3D printing device with a number of print head rows

Abstract

The invention relates to a 3D printing device for additive manufacturing, comprising a number of print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n) arranged one next to the other along a transverse axis (Qa-Qe), via each of which one component can be additively manufactured. The 3D printing device (D) according to the invention has at least two rows (20A-20E) of print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n) arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis (L).

Description

[0001] 3D printing device with multiple rows of print heads

[0002] Description

[0003] The proposed solution concerns a 3D printing device for additive manufacturing, which has several print heads arranged next to each other along a transverse axis, each of which can additively manufacture a component.

[0004] It is already known in practice to arrange several (at least two) print heads next to each other in a 3D printing device in order to additively manufacture multiple components simultaneously. Using each print head, a component can then be built up layer by layer, for example. Typically, identical components are manufactured simultaneously in an additive manufacturing process to increase the number of components to be manufactured per unit of time.

[0005] However, there is still a need for 3D printing devices that can further increase the flexibility of component production in additive manufacturing.

[0006] A 3D printing device according to claim 1 provides a remedy here.

[0007] Thus, a 3D printing device is proposed which has at least two rows, each with a plurality of print heads arranged side by side along a transverse axis, which are arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis.

[0008] The basic idea of ​​the proposed solution is therefore to provide a 2D matrix of print heads that not only allows a larger number of possibly identical components to be additively manufactured, but also allows the process parameters to be more easily adjusted when producing multiple components using a single 3D printing device.

[0009] In principle, the proposed 3D printing device for layered construction of the components can comprise at least one extruder for each print head or a subgroup of print heads, or multiple extruders, at least one processor controlling the at least one extruder, and at least one memory for control commands for controlling the extruder. The processor and memory can be integrated into control electronics, which can also control the position of the print heads.

[0010] In one embodiment, the 3D printing device has at least one crossbeam for at least one row of snap fasteners, on which the print heads can be positioned at different transverse distances from one another. Thus, a crossbeam is provided on which at least two print heads are arranged at an adjustable distance from one another. The print heads of a row can, for example, be movably mounted on the associated crossbeam. Depending on the component to be manufactured, the print heads can thus be positioned differently along the crossbeam and thus along the transverse axis defined by the crossbeam.

[0011] To further simplify the positioning of the print heads on a crossbar, one design variant provides for a power-operated adjustment of the transverse spacing of the print heads in a row. This allows the positions of the print heads on the crossbar and the resulting transverse spacing between the push buttons to be adjusted electronically. For this purpose, a motorized transverse adjustment device, for example, is part of the 3D printing device. Such a transverse adjustment device can then be used, for example, to adjust different transverse spacings between the print heads in a row.

[0012] For example, the transverse adjustment device has at least one spindle drive for this purpose. A spindle nut meshing with the spindle and connected to one of the print heads is then provided on a spindle of such a spindle drive, for example, so that a rotation of the spindle can adjust the position of the respective print head along the spindle axis running parallel to the transverse axis. In one embodiment, the 3D printing device has several (at least two) crossbeams whose longitudinal spacing from one another along the longitudinal axis is adjustable. In such an embodiment, not only the spacing of the print heads within a row along the transverse axis is variable, but also the spacing of the print heads along the longitudinal axis.The at least two crossbeams can be adjusted relative to each other, allowing the rows of print heads they support to be positioned in groups at different longitudinal distances from each other. Furthermore, the print heads can also be spaced at different transverse distances from each other on their respective crossbeams. This allows the positions of the 2D matrix of snap fasteners to be variably adjusted, particularly depending on the size of the components to be manufactured.

[0013] The multiple crossbeams are mounted so that they can be adjusted relative to one another, for example, via a longitudinal adjustment device of the 3D printing device. The longitudinal adjustment device can, for example, comprise one or more adjustment motors to adjust the spacing of the crossbeams relative to one another. Accordingly, the longitudinal spacing of the multiple crossbeams relative to one another along the longitudinal axis can also be adjusted by external power and thus electronically controllable.

[0014] To further increase the variability of a proposed 3D printing device, particularly with regard to the number of components of which size can be produced, one design variant provides for the number of print heads per crossbar to be adjustable. This could include, for example, the print heads in a row being detachably and thus interchangeably mounted on a crossbar.

[0015] For example, movable print heads can be removable from a crossbeam. Alternatively or additionally, a quick-connection guided by a locating pin and / or a magnetic attachment to the crossbeam can be provided, for example, on a print head carriage that is slidably mounted along the crossbeam and to which at least one print head can be attached as needed.

[0016] For example, the 3D printing device includes a positioning system that allows the print heads to be individually attached to and removed from the associated crossbeam. Consequently, changing the number of print heads on a crossbeam and thus a series of push buttons does not require manual intervention by a user on the crossbeam. Rather, a number of push buttons is varied by external force. A mechanism of the positioning system—if necessary using the transverse adjustment device and / or the longitudinal adjustment device of the 3D printing device—removes individual print heads from a crossbeam or attaches them to the crossbeam. The print heads then move to a predetermined position on the crossbeam.

[0017] For example, the 3D printing device can include a print head magazine that stores a limited number of additional print heads or into which print heads removed from a crossbeam can be inserted. Of course, multiple print head magazines can also be provided for individual crossbeams or a group of crossbeams, so that one print head magazine can store print heads that can be used on multiple crossbeams. Likewise, print heads from multiple crossbeams can be housed in one print head magazine if fewer print heads are to be provided on a crossbeam for the current additive manufacturing process.

[0018] In principle, the 3D printing device can comprise at least one print bed arranged below the print heads for at least one component to be manufactured. A common print bed can be provided for several rows of push buttons, and thus a common print bed for several components to be manufactured (simultaneously). Likewise, multiple print beds can be provided, each of which is assigned to exactly one row of push buttons.

[0019] To further increase variability—at the expense of corresponding control complexity—one design variant can provide for each print head to be assigned an individual print bed. This provides print head-specific print beds, possibly with individual adjustability of the print beds relative to the respective assigned print head.

[0020] In principle, a print bed of the 3D printing device, in particular a shared print bed for multiple or individual rows of print buttons, can be adjustable along a vertical axis. Alternatively or additionally, adjustability along the transverse axis and / or along the longitudinal axis with respect to the print heads can be provided. Adjustability of the respective print bed along the vertical axis, along the transverse axis, and / or along the longitudinal axis can be used for positioning the print bed relative to a single print head or multiple print heads before the start of an additive manufacturing process. Of course, it is also conceivable that the respective adjustability enables adjustment of the print bed during an additive manufacturing process.In particular, adjustment along a vertical axis is regularly used to adjust the print bed during the layer-by-layer construction of the component to be additively manufactured, while the print head remains in a fixed (vertical) position within the 3D printing device.

[0021] In principle, alternatively or additionally, at least one of the print heads can be adjustable on its crossbar relative to the associated print bed during additive manufacturing. In such an embodiment, the respective print head can therefore not only be pre-positioned on a crossbar at a specific transverse distance from another print head before the start of additive manufacturing. Rather, the at least one print head can then also be adjustable during an additive manufacturing process, in particular along a vertical axis and / or along the transverse axis and / or along the longitudinal axis. For example, the crossbar can be adjustable completely along the vertical axis in order to be able to vary the distance of the crossbar from a print bed.

[0022] In one embodiment, the 3D printing device comprises control electronics via which the transverse spacing of print heads in a row along the (respective) transverse axis and / or the longitudinal spacing of the rows of print heads along the longitudinal axis can be specified by external force. Consequently, at least one adjustment motor of a transverse adjustment device and / or a longitudinal adjustment device can be controlled via the control electronics to position the print heads accordingly.

[0023] The number of print heads in a row can also be specified by external power via appropriate control electronics. For example, the control electronics can control a positioning system of the 3D printing device as described above.

[0024] To facilitate handling of the 3D printing device, the control electronics coupled to the positioning system can be configured to automatically adjust the positions of the print heads of a row along the (respective) transverse axis and / or the positions of the rows along the longitudinal axis using external power, depending on the dimensions of a component to be manufactured, as specified via a user interface. The control electronics are therefore configured to automatically derive, with processor support and based on component parameters provided via a user interface, the number of print heads required for simultaneous multiple production of the respective component and how the individual print heads must be positioned relative to one another along the transverse axis and along the longitudinal axis.For example, a user can simply read data from a generated model of the component to be manufactured via the user interface. Instructions from a calculation algorithm stored in the control electronics for execution by at least one processor of the control electronics then automatically – upon a user command – specify the positions of the 2D matrix at push buttons on the 3D printing device and adjust the 2D print head matrix accordingly. Of course, it is also possible, alternatively or additionally, for the user to enter the dimensions of the component to be manufactured multiple times directly via the user interface.

[0025] The attached figure illustrates possible embodiments of the proposed solution.

[0026] This shows:

[0027] Figure 1 in perspective view and partial view of a

[0028] Design variant of a proposed 3D printing device in which a plurality of print heads are provided which are adjustable along two mutually perpendicular spatial directions and which can be variably positioned with regard to their transverse and longitudinal distances from one another.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a variant of a proposed 3D printing device D, in which several rows 20A to 20E of print buttons 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 to 3.n are arranged one behind the other above a print platform or print bed 1. An extruder device (not shown in Figure 1) is also part of the 3D printing device D, which is provided for the additive manufacturing of several components via the print heads 3.1, ...., 3.n. This extruder device has at least one extruder for supplying the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n with printing material.

[0030] Each row 20A to 20E has several print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n, which are arranged side by side along a transverse axis Qa to Qe perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The 3D printing device D thus has a 2D matrix of print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n in an xy plane. This allows identical components to be additively built layer by layer in parallel. By appropriately controlling the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n and a possibly separate print bed, components with different geometric shapes can also be manufactured simultaneously.

[0031] In the illustrated 3D printing device D, the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n of a row 20A to 20E are each held along the associated transverse axis Qa to Qe on a respective crossbeam 21 above the print bed 1. This crossbeam 21 is fixed to a support part 2A to 2E for a row 20A to 20E. The individual support parts 2A to 2E and thus the respective crossbeams 21 are held displaceably along the longitudinal axis L in order to be able to variably adjust a longitudinal distance b between individual rows 20A to 20E on push buttons 3.1, ..., 3.n.

[0032] Furthermore, the individual print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n of a row 20A to 20E can each be positioned on the respective crossbeam 21 at different transverse distances a from one another. In this way, the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n can be positioned at desired distances from one another both along a transverse direction y and along a longitudinal direction x. The positions of the print buttons 3.1, ..., 3.n can be specified both along their respective transverse axes Qa to Qe and along the longitudinal axis L (in the latter case, row by row) by means of external power actuation using control electronics 6 of the 3D printing device.

[0033] Both a longitudinal adjustment device 4 and a transverse adjustment device 5 of the 3D printing device D can be controlled via the control electronics 6. The longitudinal adjustment device 4 and the transverse adjustment device 5 have at least one adjustment motor, optionally also several adjustment motors for the individual rows 20A to 20E. In response to electronic control signals from the control electronics 6, the support parts 2A to 2E and consequently the crossbeams 21 can be longitudinally spaced from one another as specified, and furthermore, the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n on a crossbeam 21 can each be transversely spaced from one another as specified within a respective row 20A to 20E.

[0034] Part of the control electronics 6 can be a user interface 60, via which dimensions for components to be manufactured can be specified. The control electronics 6 then determines the positions within the 3D printing device D to be specified for the respective specified dimensions for the push buttons 3.1, ..., 3.n. For this purpose, the control electronics 6 controls a positioning system of the 3D printing device D, comprising the longitudinal device 4 and the transverse adjustment device 5, based on a stored algorithm.

[0035] In one embodiment, the positioning system also enables the externally powered and electronically controlled removal and addition of push buttons 3.1, ..., 3.n to one or more crossbeams 21 of the different support parts 2A to 2E via the control electronics 6. For example, a corresponding (print head) magazine of push buttons of the 3D printing device D can be equipped with push buttons removed from a crossbeam 1. Conversely, additional print heads to be used can also be removed from such a (print head) magazine and automatically equipped with them into crossbeams 21 of the support parts 2A to 2E. For this purpose, the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n can, for example, be individually movable on the crossbeams 21 via a carriage each and - if the carriages are coupled to one another - also in rows. A movable mounting of a print head 3.1, ..., 3.n on a respective crossbeam 31 does not have to serve exclusively for pre-positioning a print head 3.1, ..., 3.n prior to an additive manufacturing process. Rather, a respective print head 3.1, ..., 3.n can also be movable along the crossbeam 21 for additive manufacturing.

[0036] In order to build multiple components layer by layer using the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n, the cross members 21 can be adjustable on their respective support parts 2A to 2E along a vertical axis H relative to the print bed 1 (electronically controlled via the control electronics 6). This vertical axis H runs perpendicular to the xy plane in which the print heads 3.1, ..., 3.n can be variably spaced from one another.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the print bed 1 or a plurality of different print beds assigned to individual push buttons 3.1, ..., 3.n or individual rows 20A to 20E of the 3D printing device can be adjustable along the vertical axis A. List of reference symbols

[0038] 1 print platform / print bed

[0039] 20A - 20E series

[0040] 21 Crossbeam

[0041] 2A - 2E carrier part

[0042] 3.1 , 3.2, 3.3, 3.n print head

[0043] 4 Longitudinal adjustment device

[0044] 5 Transverse adjustment device

[0045] 6 Control electronics

[0046] 60 User Interface a Transverse distance b Longitudinal distance

[0047] D 3D printing device

[0048] H vertical axis

[0049] L Longitudinal axis

[0050] Qa - Qe transverse axis

Claims

Claims 1. 3D printing device for additive manufacturing, comprising several print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) arranged side by side along a transverse axis (Qa - Qe), each of which a component can be additively manufactured, characterized in that the 3D printing device (D) has at least two rows (20A - 20E) with each of several print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) arranged side by side along a transverse axis (Qa - Qe), which are arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis (L).

2. 3D printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the 3D printing device (D) has at least one cross member (21) for at least one series (20A - 20E) of printheads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) on which the printheads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) can be positioned at different lateral distances (a) from each other.

3. 3D printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) of a series (20A - 20E) are slidably mounted on the associated crossbeam (21).

4. 3D printing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the transverse distances (a) of the print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) of a series (20A - 20E) on the associated crossbeam (21) are adjustable by external force.

5. 3D printing device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the 3D printing device (D) has several crossbeams (21) whose longitudinal distance (b) to each other is adjustable along the longitudinal axis (L).

6. 3D printing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the several crossbeams (21) are adjustable relative to each other on a longitudinal adjustment device (4).

7. 3D printing device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that longitudinal distances (b) of the several crossbeams (21) to each other along the longitudinal axis (L) are adjustable by external force. A 3D printing device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the number of print heads (3.1, 3.n) per cross member (21) is adjustable. A 3D printing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the 3D printing device (D) comprises a positioning system by which the print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n) can be individually attached to and removed from the associated cross member (21). A 3D printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the 3D printing device (D) comprises at least one print bed (1) arranged below the print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n) for at least one component to be produced. 3D printing device according to claim 10, characterized in that several rows (20A - 20E) of print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) are assigned a common print bed (1) for several components to be manufactured.A 3D printing device according to claim 11, characterized in that the common print bed (1) is adjustable along a vertical axis (H) and / or along the transverse axis (Qa - Qe) and / or along the longitudinal axis (L) with respect to the print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n). A 3D printing device according to claim 10, characterized in that exactly one print bed (1) for several components to be produced is assigned to exactly one row (20A - 20E) of print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n). A 3D printing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the print bed (1) is adjustable along a vertical axis (H) and / or along the transverse axis (Qa - Qe) and / or along the longitudinal axis (L) with respect to the print heads (3.1, ..., 3.n) of the row (20A - 20E). 3D printing device according to claim 10, characterized in that exactly one print head (3.1 , ..., 3.n) is assigned exactly one print bed (1) for exactly one component to be manufactured on the print bed.3D printing device according to one of claims 2 to 9 and one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that at least one of the print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.1 n) is adjustable on its crossbar (21) with respect to the associated print bed (1 ) during additive manufacturing.

17. 3D printing device according to one of claims 2 to 9 and one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that at least crossbeam (21) is adjustable with respect to the associated print bed (1) during additive manufacturing.

18. 3D printing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the 3D printing device (D) comprises control electronics (6) via which transverse distances (a) of print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) of a row (20A - 20E) to each other along the transverse axis (Qa - Qe) and / or longitudinal distances (b) of the rows (20A - 20E) to each other along the longitudinal axis (L) can be predetermined by external force.

19. 3D printing device according to one of claims 2 to 9 and according to claim 18, characterized in that the number of print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) of a series (20A - 20E) can be predetermined by external force via the control electronics (6).

20. 3D printing device according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the control electronics (6) is coupled with a positioning system of the 3D printing device (D) and is configured to automatically adjust positions of the print heads (3.1 , ..., 3.n) of a row (20A - 20E) along the transverse axis (Qa - Qe) and / or positions of the rows (20A - 20E) along the longitudinal axis (L) by external force depending on dimensions of a component to be manufactured specified via a user interface (60).

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