A laser powder bed additive-subtractive device

Abstract

This utility model discloses a laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device, belonging to the field of additive manufacturing technology. It includes a main frame and a printing chamber mounted on the main frame, the printing chamber being connected to a wind farm system; a subtractive manufacturing chamber fixed to the main frame is located on one side of the printing chamber; wherein, the printing chamber has a printing position for printing the product, and the subtractive manufacturing chamber has a subtractive manufacturing position for subtracting material from the product; a moving platform is provided between the subtractive manufacturing chamber and the printing chamber, and a height-adjustable printing station is provided on the moving platform, which is used to control the switching of the printing station between the printing position in the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing position in the subtractive manufacturing chamber. This utility model realizes the simultaneous printing and subtractive manufacturing process of the product by reciprocating switching between the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing chamber via the moving platform. By incorporating subtractive processing into the additive manufacturing process, this device can achieve the processing of fine internal features and surface quality of the product, reaching the precision of traditional machining.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of additive manufacturing technology, specifically to a laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device. Background Technology

[0002] Additive manufacturing technology is a manufacturing technique that uses a 3D design model to create a product layer by layer through slicing. Additive manufacturing technology overcomes the structural and performance limitations of tooling and fixtures, greatly increasing design freedom. It also eliminates the prescribed processes of traditional manufacturing methods, saving production time, especially new product development time, and is widely used in many fields.

[0003] The existing 3D printer process involves the following steps: after each layer is processed, the worktable descends a certain distance, a powder feeder delivers a certain amount of powder, which is then spread out by a powder spreading mechanism. A laser then sinters the powder layer. This process of sintering, worktable descent, powder feeding, and powder spreading is repeated continuously until the final product is complete. However, this type of 3D printer cannot process the fine internal features and surfaces of products during operation, limiting the application range of the processed products. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a laser powder bed additive and subtractive manufacturing device, which, by incorporating subtractive processing during the additive manufacturing process, enables the fine internal features or surface quality of the product to achieve the precision of traditional machining.

[0005] The present invention adopts the following technical solution: a laser powder bed additive and subtractive material device, comprising a main frame and a printing chamber installed on the main frame, wherein the printing chamber is connected to an air field system;

[0006] A subtractive material chamber fixed to the main frame is provided on one side of the printing chamber;

[0007] The printing chamber has a printing position for printing products, and the subtractive manufacturing chamber has a subtractive manufacturing position for subtracting materials from the products.

[0008] A mobile platform is installed between the subtractive manufacturing chamber and the printing chamber. The mobile platform is equipped with a height-adjustable printing station and is used to control the switching of the printing station between the printing position in the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing position in the subtractive manufacturing chamber.

[0009] Furthermore, the bottom of the printing chamber is provided with a printing position opening, and the bottom of the subtractive material chamber is provided with a subtractive material position opening;

[0010] The printing station includes a forming cylinder with an open top, and a piston is installed in the forming cylinder in a lifting manner. The upper surface of the piston is used to fix the printed product.

[0011] The forming cylinder is mounted on a mobile platform;

[0012] The mobile platform is slidably positioned below the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing chamber. The mobile platform is used to control the upper port of the forming cylinder to align with the printing position opening or the subtractive manufacturing position opening.

[0013] The bottom of the piston is fixed with a first driving device, and the output end of the first driving device is fixed with a piston screw.

[0014] The piston screw is parallel to the forming cylinder and passes through the bottom plate of the forming cylinder and the moving platform; a piston nut is threaded onto the piston screw and is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the forming cylinder.

[0015] At the four corners of the bottom of the piston, there is a guide post parallel to the forming cylinder. The guide post passes through the bottom plate of the forming cylinder and the moving platform. A guide sleeve is slidably fitted on the guide post and is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the forming cylinder.

[0016] The lower ends of the guide column and piston screw are connected to a connecting plate.

[0017] The forming cylinder is lifted and installed on the mobile platform via a lift.

[0018] The elevator includes four rectangularly arranged lead screw and nut assemblies, which are installed between the four corners of the forming cylinder bottom plate and the moving platform; a second drive device for driving the four lead screw and nut assemblies is also installed on the moving platform.

[0019] The main frame is fixed with a slide rail, and the mobile platform is slidably mounted on the slide rail.

[0020] A rack is fixed to one side of the slide rail, and a third drive device is fixed to the moving platform. A gear that meshes with the rack is fixed to the output end of the third drive device.

[0021] A positioning cylinder is fixed to the side of the upper end of the forming cylinder;

[0022] Positioning grooves that cooperate with positioning cylinders are provided on both the printing position opening side of the printing chamber and the subtractive material opening side of the subtractive material chamber.

[0023] When the positioning cylinder extends and inserts into the corresponding positioning groove, the positioning cylinder is locked in place.

[0024] The airflow system is connected to the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing chamber via three-way valves to ensure the gaseous working environment of the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing chamber.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0026] By switching back and forth between the printing chamber and the subtractive manufacturing chamber via a mobile platform, the product can be processed by printing and subtractive manufacturing simultaneously. By incorporating subtractive processing into the additive manufacturing process, the device can process the fine internal features and surface quality of the product, achieving the precision of traditional machining. This solves the problem that existing 3D printers cannot process the fine internal features and internal surfaces of products, and broadens the application scope of 3D printing technology.

[0027] The lifting mechanism of the elevator and piston provides stable support and guidance for the lifting of the forming cylinder and piston, improving the stability of the equipment; the cooperation of the positioning cylinder and positioning groove ensures the positional stability of the forming cylinder during operation, avoids movement caused by vibration or other accidents, and improves processing accuracy and quality. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a front view of a laser powder bed additive / subtractive material device according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a left view of a laser powder bed additive / subtractive material device according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0032] Figure 4 for Figure 2 BB section view.

[0033] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0034] Figure 6 This is an assembly drawing of the printing station in this utility model.

[0035] Figure 7 This is an assembly drawing of the main frame of this utility model.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0037] 1. Main frame; 11. Slide rail;

[0038] 2. Printing chamber; 21. Printing position opening;

[0039] 3. Wind farm system;

[0040] 4. Subtractive material compartment; 41. Subtractive material location opening;

[0041] 5. Printing station; 51. Forming cylinder; 52. Piston; 53. Piston screw; 54. First drive device; 55. Piston nut; 56. Guide column; 57. Guide sleeve; 58. Connecting plate; 59. Positioning cylinder;

[0042] 6. Mobile platform; 61. Rack; 62. Third drive unit; 63. Gear;

[0043] 7. Elevator; 71. Lead screw and nut assembly; 72. Second drive device. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0045] Example 1:

[0046] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this utility model provides a laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device, including a main frame 1, on which a printing chamber 2, a subtractive manufacturing chamber 4, and an airflow system 3 are mounted. The airflow system 3 is connected to the printing chamber 2 and the subtractive manufacturing chamber 4 respectively via three-way valves. During operation, the airflow system 3 provides a gaseous working environment for the printing chamber 2 and the subtractive manufacturing chamber 4. The printing chamber 2 is equipped with a printing mechanism for printing products; the subtractive manufacturing chamber 4 is equipped with a subtractive manufacturing mechanism for performing subtractive manufacturing operations on the printed products. The printing mechanism and the subtractive manufacturing mechanism adopt existing technology, and this embodiment does not impose further limitations.

[0047] The printing chamber 2 has a printing position for printing products, and a printing position opening 21 is provided on the bottom plate of the printing chamber 2 at the printing position. The subtractive processing chamber 4 has a subtractive processing position for subtracting materials from the product, and a subtractive processing position opening 41 is provided on the bottom plate of the subtractive processing chamber 4 at the subtractive processing position. A slide rail 11 is fixed on the main frame 1 below the printing chamber 2 and the subtractive processing chamber 4. The moving platform 6 is slidably mounted on the slide rail 11, and the printing station 5 is mounted on the moving platform 6. The third drive device 62 drives the moving platform 6 to reciprocate between the printing position opening 21 and the subtractive processing position opening 41, realizing the processing operation of printing and subtracting materials simultaneously.

[0048] Combination Figures 1 to 3As shown, the printing station 5 includes a forming cylinder 51 with an open top. The forming cylinder 51 is mounted on the moving platform 6 via a lift 7. The lift 7 can control the forming cylinder 51 to rise, so that the upper end of the forming cylinder 51 can be pressed against the bottom plate below the printing chamber 2 and the subtractive material chamber 4; it can also control the forming cylinder 51 to fall, so that the forming cylinder 51 can be moved to one side for easy removal of the product.

[0049] The piston 52 is mounted vertically in the forming cylinder 51, and its upper surface is used to fix the printed product. When the piston 52 rises, it can push the product to the printing position of the printing chamber 2 or the subtractive position of the subtractive chamber 4, which facilitates the printing or subtractive processing of the product, and enables fine features and surface processing of the product's exterior and interior. When the piston 52 falls, it can completely sink the product into the forming cylinder 51, which facilitates the switching of the forming cylinder 51 between the printing position opening 21 and the subtractive position opening 41.

[0050] Example 2:

[0051] Based on the above embodiment one, combined with Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the lifting platform 7 includes four rectangularly arranged lead screw and nut assemblies 71, which are correspondingly installed at the four corners of the base plate of the forming cylinder 51 and between the platform 6. The lead screw in each assembly 71 is fixed to the base plate of the forming cylinder 51, and the nut in each assembly 71 is rotatably mounted on the platform 6. A second drive device 72 is fixed to the platform 6. The second drive device 72 uses a stepper motor and a transmission rod to drive the nut to rotate, thereby realizing the lifting and lowering of the forming cylinder 51.

[0052] The lifting and lowering of piston 52 is controlled by a first drive device 54. The first drive device 54 is fixed to the bottom of piston 52. The upper end of piston screw 53 is connected to the output end of the first drive device 54. Piston screw 53 is parallel to forming cylinder 51 and passes downwards through the bottom plate of forming cylinder 51 and the moving platform 6. A piston nut 55 is fitted onto piston screw 53 and fixed to the bottom plate of forming cylinder 51. When the first drive device 54 drives piston screw 53 to rotate clockwise, piston screw 53 moves up and down relative to piston nut 55, thereby controlling the lifting and lowering of piston 52 at the upper end of piston screw 53.

[0053] To improve the stability of piston 52, a guide post 56 is fixed at each of the four corners of the bottom of piston 52. The guide post 56 is parallel to the forming cylinder 51 and passes downward through the bottom plate of the forming cylinder 51 and the moving platform 6. A guide sleeve 57 is slidably fitted on the guide post 56 and fixed to the bottom plate of the forming cylinder 51. A connecting plate 58 is connected to the lower end of the guide post 56 and the piston screw 53, with the lower end of the piston screw 53 rotatably connected to the connecting plate 58. The guide post 56 provides guidance for the lifting and lowering movement of piston 52, and the connecting plate 58 connects the lower ends of the guide post 56 and the piston screw 53, improving the stability of the entire mechanism.

[0054] Example 3:

[0055] Based on the above embodiments one or two, combined with Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a third drive device 62 is fixed to one side of the mobile platform 6, and a gear 63 is fixed to the output end of the third drive device 62. A rack 61 is fixed to one side of the slide rail 11, and the gear 63 meshes with the rack 61. By driving the gear 63 to rotate forward and backward through the third drive device 62, the mobile platform 6 can be controlled to slide on the slide rail 11, completing the docking of the printing station 5 on the mobile platform 6 with the printing chamber 2 and the subtractive material chamber 4.

[0056] Additionally, a pair of positioning cylinders 59 are fixed to the side of the upper end of the forming cylinder 51, and the telescopic end of the upper end of the positioning cylinder 59 has a pin. Positioning grooves are provided on the sides of the printing position opening 21 and the subtractive material position opening 41. When the printing station 5 needs to move, the pin at the upper end of the positioning cylinder 59 retracts. When the printing station 5 moves to the printing chamber 2 or the subtractive material chamber 4, the positioning cylinder 59 extends, and when the pin is inserted into the corresponding positioning groove, the positioning cylinder 59 is locked in place, preventing the forming cylinder 51 from moving due to vibration or other accidents during operation, thus ensuring processing quality.

[0057] Work process:

[0058] After the printing preparation is completed, the third drive device 62 drives the moving platform 6 to slide to the printing chamber 2, the elevator 7 drives the forming cylinder 51 to rise and dock with the printing position opening 21, the positioning cylinder 59 extends to position the forming cylinder 51; the piston 52 moves upward to the printing position and the printing operation begins.

[0059] After a section of printing is completed, piston 52 moves downward, causing the product to sink completely into forming cylinder 51, and positioning cylinder 59 retracts to unlock forming cylinder 51.

[0060] The third drive unit 62 drives the mobile platform 6 to slide to the subtractive chamber 4, the forming cylinder 51 is aligned with the subtractive position opening 41, the positioning cylinder 59 extends to position the forming cylinder 51; the piston 52 moves upward to the subtractive position to start the subtractive operation.

[0061] After the material reduction operation is completed, repeat the above operation, return to the printing position, and start the next printing job;

[0062] This process is repeated until the entire product is finished.

[0063] The preferred embodiments of this utility model disclosed above are merely illustrative of the present utility model. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the utility model to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of this utility model, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize it. This utility model is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. A laser powder bed additive and subtractive manufacturing device, comprising a main frame (1) and a printing chamber (2) mounted on the main frame (1), wherein the printing chamber (2) is connected to an air field system (3); Its features are: The printing chamber (2) has a subtractive material chamber (4) fixed on the main frame (1) on one side. The printing chamber (2) has a printing position for printing products, and the subtractive manufacturing chamber (4) has a subtractive manufacturing position for subtracting materials from products. A mobile platform (6) is provided between the subtractive manufacturing chamber (4) and the printing chamber (2). A height-adjustable printing station (5) is provided on the mobile platform (6). The mobile platform (6) is used to control the printing station (5) to switch between the printing station in the printing chamber (2) and the subtractive manufacturing chamber (4).

2. The laser powder bed additive-subtractive device of claim 1, wherein: The printing chamber (2) has a printing position opening (21) at the bottom, and the subtractive material chamber (4) has a subtractive material opening (41) at the bottom. The printing station (5) includes a forming cylinder (51) with an open top, and a piston (52) is installed in the forming cylinder (51) and the upper surface of the piston (52) is used to fix the printed product. The forming cylinder (51) is mounted on the mobile platform (6); The mobile platform (6) is slidably disposed below the printing chamber (2) and the subtractive manufacturing chamber (4). The mobile platform (6) is used to control the upper port of the forming cylinder (51) to dock with the printing position opening (21) or the subtractive manufacturing position opening (41).

3. The laser powder bed additive-subtractive device of claim 2, wherein: The bottom of the piston (52) is fixed with a first driving device (54), and the output end of the first driving device (54) is fixed with a piston screw (53). The piston screw (53) is parallel to the forming cylinder (51), and the piston screw (53) passes through the bottom plate of the forming cylinder (51) and the moving platform (6); the piston screw (53) is threaded with a piston nut (55), and the piston nut (55) is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the forming cylinder (51).

4. The laser powder bed additive-subtractive device of claim 3, wherein: At the four corners of the bottom of the piston (52), there is a guide post (56) parallel to the forming cylinder (51). The guide post (56) passes through the bottom plate of the forming cylinder (51) and the moving platform (6). A guide sleeve (57) is slidably fitted on the guide post (56). The guide sleeve (57) is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the forming cylinder (51). The lower ends of the guide post (56) and the piston screw (53) are connected to a connecting plate (58).

5. The laser powder bed additive-subtractive device of claim 2, wherein: The forming cylinder (51) is lifted and installed on the mobile platform (6) by a lift (7).

6. The laser powder bed additive-subtractive device of claim 5, wherein: The elevator (7) includes four rectangularly arranged lead screw and nut assemblies (71), which are installed between the four corners of the bottom plate of the forming cylinder (51) and the moving platform (6); a second drive device (72) for driving the four lead screw and nut assemblies (71) is also installed on the moving platform (6).

7. A laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The main frame (1) is fixed with a slide rail (11), and the mobile platform (6) is slidably mounted on the slide rail (11).

8. A laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A rack (61) is fixed on one side of the slide rail (11), and a third drive device (62) is fixed on the moving platform (6). A gear (63) that meshes with the rack (61) is fixed at the output end of the third drive device (62).

9. A laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A positioning cylinder (59) is fixed on the side of the upper end of the forming cylinder (51). A positioning groove that cooperates with the positioning cylinder (59) is provided on one side of the printing position opening (21) of the printing chamber (2) and on one side of the subtractive position opening (41) of the subtractive chamber (4). When the positioning cylinder (59) extends and inserts into the corresponding positioning groove, the positioning cylinder (59) is locked in place.

10. A laser powder bed additive / subtractive manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wind farm system (3) is connected to the printing chamber (2) and the subtractive manufacturing chamber (4) respectively through a three-way valve to ensure the gas operating environment of the printing chamber (2) and the subtractive manufacturing chamber (4).

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