Accurate powder supply bin for sls selective laser sintering 3d printer
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522286812.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-23
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-10-29
AI Technical Summary
目前市面上的SLS 3D打印机，其供粉仓要么采用抬升式上出粉的方式供粉，要么通过电磁阀控制下出粉口的方式供粉，均无法做到单次定量精准出粉，造成每次的出粉量不稳定，并且，粉料在供粉仓内堆积，出粉时由于粉料的流动性与粘滞性的共同作用及影响，使得更易造成每次出粉量不均匀的情况，从而严重影响后续3D打印机铺粉机构的铺粉效果
[0007]本实用新型的有益效果是：与目前市面现有的同类产品相比，该用于SLS选择性激光烧结3D打印机的精准供粉仓能够实现单次定量精准供粉，同时保证粉料从粉仓的出粉口处均匀流出，从而为后续3D打印机的铺粉机构实现优良的铺粉效果奠定基础。
Smart Images
Figure CN224881309U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of 3D printer manufacturing technology, and in particular to a precision powder supply hopper for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printers. Background Technology
[0002] SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) is an advanced 3D printing technology that uses an infrared laser as a heat source to sinter powder materials (mainly plastic powder, wax powder, metal powder, coated ceramic powder with a binder on the surface, coated metal powder, and coated sand, etc.) at high temperatures, building up layers to form three-dimensional parts. Currently, SLS 3D printers on the market either use a top-loading powder supply system or a bottom-loading powder supply system controlled by a solenoid valve. Neither method can achieve precise, quantitative powder dispensing per cycle, resulting in unstable powder dispensing amounts. Furthermore, powder accumulation in the supply chamber, combined with the powder's fluidity and viscosity, further exacerbates uneven powder dispensing, severely impacting the powder spreading effect of the 3D printer's subsequent powder spreading mechanism. Utility Model Content
[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a precision powder supply chamber for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printers, so as to overcome the defects and shortcomings of existing similar technologies and products as described in the background art.
[0004] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is as follows: a precision powder supply hopper for an SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer, comprising a powder hopper, a powder guide hopper inside the powder hopper, a powder outlet formed in the bottom plate of the powder hopper, and a precision powder control mechanism inside the powder hopper. The precision powder control mechanism includes a partition plate horizontally fixed inside the powder hopper, a powder passage groove I formed in the partition plate, the powder guide hopper being installed on the upper surface of the partition plate, and the powder outlet of the powder guide hopper being vertically connected to the powder passage groove I of the partition plate; a powder controller is installed on the lower surface of the partition plate, and a lower vibration element is installed on the lower surface of the powder controller. The support plate and powder controller have an upper through groove, a lower through groove, and a cylindrical roller cavity. The upper and lower through grooves are located above and below the roller cavity, respectively, and are connected to the roller cavity. The lower vibration component support plate has a powder-passing groove II. The powder-passing groove I of the partition plate is vertically connected to the upper through groove of the powder controller, and the lower through groove of the powder controller is vertically connected to the powder-passing groove II of the lower vibration component support plate. The powder-passing groove II of the lower vibration component support plate is also vertically connected to the powder outlet of the powder hopper bottom plate. A rotatable powder-controlling roller is installed in the roller cavity of the powder controller. The powder-controlling roller is powered by a stepper motor mounted on the powder hopper bottom plate. Driven by a toothed belt pulley, multiple axially spaced powder grooves are uniformly formed on the surface of the powder control roller. The grooves between each powder groove are fitted with a clearance fit to the roller cavity wall. Symmetrical upper vibration element positioning blind grooves are formed at both ends of the upper through groove of the powder controller, and symmetrical lower vibration element positioning blind grooves are formed at both ends of the lower through groove. Symmetrical lower vibration element auxiliary positioning blind grooves are formed at both ends of the powder passage groove II of the lower vibration element support plate. Upper and lower vibration elements are respectively installed in the upper and lower through grooves of the powder controller. Both upper and lower vibration elements consist of a vibration plate support beam and multiple elastic vibration plates. One end of each elastic vibration plate... The upper vibrating element is fixed to the vibrating plate support beam; the upper vibrating element support beam is fixed by the upper vibrating element positioning blind slots at both ends of the upper through slot of the powder controller, and at the same time, the part of the upper vibrating element exposed in the upper through slot passes through the powder passage slot I of the partition plate and into the powder drop outlet of the powder guide hopper; the lower vibrating element support beam is fixed by the lower vibrating element positioning blind slots at both ends of the lower through slot, and at the same time, the part of the lower vibrating element exposed in the lower through slot enters the powder passage slot II and the lower vibrating element auxiliary positioning blind slot of the lower vibrating element support plate; one end of each elastic vibrating plate of the upper and lower vibrating elements can contact the groove of the powder control roller located in the roller cavity of the powder controller.
[0005] Furthermore, symmetrical upper vibration auxiliary positioning slots are formed at both ends of the powder passage I of the partition plate. When the part of the upper vibration component exposed in the upper slot passes through the powder passage I of the partition plate, it also passes through the upper vibration auxiliary positioning slot of the partition plate.
[0006] Preferably, the elastic vibrating pad is made of spring steel.
[0007] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: compared with similar products currently on the market, the precision powder supply hopper for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer can achieve precise single-quantity powder supply, while ensuring that the powder flows out evenly from the powder outlet of the powder hopper, thus laying the foundation for the subsequent powder spreading mechanism of the 3D printer to achieve excellent powder spreading effect. Attached Figure Description
[0008] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0009] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention (with one side panel of the powder hopper removed). Figure 2 , Figure 3 All of these are three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams of the powder guide hopper in this utility model (from different perspectives); Figure 4 , Figure 5 These are top and bottom views of the powder guide hopper in this utility model. Figure 6 This is a top view of the partition plate of this utility model. Figure 7 , Figure 8 All of these are three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams (from different perspectives) of the precision powder control mechanism in this utility model. Figure 9 This is an exploded structural diagram of the precision powder control mechanism in this utility model (excluding the partition). Figure 10 , Figure 11 , Figure 12 These are schematic diagrams of the central control powder device of this utility model, taken from the front, top, and bottom views. Figure 13 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the central control powder device of this utility model along its axial direction; Figure 14 The cross-sectional structural diagram illustrates the cooperation relationship between the powder control roller and the powder controller in this utility model. Figure 15 , Figure 16 , Figure 17 These are schematic diagrams of the front view, top view, and bottom view of the lower vibration support plate in this utility model. Figure 18 , Figure 19 The interaction between the upper and lower vibration components and the powder control roller is shown from both the front and side views.
[0010] In the diagram: 1. Powder hopper; 1-1. Base plate; 1-1-1. Powder outlet; 2. Powder guide hopper; 2-1. Powder outlet; 3. Baffle plate; 3-1. Powder trough I; 3-2. Auxiliary positioning slot for upper vibrator; 4. Powder controller; 4-1. Upper slot; 4-2. Lower slot; 4-3. Roller cavity; 4-4. Positioning blind slot for upper vibrator; 4-5. Positioning blind slot for lower vibrator; 5. Powder control roller; 5-1. Powder trough; 5-2. Slot partition; 6. Support plate for lower vibrator; 6-1. Powder trough II; 6-2. Auxiliary positioning blind slot for lower vibrator; 7. Upper vibrator; 8. Lower vibrator; 9. Vibrator support beam; 10. Elastic vibrator; 11. Stepper motor. Detailed Implementation
[0011] A precision powder supply hopper for SLS selective laser sintering 3D printers, such as Figures 1 to 19 As shown, it includes a powder hopper 1, a powder guide hopper 2 installed inside the powder hopper 1, a powder outlet 1-1-1 formed in the bottom plate 1-1 of the powder hopper 1, and a precision powder control mechanism installed inside the powder hopper 1. The precision powder control mechanism includes a partition 3 horizontally fixed inside the powder hopper 1, a powder conveying trough Ⅰ3-1 formed in the partition 3, and the powder guide hopper 2 installed on the upper surface of the partition 3. At the same time, the powder outlet 2-1 of the powder guide hopper 2 is vertically connected to the powder conveying trough Ⅰ3-1 of the partition 3. A powder controller 4 is installed on the lower surface of the partition 3. A lower vibration support plate 6 is installed on the lower surface of the powder controller 4. The powder controller 4 has an upper through groove 4-1, a lower through groove 4-2, and a cylindrical roller cavity 4-3. The upper through groove 4-1 and the lower through groove 4-2 are located above and below the roller cavity 4-3, respectively, and are connected to the roller cavity 4-3. The lower vibration support plate 6 has a powder passage groove II 6-1. The powder passage groove I 3-1 of the partition 3 is connected to the upper through groove of the powder controller 4. 4-1 is vertically connected, and simultaneously, the lower through groove 4-2 of the powder controller 4 is vertically connected to the powder passage groove II 6-1 of the lower vibration support plate 6. The powder passage groove II 6-1 of the lower vibration support plate 6 is also vertically connected to the powder outlet 1-1-1 of the powder hopper 1 bottom plate 1-1. A rotatable powder control roller 5 is installed in the roller cavity 4-3 of the powder controller 4. The powder control roller 5 is driven by a stepper motor 11 mounted on the powder hopper 1 bottom plate 1-1 through a toothed belt pulley. Multiple axially oriented powder grooves 5-1 are uniformly formed on the surface of the powder roller 5. The groove spacing 5-2 between each powder groove 5-1 is in clearance fit with the cavity wall of the roller cavity 4-3. Upper vibration component positioning blind grooves 4-4 are symmetrically formed at both ends of the upper through groove 4-1 of the powder controller 4. Lower vibration component positioning blind grooves 4-5 are symmetrically formed at both ends of the lower through groove 4-2. Lower vibration component auxiliary positioning blind grooves 6-2 are symmetrically formed at both ends of the powder through groove II 6-1 of the lower vibration component support plate 6.
[0012] The presence of the powder control roller 5 in the powder controller 4 enables precise control of the amount of powder dispensed from the powder hopper 1 in a single operation. The powder load of a single powder trough 5-1 on the powder control roller 5 is pre-designed. Driven by the stepper motor 11, the angle of rotation of the powder control roller 5 is constant each time, allowing a predetermined number (e.g., 3) of the powder troughs 5-1 to rotate with their openings facing downwards, so that the powder loaded in the troughs falls out. This ensures that the amount of powder falling from the powder controller 4 is constant each time, which is beneficial to the powder spreading operation of the subsequent powder spreading mechanism.
[0013] An upper vibrating element 7 and a lower vibrating element 8 are respectively installed in the upper through groove 4-1 and the lower through groove 4-2 of the powder controller 4. Both the upper vibrating element 7 and the lower vibrating element 8 are composed of a vibrating plate support beam 9 and multiple elastic vibrating plates 10. One end of each elastic vibrating plate 10 is fixed to the vibrating plate support beam 9. The vibrating plate support beam 9 of the upper vibrating element 7 is fixed by the upper vibrating element positioning blind grooves 4-4 at both ends of the upper through groove 4-1 of the powder controller 4. At the same time, the part of the upper vibrating element 7 that is exposed in the upper through groove 4-1 passes through the powder passage groove I3 of the partition plate 3. -1 until the powder drop hopper 2 falls into the powder drop opening 2-1; the vibration support beam 9 of the lower vibration component 8 is fixed by the lower vibration component positioning blind groove 4-5 at both ends of the lower through groove 4-2. At the same time, the part of the lower vibration component 8 exposed in the lower through groove 4-2 enters the powder passing groove II 6-1 and the lower vibration component auxiliary positioning blind groove 6-2 of the lower vibration component support plate 6; one end of each elastic vibration plate 10 of the upper vibration component 7 and the lower vibration component 8 can contact the groove 5-2 of the powder control roller 5 located in the roller cavity 4-3 of the powder controller 4.
[0014] When the powder control roller 5 rotates under the drive of the stepper motor 11, the slots 5-2 of the powder control roller 5 will intermittently press against the lower edge of the elastic vibrating plate 10, causing the elastic vibrating plate 10 to deform. During the rapid reset process, the elastic vibrating plate 10 will impact and vibrate the powder control roller 5. Because the powder has a certain viscosity, in order to prevent a small amount of powder from adhering to the powder trough 5-1 of the powder control roller 5 during powder feeding and not falling out, the vibration generated by the intermittent pressing of the powder control roller 5 against the elastic vibrating plate 10 during rotation will cause the powder adhering to the trough to be shaken off completely, thereby further ensuring the accuracy of powder feeding.
[0015] The lower vibration element 8 is jointly positioned by the lower vibration element positioning blind groove 4-5 in the powder controller 4 and the lower vibration element auxiliary positioning blind groove 6-2 in the lower vibration element support plate 6. In order to improve the positioning stability of the upper vibration element 7, in this example, upper vibration element auxiliary positioning through grooves 3-2 are symmetrically formed at both ends of the powder passage groove I 3-1 of the partition plate 3. When the part of the upper vibration element 7 exposed in the upper through groove 4-1 passes through the powder passage groove I 3-1 of the partition plate 3, it also passes through the upper vibration element auxiliary positioning through groove 3-2 of the partition plate 3.
[0016] In this example, the elastic vibration damper 10 is made of spring steel to ensure its performance and service life.
[0017] The above embodiments are only used to explain the present utility model and are not intended to limit the protection of the present utility model. Any non-substantial modifications made based on the essential solution of the present utility model shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A precision powder supply hopper for an SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer, comprising a powder hopper (1), a powder guide hopper (2) disposed within the powder hopper (1), and a powder outlet (1-1-1) formed in the bottom plate (1-1) of the powder hopper (1), characterized in that: A precision powder control mechanism is provided inside the powder hopper (1). The precision powder control mechanism includes a partition (3) that is horizontally fixed inside the powder hopper (1). A powder passage groove I (3-1) is formed in the partition (3). The powder guide bucket (2) is installed on the upper surface of the partition (3). At the same time, the powder drop port (2-1) of the powder guide bucket (2) is vertically connected to the powder passage groove I (3-1) of the partition (3). A powder controller (4) is installed on the lower surface of the partition (3). A lower vibration support plate (6) is installed on the lower surface of the powder controller (4). An upper through groove (4-1), a lower through groove (4-2), and a cylindrical roller cavity (4-3) are formed in the powder controller (4). The upper through groove (4-1) and the lower through groove (4-2) are located above and below the roller cavity (4-3) respectively and are connected to the roller cavity (4-3). The lower vibration support plate (6) forms a powder passage groove II (6-1). The powder passage groove I (3-1) of the partition plate (3) is connected vertically to the upper through groove (4-1) of the powder controller (4). At the same time, the lower through groove (4-2) of the powder controller (4) is connected vertically to the powder passage groove II (6-1) of the lower vibration support plate (6). The powder passage groove II (6-1) of the lower vibration support plate (6) is also connected vertically to the powder outlet (1-1-1) of the bottom plate (1-1) of the powder hopper (1). A rotatable powder control roller (5) is installed in the roller cavity (4-3) of the powder controller (4). The powder control roller (5) is driven by a stepper motor (11) installed on the bottom plate (1-1) of the powder hopper (1) through a toothed belt pulley. Multiple axial powder grooves (5-1) are uniformly formed on the surface of the powder control roller (5). The groove spacing (5-2) between each powder groove (5-1) is in clearance fit with the cavity wall of the roller cavity (4-3). Upper vibration element positioning blind grooves (4-4) are symmetrically formed at both ends of the upper through groove (4-1) of the powder controller (4), lower vibration element positioning blind grooves (4-5) are symmetrically formed at both ends of the lower through groove (4-2), and lower vibration element auxiliary positioning blind grooves (6-2) are symmetrically formed at both ends of the powder passage groove II (6-1) of the lower vibration element support plate (6). An upper vibrating element (7) and a lower vibrating element (8) are respectively installed in the upper through groove (4-1) and lower through groove (4-2) of the powder controller (4). Both the upper vibrating element (7) and the lower vibrating element (8) are composed of a vibrating plate support beam (9) and multiple elastic vibrating plates (10). One end of each elastic vibrating plate (10) is fixed to the vibrating plate support beam (9). The vibrating plate support beam (9) of the upper vibrating element (7) is fixed by the upper vibrating element positioning blind grooves (4-4) at both ends of the upper through groove (4-1) of the powder controller (4). At the same time, the part of the upper vibrating element (7) that is exposed in the upper through groove (4-1) passes through the powder passage groove I (3) of the partition plate (3). -1) Until the powder drop outlet (2-1) of the powder guide hopper (2); the vibration support beam (9) of the lower vibration component (8) is fixed by the lower vibration component positioning blind groove (4-5) at both ends of the lower through groove (4-2), and at the same time, the part of the lower vibration component (8) exposed in the lower through groove (4-2) enters the powder passage groove II (6-1) and the lower vibration component auxiliary positioning blind groove (6-2) of the lower vibration component support plate (6); one end of each elastic vibration piece (10) of the upper vibration component (7) and the lower vibration component (8) can contact the groove (5-2) of the control roller (5) located in the roller cavity (4-3) of the control roller (4).
2. The precision powder supply chamber for an SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Symmetrical upper vibration element auxiliary positioning through slots (3-2) are formed at both ends of the powder passage I (3-1) of the partition (3). When the part of the upper vibration element (7) exposed in the upper through slot (4-1) passes through the powder passage I (3-1) of the partition (3), it also passes through the upper vibration element auxiliary positioning through slot (3-2) of the partition (3).
3. The precision powder supply chamber for an SLS selective laser sintering 3D printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic vibrating pad (10) is made of spring steel.