Dual mode screw tensioner for laser engineered net shaping

Abstract

The utility model relates to a double mode screw tightness device for laser selective melting forming belongs to laser selective melting equipment technical field, solves the problem of low efficiency and low precision of manual repeated screw tightening in the substrate transfer process in the prior art. The utility model discloses base, first screw loading unit, second screw loading unit and power unit, first screw loading unit and second screw loading unit can reciprocate horizontal movement relative to the base to make first screw loading unit or second screw loading unit be in the working position, power unit is fixedly arranged on the base, and can move up and down relative to the base to realize the screw of first screw loading unit or second screw loading unit in the working position is screwed or loosened. The utility model adopts two screw loading units to load screw in different modes, adopts power unit to automatically screw the screw, improves the efficiency and precision of the screw tightening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of laser selective melting equipment technology, and in particular to a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming. Background Technology

[0002] In the current field of metal 3D printing technology, due to the wettability issues between raw material powder and the substrate, the substrate material is usually chosen to be the same metal as the raw material powder. Selective laser melting (SLM) technology demonstrates significant advantages in metal 3D printing by directly producing metal parts. However, the printing process generates considerable stress, which can lead to deformation of the parts. Therefore, printing the parts onto a substrate is an effective way to prevent deformation. In traditional SLM additive manufacturing, the fixing and releasing of the substrate mainly relies on manual operation. This reliance on manual operation not only significantly reduces the efficiency of the entire production process but may also introduce precision problems due to operational instability, thus affecting the quality of the final product. Although some automated solutions have emerged in the market to address these issues, these solutions are often complex in structure and expensive, limiting their widespread adoption and promotion in broader industrial applications. Utility Model Content

[0003] Based on the above analysis, the present invention aims to provide a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming, in order to solve the problems of low efficiency and low precision of manual repeated screw tightening and loosening during the existing substrate transfer process.

[0004] On one hand, this utility model provides a dual-mode screw tightening and loosening device for laser selective melting forming, including a base, a first screw loading unit, a second screw loading unit, and a power unit; wherein, the base is used to fix on the auxiliary equipment for laser selective melting forming; the first screw loading unit and the second screw loading unit are disposed on the base, and the first screw loading unit and the second screw loading unit can reciprocate horizontally relative to the base to put the first screw loading unit or the second screw loading unit in a working position; the power unit is fixedly disposed on the base and can move up and down relative to the base to tighten or loosen the screws on the first screw loading unit or the second screw loading unit in the working position.

[0005] Furthermore, the first screw loading unit includes a first base plate, a first guide post, an elastic element, a first mounting base, and a first gripper.

[0006] Furthermore, the first base plate is fixedly mounted on the base, the first guide post is fixedly mounted on the first base plate, and the first mounting seat is sleeved on the first guide post; the elastic element is sleeved on the first guide post and is located between the first base plate and the first mounting seat; the first gripper is fixedly mounted on the first mounting seat.

[0007] Furthermore, the first gripper is provided with a central through hole, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the first limiting step surface of the first screw.

[0008] Furthermore, the second screw loading unit includes a second base plate, a second guide post, a support plate, a second mounting base, a second gripper, a gripper lifting assembly, and a gripper opening and closing assembly.

[0009] Furthermore, the second base plate is fixedly mounted on the base; the support plate and the second guide post are parallel and spaced apart on the second base plate; the second mounting seat is sleeved on the second guide post and fixedly connected to the gripper lifting assembly; the gripper opening and closing assembly is located on the front side of the second mounting seat; the second gripper is located on the gripper opening and closing assembly and can be driven to open or close by the gripper opening and closing assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, a guide strip is provided on the surface of the support plate opposite to the second guide post; the gripper lifting assembly is slidably disposed on the guide strip and can drive the second mounting base to move up and down.

[0011] Furthermore, the second gripper includes a left gripper block and a right gripper block arranged opposite to each other.

[0012] Furthermore, both the left clamping block and the right clamping block are provided with semi-circular grooves, and the two semi-circular grooves are arranged opposite each other.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the semi-circular grooves has a second limiting step surface protruding from its bottom.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0015] (1) The automatic screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming substrate of this utility model uses two screw loading units to load screws in different modes and uses a power unit to automatically tighten the screws, thereby realizing the automatic tightening and loosening of screws with different requirements during the transfer of the substrate, which improves efficiency and accuracy.

[0016] (2) The first screw loading unit of this utility model loads the screw in a first mode. In the first mode, the screw always remains engaged with the first screw loading unit. After the screw is tightened to the target position (i.e., on the substrate), the substrate, the screw, and the dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming in this embodiment are fixedly connected together. The substrate and the screw tightening device can be moved to the target position together by the auxiliary equipment for laser selective melting forming. After the screw is loosened, it can detach from the substrate surface under the action of the elastic element of the first screw loading unit.

[0017] (3) The second screw loading unit of this utility model loads the screw in a second mode. In the second mode, after the screw is tightened to the target position (i.e., on the substrate), it separates from the second screw loading unit and can move freely with the substrate. After the screw is loosened from the substrate, it can detach from the substrate surface under the action of the second screw loading unit.

[0018] In this invention, the above-described technical solutions can be combined with each other to achieve more preferred combinations. Other features and advantages of this invention will be set forth in the following description, and some advantages will become apparent from the description or be learned by practicing the invention. The objectives and other advantages of this invention can be realized and obtained from the description and accompanying drawings, which are particularly pointed out. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a front view of a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a front view of a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to the present invention, with the first and second grippers omitted.

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first gripper of a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second gripper of a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Top view.

[0027] Figure label:

[0028] 10-Base; 11-Horizontal slide rail; 12-Slider; 13-Base plate; 14-Vertical support plate; 15-Switching cylinder; 16-Mounting plate; 20-First screw loading unit; 21-First base plate; 22-First guide post; 23-Elastic element; 24-First mounting seat; 25-First gripper; 26-Center through hole; 30-Second screw loading unit; 31-Second base plate; 32-Second guide post; 33-Second mounting seat; 34-Second gripper; 341-Left gripper block; 342-Right gripper block; 343-Second limiting step surface; 35-Gripper lifting assembly; 36-Gripper opening and closing assembly; 37-Support plate; 40-Power unit. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of the present invention and are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to illustrate the principles of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] A specific embodiment of this utility model is as follows: Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, a dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming is disclosed.

[0032] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the dual-mode screw tightening and loosening device for laser selective melting forming in this embodiment includes a base 10, a first screw loading unit 20, a second screw loading unit 30, and a power unit 40. The base 10 is fixed to the auxiliary equipment for laser selective melting forming. The first screw loading unit 20, the second screw loading unit 30, and the power unit 40 are disposed on the base 10. The first screw loading unit 20 and the second screw loading unit 30 can reciprocate horizontally relative to the base 10 to position either the first screw loading unit 20 or the second screw loading unit 30 in a working position. The power unit 40 is fixedly disposed on the base 10 and can move vertically relative to the base 10 to tighten or loosen the screws on the first screw loading unit 20 or the second screw loading unit 30 in the working position.

[0033] The first screw loading unit 20 loads the screw in a first mode, in which the screw remains engaged with the first screw loading unit 20. After the screw is tightened to the target position (i.e., on the substrate 13), the substrate 13, the screw, and the dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming in this embodiment are fixedly connected together. The substrate 13 and the screw tightening device can be moved to the target position together by the auxiliary equipment for laser selective melting forming. After the screw is loosened, it can be detached from the surface of the substrate 13 under the action of the first screw loading unit 20.

[0034] The second screw loading unit 30 loads the screw in a second mode. In this second mode, after the screw is tightened to the target position (i.e., on the substrate 13), it separates from the second screw loading unit 30 and can move freely with the substrate 13. After the screw is loosened from the substrate 13, it can detach from the surface of the substrate 13 under the action of the second screw loading unit 30.

[0035] For details, see Figure 2 , Figure 3 The base 10 includes a mounting plate 16, a horizontal slide rail 11, a slider 12, a base plate 13, a vertical support plate 14, and a switching cylinder 15. The mounting plate 16 has a guide groove at its bottom, suitable for mounting onto auxiliary equipment for laser selective melting and forming. The horizontal slide rail 11 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the mounting plate 16, and a vertical support plate 37 is mounted on one end of the mounting plate 16. The switching cylinder 15 is fixedly mounted on the vertical support plate 37, with its output end facing the horizontal slide rail 11. The slider 12 is mounted on the horizontal slide rail 11 and can reciprocate on it. Multiple sliders 12 are preferably provided. The base plate 13 is fixedly mounted on the top of the slider 12.

[0036] A first screw loading unit 20 and a second screw loading unit 30 are provided on the substrate 13. A vertical support plate 14 is fixedly disposed on the end of the substrate 13 near the switching cylinder 15. The vertical support plate 14 is fixedly connected to the output end of the switching cylinder 15. The switching cylinder 15 can drive the vertical support plate 14 and the substrate 13 to reciprocate left and right, so that the first screw loading unit 20 or the second screw loading unit 30 is in the working position.

[0037] See Figure 2 , Figure 3The first screw loading unit 20 includes a first base plate 21, a first guide post 22, an elastic element 23, a first mounting base 24, and a first gripper 25. The first base plate 21 is fixedly mounted on the base plate 13, and the first guide post 22 is fixedly mounted on the first base plate 21, extending vertically. The first mounting base 24 is sleeved on the first guide post 22 and can slide up and down along the first guide post 22. The elastic element 23 is sleeved on the first guide post 22 and located between the first base plate 21 and the first mounting base 24. The first gripper 25 is fixedly mounted on the first mounting base 24. When the first gripper 25 is subjected to a downward force, it can drive the first mounting base 24 to compress the elastic element 23 and move downward. When the external force is removed, the elastic element 23 can push the first mounting base 24, carrying the first gripper 25, upward, so that the first screw mounted on the first gripper 25 disengages from the base plate 13.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, two first guide posts 22 are provided, and a top plate is provided on the top of each first guide post 22. The two first guide posts 22 are located on opposite sides of the first mounting base 24, and each first guide post 22 is provided with an elastic element 23. The elastic element 23 is preferably a spring. This arrangement makes the operation of the first mounting base 24 more stable and less prone to skewing, thereby improving the coaxiality between the screw and the screw hole on the base plate 13.

[0039] The structure of the first gripper 25 is as follows: Figure 5 As shown, it includes a first mounting portion fixedly connected to a first mounting base 24, a vertically downward first connecting portion, and a horizontally forward-extending first clamping portion. The first clamping portion is provided with a central through hole 26 for a first screw to pass through.

[0040] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 The first screw has a first limiting step surface on its shank, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the central through hole 26 of the first clamping part. When the first screw is placed into the central through hole 26, the first limiting step surface is engaged with the upper surface of the first clamping part.

[0041] When the first screw loading unit 20 is in the working position, the power unit 40 moves downward and pushes the first screw, along with the first clamp 25 and the first mounting base 24, downward. After entering the threaded hole on the substrate 13, the power unit 40 drives the first screw to rotate and tighten the first screw, so that the substrate 13 is fixedly connected to the dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming in this embodiment.

[0042] When it is necessary to loosen the first screw, the power unit 40 rotates the first screw in the opposite direction, causing the screw to dislodge from the threaded hole on the substrate 13. After the power unit 40 returns to its original position, the first mounting base 24 moves upward with the first screw under the action of the elastic element 23, causing the screw to leave the surface of the substrate 13 and avoiding interference with subsequent processes.

[0043] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 The second screw loading unit 30 includes a second base plate 31, a second guide post 32, a support plate 37, a second mounting base 33, a second gripper 34, a gripper lifting assembly 35, and a gripper opening and closing assembly 36. The second base plate 31 is fixedly mounted on the base plate 13. The second guide post 32 is fixedly mounted on the second base plate 31 and extends vertically. A support plate 37 is also provided on the second base plate 31, and the support plate 37 is parallel and spaced apart from the second guide post 32. A guide strip is provided on the surface of the support plate 37 opposite to the second guide post 32. The second mounting base 33 is sleeved on the second guide post 32 and fixedly connected to the gripper lifting assembly 35. The gripper lifting assembly 35 is slidably mounted on the guide strip and can drive the second mounting base 33 to move up and down. The gripper opening and closing assembly 36 is located on the front side of the second mounting base 33. The second gripper 34 is mounted on the gripper opening and closing assembly 36 and can be driven to open or close by the gripper opening and closing assembly 36. When the second jaw 34 opens, the second screw can disengage from the second jaw 34. When the second jaw 34 closes, it can grip the second screw.

[0044] The structure of the second gripper 34 is as follows: Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown. The second clamping jaw 34 is divided into two parts, the left clamping block 341 and the right clamping block 342, which are arranged opposite each other. Both the left clamping block 341 and the right clamping block 342 are provided with semi-circular grooves, which are arranged opposite each other. The bottom of each semi-circular groove protrudes inwardly with a second limiting step surface 343. When the left clamping block 341 and the right clamping block 342 are closed, the two semi-circular grooves merge into a circular through hole, and the second limiting step surface 343 engages with the nut of the second screw, holding the second screw between the left clamping block 341 and the right clamping block 342.

[0045] When the second screw needs to be tightened, the switching cylinder 15 first pushes the vertical support plate 14, putting the second screw loading unit 30 into the working position. The gripper lifting assembly 35 drives the second gripper 34 to descend, allowing the second screw to enter the threaded hole in the substrate 13. Then, the power unit 40 descends, driving the second screw to rotate and fixing it onto the substrate 13. During tightening, the gripper opening and closing assembly 36 drives the second gripper 34 to open, disengaging the second screw from the gripper 34. The power unit 40 then continues to drive the second screw to rotate, so that the top of the second screw is below the upper surface of the substrate 13.

[0046] When the second screw needs to be loosened, the switching cylinder 15 first pushes the vertical support plate 14, putting the second screw loading unit 30 into the working position. The gripper lifting assembly 35 drives the second gripper 34 to descend, followed by the power unit 40 descending and driving the second screw to rotate, raising the second screw a certain distance above the upper surface of the substrate 13. The gripper opening and closing assembly 36 then drives the second gripper 34 to close, gripping the second screw. The power unit 40 then continues to drive the second screw to rotate, completely disengaging it from the threaded hole. Finally, the gripper lifting assembly 35 drives the second gripper 34 to lift the second screw away from the upper surface of the substrate 13, avoiding interference with subsequent processes.

[0047] See Figure 1 The power unit 40 includes a tightening torque gun and a torque gun lifting unit, which can be achieved using conventional existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0048] The torque gun is the main tool used to achieve this. By precisely controlling the torque output, it ensures that each screw is tightened evenly and accurately. It is compatible with the flexible production requirements of assembling various bolt sizes, reduces quality defects caused by human factors, improves production efficiency, and reduces or replaces some manual assembly, thus reducing the labor intensity of workers.

[0049] Compared with the prior art, the automatic screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming substrate provided in this embodiment uses two screw loading units to load screws in different modes and a power unit to automatically tighten the screws, realizing the automatic tightening and loosening of screws with different requirements during substrate transfer, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of tightening and loosening screws.

[0050] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming, characterized in that, The device includes a base, a first screw loading unit, a second screw loading unit, and a power unit. The base is used to fix the device to an auxiliary equipment for laser selective melting and forming. The first and second screw loading units are disposed on the base and can reciprocate horizontally relative to the base to position either the first or second screw loading unit in a working position. The power unit is fixedly disposed on the base and can move up and down relative to the base to tighten or loosen the screws on the first or second screw loading units in the working position.

2. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first screw loading unit includes a first base plate, a first guide post, an elastic element, a first mounting base, and a first gripper.

3. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first base plate is fixedly mounted on the base, the first guide post is fixedly mounted on the first base plate, and the first mounting seat is sleeved on the first guide post; the elastic element is sleeved on the first guide post and is located between the first base plate and the first mounting seat; the first gripper is fixedly mounted on the first mounting seat.

4. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first gripper is provided with a central through hole, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the first limiting step surface of the first screw.

5. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second screw loading unit includes a second base plate, a second guide post, a support plate, a second mounting base, a second gripper, a gripper lifting assembly, and a gripper opening and closing assembly.

6. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second base plate is fixedly mounted on the base; the support plate and the second guide post are parallel and spaced apart on the second base plate; the second mounting seat is sleeved on the second guide post and fixedly connected to the gripper lifting assembly; the gripper opening and closing assembly is located on the front side of the second mounting seat; the second gripper is located on the gripper opening and closing assembly and can be driven to open or close by the gripper opening and closing assembly.

7. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 6, characterized in that, A guide bar is provided on the surface of the support plate opposite to the second guide post; the gripper lifting assembly is slidably disposed on the guide bar and can drive the second mounting base to move up and down.

8. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second gripper includes a left gripper block and a right gripper block arranged opposite to each other.

9. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 8, characterized in that, Both the left clamping block and the right clamping block are provided with semi-circular grooves, and the two semi-circular grooves are arranged opposite each other.

10. The dual-mode screw tightening device for laser selective melting forming according to claim 9, characterized in that, Each of the semi-circular grooves has a second limiting step surface protruding from its bottom.

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