is: 1mm-50mm.

[0015] It is further defined that a powder dropping seal is provided at the connection between the powder dropping bucket and the vibration conveying structure.

[0016] It is further defined that a forming chamber seal is provided at the connection between the vibrating conveying structure and the forming chamber.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0018] 1. The utility model provides an additive manufacturing powder conveying device, which conveys powder into a forming chamber through a vibrating conveying structure. The vibrating conveying structure can generate a directional vibration force and utilize the directional vibration force to convey the powder used for additive manufacturing. It can achieve uniform and quantitative supply of powder under the action of the directional vibration force, which changes the existing method of conveying powder used for additive manufacturing through transmission components. It solves the technical problem in the existing technology that powder can enter the interior of the transmission components, causing transmission abnormalities or transmission failures of the transmission components, and solves the technical problem that for powders with high viscosity, the transmission components cannot be evenly replenished, affecting the quality of printed parts or causing printing failures.

[0019] 2. In the present invention, the vibration conveying structure includes a vibration plate, a vibrator connected to the vibration plate, and a vibration damper connected to the vibration plate. The vibration plate conveys the powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber under the action of directional vibration force. The vibration damper can be used to adjust the vibration frequency of the vibrator acting on the vibration plate within the range of 20HZ-100HZ. On the one hand, it realizes uniform and quantitative supply of powder, and on the other hand, it prevents the vibrator from transmitting the vibration force to the side plate, bottom plate and scraper of the forming chamber during operation, thereby affecting the forming process of the printed part.

[0020] 3. In the present invention, by controlling the distance between the discharge port of the powder dropping bucket and the powder stacking surface of the vibrating conveying structure, the powder transported into the vibrating conveying structure can be stacked to form a repose angle, that is, the powder is always in a critical state of sliding down after being stacked, which is convenient for powder transportation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the powder conveying device for additive manufacturing of this utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the powder conveying device for additive manufacturing of this utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0023] Among them, 1-powder dropping barrel, 101-powder inlet, 2-powder dropping seal, 3-vibration plate, 4-vibrator, 5-vibration absorber, 6-vibration absorber bracket, 7-forming chamber side plate, 8-forming chamber bottom plate, 9-scraper, 901-scraper groove, 10-forming chamber seal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The present invention provides a powder conveying device for additive manufacturing, comprising a vibrating conveying structure and a forming chamber connected to the vibrating conveying structure. The vibrating conveying structure generates a directional vibration force to convey the powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber. Specifically, the discharge port of the vibrating conveying structure is connected to the feed port of the forming chamber. The vibrating conveying structure generates a directional vibration force, which is used to quantitatively convey the powder. Specifically, the directional vibration force is used to uniformly and quantitatively supply the powder into the forming chamber.

[0026] In the present utility model, the forming chamber is a sealed cavity structure formed by a forming chamber bottom plate 8, a forming chamber top plate and two oppositely arranged forming chamber side plates 7. The top ends of the two forming chamber side plates 7 are fixedly connected to the forming chamber top plate, and the bottom ends of the two forming chamber side plates 7 are fixedly connected to the forming chamber bottom plate 8; the vibration conveying structure is fixedly connected to one of the forming chamber side plates 7, and extends through one of the forming chamber side plates 7 into the forming chamber to achieve communication with the forming chamber.

[0027] In this utility model, the vibrating conveying structure includes a vibrating plate 3 and a vibrator 4 connected to the vibrating plate 3. The vibrating plate 3 is connected to the forming chamber. The vibrator 4 provides a directional vibration force to the vibrating plate 3. Under the action of the directional vibration force, the vibrating plate 3 conveys the powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber. Specifically, the vibrating plate 3 is fixedly connected to one of the forming chamber side panels 7 and extends through one of the forming chamber side panels 7 into the forming chamber to achieve communication with the forming chamber.

[0028] The vibration plate 3 in the present invention can also be replaced by a spiral conveying pipe, a conveying chute, etc., and any structure that can realize powder conveying under the action of vibration force can be used. The vibration plate 3 is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] In the present invention, the vibrator 4 is used as a power source, which can provide high-frequency reciprocating mechanical motion. Specifically, the vibrator 4 can be an electromagnetic vibrator, a hydraulic vibrator, or an electric vibrator. As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vibrator 4 is an electromagnetic vibrator.

[0030] In the present invention, the vibration conveying structure also includes a vibration damper 5 connected to the vibration plate 3 or the vibrator 4, and the vibration damper 5 provides a vibration damping force for the vibration plate 3. The vibration damper 5 can adjust the vibration frequency of the vibrator 4 acting on the vibration plate 3 to 20HZ-100HZ, on the one hand to achieve uniform and quantitative supply of powder, and on the other hand to prevent the vibrator 4 from transmitting the vibration force to the forming chamber side plate 7, the forming chamber bottom plate 8 and the scraper 9 during operation, thereby affecting the forming process of the parts. Among them, the vibration frequency of the vibration plate 3 can be 20HZ, 30HZ, 40HZ, 50HZ, 60HZ, 70HZ, 80HZ, 90HZ or 100HZ, etc., and any value between 20HZ and 100HZ is acceptable.

[0031] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vibration absorber 5 is connected to the vibrator 4 .

[0032] In the present invention, the shock absorber 5 can be a hydraulic shock absorber, a pneumatic shock absorber, or any other structure that can reduce vibration and adjust the vibration frequency of the vibrator 4 acting on the vibration plate 3 .

[0033] In the present invention, the vibration conveying structure further includes a vibration absorber bracket 6 connected to the vibration absorber 5 .

[0034] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 Preferably, the bottom of the shock absorber 5 is fixedly connected to the shock absorber bracket 6, and the top of the shock absorber bracket 6 is fixedly connected to the vibrator 4, and the vibrator 4 is used to support the shock absorber 5. Specifically, the shock absorber bracket 6 is a truncated cone support structure or a quadrangular prism support structure, and any structure that can achieve stable support for the vibrator 4 can be used.

[0035] The utility model provides an additive manufacturing powder conveying device further comprising a scraper 9 placed in a forming chamber, and a scraper groove 901 is provided on the scraper 9; when the scraper needs to be replenished with powder, the vibration conveying structure is connected to the scraper groove 901, and the powder used for additive manufacturing is conveyed into the scraper groove 901 under the action of the directional vibration force; when the scraper is performing a paving operation, the powder does not need to be replenished at this time, and the vibration conveying structure is not connected to the scraper groove 901. Specifically, the scraper groove 901 is arranged along the axial direction of the scraper 9, the discharge port of the vibration disk 3 is connected to the feed port of the scraper groove 901, and the scraper groove 901 is arranged opposite to the forming platform. The vibration disk 3 conveys the powder used for additive manufacturing into the scraper groove 901 under the action of the directional vibration force, and the powder falls along the scraper groove 901 and is spread flat on the forming platform.

[0036] The utility model provides an additive manufacturing powder conveying device further comprising a powder dropping bucket 1, which is arranged outside the forming chamber and is connected to the vibrating conveying structure through a vibrating disk; the powder dropping bucket 1 conveys powder to the vibrating conveying structure, and forms an angle of repose after the powder transported into the vibrating conveying structure is stacked, so that the powder transported into the vibrating conveying structure forms an angle of repose after the powder is stacked. Specifically, the discharge port of the powder dropping bucket 1 is connected to the feed port of the vibrating disk 3, and the powder dropping bucket 1 is used to store powder and provide powder to the vibrating disk 3. Preferably, a powder inlet 101 is provided at the top of the powder dropping bucket 1, and a discharge port is provided at the bottom of the powder dropping bucket 1, so that the powder falls under the action of gravity. The angle of repose can form a stable conveying of the powder, and when the vibrator 4 stops working, the powder remains stationary and stops conveying.

[0037] In the present invention, the powder stacking surface of the vibration plate 3 is larger than the width of the repose angle, and the width of the repose angle can be prevented from being too large by controlling the distance between the discharge port of the powder dropping barrel 1 and the powder stacking surface of the vibration conveying structure.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the dropping port of the powder dropping bucket 1 and the powder stacking surface of the vibrating conveying structure is: 1mm-50mm. Specifically, the distance between the dropping port of the powder dropping bucket 1 and the powder stacking surface of the vibrating conveying structure can be 1mm, 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm, 40mm, 45mm or 50mm, etc., any distance that can allow the dropping port of the powder dropping bucket 1 to fall into the powder stack in the vibrating conveying structure to form a repose angle.

[0039] In the present invention, a powder falling seal 2 is provided at the connection between the powder falling bucket 1 and the vibrating conveying structure. Specifically, one end of the powder falling seal 2 is fixedly connected to the powder falling bucket 1, and the other end of the powder falling seal 2 is fixedly connected to the vibrating disk 3.

[0040] In the present invention, a forming chamber seal 10 is provided at the connection between the vibration conveying structure and the forming chamber. Specifically, one end of the forming chamber seal 10 is fixedly connected to the vibration disk 3, and the other end of the forming chamber seal 10 is fixedly connected to one of the forming chamber side plates 7.

[0041] By providing the powder falling seal 2 and the forming chamber seal 10, the entire additive manufacturing powder conveying device forms a sealed structure, realizing the protection of the powder conveying environment atmosphere to prevent external gas from entering the additive manufacturing powder conveying device and powder overflow.

[0042] The utility model discloses a powder conveying device for additive manufacturing, and its working process is as follows: powder is added into a powder dropping bucket 1, and the powder is stored in the powder dropping bucket 1; when powder conveying is needed, the powder dropping bucket 1 is opened, and the powder dropping bucket 1 conveys the powder into a vibration plate 3, and the powder is stacked in the vibration plate 3 to form a repose angle; the vibrator 4 and the vibration damper 5 are started, and a directional vibration force is generated on the vibration plate 3; under the action of the directional vibration force, the vibration plate 3 uniformly and quantitatively conveys the powder into the scraper groove 901 of the scraper 9; when the powder conveying is stopped, the powder dropping bucket 1 is closed, and the vibrator 4 and the vibration damper 5 are also closed at the same time, and the powder remains stationary in the vibration plate 3.

[0043] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A powder conveying device for additive manufacturing, characterized in that: comprising a vibrating conveying structure and a forming chamber in communication with the vibrating conveying structure; The vibration conveying structure generates a directional vibration force to convey the powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber.

2. The additive manufacturing powder delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vibration conveying structure comprises a vibration plate (3) and a vibrator (4) connected to the vibration plate (3), wherein the vibration plate (3) is communicated with the forming chamber; The vibrator (4) provides a directional vibration force for the vibration plate (3); under the action of the directional vibration force, the vibration plate (3) transports powder used for additive manufacturing into the forming chamber.

3. The additive manufacturing powder delivery device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The vibration conveying structure further includes a vibration absorber (5) connected to the vibration plate (3) or the vibrator (4); The vibration absorber (5) provides a vibration-damping force for the vibration plate (3).

4. The additive manufacturing powder delivery device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vibration damper (5) adjusts the vibration frequency of the vibrator (4) acting on the vibration plate (3) to 20HZ-100HZ.

5. The additive manufacturing powder conveying device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The vibration conveying structure further includes a vibration damper bracket (6) connected to the vibration damper (5).

6. The additive manufacturing powder conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The additive manufacturing powder conveying device further comprises a scraper (9) placed in the forming chamber, wherein the scraper (9) is provided with a scraper groove (901); When the scraper (9) needs to be replenished with powder, the vibration conveying structure is connected to the scraper groove (901) and conveys the powder used for additive manufacturing into the scraper groove (901) under the action of the directional vibration force.

7. The additive manufacturing powder conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The additive manufacturing powder conveying device further comprises a powder dropping bucket (1), wherein the powder dropping bucket (1) is arranged outside the forming chamber and is connected to the vibration conveying structure via a vibration plate (3); The powder dropping barrel (1) conveys powder to the vibration conveying structure, and the powder conveyed into the vibration conveying structure is stacked to form a repose angle.

8. The additive manufacturing powder delivery device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The distance between the discharge port of the powder dropping barrel (1) and the powder stacking surface of the vibration conveying structure is 1 mm to 50 mm.

9. The additive manufacturing powder delivery device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A powder dropping seal (2) is provided at the connection between the powder dropping bucket (1) and the vibration conveying structure.

10. The additive manufacturing powder delivery device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A forming chamber seal (10) is provided at the connection between the vibration conveying structure and the forming chamber.

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