Efficient recovery mechanism for residual powder of SLS (selective laser sintering) 3D (three-dimensional) printer

Abstract

The utility model relates to an SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer residual powder efficient recovery mechanism which comprises a rack, a forming table, a powder spreading device and a residual powder collecting bin, the residual powder collecting bin is located below the forming table and provided with two powder receiving hoppers, and the two powder receiving hoppers are located below the two ends of the forming table in the translation direction of the powder spreading device respectively. Inner cavities of the two powder receiving hoppers are communicated through a communication part, a negative pressure powder suction pipe is arranged at the position, close to the bottom, in the residual powder collecting bin, a plurality of powder suction holes are formed in the pipe wall of the negative pressure powder suction pipe, and the outlet end of the negative pressure powder suction pipe penetrates out of the bin wall of the residual powder collecting bin and extends out of the rack so that the negative pressure powder suction pipe can be externally connected with a negative pressure air suction machine. Compared with existing similar product mechanisms in the market at present, the efficient residual powder recycling mechanism of the SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer can more effectively and conveniently collect and recycle powder flowing down from a forming table, so that cleanliness in the machine is guaranteed, operation faults are reduced, and the powder is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printer manufacturing technology, and in particular to a high-efficiency waste powder recovery mechanism for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printers. Background Technology

[0002] SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) is an advanced 3D printing technology that uses an infrared laser as a heat source to sinter powder materials (mainly plastic powder, wax powder, metal powder, coated ceramic powder with a binder on the surface, coated metal powder, and coated sand, etc.) at high temperature, and build up layers to form three-dimensional parts.

[0003] The working principle and process of a current SLS 3D printer are roughly as follows: Powder particles are stored in the powder supply tank. During printing, the powder supply tank lifting platform rises, pushing the powder above the printing plane onto the printing platform (forming stage) through the powder spreading roller, forming a very thin powder layer. At this time, the laser beam scanning system selectively scans the powder layer according to the 2D CAD path of the slice. The scanned powder particles are sintered together due to the high temperature of the laser focus, thus generating a solid sheet with a certain thickness. The unscanned areas remain in their original loose powder state. After one layer is sintered, the printing platform descends by one layer thickness (usually 0.1mm) according to the slice height, and the powder spreading roller spreads the powder again before starting the sintering of a new layer. At this time, the layers are also sintered together simultaneously. This process is repeated until all layers are sintered. The unsintered powder is removed and recycled, and the printed solid model can be taken out.

[0004] Currently available SLS 3D printers, due to their structural design, have relatively inconvenient and inefficient processes for collecting and recycling powder that falls from the forming table. This not only easily leads to powder contamination inside the machine and causes operational malfunctions, but also results in powder waste (because recycled powder can be reused). Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide an efficient waste powder recovery mechanism for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printers, so as to overcome the defects and shortcomings of existing similar technologies and products as described in the background art.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is: a high-efficiency waste powder recovery mechanism for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer, including a frame, a forming table, a powder spreader, and a waste powder collection chamber. The forming table is set in the frame, the powder spreader is horizontally and movably mounted above the forming table, and the waste powder collection chamber is located below the forming table. The waste powder collection chamber has two powder receiving hoppers, which are respectively located below the two ends of the forming table along the translational direction of the powder spreader. The inner cavities of the two powder receiving hoppers are connected by a connecting part. A negative pressure suction pipe is set near the bottom of the waste powder collection chamber. The negative pressure suction pipe passes through the two powder receiving hoppers and the connecting part of the waste powder collection chamber, and multiple suction holes are opened on the pipe wall. The outlet end of the negative pressure suction pipe passes through the wall of the waste powder collection chamber and extends to the outside of the frame so as to connect to an external negative pressure suction machine.

[0007] The beneficial effects of this invention are: compared with similar products currently on the market, the high-efficiency residual powder recovery mechanism of this SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer can more effectively and conveniently collect and recover powder falling from the forming table, thereby ensuring the cleanliness of the machine, reducing operational failures, and saving powder (because the recovered powder can be reused). Attached Figure Description

[0008] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0009] Figure 1 , Figure 4 All are three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams of this utility model (from different perspectives);

[0010] Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 These are rear view, front view, and top view structural schematic diagrams of the residual powder collection bin in this utility model;

[0011] Figure 3 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 These are all three-dimensional structural diagrams of the residual powder collection bin (from different perspectives).

[0012] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Forming table; 3. Powder spreader; 4. Excess powder collection bin; 4-1. Powder receiving hopper; 4-2. Connecting part; 5. Negative pressure powder suction pipe; 5-1. Powder suction hole. Detailed Implementation

[0013] A high-efficiency toner recycling mechanism for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printers, such as Figures 1 to 8As shown, it includes a frame 1, a forming table 2, a powder spreader 3, and a residual powder collection bin 4. The forming table 2 is set in the frame 1. The powder spreader 3 is horizontally and movably mounted above the forming table 2. The residual powder collection bin 4 is located below the forming table 2. The residual powder collection bin 4 has two powder receiving hoppers 4-1. The two powder receiving hoppers 4-1 are located below the two ends of the forming table 2 along the translational direction of the powder spreader 3. The inner cavities of the two powder receiving hoppers 4-1 are connected by a connecting part 4-2. A negative pressure suction pipe 5 is set near the bottom of the residual powder collection bin 4. The negative pressure suction pipe 5 passes through the two powder receiving hoppers 4-1 and the connecting part 4-2 of the residual powder collection bin 4. The pipe wall has multiple suction holes 5-1. The outlet end of the negative pressure suction pipe 5 passes through the bin wall of the residual powder collection bin 4 and extends to the outside of the frame 1 so as to connect to an external negative pressure suction machine.

[0014] In the forming platform mechanism of the SLS 3D printer, there are large gaps between the two ends of the forming stage 2 along the translational direction of the powder spreader 3 and the surrounding plate. Under the pushing action of the powder spreader 3, excess powder on the forming stage 2 will flow down through these gaps. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on collecting the powder flowing down from these gaps. Hence, the two powder receiving hoppers 4-1 of the excess powder collection chamber 4 are respectively used to receive the powder. When the powder collected in the excess powder collection chamber 4 reaches a certain amount, a negative pressure suction machine is connected to the outlet end of the negative pressure suction pipe 5. The negative pressure suction machine can conveniently and quickly suck out the powder accumulated in the excess powder collection chamber 4 without any disassembly or assembly of the machine body. The powder collected by the negative pressure suction machine can be poured back into the powder storage box of the powder supply mechanism for reuse, so as to save powder.

[0015] The above embodiments are only used to explain the present utility model and are not intended to limit the protection of the present utility model. Any non-substantial modifications made based on the essential solution of the present utility model shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency waste powder recovery mechanism for an SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer, comprising a frame (1), a forming table (2), a powder spreader (3), and a waste powder collection bin (4), wherein the forming table (2) is disposed in the frame (1), the powder spreader (3) is horizontally and movably mounted above the forming table (2), and the waste powder collection bin (4) is located below the forming table (2), characterized in that: The residual powder collection chamber (4) has two powder receiving hoppers (4-1). The two powder receiving hoppers (4-1) are located below the two ends of the forming table (2) along the translational direction of the powder spreader (3). The inner cavities of the two powder receiving hoppers (4-1) are connected through the connecting part (4-2). A negative pressure suction pipe (5) is provided near the bottom of the residual powder collection chamber (4). The negative pressure suction pipe (5) passes through the two powder receiving hoppers (4-1) and the connecting part (4-2) of the residual powder collection chamber (4). Multiple suction holes (5-1) are opened on the pipe wall. The outlet end of the negative pressure suction pipe (5) passes through the wall of the residual powder collection chamber (4) and extends to the outside of the frame (1) so as to connect to the negative pressure suction machine.

Images