Continuous drying device for metal powder for 3D printing

Abstract

The utility model discloses a continuous drying device for metal powder for 3D printing, and relates to the technical field of metal powder drying. The continuous drying device comprises a shell, a top cover is fixed to the top of the shell through bolts, a conveying barrel is fixed to the longitudinal center position in the shell, and an auger shaft for conveying powder upwards is rotationally arranged in the conveying barrel; and a driving motor used for driving the top cover to rotate is installed at the bottom of the top cover, and fine heating assemblies are assembled in the shell and located on the two sides of the conveying cylinder. Metal powder is quantitatively heated through the fine heating assembly, the flowing track of the metal powder is in a fold-back shape under the assistance of a triangular plate, a spoiler and a guide strip, the time of heating the metal powder by a heat inlet piece is longer, the metal powder is continuously conveyed upwards in cooperation with a conveying barrel and an auger shaft, and therefore the metal powder can be continuously heated. And the purpose of fully and efficiently drying the metal powder is achieved, and then electric energy needed for drying the metal powder is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of metal powder drying technology, specifically a continuous drying device for metal powder used in 3D printing. Background Technology

[0002] Selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM) are currently the mainstream production technologies in metal 3D printing. During transportation and storage, metal powder inevitably absorbs moisture and becomes damp, severely affecting its flowability. If damp metal powder is directly used in production, uneven powder distribution, powder clumping, and oxidation can easily occur during printing. This leads to a decrease in the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the printed parts, and internal defects such as porosity, unmelted areas, and oxidation can develop, significantly impacting the density and mechanical properties of the parts. Since metal powder contains a large amount of moisture during processing, it is necessary to use a drying device to remove this internal moisture.

[0003] A search of existing technology publication document CN 215638524 U discloses a metal powder drying oven, which, through the setting of furnace body, heating device, drying cylinder, driven bevel gear, drive motor, active bevel gear, feed pipe, discharge pipe, stirring plate, dust collection hood, and dust suction pump, can automatically clean the dust attached to the surface of metal powder while drying it, ensuring the cleanliness of the metal powder and reducing the workload of operators.

[0004] However, the heating device heats the metal powder placed in the furnace from the outside in, requiring heat to be transferred between the metal powders layer by layer. In addition, some heat is lost during the transfer, so the metal powder in the middle position needs a certain amount of time to be heated, resulting in a relatively low heating efficiency of the metal powder and a slow drying process. Therefore, a continuous drying device for metal powder used in 3D printing is proposed. Utility Model Content

[0005] Based on this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a continuous drying device for metal powder used in 3D printing, so as to solve the technical problem mentioned in the background that the heating time of metal powder is long and affects the drying efficiency.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a continuous drying device for metal powder for 3D printing, comprising a shell, a top cover fixed to the top of the shell by bolts, a conveying cylinder fixed at the longitudinal center of the shell, an auger shaft for conveying powder upwards rotatably inside the conveying cylinder, a drive motor for driving the top cover to rotate installed at the bottom of the top cover, and precision heating components assembled on both sides of the conveying cylinder inside the shell.

[0007] The precision heating assembly includes side plates fixed to the front and rear inner walls of the outer shell, a triangular plate fixed between the two sets of side plates, and a spoiler fixed at both ends of the triangular plate in an inclined manner. Multiple sets of guide strips are added and fixed to the top of the triangular plate and the spoiler, and heating elements are installed at the bottom of the triangular plate and the spoiler.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution, a guide hopper fixed to the inner wall of the outer shell is sleeved on the outer wall of the top cover near the top position, and a discharge hole is opened at the bottom of the guide hopper above each set of fine heating components.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution, the top of the conveying cylinder has two sets of upper notches at the edge position, which allow material flowing upward from the conveying cylinder to flow through and enter the guide hopper.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution, the bottom of the conveying cylinder has a lower notch at the edge, and the lower inner wall of the outer shell has a shape that is low in the middle and high at the edge.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, heating plates are embedded in both the front and rear inner walls of the outer shell, and both the heating plates and heating elements are connected to an external power source by wires.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution, a base is fixed at the bottom edge of the shell, and a discharge port for discharging metal powder inside the shell is fitted near the center of the bottom of the shell.

[0013] In summary, the present invention has the following main advantages:

[0014] This invention uses a precision heating component to heat metal powder quantitatively. With the assistance of a triangular plate, a baffle plate, and a guide bar, the flow trajectory of the metal powder is made to be zigzag, so that it is heated by the heating plate for a longer time. Combined with the continuous upward conveying of metal powder by the conveying cylinder and the auger shaft, the metal powder is fully and efficiently dried, thereby saving the electrical energy required for drying metal powder. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the present utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the outer shell of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a front sectional view of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a top view of the conveying cylinder of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the precision heating component of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 6 This is a bottom view of the precision heating component of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the outer shell of this utility model.

[0022] In the picture: 100, outer shell;

[0023] 110. Base; 120. Top cover; 130. Conveyor cylinder; 131. Screw shaft; 132. Upper notch; 133. Lower notch; 140. Precision heating assembly; 141. Side plate; 142. Triangular plate; 143. Baffle plate; 144. Guide strip; 145. Heating element; 150. Discharge port; 160. Guide hopper; 161. Discharge hole; 170. Heating plate. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0025] The embodiments of this utility model will be described below based on its overall structure.

[0026] A continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing, such as Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the device includes an outer shell 100, a top cover 120 fixed to the top of the outer shell 100 by bolts, a conveying cylinder 130 fixed at the longitudinal center of the inner part of the outer shell 100, an auger shaft 131 for conveying powder upwards rotatably installed inside the conveying cylinder 130, a drive motor for driving the top cover 120 to rotate is installed at the bottom of the top cover 120, and precision heating components 140 are installed on both sides of the conveying cylinder 130 inside the outer shell 100.

[0027] The precision heating assembly 140 includes side plates 141 fixed to the front and rear inner walls of the outer casing 100, a triangular plate 142 fixed between the two sets of side plates 141, and a baffle plate 143 fixed below both ends of the triangular plate 142 in an inclined manner. Multiple sets of guide strips 144 are added and fixed to the top of the triangular plate 142 and the baffle plate 143, and heating elements 145 are installed at the bottom of the triangular plate 142 and the baffle plate 143.

[0028] A guide hopper 160 fixed to the inner wall of the outer shell 100 is fitted on the outer wall of the top cover 120 and near the top position. The bottom of the guide hopper 160 is provided with a discharge hole 161 above each set of fine heating components 140.

[0029] Heating plates 170 are embedded in the front and rear inner walls of the outer casing 100. Both the heating plates 170 and the heating elements 145 are connected to an external power source by wires.

[0030] The drive motor drives the auger shaft 131 to rotate. The auger shaft 131, in conjunction with the outer conveyor cylinder 130, causes the metal powder to flow upward through the conveyor cylinder 130. Eventually, the powder overflows and enters the outer guide hopper 160, then enters the fine heating assembly 140 through the discharge hole 161. The metal powder first contacts the highest point of the triangular plate 142, splitting the falling metal powder in two directions. The guide bar 144 causes the metal powder to slide in a zigzag trajectory at the top of the triangular plate 142, making its sliding path at the top of the triangular plate 142 longer. This allows the heating plate 145 to heat and dry the metal powder for a longer time. The powder then flows to the baffle plate 143, and the guide bar 144 further extends the heating and drying time of the metal powder, thus achieving thorough and efficient heating and drying of the metal powder. The heating plate 170 heats the space inside the outer shell 100, making the drying of the metal powder more thorough. The powder then flows upward again from the conveyor cylinder 130, thus achieving the purpose of uniformly heating and drying a fixed amount of metal powder.

[0031] Please refer to this carefully. Figure 4 The top of the conveying cylinder 130 has two sets of upper notches 132 at the edge position. The upper notches 132 allow materials flowing upward from the conveying cylinder 130 to flow through and enter the guide hopper 160.

[0032] Metal powder from the top of the conveyor cylinder 130 is precisely fed into the guide hopper 160 through the upper notch 132, thereby achieving the purpose of drying and heating in the metal heating assembly 140.

[0033] Please refer to this carefully. Figure 2 The bottom of the conveying cylinder 130 has a lower notch 133 at the edge, and the lower inner wall of the outer casing 100 has a shape that is low in the middle and high at the edge.

[0034] The metal powder being fed is positioned at the center of the bottom of the outer casing 100, and can enter the conveying cylinder 130 through the lower notch 133, thus achieving the purpose of conveying the metal powder up and down.

[0035] Please refer to this carefully. Figure 3 and Figure 7 The bottom of the outer casing 100 is fixed with a base 110 at the edge position. The bottom of the outer casing 100 is fitted with a discharge port 150 for discharging metal powder inside the outer casing 100 near the center position, and the rear surface of the base 110 is provided with a notch.

[0036] The conveyor belt can be inserted through the notch below the bottom of the outer casing 100, and the dried and heated metal powder can be discharged through the discharge port 150. The metal powder can be discharged quickly using the conveyor belt.

[0037] In use, the auger shaft 131 rotates and cooperates with the outer conveyor cylinder 130, causing the metal powder to flow upward through the conveyor cylinder 130. It eventually overflows and enters the outer guide hopper 160, then enters the precision heating assembly 140 through the discharge hole 161. The metal powder first contacts the highest point of the triangular plate 142, splitting the falling metal powder in two and causing it to flow in two directions. The guide bar 144 causes the metal powder to slide in a zigzag trajectory at the top of the triangular plate 142, making its sliding path at the top of the triangular plate 142 longer, thus extending the heating element's range of motion. The metal powder is heated and dried for a longer time, and then flows to the baffle plate 143. The guide bar 144 further extends the heating and drying time of the metal powder, thereby achieving full and efficient heating and drying of the metal powder. The heating plate 170 heats the space inside the outer shell 100, making the drying of the metal powder more thorough, and it will flow upward from the conveying cylinder 130 again. In this way, the purpose of heating and drying a quantitative amount of metal powder uniformly is achieved. The parts not involved in this device are the same as or can be implemented using existing technology.

[0038] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, these specific embodiments are merely explanations of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. The specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art may make modifications, substitutions, and variations to the embodiments as needed without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, provided that such modifications, substitutions, and variations are within the scope of the claims of the present invention and are protected by patent law.

Claims

1. A continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing, comprising a housing (100), characterized in that: The top of the outer shell (100) is bolted to a top cover (120). A conveying cylinder (130) is fixed at the inner longitudinal center of the outer shell (100). An auger shaft (131) for conveying powder upward is rotatably installed inside the conveying cylinder (130). A drive motor for driving the top cover (120) to rotate is installed at the bottom of the top cover (120). Precision heating components (140) are installed on both sides of the conveying cylinder (130) inside the outer shell (100). The precision heating assembly (140) includes side plates (141) fixed to the front and rear inner walls of the outer shell (100), a triangular plate (142) fixed between the two sets of side plates (141), a spoiler (143) fixed at both ends of the triangular plate (142) in an inclined manner, multiple sets of guide strips (144) fixed to the top of the triangular plate (142) and the spoiler (143), and heating elements (145) installed at the bottom of the triangular plate (142) and the spoiler (143).

2. The continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top cover (120) is fitted with a guide hopper (160) fixed to the inner wall of the outer shell (100) near the top. The bottom of the guide hopper (160) is provided with a discharge hole (161) above each set of the fine heating components (140).

3. The continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the conveying cylinder (130) has two sets of upper notches (132) at the edge position. The upper notches (132) allow material flowing upward from the conveying cylinder (130) to flow through and enter the guide hopper (160).

4. The continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the conveying cylinder (130) has a lower notch (133) at the edge position, and the lower inner wall of the outer shell (100) has a shape that is low in the middle and high at the edge.

5. A continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: Heating plates (170) are embedded in the front and rear inner walls of the outer shell (100). The heating plates (170) and heating elements (145) are connected to an external power source by wires.

6. A continuous drying apparatus for metal powder used in 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the outer casing (100) is fixed with a base (110) at the edge position, and the bottom of the outer casing (100) is fitted with a discharge port (150) for discharging metal powder inside the outer casing (100) near the center position.

Images