Continuous carbon fiber infiltration device for 3D printing

Abstract

The utility model relates to a continuous carbon fiber infiltration device for 3D printing. The continuous carbon fiber infiltration device comprises a resin extrusion mechanism and an impregnation melting cavity device, the resin extrusion mechanism is used for extruding resin into the impregnation melting cavity device in a molten state, a flow channel is formed in the impregnation melting cavity device, and continuous carbon fibers enter the flow channel from one end of the impregnation melting cavity device to be infiltrated and are conveyed out from the other end of the impregnation melting cavity device; the resin extrusion mechanism extrudes resin into the runner from the position close to the end where the continuous carbon fibers enter the runner to infiltrate the continuous carbon fibers. According to the continuous carbon fiber infiltration device for 3D printing, the screw extrudes a resin material to form pressure to permeate into fibers, the wettability and the associativity are improved, the contact area of the fibers and the resin is increased through the effect that the resin pressure is combined with the flow channel, and the wettability and the associativity are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of non-metallic additive manufacturing technology, and in particular relates to a continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing, as the main form of additive manufacturing technology, is known as a "manufacturing technology with industrial revolution significance" and is a rapidly developing emerging technology in the manufacturing field. Carbon fiber composite materials are important strategic materials for the development of national defense and the national economy, and are key materials that are technology-intensive. Combining continuous carbon fiber composite materials with 3D printing rapid prototyping technology provides a new manufacturing approach for the forming and manufacturing of carbon fiber material parts.

[0003] The current mainstream method of using continuous carbon fiber (CCF) as a reinforcement in thermoplastic resin matrix is ​​to prepare continuous long carbon fiber composite filaments by impregnating continuous carbon fiber composite materials with molten resin. The problem is that the carbon fiber precursor used for 3D printing is composed of a large number of fine filaments. The fine filaments are tightly arranged before impregnation, making it difficult for the resin material to penetrate into the filament bundle. Therefore, the wettability is poor and the bonding is low, resulting in poor performance of the molded composite carbon fiber material. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems existing in the background technology, this utility model provides a continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing, which solves the problem that the resin has difficulty penetrating into the fiber bundle and has poor wettability in the existing impregnation method.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention provides a continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing, including a resin extrusion mechanism and an impregnation melting cavity device.

[0007] The resin extrusion mechanism is used to extrude resin in a molten state into the impregnation molten cavity device. The impregnation molten cavity device has a flow channel formed inside. Continuous carbon fibers enter the flow channel from one end of the impregnation molten cavity device and are impregnated, and exit from the other end of the impregnation molten cavity device.

[0008] The resin extrusion mechanism injects resin into the flow channel from one end near the entrance of the continuous carbon fiber to impregnate the continuous carbon fiber.

[0009] Furthermore, the resin extrusion mechanism includes a drive component, a screw, a barrel, an extrusion nozzle, and a feed funnel, with the barrel sleeved outside the screw;

[0010] The driving component is connected to one end of the screw and is used to drive the screw to rotate;

[0011] The feed funnel is connected to one end of the material cylinder and is used to feed the resin material into the material cylinder. The screw rotates to transfer the resin material to the other end of the material cylinder.

[0012] The extrusion nozzle is fixedly connected to the other end of the barrel, and the resin is extruded into the impregnation and melting chamber device.

[0013] Furthermore, the driving component includes a drive motor and a coupling, and the output end of the drive motor is connected to the screw through the coupling.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a heating device, which is fixed to the outside of the barrel and is used to melt the resin inside the barrel.

[0015] Furthermore, the heating device includes multiple heating coils, which are spaced apart on the outside of the material cylinder.

[0016] Furthermore, the impregnation and melting chamber device includes an impregnation and melting chamber and a shaping nozzle. The flow channel is formed inside the impregnation and melting chamber. After the continuous fiber enters the flow channel from one end of the impregnation and melting chamber and is impregnated, it is wound and output through the shaping nozzle.

[0017] Furthermore, the flow channel is a wavy flow channel.

[0018] Furthermore, the impregnation cavity includes an upper impregnation module and a lower impregnation module, both of which have wavy grooves. The wavy grooves on the upper and lower impregnation modules together form the wavy flow channel.

[0019] Furthermore, heating blocks are also installed on the upper impregnation module and / or the lower impregnation module.

[0020] Furthermore, the extrusion nozzle squeezes resin into the impregnation chamber device in an inclined direction.

[0021] This utility model has the following advantages due to the adoption of the above technical solution:

[0022] In this invention, resin is extruded into the impregnation cavity device through a resin extrusion mechanism. The molten resin moves along the flow channel in the impregnation cavity under high pressure. Under the action of pressure, the molten resin penetrates deep into the interior of the continuous carbon fiber material, increasing the impregnation effect and bonding.

[0023] The resin extrusion mechanism specifically adopts screw extrusion, which can increase the extrusion pressure. The extruded resin material forms pressure that penetrates into the fiber, increasing wettability and bonding.

[0024] The lower impregnation module and the upper impregnation module form a narrow, wavy flow channel, which increases the internal pressure of the resin, making it easier for the resin to penetrate into the continuous carbon fiber material. The wavy flow channel also causes the continuous carbon fiber material to spread out into a cloth-like shape, increasing the contact area with the resin material and improving adhesion and wettability. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same parts. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing provided by this utility model;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a top view of the continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing provided by this utility model;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing provided by this utility model;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing provided by this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0031] like Figures 1-4 As shown, this utility model provides a continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing, including a resin extrusion mechanism 1 and an impregnation molten cavity device 2; the resin extrusion mechanism 1 is used to extrude resin in a molten state into the impregnation molten cavity device 2, the impregnation molten cavity device 2 has a flow channel 24 formed inside, the continuous carbon fiber 3 enters the flow channel 24 from one end of the impregnation molten cavity device 2 for impregnation, and after impregnation, exits from the other end of the impregnation molten cavity device 2; the resin extrusion mechanism 1 extrudes resin from a position near the end where the continuous carbon fiber 3 enters into the flow channel 24 to impregnate the continuous carbon fiber 3.

[0032] In this invention, resin is extruded into the impregnation molten cavity device 2 via the resin extrusion mechanism 1. The molten resin moves along the flow channel 24 within the impregnation molten cavity device 2 under high pressure. Under this pressure, the molten resin penetrates deeply into the continuous carbon fiber material 3, increasing the impregnation effect and bonding strength. Furthermore, the flow channel 24 in the impregnation molten cavity device 2 expands the continuous carbon fiber material 3, increasing the contact area with the molten resin and further improving the impregnation effect.

[0033] In a specific embodiment, the resin extrusion mechanism 1 includes a drive component, a screw 15, a barrel 12, an extrusion nozzle 16, and a feed funnel 13. The barrel 12 is sleeved outside the screw 15. The drive component is connected to one end of the screw 15 and is used to drive the screw 15 to rotate. The feed funnel 13 is connected to one end of the barrel and is used to feed resin material into the barrel 12. The rotation of the screw 15 transfers the resin material to the other end of the barrel 12. The extrusion nozzle 16 is fixedly connected to the other end of the barrel 12 and extrudes the resin into the impregnation melting chamber device 2.

[0034] The resin extrusion mechanism 1 in this invention uses a screw-driven extrusion method, which allows the molten resin to move along the flow channel under greater pressure. The resin material forms pressure and penetrates into the fiber interior. With the help of the flow channel 24, the continuous carbon fiber bundle 3 can be unfolded, increasing the contact area between the carbon fiber 3 and the molten resin. Under pressure, the molten resin deeply impregnates the continuous carbon fiber material, increasing the impregnation effect and bonding.

[0035] As a specific embodiment, the driving component includes a drive motor 11 and a coupling 17, and the output end of the drive motor 11 is connected to the screw 15 through the coupling 17.

[0036] To further improve the resin impregnation effect on carbon fibers, the continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing also includes a heating device 14, which is fixed to the outside of the barrel 12 and is used to melt the resin inside the barrel 12.

[0037] To facilitate control of the molten state of the resin material, the heating device includes multiple heating coils 14, which are spaced apart on the outer side of the barrel 12. By controlling the heating temperature of the multiple heating coils 14, the molten state of the resin material can be achieved to an ideal effect.

[0038] In this invention, the rotational motion of the screw 15, combined with the frictional motion between the barrel and the resin material, propels the molten resin forward, eventually reaching the extrusion nozzle 16. One end of the extrusion nozzle 16 is connected to the resin extrusion mechanism 1, and the other end is connected to the impregnation melting chamber device 2. The molten resin is pushed into the impregnation melting chamber device 2 in a dense state to impregnate the continuous carbon fiber 3 transmitted to the impregnation melting chamber device 2.

[0039] The impregnation and melting chamber device 2 includes an impregnation and melting chamber and a shaping nozzle 25. The flow channel 24 is formed in the impregnation and melting chamber. After the continuous fiber 3 enters the flow channel 24 from one end of the impregnation and melting chamber and is impregnated, it is wound into a carbon fiber material 3 with a circular cross-section through the shaping nozzle 25 and output.

[0040] To further improve the wetting effect, the preferred flow channel 24 is a wavy flow channel. The narrow wavy flow channel increases the internal pressure of the resin, making it easier for the resin to penetrate into the continuous carbon fiber material 3. The wavy flow channel 24 also causes the continuous carbon fiber material 3 to spread out into a cloth-like shape, increasing the contact area with the resin material and improving adhesion and wettability.

[0041] The impregnation cavity includes an upper impregnation module 22 and a lower impregnation module 21. Both the upper impregnation module 22 and the lower impregnation module 21 are provided with wavy grooves. The wavy grooves on the upper impregnation module 22 and the lower impregnation module 21 together form the wavy flow channel 24.

[0042] To improve the impregnation effect, heating blocks 23 are also installed on the upper impregnation module 22 and / or the lower impregnation module 21. The heating blocks 23 can heat the resin during the impregnation process, thereby improving the impregnation effect.

[0043] The extrusion direction of the extrusion nozzle 16 forms an acute angle with the feeding direction of the continuous carbon fiber 3.

[0044] This device uses a linear feeding method for continuous carbon fiber material 3 and an oblique feeding method for screw extruder device 1, which reduces the friction of continuous carbon fiber material 3, reduces the breakage of continuous carbon fiber material 3, increases the internal pressure of molten resin, and increases wettability.

[0045] The continuous carbon fiber impregnation device for 3D printing provided by this utility model uses a resin extrusion mechanism 1 to extrude resin into an impregnation molten cavity device 2. The molten resin moves along the flow channel under high pressure, penetrating deep into the continuous carbon fiber material 3 under pressure, increasing the impregnation effect and bonding strength. The resin extrusion mechanism 1 specifically employs a screw extrusion method, which increases the extrusion pressure, allowing the extruded resin material to penetrate into the fiber under pressure, increasing wettability and bonding strength. The lower impregnation module 21 and the upper impregnation module 22 form a narrow, wavy flow channel 24, increasing the internal pressure of the resin, thus making it easier for the resin to penetrate the continuous carbon fiber material. The wavy flow channel 24 also causes the continuous carbon fiber material 3 to spread out into a cloth-like shape, increasing the contact area with the resin material and enhancing bonding strength and wettability.

[0046] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing, characterized in that, Includes a resin extrusion mechanism and an impregnation melting chamber device; The resin extrusion mechanism is used to extrude resin in a molten state into the impregnation molten cavity device. The impregnation molten cavity device has a flow channel formed inside. Continuous carbon fibers enter the flow channel from one end of the impregnation molten cavity device and are impregnated, and exit from the other end of the impregnation molten cavity device. The resin extrusion mechanism injects resin into the flow channel from one end near the entrance of the continuous carbon fiber to impregnate the continuous carbon fiber.

2. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The resin extrusion mechanism includes a drive component, a screw, a barrel, an extrusion nozzle, and a feed funnel, with the barrel sleeved outside the screw; The driving component is connected to one end of the screw and is used to drive the screw to rotate; The feed funnel is connected to one end of the material cylinder and is used to feed the resin material into the material cylinder. The screw rotates to transfer the resin material to the other end of the material cylinder. The extrusion nozzle is fixedly connected to the other end of the barrel, and the resin is extruded into the impregnation and melting chamber device.

3. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driving component includes a drive motor and a coupling, and the output end of the drive motor is connected to the screw through the coupling.

4. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a heating device, which is fixed to the outside of the barrel and is used to melt the resin inside the barrel.

5. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heating device includes multiple heating coils, which are spaced apart on the outside of the material cylinder.

6. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The impregnation and melting chamber device includes an impregnation and melting chamber and a shaping nozzle. The flow channel is formed inside the impregnation and melting chamber. After the continuous carbon fiber enters the flow channel from one end of the impregnation and melting chamber and is impregnated, it is wound and output through the shaping nozzle.

7. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The flow channel is a wavy flow channel.

8. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 6, characterized in that, The impregnation cavity includes an upper impregnation module and a lower impregnation module. Both the upper and lower impregnation modules have wavy grooves, and the wavy grooves on the upper and lower impregnation modules together form the wavy flow channel.

9. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 8, characterized in that, A heating block is also installed on the upper immersion module and / or the lower immersion module.

10. The continuous carbon fiber impregnation apparatus for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The extrusion nozzle squeezes resin into the impregnation chamber device along an inclined direction.

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