A 3D printing device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of additive manufacturing devices, in particular to a 3D printing device which comprises a main machine mechanism and a dust removal mechanism connected with the main machine mechanism; the main machine mechanism comprises a machine base, a forming structure arranged on the machine base, a light path structure arranged on the forming structure, a feeding structure and a material scraping structure; the feeding structure comprises a powder supply cylinder connected to the upper part of one side of the forming structure and a powder feeding assembly, and the powder supply cylinder is connected to the forming structure through the powder feeding assembly; the material scraping structure comprises a material scraping guide rail arranged along the forming structure and a scraper in sliding connection with the material scraping guide rail, and one end of the material scraping guide rail in the length direction is located below the powder feeding assembly. After the material is fed into the forming structure through the powder feeding assembly, the material falls into one end of the material scraping guide rail, the scraper reciprocates along the material scraping guide rail, and the material is uniformly scraped and fed from one side of the forming structure to the other side of the forming structure, so that the lower space of the printing device can be effectively saved for installation and debugging of other structures, and the space arrangement is optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of additive manufacturing apparatus technology, and in particular to a 3D printing apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a technology that manufactures solid parts by adding materials layer by layer based on three-dimensional CAD data. With continuous technological development, 3D printing technology has been widely used in various fields such as industry, construction, and manufacturing.

[0003] 3D printing equipment typically uses a bottom-mounted powder supply system. This system has two vertically positioned cavities driven by cylinders within the printing chamber: one for holding the powder and the other for holding the part to be printed. During operation, the part is printed layer by layer; the cavity holding the part descends after each layer is printed, while the cavity holding the powder rises to supply powder. However, this bottom-mounted structure occupies a significant amount of space beneath the 3D printer. This makes cleaning the powder supply system cumbersome and complex, and the limited space at the bottom of the printer also makes laser installation and setup time-consuming and labor-intensive. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a 3D printing device that aims to improve the cleaning difficulties and limited installation positions caused by the use of a bottom powder supply structure in related technologies, and to optimize the spatial layout of the printing device.

[0005] This application provides a 3D printing device, including a host mechanism and a dust removal mechanism connected to the host mechanism; the host mechanism includes a base, a molding structure disposed on the base, an optical path structure disposed on the molding structure, a feeding structure, and a scraping structure; the feeding structure includes a powder supply cylinder connected to the upper part of one side of the molding structure and a powder feeding assembly, the powder supply cylinder being connected to the molding structure through the powder feeding assembly; the scraping structure includes a scraping guide rail disposed along the molding structure and a scraper slidably connected to the scraping guide rail, one end of the scraping guide rail being located below the powder feeding assembly in the length direction.

[0006] Furthermore, the scraper has a powder leakage groove on the side near the powder feeding assembly, and the powder leakage groove extends along the length of the scraper.

[0007] Furthermore, the powder feeding assembly includes a powder feeding chamber connected to the powder feeding cylinder, a powder dropping shaft rotatably connected to the powder feeding chamber, and a powder guiding hopper connected to the powder feeding chamber. The powder guiding hopper is connected to the molding structure and located above the scraping guide rail.

[0008] Furthermore, the powder-discharging shaft is uniformly provided with several powder-discharging grooves along its circumferential direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the powder feeding cylinder has a constriction section, the size of which gradually decreases from the end away from the powder feeding chamber to the end closer to the powder feeding chamber.

[0010] Furthermore, the molding structure includes a molding chamber and a support assembly. The molding chamber has a molding cavity, and the support assembly includes a lifting base plate slidably connected to the molding cavity and a lifting drive component for driving the lifting base plate. The optical path structure is disposed above the molding cavity and faces the lifting base plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the dust removal mechanism is located on one side of the main unit, and the dust removal mechanism includes a first filter structure, a cyclone filter structure and a second filter structure connected in sequence to the molding structure; the second filter structure is connected to the molding structure.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this application are: 1. This application discloses a 3D printing apparatus. A feeding structure is provided on one side of the forming structure. The feeding structure uses a powder supply cylinder to fill material and a powder feeding assembly to deliver the material from the powder supply cylinder into the forming structure. A scraping structure is provided below the powder supply cylinder and the powder feeding assembly, consisting of a scraping guide rail and a scraper. When the material is fed into the forming structure through the powder feeding assembly, it falls onto one end of the scraping guide rail. The scraper reciprocates along the scraping guide rail, evenly scraping the material from one side of the forming structure to the other side. During this process, an optical path structure cooperates to sinter the material, thereby completing the forming process. By placing the feeding structure on the upper part of one side of the forming structure, the lower space of the printing apparatus can be effectively saved for the installation and debugging of other structures. It also facilitates cleaning of the feeding structure by operators, effectively optimizing the spatial layout and ease of use of the printing apparatus.

[0013] 2. A 3D printing device according to this application includes a powder feeding assembly with a powder feeding chamber, comprising a powder feeding shaft with a powder dropping trough and a powder guiding hopper. The powder feeding cylinder has a converging part. After material is fed into the powder feeding cylinder, the material moves continuously towards the converging part of the powder feeding cylinder under the action of gravity. After the material is collected and concentrated by the converging part, it enters the powder dropping trough of the powder feeding shaft. The rotation of the powder feeding shaft can evenly drive the material to the powder guiding hopper. After passing through the powder guiding hopper, the material falls evenly into the powder discharge trough of the scraper for molding. The material is evenly discharged and can effectively utilize gravity to ensure feeding efficiency.

[0014] 3. A 3D printing device according to this application has a dust removal mechanism with a three-stage filtration structure. The gas inside the dust removal mechanism is effectively removed along with the dust formed during the sintering process. The gas after dust removal is returned to the molding structure for recycling. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a 3D printing device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a 3D printing device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is another internal structure diagram of a 3D printing device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation structure between the feeding structure and the scraping structure in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the powder-dropping shaft in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the scraping structure in the embodiments of this application.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Main unit; 11. Base; 12. Molding structure; 121. Molding chamber; 122. Support assembly; 1221. Lifting base plate; 1222. Lifting drive component; 12221. Lifting screw; 13. Optical path structure; 14. Feeding structure; 141. Powder supply cylinder; 1411. Shrinkage section; 142. Powder feeding assembly; 1421. Powder feeding chamber; 1422. Powder dropping shaft; 14221. Powder dropping trough; 1423. Powder guide hopper; 15. Scraping structure; 151. Scraping guide rail; 152. Scraper; 1521. Powder leakage trough; 2. Dust removal mechanism; 21. First filter structure; 22. Second filter structure. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0018] It should be noted that although functional modules are divided in the device schematic diagram and a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be performed in a different order than the module division in the device or the order in the flowchart. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and the aforementioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this application only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0020] Reference Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 This application provides a 3D printing device, including a host mechanism 1 and a dust removal mechanism 2 connected to the host mechanism 1. The host mechanism 1 includes a base 11, a forming structure 12 disposed on the base 11, an optical path structure 13 disposed on the forming structure 12, a feeding structure 14, and a scraping structure 15. When the printing device is running, the feeding structure 14 feeds material into the forming structure 12, the scraping structure 15 scrapes the fed material into the interior of the forming structure 12, the optical path structure 13 simultaneously sinters the material in the forming structure 12, and the dust removal structure is used to remove dust formed during the sintering process to ensure the normal operation of the printing process.

[0021] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 Specifically, the base 11 is used to support the various structures. The molding structure 12 includes a molding chamber 121 and a support assembly 122. The molding chamber 121 is fixed to the base 11 and extends from the outside to the inside of the base 11. A door panel is hinged to the side of the molding chamber 121 near the outside of the base 11, and the side of the molding chamber 121 near the inside of the base 11 is used to install the feeding structure 14. The molding chamber 121 has a molding cavity, and the support assembly 122 is disposed below the molding cavity. The support assembly 122 is used to support the part. The support assembly 122 includes a lifting base plate 1221 slidably connected to the molding cavity and a lifting drive component 1222 for driving the lifting base plate 1221. In this embodiment, the lifting base plate 1221 is slidably connected to the base via a guide rail. The lifting drive component 1222 includes a lifting screw 12221 and a motor that drives the lifting screw 12221 via a synchronous belt. Under the drive of the motor, the synchronous belt rotates and drives the lifting screw 12221 to rotate. The rotating lifting screw 12221 drives the lifting base plate 1221 to rise or fall, thereby moving the part.

[0022] The optical path structure 13 is located above the molding cavity and faces the lifting base plate 1221. The optical path structure 13 includes several galvanometers and a laser connected to the galvanometers. When the scraping structure 15 scrapes the powder onto the lifting base, the optical path structure 13 will start simultaneously to sinter the powder. The optical path structure 13 is existing technology and can be purchased. Its specific structure and principle will not be described in detail.

[0023] The feeding structure 14 includes a powder supply cylinder 141 connected to the upper part of one side of the forming structure 12 and a powder feeding assembly 142. The powder supply cylinder 141 is connected to the forming structure 12 through the powder feeding assembly 142. The powder supply cylinder 141 is located on the side of the forming chamber 121 inside the machine base 11. The upper end of the powder supply cylinder 141 is connected to a pipe for easy feeding. To facilitate feeding, the powder supply cylinder 141 has a constriction section 1411. The powder supply cylinder 141 is connected to the powder feeding assembly 142 through the constriction section 1411. The size of the constriction section 1411 gradually decreases from the end away from the powder feeding chamber 1421 to the end closer to the powder feeding chamber 1421. With this arrangement, after material is fed into the powder supply cylinder 141, the material moves continuously towards the constriction section 1411 under the action of gravity. After the material is collected and concentrated by the constriction section 1411, it enters the powder feeding assembly 142.

[0024] The powder feeding assembly 142 includes a powder feeding chamber 1421 connected to the powder feeding cylinder 141, a powder dropping shaft 1422 rotatably connected to the powder feeding chamber 1421, and a powder guide hopper 1423 connected to the powder feeding chamber 1421. The powder feeding chamber 1421 is connected to the contraction section 1411, and the size of the powder feeding chamber 1421 is adapted to the size of the contraction section 1411. The powder dropping shaft 1422 is laid along the length of the powder feeding chamber 1421, and the size of the powder dropping shaft 1422 is adapted to the size of the powder feeding chamber 1421. The powder dropping shaft 1422 is driven by a motor. With this configuration, the material entering the powder feeding assembly 142 from the contraction section 1411 will fall into the powder feeding chamber 1421 and enter the powder dropping shaft 1422. The motor drives the powder dropping shaft 1422 to rotate, and the powder dropping shaft 1422 carries the material down.

[0025] Reference Figure 5 To ensure the uniformity of the falling material, the powder-falling shaft 1422 is evenly provided with several powder-falling troughs 14221 along its circumference. Each powder-falling trough 14221 extends along the length of the powder-falling shaft 1422, and all troughs are of the same size. When material falls to the powder-falling shaft 1422, it enters one of the powder-falling troughs 14221. Each trough 14221 carries the same volume of material and rotates to feed it into the powder-guiding hopper 1423. The powder-guiding hopper 1423 is connected to the forming structure 12, and the material enters the scraping structure 15 after passing through the powder-guiding hopper 1423.

[0026] Reference Figure 4 as well as Figure 6The scraping structure 15 includes a scraping guide rail 151 arranged along the forming structure 12 and a scraper 152 slidably connected to the scraping guide rail 151. One end of the scraping guide rail 151 in the length direction is located below the powder feeding assembly 142. There are two scraping guide rails 151, respectively arranged on both sides of the forming chamber 121 in the width direction. The scraping guide rails 151 extend along the length direction of the forming chamber 121, that is, one end of the scraping guide rail 151 in the length direction is close to the inner side of the base 11, and the other end of the scraping guide rail 151 in the length direction is close to the outer side of the base 11. The lifting plate 1221 is located in the travel path of the scraping guide rail 151. The scraping guide rail 151 is covered with a synchronous belt, which is driven to rotate by a motor. Driven by the synchronous belt, the scraper 152 moves back and forth along the length direction of the scraping guide rail 151 to scrape the material into the forming chamber 121.

[0027] The scraper 152 has a powder discharge groove 1521 on the side near the powder feeding assembly 142. The powder discharge groove 1521 extends along the length of the scraper 152 and runs through the height of the scraper 152. When material falls into the powder discharge groove 1521, it will fall along the powder discharge groove 1521 to the scraper 152 for scraping. The powder guide hopper 1423 is located above the scraping guide rail 151. When the scraper 152 moves to the powder guide hopper 1423, the powder feeding assembly 142 operates, causing the material to fall into the powder discharge groove 1521. The scraper 152 carries the material and moves along the scraping guide rail 151 for scraping. It should be noted that the reciprocating frequency of the scraper 152 can be the same as the rotation frequency of the powder dropping shaft 1422. That is, for every reciprocating motion of the scraper 152, the powder dropping shaft 1422 drops material once, so that the feeding structure 14 and the scraping structure 15 can operate continuously.

[0028] The dust removal mechanism 2 is located on one side of the main unit 1. The dust removal mechanism 2 includes a first filter structure 21, a cyclone filter structure, a second filter structure 22, and a fan, all connected sequentially to the forming structure 12. The second filter structure 22 is connected to the forming chamber 121 of the forming structure 12. The first filter structure 21 is used for coarse filtration of the gas; specifically, it can be a coarse filter. The cyclone filter structure is used for gas-solid separation; specifically, it can be a cyclone filter. The second filter structure 22 is used for fine filtration of the gas; specifically, it can be a fine filter. Driven by the fan, the gas carrying dust will sequentially enter the first filter structure 21, the cyclone filter structure, and the second filter structure 22 for filtration and gas-solid separation. The dust-free gas is then reintroduced into the forming chamber 121 of the forming structure 12 for recycling.

[0029] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been specifically shown and described above. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the detailed structures, arrangements, or implementations described herein; rather, this disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements contained within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A 3D printing device, characterized in that, The system includes a main unit (1) and a dust removal unit (2) connected to the main unit (1); the main unit (1) includes a base (11), a forming structure (12) disposed on the base (11), an optical path structure (13) disposed on the forming structure (12), a feeding structure (14) and a scraping structure (15); the feeding structure (14) includes a powder supply cylinder (141) connected to the upper part of one side of the forming structure (12) and a powder feeding assembly (142), the powder supply cylinder (141) being connected to the forming structure (12) through the powder feeding assembly (142); the scraping structure (15) includes a scraping guide rail (151) disposed along the forming structure (12) and a scraper (152) slidably connected to the scraping guide rail (151), one end of the scraping guide rail (151) in the length direction being located below the powder feeding assembly (142).

2. The 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scraper (152) has a powder leakage groove (1521) on the side near the powder feeding assembly (142), and the powder leakage groove (1521) extends along the length of the scraper (152).

3. A 3D printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The powder feeding assembly (142) includes a powder feeding chamber (1421) connected to the powder feeding cylinder (141), a powder dropping shaft (1422) rotatably connected to the powder feeding chamber (1421), and a powder guiding hopper (1423) connected to the powder feeding chamber (1421). The powder guiding hopper (1423) is connected to the forming structure (12) and located above the scraper guide rail (151).

4. The 3D printing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The powder-dropping shaft (1422) is evenly provided with a plurality of powder-dropping grooves (14221) along its circumferential direction.

5. A 3D printing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The powder feeding cylinder (141) has a constriction section (1411) whose size gradually decreases from the end away from the powder feeding chamber (1421) to the end closer to the powder feeding chamber (1421).

6. The 3D printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The molding structure (12) includes a molding chamber (121) and a support assembly (122). The molding chamber (121) has a molding cavity. The support assembly (122) includes a lifting base plate (1221) slidably connected to the molding cavity and a lifting drive member (1222) for driving the lifting base plate (1221). The optical path structure (13) is disposed above the molding cavity and faces the lifting base plate (1221).

7. A 3D printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dust removal mechanism (2) is located on one side of the main unit (1). The dust removal mechanism (2) includes a first filter structure (21), a cyclone filter structure and a second filter structure (22) connected in sequence to the molding structure (12); the second filter structure (22) is connected to the molding structure (12).

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