CN110480011A

CN110480011A - A kind of metal 3D printing method, formation system and printer

Info

Publication number: CN110480011A
Application number: CN201910912858.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑俊; 黄黎明
Original assignee: Xiamen Wuxing Long Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Xiamen Wuxing Long Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-25
Filing date: 2019-09-25
Publication date: 2019-11-22

Abstract

The present invention provides a kind of metal 3D printing method, formation system and printer, methods to include the following steps: S1, installs sheet metal additional into the feeding warehouse of 3D printer, inert gas deoxygenation is filled into formation system, and preheat heating plate；S2 constructs part model using three-dimensional software, cooks up every layer data feature and to import industrial personal computer ready；Molding assembly is declined a thickness height by S3, while to rise thickness height ready for feeding material component, transhipment component the sheet metal is transferred to after the molding warehouse from the feeding warehouse return it is ready；S4, industrial personal computer control laser system and are scanned printing according to the data characteristics planned in advance；S5 repeats step S3-S4, until completing work pieces process, takes out workpiece after being cooled to room temperature.By the present invention in that replacing metal powder with sheet metal, material cost is reduced, improves shaping efficiency and formed precision.

Description

Metal 3D printing method, forming system and printer

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing, in particular to a metal 3D printing method, a forming system and a printer.

Background

The 3D printer, a machine of the rapid prototyping technology, is a metal functional part obtained by using a digital model file as a base and applying adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic and the like and stacking and molding layer by layer in a layer-by-layer printing mode.

Metal 3D printing can obtain metal parts of almost any shape, with complete metallurgical bonding, compactness close to 100%, higher dimensional accuracy and better surface roughness. As a precise metal additive manufacturing technology, the metal 3D printing has unique advantages in the aspects of design, individuation and customized manufacturing of complex geometric shapes, such as manufacturing of aviation parts, cutter grinding tools, jewelry and personalized medical biological implants, mechanical assembly-free parts and the like.

However, in the existing SLM (selective laser melting) equipment, the forming material is metal powder, before each printing, the powder feeding cylinder rises to send out a certain amount of powder, the powder spreading trolley scrapes and spreads the powder to a forming area, then the selective laser melting is carried out to form a forming layer, and the steps are repeated until the part processing is completed. The objective defects existing in the prior art are shown as follows: (1) the powder spreading time is long, and the printing efficiency is reduced; (2) the powder has higher cost, and the price is at least doubled compared with that of a metal foil made of the same material; (3) in addition, when the gas circulation system eliminates powder and smoke dust, the inert protective gas can bring away partial powder particles in a forming area, and the forming precision is influenced; (4) the powder is attached to the guide rail surface along with the dispersion of the gas, so that the powder laying is influenced, and the fault is caused in serious cases.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a metal 3D printing method, a forming system and a printer, and aims to solve the problems of low powder laying efficiency and line rail pollution of the existing 3D printing method.

The invention is realized by the following steps:

the invention provides a metal 3D printing method, which comprises the following steps:

s1, adding metal sheets into a storage bin chamber of the 3D printer, filling inert gas into a forming system for oxygen discharge, and preheating a heating plate; the 3D printer comprises a forming system, wherein a material storage bin and a forming bin are arranged in the forming system, and heating plates are arranged in the material storage bin and the forming bin;

s2, constructing a workpiece model by using three-dimensional software, planning out data characteristics of each layer and importing the data characteristics into an industrial personal computer for ready use;

s3, lowering the forming assembly by a layer thickness height, simultaneously raising the feeding assembly by a layer thickness height for ready, and returning the metal sheet to ready after the metal sheet is transferred from the storage bin to the forming bin by the transfer module; the forming component and the feeding component are respectively arranged in the forming bin and the feeding bin;

s4, the industrial personal computer controls the laser system to scan and print according to the pre-planned data characteristics;

and S5, repeating the steps S3-S4 until the workpiece is machined, cooling to room temperature, and taking out the workpiece.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metal sheet is selected from at least one of iron, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, cemented carbide, tungsten alloy, and titanium alloy.

Further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step S1, the heating plate preheating temperature is 90-180 ℃.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step S2, the data characteristics include: scanning speed, processing path, laser power.

Further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step S3, the layer thickness height is 20um to 50 μm.

The invention also provides a molding system for the metal 3D printing equipment, which comprises: a cylinder body, a cover body, a workbench, a forming component, a feeding component and a transferring component, wherein,

the workbench is arranged on a cylinder opening of the cylinder body, and the cover body is matched and connected with the cylinder body to form a closed working chamber; the cylinder body comprises a forming bin and a feeding bin, the forming assembly and the feeding assembly are respectively arranged in the forming bin and the feeding bin, the workbench is provided with a material port matched with the forming bin and the feeding bin, and the feeding assembly is additionally provided with a metal sheet;

the transfer assembly is arranged in the cover body and is configured to transfer the metal sheets between the forming bin and the feeding bin.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer assembly is fixed to a side surface of the housing, and includes a robot and a rail assembly, wherein the rail assembly includes a first rail for allowing the robot to move laterally and a second rail for allowing the robot to move longitudinally.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the forming assembly or the feeding assembly comprises: the forming table, set gradually in hot plate, sealed pad and pedestal of forming table below, the integral key shaft is connected to the pedestal, the integral key shaft is connected in servo motor, seal through O type circle between forming table and the hot plate.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a temperature sensor is disposed on the heating plate.

The invention also provides a metal 3D printer, which comprises a laser system, a protective gas purification system, an industrial personal computer and the forming system for the metal 3D printing equipment; wherein,

the laser system is mounted above the molding system to provide a laser source; the protective gas purification system is communicated with the forming system and is used for replacing inert gas in the cover body; the industrial personal computer is electrically connected with the laser system, the protective gas purification system and the forming system.

The invention has the beneficial effects that:

according to the metal 3D printing method obtained through the design, the metal sheet is used for replacing metal powder, so that the material cost is reduced, and the forming efficiency is improved; meanwhile, the metal powder in the molding area is prevented from entering a protective gas circulation system to influence the molding precision of the product.

According to the metal 3D printer obtained through the design, a powder spreading system and a powder recovery mechanism are not needed, the structure is simple, the equipment volume is smaller, the cost is lower, the secondary pollution of powder particle dispersion to a line rail or the powder particle dispersion is fundamentally avoided, the powder particle dispersion is bonded with the grease of a powder spreading guide rail to form blocks, the powder spreading fault is caused, and the service life of the equipment is prolonged.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope, and for those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without inventive efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of a metal 3D printing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a molding system for a metal 3D printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a transfer module according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a molding assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of FIG. 5;

icon: 1-a cylinder body; 11-a forming chamber; 12-a feed bin; 2-a cover body; 3-a workbench; 4-forming the component; 41-a forming table; 42-a heating plate; 43-a gasket; 44-a seat body; 45-a splined shaft; 5-a feeding component; 6-a transport module; 61-a robot arm; 62-a rail assembly; 621-a first guide rail; 622-second guide rail; 7-material port.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more apparent, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, but not all embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without any inventive step based on the embodiments of the present invention, are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, presented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments, which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without any inventive step based on the embodiments of the present invention, are within the scope of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", and the like, indicate orientations and positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, and do not indicate or imply that the equipment or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be considered as limiting the present invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, "above" or "below" a first feature means that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact with each other via another feature therebetween. Also, the first feature being "on," "above" and "over" the second feature includes the first feature being directly on and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature includes the first feature being directly under and obliquely below the second feature, or simply meaning that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

Example 1

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the invention provides a metal 3D printing method applied to a metal 3D printer, comprising the following steps:

s1, adding metal sheets into the feeding chamber 12 of the 3D printer, filling inert gas into the forming system for oxygen discharge, ensuring the low oxygen environment of printing, and preheating the heating plate 42.

The 3D printer comprises a forming system, wherein in the forming system, the metal sheet is formed by stacking layer by layer in a layer-by-layer printing mode to obtain the metal functional part. The forming system is internally provided with a feeding bin 12 and a forming bin 11, the feeding bin 12 and the forming bin 11 are internally provided with a forming assembly 4, the forming assembly 4 is provided with a heating plate 42, and the metal sheet in the forming bin 11 in the processing process reaches the forming temperature required by a workpiece by preheating the heating plate 42.

In this embodiment, the 3D printer still includes laser system, protective gas clean system, industrial computer. Wherein the laser system is mounted above the molding system to provide a laser source; protective gas clean system communicate in forming system for carry out the interior inert gas replacement of cover body 2, before printing, to filling inert gas row oxygen in the forming system, guaranteed the low oxygen environment of printing. The industrial personal computer is electrically connected with the laser system, the protective gas purification system and the forming system and is used for remotely controlling each system. 3D printer need not spread powder system and powder and retrieves the mechanism, and simple structure, equipment volume are littleer, the cost is lower.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the metal sheet is selected from at least one of iron, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, cemented carbide, tungsten alloy, and titanium alloy. Because smoke and metal steam can be generated in the laser sintering process, the protective glass of a laser system can be polluted, the light transmittance is reduced, the protective glass must be treated by a protective gas circulating system, and metal sheets are used as processing raw materials to replace metal powder, so that the material cost is reduced, the secondary pollution caused by the dispersion of the metal powder material along with the protective gas is avoided, and particularly the powder paving fault caused by the adhesion of the metal powder material and the powder paving guide rail grease is avoided.

Preferably, the metal sheet is selected from aluminum sheet, aluminum alloy sheet or copper sheet, is not only cheap and easy to obtain, but also is not easy to oxidize, and has excellent ductility.

Further, in step S1, the preheating temperature of the heating plate 42 is 90-180 ℃. Optionally, the forming assembly 4 further includes a heating device, the heating device includes a temperature sensor, the heating device is controlled by the industrial personal computer to heat the heating plate 42, and the heating temperature is monitored by the temperature sensor.

And S2, constructing a workpiece model by using three-dimensional software, planning the data characteristics of each layer and importing the data characteristics into an industrial personal computer for ready use.

Wherein the data characteristics include: scanning speed, processing path, laser power. In this embodiment, the data characteristics may further include a laser scanning pitch, a scanning width, and the like, and may be adaptively set according to processing requirements, and the present invention is not particularly limited. Optionally, the scanning speed is 500-.

S3, lowering the forming assembly 4 by one layer thickness height, raising the feeding assembly 5 by one layer thickness height to be ready, and transferring the metal sheet from the feeding bin 12 to the forming bin 11 by the transferring assembly 6 to be ready. The forming component 4 and the feeding component 5 are respectively arranged in the forming chamber 11 and the feeding chamber 12. Wherein the transfer assembly 6 may be an existing gripping mechanism that can grip the metal sheet and move up and down and left and right within the forming system to transfer the metal sheet between the feed bin 12 and the forming bin 11.

Further, in step S3, the layer thickness height is 20um to 50 μm. Preferably, the layer thickness is 25um to 35 μm.

And S4, controlling the laser system to scan and print according to the pre-planned data characteristics by the industrial personal computer.

In this embodiment, when the heating plate 42 is heated to a predetermined temperature, and the metal sheet to be processed is transferred to the forming chamber and positioned, the laser system scans the metal sheet to be processed according to the data characteristics pre-introduced by the industrial personal computer until a sheet is processed.

After 3D printing of all metal sheets is completed, a laser system and a protective gas purification system of a 3D printer are closed, an industrial personal computer is controlled to lift a forming assembly 4 in the forming system, a workpiece is taken out, and burr scraps on the surfaces of the printer and the workpiece are cleaned.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, a second embodiment of the present invention provides a molding system for a metal 3D printing apparatus, including: the device comprises a cylinder body 1, a cover body 2, a workbench 3, a forming component 4, a feeding component 5 and a transferring component 6, wherein,

the workbench 3 is arranged on the cylinder opening of the cylinder body 1, and the cover body 2 is matched and connected with the cylinder body 1 to form a closed working chamber. The cylinder body 1 comprises a forming bin 11 and a feeding bin 12, the forming assembly 4 and the feeding assembly 5 are respectively arranged in the forming bin 11 and the feeding bin 12, the workbench 3 is provided with a material opening 7 matched with the forming bin 11 and the feeding bin 12, and a metal sheet is additionally arranged on the feeding assembly 5. The transfer assembly 6 is disposed within the housing 2 and is configured to transfer sheet metal between the forming chamber 11 and the feeding chamber 12.

During the processing, the feeding assembly 5 is lifted by a layer thickness height, the metal sheet is lifted and conveyed to the material opening 7 of the feeding bin 12, and then the forming assembly 4 is lowered by a layer thickness height, and a layer thickness height is reserved from the workbench 3. Finally, transport subassembly 6 snatchs a sheetmetal on the feeding subassembly 5 and transports to the material mouth 7 of shaping bin 11, transfers to carry out 3D and print on the shaping subassembly 4.

Further, referring to fig. 4, the transferring assembly 6 is fixed to the side of the housing 2, and includes a robot 61 and a rail assembly 62, and the rail assembly 62 includes a first rail 621 capable of moving the robot 61 laterally and a second rail 622 capable of moving the robot 61 longitudinally.

It should be noted that the transfer assembly 6 may be a conventional grasping member in the prior art, and may include a driving component, a mechanical arm, and the like, and those skilled in the art may use the prior art to transfer the metal sheet as needed, and the specific structure thereof is not described herein.

Further, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the forming assembly 4 includes: forming table 41, set gradually in hot plate 42, sealed pad 43 and pedestal 44 of forming table 41 below, integral key shaft 45 is connected to pedestal 44, integral key shaft 45 connects in servo motor for the drive the elevating movement of forming component 4, sealed pad 43 has good sealed environment when having guaranteed device elevating movement. The forming table 41 and the heating plate 42 are sealed by an O-ring.

The feeding component 5 and the forming component 4 have the same structure, and are not described herein.

Further, a temperature sensor is disposed on the heating plate 42 for precisely controlling a temperature environment required by the workpiece.

The third embodiment of the invention provides a metal 3D printer, which comprises a laser system, a protective gas purification system, an industrial personal computer and the forming system for the metal 3D printing equipment; wherein,

The forming system in the embodiment of the present invention has the same implementation principle and the same technical effect as those in embodiment 2, and for the sake of brief description, reference may be made to corresponding contents in embodiment 2 where this embodiment does not mention.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A metal 3D printing method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

s1, adding metal sheets into a feeding bin (12) of the 3D printer, filling inert gas into a forming system for oxygen discharge, and preheating a heating plate (42); the 3D printer comprises a forming system, wherein a feeding chamber (12) and a forming chamber (11) are arranged in the forming system, and heating plates (42) are arranged in the feeding chamber (12) and the forming chamber (11);

s3, lowering the forming assembly (4) by one layer thickness height, simultaneously raising the feeding assembly (5) by one layer thickness height to be ready, and returning the metal sheet to be ready after the metal sheet is transferred from the feeding bin (12) to the forming bin (11) by the transferring assembly (6); wherein the forming component (4) and the feeding component (5) are respectively arranged in the forming chamber (11) and the feeding chamber (12);

2. The metallic 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein the metallic sheet is selected from at least one of iron, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, aluminum alloys, cemented carbides, tungsten alloys, titanium alloys.

3. The metallic 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein in step S1, the heating plate (42) preheating temperature is 90-180 ℃.

4. The metal 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein in step S2, the data characteristics include: scanning speed, processing path, laser power.

5. The metal 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein in step S3, the layer thickness height is 20um to 50 μ ι η.

6. The utility model provides a metal forming system for 3D printing apparatus which characterized in that includes: a cylinder body (1), a cover body (2), a workbench (3), a forming component (4), a feeding component (5) and a transferring component (6), wherein,

the workbench (3) is arranged on a cylinder opening of the cylinder body (1), and the cover body (2) is matched and connected with the cylinder body (1) to form a closed working chamber; the cylinder body (1) comprises a forming bin (11) and a feeding bin (12), the forming assembly (4) and the feeding assembly (5) are respectively arranged in the forming bin (11) and the feeding bin (12), the workbench (3) is provided with a material port (7) matched with the forming bin (11) and the feeding bin (12), and a metal sheet is additionally arranged on the feeding assembly (5);

the transfer assembly (6) is arranged in the cover body (2) and is configured to transfer the metal sheets between the forming chamber (11) and the feeding chamber (12).

7. The molding system for a metal 3D printing device according to claim 6, wherein the transfer assembly (6) is fixed on the side of the housing (2) and comprises a manipulator (61) and a guide rail assembly (62), and the guide rail assembly (62) comprises a first guide rail (621) which enables the manipulator (61) to move transversely and a second guide rail (622) which enables the manipulator (61) to move longitudinally.

8. The molding system for metal 3D printing devices according to claim 6, characterized in that said molding assembly (4) comprises: forming table (41), set gradually in hot plate (42), sealed pad (43) and pedestal (44) of forming table (41) below, integral key shaft (45) is connected in pedestal (44), integral key shaft (45) are connected in servo motor, seal through O type circle between forming table (41) and hot plate (42).

9. The molding system for metal 3D printing devices according to claim 8, characterized in that a temperature sensor is provided on the heating plate (42).

10. A metal 3D printer is characterized by comprising a laser system, a protective gas purification system, an industrial personal computer and a forming system for the metal 3D printing equipment according to any one of claims 6 to 9; wherein,