3D printer and top module thereof

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a 3D printer and a top module thereof. The top module comprises a frame, and the frame comprises a first edge portion, a second edge portion, a third edge portion and a fourth edge portion, which are arranged in sequence, wherein the second edge portion and the fourth edge portion are each provided with a strip-shaped hollow structure in the middle area in a height direction, Y-axis sliding rails correspond to the strip-shaped hollow structures in the height direction, and a portion of each Y-axis sliding block is located in a strip-shaped hollow structure; in the height direction, a first synchronous belt is located above, and a second synchronous belt is located below; a first drive electric motor is mounted to the frame from bottom to top, and a second drive electric motor is mounted to the frame from top to bottom; and a first electric-motor mounting surface configured to mount the first drive electric motor is higher than the second synchronous belt, and a second electric-motor mounting surface configured to mount the second drive electric motor is lower than the first synchronous belt. The top module of the present application can achieve a compact layout of components in the 3D printer, thereby facilitating the miniaturization of printers.

Description

3D printer and its top module

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2025100650703, filed on January 15, 2025, entitled “3D Printer and Top Module Thereof”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and more particularly to a top module of a 3D printer and a 3D printer. Background Technology

[0003] A 3D printer is a printing device that uses digital model files as a basis and powdered metal or plastic and other bondable materials as printing materials to form objects layer by layer. A typical 3D printing technology is fused deposition modeling (FDM), whose main printing process is as follows: a motor drives the print head to move in the XY plane according to a set path. The nozzle of the print head ejects filaments of molten polymer material, which forms thin sheets of printing material on a two-dimensional plane. This process is repeated, and through the stacking of printing layers, the molten polymer material is finally printed into a three-dimensional object.

[0004] Existing 3D printers use a frame constructed from connected profiles. The Y-axis slide rail and slider, as well as the X-axis slide rail and slider, are located inside the frame. Y-axis slide rails are located at both ends of the X-axis slide rail, and the print head is connected to the X-axis slider. Some drive motors have their drive shafts parallel to either the Y-axis or X-axis slide rails, while others are suspended on the same side of both the X and Y axes to drive the print head. This structure results in excessive space occupation within the printer, especially in the X-axis direction. Sufficient space must be provided for the Y-axis slide rails and sliders at both ends of the X-axis slide rail. Therefore, to ensure sufficient travel of the print head in the X-axis direction, the overall frame size must be increased, hindering the miniaturization of the printer and making it unsuitable for home and office applications. Furthermore, the suspended installation method not only increases the height dimension but also affects the reliability and stability of the drive motor installation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on the above situation, the main objective of this application is to provide a top module for a 3D printer and a 3D printer. The top module can achieve a compact layout of the internal components of the 3D printer, making the overall size as small as possible while increasing the X-motion stroke of the print head, thereby facilitating the miniaturization of the printer.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0007] The first aspect of this application provides a top module for a 3D printer, including a frame, a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a Y-axis slide rail, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, a first timing belt, a second timing belt, and a print head;

[0008] The frame includes a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side arranged sequentially. The second side and the fourth side are each equipped with a Y-axis slide rail, and each Y-axis slide rail is slidably mounted with a Y-axis slider. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are respectively connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides. The two ends of the first synchronous belt and the two ends of the second synchronous belt are both connected to the X-axis sliders. The first drive motor drives the first synchronous belt, and the second drive motor drives the second synchronous belt. The print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail via the X-axis slider.

[0009] The second side and the fourth side each have a strip-shaped hollow structure in the middle area of ​​the height direction. The extension direction of the strip-shaped hollow structure is consistent with the extension direction of the Y-axis slide rail. The Y-axis slide rail corresponds to the strip-shaped hollow structure along the height direction, and a part of the Y-axis slider is located in the strip-shaped hollow structure.

[0010] In the height direction, the first synchronous belt is located above and the second synchronous belt is located below; wherein, the first drive motor is installed to the frame from bottom to top, and the second drive motor is installed to the frame from top to bottom, the first motor mounting surface for installing the first drive motor is higher than the second synchronous belt, and the second motor mounting surface for installing the second drive motor is lower than the first synchronous belt.

[0011] Optionally, the second side and the fourth side are divided into an upper part and a lower part by the strip-shaped hollow structure, and in the height direction of the frame, the ratio of the height dimension of the strip-shaped hollow structure to the height dimension of the upper part and / or the lower part is 1 to 1.5.

[0012] Optionally, the two ends of the second side are respectively a first corner for connecting the first side and a second corner for connecting the third side, and the two ends of the fourth side are respectively a fourth corner for connecting the first side and a third corner for connecting the third side. Each corner has an inwardly protruding mounting step, and the mounting step has a fixing groove. The two ends of the Y-axis slide rail are respectively fixedly installed in the fixing grooves on the two corresponding corners.

[0013] Optionally, it also includes a Y-rail clamping member, which is installed at each of the mounting steps, and the Y-axis slide rail is clamped to the fixing groove by the Y-rail clamping member.

[0014] Optionally, on the outer surfaces of the second side and the fourth side, reinforcing ribs protruding outward are provided at the upper and lower edges, at the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, and at the positions between the upper and lower edges and the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, so that multiple local recessed structures are formed on the outer surfaces.

[0015] Optionally, at least a portion of the upper edges of the second side and the fourth side are lower than the upper edges of the respective corners, and at least a portion of the lower edges of the second side and the fourth side are higher than the lower edges of the respective corners, such that the height dimension of at least a portion of the second side and the fourth side is smaller than the height dimension of the respective corners.

[0016] Optionally, both the first drive motor and the second drive motor are mounted to the first side, wherein a first mounting part is formed on the bottom surface of the first side at one end region and a second mounting part is formed on the top surface of the first side at the other end region, and both the first mounting part and the second mounting part are provided with through holes;

[0017] The first drive motor is mounted on the first mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the first mounting part; the second drive motor is mounted on the second mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the second mounting part.

[0018] Optionally, both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are groove structures. The first mounting portion is formed by the bottom surface of the first side recessed upward at one end region; the second mounting portion is formed by the top surface of the first side recessed at the other end region. The bottom surfaces of the two groove structures respectively form the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface, and each bottom surface is provided with a corresponding through hole.

[0019] In the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface is between 0 and 15 mm.

[0020] Optionally, in the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface, the second motor mounting surface and the upper end surface of the first side is between 5 and 20 mm.

[0021] Optionally, the portion of the inner wall of the first side portion located at the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion protrudes into the frame from the middle section; in the projection of the first side portion along its length, the projections of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion overlap with the projection of the middle section of the first side portion, wherein, in the dimension of the first side portion along its thickness, the overlapping area occupies 2 / 3 of the dimension of the first motor mounting surface or the second motor mounting surface.

[0022] Optionally, the top module further includes tensioning wheels, which are respectively installed at the two ends of the first side, for tensioning the first synchronous belt and the second synchronous belt, wherein the tensioning wheels are located outside the drive motor on the same side along the thickness direction of the first side.

[0023] Optionally, the sidewalls of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion include a first inner wall located on the outer side of the first edge, and a second inner wall and a third inner wall adjacent to the first inner wall, wherein the second inner wall and the third inner wall form an open structure on the inner side of the first edge.

[0024] Optionally, at least a portion of the bottom region of the inner side of the first edge is recessed outward to form a recessed space, and the recessed space extends in the extending direction of the first edge to the region where the first mounting part and the second mounting part are located; a portion of the second synchronous belt is located in the recessed space.

[0025] Optionally, it also includes a bearing housing and a supporting bearing. The first side is respectively equipped with the bearing housing on the side where the drive shafts of the first drive motor and the second drive motor are located, and the end of each drive shaft is mounted on the corresponding bearing housing through the supporting bearing.

[0026] Optionally, the first edge is provided with a mounting boss protruding from the outer side of the first motor mounting surface;

[0027] The bearing housing located in the first drive motor includes a bearing mounting part and a connecting part. The connecting part has an inverted L-shaped structure, with one side connected to the bearing mounting part and the other side overlapping and fixed to the mounting boss; the support bearing is mounted on the bearing mounting part.

[0028] A second aspect of this application provides a top module for a 3D printer, including a frame, a Y-axis slide rail, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, and a print head;

[0029] The frame includes a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side arranged sequentially. The second side and the fourth side are respectively equipped with the Y-axis slide rails, and each Y-axis slide rail is slidably mounted with a Y-axis slider. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are respectively connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides. The print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail via the X-axis slider.

[0030] The second side and the fourth side each have a strip-shaped hollow structure in the middle area of ​​the height direction. The extension direction of the strip-shaped hollow structure is consistent with the extension direction of the Y-axis slide rail. The Y-axis slide rail corresponds to the strip-shaped hollow structure along the height direction, and a part of the Y-axis slider is located in the strip-shaped hollow structure.

[0031] Optionally, the second side and the fourth side are divided into an upper part and a lower part by the strip-shaped hollow structure, and in the height direction of the frame, the ratio of the height dimension of the strip-shaped hollow structure to the dimension of the upper part and / or the lower part is 1 to 1.5.

[0032] Optionally, the two ends of the second side are respectively a first corner for connecting the first side and a second corner for connecting the third side, and the two ends of the fourth side are respectively a fourth corner for connecting the first side and a third corner for connecting the third side. Each corner has an inwardly protruding mounting step, and the mounting step has a fixing groove. The two ends of the Y-axis slide rail are respectively fixedly installed in the fixing grooves on the two corresponding corners.

[0033] Optionally, it also includes a Y-rail clamping member, which is installed at each of the mounting steps, and the Y-axis slide rail is clamped to the fixing groove by the Y-rail clamping member.

[0034] Optionally, on the outer surfaces of the second side and the fourth side, reinforcing ribs protruding outward are provided at the upper and lower edges, at the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, and at the positions between the upper and lower edges and the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, so that multiple local recessed structures are formed on the outer surfaces.

[0035] Optionally, at least a portion of the upper edges of the second side and the fourth side are lower than the upper edges of the respective corners, and at least a portion of the lower edges of the second side and the fourth side are higher than the lower edges of the respective corners, such that the height dimension of at least a portion of the second side and the fourth side is smaller than the height dimension of the respective corners.

[0036] A third aspect of this application provides a top module for a 3D printer, including a frame, a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a Y-axis slide rail, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, a first synchronous belt, a second synchronous belt, and a print head. The Y-axis slide rails are respectively installed inside the frame near the left and right sides, and the Y-axis sliders are mounted on the Y-axis slide rails. The two ends of the X-axis slide rails are respectively connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides, and the print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rails via the X-axis sliders. Both ends of the first synchronous belt and both ends of the second synchronous belt are connected to the X-axis sliders. In the height direction, the first synchronous belt is located above, and the second synchronous belt is located below. The first drive motor drives and cooperates with the first synchronous belt, and the second drive motor drives and cooperates with the second synchronous belt. The first drive motor is installed from bottom to top onto the frame, and the second drive motor is installed from top to bottom onto the frame. The mounting surface of the first motor for mounting the first drive motor is higher than the second synchronous belt, and the mounting surface of the second motor for mounting the second drive motor is lower than the first synchronous belt.

[0037] Optionally, the frame has a first side portion located at the rear side position, and both the first drive motor and the second drive motor are mounted to the first side portion. The first side portion forms a first mounting portion on the bottom surface at one end region and a second mounting portion on the top surface at the other end region. Both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are provided with through holes.

[0038] The first drive motor is mounted on the first mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the first mounting part; the second drive motor is mounted on the second mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the second mounting part.

[0039] Optionally, both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are groove structures. The first mounting portion is formed by the bottom surface of the first side recessed upward at one end region, and the second mounting portion is formed by the top surface of the first side recessed at the other end region. The bottom surfaces of the two groove structures respectively form the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface, and each bottom surface is provided with a corresponding through hole.

[0040] In the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface is between 0 and 15 mm.

[0041] Optionally, in the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface, the second motor mounting surface and the upper end surface of the first side is between 5 and 20 mm.

[0042] Optionally, the portion of the inner wall of the first side portion located at the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion protrudes into the interior of the frame from the middle section; in the projection of the first side portion along its length, the projections of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion overlap with the projection of the middle section, wherein in the dimension of the first side portion along its thickness, the dimension of the overlapping region accounts for more than 2 / 3 of the dimension of the first motor mounting surface or the second motor mounting surface.

[0043] Optionally, the top module further includes tensioning wheels, which are respectively installed at the two ends of the first side, for tensioning the first synchronous belt and the second synchronous belt, wherein the tensioning wheels are located outside the drive motor on the same side along the thickness direction of the first side.

[0044] Optionally, the sidewalls of the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove each include a first inner sidewall located on the outer side of the first edge, and a second inner sidewall and a third inner sidewall adjacent to the first inner sidewall, wherein the second inner sidewall and the third inner sidewall form an open structure on the inner side of the first edge.

[0045] Optionally, at least a portion of the bottom region of the inner side of the first edge is recessed outward to form a recessed space, and the recessed space extends in the extending direction of the first edge to the region where the first mounting part and the second mounting part are located; a portion of the second synchronous belt is located in the recessed space.

[0046] Optionally, it also includes a bearing housing and a supporting bearing. The first side is respectively equipped with the bearing housing on the side where the drive shafts of the first drive motor and the second drive motor are located, and the end of each drive shaft is mounted on the corresponding bearing housing through the supporting bearing.

[0047] Optionally, the first edge is provided with a mounting boss protruding from the outer side of the first motor mounting surface;

[0048] The bearing housing located in the first drive motor includes a bearing mounting part and a connecting part. The connecting part has an inverted L-shaped structure, with one side connected to the bearing mounting part and the other side overlapping and fixed to the mounting boss; the support bearing is mounted on the bearing mounting part.

[0049] A fourth aspect of this application provides a 3D printer, characterized in that it includes a top module as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0050] In the first aspect, the top module of this application, serving as the top module of a 3D printer, has an independent square frame. A strip-shaped hollow structure is provided in the middle area between the second and fourth sides where the Y-axis slide rail is mounted. The Y-axis slide rail is positioned at this strip-shaped hollow structure, allowing part of the Y-axis slider to be located within it. This enables the Y-axis slider to fully utilize the thickness space of the second and fourth sides, thereby reducing the space occupied inside the frame while maintaining a fixed X-axis travel of the print head. Simultaneously, the first and second synchronous belts are arranged vertically, with the first and second drive motors mounted facing upwards and downwards respectively. The first drive motor is mounted downwards, and its mounting surface is higher than the second synchronous belt, while its mounting surface is lower. This allows the upper second drive motor to utilize the space of the first synchronous belt on the lower first drive motor, and the lower first drive motor to utilize the second synchronous belt mounted on the upper second drive motor. Thus, each synchronous belt and drive motor utilizes the height dimension of the frame as much as possible, reducing the overall height of the top module and consequently the overall height of the 3D printer. Therefore, the above design reduces the overall size of the machine and improves space utilization. Furthermore, the strip-shaped perforated structure on the second and fourth sides reduces the overall weight, facilitating the development of a lighter and smaller machine.

[0051] Secondly, by setting the strip-shaped hollow structure in the middle area of ​​the second and fourth sides, it is possible to reduce the overall size of the machine while ensuring the strength and reliability of the second and fourth sides, and ensuring the stability of the print head movement.

[0052] Thirdly, as an independent module of the 3D printer, the square frame serves as the support for the module. It provides more flexible installation space during the installation of the various components of the top module, thereby improving assembly efficiency. After the other components are installed, it can be directly installed as a whole on the column of the bottom printing cavity. In other words, the frame directly serves as part of the external frame of the 3D printer, which is beneficial for disassembly and assembly during maintenance of the top module.

[0053] Other beneficial effects of this application will be explained in detail through the introduction of specific technical features and technical solutions in the specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the beneficial technical effects brought about by the technical features and technical solutions through the introduction of these technical features and technical solutions. Attached Figure Description

[0054] The preferred embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] Figure 1 shows a structural schematic diagram from one perspective of a preferred embodiment of the top module provided in this application;

[0056] Figure 2 is a magnified view of part I in Figure 1;

[0057] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 from another perspective;

[0058] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

[0059] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the frame in the top module provided in this application;

[0060] Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of point II in Figure 5;

[0061] Figure 7 is a partial structural schematic diagram of another angle of a preferred embodiment of the frame shown in Figure 5;

[0062] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5;

[0063] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 5;

[0064] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the 3D printer provided in this application.

[0065] Illustration: 100, Top module; 110, Frame; 111, First side; 1114, Motor mounting structure; 1114a, Through hole; 1114b, First motor mounting surface; 1114c, Second motor mounting surface; 1114d, First mounting part; 1114e, Second mounting part; 1116, Recessed space; 1117, Mounting boss; 112, First corner; 1121, Mounting step; 1121a, Fixing groove; 113, Second side; 1131, Strip-shaped hollow structure; 1132, Upper part; 1133, Lower part; 1134, Reinforcing rib; 114, Second corner; 115, Third side; 116, Third corner; 117, Fourth side; 118, Fourth corner; 121. First drive motor; 122. Second drive motor; 123. First synchronous belt; 124. Second synchronous belt; 125. Y-axis slide rail; 1291. Idler pulley; 1292. Synchronous pulley; 1293. Tensioner pulley; 140. Y-rail clamping component; 150. Bearing housing; 160. Support bearing. Detailed Implementation

[0066] The present application is described below based on embodiments, but the present application is not limited to these embodiments. In the following detailed description of the present application, some specific details are described in detail, but well-known methods, processes, flows, and elements are not described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the substance of the present application.

[0067] Furthermore, those skilled in the art should understand that the accompanying drawings provided herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0068] Unless the context explicitly requires it, the words "comprising," "including," and similar terms throughout the specification and claims should be interpreted as encompassing rather than being exclusive or exhaustive; that is, meaning "including but not limited to."

[0069] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0070] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the X-axis is parallel to the length of the first and third sides, the Y-axis is parallel to the length of the second and fourth sides, and the Z-axis is perpendicular to the plane where the X and Y axes are located. Specifically, when the 3D printer is in use, the X and Y axes are basically horizontal, and the Z-axis is basically vertical, i.e., the height direction. Top and bottom are described in terms of their orientation in the 3D printer's operating state, i.e., top refers to the part above the component and bottom refers to the part below the component. "Front," "back," "left," and "right" refer to the side where the door frame is located (i.e., the side where the third side is located) is the front side when the 3D printer is working, and the opposite side (i.e., the side where the first side is located) is the back side. When the operator is facing the 3D printer, the left side (i.e., the side where the fourth side is located) is the "left," and the right side (i.e., the side where the second side is located) is the "right." "Inner" and "outer" are also described in terms of the inside and outside of the structure enclosed by the frame. The thickness directions of the first, second, third, and fourth sides refer to their respective inward and outward directions. Specifically, the thickness directions of the first and third sides are parallel to the Y-axis, while the thickness directions of the second and fourth sides are parallel to the X-axis.

[0071] The specific embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072]

Example 1

[0073] This application provides a top module 100 for a 3D printer, which enables a compact layout of the components within the 3D printer. Referring to Figures 1-10, the top module 100 includes: a frame 110, a Y-axis slide rail 125, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, and a print head (not shown in the figures). The frame 110 includes a first side 111, a second side 113, a third side 115, and a fourth side 117 arranged sequentially, i.e., the first side 111, the second side 113, the third side 115, and the fourth side 117 are connected end-to-end to form a square frame. The first side 111 and the third side 115 are opposite each other, and the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 are opposite each other. The extending directions of the first side 111 and the third side 115 are substantially parallel to the X-axis, and the extending directions of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 are substantially parallel to the Y-axis. The second side 113 and the fourth side 117 are each equipped with a Y-axis slide rail 125, and a Y-axis slider is slidably mounted on each Y-axis slide rail. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides. The print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail via the X-axis slider. In other words, the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 are each equipped with a Y-axis slide rail 125. Each Y-axis slide rail 125 corresponds to its Y-axis slider, forming a set of Y-axis components. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are connected to two Y-axis sliders, and the X-axis sliders are slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail. The print head is connected to the X-axis slider. Thus, the print head can slide along the X-axis slide rail with the X-axis slider, and simultaneously move in the Y-axis direction with the Y-axis slider sliding along the Y-axis slide rail 125, thereby achieving movement of the print head in the XY direction. The second side 113 and the fourth side 117 have essentially the same structure, and they are symmetrical about the center plane of the frame. Therefore, unless explicitly shown that they have different structures, the following description will use the second side 113 as an example. The structure of the fourth side 117 can be adapted, including the interaction structure between the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 and the Y-axis assembly. The center plane of the frame 110 refers to the central plane parallel to the Y-axis and the height direction, that is, this central plane is basically perpendicular to the extension direction (or length direction) of the first side 111 and the third side 115.

[0074] The second side 113 and the fourth side 117 each have a strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 in the middle area of ​​the height direction. The extension direction of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 is consistent with the extension direction of the Y-axis slide rail. The Y-axis slide rail 125 corresponds to the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 along the height direction, and a part of the Y-axis slider is located in the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. As shown in Figures 3-5, the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 are divided into an upper part 1132 and a lower part 1133 by a strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. That is, the second side 113 is divided into three parts in the height direction: the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 in the middle, the upper part 1132 above the strip-shaped hollow structure, and the lower part 1133 below the strip-shaped hollow structure. The strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 runs through the thickness direction of the second side and the fourth side. In this embodiment, the Y-axis slide rail 125 is located at the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. The axis of the Y-axis slide rail 125 and the center line of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 (referring to the center line parallel to the Y-axis direction) are basically consistent in the height direction, that is, basically located on the same horizontal plane. Part of the structure of the Y-axis slider can be located inside the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131.

[0075] In the above embodiment, in a first aspect, the top module 100 of the 3D printer has an independent square frame, and a strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 is provided in the middle area of ​​the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 where the Y-axis slide rail is installed. The Y-axis slide rail 125 is set at the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, so that part of the Y-axis slider can be located in the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. This allows the Y-axis slider to make full use of the thickness space of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, reducing the occupation of the internal space of the frame 110 with a fixed X-axis travel of the print head, thereby reducing the size of the whole machine and improving space utilization. Furthermore, the strip-shaped hollow structure of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 can also reduce the weight of the whole machine, which is conducive to the development of a lightweight and compact machine. Secondly, by setting the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 in the middle area between the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, the overall size of the machine can be reduced while ensuring the strength and reliability of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, ensuring the stability of the print head movement. The strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 can also adjust the natural frequency of the frame 110, making it different from the frequencies of other modules to avoid resonance. At the same time, setting the Y-axis slide rail 125 at the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 is equivalent to adding a crossbeam to the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 respectively, which strengthens the frame 110 and further improves the overall rigidity of the frame 110. In particular, the strength near the Y-axis slide rail 125 is high, which can effectively resist the inertial deformation during the reciprocating motion in the X-axis direction when the print head moves along the X-axis direction. Thirdly, the top module 100, as an independent module, has a square frame that serves as the support for the entire module. This provides more flexible installation space during the installation of the various components of the top module 100, thereby improving assembly efficiency. After the other components are installed, it can be directly installed as a whole on the column of the bottom printing cavity. In other words, the frame directly serves as part of the external frame of the 3D printer, which also facilitates the disassembly and assembly of the top module 100 during maintenance.

[0076] In the aforementioned frame 110, the first side 111, the second side 113, the third side 115, and the fourth side 117 can each be a single-layer plate structure or a double-layer plate structure, such as some being single-layer plate structures and some being double-layer plate structures. Of course, they can also be other structures. Preferably, the second side 113, the third side 115, and the fourth side 117 are all single-layer plate structures to further increase the internal space of the frame 10. Regardless of the form of the frame 110, the entire frame 110 is a one-piece molded structure, such as by integral casting, and then processing individual mounting surfaces or mounting structures (such as the fixing groove, motor mounting surface, first mounting part, second mounting part, etc., as described below). In one embodiment, the two ends of the second side 113 are a first corner 112 for connecting the first side 111 and a second corner 114 for connecting the third side 115, respectively. The two ends of the fourth side 117 are a fourth corner 118 for connecting the first side 111 and a fourth corner 116 for connecting the third side 115, respectively. That is, the first side 111 and the second side 113 are connected by the first corner 112, the second side 113 and the third side 115 are connected by the second corner 114, the third side 115 and the fourth side 117 are connected by the third corner 116, and the fourth side 117 and the first side 111 are connected by the fourth corner 118. By setting a special corner structure, the rigidity of the entire frame 110 can be increased, and the stability of the printhead movement can be improved.

[0077] In one specific embodiment, the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 are divided into an upper part 1132 and a lower part 1133 by a strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. In the height direction of the frame 110, the ratio of the height dimension D9 of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 to the height dimension D81 of the upper part 1132 and / or the height dimension D82 of the lower part 1133 is between 1 and 1.5, that is, the ratio of the height dimension D9 of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 to the height dimension D81 of the upper part 1132 is between 1 and 1.5, or the ratio of the height dimension D9 of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 to the height dimension D82 of the lower part 1133 is between 1 and 1.5; or the ratio of the height dimension D9 of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 to the height dimension D81 of the upper part 1132 and the ratio of the height dimension D9 of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 to the height dimension D82 of the lower part 1133 are both between 1 and 1.5. Strip-shaped hollow structure. More preferably, in most of the structure of the second side 113, as shown in Figure 9, on the middle portion of the second side 113 in the Y-axis direction, the upper part 1132 and the lower part 1133 have equal dimensions in the height direction, i.e., D81 and D82 are equal, both 22mm, and the height dimension D9 of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 is 30mm. This arrangement further increases the strength of the second and fourth sides, especially when the second and fourth sides are single-layer plate structures, thereby improving the overall strength of the frame 110 and providing a stable mounting reference for the Y-axis slide rail 125 and other components.

[0078] The Y-axis slide rail 125 can be at least partially located on the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. That is, when projected along the Z-axis (or the height direction), the Y-axis slide rail 125 and the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131 (or the second side 113) have an overlapping area. Specifically, the axis of the Y-axis slide rail 125 can be located on the center plane of the second side 113 (referring to the center plane of the second side perpendicular to its thickness direction), that is, when projected along the Z-axis, the axis of the Y-axis slide rail coincides with the center plane of the second side. Alternatively, only the edge portion of the Y-axis slide rail 125 (referring to one side edge portion along the thickness direction of the second side 113) can be located on the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, and the axis of the Y-axis slide rail 125 can be located inside the center plane of the second side 113. In a preferred embodiment, the Y-axis slide rail 125 is entirely located inside the second side 113. That is, when projected along the Z-axis, the Y-axis slide rail and the strip-shaped hollow structure do not overlap, but are entirely located inside the strip-shaped hollow structure, i.e., entirely inside the second side 113.

[0079] The Y-axis slide rail can be directly installed on the second side 113 and the fourth side 117. For example, mounting holes are provided at both ends of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, and the Y-axis slide rail is directly locked onto the corresponding side through the mounting holes. In embodiments where the frame 110 includes multiple corners, a Y-rail mounting structure is provided at each corner. The Y-rail mounting structure can be a mounting step, such as a mounting step 1121 protruding from the inner side of each corner, with both ends of the Y-axis slide rail 125 overlapping the corresponding set of mounting steps 1121. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting step 1121 is further provided with a fixing groove 1121a, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Each corner has an inwardly protruding mounting step 1121, and the mounting step 1121 has a fixing groove 1121a. The fixing groove 1121a has an upward-facing opening, meaning it can be formed by a downward indentation on the upper surface of the mounting step 1121. The fixing groove 1121a penetrates the inner end face of the mounting step 1121 in the Y-axis direction (referring to the opposite end faces of two mounting steps 1121 located at both ends of the same side). The two ends of the Y-axis slide rail 125 are respectively fixedly mounted to the fixing grooves 1121a on the two corresponding corners. Specifically, the Y-axis slide rail 125 mounted on the second side can be referred to as the first Y-axis slide rail, and the Y-axis slide rail mounted on the fourth side 117 can be referred to as the second Y-axis slide rail. One end of the first Y-axis slide rail is fixed to the fixing groove 1121a of the first corner 112, and the other end is fixed to the fixing groove 1121a of the second corner 114; one end of the second Y-axis slide rail is fixed to the fixing groove 1121a of the third corner 116, and the other end is fixed to the fixing groove 1121a of the fourth corner 118. The fixing groove 1121a can limit the Y-axis slide rail 125 to a certain extent, thereby increasing the positioning accuracy of the Y-axis slide rail 125.

[0080] In embodiments where a fixing groove 1121a is provided, the fixing groove 1121a can be a cylindrical groove or other structures, such as a V-shaped groove or a square groove. Preferably, the Y-axis slide rail 125 is a cylindrical rod structure, and the fixing groove 1121a is a cylindrical groove that fits the Y-axis slide rail 125. In some embodiments, the Y-axis slide rail 125 has a uniform cross-section structure; in other embodiments, the Y-axis slide rail 125 has a stepped rod structure, meaning that the cross-section at both ends of the Y-axis slide rail 125 is not larger or smaller than that at the middle part. In this case, the fixing groove 1121a only needs to mate with the two ends.

[0081] The Y-axis slide rail 125 can be fixed to the fixing groove 1121a by welding, direct screw connection, interference fit, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the top module 100 also includes a Y-axis rail clamping member 140. Referring to Figure 4, a Y-axis rail clamping member 140 is installed at each mounting step 1121, and the Y-axis slide rail 125 is clamped to the fixing groove 1121a by the Y-axis rail clamping member 140. Specifically, the two ends of the Y-axis slide rail 125 are respectively installed in a corresponding set of fixing grooves 1121a, and then the Y-axis rail clamping member 140 is installed in the groove of the fixing groove 1121a and locked with the mounting step 1121 to clamp the Y-axis slide rail 125. In this way, the reliability of the installation of the Y-axis slide rail 125 can be increased. For example, the Y-rail clamping member 140 can be a plate structure, such as a flat plate structure, or a plate structure combining a flat plate portion and an arc-shaped plate portion, with the arc-shaped plate portion protruding away from the fixing groove 1121a. Preferably, the arc-shaped plate portion is adapted to the end shape of the Y-axis slide rail 125.

[0082] On the outer surfaces of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, reinforcing ribs 1134 protruding outward are provided at the upper and lower edges, at the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, and at the positions between the upper and lower edges and the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, forming multiple local recessed structures on the outer surfaces. As shown in Figures 3-5, on the second side 113, reinforcing ribs 1134 (denoted as edge ribs) are provided on the upper and lower edges of its outer surface (i.e., the upper edge of the upper part 1132 and the lower edge of the lower part 1133), and reinforcing ribs 1134 (denoted as edge ribs) are provided on the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, especially the upper and lower edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. Reinforcing ribs 1134 (denoted as intermediate ribs) are provided between the upper edge of the outer surface and the upper edge of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, and between the lower edge of the outer surface and the lower edge of the strip-shaped hollow structure 1131. More preferably, the two ends of the intermediate rib are connected to the edge ribs on the corresponding sides, thereby forming a local recessed structure between these reinforcing ribs 1134. That is, on the outer surfaces of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, the protruding reinforcing ribs 1134 form a plurality of local recessed structures. In this way, the strength of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 can be further increased. Moreover, through this local recessed structure, the natural frequency of the frame 110 can be adjusted so that it is staggered from the natural frequency of other modules, avoiding resonance, and thus further improving the printing accuracy of the print head.

[0083] At least a portion of the upper edges of the second side portion 113 and the fourth side portion 117 are lower than the upper edges of the respective corner portions, and at least a portion of the lower edges of the second side portion 113 and the fourth side portion 117 are higher than the lower edges of the respective corner portions, such that the height dimension of at least a portion of the second side portion 113 and the fourth side portion 117 is smaller than the height dimension of the respective corner portions, thereby forming an accommodating space in the area with the lower upper edge and the higher lower edge. This accommodating space can be used to arrange other components inside the 3D printer's printing cavity, such as circuit boards, light boards, or cavity temperature sensors.

[0084] The Y-axis slide rail 125 is not limited to the cylindrical rod structure described in the above embodiments, but can also be a square rod structure, etc. The Y-axis slider is provided with a Y-axis slot, which can be a hole structure adapted to the Y-axis slide rail 125, or a slot structure adapted to the Y-axis slide rail 125. Similarly, the X-axis slide rail can also be a cylindrical rod structure or a square rod structure. The X-axis slider is provided with an X-axis slot adapted to the X-axis slide rail, which can be a hole structure adapted to the X-axis slide rail, or a slot structure adapted to the X-axis slide rail.

[0085]

Example 2

[0086] In each of the embodiments of Example 1 above, the sliding of the X-axis slider and the Y-axis slider can be driven by a drive motor, which is mounted on the frame 110.

[0087] The top module 100 of the above embodiment can be applied to 3D printers with various architectures. When applied to a core-XY architecture 3D printer, the sliding of the X-axis slider and the Y-axis slider is driven by the cooperation of a synchronous belt and a drive motor. Specifically, the top module 100 also includes a first drive motor 121, a second drive motor 122, a first synchronous belt 123, and a second synchronous belt 124. Both ends of the first synchronous belt 123 and both ends of the second synchronous belt 124 are connected to the X-axis slider. The first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are mounted on the frame 110, and the first The drive motor 121 works in conjunction with the first synchronous belt 123, and the second drive motor 122 works in conjunction with the second synchronous belt 124. That is, the first synchronous belt 123 bypasses the first drive motor 121, and its two ends are connected to both sides of the X-axis slider, so that the first synchronous belt 123 is driven to move by the first drive motor 121; the second synchronous belt 124 bypasses the second drive motor 122, and its two ends are connected to both sides of the X-axis slider, so that the second synchronous belt 124 is driven to move by the second drive motor 122, and thus the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 together drive the X-axis slider to move.

[0088] In one embodiment, the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 can both be suspended below the frame 110 or installed on the outside of the frame 110. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are installed on the frame 110 from the bottom and from the top, respectively. Referring to Figures 1 to 8, the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 are arranged vertically, that is, in the height direction, the first synchronous belt 123 is located above and the second synchronous belt 124 is located below; the first drive motor 121 is installed from bottom to top onto the frame 110, and the second drive motor 122 is installed from top to bottom onto the frame 110. The first motor mounting surface 1114b for mounting the first drive motor 121 is higher than the second synchronous belt 124, and the second motor mounting surface 1114c for mounting the second drive motor 122 is lower than the first synchronous belt 123. In other words, the frame 110 is equipped with... The device has two motor mounting structures 1114, each having a first motor mounting surface 1114b and a second motor mounting surface 1114c. The first motor mounting surface 1114b faces downward and is higher than the second synchronous belt 124 located below it. The second motor mounting surface 1114c faces upward and is lower than the first synchronous belt 123 located above it. In this way, the two drive motors can make full use of the space provided by the synchronous belt in the height direction. Furthermore, since the two drive motors are located below the frame 110, the frame itself can also make full use of the height and thickness dimensions, making the structure of the entire top module 100 more compact and thus minimizing the overall size of the 3D printer.

[0089] With the distance between the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 fixed, installing the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 in different directions can reduce the length of the motor protruding from the frame 110, thereby reducing the deformation of the installation position and improving the transmission accuracy. Specifically, the first synchronous belt 123 is located above, and the second synchronous belt 124 is located below; the first drive motor 121 is installed on the frame 110 from bottom to top and drives the first synchronous belt 123 to move through the drive shaft. The length of the drive shaft of the first drive motor 121 is less than the length of the body of the first drive motor 121. This arrangement allows the mounting surface of the first drive motor 121 to be positioned close to the center of the first edge 111 along the Z direction (i.e., the height direction), thereby achieving higher installation stability. The second drive motor 122 is mounted on the frame 110 from top to bottom and drives the second synchronous belt 124 to move through the drive shaft. The length of the drive shaft of the second drive motor 122 is less than the length of the body of the second drive motor 122. This arrangement allows the mounting surface of the second drive motor 122 to be set close to the center of the first side 111 along the Z direction, thereby achieving higher installation stability.

[0090] In one embodiment, the distance D10 between the first motor mounting surface 1114b and the second motor mounting surface 1114c in the height direction is between 0 and 15 mm, as shown in FIG8. More preferably, both mounting surfaces are located in the upper region of the first side 111 in the height direction. For example, when the first side 111 has an inverted L-shaped structure, both mounting surfaces are located in the horizontal part of the inverted L-shaped structure, so as to make fuller use of the dimensions of the first side 111 in the height direction and increase the stability of the two drive motors.

[0091] Understandably, the top module 100 also includes an idler pulley 1291 and a synchronous pulley 1292. The drive shafts of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are respectively fitted with synchronous pulleys 1292, and the first synchronous belt and the second synchronous belt 124 are respectively wound around the corresponding synchronous pulleys 1292. The turning positions of the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 are respectively achieved by the idler pulley 1291. For example, in the embodiment where both the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are installed on the first side 111, as shown in FIG4, the first corner 112 and the fourth corner 118 can be used. Idler wheels 1291 are installed at positions corresponding to the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124, respectively. That is, two idler wheels 1291 are arranged vertically at each corner. Idler wheels 1291 are installed at the second corner 114 corresponding to the second synchronous belt 124 and at the third corner 116 corresponding to the first synchronous belt 123. Idler wheels 1291 are also provided on the two Y-axis sliders at positions corresponding to the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124, respectively. The first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 pass around the idler wheels 1291 at their respective turning positions to achieve turning.

[0092] In some embodiments, to precisely control the accuracy of the two synchronous belt drives and improve the movement accuracy of the printhead, the top module 100 also includes a tensioning wheel 1293, as shown in Figure 4. The tensioning wheel 1293 is installed on the frame 110, and its specific position can be selected at any position where the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 pass. Preferably, tensioning wheels 1293 are installed at the two ends of the first side 111, respectively, for tensioning the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124. That is, there are two tensioning wheels 1293, located at the two ends of the first side 111. The first synchronous belt 123 passes around the tensioning wheel 1293 near the first drive motor 121, and the second synchronous belt 124 passes around the tensioning wheel near the second drive motor 122, so that the tension of the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 can be controlled by adjusting the tensioning wheels 1293. Furthermore, along the thickness direction of the first side 111, each tensioning wheel 1293 is located outside the drive motor on the same side. That is, the tensioning wheel 1293 on the side of the first drive motor 121 is located on the side of the first drive motor 121 away from the interior of the frame 110, and the tensioning wheel 1293 on the side of the second drive motor 122 is located on the side of the second drive motor 122 away from the interior of the frame 110. This arrangement can better improve the space utilization of the top module 100. Understandably, the top module 100 also includes a tensioning assembly, on which the tensioning wheel is mounted. The tensioning wheel tensions the first synchronous belt 123 or the second synchronous belt 124 through the tensioning assembly. The specific structure of the tensioning assembly can be any of the existing technologies, such as a push-pull rod for adjusting the position of the tensioning wheel. Tensioning wheel mounting structures are respectively provided at the two ends of the first side 111, and the two tensioning wheels 1293 are respectively mounted on the two tensioning wheel mounting structures.

[0093] Referring to Figure 10, the working principle of the print head in the XY plane is illustrated. An X-axis slider is mounted on the X-axis slide rail of the 3D printer, and the print head is positioned on the X-axis slider. The Y-axis slider specifically includes a first Y-axis slider and a second Y-axis slider. The first Y-axis slider is mounted on the first Y-axis slide rail, and the second Y-axis slider is mounted on the second Y-axis slide rail. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are respectively mounted on the first Y-axis slider and the second Y-axis slider. A first drive motor and a second drive motor are respectively mounted on the two ends of the first side. The drive shaft of the first drive motor engages with a first synchronous belt, and the drive shaft of the second drive motor engages with a second synchronous belt. Furthermore, both ends of the first and second synchronous belts are connected to the X-axis slider (the ends of the synchronous belt can be directly connected to the X-axis slider, or indirectly connected through the print head; specific details are not limited here). These structures together form the core-XY architecture to control the movement of the print head in the X and Y axes. The principle of printhead (or X-axis slider) movement in the core-xy architecture is illustrated in Figure 10. In the figure, △A represents the displacement distance of the first synchronous belt, △B represents the displacement distance of the second synchronous belt, △X represents the displacement distance of the printhead in the X-axis direction, and △Y represents the displacement distance of the printhead in the Y-axis direction. The displacement relationships of △A, △B, △X, and △Y are as follows: △X = 1 / 2(△A + △B), △Y = 1 / 2(△A - △B). Therefore, by controlling the direction and speed of the first and second drive motors, △X and △Y, that is, the movement control of the printhead in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, can be achieved.

[0094] In one embodiment, the first side portion 111 is located at the rear side of the frame, and both the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are mounted to the first side portion 111. Specifically, the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are respectively mounted on the bottom surface (or lower side) and top surface (or upper side) of the first side portion 111. Preferably, a first mounting portion 1114d is formed on the bottom surface of the first side portion 111 at one end region, and a second mounting portion 11 is formed on the top surface of the first side portion 111 at the other end region. 14e, both the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are provided with through holes 1114a; as shown in Figures 5-8, Figures 5 and 6 show that the second mounting portion 1114e is provided at the left end of the first side portion 111, Figure 7 shows that the first mounting portion 1114d is provided at the right end of the first side portion 111 (described in the orientation shown in Figure 5), and Figure 8 shows that the second mounting portion 1114e and the first mounting portion 1114d are distributed at the left and right ends of the first side portion 111. The first drive motor 121 is mounted on the first mounting portion 1114d, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the first mounting portion 1114d; the second drive motor 122 is mounted on the second mounting portion 1114e, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the second mounting portion 1114e. Specifically, after the first drive motor 121 is installed in the first mounting portion 1114d, its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the first mounting portion 1114d and engages with the first synchronous belt 123. The second drive motor 122 is installed in the second mounting portion 1114e, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the second mounting portion 1114e and engages with the first synchronous belt 123. By forming the second mounting portion 1114e and the first mounting portion 1114d on the top and bottom surfaces at both ends of the first side portion 111 respectively, the space utilization rate of the drive motor in the height direction of the frame itself can be further improved.

[0095] In this embodiment, preferably, both the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are groove structures. Specifically, the first mounting portion 1114d is formed by the bottom surface of the first side portion 111 being recessed upward at one end region; the second mounting portion 1114e is formed by the top surface of the first side portion 111 being recessed downward at the other end region. The bottom surfaces of the two groove structures respectively form the corresponding first motor mounting surface 1114b and the second motor mounting surface 1114c, and the bottom surface of each groove structure is provided with a corresponding through hole 1114a. The bottom surface of the groove of the first mounting part 1114d forms the first motor mounting surface 1114b, and the bottom surface of the groove of the second mounting part 1114e forms the second motor mounting surface 1114c. By setting it into a groove structure, the first motor mounting surface 1114b is higher than the bottom surface of the middle part of the first side 111, and the second motor mounting surface 1114c is lower than the top surface of the middle part of the first side 111. In this way, the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 can further utilize the height dimension of the first side 111 to further reduce the height dimension of the entire top module 100.

[0096] In order to make fuller use of the space of the first side 111 in the Z-axis direction, the distance D11 between the first motor mounting surface 1114b, the second motor mounting surface 1114c and the upper end surface of the first side 111 in the height direction of the frame 110 is between 5 and 20 mm, as shown in Figure 8.

[0097] In one embodiment, the portion of the inner wall of the first side portion 111 located at the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e protrudes into the frame 110 from the middle section. In the projection along the length of the first side portion 111, the projections of the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e both overlap with the projection of the middle section of the first side portion 111. That is, on the first side portion 111, the two ends protrude inward from the middle section, meaning the middle portion of the inner wall of the first side portion 111 is recessed outward from the two ends. When the first motor mounting surface 1114d and the second mounting surface 1114e are located on these two protruding parts, the area of ​​the first motor mounting surface 1114b and the second motor mounting surface 1114c can be increased, thereby increasing the reliability of the installation of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122. Furthermore, this structure can fully utilize the internal space of the frame 110, because other components (such as a trash can) are installed on the inner side of the first side 111, making that space unusable for the printhead's working stroke. Therefore, this arrangement further improves the space utilization of the top module 100. Furthermore, in the thickness direction of the first side 111, the overlapping area occupies more than 2 / 3 of the size of the first motor mounting surface 1114b or the second motor mounting surface 1114c, such as 2 / 3, 3 / 4, or 4 / 5. This approach not only improves the space utilization of the first side 111 in terms of thickness and the internal space of the frame, but also maximizes the strength of the first side 111 and the stability of the drive motor installation.

[0098] In embodiments where the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are groove structures, the sidewalls of both the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e include a first inner wall located on the outer side of the first side portion 111, and a second inner wall and a third inner wall adjacent to the first inner wall. The second inner wall and the third inner wall form an open structure on the inner side of the first side portion, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are square grooves, each including a bottom wall (i.e., the groove bottom) and an inner wall. Each of the inner walls of the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e has an opening, meaning that their respective inner walls are not circumferentially closed structures. Each only includes three inner sidewalls connected in sequence: a second inner sidewall, a first inner sidewall, and a third inner sidewall. The open structure is opposite to the first inner sidewall and located on the side closer to the interior of the frame 110. This open structure not only facilitates the installation of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 but also improves the heat dissipation of each drive motor.

[0099] Referring to Figures 5 and 7, at least part of the bottom region of the inner side surface of the first side portion 111 is recessed outward to form a recessed space 1116. The recessed space 1116 extends in the extending direction of the first side portion 111 to the region where the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are located. That is, the first side portion 111 may form the recessed space 1116 only in a part of the section, or it may form the recessed space 1116 in the entire section. Viewed from the extending direction of the first side portion 111, the cross-section of the first side portion 111 has an inverted L-shaped structure. The horizontal part of the inverted L-shaped structure is located on the upper part of the first side portion 111, and the vertical part is located on the lower part of the first side portion 111, and connects to the outer side of the horizontal part relative to the frame 110, so that the recessed space 1116 of the inverted L-shaped structure is located on the inner side of the first side portion 111. In the embodiment where the second synchronization belt 124 is located below, a part of the second synchronization belt 124 is located in the recessed space 1116. The recessed space 1116 can also serve as a accommodating space for other functional components in the 3D printer. For example, functional components disposed in the recessed space 1116 can include: a nozzle assembly, a trash can, and an air duct module. By providing the recessed space 1116, the internal space utilization rate of the entire 3D printer can be further improved, and the first side 111 of the L-shaped structure can also increase the strength of the first side 111 and enhance the rigidity of the entire frame 110. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom of the grooves of the first mounting part 1114d and the second mounting part 1114e are located in the horizontal part of the L-shaped structure and protrude inward relative to the middle section of the horizontal part.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the top module 100 further includes a bearing seat 150 and a support bearing 160. The first side 111 is respectively equipped with bearing seats 150 on the side where the drive shafts of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are located. The ends of each drive shaft are mounted on the corresponding bearing seats 150 via the support bearings 160. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, after the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are respectively mounted on the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e, their respective drive shafts pass through the corresponding through holes 1114a and the synchronous pulley 1292, and then pass through the support bearings 160. Each support bearing 160 is fixed to the frame 110 via the bearing seat 150, thereby supporting the cantilever ends of each drive shaft. In this way, the cantilever ends of each drive motor drive shaft are effectively supported, increasing the stability of the drive motor installation and improving the rotational accuracy during operation, thereby increasing the printing accuracy of the 3D printer.

[0101] The bearing housing 150 can be locked to the first side portion 111 by fasteners such as screws. The first side portion 111 has a mounting boss 1117 protruding from the outer side of the first motor mounting surface 1114b. The bearing housing 150 located on the first drive motor 121 includes a bearing mounting portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion has an L-shaped structure, with one side connected to the bearing mounting portion and the other side overlapping and fixed to the mounting boss 1117. The support bearing 160 is mounted on the bearing mounting portion. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the upper surface of the end of the first side portion 111 where the first drive motor 121 is mounted has a protruding mounting boss 1117. The bearing mounting portion has a ring-shaped structure, adapted to the support bearing 160. The vertical side of the connecting portion connects to the bearing mounting portion, and the horizontal part overlaps the mounting boss 1117. This structure not only provides some protection for the support bearing 160 through the mounting boss 1117 but also increases the stability of the support bearing 160's installation. Similarly, the first side 111 is provided with a second mounting boss protruding from the outer side of the second motor mounting surface 1114c; the bearing seat 150 located in the second drive motor 122 can have the same structure as the bearing seat 150 located in the first drive motor 121, except that the connecting part of the bearing seat located in the second drive motor 122 is fixed to the second mounting boss.

[0102]

Example 3

[0103] In another embodiment of this application, the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 in the top module 100 can be the structure in Embodiment 1, or other structures. For example, the second side 113 and the fourth side 117 can be provided with a strip-shaped hollow structure 1131, and two Y-axis slide rails 125 can be respectively installed on the inner side of the second side 113 and the fourth side 117. Specifically, the Y-rail installation structure can also be provided at the corresponding corner as in the embodiment. Regardless of the method adopted for the second side 113 and the fourth side 117, the top module 100 can include a frame 110, a first drive motor 121, a second drive motor 122, a Y-axis slide rail 125, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, a first synchronous belt 123, a second synchronous belt 124, and a print head (not shown in the figure). Inside the frame 110, near the left and right sides, Y-axis slide rails 125 are installed, with Y-axis sliders mounted on them. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides, and the print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail via the X-axis sliders. Both ends of the first synchronous belt 123 and the two ends of the second synchronous belt 124 are connected to the X-axis sliders; that is, in the height direction, the first synchronous belt 123 is located above, and the second synchronous belt 124 is located below. The first drive motor 121 is installed from bottom to top onto the frame 110, and the second drive motor 122 is installed from top to bottom onto the frame 110. The first motor mounting surface 1114b for mounting the first drive motor 121 is higher than the second synchronous belt 124, and the second motor mounting surface 1114c for mounting the second drive motor 122 is higher than the second synchronous belt 124. The frame 110 is equipped with two motor mounting structures 1114, which are located below the first synchronous belt 123. Each motor mounting structure 1114 has a first motor mounting surface 1114b and a second motor mounting surface 1114c. The first motor mounting surface 1114b faces downward and is higher than the second synchronous belt 124 located below. The second motor mounting surface 1114c faces upward and is lower than the first synchronous belt 123 located above. In this way, the two drive motors can make full use of the space of the synchronous belt in the height direction. Since the two drive motors are located below the frame 110, the height and thickness space of the frame itself can also be fully utilized, making the structure of the entire top module 100 more compact and thus minimizing the overall size of the 3D printer.

[0104] With the distance between the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 fixed, installing the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 in different directions can reduce the length of the motor protruding from the frame 110, thereby reducing the deformation of the installation position and improving the transmission accuracy. Specifically, the first synchronous belt 123 is located above, and the second synchronous belt 124 is located below; the first drive motor 121 is installed on the frame 110 from bottom to top and drives the first synchronous belt 123 to move through the drive shaft. The length of the drive shaft of the first drive motor 121 is less than the length of the body of the first drive motor 121. This arrangement allows the mounting surface of the first drive motor 121 to be positioned close to the center of the first edge 111 along the Z direction (i.e., the height direction), thereby achieving higher installation stability. The second drive motor 122 is mounted on the frame 110 from top to bottom and drives the second synchronous belt 124 to move through the drive shaft. The length of the drive shaft of the second drive motor 122 is less than the length of the body of the second drive motor 122. This arrangement allows the mounting surface of the second drive motor 122 to be set close to the center of the first side 111 along the Z direction, thereby achieving higher installation stability.

[0105] In one embodiment, the distance D10 between the first motor mounting surface 1114b and the second motor mounting surface 1114c in the height direction is between 0 and 15 mm, as shown in FIG8. More preferably, both mounting surfaces are located in the upper region of the first side 111 in the height direction. For example, when the first side 111 has an inverted L-shaped structure, both mounting surfaces are located in the horizontal part of the inverted L-shaped structure, so as to make fuller use of the dimensions of the first side 111 in the height direction and increase the stability of the two drive motors.

[0106] Understandably, the top module 100 also includes an idler pulley 1291 and a synchronous pulley 1292. The drive shafts of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are respectively fitted with synchronous pulleys 1292, and the first synchronous belt and the second synchronous belt 124 are respectively wound around the corresponding synchronous pulleys 1292. The turning positions of the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 are respectively achieved by the idler pulley 1291. For example, in the embodiment where both the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are installed on the first side 111, as shown in FIG4, the first corner 112 and the fourth corner 118 can be used. Idler wheels 1291 are installed at positions corresponding to the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124, respectively. That is, two idler wheels 1291 are arranged vertically at each corner. Idler wheels 1291 are installed at the second corner 114 corresponding to the second synchronous belt 124 and at the third corner 116 corresponding to the first synchronous belt 123. Idler wheels 1291 are also provided on the two Y-axis sliders at positions corresponding to the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124, respectively. The first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 pass around the idler wheels 1291 at their respective turning positions to achieve turning.

[0107] In some embodiments, to precisely control the accuracy of the two synchronous belt drives and improve the movement accuracy of the printhead, the top module 100 also includes a tensioning wheel 1293, as shown in Figure 4. The tensioning wheel 1293 is installed on the frame 110, and its specific position can be selected at any position where the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 pass. Preferably, tensioning wheels 1293 are installed at the two ends of the first side 111, respectively, for tensioning the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124. That is, there are two tensioning wheels 1293, located at the two ends of the first side 111. The first synchronous belt 123 passes around the tensioning wheel 1293 near the first drive motor 121, and the second synchronous belt 124 passes around the tensioning wheel near the second drive motor 122, so that the tension of the first synchronous belt 123 and the second synchronous belt 124 can be controlled by adjusting the tensioning wheels 1293. Furthermore, along the thickness direction of the first side 111, each tensioning wheel 1293 is located outside the drive motor on the same side. That is, the tensioning wheel 1293 on the side of the first drive motor 121 is located on the side of the first drive motor 121 away from the interior of the frame 110, and the tensioning wheel 1293 on the side of the second drive motor 122 is located on the side of the second drive motor 122 away from the interior of the frame 110. This arrangement can better improve the space utilization of the top module 100. Understandably, the top module 100 also includes a tensioning assembly, on which the tensioning wheel is mounted. The tensioning wheel tensions the first synchronous belt 123 or the second synchronous belt 124 through the tensioning assembly. The specific structure of the tensioning assembly can be any of the existing technologies, such as a push-pull rod for adjusting the position of the tensioning wheel. Tensioning wheel mounting structures are respectively provided at the two ends of the first side 111, and the two tensioning wheels 1293 are respectively mounted on the two tensioning wheel mounting structures.

[0108] Referring to Figure 10, the working principle of the print head in the XY plane is illustrated. An X-axis slider is mounted on the X-axis slide rail of the 3D printer, and the print head is positioned on the X-axis slider. The Y-axis slider specifically includes a first Y-axis slider and a second Y-axis slider. The first Y-axis slider is mounted on the first Y-axis slide rail, and the second Y-axis slider is mounted on the second Y-axis slide rail. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are respectively mounted on the first Y-axis slider and the second Y-axis slider. A first drive motor and a second drive motor are respectively mounted on the two ends of the first side. The drive shaft of the first drive motor engages with a first synchronous belt, and the drive shaft of the second drive motor engages with a second synchronous belt. Furthermore, both ends of the first and second synchronous belts are connected to the X-axis slider (the ends of the synchronous belt can be directly connected to the X-axis slider, or indirectly connected through the print head; specific details are not limited here). These structures together form the core-XY architecture to control the movement of the print head in the X and Y axes. The principle of printhead (or X-axis slider) movement in the core-xy architecture is illustrated in Figure 10. In the figure, △A represents the displacement distance of the first synchronous belt, △B represents the displacement distance of the second synchronous belt, △X represents the displacement distance of the printhead in the X-axis direction, and △Y represents the displacement distance of the printhead in the Y-axis direction. The displacement relationships of △A, △B, △X, and △Y are as follows: △X = 1 / 2(△A + △B), △Y = 1 / 2(△A - △B). Therefore, by controlling the direction and speed of the first and second drive motors, △X and △Y, that is, the movement distance of the printhead in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, can be controlled.

[0109] In one embodiment, the first side portion 111 is located at the rear side of the frame, and both the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are mounted to the first side portion 111. Specifically, the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are respectively mounted on the bottom surface (or lower side) and top surface (or upper side) of the first side portion 111. Preferably, a first mounting portion 1114d is formed on the bottom surface of the first side portion 111 at one end region, and a second mounting portion 11 is formed on the top surface of the first side portion 111 at the other end region. 14e, both the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are provided with through holes 1114a; as shown in Figures 5-8, Figures 5 and 6 show that the second mounting portion 1114e is provided at the left end of the first side portion 111, Figure 7 shows that the first mounting portion 1114d is provided at the right end of the first side portion 111 (described in the orientation shown in Figure 5), and Figure 8 shows that the second mounting portion 1114e and the first mounting portion 1114d are distributed at the left and right ends of the first side portion 111. The first drive motor 121 is mounted on the first mounting portion 1114d, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the first mounting portion 1114d; the second drive motor 122 is mounted on the second mounting portion 1114e, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the second mounting portion 1114e. Specifically, after the first drive motor 121 is installed in the first mounting portion 1114d, its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the first mounting portion 1114d and engages with the first synchronous belt 123. The second drive motor 122 is installed in the second mounting portion 1114e, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole 1114a of the second mounting portion 1114e and engages with the first synchronous belt 123. By forming the second mounting portion 1114e and the first mounting portion 1114d on the top and bottom surfaces at both ends of the first side portion 111 respectively, the space utilization rate of the drive motor in the height direction of the frame itself can be further improved.

[0110] In this embodiment, preferably, both the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are groove structures. Specifically, the first mounting portion 1114d is formed by the bottom surface of the first side portion 111 being recessed upward at one end region; the second mounting portion 1114e is formed by the top surface of the first side portion 111 being recessed downward at the other end region. The bottom surfaces of the two groove structures respectively form the corresponding first motor mounting surface 1114b and the second motor mounting surface 1114c, and the bottom surface of each groove structure is provided with a corresponding through hole 1114a. The bottom surface of the groove of the first mounting part 1114d forms the first motor mounting surface 1114b, and the bottom surface of the groove of the second mounting part 1114e forms the second motor mounting surface 1114c. By setting it into a groove structure, the first motor mounting surface 1114b is higher than the bottom surface of the middle part of the first side 111, and the second motor mounting surface 1114c is lower than the top surface of the middle part of the first side 111. In this way, the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 can further utilize the height dimension of the first side 111 to further reduce the height dimension of the entire top module 100.

[0111] In order to make fuller use of the space of the first side 111 in the Z-axis direction, the distance D11 between the first motor mounting surface 1114b, the second motor mounting surface 1114c and the upper end surface of the first side 111 in the height direction of the frame 110 is between 5 and 20 mm, as shown in Figure 8.

[0112] In one embodiment, the portion of the inner wall of the first side portion 111 located at the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e protrudes into the frame 110 from the middle section. In the projection along the length of the first side portion 111, the projections of the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e both overlap with the projection of the middle section of the first side portion 111. That is, on the first side portion 111, the two ends protrude inward from the middle section, meaning the middle portion of the inner wall of the first side portion 111 is recessed outward from the two ends. When the first motor mounting surface 1114d and the second mounting surface 1114e are located on these two protruding parts, the area of ​​the first motor mounting surface 1114b and the second motor mounting surface 1114c can be increased, thereby increasing the reliability of the installation of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122. Furthermore, this structure can fully utilize the internal space of the frame 110, because other components (such as a trash can) are installed on the inner side of the first side 111, making that space unusable for the printhead's working stroke. Therefore, this arrangement further improves the space utilization of the top module 100. Furthermore, in the thickness direction of the first side 111, the overlapping area occupies more than 2 / 3 of the size of the first motor mounting surface 1114b or the second motor mounting surface 1114c, such as 2 / 3, 3 / 4, or 4 / 5. This approach not only improves the space utilization of the first side 111 in terms of thickness and the internal space of the frame, but also maximizes the strength of the first side 111 and the stability of the drive motor installation.

[0113] In embodiments where the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are groove structures, the sidewalls of both the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e include a first inner wall located on the outer side of the first side portion 111, and a second inner wall and a third inner wall adjacent to the first inner wall. The second inner wall and the third inner wall form an open structure on the inner side of the first side portion, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are square grooves, each including a bottom wall (i.e., the groove bottom) and an inner wall. Each of the inner walls of the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e has an opening, meaning that their respective inner walls are not circumferentially closed structures. Each only includes three inner sidewalls connected in sequence: a second inner sidewall, a first inner sidewall, and a third inner sidewall. The open structure is opposite to the first inner sidewall and located on the side closer to the interior of the frame 110. This open structure not only facilitates the installation of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 but also improves the heat dissipation of each drive motor.

[0114] Referring to Figures 5 and 7, at least part of the bottom region of the inner side surface of the first side portion 111 is recessed outward to form a recessed space 1116. The recessed space 1116 extends in the extending direction of the first side portion 111 to the region where the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e are located. That is, the first side portion 111 may form the recessed space 1116 only in a part of the section, or it may form the recessed space 1116 in the entire section. Viewed from the extending direction of the first side portion 111, the cross-section of the first side portion 111 has an inverted L-shaped structure. The horizontal part of the inverted L-shaped structure is located on the upper part of the first side portion 111, and the vertical part is located on the lower part of the first side portion 111, and connects to the outer side of the horizontal part relative to the frame 110, so that the recessed space 1116 of the inverted L-shaped structure is located on the inner side of the first side portion 111. In the embodiment where the second synchronization belt 124 is located below, a part of the second synchronization belt 124 is located in the recessed space 1116. The recessed space 1116 can also serve as a accommodating space for other functional components in the 3D printer. For example, functional components disposed in the recessed space 1116 can include: a nozzle assembly, a trash can, and an air duct module. By providing the recessed space 1116, the internal space utilization rate of the entire 3D printer can be further improved, and the first side 111 of the L-shaped structure can also increase the strength of the first side 111 and enhance the rigidity of the entire frame 110. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom of the grooves of the first mounting part 1114d and the second mounting part 1114e are located in the horizontal part of the L-shaped structure and protrude inward relative to the middle section of the horizontal part.

[0115] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the top module 100 further includes a bearing seat 150 and a support bearing 160. The first side 111 is respectively equipped with bearing seats 150 on the side where the drive shafts of the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are located. The ends of each drive shaft are mounted on the corresponding bearing seats 150 via the support bearings 160. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, after the first drive motor 121 and the second drive motor 122 are respectively mounted on the first mounting portion 1114d and the second mounting portion 1114e, their respective drive shafts pass through the corresponding through holes 1114a and the synchronous pulley 1292, and then pass through the support bearings 160. Each support bearing 160 is fixed to the frame 110 via the bearing seat 150, thereby supporting the cantilever ends of each drive shaft. In this way, the cantilever ends of each drive motor drive shaft are effectively supported, increasing the stability of the drive motor installation and improving the rotational accuracy during operation, thereby increasing the printing accuracy of the 3D printer.

[0116] The bearing housing 150 can be locked to the first side portion 111 by fasteners such as screws. The first side portion 111 has a mounting boss 1117 protruding from the outer side of the first motor mounting surface 1114b. The bearing housing 150 located on the first drive motor 121 includes a bearing mounting portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion has an L-shaped structure, with one side connected to the bearing mounting portion and the other side overlapping and fixed to the mounting boss 1117. The support bearing 160 is mounted on the bearing mounting portion. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the upper surface of the end of the first side portion 111 where the first drive motor 121 is mounted has a protruding mounting boss 1117. The bearing mounting portion has a ring-shaped structure, adapted to the support bearing 160. The vertical side of the connecting portion connects to the bearing mounting portion, and the horizontal part overlaps the mounting boss 1117. This structure not only provides some protection for the support bearing 160 through the mounting boss 1117 but also increases the stability of the support bearing 160's installation. Similarly, the first side 111 is provided with a second mounting boss protruding from the outer side of the second motor mounting surface 1114c; the bearing seat 150 located in the second drive motor 122 can have the same structure as the bearing seat 150 located in the first drive motor 121, except that the connecting part of the bearing seat located in the second drive motor 122 is fixed to the second mounting boss.

[0117] This application also provides a 3D printer, including the top module 100 described in any of the above embodiments. The 3D printer further includes a printing cavity module, which includes a base, a heated bed assembly, and a column. The column is mounted on the base. The heated bed assembly includes a printing platform and a Z-axis assembly. The Z-axis assembly is mounted on the base and located inside the printing cavity. The printing platform moves in the Z-axis direction through the Z-axis assembly. The top module 100 is mounted on the top of the column and mainly undertakes the task of pulling the print head to move in the XY plane, cooperating with the movement of the printing platform in the Z-axis direction to realize three-dimensional printing.

[0118] Those skilled in the art will understand that, without conflict, the above-mentioned preferred solutions can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0119] It should be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary and not restrictive. Any obvious or equivalent modifications or substitutions made by those skilled in the art regarding the above details without departing from the basic principles of this application shall be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A top module for a 3D printer, characterized in that, It includes a frame, a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a Y-axis slide rail, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, a first synchronous belt, a second synchronous belt, and a print head; The frame includes a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side arranged sequentially. The second side and the fourth side are each equipped with a Y-axis slide rail, and each Y-axis slide rail is slidably mounted with a Y-axis slider. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are respectively connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides. The two ends of the first synchronous belt and the two ends of the second synchronous belt are both connected to the X-axis sliders. The first drive motor drives the first synchronous belt, and the second drive motor drives the second synchronous belt. The print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail via the X-axis slider. The second side and the fourth side each have a strip-shaped hollow structure in the middle area of ​​the height direction. The extension direction of the strip-shaped hollow structure is consistent with the extension direction of the Y-axis slide rail. The Y-axis slide rail corresponds to the strip-shaped hollow structure along the height direction, and a part of the Y-axis slider is located in the strip-shaped hollow structure. In the height direction, the first synchronous belt is located above and the second synchronous belt is located below; wherein, the first drive motor is installed to the frame from bottom to top, and the second drive motor is installed to the frame from top to bottom, the first motor mounting surface for installing the first drive motor is higher than the second synchronous belt, and the second motor mounting surface for installing the second drive motor is lower than the first synchronous belt.

2. The top module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second side and the fourth side are divided into an upper part and a lower part by the strip-shaped hollow structure. In the height direction of the frame, the ratio of the height dimension of the strip-shaped hollow structure to the height dimension of the upper part and / or the lower part is 1 to 1.

5.

3. The top module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two ends of the second side are respectively the first corner of the first side and the second corner of the third side, and the two ends of the fourth side are respectively the fourth corner of the first side and the third corner of the third side. Each corner has an inwardly protruding mounting step, and the mounting step has a fixing groove. The two ends of the Y-axis slide rail are respectively fixedly installed in the fixing grooves on the two corresponding corners.

4. The top module according to claim 3, characterized in that, On the outer surfaces of the second side and the fourth side, reinforcing ribs protruding outward are provided at the upper and lower edges, at the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, and at the positions between the upper and lower edges and the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, so that multiple local recessed structures are formed on the outer surfaces.

5. The top module according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the upper edges of the second side and the fourth side are lower than the upper edges of the respective corners, and at least a portion of the lower edges of the second side and the fourth side are higher than the lower edges of the respective corners, such that the height dimension of at least a portion of the second side and the fourth side is smaller than the height dimension of the respective corners.

6. The top module according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Both the first drive motor and the second drive motor are mounted to the first side portion, wherein a first mounting portion is formed on the bottom surface of the first side portion at one end region and a second mounting portion is formed on the top surface of the other end region, and both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are provided with through holes; The first drive motor is mounted on the first mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the first mounting part; the second drive motor is mounted on the second mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the second mounting part.

7. The top module according to claim 6, characterized in that, Both the first mounting part and the second mounting part are groove structures. The first mounting part is formed by the bottom surface of the first side recessed upward at one end region. The second mounting part is formed by the top surface of the first side recessed at the other end region. The bottom surfaces of the two groove structures respectively form the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface, and each bottom surface is provided with a corresponding through hole. In the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface is between 0 and 15 mm.

8. The top module according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface, the second motor mounting surface and the upper end surface of the first side is between 5 and 20 mm.

9. The top module according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the inner wall of the first side portion, the portion located at the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion protrudes into the interior of the frame from the middle section; in the projection along the length direction of the first side portion, the projections of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion overlap with the projection of the middle section of the first side portion, wherein, in the thickness direction of the first side portion, the overlapping area occupies 2 / 3 of the size of the first motor mounting surface or the second motor mounting surface.

10. The top module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sidewalls of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion include a first inner wall located on the outer side of the first side portion, and a second inner wall and a third inner wall adjacent to the first inner wall, wherein the second inner wall and the third inner wall form an open structure on the inner side of the first side portion.

11. The top module according to claim 6, characterized in that, At least a portion of the bottom area of ​​the inner side of the first edge is recessed outward to form a recessed space, and the recessed space extends to the area where the first mounting part and the second mounting part are located in the extending direction of the first edge. A portion of the second synchronization band is located in the recessed space.

12. The top module according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes bearing housings and supporting bearings. The first side is respectively equipped with the bearing housings on the side where the drive shafts of the first drive motor and the second drive motor are located, and the ends of each drive shaft are mounted on the corresponding bearing housings through the supporting bearings.

13. The top module according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first edge has a mounting boss protruding from the outer side of the first motor mounting surface; The bearing housing located in the first drive motor includes a bearing mounting part and a connecting part. The connecting part has an inverted L-shaped structure, with one side connected to the bearing mounting part and the other side overlapping and fixed to the mounting boss; the support bearing is mounted on the bearing mounting part.

14. A top module for a 3D printer, characterized in that, Includes a frame, Y-axis slide rail, Y-axis slider, X-axis slide rail, X-axis slider, and print head; The frame includes a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side arranged sequentially. The second side and the fourth side are respectively equipped with the Y-axis slide rails, and each Y-axis slide rail is slidably mounted with a Y-axis slider. The two ends of the X-axis slide rail are respectively connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides. The print head is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rail via the X-axis slider. The second side and the fourth side each have a strip-shaped hollow structure in the middle area of ​​the height direction. The extension direction of the strip-shaped hollow structure is consistent with the extension direction of the Y-axis slide rail. The Y-axis slide rail corresponds to the strip-shaped hollow structure along the height direction, and a part of the Y-axis slider is located in the strip-shaped hollow structure.

15. The top module according to claim 14, characterized in that, The second side and the fourth side are divided into an upper part and a lower part by the strip-shaped hollow structure. In the height direction of the frame, the ratio of the height dimension of the strip-shaped hollow structure to the dimension of the upper part and / or the lower part is 1 to 1.

5.

16. The top module according to claim 14, characterized in that, The two ends of the second side are respectively the first corner of the first side and the second corner of the third side, and the two ends of the fourth side are respectively the fourth corner of the first side and the third corner of the third side. Each corner has an inwardly protruding mounting step, and the mounting step has a fixing groove. The two ends of the Y-axis slide rail are respectively fixedly installed in the fixing grooves on the two corresponding corners.

17. The top module according to claim 16, characterized in that, It also includes a Y-rail clamping component, which is installed at each of the mounting steps, and the Y-axis slide rail is clamped to the fixing groove by the Y-rail clamping component.

18. The top module according to claim 16, characterized in that, On the outer surfaces of the second side and the fourth side, reinforcing ribs protruding outward are provided at the upper and lower edges, at the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, and at the positions between the upper and lower edges and the edges of the strip-shaped hollow structure, so that multiple local recessed structures are formed on the outer surfaces.

19. The top module according to claim 18, characterized in that, At least a portion of the upper edges of the second side and the fourth side are lower than the upper edges of the respective corners, and at least a portion of the lower edges of the second side and the fourth side are higher than the lower edges of the respective corners, such that the height dimension of at least a portion of the second side and the fourth side is smaller than the height dimension of the respective corners.

20. A top module for a 3D printer, characterized in that, The device includes a frame, a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a Y-axis slide rail, a Y-axis slider, an X-axis slide rail, an X-axis slider, a first synchronous belt, a second synchronous belt, and a printhead. The Y-axis slide rails are installed near the left and right sides inside the frame, and the Y-axis sliders are mounted on the Y-axis slide rails. The two ends of the X-axis slide rails are connected to the Y-axis sliders on both sides, and the printhead is slidably mounted on the X-axis slide rails via the X-axis sliders. Both ends of the first synchronous belt and the two ends of the second synchronous belt are connected to the X-axis sliders. In the height direction, the first synchronous belt is located above, and the second synchronous belt is located below. The first drive motor drives and cooperates with the first synchronous belt, and the second drive motor drives and cooperates with the second synchronous belt. The first drive motor is installed from bottom to top onto the frame, and the second drive motor is installed from top to bottom onto the frame. The mounting surface of the first motor for mounting the first drive motor is higher than the second synchronous belt, and the mounting surface of the second motor for mounting the second drive motor is lower than the first synchronous belt.

21. The top module according to claim 20, characterized in that, The frame has a first side located at the rear side, and the first drive motor and the second drive motor are both mounted to the first side. The first side has a first mounting part formed on the bottom surface at one end region and a second mounting part formed on the top surface at the other end region. Both the first mounting part and the second mounting part are provided with through holes. The first drive motor is mounted on the first mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the first mounting part; the second drive motor is mounted on the second mounting part, and its drive shaft extends out of the through hole of the second mounting part.

22. The top module according to claim 21, characterized in that, Both the first mounting part and the second mounting part are groove structures. The first mounting part is formed by the bottom surface of the first side recessed upward at one end region, and the second mounting part is formed by the top surface of the first side recessed at the other end region. The bottom surfaces of the two groove structures respectively form the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface, and each bottom surface is provided with a corresponding through hole. In the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface and the second motor mounting surface is between 0 and 15 mm.

23. The top module according to claim 22, characterized in that, In the height direction of the frame, the distance between the first motor mounting surface, the second motor mounting surface and the upper end surface of the first side is between 5 and 20 mm.

24. The top module according to claim 22, characterized in that, In the inner wall of the first side portion, the portion located at the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion protrudes into the interior of the frame from the middle section; in the projection along the length direction of the first side portion, the projections of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion overlap with the projection of the middle section, wherein, in the thickness direction of the first side portion, the size of the overlapping area accounts for more than 2 / 3 of the size of the first motor mounting surface or the second motor mounting surface.

25. The top module according to claim 23, characterized in that, The top module also includes tensioning wheels, which are installed at the two ends of the first side, respectively, for tensioning the first synchronous belt and the second synchronous belt. The tensioning wheels are located outside the drive motor on the same side along the thickness direction of the first side.

26. The top module according to claim 22, characterized in that, The sidewalls of the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove each include a first inner sidewall located on the outer side of the first edge, and a second inner sidewall and a third inner sidewall adjacent to the first inner sidewall, wherein the second inner sidewall and the third inner sidewall form an open structure on the inner side of the first edge.

27. The top module according to claim 20, characterized in that, At least a portion of the bottom area of ​​the inner side of the first edge is recessed outward to form a recessed space, and the recessed space extends to the area where the first mounting part and the second mounting part are located in the extending direction of the first edge. A portion of the second synchronization band is located in the recessed space.

28. The top module according to claim 20, characterized in that, It also includes bearing housings and supporting bearings. The first side is respectively equipped with the bearing housings on the side where the drive shafts of the first drive motor and the second drive motor are located, and the ends of each drive shaft are mounted on the corresponding bearing housings through the supporting bearings.

29. The top module according to claim 20, characterized in that, The first edge has a mounting boss protruding from the outer side of the first motor mounting surface; The bearing housing located in the first drive motor includes a bearing mounting part and a connecting part. The connecting part has an inverted L-shaped structure, with one side connected to the bearing mounting part and the other side overlapping and fixed to the mounting boss; the support bearing is mounted on the bearing mounting part.

30. A 3D printer, characterized in that, Includes the top module as described in any one of claims 1-29.

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