Three-dimensional printing device and three-dimensional printing method

Abstract

This application relates to the technical field of three-dimensional molding devices, and more particularly to a three-dimensional printing device and a three-dimensional printing method. The three-dimensional printing device includes a material receiving mechanism, a material supply mechanism, a drive mechanism, an optical mechanism, and a molding stage mechanism. The material receiving mechanism has a mounting area configured to receive printing materials. The material supply mechanism has a material supply assembly configured to supply multiple types of printing materials in a quantitative manner. The drive mechanism is configured to realize relative motion between the mounting area and the material supply assembly so that the material supply mechanism supplies predetermined types of printing materials in a quantitative manner to predetermined positions on the material receiving mechanism. This enables single-layer printing of multiple types of materials, avoiding the risk of material mixing, enabling color printing without subsequent color coating, and enabling printing with different material performance requirements. The three-dimensional printing device employs projection-type light curing technology, directly using the projection surface to harden the edges of the printed object, so the edge precision of the printed object depends on the intensity of the light projection, resulting in higher printing precision than inkjet printing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority from a Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on January 10, 2023, bearing application number 202310038195.9 and entitled "Three-dimensional printing apparatus and three-dimensional printing method," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of three-dimensional forming devices, and in particular to three-dimensional printing devices and methods. [Background technology]

[0003] 3D printing technology is a technology that uses 3D model data of an object to build up a 3D object layer by layer using a 3D printing device. 3D printing technology overcomes the obstacles of special structures that cannot be achieved with conventional machining, and enables the easy production of arbitrarily complex structural parts. Existing photocuring printing technologies can be divided into three types: SLA (laser point light curing), DLP (projector surface light curing), and LCD (liquid crystal surface photocuring).

[0004] Currently, photocuring 3D printing technology is finding increasingly widespread application. Due to its high molding accuracy, photocuring technology is widely used in fields such as molds, custom-made products, medical jigs, dentistry, figurines, and prosthetics. When manufacturing models, photocuring 3D printing typically uses a layer-by-layer process to print, curing the photocurable material between the printing reference surface and the model to form a pattern-hardened layer. By repeating this process, a printed structure with accumulated pattern-hardened layers is formed on the build stage. Most related photocuring printers can only print parts made of a single printing material; very few can print parts made of multiple types of printing materials.

[0005] Existing color 3D printing technologies, both at home and abroad, primarily use inkjet-based, top-down, random light-curing technology. This means that after the printing material is dispensed through a linear head, a light source follows the head to randomly expose and polymerize the molding stage / molding carrier, curing all of the dispensed resin. For example, some related technologies use multiple nozzles on one side of a tank to dispense different colored resins into the tank to print multicolored models. However, because this printing method simply dispenses different colored resins into the tank from one side through the nozzles, it is difficult to ensure that the resin is uniformly leveled within the tank. Printing accuracy is heavily dependent on the head's dispense accuracy, which affects print quality. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present application is to provide a three-dimensional printing apparatus and a three-dimensional printing method that are capable of printing parts having multiple types of printing materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The embodiment of the present application can be realized as follows.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a three-dimensional printing apparatus including: an optically transparent material receiving mechanism having a placement area configured to place a printing material; a material supply mechanism having a material supply assembly configured to quantitatively supply multiple types of printing material; a drive mechanism configured to realize relative movement between the placement area and the material supply assembly such that the material supply mechanism quantitatively supplies the predetermined types of printing material to a predetermined position in the material receiving mechanism; an optical mechanism configured to project and expose the printing material in the placement area and cause a photo-curing reaction of the printing material to form a printed model; and a molding stage mechanism configured to curing the printing material, bonding the formed cured layers layer by layer, and separating the cured layers from the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the three-dimensional printing apparatus further includes a leveling mechanism configured to maintain the thickness of the printing material supplied by the material supply mechanism to the material receiving mechanism within a predetermined range, and / or a cleaning mechanism configured to remove printing material remaining in the placement area after the molding stage mechanism separates the cured layer.

[0010] In optional embodiments, the leveling mechanism includes any one of a scraper assembly, a leveling roller assembly, a roll assembly, or a push rod assembly.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the cleaning mechanism includes any one of a scraper assembly, a high pressure air gun, and a wiping assembly.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the material supply assembly includes a head assembly configured to meteredly supply multiple types of printing materials.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the optical system of the optical mechanism is any one of a DLP projection system, a Micro-LED display system, an LCOS optical system, an LCD display system, and a laser galvanometer scanner system.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the three-dimensional printing apparatus further includes a calibration system configured to perform optical calibration of the optical mechanism and / or calibration of the material supply assembly, the calibration system including an imaging device, a calibration device, and a calibration plate, the calibration plate being used to be placed on the three-dimensional printing apparatus, the calibration plate having calibration points distributed at a predetermined distance formed thereon, the optical module of the optical mechanism being used to project actual projected points distributed at a predetermined distance onto the mounting area, the imaging device being used to photograph the calibration points on the calibration plate and the actual projected points in the mounting area, and the calibration device being communicatively connected to the imaging device.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the three dimensional printing apparatus further includes a calibration system configured to calibrate and align a material supply point of the material supply assembly and a projection point of the optical mechanism.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the material receiving mechanism includes a transparent film, a medium layer, and an upper transparent plate, with the transparent film attached to the upper transparent plate via the medium layer.

[0017] In an optional embodiment, the material receiving mechanism includes a transparent film and a film frame, the transparent film being stretched and secured to the film frame.

[0018] In optional embodiments, the film frame includes an upper film frame with a transparent film stretched over the upper film frame, or the film frame includes an upper film frame and a lower film frame with a transparent film stretched and secured between the upper and lower film frames.

[0019] In an optional embodiment, the material receiving mechanism further includes an upper transparent plate disposed below the transparent film.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, a fixed constraining medium is provided between the upper transparent plate and the transparent film, and the fixed constraining medium includes one or more of a silicone layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a back adhesive layer.

[0021] In an optional embodiment, a first cavity is formed between the upper transparent plate and the transparent film, and a fluid is injected into the first cavity.

[0022] In an optional embodiment, the fluid is at least one of an oxygen-enriched liquid, an inert liquid, oxygen gas, air, an oxygen-enriched gas, and nitrogen gas.

[0023] In an optional embodiment, the material receiving mechanism further includes a gas supply assembly and a lower transparent plate, the lower transparent plate being located below the upper transparent plate, a second cavity being formed between the lower transparent plate and the upper transparent plate, and the gas supply assembly being configured to inject gas into the second cavity.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the drive mechanism includes a first drive assembly configured to drive the material supply assembly to move through the space; or the drive mechanism includes a second drive assembly configured to drive the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism to move through the space; or The drive mechanism includes a first drive assembly configured to drive the material supply assembly to move within the space, and a second drive assembly configured to drive the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism to move within the space.

[0025] In an optional embodiment, the material supply mechanism further includes a heating assembly configured to heat the material supply assembly such that the temperature of the material supply assembly is between 20 and 100°C.

[0026] In an optional embodiment, the material supply mechanism further includes a heating assembly configured to heat the material supply assembly such that the temperature of the material supply assembly is greater than 100°C and less than or equal to 200°C.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present application provides a three-dimensional printing method applicable to the above-mentioned three-dimensional printing device, the three-dimensional printing method including the steps of: acquiring a three-dimensional model; dividing the three-dimensional model into a plurality of slice layers; and generating a corresponding printing policy for each slice layer, wherein the printing policy includes at least one of relative motion information between a placement area and a material supply assembly, a material type of the printing material supplied by the material supply mechanism, and projection information of an optical mechanism; supplying the printing material to the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism in accordance with the printing policy, wherein there are two or more material types corresponding to at least some of the slice layers; exposing and curing the printing material by the optical mechanism in accordance with the projection information, and then forming a hardened layer; and controlling a molding stage mechanism to separate the hardened layer.

[0028] In an optional embodiment, after the step of controlling the forming stage mechanism to separate the cured layer, the method further includes cleaning the material receiving mechanism of any printing residue remaining thereon.

[0029] In an optional embodiment, after the step of controlling the forming stage mechanism to separate the cured layer, the method further includes the step of cleaning any printing residue remaining on the cured layer.

[0030] In an optional embodiment, after the step of supplying the printing material to the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism, the method further includes the step of leveling the printing material in the placement area to a predetermined thickness.

[0031] In an optional embodiment, dividing the three-dimensional model into a plurality of slice layers includes generating a series of slice layers from the three-dimensional model and dividing at least some regions of at least some of the slice layers into a plurality of sub-regions, wherein there are gaps between at least some adjacent sub-regions.

[0032] In an optional embodiment, the step of supplying printing material to a loading area of ​​the material receiving mechanism in accordance with the printing policy includes a step of controlling the relative movement between the material supply assembly and the loading area so that the drive mechanism operates in accordance with the printing policy and the position of the material supply assembly corresponds to the material supply position, and a step of the material supply mechanism operating in accordance with the printing policy and supplying the corresponding printing material to the material supply position via the material supply assembly.

[0033] In an optional embodiment, the material type includes color information and material performance information.

[0034] In an optional embodiment, the three-dimensional model includes a first portion and a second portion, and a material supply position corresponding to the first portion is supplied with printing material having a first type of color, and a material supply position corresponding to the second portion is supplied with printing material having a second type of color, and the first type of color is one or more colors, and the second type of color is one or more colors.

[0035] In an optional embodiment, the first portion comprises an outline of the three-dimensional model and the second portion comprises fill and / or sacrificial structures of the three-dimensional model; or The first portion includes the fill portion of the three-dimensional model, and the second portion includes the contour and / or sacrificial structures of the three-dimensional model.

[0036] In an optional embodiment, the first portion includes an outer surface layer of the physical structure of the three-dimensional model, and the second portion includes other areas of the physical structure of the three-dimensional model and / or sacrificial structures.

[0037] In an optional embodiment, the three-dimensional model includes a first portion and a second portion, and a material supply position corresponding to the first portion is supplied with a printing material having a first type of performance, and a material supply position corresponding to the second portion is supplied with a printing material having a second type of performance.

[0038] In an optional embodiment, the first portion includes an outline of the three-dimensional model and the second portion includes fill and / or sacrificial structures of the three-dimensional model.

[0039] In an optional embodiment, the sacrificial structure is a base plate and / or support for the three-dimensional model.

[0040] In an optional embodiment, the second performance type printing material used for the sacrificial structure of the three-dimensional model is a solvent-specific soluble material.

[0041] In an optional embodiment, the temperature of the material supply assembly during the material supply process is 20-100°C.

[0042] In an optional embodiment, the temperature of the material supply assembly during the material supply process is greater than 100°C and less than or equal to 200°C. [Effects of the Invention]

[0043] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application are as follows:

[0044] According to the three-dimensional printing apparatus provided herein, a drive mechanism can generate relative motion between the material supply assembly of the material supply mechanism and the mounting area of ​​the molding stage, allowing the material supply assembly to be positioned at any location in the mounting area and supply printing material to any location in the mounting area. The material supply mechanism can supply multiple types of printing material to the mounting area via the material supply assembly, allowing desired types of printing material to be supplied to different locations in the mounting area as needed. This enables single-layer printing of multiple types of materials, avoiding the risk of material mixing, enabling color printing without subsequent color coating, and enabling printing with different material performance requirements. Furthermore, it prevents residues generated during printing, such as uncured resin or residue from the upper layer, from affecting the printing of the next layer, thereby improving print quality. The three-dimensional printing apparatus provided herein can also implement the above-described three-dimensional printing method, thereby achieving beneficial effects such as improved work efficiency and reduced labor costs.

[0045] The 3D printing method provided in this application allows for single-layer printing of multiple materials, avoiding the risk of material mixing, enabling color printing without subsequent color coating, and enabling printing with different material performance requirements. Furthermore, it employs projection-based photocuring technology, directly using the projection contour of the projection surface to harden the edges of the printed object. Therefore, the edge accuracy of the printed object depends on the projection angle of the optical mechanism, resulting in higher printing accuracy than inkjet printing. Furthermore, bottom-projection printing is preferable to top-projection printing, as bottom-projection bottom-up printing requires less support than top-projection top-down printing, saving materials. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0046] The drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0047] In order to more clearly describe the technical aspects of the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0048] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a partial configuration of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application when the leveling assembly is a leveling roller assembly. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operating principle of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application when the leveling assembly is a leveling roller assembly. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a partial configuration of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application when the leveling assembly is a scraper assembly. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operating principle of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application when the leveling assembly is a scraper assembly. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scraper assembly in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wiping assembly in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a material receiving mechanism in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional printing device of an RGB color system provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional printing device of a CMYK color system provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a material receiving mechanism in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a material receiving mechanism in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a material receiving mechanism in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a material receiving mechanism in a three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a three-dimensional printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a three-dimensional printing method provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional printing model provided in an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is another schematic diagram of a three-dimensional printed model provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 20]FIG. 10 is yet another schematic diagram of a three-dimensional printed model provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 21] 1 is a schematic diagram of a gridding of sliced ​​layers of a three-dimensional printed model provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 100...material receiving mechanism; 101...transparent film; 102...upper film frame; 103...lower film frame; 104...upper transparent plate; 105...lower transparent plate; 106...second cavity; 107...gas supply assembly; 108...loading area; 109...micropores; 110...media layer; 200...material supply mechanism; 201...material supply assembly; 202...piping; 203...material storage assembly; 300...drive mechanism; 301...first drive assembly; 3011...second lifting assembly; 3012...translation assembly; 400...optical mechanism; 500...molding stage mechanism; 501...first lifting assembly; 502...molding stage; 5021 molding surface; 6 00...cleaning mechanism; 601...waste material collection device; 602...wiping assembly; 6021...fixed part; 6022...elastic member; 6023...moving part; 6024...feed roll; 6025...collection roll; 6026...printed material; 700...leveling mechanism; 701...leveling assembly; 800...scraper assembly; 801...scraper holder; 802...scraper mounting base; 803...scraper body; 900...printed material; 901...substantial structure; 9011...contour; 9012...filling part; 9013...outer surface layer; 9014...inner layer; 902...sacrificial structure; 9021...bottom plate; 9022...support part; 904...sub-area; 905...gap; 1000...printed material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] In order to clarify the objectives, technical aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present application, the technical aspects of the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, but it is clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0051] It should be noted that in the following drawings, like numerals and letters indicate like items, so that once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further defined or interpreted in subsequent drawings.

[0052] It should be noted that, unless contradictory, the features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other.

[0053] 3D printing technology is a technology that uses a 3D printing device to build up a three-dimensional object layer by layer based on the object's three-dimensional model data. 3D printing technology overcomes special structural obstacles that cannot be achieved by conventional machining, and can easily produce any complex structural part. Existing 3D printing technologies include laser stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display technology (LCD), fused deposition modeling (FDM), polyjet molding (PolyJet), multi-jet printing (MJP), multi-jet fusion molding (MJF), and selective laser sintering (SLS).

[0054] In some related technologies, a head sprays a liquid photopolymer layer onto a build tray, then irradiates the entire build tray with UV light to cure the liquid photopolymer layer sprayed onto the tray. The build tray is then lowered by one layer, and the head continues to spray liquid photopolymer, printing and curing the next layer. This process is repeated to complete the 3D printing of the model. In this printing method, the printing material is ejected through a linear head, and then a light source follows the head to indiscriminately expose, polymerize, and cure the liquid photopolymer layer on the build tray. The printing accuracy and print quality depend on the dimensional accuracy of the head. The smaller the nozzle size, the fewer printing materials can be supported, resulting in poor printing accuracy, poor print quality, and limited printing material options.

[0055] In some related technologies, a light-curing 3D printer prints a single-color structure and then colors the model later using a color-painting method, but this printing method is very simple and complicated. In addition, residues generated during printing, such as uncured resin or residue from the upper layer, can affect the printing of the next layer, resulting in poor print quality and poor results.

[0056] In some related technologies, multiple materials can be printed on a single object by using multiple material receiving mechanisms and a Z-axis translation mechanism that can move the printing stage between different material receiving mechanisms. However, in this method, each actual layer is a unified single color, and single-layer multi-color printing cannot be achieved, and there is a risk of material mixing and contamination during printing.

[0057] In some conventional techniques, a lattice barrier is applied to a release film, and then a resin dispenser is attached. A computer controls which color resin is required for each lattice barrier during projection of each layer. The resin dispenser is then controlled to inject the resin into the corresponding lattice area, after which one layer is exposed and cured. The lattice barrier is then washed and dried in a cleaning unit, and the next layer is printed. This process is repeated to complete the color printing. However, this technique requires post-processing of the printed product after each layer is printed to stabilize the printing color of that layer, resulting in a complex process and low printing efficiency.

[0058] In some related technologies, the three-dimensional model printed by the three-dimensional printing device has support members that support the main body member during printing, and the support members must be removed after printing of the three-dimensional model is complete. However, in the related technologies, the support members and the main body member are made using the same printing material, and the process of removing the support members is relatively time-consuming and difficult to remove cleanly.

[0059] In some related technologies, when the support material and the actual material are different during printing, the interpenetration phenomenon may occur in three-dimensional printing devices. This makes it difficult to remove the support material after hardening, resulting in poor quality of the actual surface of the printed object, and requiring subsequent polishing or gloss coating of the actual surface of the printed object.

[0060] To overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the related art described above, embodiments of the present application provide a three-dimensional printing apparatus and a three-dimensional printing method that can supply two or more types of printing materials in a single layer printing, allowing different printing materials to be placed in different areas of a three-dimensional model to meet production needs, and that are advantageous in improving efficiency and reducing labor costs. To facilitate understanding of the three-dimensional printing method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the three-dimensional printing apparatus and the three-dimensional printing method will be described below.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 1 , the main components of the three-dimensional printing apparatus of the present embodiment include a material receiving mechanism 100, a material supply mechanism 200, a drive mechanism 300, an optical mechanism 400, and a molding stage mechanism 500. The material receiving mechanism 100 is optically transparent and has a placement area 108 configured to place a printing material. The material supply mechanism 200 has a material supply assembly 201 configured to supply a predetermined amount of printing material. The drive mechanism 300 is configured to realize relative motion between the placement area 108 and the material supply assembly 201 so that the material supply mechanism 200 supplies a predetermined amount of printing material to a predetermined position on the material receiving mechanism 100. The optical mechanism 400 is configured to project and expose the printing material in the placement area 108 and photo-curing the printing material to form a printed model. The molding stage mechanism 500 is configured to harden the printing material, bond the formed cured layers layer by layer, and separate the cured layers from the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism.

[0062] Specifically, the forming stage mechanism 500 includes a first lifting assembly 501 and a forming stage 502. The forming stage 502 has a forming surface 5021 on which the printed material is attached, and the forming stage 502 reciprocates on a path that moves toward or away from the material receiving mechanism 100. The first lifting assembly 501 is used to drive the forming stage 502 up and down to move toward or away from the material receiving mechanism 100. The forming surface 5021 of the forming stage 502 is typically the surface of the forming stage 502 facing the material receiving mechanism 100 so as to face the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100. During printing, the printed material can be cured layer by layer on the forming surface 5021, and as the printed material is formed layer by layer, the forming stage 502 gradually rises, realizing layer by layer separation and layer by layer stacking of the printed layers, and finally completing printing of the printed model.

[0063] Specifically, the material receiving mechanism 100 is made of a transparent material, the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 is used to place the printing material, and the optical mechanism 400 can be located below or above the material receiving mechanism 100 corresponding to the placement area 108, and is preferably located below the placement area 108. The placement area 108 and the molding stage 502 are located above or below the optical mechanism accordingly, and are preferably located above the optical mechanism. Note that the optical mechanism 400 does not necessarily have to be always located below the material receiving mechanism 100, nor does it necessarily have to be located below the molding stage 502, but may be located above the material receiving mechanism 100 and the molding stage 502. The optical mechanism 400 can emit a light beam, which passes through the transparent area of ​​the material receiving mechanism 100 before reaching the placement area 108, thereby curing the printing material in the placement area 108. When performing 3D printing, the molding stage 502 is gradually approached by the first lifting assembly 501 to the loading area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100, so that the molding surface 5021 is attached to the upper surface of the printing material in the loading area 108, and the light beam from the optical mechanism 400 passes through the light-transmitting area and is then irradiated into the printing material in the loading area 108, causing the printing material located between the material receiving mechanism 100 and the molding surface 5021 to harden on the molding surface 5021 of the molding stage 502, or to harden on the printing material of the previous layer hardened on the molding surface 5021, and layer by layer to achieve printing of the model.

[0064] It should be noted that the optical mechanism 400 allows the printing and curing method to be applied to various light curing principles in the prior art. The optical system of the optical mechanism 400 includes, but is not limited to, any one of a DLP projection system, a Micro-LED display system, an LCOS optical system, an LCD display system, and a laser galvanometer scanner system, and those skilled in the art can reasonably select one as needed.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the drive mechanism 300 can generate relative motion between the material supply assembly 201 of the material supply mechanism 200 and the placement area 108 of the forming stage 502, allowing the material supply assembly 201 to be positioned at any position in the placement area 108 and supply printing material to any position in the placement area 108. The material supply mechanism 200 can supply multiple types of printing material to the placement area 108 via the material supply assembly 201, allowing desired types of printing material to be supplied to different positions in the placement area 108 as needed. That is, the material supply assembly 201 can supply at least two different types of printing material, allowing color printing and printing with different performance requirements. For example, if color printing is required, the color of the printing material supplied to different positions can be adjusted and controlled through a color control scheme to achieve color printing. The three-dimensional printing device of the above embodiment of the present application supplies printing material of a desired color to the corresponding position of the mounting area 108 according to the color demands of the product during printing, and can directly obtain the desired printed product after printing is completed. Compared to the technical aspect of the related art in which a monochromatic structure is printed with a light-curing 3D printer and then colored to add color to the model later, this realizes the function of directly printing color, and furthermore, the procedure is simpler, the printing quality is better, and the colors are more realistic.

[0066] The 3D printing device of the above embodiment of the present application, compared to related art technologies that use multiple material receiving mechanisms and move the printing stage between different material receiving mechanisms to print multiple types of materials on a single print, enables single-layer printing of multiple types of materials while reducing the risk of material mixing or contamination during printing. Furthermore, by using projection-based photocuring technology and directly using the projected contour of the projection surface to harden the edges of the print, the edge accuracy of the print depends on the projection accuracy of the optical mechanism, resulting in higher printing accuracy than inkjet printing. Because printing accuracy does not depend on the accuracy of the nozzle size of the head, the requirements for the nozzle size of the head are not as high; it is sufficient to be able to spray a quantitative amount of printing material according to the technical aspects. In other words, the nozzle size can be larger than that of an inkjet printing head, thereby accommodating more printing materials with different viscosities and achieving printing with more colors or performance requirements. Furthermore, bottom-projection printing is preferable to top-projection printing, and bottom-projection bottom-up printing requires less support than top-projection top-down printing, saving materials.

[0067] In some embodiments, the three-dimensional printing apparatus further includes a leveling mechanism 700 configured to maintain the thickness of the printing material supplied to the material receiving mechanism 100 by the material supply mechanism 200 within a predetermined range. The leveling mechanism 700 can maintain a uniform thickness of the printing material supplied to the placement area 108 by the material supply assembly 201, maintaining the precision and accuracy of the printing process and improving printing accuracy. Note that if the printing material supplied to the placement area by the material supply assembly 201 is sufficiently uniform and quantitative, leveling by the leveling mechanism 700 is not necessary. In the above process, the leveling mechanism 700 can not only control the thickness of the printing material in the material receiving mechanism 100 to maintain it within a predetermined range, but also slightly adjust the amount of printing material in the material receiving mechanism 100, thereby flattening the printing material so that the surface of the printing material is more parallel.

[0068] In addition, the relative positions of the leveling mechanism 700 and the material receiving mechanism 100 along the vertical direction need to change according to the change in the relative positions between the material supply assembly 201 and the material receiving mechanism 100 to prevent interference between the leveling mechanism 700 and the material supply assembly 201. Therefore, the relative positional relationship between the leveling mechanism 700 and the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism 100 can also be adjusted by the drive mechanism 300, so that the leveling mechanism 700 and the material supply assembly 201 can simultaneously move relative to the material receiving mechanism 100 along the vertical and horizontal directions. Of course, an independent drive structure can be selected to control the relative movement between the leveling mechanism 700 and the placement area 108. However, from the viewpoints of simplifying the structure of the entire machine and utilizing space, it is preferable to adjust the relative movement between the leveling mechanism 700 and the placement area 108 by the drive mechanism 300.

[0069] Optionally, the leveling mechanism 700 may include a leveling assembly 701, which is mainly used to ensure that the thickness of the printing material supplied by the material supply mechanism 200 to the material receiving mechanism 100 is kept within a predetermined range. The leveling assembly 701 includes, but is not limited to, any one of a scraper assembly 800, a leveling roller assembly, a roll assembly, and a push rod assembly, and may of course be any other device capable of achieving leveling.

[0070] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the leveling assembly 701 may include at least one leveling roller assembly, which is used to level the uncured printing material supplied to the loading area of ​​the material receiving mechanism 100 to ensure vertical dimensional accuracy of the material layer. Specifically, the leveling roller assembly may be a columnar member rotatable about its mounting axis, or a tapered member rotatable about its mounting axis. The leveling roller assembly rotates at high speed during leveling and contacts the uncured printing material 1000 in the material receiving mechanism 100 to remove printing material that is thicker than a predetermined thickness on the uncured material layer to ensure vertical dimensional accuracy of the material layer. In FIG. 3 , the leveling roller assembly moves from right to left relative to the transparent film 101. After the leveling process by the leveling roller assembly, the printing material 1000 on the rear side of the leveling roller assembly is leveled to the same thickness. Those skilled in the art will understand how to adjust the printing material removal effect by adjusting the characteristics of the leveling roller assembly itself and the motion parameters of the leveling roller assembly. For example, increasing the polarity or roughness of the surface of the smoothing roller assembly can enhance its ability to attract and lift the printed material. Furthermore, for example, increasing the rotational speed of the smoothing roller assembly can enhance the smoothing roller assembly's ability to wrap around the printed material, allowing the smoothing roller assembly to remove printed material that is thicker than a predetermined thickness and reducing the likelihood that the printed material that is thicker than a predetermined thickness will be pushed into other areas and cause material mixing. Furthermore, for example, applying a material coating to the smoothing roller assembly that can lift residual material can quickly attract and remove residual material.

[0071] In some embodiments, the leveling roller is designed as a tapered structure, which is suitable for situations where the material supply assembly 201 is stationary during rotary printing and the relative linear velocity varies depending on the radial position of the drop point of the printing material. In such situations, the requirements for the material lifting capacity of the leveling assembly 701 also vary, but the variable diameter of the tapered leveling roller can achieve a linear material lifting capacity in line with the change in linear velocity during rotary printing.

[0072] 4 and 5, the leveling assembly 701 may include at least one scraper assembly 800. As shown in FIG. 6, the scraper assembly 800 includes a scraper holder 801, a scraper mounting base 802, and a scraper body 803, with a resilient coupling assembly for coupling and buffering provided between the scraper holder 801 and the scraper mounting base 802, the scraper body 803 being provided on the scraper holder 801, and the scraper mounting base 802 being connectable to the drive mechanism 300. The scraper assembly 800 moves relative to a corresponding position in the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 via the drive mechanism 300, and the direction of this relative movement is parallel to the surface of the material receiving mechanism 100; that is, the distance between the lower end of the scraper body 803 and the surface of the printing material hardly changes during the relative movement. The direction of the relative movement may include relative translation along the length direction of the material receiving mechanism 100 or relative translation along the width direction of the material receiving mechanism 100. The purpose of the relative movement is to solve the problem of uneven distribution of the printing material supplied to the material receiving mechanism 100 by the material supply assembly 201 due to poor fluidity of the printing material, which affects printing quality. In FIG. 5 , the scraper assembly 800 moves from right to left relative to the transparent film 101. After the leveling process by the scraper assembly 800, the printing material 1000 behind the scraper assembly 800 is leveled to the same thickness. This scraper assembly 800 overcomes the problem of poor fluidity of the printing material 1000, allowing the printing material to be spread evenly across the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100, leveling the thickness of the printing material for a single printing layer.

[0073] It has been found that during production, the leveling assembly 701 may carry printing material from one area into another area during operation, resulting in material mixing in the latter area, contaminating the printing material, and affecting the accuracy and effectiveness of printing. For example, assuming that the leveling assembly 701 is the scraper assembly 800, when the material supply assembly 201 supplies material from right to left and divides the printing material in the placement area 108 into multiple color areas, when the scraper body 803 of the scraper assembly 800 passes through one color area to scrape off the excess waste material, the waste material from the first color area will be pushed into the second color area, resulting in material mixing and color transfer. Based on this, the leveling mechanism 700 further includes, in addition to the leveling assembly 701, a waste material collection assembly configured to collect waste material removed by the leveling assembly 701 during operation, ensuring that the waste material does not re-enter the material receiving mechanism 100.

[0074] Continuing to use the example of the leveling assembly 701 being the scraper assembly 800, let us assume that the printing material in the loading area 108 is divided into multiple color areas during the process of the material supply assembly 201 supplying material from right to left. When the scraper body 803 of the scraper assembly 800 passes through the first color area and scrapes off the excess waste material that has built up, the waste material collection assembly collects the material scraped by the scraper body 803, preventing this waste material from entering other color areas and affecting the color accuracy of those other color areas.

[0075] Specific forms of the waste material collection assembly include, but are not limited to, negative pressure suction structures and wiping structures, as long as they can timely collect the waste material removed by the leveling assembly 701, and the faster the response of this waste material collection assembly, the more it can reduce material mixing and color transfer between different areas.

[0076] In some embodiments, the leveling mechanism 700 may be provided at any position in the material receiving mechanism 100 as long as it can level the printing material to a predetermined thickness. Multiple leveling mechanisms 700 may be provided, and multiple leveling mechanisms 700 may operate simultaneously to improve work efficiency.

[0077] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , the three-dimensional printing apparatus further includes a cleaning mechanism 600 configured to remove printing material remaining in the material receiving mechanism 100 after the molding stage mechanism separates the cured layer, specifically, to remove printing material remaining in the placement area 108 after the molding stage mechanism 500 separates the cured layer. Optionally, the cleaning mechanism 600 may be further configured to remove printing material remaining in the cured layer, specifically, to remove printing material remaining in the cured layer after the molding stage mechanism 500 separates the cured layer. The cleaning mechanism 600 may remove the remaining printing material every time the molding stage mechanism separates a cured layer, or may remove the printing material after the molding stage mechanism separates the cured layer at a specific timing. For example, when printing a sacrificial structure or a base plate structure, the remaining printing material does not need to be removed because it does not affect the printing quality of the actual part, thereby improving printing efficiency. Furthermore, removal may not be required when printing a material of the same color or performance, but may be performed when converting to a material of a different color or performance, thereby avoiding color transfer or material mixing that would affect print quality. Specifically, this can be reasonably configured according to the needs of the technical aspects of this field. In this embodiment, the mechanisms of the three-dimensional printing device work together to shape the printing material into the desired printed object 900. The cleaning mechanism 600 can prevent residues generated during printing, such as uncured resin or residue from an upper layer, from affecting the printing of the next layer. Of course, the cleaning mechanism 600 can also prevent cured resin or residue generated during printing from affecting the printing.

[0078] In some embodiments, the cleaning mechanism 600 may be a scraper assembly 800, a high pressure air gun, a wiping assembly 602, or any structure capable of accomplishing cleaning of the material receiving mechanism 100.

[0079] In some embodiments, the cleaning mechanism 600 may have an independent control system or may share a control system with the head assembly / leveling mechanism. It may move independently or together with the head assembly / leveling mechanism. For example, after the head assembly ejects the printing material, the leveling mechanism levels the printing material, and the molding stage mechanism descends to complete the exposure, curing, and separation of the cured layer, after which the cleaning mechanism returns to its original position together with the head assembly / leveling mechanism while cleaning. Alternatively, the cleaning mechanism first cleans any remaining resin from the placement area, and then the head assembly / leveling mechanism ejects and levels the printing material.

[0080] Optionally, the cleaning mechanism 600 may be a high-pressure air gun, which can blow away uncured printing material or residue on the material receiving mechanism 100 after each curing. Accordingly, a purge opening is provided on the side of the material receiving mechanism 100 where the high-pressure air gun is provided, and the exhaust port of the high-pressure air gun faces the purge opening to purge uncured printing material or residue. Furthermore, the high-pressure air gun may also be used to purge cured printing material or residue.

[0081] Optionally, the cleaning mechanism 600 may be a scraper assembly 800, which moves relative to the placement area 108 by the action of the drive mechanism 300 and can scrape off excess printing material and residue from the material receiving mechanism 100 after the printing material has cured. The specific configuration of the scraper assembly 800 has been described in the description of the scraper assembly 800 in the leveling assembly 701 and will not be repeated here; however, the configuration and operating principle of both are the same, with the only difference being that when the scraper assembly 800 functions as the leveling assembly 701, it is used to scrape off portions of the printing material that exceed a predetermined thickness, whereas when the scraper assembly 800 functions as the cleaning mechanism 600, it is used to scrape off all uncured printing material and residue from the material receiving mechanism 100.

[0082] 7, the cleaning mechanism 600 may be a wiping assembly 602, which is located above the material receiving mechanism 100, and includes a fixed part 6021, an elastic member 6022, a movable part 6023, a feed roll 6024, and a collecting roll 6025, and the elastic member 6022 makes the movable part 6023 always tend to approach the material receiving mechanism 100. The feed roll 6024 and the collecting roll 6025 are located on both sides of the movable part 6023, respectively, and are used to wrap a dust-free wiper 6026 around them. During operation, the dust-free wiper 6026 bypasses the lower end of the movable part, and the drive mechanism can realize relative motion between the wiping assembly 602 and the material receiving mechanism 100, so that the placement area 108 is directly below the movable part 6023. The dust-free wiper 6026 on the movable part 6023 contacts the residue on the placement area 108, completing the process of adsorbing and wiping the residue. The elastic force of the elastic member 6022 presses the movable part 6023 against the material receiving mechanism 100, which provides an elastic force that ensures close contact between the dust-free wiper 6026 and the material receiving mechanism 100 and also allows space for further deformation, achieving flexible wiping and not only completing the wiping process but also protecting the placement area 108 and preventing pressure injuries during wiping. Preferably, the dust-free wiper may be a disposable consumable item, thereby reducing the cleaning and maintenance of the cleaning mechanism and improving printing efficiency. Furthermore, the input roll 6024 is used to wind the input dust-free wiper 6026, and the collection roll 6025 is used to collect the dust-free wiper 6026 after wiping is completed. The collection roll 6025 provides a driving force for driving the movement of the dust-free wiper 6026, and the dust-free wiper 6026 on the input roll 6024 is collected by the collection roll 6025 after passing through the movable part 6023.8 , the cleaning mechanism 600 further includes an inversion assembly that is used to invert the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100, thereby inverting the placement area 108 from a state in which the printing material is above the placement area 108 to a state in which the printing material is below the placement area 108, allowing the uncured printing material and residue to fall naturally with the assistance of gravity, or allowing the cured printing material and residue to fall naturally with the assistance of gravity. The scraping action of the scraper assembly 800 and the purging action of the high-pressure air gun are further assisted to more easily remove the uncured printing material and residue, and also to more easily remove the cured printing material and residue. Preferably, a substance such as alcohol may be applied to the dust-free wiper 6026, allowing the cleaning operation to be performed with the alcohol attached to the dust-free wiper 6026 during operation, thereby preventing static electricity from being generated during cleaning.

[0083] 1, the cleaning mechanism 600 further includes a waste material collection device 601, which is used to store uncured printing material or residue removed by the cleaning mechanism 600 from the material receiving mechanism 100. The waste material collection device 601 may be any of a variety of containers used for storage.

[0084] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the material supply mechanism 200 is used to replenish the supply of printing material to the mounting area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100. The material supply mechanism 200 includes at least a material storage assembly 203, a pump body, piping 202, and a material supply assembly 201. The material storage assembly 203 is used to store the printing material and includes multiple material storage sections for storing different types of printing material, respectively. The pump body is used to provide a driving force to pump the printing material in the material storage assembly 203 through the piping 202 to the material supply assembly 201, and the pump body can also control the amount of printing material supplied. The material supply assembly 201 is used to supply the printing material to a specified position in the material receiving mechanism 100. The material supply assembly 201 is preferably a head assembly, which may include one or more heads. The head assembly may include a nozzle hole in the head connected to a material storage section via piping, allowing the head assembly to supply multiple types of printing material. Specifically, one head can correspond to one or more material supply channels. For example, one head may be provided with only one material supply channel, and one type of printing material can be supplied. Alternatively, for example, one head may be provided with two, four, or eight material supply channels, and each channel can supply one type of printing material. Of course, one type of printing material can also be supplied through multiple material supply channels.

[0085] For example, a color model can be printed by ejecting printing materials of different colors onto the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 through multiple material supply channels provided in the head assembly, thereby eliminating the need for a subsequent process of dyeing the model. The printing materials of different colors are stored in different material storage units of the material storage assembly, and the different material supply channels are connected to the material storage units in which the printing materials of different colors are stored. The pump body is used to eject the printing materials of different colors through the different material supply channels of the head assembly, thereby ejecting the printing materials onto the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 during the printing process.

[0086] Regarding specific color management, the supply amount of different types of printing materials can be controlled through software, and the printing materials can be mixed to any color. This allows colors to be changed at any time during printing, enabling gradation printing, alternating color pattern printing, and alternating transparent and translucent color printing, thereby better meeting diverse market needs. Optionally, the color control method for the printing materials can be generated by digitally combining model materials of other colors used by the printer. For example, cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) printing materials can be combined into one combination. Alternatively, the RGB color system shown in FIG. 9 can be used, or the RGB color system can be converted to the CMYK color system shown in FIG. 10. Printing materials corresponding to each basic color of each color system can be stored in different material storage units and combined. The heads of the head assembly can then supply and combine the printing materials corresponding to each basic color, thereby obtaining various colors in the color spectrum corresponding to each color system. Color management can also be achieved by changing the color components, droplet size of the printing materials, color order of the printing materials, and layering method of the printing materials. Since these are within the flexibility of those skilled in the art, details will not be repeated here.

[0087] In some embodiments, the three dimensional printing apparatus further includes a calibration system, the calibration system including an imaging device, a calibration device, and a calibration plate, the calibration system being used to calibrate at least one of the optical mechanism 400 and the material supply assembly 201, thereby improving the accuracy of the printing process.

[0088] Before printing, optical calibration of the optical mechanism 400 can be performed first. Specifically, this is performed as follows: A calibration plate of the calibration system is placed in the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 of the three-dimensional printing apparatus, and calibration points distributed at a predetermined distance are formed on the calibration plate. The optical module of the optical mechanism 400 is installed below the material receiving mechanism 100 and is used to project actual projected points distributed at a predetermined distance onto the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100. An imaging device is used to capture the calibration points on the calibration plate and the actual projected points on the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100. The calibration device is connected to and communicates with the imaging device. The calibration device generates correction information according to the amount of deviation between the calibration points and the actual projected points. This correction information is used to guide positional correction of the optical mechanism 400 until the obtained calibration points and the actual projected points match. Preferably, these relative positions overlap, but of course, they do not have to overlap. The distribution at a predetermined distance may be a matrix distribution, a linear distribution, a star array distribution, or any other distribution form that can realize coordinate position information, as long as the positional relationship between the calibration plate, the projected points, and the photographed points can be determined.

[0089] Before printing, after completing the calibration of the optical mechanism 400, the material supply assembly 201 can be calibrated to calibrate the relative position between the projection of the optical mechanism 400 and the movement of the material supply assembly. In this embodiment, the material supply assembly is a head assembly. Specifically, first, the head of the head assembly is controlled to eject printing material onto the placement area 108 to form a droplet dot. The droplet dot position is formed in the projection area formed after the projection of the optical module of the optical mechanism 400. The image capture device then captures the droplet dot ejection coordinates and compares them with the coordinates of the calibration point recorded after the aforementioned position correction of the optical mechanism 400, thereby adjusting and calibrating the head position. A single head assembly typically includes multiple rows of heads. Since the relative positions of the multiple rows of heads are fixed, one head assembly only needs to be calibrated once. If there are multiple heads, one head is calibrated first, and the other heads are adjusted based on the calibrated head and fixed parallel to it.

[0090] In some embodiments, the three dimensional printing apparatus further includes a calibration system configured to calibrate and align a material supply point of the material supply assembly with a projection point of the optical mechanism.

[0091] In some embodiments, the material receiving mechanism 100 includes at least one layer of transparent film 101 having a placement area 108 formed thereon for placing the printing material. To reduce adhesion between the cured layer and the material receiving mechanism 100 and facilitate separation, the transparent film 101 is preferably a release film. Examples of release films include, but are not limited to, any one of a fluorine-containing polymer film, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, and a polymethylpentene (PMP) film. Examples of fluorine-containing polymer films include, but are not limited to, at least one of an FEP film, an nFEP film, a PTFE film, an ETFE film, a PFA film, a PVDF film, a PVF film, and a PCTFE film. In another embodiment, the transparent film 101 may be a composite release film in which a base layer and a plastic layer are laminated, and examples of materials that can be selected for the plastic layer include, but are not limited to, one or more combinations of polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutadiene formal (PBT), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyamide or nylon (PA), polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polybutylene (PB), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), polysulfone (PSU), polyphenylene ether (PPO), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylonitrile styrene (AS), polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and fluororesin (FR), or a blend polymer, block polymer, or interpenetrating network polymer formed by arbitrarily selecting and polymerizing two or more polymers or monomers thereof. In some other embodiments, the transparent film 101 may be a film with strong surface polarity so that the resin printing material adheres uniformly to the surface of the transparent film 101. Films with strong surface polarity include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), optically uniforming films, etc.In some other embodiments, a microporous film may be used as the transparent film 101 to help remove air bubbles caused by ink pressure between the printing materials, and examples of the microporous film include, but are not limited to, a PTFE film, an FEP film, and a PDMS film. In some other embodiments, a polymer copolymer film may be used as the transparent film 101, and the release effect can be improved by adding a fluorine-containing polymer to the raw material of the highly polar film, for example.

[0092] In some embodiments, the transparent film 101 can be fixed by selecting a film pasting method or a film stretching method.

[0093] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 12 , in one implementation of the film attachment method, the material receiving mechanism includes a transparent film 101, a medium layer 110, and an upper transparent plate 104, and the transparent film 101 is attached to the upper transparent plate 104 via the medium layer 110. Specifically, the transparent film 101 can be attached to the upper transparent plate 104 by electrostatic attraction or adhesion of the medium layer 110. The medium layer 110 is typically a silicone layer, adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. The upper transparent plate 104 is typically made of quartz, fused silica, clear glass, or any other hard material that is substantially transparent to the wavelength used and has substantially good optical quality, to transmit light and support the transparent film 101.

[0094] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 11 , in one embodiment of the film stretching method, the material receiving mechanism 100 includes a transparent film 101 and a film frame, and the film frame includes an upper film frame 102 and a lower film frame 103. The transparent film 101 is stretched and fixed between the upper film frame 102 and the lower film frame 103. As shown in the figure, the upper film frame 102 and the lower film frame 103 are detachably connected, and the transparent film 101 is fixed between the upper film frame 102 and the lower film frame 103, so that the transparent film 101 can be fastened by the upper film frame 102 and the lower film frame 103. When the transparent film 101 needs to be replaced, the upper film frame 102 and the lower film frame 103 can be disassembled, and the transparent film 101 can be removed and directly replaced.

[0095] Optionally, as one implementation of the film stretching method, the material receiving mechanism 100 includes a transparent film 101 and a film frame, and the film frame includes only an upper film frame 102, and the transparent film 101 is stretched over the upper film frame. Specifically, after the transparent film 101 is stretched, its edges are fixed to the upper film frame 102, and the transparent film 101 can be fixed to the upper film frame 102 by, for example, gluing or heat pressing.

[0096] In the above-described film-tensioning embodiment, the transparent film 101 is easily deformed under force during operation of the leveling mechanism 700 or the cleaning mechanism 600. To enhance the support effect on the transparent film 101, the material receiving mechanism 100 further includes an upper transparent plate 104 provided below the transparent film 101, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 . The upper transparent plate 104 is typically made of quartz, fused silica, clear and colorless glass, or any other hard material that is substantially transparent to the wavelength used and has substantially good optical quality, and transmits light and supports the transparent film 101.

[0097] Preferably, a fixed restraining medium is provided between the upper transparent plate 104 and the transparent film 101. This fixed restraining medium serves as a fixed restraining surface, allowing the transparent film 101 to be stably restrained on the upper transparent plate 104, and preventing the transparent film 101 from being displaced relative to the upper transparent plate 104 during operation of the three-dimensional printing device, which would affect the progress and accuracy of printing. Specific materials for the fixed restraining medium include one or more of a silicone layer, an adhesive layer, and a backside adhesive layer.

[0098] Preferably, a first cavity is formed between the upper transparent plate 104 and the transparent film 101, and a fluid is injected into the first cavity to inhibit polymerization and reduce separation forces during curing of the printing material on the transparent film 101. The fluid may include, but is not limited to, at least one of oxygen-enriched liquid, inert liquid, oxygen gas, air, oxygen-enriched gas, and nitrogen gas. Specifically, the gas is preferably oxygen gas, air, or oxygen-enriched gas. The liquid is preferably an oxygen-enriched liquid that is impermeable to the transparent film 101, and the polymerization inhibitor is preferably any one or a random combination of o-nitrophenol, hydroquinone, p-hydroxyanisole, p-phenylenediamine, p-tert-butylcatechol, and phenothiazine.

[0099] In some embodiments, the transparent film 101 may be textured and pores may be provided, and the upper transparent plate 104 may be provided with structures such as pores 109, thereby improving fluid permeability, reducing separation force, and improving printing efficiency. Specifically, in the case of a film-attached material receiving mechanism, it is preferable to provide pores 109 in the upper transparent plate 104, so that the fluid below the upper transparent plate 104 can pass through the upper transparent plate 104 and contact the transparent film 101.

[0100] In some embodiments, the surface of the placement area 108 of the transparent film 101 is coated with a polymerization inhibitor or inert liquid, including, but not limited to, liquid perfluorocarbons and fluorinated oils. During operation of the three-dimensional printing device, a layer of polymerization inhibitor or inert liquid can be first applied to the placement area of ​​the transparent film before the printing material is applied. The polymerization inhibitor or inert liquid can change the separation process of the cured layer during the photo-curing printing process from solid-solid to solid-liquid, effectively reducing the pull-out force during the demolding process and improving printing speed and printing area. Furthermore, the printing interface is in a liquid state, allowing for timely heat dissipation while printing at high speeds, ensuring material stability.

[0101] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the material receiving mechanism 100 includes a transparent film 101, a gas supply assembly 107, an upper transparent plate 104, and a lower transparent plate 105. The upper transparent plate 104 is located below the transparent film 101, and the lower transparent plate 105 is located below the upper transparent plate 104. A second cavity 106 is formed between the lower transparent plate 105 and the transparent film 101. The gas supply assembly 107 is configured to inject gas into the second cavity 106. The transparent film 101 can be fixed using the aforementioned film tensioning or film pasting method. The upper transparent plate 104 is located below the transparent film 101 to support the transparent film 101 and prevent deformation due to force. The lower transparent plate 105 of the material receiving mechanism 100 is used to form the second cavity 106 between itself and the upper transparent plate 104. The second cavity 106 serves as a gas filling chamber, reducing the separation force and improving printing efficiency. Furthermore, the transparent film 101 may have structures such as texture and micropores, and the upper transparent plate 104 may have structures such as texture and micropores 109, thereby improving the fluid permeability, reducing the separation force, and improving printing efficiency.

[0102] In addition, in the case of a film-attached material receiving mechanism 100, it is conceivable that by forming microchannels on the surface of the transparent film 101 using a photolithography process and forming a micropore structure in the upper transparent plate 104, the fluid permeability can be improved and the separation force can be reduced.

[0103] In some embodiments, the three-dimensional printing apparatus further includes a static electricity removal mechanism, which may be provided on one side of the material receiving mechanism 100. The static electricity removal mechanism is used in combination with the transparent film 101, and if a film that is prone to generating static electricity is selected as the transparent film 101, the static electricity removal mechanism can be activated to remove static electricity from the transparent film 101, thereby reducing the impact of static electricity on the ejection quality of the printing material.

[0104] In the present application, the driving mechanism 300 realizing the relative movement between the material supply assembly 201 and the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 can generally include the following three realization modes.

[0105] 2 and 4 , the drive mechanism 300 includes a first drive assembly 301 configured to drive the material supply assembly 201 to move within the space, while the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 remains stationary within the space. In this situation, the initial position of the material supply assembly 201 is on one side of the material receiving mechanism 100, and the leveling mechanism 700 is typically preferably attached to the first drive assembly 301. Specifically, during operation, the material supply assembly 201 on one side of the material receiving mechanism 100 is moved above the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 by the action of the first drive assembly 301 and supplies different types of printing material to the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100. Subsequently, the leveling mechanism 700 is guided by the first drive assembly 301 to level the printing material to the thickness of one printing layer. The material supply assembly 201 can also be driven by the first drive assembly 301 to reciprocate and supply material in a staggered pattern. After the leveling mechanism 700 levels the printing material to the thickness of one layer, the material supply assembly 201 and the leveling assembly 701 can be selectively returned to their initial positions by the action of the first drive assembly 301 to wait for the next printing layer supply and leveling operation. Specifically, the first drive assembly 301 can include a second lifting assembly 3011 and a translation assembly 3012. The second lifting assembly 3011 is used to realize vertical lifting movement, and the translation assembly 3012 is used to realize two-dimensional horizontal movement. Movement in space can be achieved by moving the second lifting assembly 3011 and the translation assembly 3012. If necessary, a rotation assembly can be added to increase the degree of freedom of rotation and improve the flexibility of movement in space. The drive mechanism 300 can be a push rod, a slide rail, a linear module, or a combination thereof.

[0106] 15 and 16 , the drive mechanism 300 includes a second drive assembly configured to drive the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 to move within the space, while the material supply assembly 201 preferably remains stationary within the space, and the leveling mechanism 700 and the cleaning mechanism 600 preferably also remain stationary within the space. In this situation, the leveling mechanism 700 and the material supply assembly 201 are located on one side of the forming stage 502, and the cleaning mechanism 600 is located on the other side of the forming stage 502. Specifically, during operation, the placement area 108 moves below the material supply assembly 201 by the action of the second drive assembly, and the material supply assembly 201 supplies different types of printing materials to the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100. Next, the placement area 108 and the leveling mechanism 700 move relative to each other, accompanied by the second drive assembly, and the leveling mechanism 700 levels the printing material to the thickness of one printing layer. The placement area 108 can also be reciprocated by the second drive assembly, allowing the material supply assembly to reciprocate and supply material in a staggered pattern. After the leveling mechanism 700 levels the printing material to the thickness of one layer, the placement area 108 can be moved directly below the molding stage 502 by the action of the second drive assembly. The molding stage 502 then descends to the layer thickness position of the printing material and bonds it to the printing material, and the optical mechanism 400 projects a printing pattern from below to harden the printing material. After hardening is complete, the molding stage 502 rises to separate and remove the hardened printing layer. The loading area 108 continues to move under the cleaning mechanism 600 by the action of the second drive assembly, and the cleaning mechanism 600 removes uncured printing material and residue from the material receiving mechanism 100. The second drive assembly then continues to drive the loading area 108 to move under the material supply assembly 201, and this process is repeated to print and form a printed product.In this embodiment, the specific form of movement of the loading area 108 due to the action of the second drive assembly may be a reciprocating planar movement, or may be a rolling circular movement in which the transparent film 101 forming the loading area 108 rotates in a circular motion like a conveyor belt, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.

[0107] 15 , the material supply mechanism 200 may be located on the right side of the forming stage mechanism 500, with the upper transparent film moving from right to left. The right-side material supply mechanism first supplies the printing material 1000 onto the transparent film, which then carries the printing material 1000 and moves it directly below the forming stage mechanism 500 to complete photo-curing and separation of the cured layer. Then, the cleaning mechanism 600, located above the leftmost side of the material receiving mechanism 100, operates to remove the remaining printing material and place it in a waste material collection device 601.

[0108] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 16 , the material supply mechanism 200 may be located on the right side of the forming stage mechanism 500, with the upper transparent film moving in a circular motion around the optical mechanism. The right-side material supply mechanism first supplies the printing material 1000 onto the transparent film, which then carries the printing material 1000 and moves it directly below the forming stage mechanism 500 to complete photo-curing and separation of the cured layer. Then, the cleaning mechanism 600 located on the left side of the material receiving mechanism 100 operates to remove any remaining printing material and place it in a waste material collection device 601. In this embodiment, the transparent film moves in a circular motion around the optical mechanism to avoid blocking the optical path of the optical mechanism.

[0109] Generally, the movement path of the transparent film can be reasonably set according to technical aspects or user needs, and is not limited to left-right reciprocating motion or circular motion around the optical mechanism, as long as it does not obstruct the optical path of the optical mechanism. The location of the cleaning mechanism 600 is not limited to the left, right, upper, or lower side of the material receiving mechanism, as long as it can remove remaining printing material from the placement area. Preferably, it is located below the material receiving mechanism 100, which prevents the space above the material receiving mechanism 100 from becoming too clogged and makes full use of the gravity of the remaining material itself to drop it, improving the cleaning effect.

[0110] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 300 includes a first drive assembly 301 and a second drive assembly, where the first drive assembly 301 is configured to drive the material supply assembly 201 to move within the space, and the second drive assembly is configured to drive the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 to move within the space, so that both the material supply assembly 201 and the placement area 108 can move within the space, and the combination of the two movements results in relative movement between the material supply assembly 201 and the placement area 108. This embodiment is a combination of the two embodiments described above and will not be repeated here.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the lifting height of the forming stage 502 does not need to be higher than that of the material supply assembly 201, which can greatly save the movement time.

[0112] In some embodiments, the material supply mechanism 200 further includes a heating assembly configured to heat the material supply assembly 201 so that the temperature of the material supply assembly 201 is between 20 and 100°C. In other embodiments, the heating assembly is configured to heat the material supply assembly 201 so that the temperature of the material supply assembly 201 is greater than 100°C and less than or equal to 200°C. The heating assembly may have a sheet-like or thread-like heating structure, and the heating principle may be electric heating, infrared heating, microwave heating, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Considering the influence of ambient temperature on the molding quality of the printing material during printing and the high viscosity of the printing material at low temperatures, when used in some cases where the ambient temperature is low, heating the printing material with the heating assembly can ensure normal printing. In this embodiment, the heating assembly is provided to heat the printing material in the material supply assembly 201.

[0113] The present embodiment further provides a three-dimensional printing method applicable to the three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in the present embodiment. The method of the present embodiment fabricates a three-dimensional object layer by layer based on computer object data, where the layer fabrication of the three-dimensional object is performed by forming multiple layers presented in a pattern configured to correspond to the shape of the object. The computer object data can be presented in any known format, including, but not limited to, Standard Tessellation Language (STL) or Stereolithography Contour (SLC) format, Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), Additive Manufacturing File (AMF) format, Drawing Interchange Format (DXF), Polygon File Format (PLY), 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF), or any other format suitable for computer-aided design (CAD).

[0114] As shown in FIG. 17, the three-dimensional printing method includes steps 100 to 400.

[0115] In step 100, a three-dimensional model is obtained, the three-dimensional model is divided into a plurality of slice layers, and a corresponding printing policy is generated for each slice layer.

[0116] In this step, the object to be printed must be formed into a three-dimensional model, which is then divided into multiple horizontal layers, i.e., sliced ​​layers, each of which preferably contains color information. A corresponding printing policy is then generated for each sliced ​​layer, and this printing policy provides instructions to components of the three-dimensional printing device, such as the material supply mechanism 200, the optical mechanism 400, the drive mechanism 300, and the molding stage mechanism 500, to cooperate with each other to form horizontal hardened layers corresponding to the sliced ​​layers.

[0117] The printing policy includes at least one of relative motion information between the placement area and the material supply assembly, a material type of the printing material supplied by the material supply mechanism, and projection information of the optical mechanism. Optionally, the relative motion information between the placement area and the material supply assembly may include, but is not limited to, relative position information between the placement area and the material supply assembly, relative speed information between the placement area and the material supply assembly, motion path information of the placement area, and motion path information of the material supply assembly.

[0118] In the case of the material supply mechanism 200, the printing policy defines at least the material supply channel through which the material supply assembly 201 supplies the printing material, the diameter of the material supply channel, the relative motion path of the material supply assembly, the type of printing material, and the supply amount of printing material, and the printing policy may further define the length of the material supply channel, the relative distance of the material supply assemblies, etc. to form the pattern of the sliced ​​layer.

[0119] In the case of the optical mechanism 400, the projection information of the optical mechanism in the printing policy defines at least the projection pattern, the light transmission area, the light intensity, time and uniformity of the exposure, etc., thereby enabling more accurate exposure of the pattern on the printing material.

[0120] The projection pattern matches the contours of the sliced ​​layers. This uses projection-based photocuring technology, projecting the shape of the sliced ​​layer onto the material receiving mechanism's loading area through an optical mechanism, followed by photocuring and shaping. This allows the image of all layers to be cured at once, resulting in rapid curing of each layer. This printing method directly uses the projected contours on the projection surface to harden the edges of the print, so the edge accuracy of the print depends on the projection accuracy of the optical mechanism. Compared to inkjet printing, which uses a linear head to eject the printing material and then a light source to follow the head to indiscriminately expose, polymerize, and cure the liquid photopolymer layer on the build tray, this method offers higher printing accuracy, particularly improved contour accuracy.

[0121] In the case of the drive mechanism 300, the relative motion information between the placement area and the material supply assembly in the printing policy defines at least a control command that realizes the relative motion between the material supply assembly and the placement area 108 along a relative motion path.

[0122] In step 200, printing materials are supplied to the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 in accordance with the printing policy, and the types of materials corresponding to at least some of the slice layers are two or more.

[0123] In this step, the drive mechanism 300 operates, causing relative movement between the material supply assembly 201 of the material supply mechanism 200 and the loading area 108 of the molding stage 502, allowing the material supply assembly 201 to be positioned at any position in the loading area 108, thereby enabling the supply of printing material to any position in the loading area 108.

[0124] The material supply mechanism 200 can supply multiple types of printing material to the placement area 108 via the material supply assembly 201, thereby allowing desired types of printing material to be supplied to different positions in the placement area 108 as needed. Specifically, different types of printing material are stored in different material storage units of the material storage assembly, and different material supply channels are connected to the material storage units storing the different types of printing material. A pump body is used to eject the different types of printing material through the different material supply channels of the head assembly, thereby ejecting the printing material to the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 during printing. The material supply assembly 201 can supply at least two different types of printing material, enabling color printing and printing with different performance requirements. Preferably, one head can correspond to four material supply channels, and each material supply channel can supply one type of printing material.

[0125] In step 300, the printing material is exposed and cured by an optical mechanism according to the projection information, and then a cured layer is formed.

[0126] In this step, the molding stage 502 is gradually approached by the first lifting assembly 501 to the loading area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100, so that the molding surface 5021 is attached to the upper surface of the printing material in the loading area 108, and the light beam of the optical mechanism 400 passes through the light-transmitting area and is then irradiated into the printing material in the loading area 108, thereby hardening the printing material located between the material receiving mechanism 100 and the molding surface 5021 onto the molding surface 5021 of the molding stage 502, or onto the printing material of the previous layer hardened on the molding surface 5021.

[0127] In step 400, the forming stage mechanism is controlled to separate the cured layer, cleaning any printing residue remaining on the material receiving mechanism 100. In this step, the forming stage 502 is gradually moved away from the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 by the first lifting assembly 501, and the cured sliced ​​layer is separated from the material receiving mechanism 100.

[0128] In some embodiments, after step 400, the method further comprises the following step 500:

[0129] In step 500, the printing residue remaining on the material receiving mechanism 100 is cleaned. That is, after the cured slice layer is separated from the material receiving mechanism 100, the cleaning mechanism 600 operates to thoroughly remove the printing residue remaining on the material receiving mechanism 100. The remaining printing residue includes uncured printing material and residue remaining on the material receiving mechanism 100.

[0130] Optionally, step 500 may further include cleaning any printing residue remaining on the cured layer. That is, after the cured sliced ​​layer is separated from the material receiving mechanism 100, any printing residue remaining on the cured layer is cleaned away. The remaining printing residue includes uncured printing material and residue remaining on the material receiving mechanism 100.

[0131] In some embodiments, after step 200, the method further includes step 210, i.e., after the step of supplying corresponding types of printing material to different positions in the loading area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100, the method further includes step 210 of leveling the printing material in the loading area 108 to a predetermined thickness.

[0132] In this step, the leveling mechanism 700 operates to keep the thickness of the printing material supplied to the loading area 108 by the material supply assembly 201 in step 200 within a predetermined range so that the thickness of the printing material is the thickness required for one layer, and the leveling mechanism 700 can keep the thickness of the printing material supplied to the loading area 108 by the material supply assembly 201 uniform, maintaining the precision and accuracy of the printing process and improving printing accuracy.

[0133] In some embodiments, step 200 specifically includes steps 201 to 203, that is, the step of supplying printing material to the placement area 108 of the material receiving mechanism 100 in accordance with the printing policy includes the following steps 201 to 203.

[0134] In step 201, material supply data information corresponding to each material supply position in the placement area 108 is generated according to the printing policy, and the material supply data information includes at least path information of the relative movement between the material supply assembly 201 and the placement area 108 and type information of the printing material. The type information of the printing material includes, but is not limited to, color information and material performance information.

[0135] In step 202, the driving mechanism 300 operates to move the material supply assembly 201 and the placement area 108 relative to each other according to the path information, so that the position of the material supply assembly 201 corresponds to the material supply position.

[0136] In step 203, the material supply mechanism 200 operates to supply a fixed amount of printing material corresponding to the type information to the material supply position via the material supply assembly 201.

[0137] Through steps 201 to 203, the printing material can be precisely supplied to each position in the placement area 108 in accordance with the printing policy, and the image of the sliced ​​layer to be finally cured can be formed.

[0138] In some embodiments, the three-dimensional model includes a first portion and a second portion, and a printing material having a first type of color is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the first portion, and a printing material having a second type of color is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the second portion, where the first type of color is one or more colors and the second type of color is one or more colors. This embodiment enables color printing of the three-dimensional model, and allows different color setting patterns to be achieved in different regions. Note that the first type of color may be one color or a combination of multiple colors, and the second type of color may be one color or a combination of multiple colors.

[0139] When the printing material type information is color information, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , as an optional implementation scenario, a first portion of the three-dimensional model includes an outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and a second portion includes a filled portion 9012 and / or a sacrificial structure 902 of the three-dimensional model. The solid structure 901 of the three-dimensional model may be the outline 9011 and / or the filled portion 9012, and the sacrificial structure 902 may be a bottom plate 9021 and / or a support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model. As shown in FIG. 19 , the bottom plate 9021 is connected to the molding stage 502 and is located at the bottom layer, with the support portion 9022 on top of the bottom plate 9021, and the solid structure 901 on top of the support portion 9022. The bottom plate 9021 and the support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model may be partial structures that provide overall strength support for the three-dimensional model, or may be structures that are discarded after the three-dimensional model is printed and molded, and there are no specific requirements regarding their colors. During the formation of each slice layer, a printing material corresponding to the color required for the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, i.e., a printing material corresponding to a first type of color, is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and a single-color printing material, i.e., a printing material corresponding to a second type of color, is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the filled portion 9012 and the sacrificial structure 902 of the three-dimensional model. This allows the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model to be directly printed in the desired color. The first type of color is one color or a series of colors required for the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and a single pure color is selected as the second type of color.

[0140] When the printing material type information is color information, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , another optional implementation scenario is one in which a first portion of a three-dimensional model includes a filler portion 9012 of the three-dimensional model, and a second portion includes an outline 9011 and a sacrificial structure 902 of the three-dimensional model. In this usage scenario, the color of the outline 9011 can be set to transparent, and then the filler portion 9012 can be set to a color, so that the color of the filler portion can be the color that appears on the exterior of the solid structure 901. The base plate 9021 and support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model may be partial structures that provide overall strength support for the three-dimensional model, or may be structures that are discarded after the three-dimensional model is printed and molded; there are no specific requirements for their colors. During the formation of each slice layer, a printing material corresponding to a transparent color is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and a printing material corresponding to a solid color is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the sacrificial structure 902. The transparent color of the outline 9011 and the pure color of the sacrificial structure 902 together form a second type of color, and printing material corresponding to the color required for the appearance, i.e., printing material corresponding to the first type of color, can be supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the filled portion 9012 of the three-dimensional model. This allows the filled portion 9012 of the three-dimensional model to be directly printed in the desired color. The first type of color is one color or a series of colors required for the filled portion 9012 of the three-dimensional model.

[0141] When the printing material type information is color information, as shown in FIG. 20 , an optional implementation scenario is that the contour 9011 of the three-dimensional module has a large thickness, making it uneconomical to print the entire contour 9011 in color. In this case, optimization can be performed as follows: The first portion of the three-dimensional model includes the outer surface layer 9013 of the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model, specifically the outer surface layer 9013 of the contour 9011, and the second portion includes other regions of the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model (e.g., the inner layer 9014 of the physical structure 901) and the sacrificial structure 902. The sacrificial structure 902 may be the bottom plate 9021 and / or the support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model. The bottom plate 9021 and the support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model may be partial structures that provide overall strength support for the three-dimensional model, or may be structures that should be discarded after the three-dimensional model is printed and molded. There are no specific requirements regarding the color of the inner layer 9014 of the physical structure 901, which does not appear on the product's exterior, and there are no specific requirements regarding the color of the inner layer 9014. During the formation of each slice layer, a printing material corresponding to the color required for the outer surface of the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model, i.e., a printing material corresponding to a first color, is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the outer surface layer 9013 of the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model, and a single-color printing material, i.e., a printing material corresponding to a second color, is supplied to material supply positions corresponding to the filling portion 9012, the supporting portion 9022, and other regions of the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model. This allows the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model to be directly printed so that the outer surface layer 9013 has the desired color. The first color is one or a series of colors required for the outer surface layer 9013 of the physical structure 901 of the three-dimensional model, and the second color is a pure color.

[0142] In some embodiments, the three-dimensional model includes a first portion and a second portion, and a printing material having a first type of performance is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the first portion, and a printing material having a second type of performance is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the second portion. This embodiment makes it possible to print a combination of materials with different performances on the three-dimensional model, and to achieve different material performance setting modes in different areas.

[0143] 18 and 19 , as an optional implementation scenario, a first portion of the three-dimensional model may be the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, a second portion of the three-dimensional model may be the filled portion 9012 and / or the sacrificial structure 902 of the three-dimensional model, and the sacrificial structure 902 may be the bottom plate 9021 and / or the support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model. During the formation process of each slice layer, a printing material with high strength performance may be supplied to the material supply position corresponding to the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and a printing material with relatively low structural strength may be supplied to the material supply position corresponding to the filled portion 9012 and the sacrificial structure 902 of the three-dimensional model, thereby directly printing a three-dimensional model in which the outline 9011 and the sacrificial structure 902 have different material performances.

[0144] For example, the first portion of the three-dimensional model is the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and the second portion of the three-dimensional model is the support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model. During the formation of each slice layer, a main printing material corresponding to the outline 9011 can be supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the outline 9011 of the three-dimensional model, and a specific solvent-soluble material can be supplied as a printing material to a material supply position corresponding to the support portion 9022 of the three-dimensional model. The support portion 9022 formed by hardening the specific solvent-soluble material can be removed by directly dissolving it in the corresponding solvent. For example, a water-soluble material can be selected as the specific solvent-soluble material. Another resin material (water-insoluble) can be used as the main printing material when printing the three-dimensional model, and the support portion 9022 can be directly dissolved in water after printing of the three-dimensional model is completed, thereby achieving the goal of easily removing the support portion 9022 from the printed product. Furthermore, dissolving the support portion 9022 formed from the water-soluble material in water can reduce the external force of mechanical removal (e.g., scraping or breaking), thereby improving the surface quality of the printed model. The water-soluble material may be a water-soluble polymer, and the monomer used may be acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, dimethylacrylamide, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, vinylpyrrolidone, etc. Of course, the specific solvent-soluble material may be other materials that can be dissolved in a specific solvent, such as oil-soluble materials and alcohol-soluble materials, in addition to water-soluble materials, as long as they can be distinguished from the host material of the three-dimensional model outline 9011.

[0145] In an optional implementation scenario, the first portion of the three-dimensional model is a first body structure, and the second portion of the three-dimensional model is a second body structure of the three-dimensional model. During the formation of each slice layer, a printing material having a first mechanical performance range can be supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the first body structure of the three-dimensional model, and a printing material having a second mechanical performance range different from the first range can be supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the second body structure of the three-dimensional model, thereby directly printing a three-dimensional model in which the first body structure and the second body structure have different material performances.

[0146] In some embodiments, step 100 of dividing the model into a plurality of slice layers may further include the following steps 101 to 102.

[0147] In step 101, a series of slice layers is generated from the three-dimensional model.

[0148] In step 102, at least a portion of the area of ​​at least a portion of the sliced ​​layer is divided into a plurality of subregions, with gaps between at least some adjacent subregions. In the above step, as shown in FIG. 21 , dividing at least a portion of the area of ​​the sliced ​​layer into several subregions 904 corresponds to performing a lattice process on at least a portion of the area of ​​the sliced ​​layer. Because there are gaps 905 between adjacent lattices, when the molding stage descends and presses down on the printing material distributed in a lattice pattern, the printing material within the lattice is extruded and overflows, filling the gaps 905 between the subregions 904 and preventing color mixing. The specific shape of each subregion 904 may vary, including, but not limited to, a circle, a square, a triangle, a polygon, and the like. Optionally, the entire area of ​​the sliced ​​layer may be divided into several subregions 904 for lattice processing. Optionally, the area corresponding to the outline of the sliced ​​layer may be lattice processed, while the area corresponding to the filled portion may not be lattice processed. Optionally, the area corresponding to the filled portion of the sliced ​​layer may be lattice processed, while the area corresponding to the outline may not be lattice processed. The gridding process of the slice layer can be set according to the needs of the technical aspect, and any position, a certain layer, or a certain region of a certain layer can be gridded.

[0149] In some embodiments, the material supply assembly 201 is provided with a heating assembly to heat the printing material as needed to reduce the viscosity of the printing material and improve the material supply speed and uniformity of the material supply assembly 201. Preferably, the printing material may be heated to 20-100°C, or the printing material may be heated to a temperature greater than 100°C and less than or equal to 200°C.

[0150] In the description of this application, orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" are based on the drawings and are used solely for ease of explanation or simplicity of explanation, and should not be construed as limiting the present application. Furthermore, features described as "first" or "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0151] In the description of this application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, the terms "attach," "couple," "connection," etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integration, a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two elements. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application according to specific circumstances.

[0152] In the description herein, when a description refers to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "general embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," it means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In the description herein, general descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. [Industrial Applicability]

[0153] The aspects provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the field of 3D printing. According to the three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present application, a drive mechanism can generate relative motion between the material supply assembly of the material supply mechanism and the mounting area of ​​the molding stage, allowing the material supply assembly to be positioned at any position in the mounting area and supply printing material to any position in the mounting area. The material supply mechanism can supply multiple types of printing materials to the mounting area via the material supply assembly, allowing desired types of printing materials to be supplied to different positions in the mounting area as needed. This enables single-layer printing of multiple types of materials, avoiding the risk of material mixing, enabling color printing without subsequent color coating, and enabling printing with different material performance requirements. Furthermore, it prevents residues generated during printing, such as uncured resin or residue from the upper layer, from affecting the printing of the next layer, thereby improving print quality. The three-dimensional printing apparatus provided in the present application can also implement the above-described three-dimensional printing method, thereby achieving beneficial effects such as improved work efficiency and reduced labor costs. The proposed 3D printing method allows for single-layer printing of multiple materials, avoiding the risk of material mixing. It also allows for color printing without subsequent color coating, and can print with different material performance requirements. Furthermore, it employs projection-based photocuring technology, directly using the projection contour of the projection surface to harden the edges of the print. The edge accuracy of the print depends on the projection angle of the optical mechanism, resulting in higher printing accuracy than inkjet printing. Bottom-projection printing is also preferable to top-projection printing, as bottom-up printing requires less support than top-projection top-down printing, saving materials.

Claims

1. 1. A three-dimensional printing device, comprising: a light-transmissive material receiving mechanism having a placement area configured to receive a print material; a material supply mechanism having a material supply assembly configured to supply a quantity of the plurality of types of printing materials; a drive mechanism configured to realize relative movement between the placement area and the material supply assembly such that the material supply mechanism supplies a predetermined type of printing material to a predetermined position of the material receiving mechanism in a quantitative manner; an optical mechanism configured to project and expose the printing material in the placement area and cause a photo-curing reaction of the printing material to form a printing model; a forming stage mechanism configured to adhere a cured layer formed by curing the printing material layer by layer and separate the cured layer from a placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism; A three-dimensional printing device comprising:

2. a leveling mechanism configured to maintain the thickness of the printing material supplied by the material supply mechanism to the material receiving mechanism within a predetermined range; and / or a cleaning mechanism configured to remove the printing material remaining in the placement area after the forming stage mechanism separates the cured layer. The three-dimensional printing device according to claim 1 .

3. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the leveling mechanism includes any one of a scraper assembly, a leveling roller assembly, a roll assembly, or a push rod assembly.

4. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cleaning mechanism includes any one of a scraper assembly, a high-pressure air gun, and a wiping assembly.

5. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 1 , wherein the material supply assembly includes a head assembly configured to quantitatively supply multiple types of the printing material.

6. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 1, wherein the optical system of the optical mechanism is any one of a DLP projection system, a Micro-LED display system, an LCOS optical system, an LCD display system, and a laser galvanometer scanner system.

7. a calibration system configured to perform an optical calibration of the optical mechanism and / or a calibration of the material supply assembly; the calibration system includes an imaging device, a calibration device, and a calibration plate; the calibration plate is used to be placed on the three-dimensional printing apparatus, and calibration points distributed at predetermined distances are formed on the calibration plate; an optical module of the optical mechanism for projecting actual projection points distributed at a predetermined distance onto the placement area; the imaging device is used to capture images of the calibration points on the calibration plate and the actual projected points in the placement area; The three-dimensional printing device of claim 1 , wherein the calibration device is communicatively connected to the imaging device.

8. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a calibration system configured to calibrate and align a material supply point of the material supply assembly with a projection point of the optical mechanism.

9. 2. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material receiving mechanism includes a transparent film, a medium layer, and an upper transparent plate, and the transparent film is attached to the upper transparent plate via the medium layer.

10. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the material receiving mechanism includes a transparent film and a film frame, and the transparent film is stretched and fixed to the film frame.

11. 11. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 10, wherein the film frame includes an upper film frame, and the transparent film is stretched over the upper film frame, or the film frame includes an upper film frame and a lower film frame, and the transparent film is stretched and fixed between the upper film frame and the lower film frame.

12. The three-dimensional printing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the material receiving mechanism further includes an upper transparent plate provided below the transparent film.

13. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 12, wherein a fixed constraining medium is provided between the upper transparent plate and the transparent film, and the fixed constraining medium includes one or more of a silicone layer, an adhesive layer, and a back adhesive layer.

14. The three-dimensional printing device of claim 12, wherein a first cavity is formed between the upper transparent plate and the transparent film, and a fluid is injected into the first cavity.

15. 15. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fluid is at least one of an oxygen-enriched liquid, an inert liquid, oxygen gas, air, an oxygen-enriched gas, and nitrogen gas.

16. 13. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 9 or 12, wherein the material receiving mechanism further includes a gas supply assembly and a lower transparent plate, the lower transparent plate being located below the upper transparent plate, a second cavity being formed between the lower transparent plate and the upper transparent plate, and the gas supply assembly being configured to inject gas into the second cavity.

17. the drive mechanism includes a first drive assembly configured to drive the material feed assembly to move through the space; or the drive mechanism includes a second drive assembly configured to drive the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism to move through space; or 2. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism includes a first drive assembly configured to drive the material supply assembly to move it through space, and a second drive assembly configured to drive the placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism to move it through space.

18. 10. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material supply mechanism further includes a heating assembly configured to heat the material supply assembly so that the temperature of the material supply assembly is between 20 and 100 degrees Celsius.

19. 10. The three dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material supply mechanism further comprises a heating assembly configured to heat the material supply assembly such that the temperature of the material supply assembly is greater than 100°C and less than or equal to 200°C.

20. A three-dimensional printing method applied to the three-dimensional printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, acquiring a three-dimensional model, dividing the three-dimensional model into a plurality of slice layers, and generating a corresponding printing policy for each slice layer, wherein the printing policy includes at least one of relative motion information between the placement area and the material supply assembly, a material type of the printing material supplied by the material supply mechanism, and projection information of the optical mechanism; a step of supplying the printing material to a placement area of ​​a material receiving mechanism according to the printing policy, wherein the material types corresponding to at least some of the sliced ​​layers are two or more types; forming a hardened layer after exposing and hardening the printing material by the optical mechanism according to the projection information; controlling the forming stage mechanism to separate the hardened layer; A three-dimensional printing method comprising:

21. 21. The three dimensional printing method of claim 20, further comprising cleaning the material receiving mechanism of any remaining printing residue after controlling the build stage mechanism to separate the cured layer.

22. 21. The three dimensional printing method of claim 20, further comprising, after controlling the build stage mechanism to separate the cured layer, cleaning any printing residue remaining on the cured layer.

23. 21. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 20, further comprising, after the step of supplying the printing material to a placement area of ​​the material receiving mechanism, a step of leveling the printing material in the placement area to a predetermined thickness.

24. The step of dividing the three-dimensional model into a plurality of slice layers includes: generating a series of sliced ​​layers from the three-dimensional model; 21. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 20, comprising the step of dividing at least some areas of at least some of the sliced ​​layers into a plurality of sub-areas, wherein there are gaps between at least some adjacent sub-areas.

25. The step of supplying the printing material to a placement area of ​​a material receiving mechanism in accordance with the printing policy includes: controlling relative movement between the material supply assembly and the placement area such that the drive mechanism operates according to the printing policy and the position of the material supply assembly corresponds to a material supply position; The three-dimensional printing method of claim 20, further comprising: the material supply mechanism operating in accordance with the printing policy to supply corresponding printing material to the material supply location via the material supply assembly.

26. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 20 , wherein the material type includes color information and material performance information.

27. 27. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 26, wherein the three-dimensional model includes a first portion and a second portion, a printing material having a first type of color is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the first portion, and a printing material having a second type of color is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the second portion, the first type of color being one or more colors, and the second type of color being one or more colors.

28. the first portion comprises an outline of the three-dimensional model and the second portion comprises filler and / or sacrificial structures of the three-dimensional model; or 28. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 27, wherein the first portion comprises a fill portion of the three-dimensional model and the second portion comprises a contour and / or a sacrificial structure of the three-dimensional model.

29. 28. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 27, wherein the first portion comprises an outer surface layer of a physical structure of the three-dimensional model, and the second portion comprises other areas of the physical structure of the three-dimensional model and / or sacrificial structures.

30. 27. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 26, wherein the three-dimensional model includes a first portion and a second portion, and a printing material having a first type of performance is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the first portion, and a printing material having a second type of performance is supplied to a material supply position corresponding to the second portion.

31. 31. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 30, wherein the first portion comprises a contour of the three-dimensional model and the second portion comprises fill portions and / or sacrificial structures of the three-dimensional model.

32. 32. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 28 or 31, wherein the sacrificial structure is a base plate and / or a support for the three-dimensional model.

33. 32. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 31, wherein the second type of performance printing material used for the sacrificial structure of the three-dimensional model is a specific solvent soluble material.

34. 21. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 20, wherein the temperature of the material supply assembly during the material supply process is 20 to 100°C.

35. 21. The three-dimensional printing method of claim 20, wherein the temperature of the material supply assembly during the material supply process is greater than 100°C and less than or equal to 200°C.

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