Molding nozzle

Abstract

To provide technology that can easily control the shape of a three-dimensional object.SOLUTION: A molding nozzle 20 configured to supply powder to serve as a material for a three-dimensional object to a molding area 2 where the three-dimensional object is molded and to melt the powder by applying a beam onto the supplied powder comprises an inner cylinder 23 with a beam passage 25 through which a beam Bm passes, and an outer cylinder 24 arranged outside the inner cylinder, with a powder passage 26 through which the powder Pd passes between the outer surface of the inner cylinder and the inner surface of the outer cylinder, and a plate member 40 with holes 41 that are arranged between the tip 29 of the inner cylinder and the tip 30 of the outer cylinder, and the molding area, and are configured to allow the beam that has passed through the beam passage and the powder that has passed through the powder passage to pass through.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shaping nozzle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a modeling nozzle that is configured to supply powder, which is a material for a three-dimensional object, to a modeling area and melt the powder by irradiating the supplied powder with a beam (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, the modeling nozzle illustrated in Patent Document 1 includes an inner cylinder having a beam passage through which the beam passes, and an outer cylinder disposed outside the inner cylinder. In addition, a powder passage through which the powder passes is provided between the outer surface of the inner cylinder and the inner surface of the outer cylinder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4299157 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the conventional modeling nozzle as described above, the beam that passes through the beam passage and the powder that passes through the powder passage reach the modeling area directly. In this case, for example, the width of the three-dimensional object modeled in the modeling area may be wider than the desired width. For this reason, it is not easy to control the shape of the three-dimensional object to the desired shape with the conventional modeling nozzle.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can easily control the shape of a three-dimensional object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (Aspect 1) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a modeling nozzle according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to supply powder that is a material for a three-dimensional object to a modeling area where the three-dimensional object is modeled, and to melt the powder by irradiating the supplied powder with a beam, the modeling nozzle comprising: an inner tube having a beam passage through which the beam passes; an outer tube arranged outside the inner tube and having a powder passage through which the powder passes between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube; and a plate member arranged between the tip of the inner tube and the tip of the outer tube and the modeling area, and having holes configured to allow the beam that has passed through the beam passage and the powder that has passed through the powder passage to pass through.

[0007] According to this aspect, the beam that has passed through the beam passage and the powder that has passed through the powder passage can be passed through the holes in the plate member before reaching the modeling area. This makes it possible to prevent the width of the three-dimensional object to be modeled from increasing compared to when such a plate member is not provided. As a result, the shape of the three-dimensional object can be easily controlled.

[0008] (Aspect 2) In the above-mentioned aspect 1, the hole of the plate member may include a first hole and a second hole that communicates with the first hole and is positioned closer to the printing area than the first hole, and the first hole may be configured to have a smaller diameter as it approaches the printing area.

[0009] According to this configuration, the beam that has passed through the beam passage and the powder that has passed through the powder passage are It can be effectively introduced into the pores.

[0010] (Aspect 3) In the above-mentioned aspect 1 or aspect 2, the plate member may have a flat surface in the portion surrounding the hole and facing the printing area, the flat surface being configured to limit the height of the three-dimensional object to be printed in the printing area.

[0011] According to this aspect, the height of the three-dimensional object to be printed in the printing area can be easily controlled within a desired range, thereby making it easier to control the shape of the three-dimensional object.

[0012] (Aspect 4) In any one of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 3, the modeling nozzle may be applied to an additive manufacturing apparatus configured to model the three-dimensional object in the modeling area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1(A) and 1(B) are schematic diagrams for explaining an additive manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a peripheral configuration of a first portion of the shaping nozzle according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining details of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder of the shaping nozzle according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shaping nozzle illustrated in FIG. 3 taken along line B1-B1. [Diagram 5] 5A to 5C are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining a plate member and a connecting member according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Fig. 6(A) is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of a plate member according to an embodiment, and Fig. 6(B) is a schematic bottom view of the plate member according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing another example of the shape of the second hole. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the effects of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] (Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are shown in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding of the features, and the dimensional ratios of each component are not necessarily the same as those in reality. In addition, the drawings show XYZ orthogonal coordinates as necessary. In these orthogonal coordinates, the Z direction corresponds to the upward direction, and the -Z direction corresponds to the downward direction (the direction in which gravity acts).

[0015] The modeling nozzle 20 according to this embodiment is applied to an additive manufacturing apparatus 1 ("AM apparatus") configured to model a three-dimensional object by stacking materials, as an example. First, an outline of the additive manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described, and then the modeling nozzle 20 will be described in detail. Specifically, the additive manufacturing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment may be a 3D printer, a beam processing machine such as a beam welder or a beam build-up processing machine, or other equipment capable of modeling a three-dimensional object.

[0016] 1(A) and 1(B) are schematic diagrams for explaining an additive manufacturing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 1(A) is a plan view that shows a schematic diagram of the main configuration of the additive manufacturing apparatus 1, and Fig. 1(B) is a front view that shows a schematic diagram of the peripheral configuration of a modeling nozzle 20 of the additive manufacturing apparatus 1. Note that in Fig. 1(A), illustrations of a material supply device 6, a beam generating device 7, a shielding gas supply device 8, and the like, which will be described later, are omitted.

[0017] The additive manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a modeling area 2, a moving device 3, a material supply device 6, a beam generating device 7, a modeling nozzle 20, and a control device 10.

[0018] The control device 10 is a device for comprehensively controlling the operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus 1. Specifically, the control device 10 according to this embodiment includes a microcomputer. This microcomputer includes a processor 11, a storage device 12 as a non-transitory storage medium, and the like. In the control device 10, the processor 11 operates based on commands from a program stored in the storage device 12 to control the operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus 1.

[0019] The printing area 2 is an area where a three-dimensional object 100 (this reference numeral is shown, for example, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8 described later) is printed. The printing area 2 according to this embodiment is specifically provided on the upper surface of a predetermined table (printing table). The three-dimensional object 100 is printed on the printing area 2.

[0020] The moving device 3 is a device for moving the object-making nozzle 20. Specifically, the moving device 3 according to this embodiment includes a first moving shaft 3a, a second moving shaft 3b, and an elevating device 3c. The first moving shaft 3a and the second moving shaft 3b function as a moving device ("first moving device") for moving the object-making nozzle 20 in directions (X, -X, Y, -Y directions) within a horizontal plane.

[0021] Specifically, the first moving shaft 3a according to this embodiment extends in a predetermined direction (X direction in this embodiment). The second moving shaft 3b extends in a direction perpendicular to the first moving shaft 3a (Y direction in this embodiment). With reference to FIG. 1(B), a modeling nozzle 20, which will be described later, is connected to the second moving shaft 3b. In addition, the second moving shaft 3b is connected to the first moving shaft 3a via a leg member 3d.

[0022] The first moving shaft 3a is provided with a driving mechanism having, for example, a ball screw, and the driving mechanism moves the second moving shaft 3b connected to the first moving shaft 3a via the leg member 3d in the X and -X directions. This allows the modeling nozzle 20 connected to the second moving shaft 3b to move in the X and -X directions. The second moving shaft 3b is provided with a driving mechanism having, for example, a ball screw, and the driving mechanism moves the modeling nozzle 20 in the Y and -Y directions.

[0023] The lifting device 3c has a function as a moving device ("second moving device") for moving (i.e., raising and lowering) the shaping nozzle 20 in the up and down directions (Z, -Z directions). Specifically, the lifting device 3c according to this embodiment is connected to the first moving shaft 3a and is configured to raise and lower the first moving shaft 3a. As such a lifting device 3c, for example, a lifting device (or a lifting shaft) having a drive mechanism with a ball screw may be used. The lifting device 3c raises and lowers the first moving shaft 3a, so that the lifting device 3c can raise and lower the shaping nozzle 20 relative to the shaping area 2. Note that when raising and lowering the shaping nozzle 20, the lifting device 3c may raise and lower the shaping nozzle 20 relative to the second moving shaft 3b instead of raising and lowering the first moving shaft 3a.

[0024] The moving device 3 is not limited to the above configuration. As another example, the moving device 3 may be configured such that, while the modeling nozzle 20 is fixed and not moved, the first moving device moves the modeling area 2 in a direction within a horizontal plane, and the second moving device (lifting device 3c) lifts and lowers the modeling area 2. Even in this case, the modeling nozzle 20 can be moved relative to the modeling area 2.

[0025] The material supply device 6 is a device for supplying powder (Pd) that is a material of the three-dimensional object 100 to the modeling nozzle 20. Specifically, the material supply device 6 is connected to the modeling nozzle 20. The non-molten powder is supplied to a powder passage 26 (described later) of the modeling nozzle 20. The powder supplied to the modeling nozzle 20 is supplied from the modeling nozzle 20 toward the modeling area 2.

[0026] In order to effectively flow the powder through the powder passage 26 of the modeling nozzle 20, the material supplying device 6 preferably supplies not only the powder but also a gas for transporting the powder (referred to as a "carrier gas") to the powder passage 26. In fact, the material supplying device 6 according to this embodiment supplies the powder together with the carrier gas to the powder passage 26. For example, an inert gas such as nitrogen can be used as the carrier gas.

[0027] The specific material of the powder is not particularly limited, and known materials such as resin, metal, etc. In the present embodiment, metal is used as a specific example of the powder material.

[0028] The beam generating device 7 is a device for generating a beam (Bm). The beam generating device 7 is connected to the modeling nozzle 20, and the beam generated by the beam generating device 7 is irradiated from the modeling nozzle 20. The specific type of beam generated by the beam generating device 7 is not particularly limited as long as it can melt the powder, and for example, a laser beam, an electron beam, or the like can be used. As an example, the beam generating device 7 according to this embodiment generates a laser beam.

[0029] The modeling nozzle 20 is configured to supply powder, which is the material of the three-dimensional object 100, to the modeling area 2, and to melt the supplied powder by irradiating the powder with a beam. The material melted by the beam irradiated from the modeling nozzle 20 solidifies, and the three-dimensional object 100 is modeled in the modeling area 2.

[0030] In addition, it is preferable that the modeling nozzle 20 injects a shielding gas (e.g., an inert gas) for suppressing oxidation of the material when irradiating the beam. Specifically, in this case, the additive manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a shielding gas supplying device 8 (e.g., a gas cylinder, etc.) for supplying the shielding gas to the modeling nozzle 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1(B).

[0031] The specific shape of the three-dimensional object 100 to be formed is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, as an example, it is a bead shape (i.e., a line shape or a string shape). Specifically, the three-dimensional object 100 illustrated in Fig. 2 described later is, as an example, a bead shape extending in the X direction.

[0032] The shaping nozzle 20 according to this embodiment includes a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. The shaping nozzle 20 also includes a plate member 40 and a connecting member 50, which will be described later, but these members are omitted from illustration in Fig. 1(B). The first portion 21 is connected to the second portion 22 and is disposed closer to the shaping area 2 than the second portion 22 (i.e., toward the tip of the shaping nozzle 20).

[0033] As described above, the object-making nozzle 20 is connected to the second moving shaft 3b. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as an example, the second portion 22 of the object-making nozzle 20 is connected to the second moving shaft 3b.

[0034] 1(A) and 1(B), one modeling nozzle 20 is arranged on one second moving shaft 3b, but this is not limited to the configuration. A plurality of modeling nozzles 20 may be arranged on one second moving shaft 3b. Furthermore, the additive manufacturing device 1 may include a plurality of sets of second moving shafts 3b and modeling nozzles 20.

[0035] The additive manufacturing device 1 as described above creates a product based on three-dimensional data stored in the control device 10. The nozzle 20 moves in the horizontal plane and in the vertical direction to form a three-dimensional object 100 in the forming area 2.

[0036] Next, the details of the shaping nozzle 20 will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the peripheral configuration of the first portion 21 of the shaping nozzle 20. Referring to Fig. 2, the shaping nozzle 20 includes an inner tube 23 and an outer tube 24. The outer tube 24 is disposed outside the inner tube 23 (in other words, the outer tube 24 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the inner tube 23 in the radial direction of the shaping nozzle 20). The central axis XL of the outer tube 24 coincides with the central axis XL of the inner tube 23 (i.e., the outer tube 24 is disposed coaxially with the inner tube 23).

[0037] Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining details of the inner cylinder 23 and the outer cylinder 24. Note that a plate member 40 and a connecting member 50 described later are omitted in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B1-B1 of the shaping nozzle 20 illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0038] 2, 3 and 4, the inner cylinder 23 has a beam passage 25 therein through which the beam (Bm) passes. Specifically, the beam passage 25 is connected to the above-mentioned beam generating device 7, and the beam generated by the beam generating device 7 passes through the beam passage 25. In this embodiment, a tip 29 (the downstream end in the beam flow direction) of the beam passage 25 coincides with the tip of the inner cylinder 23, for example. That is, in this embodiment, the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 is also the tip of the inner cylinder 23.

[0039] As described above, when the shaping nozzle 20 injects the shielding gas together with the beam, the shielding gas as well as the beam passes through the beam passage 25. Moreover, the beam passage 25 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the beam that has passed through the beam passage 25 is focused at a predetermined location (i.e., a processing point) in the shaping area 2.

[0040] 3 and 4, a powder passage 26 for passing powder (Pd) is provided between an outer surface 28 (in other words, the outer peripheral surface) of the inner cylinder 23 and an inner surface 27 (in other words, the inner peripheral surface) of the outer cylinder 24. Specifically, the powder passage 26 is connected to the material supply device 6 described above, and the powder supplied from the material supply device 6 passes through the powder passage 26.

[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the inside dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 (i.e., the tip 29 of the inner tube 23) is preferably larger than the inside dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer tube 24. This configuration can effectively prevent the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26 from spreading outward beyond the beam irradiated from the beam passage 25. In other words, the "convergence rate" of the powder discharged from the modeling nozzle 20 can be improved. This makes it possible to easily control the shape of the three-dimensional object 100 to a desired shape. In addition, this configuration can improve the utilization rate of the powder, so that the three-dimensional object 100 can be modeled with a small amount of powder supply.

[0042] However, the configuration of this embodiment is not limited to this. As another example, the inside dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 may be equal to or smaller than the inside dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24.

[0043] In addition, when D1 is greater than D2 as illustrated in FIG. 3, an example of the ratio of D1 to D2 (D1 / D2) can be any value selected from the range of 1.2 to 6.0 (in this case, D1 is 1.2 to 6.0 times D2), or any value selected from the range of 1.5 to 6.0, or any value selected from the range of 2.0 to 6.0.

[0044] 2 and 3, the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 is preferably located closer to the base end (opposite the tip, in the Z direction in FIG. 3) in the axial direction (direction along the central axis XL) of the shaping nozzle 20 than the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24. With this configuration, the inside dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 can be easily made larger than the inside dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24.

[0045] However, the present invention is not limited to this. As another example, the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 may coincide with the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 .

[0046] 2 and 3, the outer cylinder 24 may have a tapered portion 31 configured such that the inner dimension of the outer cylinder 24 becomes smaller as it approaches the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24. In this case, the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 is preferably located inside this tapered portion 31. With this configuration, it is easy to make the inner dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 larger than the inner dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24. With this configuration, it is easy to effectively focus the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26, together with the beam that has passed through the beam passage 25, at a predetermined location in the modeling area 2 (i.e., the "processing point").

[0047] As described above, since the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 according to this embodiment is located closer to the base end than the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24, the beam that has passed through the beam passage 25 passes through the space SP1 between the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 and the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24, and is then irradiated from the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 towards the modeling area 2. Similarly, the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26 passes through this space SP1, and is then supplied (discharged) from the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 towards the modeling area 2.

[0048] In this embodiment, the shape of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 is, for example, circular. The shape of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 is also, for example, circular. In this case, the inside dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 corresponds to the inner diameter of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25. Similarly, the inside dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 corresponds to the inner diameter of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24.

[0049] However, the shapes of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 and the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 are not limited to a circle, and may be other shapes. As an example, the shape of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 may be a rectangle. Similarly, the shape of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 may also be a rectangle. In this case, the inside dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 corresponds to the length of the longest diagonal line among the diagonals of the rectangle of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25. Similarly, the inside dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24 corresponds to the length of the longest diagonal line among the diagonals of the rectangle of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24.

[0050] Next, the plate member 40 and the connection member 50 will be described. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the plate member 40 and the connection member 50, specifically, a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the area (A1 portion) near the tip of the shaping nozzle 20. Fig. 6(A) is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the plate member 40. Fig. 6(B) is a schematic bottom view of the plate member 40.

[0051] 5, the connection member 50 is a member for connecting the plate member 40 to a predetermined portion of the shaping nozzle 20 (in the present embodiment, as an example, the reduced diameter portion 31 of the outer tube 24 of the shaping nozzle 20). As an example, the connection member 50 according to the present embodiment includes a first connection member 50a and a second connection member 50b. As an example, the first connection member 50a is disposed on the outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the reduced diameter portion 31 of the outer tube 24 of the shaping nozzle 20. The second connection member 50b connects the first connection member 50a and the plate member 40.

[0052] The plate member 40 is disposed between the tip 29 of the inner tube 23 and the tip 30 of the outer tube 24, and the printing area 2. Specifically, the plate member 40 according to this embodiment is connected to the outer tube 24 via the above-mentioned connecting member 50, and thereby disposed between the tip 29 of the inner tube 23 and the tip 30 of the outer tube 24, and the printing area 2.

[0053] Moreover, a space is provided between the tip 29 of the inner tube 23 and the tip 30 of the outer tube 24 according to this embodiment, and the plate member 40. A space is also provided between the printing area 2 and the plate member 40. In other words, the plate member 40 according to this embodiment is disposed between the tip 29 of the inner tube 23 and the tip 30 of the outer tube 24, and the printing area 2, in a manner that does not directly contact the tip 29 of the inner tube 23, the tip 30 of the outer tube 24, and the printing area 2.

[0054] 6(A) and 6(B), the plate member 40 has holes 41 configured to allow the beam (Bm) that has passed through the beam passage 25 and the powder (Pd) that has passed through the powder passage 26 to pass through. Specifically, the holes 41 according to the present embodiment include, as an example, a first hole 41a and a second hole 41b. The first hole 41a and the second hole 41b are in communication with each other. The second hole 41b is disposed closer to the modeling area 2 than the first hole 41a (in other words, the first hole 41a is disposed closer to the modeling nozzle 20 than the second hole 41b).

[0055] The first hole 41a mainly functions as an introduction hole for introducing the beam that has passed through the beam passage 25 and the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26 into the second hole 41b. Specifically, the first hole 41a according to the present embodiment is configured, as an example, to have a smaller diameter as it approaches the modeling area 2 (in other words, as it approaches the second hole 41b or as it moves away from the modeling nozzle 20). With this configuration, the beam that has passed through the beam passage 25 and the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26 can be effectively introduced into the second hole 41b.

[0056] The second hole 41b mainly functions as a size adjusting hole for adjusting the size of the beam that has passed through the beam passage 25 and the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26 to a desired size.

[0057] The beam that has passed through the beam passage 25 and the powder that has passed through the powder passage 26 pass through the first hole 41a and are introduced into the second hole 41b, and by passing through this second hole 41b, their size is adjusted and they reach the printing area 2. This makes it easy to adjust the size of the three-dimensional object 100 to be printed in the printing area 2 to a desired size. Specifically, in this embodiment, the width of the beat-shaped three-dimensional object 100 to be printed in the printing area 2 can be adjusted to approximately the diameter of the second hole 41b.

[0058] 6(A) and 6(B), the second hole 41b is, for example, a cylindrical hole having a certain size (diameter) along the central axis XL. The size of the outlet portion of the hole 41 according to this embodiment (i.e., the size (diameter) of the second hole 41b) is set smaller than the inner dimension (D1) of the tip 29 of the beam passage 25 and the inner dimension (D2) of the tip 30 of the outer cylinder 24. The specific value of the size of the second hole 41b is not particularly limited, and may be set appropriately according to the size of the three-dimensional object 100 to be formed (specifically, in this embodiment, the width of the bead-shaped three-dimensional object 100).

[0059] 6(B), the second hole 41b according to this embodiment is, for example, circular. However, the shape of the second hole 41b is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an N-sided polygon (N is a natural number equal to or greater than 3) or another shape. FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing another example of the shape of the second hole 41b (an example of an N-sided polygon). Specifically, the second hole 41b illustrated in FIG. 7 is, for example, a quadrangle. In this case, the corners of the second hole 41b have a corner radius (R1). may be provided.

[0060] The configuration of the hole 41 is not limited to the above. As another example, the hole 41 may have only the second hole 41b without having the first hole 41a (in this case, the second hole 41b is a through hole that communicates between the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate member 40). In this case, the second hole 41b may be configured to have a smaller diameter as it approaches the printing area 2, for example.

[0061] 6(A) and 6(B), the plate member 40 according to this embodiment has a flat surface 42 (which is configured by an entirely flat surface) around the hole 41 and in a portion facing the printing area 2 (the lower surface of the plate member 40 in this embodiment). This flat surface 42 mainly has a function of limiting the height of the three-dimensional object 100 to be printed in the printing area 2. Specifically, this flat surface 42 can limit the height of the three-dimensional object 100 to the length between this flat surface 42 and the printing area 2 (i.e., the distance between the flat surface 42 and the printing area 2). This makes it easy to adjust the height of the three-dimensional object 100 to a desired size.

[0062] The distance between the flat surface 42 and the modeling area 2 can be easily changed by raising and lowering the modeling nozzle 20 relative to the modeling area 2 using the above-mentioned lifting device 3c.

[0063] As illustrated in Fig. 6(A), the flat surface 42 according to this embodiment protrudes downward from a portion of the lower surface of the plate member 40 excluding the flat surface 42, for example. As illustrated in Fig. 6(B), the shape of the flat surface 42 according to this embodiment (the shape as viewed from the lower surface side) is, for example, a circle. However, the shape of the flat surface 42 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an N-sided polygon (N is a natural number equal to or greater than 3) or another shape.

[0064] The size of the dimension (D3) of the flat surface 42 affects the cooling rate of the powder material. Specifically, the larger this dimension (D3) is, the faster the cooling rate of the powder material tends to be. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately set the size of this dimension (D3) depending on the quality of the powder material used.

[0065] The material of the plate member 40 is not particularly limited, but ceramics is an example. Specific examples of ceramics include silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), and zirconia (ZrO2). Silicon nitride is preferable because of its good high-temperature resistance, silicon carbide is preferable because of its good thermal conductivity, and zirconia is preferable because it is easy to process the surface to be smooth.

[0066] Alternatively, when the plate member 40 is used under conditions where heat resistance is not an issue, a metal may be used as the material of the plate member 40. For example, copper (Cu) may be used as this metal. Copper is preferable because of its good thermal conductivity. Specifically, oxygen-free copper (C1020, for example) may be used as copper. Alternatively, tungsten (W) may be used as an example of a metal as the material of the plate member 40. Tungsten is preferable because it is a high melting point material and is less likely to chip than ceramics. In addition, a coating may be applied to the surface of the plate member 40 (the material of this surface may be ceramics or metal) to adjust the wettability with the molten metal. For example, a boron nitride (BN) coating may be used as this coating.

[0067] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the effect of the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a three-dimensional object 100 (a bead-shaped three-dimensional object 100) formed using the modeling nozzle 20 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 8 also illustrates a modeling nozzle that does not include a plate member 40. Also shown is an example of a three-dimensional object 100a formed using the nozzle (hereinafter, referred to as a "modeling nozzle according to a comparative example").

[0068] In the case of the modeling nozzle according to the comparative example, since the plate member 40 is not provided, the beam that passes through the beam passage and the powder that passes through the powder passage reach the modeling area 2 directly. In this case, it is not easy to actively control the width of the three-dimensional object 100a modeled in the modeling area 2. As a result, the width of the three-dimensional object 100a may be wider than the desired width. Thus, in the case of the comparative example, it is not easy to control the shape of the three-dimensional object 100a to a desired shape.

[0069] In contrast, according to this embodiment, as described above, the modeling nozzle 20 is equipped with a plate member 40 having a hole 41, so that it is easy to adjust the size of the three-dimensional object 100 to be modeled in the modeling area 2 (as an example, the width (W1) of a bead-shaped three-dimensional object 100) to a desired size. This makes it possible to prevent the width of the three-dimensional object 100 from becoming wider than the desired width. As a result, it is easy to control the shape of the three-dimensional object 100. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the controllability of the three-dimensional object 100.

[0070] Furthermore, in the case of the shaping nozzle according to the comparative example, the three-dimensional object 100a is likely to become semicircular (or semielliptical) due to surface tension, etc. For this reason, it is not easy to control the height of the three-dimensional object 100a within a desired range.

[0071] In contrast, according to the shaping nozzle 20 according to the present embodiment, as described above, since the plate member 40 has the flat surface 42, it is easy to adjust the height (H1) of the three-dimensional object 100 to a desired size. This makes it easier to control the shape of the three-dimensional object 100.

[0072] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 Additive manufacturing equipment 2. Modeling Area 20 Modeling nozzle 23 Inner cylinder 24 Outer cylinder 25 Beam Passage 26 Powder passage 27 Inner surface of outer cylinder 28 Outer surface of inner cylinder 29 End of inner tube (or end of beam passage) 30 Tip of outer cylinder 40 Plate members 41 holes 41a 1st hole 41b 2nd hole 42 Flat surface 50 Connection member 100 3D object Bm Beam Pd powder

Claims

1. A modeling nozzle configured to supply a powder that is a material of a three-dimensional object to a modeling area in which the three-dimensional object is to be modeled, and to melt the powder by irradiating the supplied powder with a beam, an inner cylinder having a beam passage through which the beam passes; an outer cylinder disposed outside the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder having a powder passage between an outer surface of the inner cylinder and an inner surface of the outer cylinder through which the powder passes; A molding nozzle comprising: a plate member arranged between the tip of the inner tube and the tip of the outer tube and the molding area, and having holes configured to allow the beam that has passed through the beam passage and the powder that has passed through the powder passage to pass through.

2. the holes of the plate member include a first hole and a second hole that is in communication with the first hole and is disposed closer to the printing area than the first hole; The molding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the first hole is configured to have a diameter that decreases toward the molding area.

3. The molding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the plate member has a flat surface configured to limit the height of the three-dimensional object to be molded in the molding area in a portion surrounding the hole and facing the molding area.

4. The molding nozzle according to claim 1 , which is applied to an additive manufacturing device configured to mold the three-dimensional object in the molding area.

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