Material pipe and processing equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a material pipe and machining equipment, the material pipe is provided with a channel used for conveying 3D printing wires, and the inner wall of the channel is provided with a groove which is sunken outwards in the radial direction of the material pipe. The 3D printing wire rod made of flexible materials such as thermoplastic polyurethane and the like is prevented from generating a large attaching area with the inner wall of the material pipe at the bending position of the material pipe, the conveying resistance of the 3D printing wire rod is reduced, and therefore the conveying performance of the 3D printing wire rod is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more particularly to a material tube and processing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of 3D printing technology, feed tubes are needed to transport 3D printing filaments. When transporting filaments with high hardness, existing feed tubes can meet the requirements of low-resistance transport. However, when printing softer filaments, using feed tubes often leads to transport failures, so feed tubes are often not used for transport. However, this will cause the filament to absorb water and become damp, thereby reducing the printing quality. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a feed tube and processing equipment that can reduce the resistance of 3D printing filament delivery.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a feed tube having a channel for conveying 3D printing filament, the inner wall of the channel having a groove recessed radially outward along the feed tube.

[0005] In some feasible implementations, the channel has an inscribed circle and an circumscribed circle, the ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle to the diameter of the inscribed circle being greater than 1 and less than 1.25.

[0006] In some feasible implementations, the channel has a circumscribed circle whose diameter is greater than 0.6 and less than 0.75 compared to the outer diameter of the feed tube.

[0007] In some feasible implementations, the feed tube is used to connect to the feed tube connector, the channel has an inscribed circle, and the number of grooves is multiple, with the multiple grooves evenly arranged around the inscribed circle; or

[0008] In the feed tube, compared to the channels located between the two ends of the feed tube, the channels near the feed tube joints have fewer grooves or shallower grooves; or

[0009] In the feed tube, there are no grooves distributed in the area within at least 3 cm of the feed tube joint.

[0010] In some feasible implementations, the walls of adjacent trenches are smoothly connected.

[0011] In some feasible implementations, the channel has an inscribed circle whose diameter is greater than 1 and less than 1.42 compared to the diameter of the 3D printed filament.

[0012] In some feasible implementations, the 3D printing filament is made of thermoplastic polyurethane.

[0013] In some feasible implementations, the diameter of the inscribed circle is 2.0mm-2.4mm, and the difference between the diameter of the circumscribed circle and the diameter of the inscribed circle is between (0mm, 0.36mm).

[0014] In some feasible implementations, the tubing material includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0015] Secondly, this application provides a processing apparatus, which includes the material tube described in the first aspect.

[0016] In some feasible implementations, the processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, guides, a support frame, a feed tube connector, and a heated bed;

[0017] The support frame is perpendicular to the heated bed. The support frame includes a crossbeam and at least two support rods. The crossbeam is connected to the support rods along the length direction. The guide is movably set on the support rods. The 3D printing head is slidably connected to the guide.

[0018] Along the length direction, the material tube connector is located in the center of the crossbeam, with one end of the material tube connected to the material tube connector and the other end of the material tube connected to the 3D printing head.

[0019] In some feasible implementations, the processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, a material tube connector, a frame, a top support, a feeding mechanism, and a heated bed; one end of the material tube is connected to the material tube connector, and the other end of the material tube is the 3D printing head;

[0020] The 3D printing head and heated bed are positioned within the area enclosed by the frame, with the top support located above the frame. The feed tube connector is mounted on the top support, and vertically, the projection of the feed tube connector is centered on the heated bed; or

[0021] The 3D printing head and heated bed are located within the area enclosed by the frame. The feeding mechanism is located above the frame, and the feed tube connector is located on the feeding mechanism. In the vertical direction, the projection of the feed tube connector is located in the center of the heated bed.

[0022] In some feasible implementations, the processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, a feed tube connector, a frame, and a top support, with the 3D printing head positioned within the area enclosed by the frame;

[0023] The top support is located above the frame and has a material tube connector. One end of the material tube is connected to the material tube connector, and the other end of the material tube is connected to the 3D printing head. The top support or the material tube connector can rotate relative to the frame.

[0024] In some feasible implementations, the processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, a frame, and a feeding mechanism, with the 3D printing head positioned within the area enclosed by the frame;

[0025] The feeding mechanism is located above the frame. The feeding mechanism has a material pipe connector. One end of the material pipe is connected to the material pipe connector, and the other end of the material pipe is connected to the 3D printing head. The feeding mechanism rotates relative to the frame.

[0026] In some feasible implementations, the feeding mechanism includes a material box, a bracket, and a support shaft, with the material box fitted onto the support shaft and rotatably connected to it.

[0027] This application provides a groove that is recessed radially outward on the inner wall of the channel used to transport 3D printing filament in the material tube. This avoids a large contact area between the 3D printing filament and the inner wall of the material tube at the bends, reduces the transport resistance of the 3D printing filament, and thus improves the transport performance of the 3D printing filament. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the background art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application or the background art will be described below.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a feed tube provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the feed pipe shown;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a perspective structural diagram of a processing device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 4 A perspective view of another processing device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a feeding mechanism provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Attached image captions:

[0035] 100-Material box, 101-Channel, 102-Groove, 103-Circumscribed circle, 104-Circumscribed circle, 200-3D printing head, 300-Material tube connector, 140-Material tube, 150-Bracket, 160-Support shaft, 400-Heated bed, 500-Support frame, 501-Crossbeam, 502-Support rod, 600-Guide component, 700-Frame, 702-Top bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] After extensive experiments and analysis, the inventors discovered that when the printing filament is relatively flexible, the 3D printing filament tends to form a large contact area with the inner wall of the tube at the bend, preventing air from entering and creating a "partial vacuum," thereby increasing the resistance to 3D printing filament transport.

[0038] Please see Figure 1 This application provides a feed tube 140, which has a channel 101 for conveying 3D printing filament. The inner wall of the channel 101 has a groove 102 that is recessed radially outward along the feed tube 140. In the 3D printing process, existing feed tubes are usually made of Teflon material. This material has low frictional resistance when handling 3D printing filaments with high hardness such as polylactic acid (PLA), PETG, or ABS, ensuring a smooth printing process. However, when the 3D printing filament is a soft material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane, because thermoplastic polyurethane is easily deformed, the 3D printing filament tends to form a large contact area with the inner wall of the feed tube at the bend, preventing air from entering and creating a "partial vacuum". This increases the resistance to 3D printing filament conveying and ultimately leads to feed / retraction failure. This application provides a groove 102 that is radially recessed outward along the inner wall of the channel used to transport 3D printing filament in the feed tube. This avoids a large contact area between the 3D printing filament and the inner wall of the feed tube at bends, thereby improving the filament transport performance. Furthermore, using a feed tube for filament transport enables automatic filament guidance, which can then be combined with an automatic feeder to achieve automated feeding and unloading, improving the user experience. Additionally, using a feed tube also prevents the filament from getting damp during the printing process.

[0039] This application provides a groove 102 that is radially recessed outward along the inner wall of the channel used to transport 3D printing filament in the feed tube. The cross-sectional shape of the feed tube channel changes from circular to other shapes, such as wavy, serrated, or internal spline. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 2Taking the cross-sectional shape of the channel 101 of the feed tube 140 as an example, which is an internal spline shape, the cross-sectional shape of the channel 101 has an inscribed circle 104 and an circumscribed circle 103. The ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 to the diameter of the inscribed circle 104 is greater than 1 and less than 1.25. When the outer diameter of the feed tube is 4mm and the diameter of the inscribed circle 104 is 2.3mm, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 can be between (2.3mm, 2.875mm). For example, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 is 2.72mm, and the ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 to the diameter of the inscribed circle 104 is 1.18. When the outer diameter of the feed tube is 4mm and the diameter of the inscribed circle 104 is 2mm, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 can be between (2mm, 2.5mm). For example, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 is... The diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 is 2.2 mm, and the ratio of its diameter to that of the inscribed circle 104 is 1.1. By controlling this ratio, the wall thickness of the 3D printing filament can be ensured to meet engineering design requirements while the filament passes through the material tube channel. Furthermore, the channel diameter in this application is smaller than that of a typical material tube, ensuring sufficient space for the 3D printing filament to move within the tube while reducing the gap between the filament and the tube. This improves the tube's guiding effect on the filament, resulting in more accurate alignment between the filament and the 3D printing head.

[0040] In some feasible implementations, when the diameter of the inscribed circle is 2.0mm-2.4mm, the difference between the diameter of the circumscribed circle and the diameter of the inscribed circle is between 0mm and 0.36mm. For example, when the diameter of the inscribed circle is 2.3mm, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 can be 2.4mm, 2.45mm, 2.5mm, etc.; when the diameter of the inscribed circle is 2.4mm, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 can be 2.6mm, 2.7mm, etc. By controlling the difference between the diameters of the circumscribed circle 103 and the inscribed circle 104, it can be ensured that the 3D printing filament passes through the material tube channel while ensuring that the material tube has sufficient wall thickness to withstand the internal pressure of the material tube.

[0041] Please see Figure 2 The channel has a circumscribed circle 103, and the ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 to the outer diameter of the material tube is greater than 0.6 and less than 0.75. When the outer diameter of the material tube is 4mm, the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 can be 2.4mm, 2.5mm, 2.8mm, etc. By controlling the ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle 103 to the outer diameter of the material tube, it is possible to ensure that the 3D printing filament passes through the material tube channel while ensuring that the material tube has sufficient wall thickness to withstand the internal pressure and guaranteeing the service life of the material tube.

[0042] Please see Figure 2The channel has an inscribed circle 104 and multiple grooves 102 evenly arranged around the inscribed circle 104. The number of grooves 102 can be adjusted according to application requirements, for example, 4, 6, or 8 grooves 102. The shape of the grooves 102 can be V-shaped, U-shaped, or rectangular. The depth of the grooves 102 is determined according to the specific shape of the channel. For example, when the inscribed circle 104 of the channel is 2.3 mm and the circumscribed circle 103 of the channel is 2.5 mm, the depth of the grooves 102 is 0.2 mm; when the inscribed circle 104 of the channel is 2.2 mm and the circumscribed circle 103 of the channel is 2.5 mm, the depth of the grooves 102 is 0.3 mm. The angle between each groove 102 is the same; for example, for 6 grooves 102, the angle between each groove 102 is 60 degrees. By designing the channel cross-section to have an inscribed circle 104, and having multiple grooves 102 evenly arranged around the inscribed circle 104, a large contact surface is avoided when the 3D printing filament is transported within the tube, reducing the resistance to 3D printing filament transport within the tube and improving the tube's transport capacity for 3D printing filament. In some feasible embodiments, the grooves may also include those formed only at certain cross-sections, for example, along the axial direction of the inner wall of the channel, the grooves appear intermittently rather than continuously; or, the grooves appear at certain cross-sections with a certain period or regularity, rather than being continuously and uniformly distributed. The size, shape, or depth of the grooves can gradually change along the length of the tube, for example, the groove size decreases or increases. In some embodiments, the number of grooves near the tube joint is small or the groove size is shallow, or the grooves are not distributed in at least 3 cm of the area near the tube joint. Since the tube near the tube joint is fixed at one end, its rigidity is greater and it is less prone to large bends, which can further reduce the resistance to filament entering the tube and improve the transport success rate. Alternatively, the grooves are distributed in areas where the feed tube is prone to bend, and the grooves are relatively large to ensure that the 3D printing filament has enough space when the feed tube bends, and will not form a large contact surface with the feed tube, thereby avoiding the formation of local vacuum.

[0043] In some feasible implementations, the walls of adjacent trenches 102 are smoothly connected. Smoothly connected walls can reduce the risk of 3D printing filament damage caused by encountering sharp edges or abrupt changes during transport. Smoothly connected walls also prevent the 3D printing filament from experiencing speed instability when encountering protrusions when entering and leaving the feed tube channel, thereby making the speed of the 3D printing filament more consistent throughout the channel and ensuring the stability of 3D printing filament transport.

[0044] Please see Figure 2The channel has an inscribed circle 104, the ratio of the diameter of the inscribed circle 104 to the diameter of the 3D printing filament being greater than 1 and less than 1.42. For example, when the feed tube is used to transport 3D printing filament with a diameter of 1.75mm, the diameter of the inscribed circle 104 of the feed tube channel can be 1.9mm, 2mm, 2.3mm, 2.4mm, etc. Compared with the conventional feed tube with an inner diameter of 2.5mm, the channel diameter in this application is smaller. While ensuring that the 3D printing filament has sufficient room to move within the feed tube, it reduces the gap between the 3D printing filament and the feed tube, thereby improving the guiding effect of the feed tube on the 3D printing filament and making the docking of the 3D printing filament with the 3D printing head more accurate.

[0045] Please see Figure 3 This application provides a processing apparatus, which includes, for example, a processing device. Figure 1 The aforementioned components include a feed tube 140, a 3D printing head 200, a guide 600, a support frame 500, a feed tube connector 300, and a heated bed 400. The support frame 500 is perpendicular to the heated bed 400 and includes a crossbeam 501 and at least two support rods 502. The crossbeam 501 connects to the support rods 502 along its length. The guide 600 is movably mounted on the support rods 502, and the 3D printing head 200 is slidably connected to the guide 600. In some feasible embodiments, the processing equipment is a gantry structure (e.g., Figure 3 As shown, the support rod 502 is a vertical column along the Z-axis, and a crossbeam 501 along the length direction connects the two support rods 502. The guide member 600 can move up and down along the Z-axis, the 3D printing head 200 can move along the guide member 600 in the Y-axis direction, and the heated bed 400 moves in the X-axis direction. For example, the 3D printing head 200 is slidably connected to the guide member 600. The guide member 600 supports the 3D printing head 200. The 3D printing head 200 is slidably connected to the guide member 600, and during processing, the 3D printing head 200 can slide linearly along the extension direction of the guide member 600. The guide member 600 can drive the 3D printing head 200 to move along the width direction of the guide member 600, and the guide member 600 can also drive the 3D printing head 200 to move up and down. The sliding of the 3D printing head 200 along the extension direction of the guide member 600, the movement of the 3D printing head 200 along the width direction of the guide member 600, and the up-and-down movement of the 3D printing head 200 driven by the guide member 600 can be coordinated by a stepper motor and a transmission system. This allows the stepper motor to drive the 3D printing head 200 to move precisely in three-dimensional space via a lead screw, ensuring that the material processed by the 3D printing head 200 is shaped according to the designed trajectory.

[0046] Along its length, the feed tube connector 300 is positioned centrally on the crossbeam 501. One end of the feed tube 140 connects to the 3D printing head 200, and the other end connects to the feed tube connector 300. During printing, the 3D printing head 200 needs to move throughout the entire range of the heated bed 400 to complete the printing task. The central positioning of the feed tube connector 300 on the crossbeam 501 ensures that the path of the feed tube from the connector 300 to the 3D printing head 200 can accommodate various movement paths of the 3D printing head 200 within the heated bed 400. The central positioning of the feed tube connector 300 on the crossbeam 501 allows the feed tube to maintain a near-straight line as it moves with the 3D printing head 200. For example, when the 3D printing head moves from one side of the heated bed 400 to the other, the feed tube can follow the movement of the 3D printing head in the most direct way, reducing unnecessary bending. The contact area between the 3D printing filament and the inner wall of the tube is reduced, thereby reducing the conveying resistance of the 3D printing filament, improving the conveying performance of the 3D printing filament, and increasing the success rate of 3D printed products.

[0047] The material tube connector 300 and the crossbeam 501 can be flexibly connected, for example, using a flexible hose or universal joint. When the 3D printing head 200 moves, the material tube connector 300 can move freely within a certain range to accommodate the movement of the 3D printing head. The movement of the material tube connector 300 with the 3D printing head 200 effectively reduces the bending angle and stress concentration of the material tube during movement.

[0048] Please see Figure 4 This application provides a processing device including a 3D printing head 200, a feed tube connector 300, a frame 700, a top support 702, a guide, and a heated bed. The 3D printing head 200 and the heated bed are disposed within the area surrounded by the frame 700. The top support 702 is located above the frame 700, and the feed tube connector 300 is disposed on the top support 702. In the vertical direction, the projection of the feed tube connector 300 is located at the center of the heated bed. Optionally, the processing device can be a corexy structure, with the support rod of the frame being a Z-axis vertical column. The guide is supported by the support rod, and the 3D printing head 200 can move along the guide in the XY plane under the drive of a belt. The heated bed is connected to a Z-axis lead screw to achieve movement in the Z-axis direction. Exemplarily, the guide can be at least one of a Y-axis linear guide, a carbon rod, and an X-axis optical axis. It should be understood that... Figure 4 This is just an illustration and does not restrict the type of structure of the processing equipment.

[0049] For example, the 3D printing head is slidably connected to a guide member. The guide member supports the 3D printing head. The 3D printing head is slidably connected to the guide member, and during processing, it can slide linearly along the extension direction of the guide member. The guide member can drive the 3D printing head to move along its width direction, and it can also drive the 3D printing head to move up and down. The sliding of the 3D printing head along the extension direction of the guide member, the movement of the 3D printing head along its width direction, and the up and down movement of the 3D printing head can be coordinated by a stepper motor and a transmission system. This allows the stepper motor to drive the 3D printing head to move precisely in three-dimensional space via a lead screw, ensuring that the material processed by the 3D printing head is shaped according to the designed trajectory.

[0050] The top support 702, located above the frame 700, provides a stable support point for the material tube connector 300. The design of the top support 702 also allows for flexible adjustment of the material tube connector 300's position to accommodate different models or specifications of 3D printing heads 200 and heated beds. The projection of the material tube connector 300 onto the heated bed ensures that the material tube is evenly distributed on both sides of the center of the heated bed when the 3D printing head moves, avoiding excessive bending on one side due to offset settings. This allows the material tube to maintain a relatively straight state when the 3D printing head moves, reducing resistance during 3D printing filament delivery and ensuring continuous and stable 3D printing filament delivery to the 3D printing head 200. In some feasible embodiments, the top support and frame are rotatably connected, allowing the top support 702 to rotate at a certain angle to accommodate the multi-dimensional movement of the 3D printing head 200 and ensure the straightness of the material tube. Alternatively, the pipe connector can rotate relative to the frame. For example, the top bracket is fixedly connected to the frame, and the pipe connector is rotatably connected to the top bracket to ensure the straightness of the pipe.

[0051] Figure 4 The top support 702 can be replaced by a feeding mechanism located above the frame 700. The material pipe connector 300 is positioned on the feeding mechanism, and its projection in the vertical direction is centered on the heated bed. Optionally, the processing equipment can be a corexy structure (e.g., Figure 5 As shown, the support rod 502 is a vertical column along the Z-axis, and the guide is supported by the support rod 502. The 3D printing head 200 can move along the guide in the XY plane under the drive of the belt. The heated bed is connected to the Z-axis lead screw to achieve movement in the Z-axis direction. For example, the guide can be at least one of the following: a Y-axis linear guide, a carbon rod, and an X-axis optical axis.

[0052] The feeding mechanism is located above the frame 700 to ensure a continuous supply of 3D printing filament to the 3D print head 200 without interfering with its movement. The projection of the feed tube connector 300 is centered on the heated bed, ensuring that the feed tube is evenly distributed on both sides of the center of the heated bed as the 3D print head moves. This avoids excessive bending on one side due to offset settings, allowing the feed tube to maintain a relatively straight state as the 3D print head moves. This reduces resistance during 3D printing filament delivery and ensures a continuous and stable supply of 3D printing filament to the 3D print head 200.

[0053] The feeding mechanism is rotatably connected to the frame 700, allowing it to rotate at a certain angle to accommodate the multi-dimensional movement of the 3D printing head 200 and ensure the straightness of the feed tube. As the 3D printing head 200 moves, the feeding mechanism can move freely within a certain range to adapt to its movement. This movement effectively reduces the bending angle and stress concentration of the feed tube during movement, preventing localized vacuum or excessive bending between the feed tube and the 3D printing filament, and lowering the risk of filament blockage.

[0054] In some feasible implementations, the feeding mechanism and the frame are rotatably connected. The feeding mechanism can rotate at a certain angle to adapt to the multi-dimensional movement of the 3D printing head and ensure the straightness of the material tube.

[0055] Please see Figure 5 The feeding mechanism includes a material box 100, a bracket 150, and a support shaft 160. The bracket 150 is rotatably connected to the support shaft 160, and the feeding mechanism is rotatably connected to the support shaft 160. Specifically, the material box has a hollow shaft sleeved on the support shaft, and the hollow shaft can rotate relative to the support shaft, so that the entire feeding mechanism can rotate relative to the frame.

[0056] When printing a product, the 3D print head needs to move according to a set trajectory to print a product with a preset structure / shape. The cartridge and the 3D print head are connected by a material tube. During the movement of the 3D print head according to the set trajectory, the 3D print head is sometimes closer to the cartridge and sometimes farther away. Since the length of the material tube between the cartridge and the 3D print head is fixed, the length of the material tube needs to allow the 3D print head to move to a position farther away from the cartridge. When the 3D print head moves to a position closer to the cartridge, in order to keep the material tube relatively straight, the cartridge can be rotated so that the 3D printing filament outlet on the cartridge moves away from the 3D print head, thus keeping the material tube straight. When the 3D print head moves to a position farther away from the cartridge, the cartridge can be rotated so that the 3D printing filament outlet on the cartridge moves closer to the 3D print head, ensuring that the length of the material tube meets the movement requirements of the 3D print head. It should be noted that during the movement of the 3D print head, the feed tube can remain straight, resulting in less friction in the feed tube when conveying the 3D printing filament. This allows for smoother filament delivery and reduces the likelihood of the feed tube getting stuck with the 3D printing filament when the 3D print head is printing a product.

[0057] In the embodiments provided in this application, one end of the 3D printing filament in the filament box extends from the filament connector into the filament tube and extends through the filament tube into the 3D printing head.

[0058] In some feasible implementations, the cassette can be passively rotated to accommodate the movement of the 3D print head. For example, when the 3D print head moves from a position close to the cassette to a position far from it, the 3D print head pulls the cassette to rotate via the material tube, causing the material tube connector on the cassette to face the location of the 3D print head, thus moving the material tube connector closer to the 3D print head. When the 3D print head moves from a position far from the cassette to a position close to it, the 3D print head pushes the cassette to rotate via the material tube, causing the material tube connector to move away from the 3D print head. After the cassette returns to its original position, the material tube connector still faces the location where the 3D print head moved.

[0059] The 3D printing filament includes either thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or a foam material, while the tubing is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). When the 3D print head moves from a position far from the filament cartridge to a position close to it, the higher rigidity of the tubing and the better elasticity of the 3D printing filament prevent the filament from easily breaking within the tubing as the print head pushes the cartridge to rotate.

[0060] In some feasible implementations, the feeding mechanism can be an active feeding / unfeeding mechanism with a drive component. The drive component drives the hopper to rotate relative to the support shaft, changing the direction in which the filament is fed by the feed tube connector. For example, when the 3D printing head moves from a position close to the hopper to a position far from it, the drive component rotates the hopper, causing the feed tube connector on the hopper to face the 3D printing head, thus moving the connector closer to the head. When the 3D printing head moves from a position far from the hopper to a position close to it, the drive component rotates the hopper, causing the feed tube connector to move away from the head. After the hopper returns to its original position, the feed tube connector still faces the position the 3D printing head had moved to. Driving the hopper to rotate in coordination with the 3D printing head's movement helps keep the feed tube straight during the head's movement, reducing friction between the feed tube and the 3D printing filament, and improving the smoothness of the filament feed. The material tube connector always faces the position of the 3D printing head during the movement of the 3D printing head, to prevent the connection between the material tube and the material tube connector from bending too much and getting stuck in the 3D printing filament.

[0061] In some feasible implementations, the driving component can be used to drive the feed tube connector to move or rotate relative to the filament box to change the direction in which the feed tube connector delivers the 3D printing filament. For example, when the 3D printing head moves from a position closer to the filament box to a position farther away, the driving component drives the feed tube connector to rotate, causing the feed tube connector to face the position where the 3D printing head has moved. This ensures that the feed tube remains straight at the connection point with the feed tube connector, preventing the feed tube from jamming the 3D printing filament at the connection point. When the 3D printing head moves from a position farther away from the filament box to a position closer to the filament box, the driving component drives the feed tube connector to rotate, ensuring that the feed tube connector still faces the position where the 3D printing head has moved. In the embodiments provided in this application, the filament box is fixedly connected to the support, and the feed tube connector can rotate relative to the outer shell of the filament box. The feed tube connector can be driven to rotate by the driving component; for example, the feed tube connector is disposed on the outer periphery of a gear or shaft, and when the gear or shaft rotates, the feed tube connector can rotate with the gear or shaft. The feed tube connector can also be driven by mechanisms such as racks or cranks to change the direction of the feed tube connector. The purpose is to make the feed tube connector face the 3D printing head and make the feed tube as straight as possible.

[0062] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0063] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first," "second," etc., in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0064] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0065] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this application.

[0066] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A material pipe, characterized in that, The feed tube is provided with a channel for conveying 3D printing filament, and the inner wall of the channel has a groove that is recessed radially outward along the feed tube.

2. The feed tube as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The channel has an inscribed circle and an circumscribed circle, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle to the diameter of the inscribed circle is greater than 1 and less than 1.

25.

3. The feed tube as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The channel has a circumscribed circle, the ratio of the diameter of the circumscribed circle to the outer diameter of the feed tube is greater than 0.60 and less than 0.

75.

4. The feed tube as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feed tube is used to connect to a feed tube connector. The channel has an inner circle, and there are multiple grooves, which are evenly arranged around the inner circle; or In the feed tube, compared to the channel located between the two ends of the feed tube, the channel near the feed tube joint has fewer grooves or the grooves are shallower; or In the feed tube, the grooves are not distributed in the area of ​​the channel within at least 3 cm of the feed tube joint.

5. The feed tube as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The walls of adjacent trenches are smoothly connected.

6. The feed tube as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The channel has an inscribed circle, the ratio of the diameter of the inscribed circle to the diameter of the 3D printed filament is greater than 1 and less than 1.

42.

7. The feed tube as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The 3D printing filament is made of either thermoplastic polyurethane or foam material.

8. The feed tube as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The diameter of the inscribed circle is 2.0mm-2.4mm, and the difference between the diameter of the circumscribed circle and the diameter of the inscribed circle is between (0mm, 0.36mm).

9. The feed tube as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the feed tube includes polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. A processing device, characterized in that, The processing equipment includes a feed tube as described in any one of claims 1-9.

11. The processing equipment as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, guide components, support frame, material pipe connector, and heated bed; The support frame is perpendicular to the heated bed. The support frame includes a crossbeam and at least two support rods. The crossbeam is connected to the support rods along its length. The guide is movably disposed on the support rods. The 3D printing head is slidably connected to the guide. Along its length, the material tube connector is positioned at the center of the crossbeam, with one end of the material tube connected to the material tube connector and the other end of the material tube connected to the 3D printing head.

12. The processing equipment as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, a material tube connector, a frame, a top support, a feeding mechanism, and a heated bed; one end of the material tube is connected to the material tube connector, and the other end of the material tube is connected to the 3D printing head; The 3D printing head and the heated bed are positioned within the area enclosed by the frame. The top support is located above the frame, and the feed tube connector is positioned on the top support. Vertically, the projection of the feed tube connector is located at the center of the heated bed; or The 3D printing head and the heated bed are located within the area surrounded by the frame. The feeding mechanism is located above the frame, and the feed tube connector is located on the feeding mechanism. In the vertical direction, the projection of the feed tube connector is located at the center of the heated bed.

13. The processing equipment as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, a feed tube connector, a frame, and a top support, with the 3D printing head positioned within the area enclosed by the frame. The top support is located above the enclosure. The top support has a material tube connector. One end of the material tube is connected to the material tube connector, and the other end of the material tube is connected to the 3D printing head. The top support or the material tube connector can rotate relative to the enclosure.

14. The processing equipment as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The processing equipment includes a 3D printing head, a frame, and a feeding mechanism, wherein the 3D printing head is disposed within the area surrounded by the frame; The feeding mechanism is located above the enclosure. The feeding mechanism has a material pipe connector. One end of the material pipe is connected to the material pipe connector, and the other end of the material pipe is connected to the 3D printing head. The feeding mechanism rotates relative to the enclosure.

15. The processing equipment as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism includes a material box, a bracket, and a support shaft. The bracket is connected to the support shaft, and the material box is sleeved on the support shaft and rotatably connected to the support shaft.

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