A continuous production 3D printing production line
By introducing a combination of screening cylinder, fan and heating wire into the 3D printing production line, PLA and ABS particles are screened and preheated, solving the problem of nozzle clogging caused by uneven particle size, and achieving stability in continuous production and improved quality of printed products.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NANJING GREEN ADDITIVE INTELLIGENT MFG RES INST CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
AI Technical Summary
In existing 3D printing production lines, the uneven particle size of PLA and ABS granules during feeding leads to uneven melting, which can easily clog the nozzles and cause the production line to stop.
The continuous production 3D printing production line includes the printing equipment body, AGV transport vehicle and raw material powder screening box. Through the cooperation of screening cylinder, fan and heating wire, PLA and ABS particles of standard particle size are screened out and preheated and dried to avoid nozzle clogging.
This ensures uniform melting of raw materials, avoids nozzle clogging, maintains continuous and stable production on the production line, improves the quality and stability of printed products, and reduces thermal stress and porosity defects in the products.
Smart Images
Figure CN224391935U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printing technology, specifically a continuous production 3D printing production line. Background Technology
[0002] In existing 3D printing production lines, the particle size of PLA and ABS raw materials differs during feeding. This can easily lead to uneven melting of PLA and ABS raw materials during high-temperature printing. Consequently, some PLA and ABS raw materials are too large and fail to melt completely, clogging the nozzle and causing the continuous production line to malfunction and stop.
[0003] Therefore, this utility model provides a continuous production 3D printing production line to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is that uneven particle size of the raw materials in the 3D printing production line can easily lead to incomplete melting and clogging of the nozzle, causing the production line to stop.
[0005] This utility model provides the following technical solution: a continuous production 3D printing production line, including a printing equipment body, an AGV transport vehicle, and a raw material powder screening box. The ground is paved with a channel to accommodate the movement of the AGV transport vehicle. The raw material powder screening box is installed on the AGV transport vehicle. The raw material powder screening box includes a box body, a first screening chamber, a second screening chamber, a screening cylinder, and a heating wire. The raw material powder screening box is non-permanently fixedly installed on the AGV transport vehicle. The raw material powder screening box has a first screening chamber and a second screening chamber that are connected. An air duct is provided between the first screening chamber and the second screening chamber. A screening cylinder is rotatably installed in the first screening chamber. A fan is fixedly installed below the first screening plate. An air inlet is provided on the box body corresponding to the fan. A heating wire is fixedly installed in the air inlet. The other side of the air duct is connected to the second screening chamber. An air outlet is provided at the bottom of the second screening chamber.
[0006] The screening cylinder has a first screening plate and a second screening plate fixedly installed on opposite sides, and a closing plate is fixedly installed on the vertical sides of the first screening plate and the second screening plate.
[0007] A first guide plate is fixedly installed below the screening cylinder, and a second guide plate is fixedly installed above the screening cylinder.
[0008] The screening cylinder is movably installed in the first screening chamber. An installation plate is fixedly installed at the end of the screening cylinder perpendicular to the first screening plate and the second screening plate. The end of the screening cylinder away from the installation plate has an open structure.
[0009] The screening cylinder is rotated 90° and fixed in the first screening chamber.
[0010] The first or second screening plate near the air inlet has a larger filter particle size than the first or second screening plate near the dividing channel.
[0011] A filter screen is fixedly installed at the air inlet, and an interceptor screen is fixedly installed at the air outlet.
[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:
[0013] This invention utilizes the combined action of a screening cylinder, a fan, and a heating wire to ensure uniform melting of PLA and ABS particles with standard particle sizes. This prevents nozzle blockage and production line shutdowns, facilitating continuous and stable production. Simultaneously, it removes moisture from the surface of the PLA and ABS particles and preheats them, preventing moisture from reacting with the raw materials and affecting mechanical properties or appearance, or forming steam that could cause porosity in the product. It also reduces thermal stress in the product. This combined action ensures stable continuous production while improving the quality of printed products. Attached Figure Description
[0014] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;
[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the screening cylinder of this utility model;
[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the other side of the screening cylinder of this utility model;
[0018] Figure 4 This is a side view sectional structural diagram of the raw material powder screening box of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 5 This is a frontal cross-sectional view of the raw material powder screening box of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 6 This is a side view sectional diagram of the rotating sieve cylinder inside the raw material powder sieve box of this utility model;
[0021] Figure 7 This is a front view cross-sectional diagram of the rotating sieve cylinder inside the raw material powder sieve box of this utility model.
[0022] In the diagram: 1. Printing equipment body; 2. AGV transport vehicle; 21. Channel; 3. Raw material powder sieving box; 31. Box body; 32. First sieving chamber; 33. Second sieving chamber; 331. Interception net; 34. Sieving cylinder; 341. Mounting plate; 342. Opening structure; 343. First sieving plate; 344. Second sieving plate; 345. Sealing plate; 35. Heating wire; 36. Fan; 361. Air inlet; 362. Filter screen; 37. Air duct; 371. Guide hole; 372. Guide fan; 38. First guide plate; 381. Second guide plate; 39. Pull-out box. Detailed Implementation
[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this utility model is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed utility model, but merely represents some embodiments of this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.
[0024] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.
[0025] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," and "back side," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of this utility model is conventionally placed during use. These terms are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.
[0026] It should also be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0027] This disclosure addresses the technical problem in 3D printing production lines where uneven particle size of raw materials can lead to incomplete melting and nozzle clogging, causing production line shutdowns. An embodiment of this disclosure provides a continuous production 3D printing production line, including a printing equipment body 1, an AGV transport vehicle 2, and a raw material powder sieving box 3. The ground is paved with a channel 21 to accommodate the movement of the AGV transport vehicle 2. The raw material powder sieving box 3 is mounted on the AGV transport vehicle 2. The raw material powder sieving box 3 includes a box body 31, a first sieving chamber 32, a second sieving chamber 33, a sieving cylinder 34, and a heating wire 35. The raw material powder sieving box 3 is non-permanently fixedly installed on the AGV transport vehicle 2, and the interior of the raw material powder sieving box 3 is horizontally connected. The system includes a first screening chamber 32 and a second screening chamber 33. An air duct 37 is provided between the first screening chamber 32 and the second screening chamber 33. A screening cylinder 34 is rotatably installed in the first screening chamber 32. A fan 36 is fixedly installed below the first screening plate 343. An air inlet 361 is provided on the housing 31 corresponding to the fan 36. A heating wire 35 is fixedly installed in the air inlet 361. The air duct 37 is connected above the screening cylinder 34. The other side of the air duct 37 is connected to the second screening chamber 33. An air outlet is provided at the bottom of the second screening chamber 33.
[0028] The printing device body 1 is existing technology, and its structure or connection relationship will not be described in detail here.
[0029] The channel 21 laid on the ground extends to the feed inlet of the printing equipment body 1. During the transportation process by the AGV transport vehicle 2, the fan 36 is started and the heating wire 35 is energized for heating. The fan 36 draws in air through the air inlet 361 and is heated by the heating wire 35 to form hot air. The hot air flows upward toward the air duct 37. As the hot air flows upward, it blows up PLA and ABS particles, so that PLA and ABS particles with a particle size equal to or smaller than the standard raw material particle size pass through the side wall of the screening cylinder 34 and enter the screening cylinder 34, while PLA and ABS particles with a particle size larger than the standard raw material particle size are intercepted by the side wall of the screening cylinder 34.
[0030] PLA and ABS particles smaller than the standard raw material particle size that enter the screening cylinder 34 will pass through the other side wall of the screening cylinder 34. However, standard-sized PLA and ABS particles, because their particle size is larger than the diameter of the filter screen 362 on the other side wall of the screening cylinder 34, are retained in the screening cylinder 34. This results in the PLA and ABS particles in the raw material powder screening box 3 being separated into large-sized PLA and ABS particles that do not enter the screening cylinder 34, standard-sized PLA and ABS particles retained in the screening cylinder 34, and small-sized PLA and ABS particles that pass through the screening cylinder 34. The small-sized PLA and ABS particles that pass through the screening cylinder 34 are randomly carried by hot air into the air duct 37 and accumulate in the second screening chamber 33.
[0031] When hot air lifts PLA and ABS particles of equal or smaller than the standard raw material particle size and traps standard-sized PLA and ABS particles in the screening cylinder 34, it ensures that the raw materials used in the printing equipment body 1 are all of the most suitable standard particle size. This improves the uniformity of PLA and ABS particle powder distribution and melting rate, preventing large particles from melting incompletely, causing blockages, pores, or internal defects, and preventing small particles from over-melting, which could affect overall flowability, extrusion stability, or cause deformation or increased surface roughness of the printed parts. Simultaneously, the heat of the hot air dries and preheats the standard-sized PLA and ABS particles, thereby removing moisture from their surface. This prevents moisture from reacting with the raw materials during high-temperature printing, reducing their mechanical properties or causing surface defects, and also prevents moisture from forming steam that could lead to pores in the printed products, thus improving the quality and stability of the printed products. Preheating can also reduce the temperature change of PLA and ABS granules during high-temperature printing, reduce thermal stress to avoid deformation and damage of printed parts, and improve the efficiency of melting PLA and ABS granules during printing.
[0032] It should be noted that the standard raw material particle size is the optimal particle size of the raw material used in the printing equipment body 1.
[0033] A filter screen 362 is fixedly installed at the air inlet 361, and an interceptor screen 331 is fixedly installed at the air outlet. The filter screen 362 can classify and preheat PLA and ABS particles according to their particle size using hot air, while also preventing external impurities from entering and contaminating the raw materials during use. The mesh diameter of the interceptor screen 331 is smaller than that of the small-diameter PLA and ABS particles passing through the screening cylinder 34, and the interceptor screen 331 can prevent these small-diameter PLA and ABS particles from escaping from the second screening chamber 33.
[0034] The screening cylinder 34 is movably installed within the first screening chamber 32. An mounting plate 341 is fixedly installed at one end of the screening cylinder 34. The end of the screening cylinder 34 away from the mounting plate 341 is an open structure 342. The mounting plate 341 is threadedly installed within the first screening chamber 32. After rotating the mounting plate 341 90°, the threaded connection with the first screening chamber 32 is released, allowing the screening cylinder 34 to be pulled away from the first screening chamber 32 along its own axis after the mounting plate 341 has rotated 90°. The screening cylinder 34 includes a first screening plate 343, a second screening plate 344, and a closing plate 345. The first screening plate 343 and the second screening plate 344 are fixedly installed on opposite sides of the screening cylinder 34. The closing plate 345 is fixedly installed on the perpendicular side of the first screening plate 343 and the second screening plate 344. The screening cylinder 34 is a hollow cylindrical body.
[0035] It should be emphasized that after the mounting plate 341 is rotated 90°, the threaded connection with the first screening chamber 32 is released. The parameters of the threaded connection are a very mature technology in the prior art, and will not be elaborated on here.
[0036] It should be noted that when the screening cylinder 34 is located inside the first screening chamber 32, the opening of the screening cylinder 34 on the side away from the mounting plate 341 is in contact with the inner wall of the first screening chamber 32.
[0037] During the movement of the AGV transport vehicle 2, the screening cylinder 34 is located in the first screening chamber 32, and the first screening plate 343 and the second screening plate 344 are vertically oriented towards the air inlet 361 and the distribution channel, respectively. At the same time, the sealing plate 345 is horizontally oriented towards the side wall of the raw material powder screening box 3. The fan 36, together with the heating wire 35, uses hot air to screen and preheat the PLA and ABS granular raw materials, thereby trapping the standard particle size PLA and ABS granules used for subsequent printing in the screening cylinder 34. After the AGV transport vehicle 2 has moved, the operator rotates the mounting plate 341 to rotate the screening cylinder 34 by 90°, thereby rotating the first screening plate 343 and the second screening plate 344 by 90° to a horizontal state and exchanging positions with the sealing plate 345 towards the side wall of the raw material powder screening box 3. At the same time, the sealing plate 345 blocks the air inlet 361 and the distribution channel respectively, thereby isolating hot air and carrying the standard-sized PLA and ABS particles trapped in the screening cylinder 34. Then, the operator pulls the mounting plate 341 to remove the entire screening cylinder 34, and finally pours the standard-sized PLA and ABS particles into the feed port of the printing equipment body 1 through the opening on the side of the screening cylinder 34 away from the mounting plate 341.
[0038] A first guide plate 38 is fixedly installed below the screening cylinder 34, and a second guide plate 381 is fixedly installed above the screening cylinder 34. Both the first guide plate 38 and the second guide plate 381 are installed at an angle, and the distance between the end of the screening cylinder 34 and the end of the screening cylinder 34 is smaller than the distance between the end of the screening cylinder 34 and the end of the screening cylinder 34. When the hot air blows the PLA and ABS particles upward, the first guide plate 38 can guide the PLA and ABS particles to move towards the first screening plate 343 at the screening cylinder 34. When small-diameter PLA and ABS particles leave the screening cylinder 34, they can also be guided by the second guide plate 381, thereby ensuring stable flow of hot air and avoiding turbulence in the hot air from affecting the movement of PLA and ABS particles.
[0039] It should be noted that the axial sidewall of the screening cylinder 34 can also be fixedly installed with a handle to facilitate the operator's use for rotation.
[0040] The first screening plate 343 or the second screening plate 344 near the air inlet 361 filters particles with a larger diameter than the first screening plate 343 and the second screening plate 344 near the air duct 37. In this embodiment, the first screening plate 343 is near the air inlet 361, and the second screening plate 344 is near the air duct 37. The filtration diameter of the first screening plate 343 is larger than that of the second screening plate 344, so that when hot air blows PLA and ABS particles, the first screening plate 343 can intercept PLA and ABS particles larger than the standard diameter, and the second screening plate 344 can intercept PLA and ABS particles of the standard diameter.
[0041] It should be noted that the side wall of the second screening chamber 33, away from the first screening chamber 32, can be disassembled and installed using bolts, allowing a certain amount of small-diameter PLA and ABS particles to accumulate and be discharged over long-term use. Besides bolt installation, any other detachable installation method can be used, such as magnetic or existing locking installations. Alternatively, a sliding pull-out box 39, with the same structure as the pull-out box 39 in the first screening chamber 32, can be used to remove small-diameter PLA and ABS particles.
[0042] It should be noted that, in order to ensure that small-diameter PLA and ABS particles can stably leave the screening cylinder 34 and enter the second screening chamber 32, a guide hole 371 is provided on the outer wall of the raw material powder screening box 3 above the screening cylinder 34. A guide fan 372 is fixedly installed on the outer surface of the guide hole 371. The airflow of the guide fan 372 enhances the flow of small-diameter PLA and ABS particles with the air, thereby ensuring that small-diameter PLA and ABS particles enter the second screening chamber 33.
[0043] It is particularly important to note that the bottom wall of the pull-out box 39 has micropores to accommodate the flow of hot air. The diameter of these micropores is smaller than that of the PLA and ABS particles, thereby preventing the PLA and ABS particles from falling. Furthermore, the printing material used in this embodiment can also be other granular materials, such as metal or nylon particles. The airflow can also be adjusted by changing the power of the fan to ensure that the PLA and ABS particles are properly agitated.
[0044] It should be emphasized that in this embodiment, the raw material powder screening box contains a small amount of PLA and ABS granular raw materials. Too much raw material can easily make it difficult for the blower 36 to blow it all up. This embodiment requires increasing the transportation frequency to ensure the efficiency of raw material supply.
[0045] The screening cylinder 34 can also utilize a sliding pull-out box 39, a technology already in use, to store or remove large-diameter PLA and ABS particles. The structure and installation method of the pull-out box 39 are both mature technologies in the prior art, and will not be elaborated upon here.
[0046] In use, the operator in the preceding process inserts PLA and ABS granular raw materials into the sliding pull box 39. Then, the AGV transport vehicle 2 moves along the channel 21 towards the printing equipment body 1. During the movement of the AGV transport vehicle 2, the fan 36 starts to draw in external air through the air inlet 361 and heats it with the heating wire 35 to form high-temperature hot air. The hot air rises and moves towards the air outlet. During the rise, the hot air blows up the PLA and ABS granular raw materials. The large-diameter PLA and ABS granular raw materials are intercepted by the first screening plate 343 on the side wall of the screening cylinder 34, so that PLA and ABS granules with a diameter equal to or smaller than the standard raw material enter the screening cylinder 34. Then, the small-diameter PLA and ABS granules pass through the second screening plate 344 with the flow of hot air and enter the second screening chamber 33, while the standard-diameter PLA and ABS granules are retained by the second screening plate 344. Subsequently, when the AGV transport vehicle 2 moves to the printing equipment body 1, the operator rotates the mounting plate 341 by 90°, thereby rotating the screening cylinder 34 by 90° and making the first screening plate 343 and the second screening plate 344 rotate 90° to be horizontal, and the closing plate 345 rotate 90° to face the first guide plate 38 and the second guide plate 381. This allows the closing plate 345 to cooperate with the first guide plate 38 to cut off the hot air, and standard-sized PLA and ABS particles fall onto the surface of the closing plate 345. After rotating the mounting plate 341 and the screening cylinder 34 by 90°, the operator pulls out the screening cylinder 34, and then pours the standard-sized PLA and ABS particles out through the opening on the side of the screening cylinder 34 away from the mounting plate 341 into the feed inlet of the printing equipment body 1 to complete the feeding.
[0047] Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A continuous production line for 3D printing, comprising a printing equipment body (1), an AGV transport vehicle (2), and a raw material powder sieving box (3), wherein a channel (21) for accommodating the movement of the AGV transport vehicle (2) is paved on the ground, and the raw material powder sieving box (3) is installed on the AGV transport vehicle (2), characterized in that: The raw material powder screening box (3) includes a box body (31), a first screening chamber (32), a second screening chamber (33), a screening cylinder (34), and a heating wire (35). The raw material powder screening box (3) is non-permanently fixedly installed on the AGV transport vehicle (2). The raw material powder screening box (3) has a first screening chamber (32) and a second screening chamber (33) that are connected. An air duct (37) is provided between the first screening chamber (32) and the second screening chamber (33). The screening cylinder (34) is rotatably installed in the first screening chamber (32). The screening cylinder (34) is connected to the first screening chamber (32). A first screening plate (343) and a second screening plate (344) are fixedly installed on opposite sides. A sealing plate (345) is fixedly installed on both sides of the first screening plate (343) and the second screening plate (344) perpendicular to each other. A fan (36) is fixedly installed below the first screening plate (343). An air inlet (361) is opened on the box (31) corresponding to the fan (36). A heating wire (35) is fixedly installed in the air inlet (361). The other side of the air duct (37) is connected to the second screening chamber (33). An air outlet is opened at the bottom of the second screening chamber (33). A first guide plate (38) is fixedly installed below the screening cylinder (34), and a second guide plate (381) is fixedly installed above the screening cylinder (34). The screening cylinder (34) is movably installed in the first screening chamber (32). The end of the screening cylinder (34) perpendicular to the first screening plate (343) and the second screening plate (344) is fixedly installed with an installation plate (341). The end of the screening cylinder (34) away from the installation plate (341) is an open structure (342). The screening cylinder (34) is rotated 90° and fixed inside the first screening chamber (32); The first screening plate (343) or the second screening plate (344) near the air inlet (361) has a larger filter particle size than the first screening plate (343) and the second screening plate (344) near the channel. A filter screen (362) is fixedly installed at the air inlet (361), and an interceptor screen (331) is fixedly installed at the air outlet.