Main cabin of SLM printer
By using low-modulus connectors and bolt assemblies in the SLM printer, the problem of optical device drift is solved, the printing accuracy and stability are improved, and the calibration time is reduced.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422110599.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-12
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-08-28
AI Technical Summary
In existing SLM 3D printers, optical components are prone to drift, resulting in reduced printing accuracy and drift in splicing accuracy, leading to printing failure.
Low-modulus connectors are used to connect the columns and the galvanometer mounting top plate, and low-modulus bolt assemblies are used to limit the sealed cabin. Low-modulus connectors and bolt assemblies are used to accommodate structural deformation and prevent changes in the position of the optical device.
It effectively prevents the positional offset of optical devices, reduces the decline in printing accuracy and the time for stitching and calibration, and improves the stability and accuracy of SLM metal 3D printing.
Smart Images
Figure CN223326954U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of printers, and in particular relates to a main cabin of an SLM printer. Background Art
[0002] SLM 3D printing is a laser processing technology that requires very high laser precision. The distance from the top galvanometer to the powder-laying surface is determined by the focal length of the laser focus. For example, the focal length of the most commonly used field lens is approximately 680mm. Therefore, the height of the entire main chamber—from the galvanometer mounting plate to the chamber floor—is typically above 550mm. With such a long optical path, even the slightest movement of the top field lens, galvanometer, or any other optical component will cause the scanning field below to shift, resulting in reduced printing accuracy and drift in the stitching accuracy of multiple beams, which can cause printing failures. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a main cabin of an SLM printer to solve the problem that optical devices are prone to drift in the prior art.
[0004] To this end, the present invention provides a main cabin of an SLM printer, comprising:
[0005] A main panel, a column, a connecting piece, and a galvanometer mounting top plate. The column is fixedly mounted on the main panel. The column is connected to the galvanometer mounting top plate via a connecting piece. The modulus of the connecting piece is lower than the modulus of the column, and the modulus of the connecting piece is lower than the modulus of the galvanometer mounting top plate.
[0006] Preferably, the system further comprises a sealed cabin, with a compression plate disposed below the sidewalls of the sealed cabin, secured to the main panel via a bolt assembly. The sealed cabin and the main panel are not rigidly connected; to prevent stress from deformation of the sealed cabin from causing deformation of the overall structure, low-modulus fasteners and compression devices are used to accommodate minor deformation of the sealed cabin.
[0007] Preferably, the bolt assembly includes a bolt head, a bolt rod and a clamping block, the bolt rod is connected to the main panel by a thread, the bolt head is arranged on the top of the bolt rod, the clamping block is sleeved on the bolt rod, and the clamping block fixes and clamps the clamping plate.
[0008] Preferably, the galvanometer mounting top plate presses the top of the sealed cabin tightly with a sealing gasket. In order to complete the sealing function of the sealed cabin, a sealing gasket is used between the sealed cabin and the galvanometer mounting top plate to achieve sealing, and the galvanometer mounting top plate will press the sealing gasket against the top of the sealed cabin;
[0009] Preferably, a Y-axis mounting bracket is provided on the main panel.
[0010] Preferably, the Y-axis mounting bracket is pressed against the main panel using a connector having a lower modulus than the Y-axis mounting bracket. When the Y-axis mounting bracket undergoes thermal deformation or stress release deformation, the low-modulus connector accommodates the deformation, preventing the Y-axis mounting bracket from pulling on the entire structure and causing structural deformation.
[0011] Preferably, the modulus of the main panel is 150GPa-250GPa; the modulus of the column is 150GPa-250GPa; the modulus of the galvanometer mounting top plate is 150GPa-250GPa; and the modulus of the Y-axis mounting frame is 150GPa-250GPa.
[0012] Preferably, the modulus of the connector ranges from 0.1 GPa to 120 GPa.
[0013] Further preferably, the modulus material of the connector is plastic, non-metallic composite material, or low-modulus metal, wherein the modulus range of plastic is 0.1 GPa-10 GPa, the modulus range of non-metallic composite material is 10 GPa-50 GPa, and the modulus range of low-modulus metal is 50 GPa-120 GPa.
[0014] Further preferably, the modulus of the connecting member is lower than the modulus of the main panel, the column, the galvanometer mounting top plate, and the Y-axis mounting frame, and the difference in multiples is at least 2 times.
[0015] Preferably, a field mirror mounting opening is provided on the top of the galvanometer mounting top plate.
[0016] Preferably, a molding chamber interface is provided on the main panel, and the molding chamber interface is provided below the galvanometer mounting top plate.
[0017] Beneficial effects:
[0018] 1. This utility model provides an SLM printer main cabin, in which the columns and the galvanometer mounting plate are connected by a connector. The columns and the galvanometer mounting plate have a high modulus, while the connector has a low structural strength and a small modulus. Even if the columns deform, the deformation is accommodated by the connector, preventing the galvanometer mounting plate from deforming. This prevents the relative positions of the optical components fixed to the galvanometer mounting plate from changing, effectively preventing optical drift and reducing the interval time for laser stitching calibration in SLM metal 3D printing.
[0019] 2. A low-modulus connector is used between the Y-axis mounting bracket and the main panel, pressing it firmly against the panel. When the Y-axis mounting bracket experiences thermal and stress-relieving deformation, the low-modulus connector accommodates this deformation, preventing the mounting bracket from pulling on the entire structure and causing structural deformation. This effectively prevents deformation of the Y-axis and scraper itself, which could lead to unstable powder application.
[0020] 3. In the present invention, the sealed cabin is limited in the vertical direction by a low-modulus bolt assembly, so that the bolt assembly can accommodate the stress release deformation or thermal deformation of the sealed cabin, and at the same time cause a slight micron-level sliding in the horizontal direction on the main panel, thereby ensuring the sealing stability of the sealed cabin and reducing the stress it is subjected to, ensuring that the main panel, columns, and galvanometer mounting top plate are not pulled and deformed, and ensuring the accuracy of the position of the optical device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.
[0022] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of Example 1 of a main cabin of an SLM printer in the present utility model;
[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the column and the galvanometer mounting top plate of Example 1 of the main cabin of an SLM printer in the present utility model;
[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the Y-axis fixing frame of Example 1 of the main cabin of an SLM printer in the present utility model;
[0025] Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of part B of Example 1 of the main cabin of an SLM printer in the present invention;
[0026] In the figure: 1-main panel, 11-molding chamber interface, 2-column, 3-connecting piece, 4-galvanometer mounting top plate, 41-field mirror mounting port, 5-sealed cabin, 51-pressing plate, 6-bolt assembly, 61-bolt head, 62-bolt rod, 63-pressing block, 7-Y-axis fixing bracket, 8-air inlet, 9-air outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention and the included examples will facilitate understanding of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In the event of any conflict, the definitions in this specification will prevail.
[0028] Example 1:
[0029] like Figure 1-4 The main cabin of an SLM printer shown includes:
[0030] Main panel 1, columns 2, connectors 3, and galvanometer mounting top plate 4. Columns 2 are fixedly mounted on main panel 1 and connected to galvanometer mounting top plate 4 via connectors 3. The modulus of connectors 3 is lower than that of columns 2, which in turn is lower than that of galvanometer mounting top plate 4. Four columns 2 are provided to support galvanometer mounting top plate 4. An air inlet 8 is provided below one end of galvanometer mounting top plate 4, and an air outlet 9 is provided below the other end of galvanometer mounting top plate 4.
[0031] The main panel 1 is 50 mm thick, with a yield strength of 400 MPa and a modulus of 200 GPa. The columns 2 have a yield strength of 400 MPa and a modulus of 200 GPa. The modulus of the galvanometer mounting plate 4 is 200 GPa. The modulus of the connector 3 is 2 GPa.
[0032] Assume that the deformation of column 2 upon temperature or stress release is b and its modulus is E.
[0033] When a rigid connection is adopted between the column 2 and the top plate, the pulling force generated by the column 2 is F1 = E*b*S, where S is the cross-sectional area of the column 2;
[0034] When a low-modulus connector 3 is used between the column 2 and the top plate, the pulling force generated by the column 2 is: F2 = e*b*s, where e is the modulus of the connector 3 and s is the cross-sectional area of the connector 3.
[0035] The ratio of the two: F1 / F2 = (E*b*S) / (e*b*s) = (E / e)*(S / s)
[0036] In this embodiment, the commonly used steel E = 200GPa, the plastic bolt e = 2GPa, S / s = 10, and the calculated F1 / F2 = 1000. That is, compared with the original rigid connection, the connection through the low-modulus connector 3 reduces the pulling force on the galvanometer mounting top plate 4 by 1000 times while the deformation amount remains unchanged, effectively preventing the deformation of the galvanometer mounting top plate.
[0037] A field mirror mounting opening 41 is provided on the top of the galvanometer mirror mounting top plate 4 .
[0038] A molding chamber interface 11 is provided on the main panel 1 , and the molding chamber interface 11 is provided below the galvanometer mounting top plate 4 .
[0039] The sealed cabin 5 also includes a compression plate 51 disposed below the sidewall of the sealed cabin 5. The compression plate 51 is fixed to the main panel 1 via a bolt assembly 6. The galvanometer mounting top plate 4 compresses the top of the sealed cabin 5 via a sealing gasket. The sealed cabin 5 is welded or riveted to ensure that the cabin 5 is sealed. The bolt assembly 6 includes a bolt head 61, a bolt rod 62, and a compression block 63. The bolt rod 62 is threadedly connected to the main panel 1. The bolt head 61 is disposed on the top of the bolt rod 62. The compression block 63 is sleeved on the bolt rod 62, and the compression block 63 fixes and compresses the compression plate 51.
[0040] A Y-axis mounting bracket 7 is mounted on the main panel 1. It secures the Y-axis track and scraper blade. The Y-axis mounting bracket 7 is directly fixed to the main panel 1 via a low-modulus bolt assembly 6, separate from the sealed cabin 5. When the Y-axis mounting bracket 7 or the sealed cabin 5 deforms, the low-modulus bolt assembly 6 accommodates the deformation without affecting the Y-axis scraper's motion accuracy.
Claims
1. A main cabin of an SLM printer, characterized in that: include: A main panel, a column, a connecting piece, and a galvanometer mounting top plate. The column is fixedly mounted on the main panel. The column is connected to the galvanometer mounting top plate via a connecting piece. The modulus of the connecting piece is lower than the modulus of the column, and the modulus of the connecting piece is lower than the modulus of the galvanometer mounting top plate.
2. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a sealed cabin, a compression plate is provided below the side wall of the sealed cabin, and the compression plate is fixedly mounted on the main panel by a bolt assembly.
3. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bolt assembly includes a bolt head, a bolt rod and a clamping block. The bolt rod is connected to the main panel through a thread. The bolt head is arranged on the top of the bolt rod. The clamping block is sleeved on the bolt rod. The clamping block fixes and clamps the clamping plate.
4. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 2, characterized in that: The galvanometer mounting top plate presses the top of the sealed cabin tightly through a sealing gasket.
5. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that: A Y-axis mounting bracket is provided on the main panel.
6. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 5, characterized in that: The Y-axis mounting frame is pressed against the main panel by a connecting piece between the Y-axis mounting frame and the main panel, and the modulus of the connecting piece is lower than that of the Y-axis mounting frame.
7. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 5, characterized in that: The modulus of the main panel is 150GPa-250GPa; the modulus of the column is 150GPa-250GPa; the modulus of the galvanometer mounting top plate is 150GPa-250GPa; and the modulus of the Y-axis mounting frame is 150GPa-250GPa.
8. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that: The modulus of the connector ranges from 0.1 GPa to 120 GPa.
9. The SLM printer main cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the galvanometer mounting top plate is provided with a field mirror mounting opening.
10. The main cabin of an SLM printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A molding chamber interface is provided on the main panel, and the molding chamber interface is provided below the galvanometer mounting top plate.