3D Shaping Device Tilted Table Eliminates Support Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional three-dimensional shaping devices require multiple support portions for complex shapes, leading to increased costs, environmental concerns, and surface roughness issues after support removal, as they struggle to mold shapes without distorting projecting portions.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional shaping device with a linear motion mechanism and a rotation unit providing two degrees of rotational freedom, allowing the shaping table to be tilted and moved in orthogonal directions, enabling the deposition of raw material in various directions without the need for extensive support structures, thus preventing distortion and reducing operational complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If support portions are provided for projecting portions during molding, then the shape of the projecting portion can be maintained, but the surface becomes rough and additional removal operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of depositing material horizontally onto a flat table, the patent inverts the approach by tilting the shaping table so that the building surface is perpendicular to the discharge head. This allows material to be deposited vertically onto the projecting portion directly, eliminating the need for support portions and avoiding surface roughness issues associated with support removal
Solution Approach 2:
The shaping table is made dynamically tiltable with one or more degrees of rotational freedom, allowing the building surface orientation to be adjusted during the molding process. This dynamic adjustment enables optimal deposition angles for different geometries, eliminating the need for static support structures
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple support portions are provided for complex shapes, then the complex shape can be molded, but the number of support portions increases and disposal costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional molding approach by changing the orientation of the building surface to be perpendicular to the discharge head. This allows material to be deposited directly onto complex geometries including projecting portions without requiring support structures, thereby eliminating material waste from support portions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rotational freedom to the shaping table, adding a rotational dimension to the conventional three-axis movement. This enables the building surface to be oriented in various directions, allowing complex three-dimensional shapes to be molded directly without support portions by approaching them from optimal angles
3Manufacturing precision
If support portions are used to prevent distortion, then the projecting portion shape is maintained, but the molding time increases due to support removal operations
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the deposition approach and tilting the shaping table so the building surface is perpendicular to the discharge head, material is deposited directly onto projecting portions in a vertical direction. This eliminates the need for support portions and their subsequent removal, thereby reducing molding cycle time while maintaining shape stability
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamically tiltable shaping table allows real-time adjustment of the building surface orientation during molding. This enables optimal deposition angles to be maintained throughout the process, ensuring shape stability without requiring time-consuming support portion installation and removal operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for the efficient molding of complex shapes with reduced support requirements, minimizing surface roughness and operational waste, while maintaining a compact device design that can handle intricate shapes with high speed and precision.
Implementation Method 1
curing the raw material on the shaping table
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3A
Figure 3B~4
AI summary
A three-dimensional shaping device (1) includes: a discharge head (2) for discharging fluidic raw material through a nozzle (2a); a shaping table (3) on which a shaped product is to be molded; a linear motion mechanism (5); and a rotation unit (6). The linear motion mechanism (5) moves the shaping table (3) relative to the discharge head (2) in three mutually orthogonal axial directions. The rotation unit (6) tilts the shaping table (3) relative to the discharge head (2). An operation of curing, on the shaping table (3), the raw material discharged through the nozzle (2a) is repeated while the relative position between the discharge head (2) and the shaping table (3) is being changed by the linear motion mechanism (5) and the rotation unit (6), thereby molding a shaped product in which the cured raw material is stacked in layers.