An automated defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process

Abstract

This utility model discloses an automatic defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process, including a monitoring carriage, industrial cameras, and a monitoring controller. The monitoring carriage is arranged around the periphery of the 3D printer. The industrial cameras are arranged around the periphery of the 3D printer and carried by the monitoring carriage, and the shooting angle of each industrial camera is adjustable. The monitoring controller is electrically connected to the 3D printer, the monitoring carriage, and the industrial cameras, and is configured to receive and control the movement of the monitoring carriage and industrial cameras according to the working status of the 3D printer to capture images of the printing process. By controlling the movement of the monitoring carriage through the monitoring controller, vertical movement and in-situ turning are achieved, driving the industrial cameras to move around the 3D printer for real-time automatic identification and monitoring of 3D printing defects. This allows for flexible movement and in-situ turning of the industrial cameras, enabling precise monitoring of the printing process and multi-angle shooting and recording, effectively monitoring the 3D printing process of large-volume products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of defect detection in 3D printing, and in particular provides an automatic defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of 3D printing inspection, detection methods based on multimodal large model technology have not yet been widely adopted, and existing deep learning models often need to be retrained or fine-tuned on new datasets to adapt to new application scenarios, which limits the widespread application of scientific and effective detection technologies.

[0003] Currently, defect detection in 3D printing for binder jetting still relies on fixed industrial cameras or sensors to capture images of the 3D printing process, or on mobile devices with large turning radii to carry the industrial cameras. These methods are inflexible, have large turning radii, and cannot accurately monitor or record the printing process from multiple angles, making it difficult to effectively monitor the 3D printing process of large-volume products. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on this, the present invention provides an automatic defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process. By using an industrial camera or sensor set up to monitor the movement of the trolley, the device can capture images of the 3D printing process. This allows for flexible movement and in-situ turning of the industrial camera, enabling precise monitoring and multi-angle recording of the printing process, and effectively monitoring the 3D printing process of large-volume products.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, an automatic defect monitoring device for a 3D printing process includes a power supply, a monitoring carriage arranged around the periphery of the 3D printer, industrial cameras arranged around the periphery of the 3D printer and carried by the monitoring carriage, the shooting angle of each industrial camera being adjustable, and a monitoring controller connected to the 3D printer, the monitoring carriage and the industrial cameras by electrical signals, configured to receive and control the movement of the monitoring carriage and the industrial cameras according to the working status of the 3D printer, and to capture images of the printing process.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes sensors connected to the 3D printer and monitoring controller, configured to collect the 3D printer's operating information and transmit it to the monitoring controller.

[0007] Furthermore, the industrial camera includes multiple cameras, each carried by a different monitoring trolley, and each monitoring trolley is independently controlled in terms of its moving speed and direction.

[0008] Furthermore, the monitoring trolley includes a frame and wheels mounted on the bottom of the frame. The wheels are arranged longitudinally and laterally. A vertical lifting mechanism is provided between the movable wheel in one direction and the frame, and the fixed wheel in the other direction is fixedly connected to the frame.

[0009] Furthermore, the monitoring trolley is equipped with an angle adjustment mechanism on its frame. The angle adjustment mechanism includes a base and a central rotating tube. The base is fixedly connected to the frame. The central rotating tube is arranged vertically and connected to the base through a bearing on a vertical central rotating shaft. The frame is equipped with an adjustment motor that drives the central rotating tube. The industrial camera is fixedly connected to the top of the central rotating tube.

[0010] Furthermore, a controller is installed on the connection between the power supply and the traveling wheels to control the start, stop, and steering of the traveling wheels, and a steering controller is installed on the connection between the power supply and the motor of the vertical lifting mechanism to control the start, stop, and steering of the motor of the vertical lifting mechanism.

[0011] Furthermore, the vertical lifting mechanism is a screw-driven slider linkage mechanism, including a vertical slider, a horizontal slider, and a connecting rod hinged between the vertical slider and the horizontal slider. The vertical slider is placed in a vertical slot on the frame and can only move up and down along the vertical slot.

[0012] Furthermore, the vertical slider is connected to the axle of the movable walking wheel, and the horizontal slider is placed in a horizontal long groove on the frame, and can only move back and forth along the horizontal long groove.

[0013] Furthermore, the horizontal slider is fixedly connected to the nut of the lead screw mechanism, the drive motor of the lead screw is fixedly connected to the frame, and the thread helix angle of the lead screw nut mechanism is less than the equivalent friction angle, thus having a self-locking function.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the automatic defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process provided by this utility model are reflected in the following: by using an industrial camera or sensor set up to monitor the movement of the trolley to capture the 3D printing process, the industrial camera can move flexibly and turn in place, enabling precise monitoring and multi-angle shooting and recording of the printing process, and effectively monitoring the 3D printing process of large-volume products. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The accompanying drawings, which are provided to further illustrate the present invention and constitute a part of this application, do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a system configuration diagram of an automated defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the monitoring trolley with an industrial camera installed in the first view.

[0018] Figure 3This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the monitoring trolley with an industrial camera mounted on it, showing the second viewpoint.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the monitoring trolley with the industrial camera mounted on it.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a side view of the monitoring trolley with an industrial camera mounted on it.

[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0022] 1-Monitoring trolley, 11-Frame, 12-Fixed wheels, 13-Motor, 14-Lead screw, 15-Connecting rod, 16-Movable wheels, 17-Central rotary tube;

[0023] 2-Industrial cameras;

[0024] 3-Monitoring controller;

[0025] 4-3D printer;

[0026] 5-Sensors. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The description of exemplary embodiments is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure or its application or use. This disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully express the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, an automatic defect monitoring device for a 3D printing process includes a power supply, a monitoring carriage 1, an industrial camera 2, and a monitoring controller 3. The monitoring carriage 1 is arranged around the periphery of the 3D printer 4. The industrial cameras 2 are arranged around the periphery of the 3D printer 4 and supported by the monitoring carriage 1, and the shooting angle of each industrial camera 2 is adjustable. The monitoring controller 3 is electrically connected to the 3D printer 4, the monitoring carriage 1, and the industrial cameras 2, and is configured to receive and control the movement of the monitoring carriage 1 and the industrial cameras 2 to capture images of the printing process based on the operating status of the 3D printer 4.

[0029] By using industrial cameras or sensors installed to monitor the movement of the 3D printing vehicle, the 3D printing process can be captured. This allows for flexible movement and on-the-spot turning of the industrial cameras, enabling precise monitoring and multi-angle recording of the printing process, and effectively monitoring the 3D printing process of large-volume products.

[0030] In some embodiments, a sensor 5 is also included, which is connected to the 3D printer 4 and the monitoring controller 3 and configured to collect the operating information of the 3D printer 4 and transmit it to the monitoring controller 3. The sensor may be a signal detector installed inside the 3D printer to monitor the operating process of the 3D printer 4 and transmit the data to the monitoring controller.

[0031] The industrial camera 2 includes multiple cameras, each of which is carried by a different monitoring trolley 1, and each monitoring trolley 1 is independently controlled in terms of its moving speed and direction.

[0032] The monitoring trolley 1 includes a frame 11 and wheels mounted on the bottom of the frame 11. The wheels are arranged longitudinally and laterally. A vertical lifting mechanism is provided between the movable wheel 16 in one direction and the frame 11, and a fixed wheel 12 in the other direction is fixedly connected to the frame 11. When the movable wheel 16 is raised, it leaves the ground, and the fixed wheel 12 contacts the ground, driving lateral movement. When the movable wheel 16 is lowered, it contacts the ground, and the fixed wheel 12 leaves the ground, driving longitudinal movement, thus achieving in-situ turning and zero-steering action.

[0033] The monitoring trolley 1 has an angle adjustment mechanism on its frame 11. The angle adjustment mechanism includes a base and a central rotating tube 17. The base is fixedly connected to the frame 11. The central rotating tube 17 is arranged vertically and connected to the base through a bearing of a vertical central rotating shaft. The frame 11 is equipped with an adjustment motor that drives the central rotating tube 17. The industrial camera 2 is fixedly connected to the top of the central rotating tube 17.

[0034] A controller is installed on the connection between the power supply and the traveling wheels to control the start, stop, and direction of the traveling wheels. A controller is also installed on the connection between the power supply and the motor 13 of the vertical lifting mechanism to control the start, stop, and direction of the motor 13 of the vertical lifting mechanism.

[0035] The vertical lifting mechanism is a slider-linkage mechanism driven by a lead screw 14, including a vertical slider, a horizontal slider, and a link 15 that is hinged between the vertical slider and the horizontal slider. The vertical slider is placed in a vertical long slot on the frame 11 and can only move up and down along the vertical long slot.

[0036] The vertical slider is connected to the axle of the movable walking wheel 16, and the horizontal slider is placed in the horizontal long groove on the frame 11, and can only move back and forth along the horizontal long groove.

[0037] The horizontal slider is fixedly connected to the nut of the lead screw 14 mechanism, the drive motor 13 of the lead screw 14 is fixedly connected to the frame 11, and the thread helix angle of the lead screw 14 nut mechanism is less than the equivalent friction angle, and has a self-locking function.

[0038] Cluster deployment and data acquisition of industrial cameras 2: Multiple industrial cameras 2 are deployed at key locations on the 3D printer 4 to form a comprehensive monitoring network. The selection of these industrial cameras should consider parameters such as resolution, frame rate, and field of view to ensure that all details during the printing process are captured. Hardware or software synchronization is used to ensure that all industrial cameras 2 acquire images simultaneously, avoiding image misalignment issues caused by time differences. Image data is continuously acquired during the printing process, forming a dataset containing multiple printing batches and various printing materials.

[0039] Preliminary dataset processing: Blurred, missing, or invalid images caused by industrial camera 2 malfunction, insufficient lighting, or obstruction by printed materials are removed. Images from each industrial camera 2 are calibrated to eliminate lens distortion and image warping, ensuring spatial consistency across all images. A timestamp is added to each image, and all images are sorted according to their timestamps in printing order.

[0040] Data Augmentation and Annotation: Data augmentation methods such as rotation, scaling, flipping, and adding noise are used to expand the image dataset and improve the model's generalization ability. Two cameras are used to capture images of the same printed area from different angles. By comparing and fusing information from the two images, defect areas in the images are annotated more accurately. Annotations should include information such as the location, size, type, and severity of the defects. The annotation results are manually reviewed to ensure accuracy and consistency.

[0041] UDP-based data transmission: Considering the requirements of real-time performance and low latency, UDP was chosen as the data transmission protocol. UDP enables faster data transmission and is suitable for scenarios with high real-time requirements. UDP sending and receiving functions are implemented on both the industrial camera and server sides. The industrial camera encapsulates the acquired image data into UDP packets and sends them. The server receives and parses these packets, saving the image data locally or performing further processing. The data transmission status and speed are monitored in real time to ensure stable and fast data transmission to the server. Simultaneously, any abnormalities during transmission are recorded for troubleshooting and repair.

[0042] The provided automatic defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process controls the movement of a monitoring trolley through a monitoring controller, which drives an industrial camera 2 to move around the 3D printer 4, thereby realizing real-time automatic identification and monitoring of 3D printing defects. It can integrate multi-source data, make full use of the contextual information of the printing process, and has good scene adaptability.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and not to limit it; although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the specific implementation of this utility model or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the spirit of the technical solution of this utility model, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the technical solution claimed by this utility model.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of a 3D printing process, characterized in that, include: power supply; The monitoring vehicle (1) is placed around the periphery of the 3D printer (4); An industrial camera (2) is arranged around the 3D printer (4) and carried by a monitoring carriage (1). The shooting angle of each industrial camera (2) can be adjusted. as well as The monitoring controller (3) is electrically connected to the 3D printer (4), the monitoring carriage (1) and the industrial camera (2), and is configured to receive and control the movement of the monitoring carriage (1) and the industrial camera (2) according to the working status of the 3D printer (4) to capture the printing process.

2. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of a 3D printing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a sensor (5), which is connected to the 3D printer (4) and the monitoring controller (3) and is configured to collect the working information of the 3D printer (4) and transmit it to the monitoring controller (3).

3. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of a 3D printing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, The industrial camera (2) includes multiple cameras, each of which is carried by a different monitoring trolley (1), and each monitoring trolley (1) independently controls its moving speed and moving direction.

4. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of a 3D printing process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The monitoring trolley (1) includes a frame (11) and wheels installed at the bottom of the frame (11). The wheels are arranged longitudinally and laterally. A vertical lifting mechanism is provided between the movable wheel (16) in one direction and the frame (11), and a fixed wheel (12) in the other direction is fixedly connected to the frame (11). When the movable wheel (16) is raised, it leaves the ground and the fixed wheel (12) contacts the ground, and the lateral movement is driven by the fixed wheel (12). When the movable wheel (16) is lowered, it contacts the ground and the fixed wheel (12) leaves the ground, and the longitudinal movement is driven by the movable wheel (16).

5. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of a 3D printing process according to claim 4, characterized in that, An angle adjustment mechanism is provided on the frame (11) of the monitoring trolley (1). The angle adjustment mechanism includes a base and a central rotating tube (17). The base is fixedly connected to the frame (11). The central rotating tube (17) is arranged vertically and connected to the base through a bearing of the vertical central rotating shaft. The frame (11) is provided with an adjustment motor that drives the central rotating tube (17). The industrial camera (2) is fixedly connected to the top of the central rotating tube (17).

6. The automatic defect monitoring device for the 3D printing process according to claim 4, characterized in that, A controller is installed on the connection between the power supply and the walking wheel to control the start, stop and turn of the walking wheel. A steering controller is installed on the connection between the power supply and the motor (13) of the vertical lifting mechanism to control the start, stop and turn of the motor (13) of the vertical lifting mechanism.

7. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of 3D printing process as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The vertical lifting mechanism is a slider linkage (15) mechanism driven by a lead screw (14), including a vertical slider, a horizontal slider, and a linkage (15) that is hinged between the vertical slider and the horizontal slider. The vertical slider is placed in a vertical long slot on the frame (11) and can only move up and down along the vertical long slot.

8. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of a 3D printing process according to claim 7, characterized in that, The vertical slider is connected to the axle of the movable walking wheel (16), and the horizontal slider is placed in the horizontal long groove on the frame (11), and can only move back and forth along the horizontal long groove.

9. The apparatus for automatic defect monitoring of 3D printing process as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The horizontal slider is fixedly connected to the nut of the lead screw (14) mechanism, and the drive motor (13) of the lead screw (14) is fixedly connected to the frame (11). The thread helix angle of the lead screw (14) nut mechanism is less than the equivalent friction angle and has a self-locking function.

Images