An extensible station 3D printing apparatus

Abstract

This utility model discloses an expandable 3D printing device, including a frame, a cylinder transfer guide rail, and a forming cylinder. The frame is equipped with at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station, and one part removal station. A powder cleaning station and a part removal station are provided between two adjacent forming stations. The cylinder transfer guide rail is fixedly installed on the frame. Each forming station is assigned a corresponding forming cylinder, which is movably mounted on the cylinder transfer guide rail. The forming cylinder can move back and forth along the cylinder transfer guide rail and can move to the part removal station and the powder cleaning station. This utility model has at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station, and one part removal station installed on the frame. Two adjacent forming stations share one powder cleaning station and one part removal station, reducing the number of auxiliary equipment, lowering equipment costs, reducing equipment footprint, reducing operational complexity, and improving equipment stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of additive manufacturing technology, specifically relating to a 3D printing device with expandable workstations. Background Technology

[0002] On a large powder bed 3D printing machine, the forming cylinder first performs powder sintering at the forming station, then moves to the powder cleaning station for powder cleaning. After the powder cleaning is completed, the cylinder is moved to the part removal station for workpiece lifting.

[0003] In the above process, the large powder bed 3D printing equipment mainly consists of a forming station, a forming cylinder, a powder cleaning station, a part removal station, and a cylinder transfer guide rail. However, most of the time only the forming station is used, while the part removal station and the powder cleaning station are used for a relatively short time. The excessive idle time results in wasted equipment space, and the equipment occupies too much area, resulting in low factory utilization. Furthermore, when multiple machines are operated, the excessive distance makes operation inconvenient. Too many auxiliary devices increase the complexity of operation and the probability of failure. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide a 3D printing device with expandable workstations. The frame of this invention is equipped with at least two forming workstations, one powder cleaning workstation, and one part picking workstation. A powder cleaning workstation and a part picking workstation are provided between two adjacent forming workstations, so that two adjacent forming workstations share one powder cleaning workstation and one part picking workstation. This reduces the number of auxiliary equipment originally provided, lowers equipment costs, reduces equipment footprint, reduces operational complexity, and improves equipment stability.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides an expandable 3D printing equipment, including a frame, a cylinder transfer guide rail, and a forming cylinder; the frame is equipped with at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station, and one part removal station; a powder cleaning station and a part removal station are provided between two adjacent forming stations;

[0006] The cylinder transfer guide rail is fixedly installed on the frame; each forming station is assigned a forming cylinder, which is movably installed on the cylinder transfer guide rail. The forming cylinder can move back and forth along the cylinder transfer guide rail and can move to the forming station, the part removal station and the powder cleaning station.

[0007] Furthermore, the frame includes frame one and frame two, and the cylinder transfer guide rail includes guide rail one and guide rail two;

[0008] The guide rail is fixedly installed on the frame, and a forming station is installed on the frame, thus forming an independent module;

[0009] The second guide rail is fixedly installed on the second frame. The second frame is equipped with a forming station, a powder cleaning station and a part picking station, which form an expansion module.

[0010] The number of expansion modules is multiple, and each independent module is connected in series with one of the expansion modules, and each pair of expansion modules is connected in series with each other.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0012] 1. The frame of this utility model is equipped with at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station and one part picking station. There is a powder cleaning station and a part picking station between two adjacent forming stations, so that two adjacent forming stations share a powder cleaning station and a part picking station. This is equivalent to integrating two or more original machines into one, which greatly reduces the size of the equipment and improves the utilization rate of the factory.

[0013] 2. This utility model reduces equipment costs: The main task of 3D printing equipment is workpiece forming. It integrates at least two forming stations into one machine and shares the powder cleaning station, part picking station and other auxiliary equipment, thereby reducing the number of original auxiliary equipment and saving equipment costs and land use costs.

[0014] 3. This utility model makes the equipment operation more convenient: it shares the powder cleaning station, the part picking station and other auxiliary equipment, which reduces the number of interfaces that need to be operated by half, reduces the complexity of operation, improves the stability of the equipment and improves work efficiency.

[0015] 4. This utility model module is expandable: it forms multiple expansion modules that are connected in series, thereby connecting multiple forming stations together and integrating them into one piece of equipment, thus increasing the utilization rate of the factory and equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0016] 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.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The above figure labels:

[0021] 1. Left forming station; 2. Left forming cylinder; 3. Part picking station; 4. Cylinder body transfer guide rail; 5. Powder cleaning station; 6. Right forming station; 7. Right forming cylinder; 8. Frame; 40. Guide rail one; 41. Guide rail two; 80. Frame one; 81. Frame two. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more comprehensive description of this utility model will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] This utility model provides an expandable 3D printing device, including a frame, a cylinder transfer guide rail, and a forming cylinder; the frame is equipped with at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station, and one part removal station; a powder cleaning station and a part removal station are provided between two adjacent forming stations; the cylinder transfer guide rail is fixedly installed on the frame; each forming station is assigned one forming cylinder, which is movably installed on the cylinder transfer guide rail, and can move back and forth along the cylinder transfer guide rail, and can move to the forming station, the part removal station, and the powder cleaning station.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of this invention, the frame includes a frame one and a frame two, and the cylinder transfer guide rail includes a guide rail one and a guide rail two; the guide rail one is fixedly installed on the frame one, and a forming station is installed on the frame one, thus forming an independent module; the guide rail two is fixedly installed on the frame two, and a forming station, a powder cleaning station, and a part removal station are installed on the frame two, thus forming an extension module; the number of extension modules is multiple, and the independent module is connected in series with one of the extension modules, and each pair of extension modules is connected in series with each other.

[0025] The frame of this utility model is equipped with at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station and one part picking station. There is a powder cleaning station and a part picking station between two adjacent forming stations, so that two adjacent forming stations share a powder cleaning station and a part picking station. This is equivalent to integrating two or more original machines into one, which greatly reduces the size of the equipment and improves the utilization rate of the factory.

[0026] This invention reduces equipment costs: the main task of 3D printing equipment is workpiece forming. It integrates at least two forming stations into one machine, sharing the powder cleaning station, part picking station and other auxiliary equipment, thereby reducing the number of original auxiliary equipment and saving equipment costs and land use costs.

[0027] This invention makes the equipment operation more convenient: it shares the powder cleaning station, the part picking station and other auxiliary equipment, which reduces the number of interfaces that need to be operated by half, reduces the complexity of operation, improves the stability of the equipment and increases work efficiency.

[0028] This utility model module is expandable: it forms multiple expansion modules that are connected in series, thereby connecting multiple forming stations together and integrating them into one piece of equipment, thus increasing the utilization rate of the factory and equipment.

[0029] In this embodiment, the forming cylinder performs powder sintering at the forming station. Afterward, the forming cylinder moves to the powder cleaning station for powder cleaning. Once powder cleaning is complete, the forming cylinder moves to the part-retrieving station for workpiece lifting. The forming station includes a powder spreading device and a laser galvanometer system for sintering the workpiece; these are essential configurations for 3D printing equipment and are existing conventional technologies, so they will not be described in detail here. The powder cleaning station includes powder cleaning equipment for cleaning the workpiece; this is also essential configuration for 3D printing equipment and is existing conventional technologies, so it will not be described in detail here. The part-retrieving station includes fixtures for lifting the workpiece to facilitate the use of a crane in the factory to retrieve it; this is also essential configuration for 3D printing equipment and is existing conventional technologies, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0030] The above description, in conjunction with specific embodiments, further illustrates the points:

[0031] Example 1

[0032] See Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides an expandable 3D printing device, including a frame 8, a cylinder transfer rail 4, a left forming cylinder 2, and a right forming cylinder 7. The frame 8 is equipped with a left forming station 1, a right forming station 6, a powder cleaning station 5, and a part removal station 3. The powder cleaning station 5 and the part removal station 3 are located between the left forming station 1 and the right forming station 6. The cylinder transfer rail 4 is fixedly installed on the frame 8. The left forming cylinder 2 and the right forming cylinder 7 are movably installed on the cylinder transfer rail 4 and can move back and forth along the cylinder transfer rail 4.

[0033] After the left forming cylinder 2 completes sintering at the left forming station 1, it moves to the powder cleaning station 5 for powder cleaning. After the powder cleaning is completed, the left forming cylinder 2 moves to the part removal station 3 for part removal. Similarly, after the right forming cylinder 7 completes sintering at the right forming station 6, it moves to the powder cleaning station 5 for powder cleaning. After the powder cleaning is completed, the right forming cylinder 7 moves to the part removal station 3 for part removal.

[0034] This embodiment integrates two forming stations into one machine, sharing a powder cleaning station 5 and a part picking station 3, which greatly reduces the size of the machine, lowers the cost of the machine, and improves the utilization rate of the factory. Moreover, it can print two workpieces at the same time in a limited space, thus improving work efficiency.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides an expandable 3D printing device, including a frame 8, a cylinder transfer guide rail 4, a left forming cylinder 2, and a right forming cylinder 7. The frame 8 includes a first frame 80 and a second frame 81, and the cylinder transfer guide rail 4 includes a first guide rail 40 and a second guide rail 41. The first guide rail 40 is fixedly installed on the first frame 80, and a left forming station 1 is installed on the first frame 80, forming an independent module. The second guide rail 41 is fixedly installed on the second frame 81, and a right forming station 6, a powder cleaning station 5, and a part removal station 3 are installed on the second frame 81, forming an expansion module. There are two expansion modules. The independent module is connected in series with one of the expansion modules, wherein the first frame 80 and the second frame 81 are spliced ​​together. The two expansion modules are connected in series, wherein two second frames 81 are spliced ​​together.

[0037] In this embodiment, the left powder cleaning station 5 and the left part picking station 3 are located between the left forming station 1 and the middle right forming station 6; the right powder cleaning station 5 and the right part picking station 3 are located between the middle right forming station 6 and the right right forming station 6.

[0038] The left forming cylinder 2 and the two right forming cylinders 7 are movably mounted on the cylinder body transfer guide rail 4 and can move back and forth along the cylinder body transfer guide rail 4, that is, they can move back and forth along guide rail 1 40 and guide rail 2 41.

[0039] After sintering at the left forming station 1, the left forming cylinder 2 moves to the left cleaning station 5 for cleaning. After cleaning, the left forming cylinder 2 moves to the left picking station 3 for picking up parts. Similarly, after sintering at the right forming station 6, the right forming cylinder 7 moves to the right cleaning station 5 for cleaning. After cleaning, the right forming cylinder 7 moves to the right picking station 3 for picking up parts. The right forming cylinder 7, located in the middle, can clean at the left cleaning station 5 and pick up parts at the left picking station 3, or it can clean at the right cleaning station 5 and pick up parts at the right picking station 3, without having to wait because the cleaning station 5 and picking station 3 are occupied, thus increasing the equipment utilization rate.

[0040] This embodiment connects three forming stations in series, increasing factory space utilization. Of course, the number of expansion modules can also be three or four, and this is not limited. In summary, by connecting multiple forming stations together, the equipment achieves higher integration, reduces floor space, increases the utilization of space and equipment, and lowers equipment installation and maintenance costs and complexity.

[0041] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. 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 scalable-station 3D printing apparatus, characterized by, It includes a frame, a cylinder transfer guide rail, and a forming cylinder; the frame is equipped with at least two forming stations, one powder cleaning station, and one part removal station; a powder cleaning station and a part removal station are provided between two adjacent forming stations; The cylinder transfer guide rail is fixedly installed on the frame; each forming station is assigned a forming cylinder, which is movably installed on the cylinder transfer guide rail. The forming cylinder can move back and forth along the cylinder transfer guide rail and can move to the forming station, the part removal station and the powder cleaning station.

2. The scalable-station 3D printing device of claim 1, wherein, The frame includes frame one and frame two, and the cylinder block transfer guide rail includes guide rail one and guide rail two; The guide rail is fixedly installed on the frame, and a forming station is installed on the frame, thus forming an independent module; The second guide rail is fixedly installed on the second frame. The second frame is equipped with a forming station, a powder cleaning station and a part picking station, which form an expansion module. The number of expansion modules is multiple, and each independent module is connected in series with one of the expansion modules, and each pair of expansion modules is connected in series with each other.

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