Energy-saving printing chamber of 3D printer and 3D printer

Abstract

The utility model provides a 3D printer energy-saving printing chamber and a 3D printer. The 3D printer energy-saving printing chamber comprises a chamber body; the printing platform is horizontally arranged and is vertically arranged in the cavity body in a lifting manner; the heating device is arranged in the chamber body and is used for heating the space in the chamber body and keeping the temperature in the chamber body constant; and the thermal isolation device can be arranged below the printing platform, synchronously ascends and descends along with the printing platform and is used for movably separating the space in the cavity body from bottom to top, and the lower area, away from the printing platform, in the cavity body and other areas are divided into a temporary non-heating area and a heating area which are relatively independent. By optimizing the space layout in the printing chamber of the 3D printer, the energy consumption required in the temperature control process of the printing chamber of the 3D printer is effectively reduced, and energy conservation and efficiency improvement in the 3D printing process are promoted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of 3D printer manufacturing technology, and further to an energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer and a 3D printer. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, in order to accelerate the production process and reduce costs, 3D printing, a technology that constructs objects by stacking layers of adhesive materials such as plastics based on digital model files, has been increasingly applied to various stages of production and manufacturing.

[0003] As is well known, the printing platform of a 3D printer is located in a sealed printing chamber. During the printing process, it is essential to maintain a constant temperature within the printing chamber to improve print quality. Currently, most 3D printers on the market utilize heating plates on the printing platform to raise and maintain a constant temperature within the printing chamber. However, because the printing platform needs to change height during 3D printing, the printing chamber has a certain depth, resulting in a relatively slow heating rate using heating plates. Alternatively, the printing chamber could be designed as a constant-temperature chamber. However, regardless of the temperature control method, the energy consumption required to maintain a constant printing chamber temperature increases with the size of the printed model. Therefore, researching how to optimize the spatial layout within the 3D printer's printing chamber to reduce the energy consumption required to maintain the printing chamber temperature and save on 3D printing costs will have a profound impact on the development of the 3D printing industry. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer and a 3D printer. By optimizing the spatial layout of the printing chamber, the energy consumption required for the temperature control process of the 3D printer is effectively reduced, thereby promoting energy saving and efficiency improvement in the 3D printing process.

[0005] The technical solution provided in this application is as follows:

[0006] On the one hand, this application provides an energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer, comprising:

[0007] chamber body;

[0008] The printing platform is horizontally positioned and vertically raised and lowered within the chamber body;

[0009] A heating device is provided inside the chamber body for heating the space inside the chamber body and maintaining its internal temperature at a constant level;

[0010] A thermal isolation device is detachably installed below the printing platform and rises and falls synchronously with the printing platform. It is used to dynamically separate the space inside the chamber body from bottom to top, dividing the lower area of ​​the chamber body away from the printing platform from the rest of the area into a relatively independent non-heated area and a heated area.

[0011] The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer provided in this application addresses the issue that during 3D printing, the printing platform needs to change height from top to bottom. A thermal isolation device dynamically separates the space within the chamber. Initially, the printing platform is located above the chamber, near the nozzle. The thermal isolation device separates the space below the printing platform from the space around the platform, ensuring that only a small area around the platform is heated, while the majority of the area below is temporarily unheated. After the heating device is activated, initially only the heating area above the chamber needs to be heated, facilitating rapid temperature rise and improving printing efficiency. As printing progresses, the printing platform gradually descends, causing the thermal isolation device to move downwards, gradually increasing the space occupied by the heating area and simultaneously decreasing the space occupied by the unheated area. This eliminates the need to heat the entire space within the chamber, effectively reducing energy consumption for temperature control and promoting energy conservation.

[0012] At the same time, when printing models with a low height, it is not necessary to heat the entire internal space of the chamber body, which effectively reduces the heat power required to maintain the temperature inside the chamber body, thus contributing to energy saving and efficiency improvement.

[0013] In some embodiments, the thermal insulation device includes a support plate and a telescopic enclosure;

[0014] The support plate is detachably mounted below the printing platform;

[0015] The upper end of the telescopic enclosure is fixedly connected to the support plate, and the lower end of the telescopic enclosure is fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the chamber body; the temporarily unheated zone is formed in the area between the support plate, the telescopic enclosure, and the bottom wall of the chamber body.

[0016] The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer provided in this application forms a temporarily unheated zone by means of a support plate, telescopic enclosure components, and the bottom wall of the chamber body. The support plate is positioned below the printing platform. In practical applications, the support plate rises and falls vertically with the printing platform, causing the telescopic enclosure components to extend or shorten vertically, thereby increasing or decreasing the enclosure space of the temporarily unheated zone and thus achieving movable separation of the internal space of the chamber body. The thermal isolation device has a simple structure and is easy to install, which helps to reduce the difficulty of setting up the energy-saving printing chamber for the 3D printer and save enterprise costs.

[0017] In some embodiments, the sidewalls of the thermal insulation device are spaced apart from the inner wall of the chamber body.

[0018] The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer provided in this application, which sets the side wall of the thermal isolation device and the inner wall of the chamber body apart, helps to reduce the occurrence of friction damage between the thermal isolation device and the inner wall of the chamber body during the lifting and lowering of the printing platform, thereby helping to extend the service life of the thermal isolation device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the telescopic enclosure is configured as a thermally insulated telescopic enclosure.

[0020] The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer provided in this application uses heat-insulating materials to set up telescopic enclosures, which helps to ensure the heat insulation stability of the thermal isolation device, thereby ensuring the stability of the energy-saving effect of the energy-saving printing chamber for the 3D printer.

[0021] In some embodiments, the support plate is spaced apart from the printing platform via an adapter.

[0022] The energy-saving printing chamber of the 3D printer provided in this application is configured with a support plate and a printing platform spaced apart, so that there is a heating airflow channel between the printing platform and the support plate, which helps to maintain the temperature uniformity around the printing platform and thus improves the printing effect.

[0023] In some embodiments, the telescopic enclosure includes a accordion cover.

[0024] The energy-saving printing chamber for 3D printers provided in this application features a bellows cover that is heat-resistant, has a long stroke, is easy to operate, is noiseless, and has good sealing properties. The bellows cover is used as a telescopic enclosure, and the materials for laying the chamber are readily available. This makes the energy-saving printing chamber easy to set up and operate, significantly improving the ease of setting up the energy-saving printing chamber, ensuring its energy-saving effect, and extending its service life.

[0025] In some embodiments, the heating device includes a heating plate disposed on the printing platform.

[0026] In some embodiments, the support plate is configured as a heat insulation plate.

[0027] The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer provided in this application uses heat-insulating materials to set the support plate, which helps to reduce the probability that the high temperature of the heating plate on the heating platform will be transferred to the telescopic enclosure through the support plate, thereby reducing the occurrence of heat damage to the telescopic enclosure.

[0028] In some embodiments, the heating device includes a hot air duct with its air inlet located in the area near the nozzle within the chamber body, and the other end of the hot air duct connected to an external gas heating device.

[0029] On the other hand, this application also provides a 3D printer, including the energy-saving printing chamber of the 3D printer described in any of the above embodiments.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the energy-saving printing chamber and 3D printer provided in this application have at least one of the following advantages:

[0031] 1. In this application, a thermal isolation device is used to divide the area below the chamber body away from the printing platform and the area around the printing platform into relatively independent unheated area and heated area. This optimizes the spatial layout inside the 3D printer's printing chamber, so that the entire inner cavity of the chamber body does not need to be heated during initial printing or when the height of the printed model is low. This accelerates the heating rate of the printing area inside the chamber body, allowing it to quickly reach the printing conditions, thereby effectively improving the efficiency of 3D printing operations and achieving energy saving and efficiency improvement.

[0032] 2. In this application, when the heating device is placed on the printing platform, the support plate is also set as a heat insulation plate, and the support plate and the printing platform are set at a distance. This not only enhances the heat insulation effect of the heat insulation device, but also effectively maintains the uniformity of the temperature around the printing platform, thereby effectively ensuring the model printing effect and improving the performance of the corresponding 3D printer.

[0033] 3. In this application, a temporary non-heating zone is formed by setting up a bellows cover, a support plate, and the bottom wall of the chamber body, which effectively improves the convenience of setting up the energy-saving printing chamber of the 3D printer and promotes energy saving and cost reduction for enterprises. Attached Figure Description

[0034] The preferred embodiments will now be described in a clear and easy-to-understand manner, with reference to the accompanying drawings, to further explain the above-mentioned characteristics, technical features, advantages, and implementation methods of this solution.

[0035] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a plan view of the interior layout of the energy-saving printing chamber of the 3D printer, which is the main embodiment of this application.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0037] 1. Chamber body; 11. Temporarily unheated zone; 12. Heated zone; 2. Printing platform; 3. Thermal isolation device; 31. Support plate; 32. Telescopic enclosure; 4. Adapter; 5. Nozzle. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the specific implementation methods of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings and other implementation methods can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0039] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to this application, and they do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of the components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one."

[0040] In recent years, 3D printing, as a rapid prototyping technology, has been widely applied in various stages of manufacturing to accelerate production and reduce costs. Currently, most 3D printers on the market utilize the heating plate of the printing platform or directly set up a constant-temperature chamber to maintain a constant temperature within the printing chamber. However, the inventors believe that because the printing platform needs to move vertically during 3D printing, the printing chamber has a certain depth. As the size of the printed model increases, the energy consumption required to maintain a constant temperature in the printing chamber also increases, which is detrimental to energy conservation and efficiency for enterprises and requires improvement.

[0041] For this, please refer to the accompanying drawings in the instruction manual. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, an energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer is provided. By optimizing the spatial layout inside the 3D printer's printing chamber, the energy consumption required for the temperature control process of the 3D printer's printing process is effectively reduced, promoting energy saving and efficiency improvement in the 3D printing process. Specifically, it includes a chamber body 1, a printing platform 2 disposed within the chamber body 1, a heating device, and a thermal isolation device 3. The printing platform 2 is horizontally arranged and vertically raised and lowered within the chamber body 1 to receive the printing model in conjunction with the printer nozzle 5 according to the printing process. The heating device is disposed within the chamber body 1 to heat the space inside the chamber body 1 and maintain a constant internal temperature to improve the printing quality of the printed model. The thermal isolation device 3 is disposed below the printing platform 2 and rises and falls synchronously with the printing platform 2. It is used to dynamically separate the space inside the chamber body 1 from bottom to top, dividing the lower area of ​​the chamber body 1 away from the printing platform 2 into a relatively independent unheated area 1211 and a heated area 12.

[0042] In practical applications, during initial printing, the printing platform 2 is located above the chamber body 1, near the printhead 5. The thermal isolation device 3 separates the space below the chamber body 1, away from the printing platform 2, from the space around the printing platform 2. This keeps the heating zone 12 confined to a small area around the printing platform 2. Once the heating device is activated, only the heating zone 12 above the chamber body 1 needs to be heated, while most of the area below the printing platform 2 remains unheated. This helps the printing area heat up quickly to meet printing conditions, thereby improving printing efficiency. As printing continues, the printing platform 2 gradually descends, causing the thermal isolation device 3 to move downwards according to the actual printing progress, gradually increasing the size of the heating zone 12. This allows for heating and maintaining a stable temperature within the chamber body 1 as needed, without requiring heating the entire space within the chamber body 1, effectively reducing the energy consumption required for temperature control within the chamber body 1.

[0043] Furthermore, when the chamber space is large and the printed model is low, the use of a thermal isolation device 3 to separate the space below the chamber body 1 away from the printing platform 2 from the space around the printing platform 2 can significantly reduce the heat dissipation in the chamber body 1, thus promoting energy saving and efficiency improvement for enterprises.

[0044] In one embodiment, specifically based on the above embodiments. (Refer to...) Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment of the present application, the heating device is configured as a heating plate, which is mounted on the printing platform 2. Alternatively, the corresponding chamber body 1 can be directly configured as a constant-temperature chamber. For example, the heating device can be a hot air duct, with the air inlet end extending into the area near the nozzle 5 within the chamber body 1. That is, the air inlet end of the hot air duct is always in the heating zone 12, and the other end of the hot air duct is connected to an external gas heating device to continuously supply hot air to the chamber body 1. Of course, the heating device can also be configured as a chamber heater plus a fan, or as a heating wire or other forms; the embodiments of this application do not impose specific limitations on this. In this embodiment of the present application, only a heating plate mounted on the printing platform 2 is used as an example for specific explanation.

[0045] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment of the present application, the thermal isolation device 3 includes a support plate 31 and a telescopic enclosure 32; wherein, the support plate 31 is horizontally arranged, the upper end of the telescopic enclosure 32 is fixedly installed below the support plate 31, and the lower end of the telescopic enclosure 32 is fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the chamber body 1, so that the temporarily unheated zone 1211 is formed between the support plate 31, the telescopic enclosure 32 and the bottom wall of the chamber body 1.

[0046] Furthermore, since the heating device is located on the printing platform 2, in this embodiment of the application, the support plate 31 and the printing platform 2 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. On the one hand, this further enhances the heat insulation effect of the thermal isolation device 3. On the other hand, it also facilitates the formation of a channel for the flow of heating air between the support plate 31 and the printing platform 2, so as to maintain the uniformity of the temperature around the printing platform 2, thereby further improving the model printing effect.

[0047] In this embodiment of the application, the support plate 31 and the printing platform 2 are detachably connected via an adapter 4. Specifically, the adapter 4 includes connecting posts and connecting nuts. The connecting posts are vertically arranged and include multiple posts, which are spaced parallel to each other. The upper ends of each connecting post are threaded onto the lower end of the printing platform 2 for detachable connection. Each connecting post has an external thread at its lower end. During assembly, the threaded end of each connecting post vertically penetrates the corresponding position of the support plate 31 from top to bottom. The connecting nuts correspond one-to-one with the connecting posts, and after the corresponding connecting post penetrates the corresponding position on the support plate 31, they are threaded onto the connecting post located below the support plate 31, thus achieving a detachable connection of the support plate 31 below the printing platform 2. Of course, in the embodiments of this application, the adapter 4 can also be provided with other forms such as a locking mechanism, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0048] Meanwhile, in this embodiment of the present application, in order to ensure the isolation effect of the thermal isolation device 3 on the heating zone 12 and the temporarily unheated zone 1211, the thermal isolation device 3 is made of heat insulation material, that is, the support plate 31 is set as a heat insulation plate, such as heat insulation color steel sandwich panel, silicate board, rigid extruded board (XPS), etc.; of course, the telescopic enclosure 32 is also set as a heat insulation type telescopic enclosure 32.

[0049] In this embodiment of the application, the telescopic enclosure 32 is configured as a bellows cover. As is well known, bellows covers are characterized by high temperature resistance, long stroke, and easy operation, and operate without noise with good sealing. By directly using the bellows cover as the telescopic enclosure 32, and sealing and fixing its two ends to the lower side of the support plate 31 and the bottom surface of the chamber body 1 respectively, the thermal isolation device 3 can be quickly formed, effectively improving the ease of deployment of the energy-saving printing chamber of the 3D printer. Furthermore, for existing printer printing chambers, the telescopic enclosure 32 of this embodiment can be directly added below it, without the need for additional molds for other components, effectively reducing enterprise production costs.

[0050] In addition, in order to reduce the resistance of the lifting platform movement and extend the service life of the thermal isolation device 3, in this embodiment of the present application, the side wall of the thermal isolation device 3 is also arranged at a distance from the inner wall of the chamber body 1, that is, the side wall of the support plate 31 and the bellows cover near the inner wall of the chamber body 1 are arranged at a distance from the inner wall of the chamber body 1.

[0051] Of course, the telescopic enclosure 32 can also be configured in other structural forms, for example, refer to Figure 2 Setting the telescopic enclosure 32 as an insertable telescopic structure also falls within the protection scope of this application's technical solution.

[0052] The following example, using the application of the energy-saving printing chamber of this 3D printer in a specific 3D printing scenario, further illustrates the technical solution of this application. In one embodiment, a 3D printer is provided, including the energy-saving printing chamber of the 3D printer described in any of the above embodiments, and also including a nozzle 5. Specifically, the nozzle 5 is also disposed within the chamber body 1 and located above the printing platform 2. During actual printing, according to the design program, the nozzle 5 slides along the horizontal coordinate plane, i.e., the horizontal plane, above the printing platform 2, and performs corresponding printing operations in conjunction with the vertical lifting and lowering movement of the printing platform 2.

[0053] The implementation principle of this application embodiment is as follows: During initial printing or when the height of the printed model is low, the printing platform 2 is located at the top of the chamber body 1, near the nozzle 5, with the bellows cover extended to its maximum size. This results in most of the space below the printing platform 2 within the chamber body 1 being the temporarily unheated zone 1211, while the heated zone 12 is maintained only in a small area around the printing platform 2. After the heating device is activated, only the small area above the chamber body 1 needs to be heated, thereby rapidly raising the temperature of the printing area within the chamber body 1 to meet printing conditions, thus effectively improving the efficiency of 3D printing operations. As the printing operation continues, the printing platform 2 gradually descends according to the actual printing progress, causing the bellows cover to compress downwards, gradually reducing the space of the temporarily unheated zone 1211, while simultaneously increasing the size of the heated zone 12. This allows the heating device to heat the space of the chamber body 1 as needed and maintain its internal temperature at a constant value. In this way, the temperature of the space within the chamber body 1 can be raised and maintained as needed without heating the entire space within the chamber body 1, effectively reducing the energy consumption required for the temperature control process within the chamber body 1 and promoting energy conservation and efficiency.

[0054] It should be noted that the above embodiments can be freely combined as needed. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be pointed out that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer, characterized in that, include: chamber body; The printing platform is horizontally positioned and vertically raised and lowered within the chamber body; A heating device is provided inside the chamber body for heating the space inside the chamber body and maintaining its internal temperature at a constant level; A thermal isolation device is detachably installed below the printing platform and rises and falls synchronously with the printing platform. It is used to dynamically separate the space inside the chamber body from bottom to top, dividing the lower area of ​​the chamber body away from the printing platform from the rest of the area into a relatively independent non-heated area and a heated area. The thermal insulation device includes a support plate and a telescopic enclosure; The support plate is detachably mounted below the printing platform; The upper end of the telescopic enclosure is fixedly connected to the support plate, and the lower end of the telescopic enclosure is fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the chamber body; the temporarily unheated zone is formed in the area between the support plate, the telescopic enclosure, and the bottom wall of the chamber body; The support plate is spaced apart from the printing platform via an adapter.

2. The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sidewall of the thermal insulation device is spaced apart from the inner wall of the chamber body.

3. The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The telescopic enclosure is configured as a heat-insulated telescopic enclosure.

4. The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer according to claim 3, characterized in that, The telescopic enclosure includes a bellows cover.

5. The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating device includes a heating plate, which is disposed on the printing platform.

6. An energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The support plate is configured as a heat insulation plate.

7. The energy-saving printing chamber for a 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating device includes a hot air duct, the air inlet of which is located in the area near the nozzle within the chamber body, and the other end of which is connected to an external gas heating device.

8. A 3D printer, characterized in that, The 3D printer energy-saving printing chamber, comprising any one of claims 1-7, further includes: The nozzle is located within the chamber body and is slidably positioned above the printing platform along the horizontal plane.

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