Information processing device, three-dimensional modeling system, and information display method

Abstract

To provide a technique by which detailed information on three-dimensional molding can be checked in advance.SOLUTION: An information processor is provided with a display control unit for displaying, on the basis of molding data generated based on first figure data that represents a figure of a three-dimensional molding object and including routing information that represents a movement route of a discharge part that moves while discharging a molding material and discharge quantity information that represents a discharge quantity of the molding material on the movement route, in a display unit, a display screen having: a first display area in which at least a part of second figure data that represents a figure of a three-dimensional molding object including the routing information is displayed and a second display area in which at least a part of information included in the molding data is displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, a three-dimensional printing system, and an information display method. [Background technology]

[0002] Regarding three-dimensional printing systems, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for generating object data representing an object to be printed by a 3D printer, and displaying a preview image based on the object data so that an operator can check the shape of the object in advance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-47623 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As in Patent Document 1, displaying a preview image can prevent a user from creating an unintended object. However, with conventional preview images, users can only check the shape in advance, and it is difficult for them to check detailed information about the 3D modeling, such as modeling conditions and information for controlling a 3D modeling device, in advance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing device, the information processing device including a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, a display screen including a first display area that displays at least a part of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object including path information based on first shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, the path information including a movement path of a dispensing unit that moves while dispensing a modeling material, and a discharge amount information including a discharge amount of the modeling material on the movement path, and a second display area that displays at least a part of information included in the modeling data.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a three-dimensional printing system including the information processing device described above, and a three-dimensional printing device configured to acquire the printing data and print the three-dimensional object using the discharge unit.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method, comprising: displaying, on a display unit, a display screen including a first display area displaying at least a part of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, the second display area displaying at least a part of information included in the modeling data, the first shape data being generated based on first shape data representing the shape of a three-dimensional object, the first shape data including path information representing a movement path of a dispensing unit that moves while dispensing a modeling material, and discharge amount information representing a discharge amount of the modeling material on the movement path. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a three-dimensional printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a flat screw. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a screw facing portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of forming a three-dimensional object. [Diagram 5]13 is a flowchart of a modeling data generating process. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of layer data. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart of a three-dimensional modeling process. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a first display screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second display screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a third display screen. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a first diagram showing another display example of the first display area. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a first diagram showing another example of the display screen. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing another example of the display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A. First embodiment: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a three-dimensional printing system 10 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, arrows indicating mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions are shown. The X and Y directions are parallel to a horizontal plane, and the Z direction is a direction along a vertical upward direction. The arrows indicating the X, Y, and Z directions are also shown in other figures as appropriate so that the illustrated directions correspond to those in FIG. 1. In the following description, when specifying the direction, the direction indicated by the arrow in each figure is indicated as "+" and the opposite direction is indicated as "-", and positive and negative signs are used in combination to indicate the direction. In the following, the +Z direction is also referred to as "up" and the -Z direction is also referred to as "down".

[0010] The three-dimensional printing system 10 includes a three-dimensional printing device 100 and a control unit 101 that controls the three-dimensional printing device 100. The three-dimensional printing device 100 includes a printing unit 110 that generates and dispenses a printing material, a printing stage 210 that serves as a base for a three-dimensional object, and a movement mechanism 230 that controls the dispensing position of the printing material. The three-dimensional printing device 100 may be housed in a chamber not shown.

[0011] Under the control of the control unit 101, the modeling unit 110 discharges a modeling material, which is a pasty modeling material obtained by melting a solid material, onto the stage 210. The modeling unit 110 includes a material supply unit 20 that is a supply source of the material before it is converted into the modeling material, a modeling material generation unit 30 that converts the material into the modeling material, and a discharge unit 60 that discharges the modeling material.

[0012] The material supply unit 20 supplies the raw material MR to the modeling material generation unit 30 to generate the modeling material. The material supply unit 20 is, for example, configured by a hopper that stores the raw material MR. The material supply unit 20 has a discharge outlet at the bottom. The discharge outlet is connected to the modeling material generation unit 30 via a communication passage 22. The raw material MR is input into the material supply unit 20 in the form of pellets, powder, or the like. In this embodiment, a pellet-shaped ABS resin material is used.

[0013] The modeling material generating unit 30 melts the raw material MR supplied from the material supply unit 20 to generate a paste-like modeling material that exhibits fluidity, and guides the modeling material to the discharge unit 60. The modeling material generating unit 30 has a screw case 31, a drive motor 32, a flat screw 40, and a screw facing portion 50. The flat screw 40 is also called a rotor or scroll, and the screw facing portion 50 is also called a barrel.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the lower surface 48 side of the flat screw 40. In order to facilitate understanding of the technology, the flat screw 40 shown in FIG. 2 is shown in a state in which the positional relationship between the upper surface 47 and the lower surface 48 shown in FIG. 1 is reversed in the vertical direction. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the upper surface 52 side of the screw facing portion 50. The flat screw 40 has a substantially cylindrical shape whose height in the axial direction, which is the direction along its central axis, is smaller than its diameter. The flat screw 40 is arranged so that the rotation axis RX, which is the center of rotation, is parallel to the Z direction.

[0015] The flat screw 40 is housed in the screw case 31. An upper surface 47 side of the flat screw 40 is connected to the drive motor 32, and the flat screw 40 rotates in the screw case 31 by the rotational driving force generated by the drive motor 32. The drive motor 32 is driven under the control of the control unit 101. Note that the flat screw 40 may be driven by the drive motor 32 via a reducer.

[0016] A spiral groove 42 is formed on the lower surface 48 of the flat screw 40, which is a surface intersecting with the rotation axis RX. The communication passage 22 of the material supply unit 20 described above communicates with the groove 42 from the side surface of the flat screw 40. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, three grooves 42 are formed, separated by a convex rib portion 43. The number of grooves 42 is not limited to three, and may be one, or two or more. The groove 42 is not limited to a spiral shape, and may be a spiral shape or an involute curve shape, or may be a shape extending in an arc from the center to the outer periphery.

[0017] The lower surface 48 of the flat screw 40 faces the upper surface 52 of the screw facing portion 50, and a space is formed between the groove portion 42 of the lower surface 48 of the flat screw 40 and the upper surface 52 of the screw facing portion 50. In the molding section 110, raw material MR is supplied from the material supply section 20 to the material inlet 44 shown in FIG. 2 into this space between the flat screw 40 and the screw facing portion 50.

[0018] A heater 58 for heating the raw material MR supplied into the groove 42 of the rotating flat screw 40 is embedded in the screw facing portion 50. A plurality of guide grooves 54 are formed in the screw facing portion 50, which are connected to the communication hole 56 and extend in a spiral shape from the communication hole 56 toward the outer periphery. One end of the guide groove 54 does not have to be connected to the communication hole 56. Also, the guide groove 54 can be omitted. The heater 58 may be separated into two heaters, an inner heater arranged near the communication hole 56 and an outer heater arranged outside the inner heater, and each heater may be configured to have an individual temperature controllable.

[0019] The raw material MR supplied into the groove 42 of the flat screw 40 flows along the groove 42 as the flat screw 40 rotates while being melted in the groove 42, and is guided to the center 46 of the flat screw 40 as a modeling material. The pasty modeling material that has flowed into the center 46 and has fluidity is supplied to the discharge section 60 through the communication hole 56 provided at the center of the screw facing section 50 shown in FIG. 3. It is not necessary for all types of substances constituting the modeling material to be melted. It is sufficient that the modeling material is converted into a state having fluidity as a whole by melting at least some types of substances constituting the modeling material.

[0020] The discharge unit 60 has a nozzle 61 that discharges the modeling material, a flow path 65 of the modeling material provided between the flat screw 40 and the nozzle 61, a flow rate adjustment unit 70 that opens and closes the flow path 65, and a suction unit 75 that sucks in the modeling material and temporarily stores it. The nozzle 61 is connected to the communication hole 56 of the screw facing unit 50 through the flow path 65. The nozzle 61 discharges the modeling material generated in the modeling material generation unit 30 from an outlet 62 at the tip toward the stage 210. A heater may be arranged around the nozzle 61 to suppress a decrease in temperature of the modeling material discharged onto the stage 210.

[0021] The flow rate adjustment unit 70 changes the opening degree of the flow path 65 by rotating within the flow path 65. In this embodiment, the flow rate adjustment unit 70 is configured by a butterfly valve. The flow rate adjustment unit 70 is driven by a first driving unit 74 under the control of the control unit 101. The first driving unit 74 is configured by, for example, a stepping motor. The control unit 101 can adjust the flow rate of the modeling material flowing from the modeling material generation unit 30 to the nozzle 61, that is, the flow rate of the modeling material discharged from the nozzle 61, by controlling the rotation angle of the butterfly valve using the first driving unit 74. The flow rate adjustment unit 70 adjusts the flow rate of the modeling material and also controls the on / off of the outflow of the modeling material.

[0022] The suction unit 75 is connected between the flow rate adjustment unit 70 and the discharge port 62 in the flow path 65. When the discharge of the modeling material from the nozzle 61 stops, the suction unit 75 temporarily sucks in the modeling material in the flow path 65, thereby suppressing the tailing phenomenon in which the modeling material hangs like a string from the discharge port 62. In this embodiment, the suction unit 75 is configured with a plunger. The suction unit 75 is driven by a second drive unit 76 under the control of the control unit 101. The second drive unit 76 is configured with, for example, a stepping motor or a rack-and-pinion mechanism that converts the rotational force of the stepping motor into translational motion of the plunger.

[0023] In this embodiment, the discharge unit 60 is provided with one nozzle 61. Alternatively, the discharge unit 60 may be provided with a plurality of nozzles 61 with different shapes and sizes of the discharge ports 62. In this case, the flow path 65 is branched so as to communicate with each nozzle 61, and a flow path switching valve for switching the nozzle to be used is provided at the branched portion. Then, a suction unit 75 is provided individually so as to correspond to each nozzle. The flow rate adjustment unit 70 may be provided in common upstream of the flow path switching valve, or may be provided individually so as to correspond to each nozzle. In addition, the flow path switching valve may also have a flow rate adjustment function for adjusting the flow rate of the modeling material to be discharged to each nozzle.

[0024] In this embodiment, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 is provided with one modeling unit 110. Alternatively, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 may be provided with a plurality of modeling units 110. In this manner, different modeling materials can be discharged from the discharge units 60 provided in the respective modeling units 110. In this case, each discharge unit 60 may be provided with a plurality of nozzles 61 as described above.

[0025] The stage 210 is disposed at a position facing the discharge port 62 of the nozzle 61. In the first embodiment, the modeling surface 211 of the stage 210 facing the discharge port 62 of the nozzle 61 is disposed so as to be parallel to the X and Y directions, i.e., the horizontal direction. In a three-dimensional modeling process described below, the three-dimensional modeling device 100 discharges a modeling material from the discharge unit 60 toward the modeling surface 211 of the stage 210 to stack layers, thereby forming a three-dimensional object. The stage 210 may be provided with a heater for preventing the modeling material discharged onto the stage 210 from cooling rapidly.

[0026] The moving mechanism 230 changes the relative position between the stage 210 and the nozzle 61. In this embodiment, the position of the nozzle 61 is fixed, and the moving mechanism 230 moves the stage 210. The moving mechanism 230 is configured by a three-axis positioner that moves the stage 210 in three axial directions, that is, the X, Y, and Z directions, by the driving forces of three motors. The moving mechanism 230 changes the relative positional relationship between the nozzle 61 and the stage 210 under the control of the control unit 101. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the movement of the nozzle 61 means moving the nozzle 61 relative to the stage 210.

[0027] In other embodiments, instead of a configuration in which the moving mechanism 230 moves the stage 210, a configuration in which the moving mechanism 230 moves the nozzle 61 relative to the stage 210 while the position of the stage 210 is fixed may be employed. Also, a configuration in which the moving mechanism 230 moves the stage 210 in the Z direction and moves the nozzle 61 in the X and Y directions, or a configuration in which the moving mechanism 230 moves the stage 210 in the X and Y directions and moves the nozzle 61 in the Z direction may be employed. Even with these configurations, the relative positional relationship between the nozzle 61 and the stage 210 can be changed.

[0028] The control unit 101 is a control device that controls the overall operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. The control unit 101 is configured by a computer having one or more processors, a storage device, and an input / output interface that inputs and outputs signals to and from the outside. A display unit 105 configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like is connected to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 fulfills the functions of a modeling data generation unit 102 that generates modeling data and a display control unit 103 that controls the display unit 105 by the processor executing a program or command loaded onto the storage device. Instead of being configured by a computer, the control unit 101 may be realized by a configuration combining multiple circuits for realizing at least a part of each function. The control unit 101 is also called an information processing device.

[0029] The modeling data generation unit 102 generates modeling data having a plurality of partial paths for moving the discharge unit 60 by the movement mechanism 230. The control unit 101 controls the modeling unit 110, which includes the flow rate adjustment unit 70 and the discharge unit 60, and the movement mechanism 230 in accordance with the modeling data generated by the modeling data generation unit 102, to model a three-dimensional object on the stage 210.

[0030] The modeling data generating unit 102 generates modeling data using shape data such as three-dimensional CAD data that represents the shape of a three-dimensional object. The modeling data includes path information that represents the movement path of the discharge unit 60 and discharge amount information that represents the amount of modeling material discharged on each movement path. The movement path of the discharge unit 60 is the path along which the nozzle 61 moves along the modeling surface 211 of the stage 210 while discharging the modeling material. The shape data such as three-dimensional CAD data that is the source of generation of the modeling data is referred to as first shape data.

[0031] The path information is composed of a plurality of partial paths. Each partial path is a linear path represented by a start point and an end point. The discharge amount information is individually associated with each partial path. In this embodiment, the discharge amount represented by the discharge amount information is the amount of modeling material discharged per unit time in that partial path. Note that in other embodiments, the total amount of modeling material discharged in the entire partial path may be associated with each partial path as the discharge amount information.

[0032] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of how a three-dimensional object is formed in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100. As described above, in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100, the raw material MR in a solid state supplied to the groove portion 42 of the rotating flat screw 40 is melted in the printing material generating unit 30 to generate the printing material MM. The control unit 101 discharges the printing material MM from the nozzle 61 while changing the position of the nozzle 61 relative to the stage 210 in a direction along the printing surface 211 of the stage 210 while maintaining the distance between the printing surface 211 of the stage 210 and the nozzle 61. The printing material MM discharged from the nozzle 61 is continuously deposited in the moving direction of the nozzle 61. By such scanning by the nozzle 61, a linear portion LP, which is a printing portion that extends linearly along the scanning path of the nozzle 61, is formed.

[0033] The control unit 101 forms layers ML by repeating the above-mentioned scanning by the nozzle 61. After forming one layer ML, the control unit 101 moves the position of the nozzle 61 relative to the stage 210 in the Z direction. Then, a three-dimensional object is formed by stacking further layers ML on the layers ML that have been formed so far.

[0034] The control unit 101 may temporarily suspend the discharge of the modeling material from the nozzle 61, for example, when the nozzle 61 moves in the Z direction after completing one layer ML or when there are multiple independent modeling regions in each layer. In this case, the flow rate adjustment unit 70 closes the flow path 65 to stop the discharge of the modeling material MM from the discharge port 62. After changing the position of the nozzle 61, the control unit 101 opens the flow path 65 with the flow rate adjustment unit 70, thereby restarting the deposition of the modeling material MM from the new position of the nozzle 61.

[0035] 5 is a flowchart of the modeling data generation process executed by the control unit 101. The modeling data generation process is a process for generating modeling data to be used in modeling a three-dimensional object prior to modeling the three-dimensional object, and for realizing an information display method for visually displaying on the display unit 105 the shape of the three-dimensional object represented by the modeling data.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5, in step S100, the modeling data generation unit 102 analyzes three-dimensional CAD data representing the shape of a three-dimensional object input from outside, i.e., first shape data, and generates layer data by slicing the three-dimensional object into multiple layers along the XY plane. The layer data is data representing the outer shell of the three-dimensional object in the XY plane. In Fig. 6, the part corresponding to the outer shell represented by the layer data LD is indicated by a thick line. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the layer data LD.

[0037] In step S110, the modeling data generation unit 102 generates shell modeling data. The shell modeling data is data for forming an outer shell region that contacts the inside of the outer shell represented by the layer data LD. The outer shell region is a region that affects the appearance of the three-dimensional object. The shell modeling data includes a path for forming the outermost periphery along the outer shell of the three-dimensional object. The outer shell modeling data may include not only path information for forming the outermost periphery of the three-dimensional object, but also path information including one revolution around the inner side of the outermost periphery. The number of revolutions of the path information for forming the outer shell region may be arbitrarily settable.

[0038] 6 shows an example in which the outer shell forming data ZD1 is composed of the outermost path information and the path information for one revolution inside the outermost path information. The path information includes a plurality of partial paths PP1 for forming the outer shell region. As described above, each partial path PP1 is a linear path. Each partial path PP1 is associated with a discharge amount information indicating a discharge amount of the forming material deposited on the stage 210 to a desired width Ss.

[0039] In step S120, the modeling data generation unit 102 generates internal modeling data. The internal modeling data is data for modeling an internal region, which is an area inside the outer shell represented by the layer data LD and is an area of ​​the three-dimensional object other than the outer shell area. The internal region has a greater influence on the strength of the three-dimensional object than on the appearance of the three-dimensional object.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows an example in which the internal molding data ZD2 is represented inside the outer shell molding data ZD1. In FIG. 6, the path information filling the internal region represented by the internal molding data ZD2 is formed in a meandering manner by a plurality of partial paths PP2. As described above, each partial path PP2 is a straight path. Each partial path PP2 is associated with a discharge amount information indicating a discharge amount of the molding material deposited on the stage 210 to a desired width Ss. Note that, in this embodiment, the width of the path formed by the outer shell molding data ZD1 and the width of the path formed by the internal molding data ZD2 are the same width Ss, but they may be different widths.

[0041] Hereinafter, the outer shell modeling data generated in step S110 and the internal modeling data generated in step S120 are collectively referred to as "modeling data." The modeling data includes path data that represents a path along which the discharge unit 60 moves while discharging the modeling material by using a plurality of partial paths, and discharge amount data that includes discharge amount information that represents the amount of modeling material discharged in each partial path. In this embodiment, the modeling data further includes data indicating control positions that control the discharge of the modeling material by the flow rate adjustment unit 70, the suction unit 75, etc., and device control data for controlling each part of the three-dimensional modeling device 100, such as the heater 58 and the drive motor 32.

[0042] In step S130, the modeling data generation unit 102 determines whether the above processes have been completed for all layer data. If the processes have not been completed for all layer data, the modeling data generation unit 102 repeats the processes of steps S110 and S120 for the next layer data. If the generation of modeling data for all layer data has been completed, in step S140, the display control unit 103 of the control unit 101 executes a display process for displaying a display screen that visually represents the modeling data on the display unit 105. The details of the display process will be described later. When the display process is ended by the user, the modeling data generation unit 102 ends the modeling data generation process.

[0043] Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the three-dimensional printing process executed by the control unit 101. The three-dimensional printing process is a process executed by the control unit 101 using the printing data generated in the printing data generation process shown in Fig. 5. By executing the printing data generation process shown in Fig. 5 and the three-dimensional printing process shown in Fig. 7, a manufacturing method of a three-dimensional object by the three-dimensional printing device 100 is realized.

[0044] In step S200, the control unit 101 acquires the shaping data generated by the shaping data generation process described above. Then, from the shaping data, the control unit 101 reads the above-mentioned outer shell shaping data and inner shaping data for one of the layers constituting the three-dimensional object. In this embodiment, the control unit 101 first reads the shaping data for the layer located at the bottom in the direction of gravity among the layers constituting the three-dimensional object.

[0045] In step S210, the control unit 101 executes a first formation process. In the first formation process, the control unit 101 controls the movement mechanism 230 and the discharge unit 60 in accordance with the partial paths included in the outer shell formation data and the discharge amount information associated with each partial path to form an outer shell region for the current layer.

[0046] In step S220, the control unit 101 executes a second formation process. In the second formation process, the control unit 101 controls the moving mechanism 230 and the discharging unit 60 in accordance with the partial paths included in the internal formation data and the discharge amount information associated with each partial path, to form an internal region for the current layer.

[0047] In step S230, the control unit 101 determines whether or not modeling has been completed for all layers. If modeling has not been completed for all layers, the control unit 101 returns the process to step S200, reads modeling data for the next layer, i.e., the layer adjacent to the current layer on the upper side in the gravitational direction, and executes the processes of steps S210 and S220. In this case, in step S210, prior to the ejection of the modeling material from the ejection unit 60, the control unit 101 controls the movement mechanism 230 to raise the position of the nozzle 61 by one layer from the stage 210. If modeling has been completed for all layers, the control unit 101 completes the three-dimensional modeling process.

[0048] The display process executed by the display control unit 103 in step S140 in Fig. 5 will be described below with reference to Figs. 8 to 13. In the display process, the display control unit 103 can display various display screens, which will be described below, on the display unit 105. Each display screen can be switched by the user performing a predetermined operation on the control unit 101. Note that the display control unit 103 does not need to be able to display all of the display screens described below, and it is sufficient if it is able to display one or more of the display screens.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a first display screen DS1 displayed on the display unit 105 by the display control unit 103. Each display screen shown in FIG. 8 and subsequent figures includes a first display area DA1 and a second display area DA2, and each display screen mainly differs in the display content of the second display area DA2. The first display area DA1 is an area that displays at least a part of the second shape data. The second shape data is data that represents the shape of a three-dimensional object including path information. More specifically, in this embodiment, the data represents the shape of a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional manner by thickening the movement path included in the path information according to the discharge amount of the modeling material represented by the discharge amount data. The second display area DA2 is an area that displays at least a part of the information included in the modeling data.

[0050] In the first display area DA1 of the first display screen DS1 shown in Fig. 8, a part of the three-dimensional object is three-dimensionally displayed as the second shape data. The user can use an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard to display an arbitrary area, an arbitrary cross section, an arbitrary layer, or an arbitrary partial path of the three-dimensional object in the first display area DA1. The entire three-dimensional object may be displayed as the second shape data in the first display area DA1.

[0051] In the second display area DA2 of the first display screen DS1 shown in FIG. 8, the control position for controlling the discharge of the modeling material is displayed superimposed on the corresponding position of the second shape data displayed in the first display area DA1. Specifically, in a path consisting of a plurality of continuous partial paths, the control position for turning on the discharge of the modeling material, i.e., the start point of modeling, is displayed as "Start", and the control position for turning off the discharge of the modeling material, i.e., the end point of modeling, is displayed as "Goal". In addition, in the second display area DA2, the movement direction of the discharge unit 60 at the start point and the movement direction of the discharge unit 60 at the end point are each indicated by an arrow. Furthermore, in the second display area DA2, the control position of the suction unit 75 and the control position of the flow rate adjustment unit 70 are each displayed. Specifically, the control position of the suction unit 75 is indicated by a circle, and the control position of the flow rate adjustment unit 70 is indicated by a square. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the open circle indicates a position where the suction unit 75 is caused to discharge the modeling material, and the filled circle indicates a position where the suction unit 75 is caused to suck in the modeling material. Also, the open square indicates a position where the flow rate adjustment unit 70 is opened to a specified opening degree, and the filled square indicates a position where the flow rate adjustment unit 70 is closed. Note that each control position shown in Fig. 8 is an example, and does not represent a control position for realizing the modeling shape shown in Fig. 8. Also, each mark is an example, and the shape and color of each mark can be changed as appropriate.

[0052] By the display control unit 103 displaying such a first display screen DS1 on the display unit 105, the user can easily check information related to the control of the discharge unit 60, such as the movement direction of the discharge unit 60 and the control positions of the flow rate adjustment unit 70 and the suction unit 75. In addition, by displaying the control positions superimposed on the corresponding positions of the three-dimensional model displayed in the first display area, the movement direction and control position of the discharge unit 60 can be visually checked with ease.

[0053] The display control unit 103 may display the control position displayed in the second display area DA2 as changeable. The user selects the control position to be changed and moves it to a new position using an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. The display control unit 103 updates the modeling data based on the changed control position. This allows the user to intuitively and easily change the control position.

[0054] 9 is a diagram showing an example of the second display screen DS2 that the display control unit 103 displays on the display unit 105. In the first display area DA1 of the second display screen DS2, the shape of the three-dimensional object is displayed three-dimensionally, as in the first display screen DS1. In addition, in the second display area DA2, at least a part of the information included in the printing data is displayed in a list. This information includes, for example, at least one of (1) device information on the three-dimensional printing device 100 that acquires the printing data and prints the three-dimensional object, (2) printing condition information on the printing conditions of the three-dimensional object, and (3) control information for controlling the three-dimensional printing device 100.

[0055] The device information includes, for example, (i) an identifier such as the name and model number of the three-dimensional printing device 100 to be used, (ii) an identifier indicating the discharge unit 60 or flat screw 40 to be used when the three-dimensional printing device 100 has multiple discharge units 60, and (iii) an identifier indicating the nozzle 61 to be used when the discharge unit 60 has multiple nozzles 61.

[0056] The printing condition information includes, for example, (i) the material to be used, (ii) the temperature of the stage 210, (iii) the set temperature of the chamber if the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 is housed in a chamber, and (iv) the temperature of the heaters in each part.

[0057] The control information includes, for example, (i) the movement direction of the discharge unit 60, (ii) the movement speed of the discharge unit 60, (ii) the rotation speed of the flat screw 40, (iii) the discharge pressure or discharge speed of the modeling material, (iv) the control position of the flow rate adjustment unit 70, (v) the control position of the suction unit 75, and (vi) the position to which the discharge unit 60 is moved along the Z direction.

[0058] By the display control unit 103 displaying such a second display screen DS2 on the display unit 105, the user can check various pieces of information regarding the three-dimensional modeling in advance.

[0059] In the example shown in Fig. 9, the second display area DA2 including the various information described above is displayed so as to overlap with the first display area DA1. The display position of the second display area DA2 can be moved by the user using an input device such as a mouse. Also, on the second display screen DS2, the second display area DA2 and the first display area DA1 may be displayed at different positions so as not to overlap with each other.

[0060] The display control unit 103 may display, in the second display area DA2, information included in the shaping data corresponding to a selected position of the second shape data displayed in the first display area DA1. In this way, the user can easily check various information on a desired partial path by simply specifying, on the second display screen DS2, a desired position of the three-dimensional object displayed in the first display area DA1.

[0061] The display control unit 103 may display each piece of information displayed in the second display area DA2 in a changeable manner. The user selects the information to be changed using an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and changes the selected information. The display control unit 103 then updates the modeling data based on the changed information. This allows the user to easily change various pieces of information related to the three-dimensional modeling. If the shape of the three-dimensional object changes due to such a change in information, the display control unit 103 may display the shape of the three-dimensional object after the change as second shape data in the first display area DA1. This allows the user to easily check the shape of the three-dimensional object after the change.

[0062] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the third display screen DS3 displayed on the display unit 105 by the display control unit 103. In the first display area DA1 of the third display screen DS3, the shape of the three-dimensional object is displayed three-dimensionally, as in the first display screen DS1. In the second display area DA2, the position to which the discharge unit 60 is moved upward or downward is displayed. Specifically, with respect to the start point or end point of a certain path displayed in the first display area DA1, a control position to move the discharge unit 60 upward and a control position to move the discharge unit 60 downward are displayed in a superimposed manner. The position to which the discharge unit 60 is moved in the vertical direction in this manner is also called a retraction position. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the position to which the discharge unit 60 is pulled upward is indicated by an upward arrow and a hollow triangular mark, and the position to which the discharge unit 60 is lowered downward is indicated by a downward arrow and a hollow inverted triangular mark. The retraction position may be displayed only by an arrow or only by a triangular mark. Furthermore, when displaying an arrow, the retraction position may be displayed by a circle or a square instead of a triangle.

[0063] The display control unit 103 may display the retraction position displayed in the second display area DA2 as changeable. The user selects the retraction position to be changed and moves it to a new position using an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. The display control unit 103 updates the modeling data based on the changed information.

[0064] Fig. 11 is a first diagram showing another display example of the first display area DA1. In the first display area DA1 of each display screen shown in Figs. 8 to 10, at least some of the partial paths constituting the three-dimensional structure may be displayed in different colors. Fig. 11 shows an example in which adjacent partial paths are displayed in different colors in an internal area constituting the three-dimensional structure. By displaying the partial paths in different colors in this manner, the user can easily determine the connection state between the partial paths.

[0065] Fig. 12 is a first diagram showing another example of the display screen. Fig. 12 shows an example in which a series of movement paths forming an internal area are represented by gradation. In the example shown in Fig. 12, the color is displayed so that it gradually becomes white toward the start point, and gradually becomes black toward the end point. However, for convenience of illustration, the color of the intermediate part of the path is omitted in Fig. 12.

[0066] Fig. 13 is a second diagram showing another example of the display screen. Fig. 13 shows an example in which the start point and end point of one partial path are represented by a long figure displayed parallel to the partial path. This long figure represents the start point and end point of the corresponding partial path by different colors. In Fig. 13, the start point is represented in white, the end point is represented in black, and the intermediate part between them is represented by gradation.

[0067] 8 to 13 show an example in which the second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object is displayed three-dimensionally in the first display area DA1 of each display screen. In contrast, the second shape data may be displayed two-dimensionally in the first display area DA1. The second shape data may be displayed in a wireframe shape based only on the path information without using the discharge amount information.

[0068] According to the first embodiment described above, a display screen having a first display area DA1 that displays at least a part of the second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, and a second display area DA2 that displays at least a part of the information included in the printing data is displayed on the display unit 105. Therefore, not only the shape of the three-dimensional object but also detailed information included in the printing data can be easily confirmed before three-dimensional printing is performed. As a result, for example, when printing fails and printing is to be performed again, it can be easily confirmed which item of the printing conditions or the information for controlling the three-dimensional printing device should be changed to improve the result.

[0069] B. Other embodiments: (B1) In the above embodiment, the display unit 105 is connected to the control unit 101. In contrast, the display unit 105 may be disposed outside the control unit 101 or the 3D printing system 10, and the display screen may be transmitted from the control unit 101 to the display unit 105 via a network.

[0070] (B2) In the above embodiment, the modeling unit 110 plasticizes the material by the flat screw 40. In contrast, the modeling unit 110 may plasticize the material by, for example, rotating an in-line screw. Also, a head used in fused deposition modeling may be adopted as the modeling unit 110.

[0071] (B3) In the above embodiment, the flow rate of the modeling material is adjusted using the flow rate adjustment unit 70 configured with a butterfly valve. However, the flow rate of the modeling material may be adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of the flat screw 40.

[0072] (B4) In the above embodiment, the control unit 101 executes both the modeling data generation process and the three-dimensional modeling process. However, the modeling data generation process and the three-dimensional modeling process may be executed by different control units.

[0073] (B5) In the above embodiment, the control unit 110, which is also called an information processing device, fulfills the functions of the shaping data generation unit 102 and the display control unit 103. In contrast, the control unit 110 does not need to have the function of the shaping data generation unit 102. In this case, the control unit 110 may obtain shaping data generated by another different control unit and execute display processing.

[0074] (B6) In the above embodiment, a pellet-shaped ABS resin material is used as the raw material supplied to the material supply unit 20. In contrast, the three-dimensional modeling device 100 can model a three-dimensional object using various materials as main materials, such as thermoplastic materials, metal materials, ceramic materials, etc. Here, the "main material" refers to a material that is the core material forming the shape of the three-dimensional object, and a material that occupies 50% by weight or more in the three-dimensional object. The modeling materials mentioned above include those main materials that are melted alone, and those in which some components contained together with the main material are melted and turned into a paste.

[0075] When a material having thermoplastic properties is used as the main material, the modeling material is generated by plasticizing the material in the modeling material generation unit 30. "Plasticization" means that heat is applied to the material having thermoplastic properties to melt it.

[0076] As the material having thermoplasticity, for example, the following thermoplastic resin materials can be used. <Examples of thermoplastic resin materials> General-purpose engineering plastics such as polypropylene resin (PP), polyethylene resin (PE), polyacetal resin (POM), polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC), polyamide resin (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS), polylactic acid resin (PLA), polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polycarbonate (PC), modified polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate, as well as engineering plastics such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyetherimide, and polyether ether ketone.

[0077] The thermoplastic material may contain additives such as pigments, metals, ceramics, wax, flame retardants, antioxidants, and thermal stabilizers. The thermoplastic material is plasticized and converted into a molten state in the modeling material generating unit 30 by the rotation of the flat screw 40 and the heat of the heater 58. The modeling material generated by melting the thermoplastic material is discharged from the nozzle 61 and then hardens due to a decrease in temperature.

[0078] It is desirable that the thermoplastic material be heated to or above its glass transition point and in a completely molten state before being injected from the nozzle 61. For example, ABS resin has a glass transition point of about 120°C, and it is desirable that the temperature of the ABS resin be about 200°C when it is injected from the nozzle 61.

[0079] In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100, for example, the following metal materials may be used as the main material instead of the above-mentioned thermoplastic materials. In this case, it is preferable that the powder material made by powdering the following metal materials is mixed with a component that melts when the modeling material is generated, and then the mixture is input to the modeling material generation unit 30 as a raw material. <Examples of metal materials> A single metal, or an alloy containing one or more of the following metals: magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), or nickel (Ni). <Examples of the alloy> Maraging steel, stainless steel, cobalt chrome molybdenum, titanium alloy, nickel alloy, aluminum alloy, cobalt alloy, cobalt chrome alloy.

[0080] In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100, a ceramic material can be used as the main material instead of the above-mentioned metal materials. As the ceramic material, for example, oxide ceramics such as silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and non-oxide ceramics such as aluminum nitride can be used. When the above-mentioned metal materials or ceramic materials are used as the main material, the modeling material placed on the stage 210 may be hardened by sintering using laser irradiation, hot air, or the like.

[0081] The powder material of the metallic material or the ceramic material fed to the material supply unit 20 as a raw material may be a mixed material in which a single metal powder, an alloy powder, or a ceramic material powder is mixed. The powder material of the metallic material or the ceramic material may be coated with, for example, the thermoplastic resin exemplified above or a thermoplastic resin other than the above. In this case, the thermoplastic resin may be melted in the modeling material generation unit 30 to exhibit fluidity.

[0082] For example, the following solvents can be added to the powdered metal or ceramic material fed as raw material to the material supply unit 20. The solvent can be one or a combination of two or more selected from the following: <Examples of solvents> water; (poly)alkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monoethyl ether; acetate esters such as ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, and iso-butyl acetate; aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene; ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl-n-butyl ketone, diisopropyl ketone, and acetylacetone; alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, and butanol; tetraalkylammonium acetates; sulfoxide-based solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and diethyl sulfoxide; pyridine-based solvents such as pyridine, γ-picoline, and 2,6-lutidine; tetraalkylammonium acetates (for example, tetrabutylammonium acetate, etc.); and ionic liquids such as butyl carbitol acetate.

[0083] In addition, the powdered metal or ceramic material fed to the material supply unit 20 as a raw material may also contain a binder, for example, as described below. <Example of binder> Acrylic resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, cellulose resin or other synthetic resin, or PLA (polylactic acid), PA (polyamide), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PEEK (polyether ether ketone) or other thermoplastic resin.

[0084] C. Other forms: The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described below can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

[0085] (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing device, comprising: a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, a display screen having a first display area that displays at least a portion of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the first shape data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the first shape data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the first shape data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the first shape data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the second shape data, the first display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the second shape data, the second ... According to this embodiment, a display screen having a first display area that displays at least a part of the second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object including path information, and a second display area that displays at least a part of the information contained in the printing data, is displayed on the display unit, so that not only the shape of the three-dimensional object but also detailed information contained in the printing data can be confirmed before printing.

[0086] (2) In the above embodiment, the printing data may include at least one of: (i) device information on a three-dimensional printing device that acquires the printing data and prints the three-dimensional object; (ii) printing condition information on printing conditions for the three-dimensional object; and (iii) control information for controlling the three-dimensional printing device. With this embodiment, various information on three-dimensional printing can be confirmed in advance.

[0087] (3) In the above embodiment, the modeling data may include data indicative of a control position for controlling the discharge of the modeling material, and the display control unit may display at least one of a moving direction of the discharge unit and the control position in the second display area. With this embodiment, information regarding the control of the discharge unit can be easily confirmed.

[0088] (4) In the above embodiment, the control position may include at least one of a control position of a suction unit that is provided in the discharge unit and sucks in the modeling material, and a control position of a flow rate adjustment unit that is provided in the discharge unit and adjusts the flow rate of the modeling material. According to this embodiment, the control positions of the suction unit and the flow rate adjustment unit can be confirmed in advance.

[0089] (5) In the above embodiment, the display control unit may display at least one of the moving direction of the ejection part and the control position in the second display area, superimposed on at least the part of the second shape data in the first display area. According to this embodiment, the moving direction and the control position of the ejection part can be easily confirmed.

[0090] (6) In the above embodiment, the display control unit may display, in the second display area, information included in the shaping data corresponding to the selected position of the second shape data. According to this embodiment, various information at the selected position of the second shape data can be easily confirmed.

[0091] (7) In the above embodiment, the display control unit may display the information displayed in the second display area in a changeable manner. According to this embodiment, various pieces of information related to the three-dimensional modeling can be easily changed.

[0092] (8) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a three-dimensional printing system comprising: an information processing device according to any of the aspects described above; and a three-dimensional printing device that acquires the printing data and prints the three-dimensional object using the discharge unit.

[0093] (9) According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information display method, comprising: The method includes a step of displaying, on a display unit, a display screen having a first display area that displays at least a portion of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the first display area displaying at least a portion of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the first display area displaying at least a portion of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the third display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data, the fourth ... [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 10...three-dimensional printing system, 20...material supply section, 22...connecting passage, 30...printing material generation section, 31...screw case, 32...driving motor, 40...flat screw, 42...groove section, 43...ridge section, 44...material inlet, 46...center section, 47...upper surface, 48...lower surface, 50...screw facing section, 52...upper surface, 54...guide groove, 56...connecting hole, 58...heater, 60...discharge section, 61...nozzle, 62...discharge port, 65...flow path, 70...flow rate adjustment section, 74...first drive section, 75...suction section, 76...second drive section, 100...three-dimensional printing device, 101...control section, 102...printing data generation section, 103...display control section, 105...display section, 110...printing section, 210...stage, 211...printing surface, 230...movement mechanism

Claims

1. a display control unit that displays on a display unit a display screen having a first display area that displays at least a part of second shape data that represents the shape of the three-dimensional object and that includes path information, the second display area displaying at least a part of information included in the modeling data, the first shape data being generated based on first shape data that represents the shape of a three-dimensional object, the first shape data including path information that represents a movement path of a dispensing unit that moves while dispensing a modeling material, and discharge amount information that represents the discharge amount of the modeling material on the movement path; The modeling data includes data instructing a control position for controlling the discharge of the modeling material, The display control unit displays at least one of a moving direction of the ejection unit and the control position in the second display area.

2. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, An information processing device, wherein the modeling data includes at least one of: (1) device information regarding a three-dimensional modeling device that acquires the modeling data and models the three-dimensional object; (2) modeling condition information regarding the modeling conditions of the three-dimensional object; and (3) control information for controlling the three-dimensional modeling device.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, The control position includes at least one of a control position of a suction section provided in the discharge section and configured to suction the modeling material, and a control position of a flow rate adjustment section provided in the discharge section and configured to adjust the flow rate of the modeling material, an information processing device.

4. 4. The information processing device according to claim 1, The display control unit displays at least one of a moving direction of the ejection portion and the control position in the second display area, superimposed on at least the portion of the second shape data in the first display area.

5. 5. The information processing device according to claim 1, The display control unit displays the information displayed in the second display area in a changeable manner.

6. The display control unit displays on a display unit a display screen having a first display area displaying at least a portion of second shape data representing the shape of the three-dimensional object including path information based on the modeling data, the first shape data including path information representing the movement path of a discharge part that moves while discharging modeling material, and discharge amount information representing the discharge amount of the modeling material on the movement path, and a second display area displaying at least a portion of information included in the modeling data; The display control unit displays, in the second display area, information included in the shaping data corresponding to a selected position of the second shape data.

7. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; a three-dimensional printing device that acquires the printing data and prints the three-dimensional object using the discharge unit; A three-dimensional printing system comprising:

8. a step of displaying, on a display unit, a display screen having a first display area that displays at least a part of second shape data that represents the shape of the three-dimensional object and that includes path information, the second display area displaying at least a part of information included in the modeling data, the first shape data being generated based on first shape data that represents the shape of the three-dimensional object, the first shape data including path information that represents a movement path of a discharging unit that moves while discharging a modeling material, and discharge amount information that represents the discharge amount of the modeling material on the movement path, The modeling data includes data instructing a control position for controlling the discharge of the modeling material, In the step, at least one of a moving direction of the ejection portion and the control position is displayed in the second display area.

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