A powder spreader for 3D printing and a 3D printing apparatus

Abstract

This application relates to a powder spreader for 3D printing, comprising a mounting body, a first feeding shaft, and a second feeding shaft. The mounting body has a feeding groove with a feeding port at the bottom. Both the first and second feeding shafts are rotatably mounted within the feeding groove. A first tooth of the first feeding shaft meshes with a second tooth of the second feeding shaft, with the meshing position of the first and second teeth facing the feeding port. When the first and second feeding shafts rotate, powder is conveyed to the feeding port through the gap between the first and second teeth. This application also relates to a 3D printing device. This solution can solve the problems of poor powder delivery uniformity, difficulty in controlling feeding, and uneven powder accumulation or loose edges during the printing process in existing powder spreaders for 3D printing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printing equipment technology, and in particular to a powder spreader and 3D printing equipment for 3D printing. Background Technology

[0002] In powder bed 3D printing, traditional powder spreading devices typically employ a unidirectional spreading method, where the powder spreader moves in only one direction and spreads powder on the printing platform. This method suffers from significant efficiency issues. Because the powder spreader must return to its initial position empty after each spreading cycle, a large amount of ineffective travel occurs during printing, reducing overall printing speed. Furthermore, in unidirectional spreading, the powder is only subjected to shearing and transport in one direction, easily leading to uneven powder accumulation and inconsistent density at the edges of the printing area, thus affecting the dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of the finished part.

[0003] Existing powder spreaders mostly employ single-roller or scraper structures, resulting in poor uniformity and continuity of powder delivery, especially at high speeds, which can easily lead to powder scattering or localized accumulation. Furthermore, traditional powder spreading mechanisms struggle to precisely control the powder feed rate, causing fluctuations in powder layer thickness and impacting print quality. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a powder spreading device that can improve spreading efficiency, enhance powder distribution uniformity, and increase feed controllability. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a powder spreader and 3D printing equipment to address the problems of poor powder delivery uniformity, difficulty in controlling material feeding, uneven powder accumulation or loose edges during the printing process of existing powder spreaders for 3D printing.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] This utility model discloses a powder spreader for 3D printing, including a mounting body, a first feeding shaft, and a second feeding shaft. The mounting body has a feeding groove with a feeding port at the bottom. The first feeding shaft and the second feeding shaft are rotatably disposed in the feeding groove. A first tooth of the first feeding shaft meshes with a second tooth of the second feeding shaft. The meshing position of the first tooth and the second tooth faces the feeding port. When the first feeding shaft and the second feeding shaft rotate, the powder is conveyed to the feeding port through the gap between the first tooth and the second tooth.

[0007] In one embodiment, a material equalization mechanism is further included, which is disposed in the feeding trough and above the first feeding shaft and the second feeding shaft.

[0008] In one embodiment, the material equalization mechanism includes a first material equalization section and a second material equalization section connected together, the first material equalization section being located on the first feeding shaft and the second material equalization section being located on the second feeding shaft.

[0009] In one embodiment, a driving member is further included, which is drivenly connected to the material distribution mechanism. The material distribution mechanism is provided with a toothed portion, and the driving member drives the toothed portion to reciprocate in the length direction of the first feeding shaft or the second feeding shaft.

[0010] In one embodiment, a scraping mechanism is further included, which is disposed below the first feeding shaft and the second feeding shaft. The scraping mechanism includes a first scraping part and a second scraping part connected together. The scraping teeth of the first scraping part mesh with the first meshing tooth, and the scraping teeth of the second scraping part mesh with the second meshing tooth.

[0011] In one embodiment, the system further includes two scrapers, which are disposed opposite to each other at the bottom of the mounting body, with the discharge port located between the two scrapers.

[0012] In one embodiment, multiple vibration modules are spaced apart along the length of the outer side of the scraper.

[0013] In one embodiment, the vibration module is a voice coil motor.

[0014] In one embodiment, the forming method of the first or second feeding shaft includes casting, additive manufacturing, and machining.

[0015] Secondly, this utility model discloses a 3D printing device, including the powder spreader for 3D printing described above.

[0016] The technical solution adopted in this utility model can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0017] In the 3D printing powder spreader disclosed in this embodiment, the dual-axis meshing transmission structure allows the powder spreader to achieve bidirectional powder spreading (such as left-right reciprocating movement) without empty return, significantly reducing ineffective strokes and improving printing efficiency. Simultaneously, the shearing action of the meshing teeth ensures that the powder is fully dispersed and evenly spread during transport, preventing edge accumulation. The mechanical meshing design with synchronous dual-axis rotation allows for precise adjustment of powder flow, making it particularly suitable for high-precision printing. Furthermore, the gaps between the meshing teeth form a closed powder transport channel, reducing powder scattering during high-speed spreading, while the helical meshing layout ensures continuous powder supply. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention from one perspective;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0021] 100-Installation body, 110-Discharge trough, 111-Discharge port, 200-First discharge shaft, 300-Second discharge shaft, 400-Equalizing mechanism, 500-Scraping mechanism, 600-Scraper, 700-Vibration module. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.

[0023] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "end," "top," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0025] like Figures 1-2 As shown in the figure, this utility model embodiment discloses a powder spreader for 3D printing. The disclosed powder spreader for 3D printing includes an installation body 100, a first feeding shaft 200, and a second feeding shaft 300.

[0026] The mounting body 100 has a feeding trough 110, and a feeding port 111 is provided at the bottom of the feeding trough 110. Specifically, the mounting body 100 serves as a support frame for the powder spreader, and has a longitudinally extending feeding trough 110 inside. The feeding port 111 is provided at the bottom of the feeding trough along the length direction for uniformly releasing powder to the printing platform.

[0027] The first feeding shaft 200 and the second feeding shaft 300 are rotatably mounted in the feeding groove 110. The first tooth of the first feeding shaft 200 meshes with the second tooth of the second feeding shaft 300. Optionally, the first feeding shaft 200 and the second feeding shaft 300 are installed in parallel and synchronously rotatable within the feeding groove 110. The surfaces of the two shafts are respectively provided with helical or gear-shaped first and second teeth, and the teeth mesh with each other to form a tightly fitted transmission structure.

[0028] The meshing position of the first and second teeth faces the feed inlet 111. When the first feed shaft 200 and the second feed shaft 300 rotate, the powder is conveyed to the feed inlet 111 through the gap between the first and second teeth. Specifically, the meshing point of the first and second teeth is directly opposite the feed inlet 111, so that the powder is directionally squeezed and conveyed in the gap between the teeth. When the two shafts rotate synchronously in opposite directions (e.g., the first feed shaft 200 rotates clockwise and the second feed shaft 300 rotates counterclockwise), the powder is evenly discharged from the gap by the shearing action of the teeth and spread onto the printing platform through the feed inlet 111.

[0029] During operation, powder is stored in the feeding trough 110, filling the meshing gap between the first feeding shaft 200 and the second feeding shaft 300. A drive mechanism (such as a motor) drives the two shafts to rotate synchronously, and the interaction of the meshing teeth continuously pushes the powder downwards, forming a continuous and controllable powder flow through the feeding port 111. By adjusting the rotational speed of the two shafts, the powder feeding amount and spreading speed can be precisely controlled to ensure consistent layer thickness.

[0030] As can be seen from the above, the powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in this utility model embodiment utilizes a dual-axis meshing transmission structure to achieve bidirectional powder spreading (such as left-right reciprocating movement) without empty return, significantly reducing ineffective strokes and improving printing efficiency. Simultaneously, the shearing action of the meshing teeth ensures that the powder is fully dispersed and evenly spread during transport, preventing edge accumulation. The mechanical meshing design with synchronous dual-axis rotation allows for precise adjustment of powder flow, making it particularly suitable for high-precision printing. Furthermore, the gap between the meshing teeth forms a closed powder transport channel, reducing powder scattering during high-speed spreading, while the helical meshing layout ensures continuous powder supply.

[0031] The powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in this embodiment may further include a material distribution mechanism 400. The material distribution mechanism 400 may be disposed within the feeding trough 110 and may be positioned above the first feeding shaft 200 and the second feeding shaft 300. The material distribution mechanism 400 is positioned above the first feeding shaft 200 and the second feeding shaft 300.

[0032] Furthermore, the material equalization mechanism 400 may include a first equalization section and a second equalization section connected together. The first equalization section is located on the first feeding shaft 200, and the second equalization section may be located on the second feeding shaft 300. By having the first and second equalization sections act on the two shafts respectively, uniform powder distribution is ensured, avoiding local accumulation or uneven feeding.

[0033] The powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in this embodiment may further include a driving component, which is drivably connected to a material distribution mechanism 400. The material distribution mechanism 400 is provided with toothed portions, and the driving component drives the toothed portions to reciprocate along the length direction of the first feeding shaft 200 or the second feeding shaft 300. The driving component drives the toothed portions to reciprocate along the length direction of the feeding shaft, further breaking up agglomerated powder, improving powder flowability and feeding uniformity, and is especially suitable for easily agglomerated metal or ceramic powders. The toothed portions may be comb-like or other toothed structures, and this embodiment of the present invention does not limit this.

[0034] Furthermore, the powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in this embodiment may also include a scraping mechanism 500. The scraping mechanism 500 is disposed below the first feeding shaft 200 and the second feeding shaft 300. The scraping mechanism 500 includes a first scraping part and a second scraping part connected together. The scraping teeth of the first scraping part engage with a first meshing tooth, and the scraping teeth of the second scraping part engage with a second meshing tooth. At this time, the first scraping part and the second scraping part of the scraping mechanism 500 engage with the first meshing tooth and the second meshing tooth respectively, which can effectively scrape off the residual powder adhering to the meshing tooth, preventing blockage or uneven feeding. Through the continuous cleaning action of the scraping teeth, the gap between the meshing teeth is always kept unobstructed, ensuring the continuity of powder delivery and the consistency of layer thickness, and improving the surface quality of the molded part.

[0035] The powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in this embodiment may further include two scrapers 600. The two scrapers 600 can be arranged opposite each other at the bottom of the mounting body 100, and the discharge port 111 can be located between the two scrapers 600, which is suitable for bidirectional powder spreading. The two scrapers 600 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the discharge port 111, so that the powder spreader can flatten the powder layer during bidirectional powder spreading and eliminate the edge accumulation problem caused by unidirectional powder spreading. Of course, the scrapers 600 can slightly compact the powder during movement, improve the uniformity and density of the powder layer, and reduce printing defects.

[0036] In this embodiment of the invention, multiple vibration modules 700 can be spaced along the length of the scraper 600. The vibration modules 700 are arranged at intervals along the length of the scraper 600, and the powder particles are tightly arranged through high-frequency micro-amplitude vibration, thereby increasing the density of the powder layer and reducing the porosity.

[0037] In one alternative embodiment, the vibration module 700 can be a voice coil motor to compact the powder. Using a voice coil motor as the vibration source allows for precise control of the vibration frequency and amplitude, adapting to the compaction requirements of different powder materials and optimizing print quality.

[0038] Furthermore, the forming method of the first feeding shaft 200 or the second feeding shaft 300 may include casting, additive manufacturing, or machining. Of course, other forming methods are also possible, and this embodiment of the present invention does not limit these methods.

[0039] Based on the powder spreader for 3D printing disclosed in this embodiment, this utility model discloses a 3D printing device including the powder spreader for 3D printing described in any of the above embodiments. The 3D printing device using the above-mentioned powder spreader has functions such as bidirectional powder spreading, dynamic material homogenization, and vibration compaction, which can significantly improve printing speed (reduce idle stroke), improve powder distribution uniformity, and enhance the dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of the molded parts, making it suitable for high-precision industrial-grade additive manufacturing.

[0040] In summary, this utility model achieves a highly efficient, uniform, and high-precision powder spreading process through the synergistic optimization of a material spreading mechanism, a scraping mechanism, a bidirectional scraper, and vibration compaction. It solves the problems of low efficiency, uneven powder distribution, and large layer thickness fluctuations in traditional unidirectional powder spreading, and is particularly suitable for high-requirement 3D printing applications such as metals and ceramics.

[0041] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A powder spreader for 3D printing, characterized in that, The device includes an installation body (100), a first feeding shaft (200), and a second feeding shaft (300). The installation body (100) has a feeding groove (110) with a feeding port (111) at the bottom. The first feeding shaft (200) and the second feeding shaft (300) are rotatably disposed in the feeding groove (110). The first tooth of the first feeding shaft (200) meshes with the second tooth of the second feeding shaft (300). The meshing position of the first tooth and the second tooth faces the feeding port (111). When the first feeding shaft (200) and the second feeding shaft (300) rotate, the powder is conveyed to the feeding port (111) through the gap between the first tooth and the second tooth.

2. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a material distribution mechanism (400), which is disposed in the feeding trough (110) and above the first feeding shaft (200) and the second feeding shaft (300).

3. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The material equalization mechanism (400) includes a first material equalization section and a second material equalization section connected together. The first material equalization section is located on the first feeding shaft (200), and the second material equalization section is located on the second feeding shaft (300).

4. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a driving component, which is drivenly connected to the material distribution mechanism (400). The material distribution mechanism (400) is provided with a toothed portion, and the driving component drives the toothed portion to reciprocate in the length direction of the first feeding shaft (200) or the second feeding shaft (300).

5. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a scraping mechanism (500), which is disposed below the first feeding shaft (200) and the second feeding shaft (300). The scraping mechanism (500) includes a first scraping part and a second scraping part connected together. The scraping teeth of the first scraping part mesh with the first meshing tooth, and the scraping teeth of the second scraping part mesh with the second meshing tooth.

6. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes two scrapers (600), which are disposed opposite to each other at the bottom of the mounting body (100), and the discharge port (111) is located between the two scrapers (600).

7. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 6, characterized in that, Multiple vibration modules (700) are spaced apart along the length of the outer side of the scraper (600).

8. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The vibration module (700) is a voice coil motor.

9. The powder spreader for 3D printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The forming methods of the first unloading shaft (200) or the second unloading shaft (300) include casting, additive manufacturing, and machining.

10. A 3D printing device, characterized in that, The powder spreader for 3D printing includes any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images