Three-dimensional printer

Abstract

To provide a three-dimensional printer that can improve dimensional accuracy.SOLUTION: A three-dimensional printer 1 comprises: a printer head 10 equipped with a discharge part 15 for a molten resin material 3; a drive part 20 for driving the printer head 10; a drive area A where the drive part 20 is arranged; a build area B where the discharge part 15 is arranged; an opening part 2 as a movable area where the printer head 10 can move in a horizontal direction; a support frame 50 for movably supporting the printer head 10 around the opening part 2; a shielding member 60 for creating a shielded state where the opening part 2 is shielded; and a roll device 70 for storing the shielding member 60 by unwinding and rewinding it. The shielding member 60 has a window part 62 surrounding the printer head 10. and by moving a position of the window part 62 to follow the movement of the printer head 10 through the unwinding and winding of the shielding member 60 by the roll device 70, the printer head 10 is moved while maintaining the shielded state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a 3D printer, and more particularly to a 3D printer that forms a three-dimensional object by heating, melting, and laminating a resin material. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, fused deposition modeling (also known as FDM) 3D printers are known, which heat, melt, and layer resin materials to form three-dimensional objects. The above-mentioned 3D printers melt a filament (resin material), eject it from a discharge nozzle (discharge unit), and layer the materials in order to form a three-dimensional object.

[0003] The 3D printer mentioned above has a discharge nozzle and a modeling bed where a three-dimensional object is formed. This heat can affect the drive parts of the printer head, causing them to thermally expand, which can lead to defective modeling. For this reason, conventional 3D printers have disclosed a technique for maintaining a constant temperature in the modeling area (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-83574 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The three-dimensional modeling device (3D printer) described in Patent Document 1 above comprises a chamber, a head unit that is placed in the chamber and melts the resin material and layers the molten resin material in the chamber to form a resin layer, and a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts the pressure in the chamber, and the pressure adjustment unit adjusts the pressure in the chamber so that the resin layer is kept warm within a predetermined temperature range within the chamber.

[0006] However, the 3D printer described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above requires a larger chamber when forming large components such as automobile bumpers, which raises concerns about the device's size. Furthermore, when forming large components such as bumpers, the amount of heat applied to the printer head's discharge nozzle (discharge unit) increases, which increases the likelihood of heat transmission to the drive mechanism, etc. As a result, conventional 3D printers have problems with reduced modeling accuracy and defective models due to thermal expansion of the drive mechanism, etc. Furthermore, conventional 3D printers have problems with warping and peeling of long, large objects when forming them from the modeling bed (modeling stage).

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a 3D printer that can efficiently raise the temperature of the modeling area while suppressing temperature changes in the drive members, thereby improving modeling accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) The 3D printer of the present invention, which is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, includes a printer head having a discharge unit that discharges molten resin material, a drive unit that drives the printer head, a drive area in which the drive unit is arranged, a modeling area in which the discharge unit is arranged, an opening that opens as an area in which the printer head can move in a horizontal direction between the drive area and the modeling area, a support frame that is arranged at least in part around the opening and supports the printer head so that it can move in a horizontal direction and up and down, and a water-repellent material that connects the drive area and the modeling area. The device is characterized by comprising a shielding member that shields the opening so as to partition it horizontally, and a roll device that is supported by the support frame and that unwinds the shielding member and stores it by rolling up, wherein the shielding member has a window portion that surrounds the printer head that is arranged across the drive area and the modeling area, and by moving the position of the window portion so as to follow the movement of the printer head by the roll device unwinding and rolling up the shielding member, the shielding state can be maintained while the printer head is moved.

[0009] In the 3D printer of the present invention, the opening that defines the horizontal movement area of ​​the printer head can be shielded by a shielding member, thereby thermally isolating the drive area where the printer head's drive unit is located and the modeling area where the discharge unit is located. This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to suppress thermal expansion of the drive unit, thereby enabling the drive unit to accurately drive the printer head. Therefore, the 3D printer of the present invention can perform highly accurate modeling. Furthermore, in the 3D printer of the present invention, the shielding member has a window portion surrounding the printer head that spans the drive area and the modeling area. The position of the window portion is moved to follow the movement of the printer head by unwinding and winding the shielding member using a roll device, thereby maintaining the shielded state while the printer head moves. This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to unwind and wind the shielding member in accordance with the movement of the printer head, thereby enabling the unwinding and winding of the shielding member without the need for a separate drive device.

[0010] (2) The 3D printer of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the shielding member is made of a heat-resistant material and can be stored in a bellows-like state.

[0011] The 3D printer of the present invention can accommodate the shielding member compactly by being configured as described above in (2). Furthermore, the 3D printer of the present invention can accommodate a shielding member made of a hard material, such as resin or wood, by being configured as described above in (2). Therefore, the 3D printer of the present invention can increase the versatility of the shielding member. Furthermore, the 3D printer of the present invention has a shielding member made of a heat-resistant material, which can increase the melting temperature of the resin material, thereby further increasing the versatility of the 3D printer.

[0012] (3) The 3D printer of the present invention described above may be characterized in that a first heating unit is provided in the discharge unit, a second heating unit is provided in the modeling bed where the model is formed, and a third heating unit is provided on the modeling area side.

[0013] The 3D printer of the present invention is provided with a third heating unit on the modeling area side, which allows for stabilization of the temperature around the discharge unit (discharge nozzle, first heating unit). This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to improve modeling accuracy. Furthermore, the 3D printer of the present invention is provided with a second heating unit on the modeling bed (modeling stage), which allows the model to be formed on the modeling bed without being rapidly cooled. This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to prevent molding defects such as cracks from occurring in the model.

[0014] (4) The above-described 3D printer of the present invention may be characterized in that the roll device has a shielding member drive unit that unwinds and winds the shielding member.

[0015] By configuring the 3D printer of the present invention as described above in (4), the unwinding and winding (reeling) of the shielding member can be performed by driving the shielding member drive unit. This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to wind and unwind the shielding member without slack, thereby reliably separating the drive area and the modeling area with the shielding member. Therefore, the 3D printer of the present invention can easily manage the temperature of the drive area and the modeling area. Furthermore, by configuring the 3D printer of the present invention as described above in (4), during maintenance, for example, the printer head can be moved to the maintenance position and the shielding member can be wound up. This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to secure an opening (space) for maintenance, thereby improving maintainability.

[0016] (5) In the above-described 3D printer of the present invention, the shielding member driving unit may be characterized by including a pair of first shielding member driving units that feed out and wind the shielding member in the X direction in the horizontal direction, and a pair of second shielding member driving units that feed out and wind the shielding member in the Y direction in the horizontal direction.

[0017] By configuring the 3D printer of the present invention as described in (5) above, the shielding member can be unwound and retracted in the X and Y directions as the printer head moves horizontally (in the X and Y directions). This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to partition the drive area and the modeling area with the shielding member over the entire horizontal periphery of the printer head. Therefore, the 3D printer of the present invention can efficiently thermally separate the drive area and the modeling area, thereby suppressing thermal expansion in the printer head's drive unit and enabling highly accurate modeling.

[0018] (6) In the above-described 3D printer of the present invention, the shielding member may be characterized by including: a second shielding member that is arranged on both sides of the Y direction in the horizontal direction via the window portion and that can be reeled out and wound along the Y direction; and a first shielding member that is arranged on both sides of the X direction in the horizontal direction via the window portion and the second shielding member and that can be reeled out and wound along the X direction.

[0019] By configuring the 3D printer of the present invention as described above in (6), the drive area and the modeling area can be partitioned by shielding members (first and second shielding members) across the entire horizontal periphery of the printer head. This allows the 3D printer of the present invention to efficiently thermally separate the drive area and the modeling area, thereby suppressing thermal expansion in the drive unit of the printer head and enabling accurate modeling. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, a 3D printer can be provided that can efficiently raise the temperature of the modeling area while suppressing temperature changes in the drive members, thereby improving modeling accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic overall perspective view of one embodiment of a 3D printer of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the drive unit in the 3D printer of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a printer head in a 3D printer according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a shielding member portion in the 3D printer of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the 3D printer of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an operational flow diagram of an embodiment of the 3D printer of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a continuation of the operational flow shown in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A 3D printer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing is a schematic representation for ease of understanding, and may differ from the actual shape, size, and arrangement of components.

[0023] 1, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention includes a printer head 10 equipped with a discharge unit 15 (see FIG. 3), a drive unit 20, a modeling bed 40, a support frame 50, a shielding member 60, a roll device 70, and a control unit 5. The 3D printer 1 also includes a drive area A where the drive unit 20 is located, a modeling area B where the discharge unit 15 is located, and an opening 2 (see FIG. 4) that opens as an area where the printer head 10 moves in the horizontal direction.

[0024] 3, the printer head 10 includes a guide member 11, a pair of pinch rollers 12, 12, an extruder 13, and a discharge unit 15. The drive unit 20 of the printer head 10 will be described later.

[0025] The printer head 10 is supplied with a resin material 3 (also referred to as a filament 3) that is unwound from a reel or the like (not shown). The resin material 3 may be, for example, a thermoplastic resin that softens when heated. Any suitable thermoplastic resin may be used as long as it is extrudable. For example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin (ABS resin), polycarbonate, nylon, etc. may be used. The thermoplastic resin may also be mixed with additives, colorants, etc. as appropriate. The resin material 3 may also be coated with a coating agent, etc. as appropriate.

[0026] The guide member 11 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape, and allows the resin material 3 to pass through the inside thereof. The guide member 11 can guide the resin material 3 toward a pair of pinch rollers 12, 12 arranged downstream of the guide member 11.

[0027] The pinch rollers 12, 12 are formed from a material such as resin or rubber. The pinch rollers 12, 12 are capable of clamping the resin material 3. An appropriate motor (not shown) is connected to the pinch rollers 12, 12. The pinch rollers 12, 12 are driven to rotate by the motor, and can send out the resin material 3 toward the extruder 13.

[0028] The extruder 13 guides the resin material 3. The extruder 13 has a built-in heater 13A (also referred to as a first heating section 13A). The extruder 13 can heat and melt the resin material 3 using the heater 13A. The extruder 13 can supply the heated and melted resin material 3 to the discharge section 15 through appropriate piping (not shown).

[0029] The discharge unit 15 has a nozzle-shaped tip, from which the heated and melted resin material 3 can be discharged. The opening diameter (also referred to as nozzle diameter) of the discharge port of the discharge unit 15 is, for example, 0.2 to 1 mm, and the discharge width can be changed depending on the opening diameter. The discharge unit 15 can move horizontally and vertically by driving the printer head 10, which will be described later. The discharge unit 15 can form a three-dimensional object 4 by sequentially layering the resin material 3 under the control of the control unit 5, which will be described later. The discharge unit 15 may be provided with a heat source, such as a heater, as necessary.

[0030] In this embodiment, a heater 16 (also referred to as a third heating unit 16) is provided near the discharge unit 15 at the lower end of the printer head 10. The heater 16 is arranged on the side of the shielding member 60 (described later) facing the modeling area B, and is designed to maintain a constant temperature in the modeling area B. The heater 16 is controlled to a temperature (e.g., 80°C) that does not melt the laminated resin material 3. This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to prevent cracks and other problems from occurring when the modeled object solidifies.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the modeling bed 40 is configured to form a model 4 using the resin material 3 discharged from the discharge unit 15, and is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape. In this embodiment, the modeling bed 40 is fixed on a machine base (not shown), and modeling is performed on the modeling bed 40 by moving the discharge unit 15. The modeling bed 40 includes an internal heater 40A (also referred to as a second heating unit 40A) that can heat the resin material 3 to be layered. Various types of heaters 40A can be used, such as a sheet-shaped heater or a heater in which multiple rod-shaped heaters are arranged. The temperature of the modeling bed 40 can be controlled by a control unit 5, which will be described later. The modeling bed 40 is controlled to a temperature (e.g., 80°C) that does not melt the layered resin material 3. As a result, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can prevent cracks and other problems from occurring when the modeled object solidifies.

[0032] Next, a description will be given below of the configuration according to one embodiment of the drive unit 20 that drives the printer head 10. In describing the drive unit 20, first, the support structure (support frame 50) of the printer head 10 will be described.

[0033] 1, an X-direction support beam 51 is provided so as to extend along the X direction (left-right direction in the figure) in the horizontal direction of the 3D printer 1. In addition, a pair of Y-direction support beams 55, 55 are provided at both ends of the X-direction support beam 51 so as to extend in the Y direction (front-back direction in the figure) in the horizontal direction, perpendicular to the X-direction support beam 51. The X-direction support beam 51 and the Y-direction support beams 55, 55 constitute a support frame 50.

[0034] The X-direction support beam 51 is suspended on Y-direction support beams 55, 55, and can be moved in the Y direction along the Y-direction support beams 55, 55 by a drive unit 20, which will be described later. A rail 52 is laid on the front side (printer head 10 side) of the X-direction support beam 51 so as to extend along the X direction. A rack 24 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, is laid on the back side of the X-direction support beam 51 so as to extend along the X direction.

[0035] A pair of rails 56 are installed on the upper surfaces of the Y-direction support beams 55. As shown in Fig. 2, sliders 53 are slidably fitted onto the rails 56, which are provided at both ends on the lower surface of the X-direction support beam 51. Therefore, the X-direction support beam 51 can move freely in the Y direction along the rails 56. In addition, a pair of racks 33 are installed along the Y direction on the inner side of the Y-direction support beams 55 in the X direction.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, a head support frame 54 is attached to the rear side of the printer head 10. The head support frame 54 is formed so that its upper end extends rearward beyond the X-direction support beam 51. A slider (not shown) is provided on the rear side of the head support frame 54 along the vertical direction, and the slider is slidably fitted to rails 52. Therefore, the printer head 10 can move freely in the X direction along the rails 52 of the X-direction support beam 51. Furthermore, as the X-direction support beam 51 moves in the Y direction, the printer head 10 can move integrally with the X-direction support beam 51 in the Y direction.

[0037] The above is the support structure for the printer head 10. Next, the drive unit 20 that drives the printer head 10 will be described.

[0038] 2 is a rear view of the drive unit 20. Note that parts other than the drive unit 20 are omitted in FIG.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 20 includes an X-direction drive unit 21 that drives the printer head 10 in the X direction (left-right direction in the figure), a Y-direction drive unit 26 that drives the printer head 10 in the Y direction (front-back direction in the figure), and a Z-direction drive unit 35 (see FIG. 1) that drives the printer head 10 in the Z direction (height direction).

[0040] The X-direction driving unit 21 includes a motor 22, a pinion 23 supported on the motor shaft of the motor 22, a rack 24 installed on the X-direction support beam 51, and the like.

[0041] The motor 22 is erected on the rear end side of the head support frame 54. The motor shaft of the motor 22 extends downward from the head support frame 54, with a pinion 23 attached to the lower end. The pinion 23 meshes with a rack 24. Therefore, by driving the motor 22, the printer head 10 can move integrally with the head support frame 54 in the X direction.

[0042] The Y-direction drive unit 26 includes a motor 27, a drive gear 28 supported by the motor shaft of the motor 27, a driven gear 29 arranged in parallel with the drive gear 28, and a timing belt 30 stretched over the drive gear 28 and the driven gear 29. In addition to the above, the Y-direction drive unit 26 also includes a link shaft 31 journaled to the driven gear 29, a pair of pinions 32, 32 journaled on both ends of the link shaft 31, and a pair of racks 33, 33 meshing with the pinions 32, 32.

[0043] When the drive gear 28 is driven by the motor 27, the driven gear 29 is rotated via the timing belt 30. This rotates the link shaft 31, which in turn rotates the pinions 32, 32. As the pinions 32, 32 are rotated, they move in the Y direction while meshing with the racks 33, 33. This allows the X-direction support beam 51 to move freely in the Y direction. In other words, the printer head 10 can move freely in the Y direction (see FIG. 1) as the motor 27 drives it.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the Z-direction drive unit 35 includes four motors 36 (some not shown; collectively referred to as motors 36) and ball screws 37 (collectively referred to as ball screws 37). Nut members 38 are threadedly engaged with the ball screws 37, and the nut members 38 are supported by Y-direction support beams 55. Therefore, by driving the motors 36, the Y-direction support beams 55 are raised and lowered in the Z direction (up and down). In other words, the printer head 10 can be raised and lowered in the Z direction by driving the motors 36.

[0045] Here, between a driving area A where the X-direction driving unit 21 and the Y-direction driving unit 26 of the driving unit 20 are arranged, and a modeling area B where the discharging unit 15 is arranged, a movable area (between the X-direction support beam 51 and the Y-direction support beams 55, 55) where the printer head 10 is movable in the horizontal direction is opened, and an opening 2 (see FIG. 4) is formed. In other words, the support frame 50 (the X-direction support beam 51 and the Y-direction support beams 55, 55) is arranged at least partially around the opening 2, and supports the printer head 10 so that it can move horizontally and up and down.

[0046] The shielding members 60 are configured to shield the openings 2 so as to horizontally separate the drive area A and the printing area B. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the shielding members 60 are arranged in four separate areas. Specifically, a pair of first shielding members 61, 61 are arranged on both sides of the printer head 10 in the X direction, and a pair of second shielding members 65, 65 are arranged in the Y direction of the printer head 10. Note that, hereinafter, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, the first shielding members 61, 61 and the second shielding members 65, 65 may be collectively referred to as shielding members 60.

[0047] The shielding member 60 can be made of, for example, wood, a resin material, metal, a heat insulating sheet, or the like. The shielding member 60 is desirably made of a heat-resistant material. Note that when the shielding member 60 is made of, for example, a heat-conductive material such as metal or a material with poor heat insulating properties, it is desirably covered with a heat insulating sheet. The shielding member 60 can be formed, for example, in an accordion shape so that it can be unwound and wound (taken up). The shielding member 60 can be stored in a rolled state. In this embodiment, the shielding member 60 is stored in a rolled state.

[0048] 4, a window 62 for inserting the printer head 10 is formed near the center of the first shielding members 61, 61 and the second shielding members 65, 65. In other words, the window 62 is configured so that the shielding member 60 surrounds the printer head 10 arranged across the drive area A and the printing area B. In this embodiment, the window 62 is formed in a rectangular shape to match the shape of the printer head 10. The window 62 can be formed in various shapes depending on the shape of the printer head 10.

[0049] 1, the roll device 70 is supported by the support frame 50, and is configured to pay out the shielding member 60 and store the shielding member 60 by winding it up. Specifically, the roll device 70 is supported below the Y-direction support beams 55. The roll device 70 includes a pair of first rolls 73 and a pair of second rolls 76. The roll device 70 also includes a shielding member drive unit 71 that pays out and winds up the shielding member 60.

[0050] The shielding member driving unit 71 includes a pair of first shielding member driving units 72, 72 that unwind and wind the first shielding members 61, 61 in the horizontal X direction, and a pair of second shielding member driving units 75, 75 that unwind and wind the second shielding members 65, 65 in the horizontal Y direction.

[0051] In this embodiment, motors are used as the first shielding member drivers 72. The first shielding member drivers 72 are connected to first rolls 73 and are capable of driving and rotating the first rolls 73. This allows the first rolls 73 to unwind and wind the first shielding members 61 in the X direction. The first shielding member drivers 72 may be provided as needed, and may be configured to bias the first rolls 73 in the winding direction using, for example, a spring or the like.

[0052] In this embodiment, a motor is used as the second shielding member driving units 75. The second shielding member driving units 75 are connected to the second rolls 76 and are capable of driving the second rolls 76 to rotate. This allows the second rolls 76 to unwind and wind the second shielding members 65 in the Y direction. The second shielding member driving units 75 may be provided as needed, and may be configured to bias the second rolls 76 in the winding direction using, for example, a spring or the like.

[0053] 5, the printer head 10 can move in a single direction, for example, the X direction or the Y direction, as well as a combination of X and Y directions. Furthermore, the first shielding members 61, 61 and the second shielding members 65, 65 are unrolled and wound in synchronization with the movement of the printer head 10. In other words, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can maintain the shielded state while moving the printer head 10 by moving the position of the window 62 so as to follow the movement of the printer head 10 by unrolling and winding the shielding member 60 using the roll device 70.

[0054] The control unit 5 is formed by a microcomputer or the like, and can perform various controls in the 3D printer 1. The control unit 5 can also control the discharge unit 15 and the like by using an appropriately incorporated slicing program. Note that the control unit 5 does not have to be a single unit, and multiple control units 5 may be provided, for example, for each control device.

[0055] The control unit 5 can control the feed rate of the resin material 3. The control unit 5 can control the horizontal and vertical movement and movement speed of the discharge unit 15 based on 3D data input in advance. In addition to the above, the control unit 5 can also control the heating temperatures of the first heating unit 13A (heater 13A) and the third heating unit 16 (heater 16), etc. In addition to controlling the movement of the discharge unit 15, the control unit 5 can also control the discharge rate of the molten resin material 3 discharged from the discharge unit 15. As a result, the 3D printer 1 can form a model 4 based on 3D data.

[0056] The control unit 5 can also adjust the temperature of the shaping bed 40 by controlling the second heating unit 40A (heater 40A) provided in the shaping bed 40. The control unit 5 can also control the temperature at which the discharge unit 15 is heated and the discharge amount of the resin material 3. The control unit 5 can also control the unwinding and winding (reeling) of the shielding member 60 in the roll device 70.

[0057] The above is one embodiment of the 3D printer 1 of the present invention. Next, the effects achieved by the 3D printer 1 of the present invention will be described below.

[0058] <Action and effect> The above-described 3D printer 1 has the following characteristic configurations (a) to (f). As a result, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can achieve the following unique effects that cannot be achieved with conventional technologies.

[0059] (a) The 3D printer 1 of the present invention comprises a printer head 10 equipped with a discharge unit 15 that discharges molten resin material 3, a drive unit 20 that drives the printer head 10, a drive area A in which the drive unit 20 is arranged, a modeling area B in which the discharge unit 15 is arranged, an opening 2 that opens as an area in which the printer head 10 can move horizontally between the drive area A and the modeling area B, a support frame 50 that is arranged at least partially around the opening 2 and supports the printer head 10 so that it can move horizontally and up and down, and a support frame 50 that horizontally divides the drive area A and the modeling area B. and a roll device 70 supported by a support frame 50 for unwinding the shielding member 60 and storing the shielding member 60 by winding it up. The shielding member 60 has a window 62 surrounding the printer head 10 arranged across the drive area A and the printing area B, and by unwinding and winding the shielding member 60 by the roll device 70, the position of the window 62 is moved to follow the movement of the printer head 10, thereby making it possible to maintain the shielded state while moving the printer head 10.

[0060] In the 3D printer 1 of the present invention, the opening 2, which serves as the horizontally movable area of ​​the printer head 10, can be shielded by the shielding member 60, thereby thermally isolating the drive area A, where the drive unit 20 of the printer head 10 is located, from the modeling area B, where the discharge unit 15 is located. This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to suppress thermal expansion of the drive unit 20, thereby enabling the drive unit 20 to accurately drive the printer head 10. Therefore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can perform highly accurate modeling. Furthermore, in the 3D printer 1 of the present invention, the shielding member 60 has a window 62 that surrounds the printer head 10, which is disposed across the drive area A and the modeling area B. The roll device 70 unwinds and winds the shielding member 60, thereby moving the position of the window 62 to follow the movement of the printer head 10, thereby maintaining the shielded state while the printer head 10 is moved. As a result, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can unwind and wind the shielding member 60 in accordance with the movement of the printer head 10, so that the shielding member 60 can be unwind and wind without the need for a separate drive device.

[0061] (b) The 3D printer 1 of the present invention is characterized in that the shielding member 60 is made of a heat-resistant material and can be stored in a bellows-like roll.

[0062] The 3D printer 1 of the present invention, configured as described in (b) above, can store the shielding member 60 compactly. Furthermore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention, configured as described in (b) above, can store the shielding member 60 rolled up, even if it is made of a hard material such as resin or wood. Therefore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can increase the versatility of the shielding member 60. Furthermore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention has the shielding member 60 made of a heat-resistant material, so the melting temperature of the resin material 3 can be increased, further increasing the versatility of the 3D printer 1.

[0063] (c) The 3D printer 1 of the present invention described above is characterized in that a first heating section 13A is provided in the discharge section 15, a second heating section 40A is provided in the modeling bed 40 on which the model 4 is formed, and a third heating section 16 is provided on the modeling area B side.

[0064] The 3D printer 1 of the present invention is provided with a third heating unit 16 on the modeling area B side, which allows the temperature to be stabilized around the discharge unit 15 (discharge nozzle, first heating unit 13A). This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to improve modeling accuracy. Furthermore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention is provided with a second heating unit 40A on the modeling bed 40 (modeling stage), which allows the model 4 to be formed on the modeling bed 40 without being rapidly cooled. This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to prevent molding defects such as cracks from occurring in the model 4.

[0065] (d) The 3D printer 1 of the present invention is characterized in that the roll device 70 has a shielding member drive unit 71 that unwinds and winds the shielding member 60.

[0066] By configuring the 3D printer 1 of the present invention as described above in (d), the shielding member driver 71 can drive the unwinding and winding (reeling-up) of the shielding member 60. This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to unwind and reel-out the shielding member 60 without slack, thereby reliably separating the drive area A and the modeling area B with the shielding member 60. Therefore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can easily manage the temperatures of the drive area A and the modeling area B. Furthermore, by configuring the 3D printer 1 of the present invention as described above in (d), the printer head 10 can be moved to a maintenance position and the shielding member 60 can be wound up during maintenance, for example. This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to secure an opening 2 (space) for maintenance, thereby improving maintainability.

[0067] (e) In the 3D printer 1 of the present invention, the shielding member driving unit 71 is characterized by having a pair of first shielding member driving units 72 that pay out and wind the shielding member 60 in the X direction in the horizontal direction, and a pair of second shielding member driving units 75 that pay out and wind the shielding member 60 in the Y direction in the horizontal direction.

[0068] By configuring the 3D printer 1 of the present invention as described above in (e), the shielding member 60 can be unwound and retracted in the X and Y directions as the printer head 10 moves in the horizontal direction (X and Y directions). This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to partition the drive area A and the modeling area B with the shielding member 60 over the entire horizontal periphery of the printer head 10. Therefore, the 3D printer 1 of the present invention can efficiently thermally separate the drive area A and the modeling area B, thereby suppressing thermal expansion in the drive unit 20 of the printer head 10 and enabling accurate modeling.

[0069] (f) In the 3D printer 1 of the present invention, the shielding member 60 may be characterized by comprising second shielding members 65, 65 that are arranged on both sides in the Y direction in the horizontal direction via a window portion 62 and that can be reeled out and wound along the Y direction, and first shielding members 61, 61 that are arranged on both sides in the X direction in the horizontal direction via the window portion 62 and the second shielding members 65, 65 and that can be reeled out and wound along the X direction.

[0070] By configuring the 3D printer 1 of the present invention as described in (f) above, the driving area A and the modeling area B can be partitioned by the shielding members 60 (first shielding members 61, 61 and second shielding members 65, 65) over the entire horizontal periphery of the printer head 10. This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to efficiently thermally separate the driving area A and the modeling area B, thereby suppressing thermal expansion in the driving unit 20 of the printer head 10 and enabling accurate modeling.

[0071] The above are the effects and advantages of the 3D printer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Next, a method for forming a three-dimensional object using the 3D printer 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0072] ≪Modeling method≫ 6 and 7 are flow charts illustrating an embodiment of a method for forming a three-dimensional object using the 3D printer 1 of the present invention. Note that, for convenience of explanation, one of the first rolls 73, 73 is referred to as roll a and the other as roll b in the drawings. Also, note that, in the drawings, one of the second rolls 76, 76 is referred to as roll c and the other as roll d.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 6, when the process related to the modeling method is started, the first heating unit 13A, the second heating unit 40A, and the third heating unit 16 are heated (heating step S1).

[0074] Next, a control command for the 3D printer 1 is executed based on the 3D data (command execution step S2). When command execution step S2 is executed, the movement direction (X direction, Y direction, XY direction) of the printer head 10 is determined (movement direction determination step S3). In addition, in conjunction with this, the printer head 10 moves and the molten resin material 3 is discharged. Although not shown in the figure, the printer head 10 also moves in the Z direction as appropriate.

[0075] If it is determined in the movement direction determination step S3 that the printer head 10 will move in the X-axis direction (X direction), one of the pair of first shielding members 61, 61, the first shielding member 61, is wound up by roll a, and the other first shielding member 61 is unwound by roll b (X direction movement processing step S20).

[0076] If it is determined in the movement direction determination step S3 that the printer head 10 will move in the Y-axis direction (Y direction), one of the pair of second shielding members 65, 65, the second shielding member 65 is wound up by the roll c, and the other second shielding member 65 is unwound by the roll d (Y direction movement processing step S30).

[0077] If it is determined in the movement direction determination step S3 that the printer head 10 will move in the XY axis direction (XY direction, horizontal diagonal direction), the rolls a to c are synchronized, and the pair of first shielding members 61, 61 and the pair of second shielding members 65, 65 are unwound and wound up synchronously (XY direction movement processing step S40).

[0078] When any one of the X-direction movement processing step S20, Y-direction movement processing step S30, and XY-direction movement processing step S40 is executed, the printer head 10 moves to a predetermined support point based on the command (printer head movement step S4).

[0079] When the process of the printer head moving step S4 is completed, it is determined whether or not the modeling is completed (modeling completion determination step S5).

[0080] If it is determined in the modeling completion determination step S5 that the modeling is not completed, the next line of commands is read (command continuation step S6). When the command continuation step S6 is executed, the process returns to the command execution step S2, and the modeling process is continued.

[0081] When it is determined in the modeling completion determination step S5 that the modeling is completed, it is determined whether or not to perform maintenance, as shown in FIG. 7 (maintenance execution determination step S7).

[0082] If it is determined in maintenance execution determination step S7 that maintenance will be performed, the shielding members 60 are wound up on all of the rolls a to d, and the openings 2 are opened (all shielding member winding step S8). This allows the 3D printer 1 of the present invention to easily perform maintenance because it can wind up the shielding members 60 that are expected to interfere during maintenance. When all shielding member winding step S8 is executed, the series of processes ends. Note that once the process ends, the process may return to the beginning as necessary.

[0083] If it is determined in the maintenance execution determination step S7 that maintenance is not required, the series of processes ends. Note that when the processes end, the process may return to the beginning as necessary.

[0084] The above is the details of the method for forming a three-dimensional object using the 3D printer 1 of the present invention. Next, the configuration and effects of one embodiment of the modeling method of the present invention will be described in detail. The modeling method of the present invention can be configured as shown in (g) below, and these configurations can achieve the following effects.

[0085] (g) A modeling method of the present invention uses the above-described 3D printer 1 and includes a heating step S1 in which the resin material 3 supplied to the discharge portion 15 of the printer head 10 is melted, a movement direction determination step S3 in which a horizontal movement direction of the printer head 10 is determined, and an X-direction movement processing step S20 in which one of a pair of first shielding members 61, 61 is wound up and the other is unwound, on the condition that it is determined in the movement direction determination step S3 that the printer head 10 will move in the horizontal X direction, and an X-direction movement processing step S20 in which one of a pair of first shielding members 61, 61 is wound up and the other is unwound, on the condition that it is determined in the movement direction determination step S3 that the printer head 10 will move in the horizontal Y direction. , 65 while winding up the other; an XY direction movement processing step S40 in which the pair of first shielding members 61, 61 and the pair of second shielding members 65, 65 are synchronously unwound and unrolled, provided that the movement direction determination step S3 determines that they will move in the X and Y axis directions (diagonal directions) in the horizontal direction; and a printer head movement step S4 in which the printer head 10 is moved to a predetermined support point based on the execution of any of the X direction movement processing step S20, Y direction movement processing step S30, and XY direction movement processing step S40.

[0086] By configuring the modeling method of the present invention as described above in (g), the first shielding members 61, 61 and the second shielding members 65, 65 can be kept in a shielded state in conjunction with the movement of the printer head 10. Therefore, the modeling method of the present invention can partition the drive area A and the modeling area B with the first shielding members 61, 61 and the second shielding members 65, 65, thereby preventing the heat generated in the modeling area B from reaching the drive unit 20. As a result, the modeling method of the present invention can improve modeling accuracy.

[0087] The above is the configuration and effects of the 3D printer 1 and modeling method according to one embodiment of the present invention. However, the 3D printer 1 and modeling method according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention. For example, the 3D printer 1 can be formed in various shapes and sizes as long as it is as described in (a) above. Furthermore, the 3D printer 1 according to the present invention can be configured without some or all of the components described in (b) to (f) above, or can be configured with some or all of the components described in (b) to (f) above and other components. Furthermore, the modeling method according to the present invention can be configured as described in (g) above, and various means can be used and the order can be changed within the scope of the invention.

[0088] In this embodiment, a filament-shaped resin material 3 is used, but resin materials 3 of various shapes and materials can be used in addition to filaments. Also, the shape and size of the printer head 10 and the discharge part 15 can be various shapes and sizes depending on the size and shape of the target object 4.

[0089] Furthermore, the drive unit 20 need not necessarily be directly mounted on the printer head 10, but may also be mounted at a location other than the printer head 10, as in this embodiment. Furthermore, the drive unit 20 need not necessarily directly drive the printer head 10, but may also indirectly drive the printer head 10. Furthermore, it is desirable for the drive unit 20 to be located away from the modeling area B, which has a heat source, so that it can be separated from the modeling area B. Furthermore, the drive area A and the modeling area B can be set in various positions and with various sizes depending on the shape, structure, etc. of the 3D printer 1. Furthermore, the opening 2 can be set in various positions and with various sizes depending on the arrangement, etc. of the support frame 50 of the 3D printer 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the support frame 50 is composed of an X-direction support beam 51 and a Y-direction support beam 55, 55, but various configurations of the support frame 50 can be used depending on the shape, size, etc. of the 3D printer 1. Furthermore, the means for moving the printer head 10 is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and various means for moving the printer head 10 can be used. Furthermore, various types of 3D printer 1 can be used within the scope of the invention. In this embodiment, a rectangular window 62 is provided near the center of the shielding member 60, but the shape, size and position of the window 62 can be changed to various other shapes.

[0090] In this embodiment, the printer head 10 is provided with the first heating section 13A and the third heating section 16, but the first heating section 13A and the third heating section 16 do not necessarily have to be provided in the printer head 10, and either or both of the first heating section 13A and the third heating section 16 can also be provided in a location other than the printer head 10. Also, in this embodiment, the modeling bed 40 is exemplified as being fixed, but the modeling bed 40 may be movable as necessary.

[0091] The shielding member 60 is not limited to those that can be wound in an accordion-like manner and can be stored in various forms, but various forms can be used for the shielding member 60. The shielding member 60 can be made of various materials, such as resin, wood, metal, and sheet. It is also preferable to use a shielding member 60 made of a heat-insulating material, but the shielding member 60 is not limited to this and various materials can be used. When a non-heat-insulating material is used as the shielding member 60, it is preferable to cover the surface with a heat-insulating sheet.

[0092] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shielding member 60 is formed by being divided into a pair of first shielding members 61, 61 and a pair of second shielding members 65, 65, but the number of divisions of the shielding member 60 can be various depending on the aspect of the 3D printer 1. Furthermore, the shielding member 60 may be formed as a single unit.

[0093] In this embodiment, the printer head 10 is provided with the first heating unit 13A, the modeling bed 40 is provided with the second heating unit 40A, and the third heating unit 16 is provided on the modeling area B side. However, the first heating unit 13A, the second heating unit 40A, and the third heating unit 16 may be provided as needed, and at least one of the first heating unit 13A, the second heating unit 40A, and the third heating unit 16 may be omitted. Furthermore, the first heating unit 13A, the second heating unit 40A, and the third heating unit 16 can use various heating means depending on the structure of the 3D printer 1, and their arrangements can also be changed appropriately.

[0094] In this embodiment, the roll device 70 includes a shielding member drive unit 71 that unwinds and winds the shielding member 60. However, the shielding member drive unit 71 may be provided as needed, and the roll device 70 may not include the shielding member drive unit 71. That is, the roll device 70 does not need to be provided with a drive source. In such a case, the shielding member 60 may be configured to contract, fold, extend, and unwind in response to the movement of the printer head 10. The shielding member drive unit 71 may be provided using various drive sources other than a motor. In this embodiment, a pair of first shielding member drive units 72, 72 and a pair of second shielding member drive units 75, 75 are provided corresponding to a pair of first shielding members 61, 61 and a pair of second shielding members 65, 65. However, the number of shielding member drive units 71 provided may be as needed, and the roll device 70 may not include the shielding member drive unit 71. In addition, in the roll device 70, instead of the shielding member driving section 71, for example, a biasing member such as a spring may be provided on the roll to bias it in the winding direction.

[0095] The above are various embodiments and modifications of the 3D printer according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, and it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the claims and the teachings and spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0096] The 3D printer of the present invention can be used to model various resin members, and is particularly suitable for forming large-sized objects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1:3D printer 2: Opening 3: Resin material 4: Modeled object 10: Printer head 13A: First heating section (heater) 15:Discharge part 16: Third heating section (heater) 20: Drive unit 21: X-direction drive unit 26: Y-direction drive unit 35: Z-direction drive unit 40: Modeling bed 40A: Second heating section (heater) 50: Support frame 60: Shielding member 61: First shielding member 62: Window section 65: Second shielding member 70: Roll device 71: Shielding member drive unit 72: First shielding member driving unit 75: Second shielding member driving unit A: Driving area B: Modeling area

Claims

1. a printer head having a discharge unit that discharges molten resin material; a driving unit that drives the printer head, and a driving area in which the driving unit is disposed; a modeling area in which the discharge unit is disposed; and an opening between the drive area and the modeling area, the opening serving as an area in which the printer head can move in a horizontal direction; a support frame disposed at least partially around the opening and supporting the printer head so that the printer head can move horizontally and vertically; a shielding member that shields the opening so as to horizontally divide the drive area and the printing area; and a roll device supported by the support frame and configured to unwind the shielding member and store the shielding member by winding it; Equipped with the shielding member has a window portion surrounding the printer head disposed across the drive area and the modeling area, The 3D printer is characterized in that the shielding state can be maintained while the printer head is moved by moving the position of the window portion so as to follow the movement of the printer head by the roll device unwinding and winding the shielding member.

2. The 3D printer according to claim 1 , wherein the shielding member is made of a heat-resistant material and can be stored in a bellows-like state.

3. The printer head is provided with a first heating unit, a second heating unit is provided on the building bed on which the object is formed; The 3D printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a third heating unit provided on the modeling area side.

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