A flexible printing platform
By setting limit components and servo control units on the flexible printing platform, the problems of complex structure and loose consumables in existing 3D printers are solved, achieving stable material supply and precise nozzle movement, thus improving printing accuracy and convenience.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NANJING VOCATIONAL UNIV OF IND TECH
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing 3D printers suffer from complex structures, large sizes, low nozzle positioning accuracy, and loose printing filaments that can lead to uneven material output.
The flexible printing platform uses a limiting component on one side of the feeding tray. The pressing head contacts the printing material and squeezes it with a compression spring. Combined with ball bearings, the feeding tray rotates, ensuring a stable material supply. The servo control unit drives the linear slide rail to achieve precise movement of the printhead.
It improves the stability and positioning accuracy of printing consumables, prevents materials from loosening and falling off, and enhances the convenience and quality of printing.
Smart Images
Figure CN224408480U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printing technology, specifically to a flexible printing platform. Background Technology
[0002] A 3D printer works in a three-dimensional space, extruding filament layer by layer through a print head to create a model. After each layer of the model is printed, the print head moves upward a specified distance before starting the next layer, ultimately producing a three-dimensional model. Currently, the print head moves by reciprocating motion using lead screws, guide rails, and optical axes as limits, thus guiding the print head to a predetermined position. However, during the print head's movement, components such as lead screws, guide rails, and optical axes are required in all three directions. This excessive number of components makes the 3D printer's structure complex and its size large, which in turn affects the positioning accuracy of the print head.
[0003] There are many types of small 3D printers available. Existing technologies include the 3D printer disclosed in Chinese patent CN202122474843.3 and similar products available on the market, as well as a flexible 3D printer disclosed in CN202211617046.9. Prior art searches also include a 3D printing filament management mechanism, publication number CN202421634972.1. Based on this, we point out that the printing principle and driving components are known in the art. However, some small or laboratory printers are not very convenient to use. For example, when printing consumables (resin or plastic strips used for printing) are used, problems such as loosening or uneven material output often occur. This is an inconvenience encountered in many experiments. Therefore, we propose a flexible printing platform that optimizes the filament management or feeding structure based on necessary 3D printing components. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible printing platform that optimizes the supply components of printing consumables and improves printing convenience.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0006] A flexible printing platform includes a base, wherein a second linear slide rail is embedded in the base, the second linear slide rail is connected to a support plate via a slider, and the second linear slide rail is used to drive the support plate to move in the X direction.
[0007] The base is equipped with a first linear slide rail via a support frame, and the first linear slide rail is used to drive the thermoplastic extruder to move in the Y direction;
[0008] The support frame is equipped with a third linear slide rail, which is used to drive the first linear slide rail and the thermoplastic extruder to move in the Z direction.
[0009] The support frame includes a feeding tray for supplying printing consumables to the thermoplastic extruder, which is then extruded by the hot melt nozzle to achieve printing in three-dimensional space.
[0010] In the above solution, the feeding tray can rotate on the support frame and is equipped with a limit component;
[0011] The limiting component includes a limiting seat located above the feeding tray. The lower surface of the limiting seat is provided with a movable slot. A pressing head is provided in the movable slot. The pressing head is connected to a spring seat by a spring. The spring seat is fixed in the movable slot to fix the pressing head. The lower end of the pressing head is used to contact the printing consumables on the feeding tray to limit the loosening of the printing consumables.
[0012] Furthermore, a limit ring is provided at the tail of the pressing head to place its tail in the movable slot and to restrict the movement of the spring within the movable slot.
[0013] The contact area between the pressure head and the printing filament is designed with a ball bearing structure.
[0014] Furthermore, the pressure head is configured as one or more, and the contact area with the printing consumable is increased by using several pressure heads, such as a double-row arrangement or other structures.
[0015] Furthermore, the feeding tray is mounted on a support frame with a bearing fixed thereon, which is either a damping bearing or a ball bearing.
[0016] The first, second, and third linear slide rails are all equipped with servo control units to control the movement of sliders on the slide rails, thereby enabling the movement of corresponding components.
[0017] The first, second, and third linear slide rails form a mutually perpendicular structure in space. The second linear slide rail is located at the center line or axis of symmetry of the base, and the support frame is set perpendicular to the center line of the base.
[0018] Beneficial effects: (1) This utility model sets a limiting component on one side of the feeding tray. The lower surface of the pressure head of the limiting component contacts the printing material and squeezes the printing material. The pressure head is squeezed by the compression spring. As the material decreases, it moves, improving flexibility. When the feeding tray rotates, the feeding tray rotates through the rotating seat and ball bearing, thus realizing the rotation of the feeding tray. The limiting component is fixed and stops the material to prevent it from falling, improving stability and the stability of feeding. It avoids scattering and affecting the printing effect, solving the problem that the printing material is easy to fall off at the top of the feeding tray of the existing 3D printer, resulting in poor feeding stability and affecting the printing effect. (2) This utility model sets fixing plates on both sides of the bottom of the fixed frame. The fixing plates are fixed to the crossbeam by external bolts, which fixes the limiting component. The edge installation and disassembly facilitate the maintenance of the pressure head and improve convenience. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the left side view of the connection between the limiting component and the feeding tray of this utility model;
[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting component structure of this utility model;
[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the downward pressure head structure of this utility model;
[0023] In the diagram: 1. Crossbeam; 2. Support frame; 3. Feeding tray; 4. First linear slide rail; 5. Second linear slide rail; 6. Forming table; 7. Hot melt nozzle; 8. Thermoplastic extruder; 9. Third linear slide rail; 10. Limiting component; 11. Connecting plate; 12. Fixing frame; 13. Mounting groove; 14. Ball bearing; 15. Rotating seat; 16. Limiting seat; 17. Lower pressure head; 18. Compression spring; 19. Spring seat; 20. Fixing plate; 21. Moving slot; 22. Base. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.
[0025] Please see Figure 1-4 This utility model provides one embodiment.
[0026] A flexible printing platform includes: a crossbeam 1, with support frames 2 at both ends of the crossbeam 1, a base 22 at the bottom of the support frame 2, a second linear slide rail 5 at the center of the base 22, a forming table 6 at the upper end of the second linear slide rail 5, and the moving end of the second linear slide rail 5 driving the forming table 6 to move; a material feeding tray 3 at the upper end of the crossbeam 1; a first linear slide rail 4 at the front end of the support frame 2; and a third linear slide rail 9 on one side of the support frame 2, with the moving end of the third linear slide rail 9 installed inside the support frame 2, and the moving end of the third linear slide rail 9 driving the first linear slide rail 4 to move up and down. A hot melt nozzle 7 is fixed to one side of the moving end of the first linear slide rail 4 by an external bolt. A thermoplastic extruder 8 is provided on one side of the hot melt nozzle 7, and the thermoplastic extruder 8 is connected to the hot melt nozzle 7 by an air pipe. The printing material is wrapped around the feeding tray 3, with one end connected to the hot melt nozzle 7. The hot melt nozzle 7 is heated and melted, and the thermoplastic extruder 8 extrudes the hot melt nozzle 7 to spray out the molten material for 3D printing. The feeding tray 3 adopts a turntable and a tray frame. The turntable rotates with the tray frame through bearings, and the tray frame is fixed to the crossbeam by external bolts. This is the existing feeding structure and will not be described in detail.
[0027] During printing, the moving end of the second linear slide rail 5 drives the forming table 6 to move, the moving end of the third linear slide rail 9 drives the first linear slide rail 4 to move up and down, and the moving end of the first linear slide rail 4 drives the thermoplastic extruder 8 and the hot melt nozzle 7 to move, thereby realizing the movement of the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis, and realizing 3D printing.
[0028] A limiting component 10 is provided on one side of the feeding tray 3. The limiting component 10 includes a connecting plate 11. One end of the connecting plate 11 is provided with a mounting groove 13. A ball bearing 14 is embedded inside the mounting groove 13. A rotating seat 15 is provided on one side surface of the feeding tray 3, and the feeding tray 3 rotates through the rotating seat 15 and the ball bearing 14. Figure 2As shown, a fixing frame 12 is provided on the bottom surface of the connecting plate 11. Fixing plates 20 are provided on both sides of the bottom surface of the fixing frame 12, and the fixing plates 20 are externally bolted to the crossbeam 1. A limiting seat 16 is provided on one side of the top surface of the connecting plate 11. A moving slot 21 is provided on the lower surface of the limiting seat 16, and multiple moving slots 21 are provided. The limiting assembly 10 also includes a pressing head 17, which moves up and down along the moving slots 21. A compression spring 18 is provided at the upper end of the pressing head 17, and spring seats 19 are provided at both ends of the compression spring 18. The fixing plates 20 are externally bolted to the crossbeam 1. The bolts are fixed to the crossbeam 1, and the limiting component 10 is fixed. At this time, the lower surface of the pressure head 17 is in contact with the printing material, and the printing material is squeezed to prevent the printing material from falling loosely, thus improving stability and the stability of feeding. It also prevents the material from falling and affecting the printing effect. The pressure head 17 is moved by the compression spring 18. It moves as the material decreases, thus improving flexibility. When the feeding tray 3 rotates, the feeding tray 3 rotates through the rotating seat 15 and the ball bearing 14, thus realizing the rotation of the feeding tray 3. The limiting component 10 is fixed and limits the material to prevent it from falling.
[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A flexible printing platform, characterized in that, Includes a base (22), wherein a second linear slide rail (5) is embedded in the base (22), the second linear slide rail (5) is connected to a support plate (6) via a slider, and the second linear slide rail (5) is used to drive the support plate (6) to move in the X direction; The base (22) is provided with a first linear slide rail (4) via a support frame (2), which is used to drive the thermoplastic extruder (8) to move in the Y direction; The column based on the support frame (2) is provided with a third linear slide rail (9), which is used to drive the first linear slide rail (4) and the thermoplastic extruder (8) to move in the Z direction; The support frame (2) includes a feeding tray (3) for supplying printing consumables to the thermoplastic extruder (8), and the consumables are extruded by the hot melt nozzle (7) to achieve printing in three-dimensional space; The feeding tray (3) is rotatable on the support frame (2) and is provided with a limit component (10). The limiting component (10) includes a limiting seat (16) located above the feeding tray (3). The lower surface of the limiting seat (16) is provided with a moving slot (21). A pressing head (17) is provided in the moving slot (21). The pressing head (17) is connected to a spring seat (19) through a spring (18). The spring seat (19) is fixed in the moving slot (21) to fix the pressing head (17). The lower end of the pressing head (17) is used to contact the printing consumables on the feeding tray (3) to limit the loosening of the printing consumables.
2. The flexible printing platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tail of the pressing head (17) is provided with a limit ring for placing its tail in the movable slot (21) and restricting the spring (18) to move within the movable slot (21).
3. The flexible printing platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The contact area between the pressure head (17) and the printing consumable is set as a ball bearing structure.
4. The flexible printing platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The pressure head (17) is configured as one or more, and the contact area with the printing consumable is increased by using a number of pressure heads (17).
5. The flexible printing platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding tray (3) is set by a bearing (14) fixed on the support frame. The bearing (14) is a damping bearing or a ball bearing.
6. The flexible printing platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first linear slide rail (4), the second linear slide rail (5), and the third linear slide rail (9) are all equipped with servo control units to control the movement of the sliders on the slide rails, thereby enabling the movement of the corresponding components.
7. The flexible printing platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first linear slide rail (4), the second linear slide rail (5) and the third linear slide rail (9) form a mutually perpendicular structure in space. The second linear slide rail (5) is located at the center line or axis of symmetry of the base (22). The support frame (2) is set along the center line perpendicular to the base (22).