Recycled powder tank for avoiding mutual pollution of powder and 3D printer
By designing a recycling tank to prevent cross-contamination of powders, the problem of residual powder entering different cylinders during scraping was solved, resulting in improved quality of metal products and a cleaner structure for the powder tank.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423266347.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-12
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-27
AI Technical Summary
During the 3D metal printing process, when the scraper is leveling the metal powder, excess powder can easily be scraped into different cylinders, causing cross-contamination of the powder and affecting product quality.
Design a powder recycling tank to avoid cross-contamination of powders, including a powder tank body, a matrix channel, a residual powder tank, a residual powder collection pipe and a powder suction assembly. The residual powder is prevented from entering other cylinders by a powder guide and a Tesla valve, and the residual powder is sucked out of the powder tank by the powder suction assembly.
It effectively prevents cross-contamination of powders, improves the quality of metal products, ensures continuous powder spreading and residual powder discharge, and has a centralized and clean powder tank structure.
Smart Images
Figure CN223656031U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the technical field of metal 3D printers, and in particular to a powder recycling tank and 3D printer for preventing powder cross-contamination. Background Technology
[0002] A 3D metal printer is a scientific instrument used in basic sciences of physics, engineering and technology, and mechanical engineering. It utilizes laser melting technology to melt metal powder and form functional solid parts. It can be used to print high-throughput metal materials and is a fully digital rapid prototyping manufacturing process. It directly produces high-density metal parts based on the interface data of each layer in 3D CAD, with molten metal layer thicknesses ranging from 20 micrometers to 100 micrometers. In rapid metal prototyping, a 3D printer first lays metal powder in a forming matrix cylinder and uses a scraper to distribute the powder evenly. Then, each metal layer is melted separately in a strictly controlled air environment to obtain the final solid part.
[0003] In related technologies, a matrix cylinder includes multiple cylinders and a printer plate that is lifted and installed within each cylinder. The space enclosed between the printer plate and the top of the cylinder is called the printing cavity. When using a matrix cylinder, the printer plate rises to a position near the top of the cylinder, and then metal powder is laid into the printing cavity. A scraper is used to move from one end of the top surface of the matrix cylinder to the other, leveling the surface layer of metal powder in the printing cavity. The printer plate then descends, increasing the printing cavity space, allowing the next layer of powder to be laid into the vacated printing cavity. The scraper is again used to level the surface layer of metal powder, and this process of layering and melting is repeated to ultimately form a solid metal part. However, different types of metal powder may be laid in different cylinders. When the scraper levels the metal powder, excess powder can easily be scraped into different cylinders, causing cross-contamination and affecting the quality of the metal product. Utility Model Content
[0004] In order to improve the problem of residual powder being easily scraped into different cylinders when the scraper is leveling metal powder, resulting in cross-contamination of powder, and to improve the quality of metal products, this application provides a powder recycling tank and a 3D printer for avoiding cross-contamination of powder.
[0005] Firstly, this application provides a technical solution for preventing cross-contamination of powders in a powder recovery tank, which employs the following approach:
[0006] A powder recycling tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders includes a powder tank body, which is fixedly mounted on the top surface of a matrix cylinder that works in conjunction with the powder tank body. A matrix through-slot is formed on the top surface of the powder tank body, and the matrix through-slot includes multiple unit through-slots, which are connected to the cylinder body of the matrix cylinder one by one.
[0007] Each of the unit channels is provided with a residual powder groove on its periphery, and the residual powder groove is provided on the top surface of the powder groove body.
[0008] A residual powder collecting pipe is provided inside the powder tank body and near the bottom of the powder tank body. The residual powder collecting pipe is correspondingly provided with the residual powder tank and the residual powder collecting pipe and the residual powder tank are connected to each other through a powder guiding component. A powder suction component is connected to the residual powder collecting pipe. The powder suction component is externally driven by a driving source to suck the powder in the residual powder collecting pipe out of the powder tank body.
[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, before using the matrix cylinder, the powder tank body of this application is installed on the top surface of the matrix cylinder. During powder spreading, the metal powder falls from the top surface of the powder tank body through the matrix channels into the corresponding cylinder. During powder scraping, the scraper scrapes across the top surface of the powder tank body. In actual powder spreading, the amount of residual powder is small, and the residual powder is scraped into the residual powder trough, then falls into the residual powder collection pipe at the bottom through the powder guide component, and then the powder in the residual powder collection pipe is sucked out of the powder tank body by the external drive source of the powder suction component. This allows the scraper to partition the powder of different materials in the unit channels of each matrix distribution when scraping the metal powder, and at the same time, it is not easy to scrape the residual powder into different cylinders, which improves the problem of cross-contamination of powder and helps to improve the quality of metal products.
[0010] Optionally, adjacent powder residue tanks are interconnected, the two side walls of the powder residue tank in the width direction are inclined, and the cross-section of the powder residue tank is inverted trapezoidal.
[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the excess powder can be scraped into the excess powder trough more comprehensively, and it is easier to guide the excess powder into the powder guide component.
[0012] Optionally, the residual powder collecting pipes are interconnected, and the periphery of the matrix channel is provided with multiple powder suction ports, which are connected to the connection of adjacent residual powder collecting pipes.
[0013] The powder suction assembly includes multiple powder suction connectors and multiple powder suction tubes. The powder suction connectors are located inside one end of the powder tank body and are arranged in a row. The powder suction connectors are externally connected to a driving source. The powder suction tubes are connected to the powder suction interface through their own ends or by extending branch tubes. The end of the powder suction tube away from the matrix through-slot is connected to the powder suction connector.
[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, during powder suction, the drive source is activated. If the drive source is an air pump, the residual powder in each residual powder collection pipe is sucked out through the powder suction connector and the powder suction pipe, which helps to ensure the continuous operation of powder spreading and residual powder discharge. Furthermore, the powder suction interface, powder suction pipe, and branch pipe configuration in this application improve the comprehensiveness of residual powder removal from each residual powder collection pipe. The powder suction connectors are located inside one end of the powder tank body and arranged in a row, making the powder tank body structure centralized and neat.
[0015] Optionally, the outlet of the powder suction connector is located on the bottom surface of the powder tank body, and the inner wall of the powder suction connector is provided with threads.
[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, it is easy to interface with external drive sources.
[0017] Optionally, the upper side of the waste powder collecting pipe is gradually widened, and the lower side of the waste powder collecting pipe is square.
[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, it is easier for residual powder to enter the residual powder collection pipe.
[0019] Optionally, the powder guiding component is a Tesla valve and multiple Tesla valves are provided. The Tesla valves are arranged around the periphery of each unit through slot. The top end of the Tesla valve is connected to the residual powder trough, and the bottom end of the Tesla valve is connected to the residual powder collecting pipe. The direction of the residual powder trough toward the residual powder collecting pipe is the acceleration end of the Tesla valve, and the direction of the residual powder collecting pipe toward the residual powder trough is the suppression end of the Tesla valve.
[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the residual powder in the residual powder tank can smoothly enter the residual powder collection pipe from top to bottom, but the powder in the residual powder collection pipe is difficult to re-enter the residual powder tank from bottom to top, thereby preventing residual powder backflow and causing cross-contamination, and further improving the problem of cross-contamination caused by cross-contamination.
[0021] A 3D printer includes the aforementioned powder recycling tank for preventing powder from contaminating each other.
[0022] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:
[0023] 1. During the powder scraping process, the scraper scrapes across the top surface of the powder tank body. In the actual powder spreading process, the amount of residual powder is not large. The residual powder is scraped into the residual powder tank and then falls into the residual powder collection pipe at the bottom through the powder guide component. Then, the powder in the residual powder collection pipe is sucked out of the powder tank body by the external drive source of the powder suction component. This makes it less likely for the scraper to scrape the residual powder into different cylinders when scraping the metal powder, thus improving the problem of cross-contamination of powder and helping to improve the quality of metal products.
[0024] 2. The drive source starts. If the drive source is an air pump, the residual powder in each residual powder collection pipe is sucked out through the powder suction connector and the powder suction pipe, which helps to ensure the continuous spreading and discharge of residual powder. Moreover, the powder suction interface, powder suction pipe and branch pipe in this application can improve the comprehensiveness of the residual powder being sucked out of each residual powder collection pipe. The powder suction connector is set inside one end of the powder tank body and arranged in a row, making the structure of the powder tank body centralized and neat.
[0025] 3. By setting up the Tesla valve, the residual powder in the residual powder tank can smoothly enter the residual powder collection pipe from top to bottom, but the powder in the residual powder collection pipe is difficult to re-enter the residual powder tank from bottom to top, thereby preventing residual powder backflow and causing cross-contamination, and further improving the problem of cross-contamination caused by cross-contamination. Attached Figure Description
[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a powder recovery tank used to avoid cross-contamination of powders according to an embodiment of this application.
[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.
[0028] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram used to show the bottom surface of the powder tank body in an embodiment of this application.
[0029] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram showing the interior of the powder tank after the top surface of the powder tank body is hidden.
[0030] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram showing the periphery of the unit through slot after part of the powder trough body has been cut off from the side.
[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the Tesla valve in the embodiments of this application.
[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the waste powder collection pipe in the embodiments of this application.
[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Powder tank body; 2. Matrix through-slot; 21. Unit through-slot; 22. Powder suction interface; 3. Residual powder tank; 4. Residual powder collection pipe; 5. Powder suction assembly; 51. Powder suction connector; 52. Powder suction pipe; 53. Branch pipe; 6. Tesla valve. Detailed Implementation
[0034] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-7 This application will be described in further detail.
[0035] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application disclose a powder recycling tank for preventing powders from contaminating each other.
[0036] Reference Figure 1-4A powder recycling tank designed to prevent cross-contamination of powders includes a tank body 1, which is bolted to the top surface of a matrix cylinder that works in conjunction with the tank body 1. A matrix through-slot 2 is formed on the top surface of the tank body 1, comprising multiple unit through-slots 21, each unit through-slot 21 corresponding to and connected to the cylinder body of the matrix cylinder. In this embodiment, the matrix through-slot 2 has five rows and five columns, totaling 25 unit through-slots 21. Each unit through-slot 21 has a residual powder trough 3 on its periphery, located on the top surface of the tank body 1.
[0037] Reference Figure 5-7 A residual powder collecting pipe 4 is provided inside the powder tank body 1 and near the bottom of the powder tank body 1. The residual powder collecting pipe 4 is correspondingly provided with the residual powder tank 3. The residual powder collecting pipe 4 and the residual powder tank 3 are connected to each other through a powder guiding component. A powder suction component 5 is connected to the residual powder collecting pipe 4. The powder suction component 5 is externally driven by a driving source to suck the powder in the residual powder collecting pipe 4 out of the powder tank body 1.
[0038] Before using the matrix cylinder, the powder trough body 1 of this application is installed on the top surface of the matrix cylinder. During powder spreading, the metal powder falls from the top surface of the powder trough body 1 through the matrix channel 2 into the corresponding cylinder. During powder scraping, the scraper scrapes across the top surface of the powder trough body 1. In actual powder spreading, the amount of residual powder is small, and the residual powder is scraped into the residual powder trough 3, and then falls into the residual powder collection pipe 4 at the bottom through the powder guide component. Then, the powder in the residual powder collection pipe 4 is sucked out of the powder trough body 1 by the external drive source of the powder suction component 5. This makes it less likely for the scraper to scrape residual powder into different cylinders when leveling the metal powder, improving the problem of cross-contamination of powder and helping to improve the quality of metal products.
[0039] Referring to 5-7, the powder guiding component is a Tesla valve 6, and multiple Tesla valves 6 are provided. The Tesla valves 6 are arranged around the periphery of each unit through-slot 21. The top end of the Tesla valve 6 is connected to the residual powder trough 3, and the bottom end of the Tesla valve 6 is connected to the residual powder collecting pipe 4. The direction from the residual powder trough 3 to the residual powder collecting pipe 4 is the acceleration end of the Tesla valve 6, and the direction from the residual powder collecting pipe 4 to the residual powder trough 3 is the suppression end of the Tesla valve 6. The residual powder in the residual powder trough 3 can smoothly enter the residual powder collecting pipe 4 from top to bottom, but the powder in the residual powder collecting pipe 4 is difficult to re-enter the residual powder trough 3 from bottom to top, thus preventing residual powder backflow and causing cross-contamination, further improving the problem of cross-contamination caused by cross-contamination.
[0040] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 4The adjacent residual powder troughs 3 are interconnected. The two side walls of the residual powder troughs 3 in the width direction are inclined, and the cross-section of the residual powder troughs 3 is inverted trapezoidal, which allows the residual powder to be scraped more comprehensively into the residual powder troughs 3 and facilitates the guidance of the residual powder into the powder guide. The residual powder collecting pipes 4 are interconnected. The periphery of the matrix channel 2 is provided with multiple powder suction ports 22, which are connected to the connection of adjacent residual powder collecting pipes 4. The powder suction assembly 5 includes multiple powder suction connectors 51 and multiple powder suction pipes 52. The powder suction connectors 51 are located inside one end of the powder trough body 1 and are arranged in a row. The powder suction connectors 51 are externally connected to a driving source. The powder suction pipes 52 are connected to the powder suction ports 22 through their own ends or by extending branch pipes 53. The end of the powder suction pipe 52 away from the matrix channel 2 is connected to the powder suction connector 51.
[0041] During powder suction, the drive source is activated. If the drive source is an air pump, the residual powder in each residual powder collection pipe 4 is sucked out through the powder suction connector 51 and the powder suction pipe 52, which helps to ensure the continuous spreading and discharge of residual powder. Furthermore, the powder suction interface 22, the powder suction pipe 52, and the branch pipe 53 in this application can improve the comprehensiveness of the residual powder being sucked out of each residual powder collection pipe 4. The powder suction connectors 51 are located inside one end of the powder tank body 1 and arranged in a row, making the structure of the powder tank body 1 centralized and neat.
[0042] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 7 The outlet of the powder suction connector 51 is located on the bottom surface of the powder tank body 1, and the inner wall of the powder suction connector 51 is provided with threads to facilitate docking with an external drive source. The upper side of the residual powder collecting pipe 4 is gradually widened, and the lower side of the residual powder collecting pipe 4 is square to facilitate the entry of residual powder into the residual powder collecting pipe 4.
[0043] A 3D printer includes the aforementioned powder recycling tank for preventing powder from contaminating each other.
[0044] The implementation principle of the powder recovery tank for avoiding cross-contamination of powders in this application embodiment is as follows: Before using the matrix cylinder, the powder tank body 1 of this application is installed on the top surface of the matrix cylinder. During powder spreading, the metal powder falls from the top surface of the powder tank body 1 through the matrix channel 2 into the corresponding cylinder. During powder scraping, the scraper scrapes across the top surface of the powder tank body 1, and the remaining powder is scraped into the remaining powder tank 3, and then falls into the remaining powder collection pipe 4 at the bottom through the Tesla valve 6. At this time, the drive source is started, and the remaining powder in each remaining powder collection pipe 4 is continuously sucked out through the powder suction connector 51 and the powder suction pipe 52. This makes it less likely for the scraper to scrape the remaining powder into different cylinders when leveling the metal powder, improving the problem of cross-contamination of powder and helping to improve the quality of metal products.
[0045] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. A powder recycling tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders, characterized in that: It includes a powder tank body (1), which is fixedly installed on the top surface of a matrix cylinder that works in conjunction with the powder tank body (1). A matrix through groove (2) is provided on the top surface of the powder tank body (1). The matrix through groove (2) includes multiple unit through grooves (21), and the unit through grooves (21) are connected to the cylinder body of the matrix cylinder in a one-to-one correspondence. Each of the unit through slots (21) is provided with a residual powder slot (3) on its periphery, and the residual powder slot (3) is provided on the top surface of the powder slot body (1); A residual powder collecting pipe (4) is provided inside the powder tank body (1) and near the bottom of the powder tank body (1). The residual powder collecting pipe (4) is correspondingly provided with the residual powder tank (3). The residual powder collecting pipe (4) and the residual powder tank (3) are connected to each other through a powder guiding component. A powder suction component (5) is connected to the residual powder collecting pipe (4). The powder suction component (5) is externally driven by a driving source to suck the powder in the residual powder collecting pipe (4) out of the powder tank body (1).
2. A powder recycling tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjacent powder residue tanks (3) are interconnected, the two side walls of the powder residue tank (3) in the width direction are inclined, and the cross section of the powder residue tank (3) is in the shape of an inverted trapezoid.
3. A powder recycling tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The residual powder collecting pipes (4) are interconnected, and the matrix through groove (2) is provided with multiple powder suction ports (22) on its periphery. The powder suction ports (22) are connected to the connection of adjacent residual powder collecting pipes (4). The powder suction assembly (5) includes multiple powder suction connectors (51) and multiple powder suction tubes (52). The powder suction connectors (51) are located inside one end of the powder tank body (1) and arranged in a row. The powder suction connectors (51) are connected to an external driving source. The powder suction tubes (52) are connected to the powder suction interface (22) through their own ends or by extending branch tubes (53). The end of the powder suction tube (52) away from the matrix through-slot (2) is connected to the powder suction connectors (51).
4. A powder recycling tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outlet of the powder suction connector (51) is located on the bottom surface of the powder tank body (1), and the inner wall of the powder suction connector (51) is provided with threads.
5. A powder recycling tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper side of the waste powder collecting pipe (4) is gradually widened, and the lower side of the waste powder collecting pipe (4) is square.
6. A powder recovery tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder guiding component is a Tesla valve (6) and multiple Tesla valves (6) are provided. The Tesla valves (6) are arranged on the periphery of each unit through slot (21). The top end of the Tesla valve (6) is connected to the residual powder trough (3), and the bottom end of the Tesla valve (6) is connected to the residual powder collecting pipe (4). The direction of the residual powder trough (3) toward the residual powder collecting pipe (4) is the acceleration end of the Tesla valve (6), and the direction of the residual powder collecting pipe (4) toward the residual powder trough (3) is the suppression end of the Tesla valve (6).
7. A 3D printer, characterized in that: The powder recovery tank for preventing cross-contamination of powders, as described in any one of claims 1-6.