JPH07329189A - Manufacture of 3-dimensional object and manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten time required for the manufacture of a three-dimensional object with a concurrent action to avoid a phenomenon of tiny bubble generation. CONSTITUTION:This three-dimensional object manufacturing device 1 is composed of a both 2 which stores a liquid photocurable resin R which becomes cured by light irradiation, a molding frame 3 which ascends/descends in the bath 2, a light emission device which selectively emits light L (like drawing any two-dimensional form) with the focusing of the light on the surface R0 of the liquid photocurable resin R, arranged above the bath 2, and a doctor blade 4 as a smoothing member which moves horizontally, stroking the surface R0 of the liquid photocurable resin R. The moving speed of the doctor blade 4 is variable in accordance with the shaping frequency of a thin film generating one after another.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is generated by dividing three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model designed by three-dimensional CAD or three-dimensional shape data measured by a three-dimensional shape measuring instrument into multiple layers on a horizontal plane. Based on the two-dimensional multi-layered data, the method and apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selectively irradiating the surface of a liquid photo-curable resin with light to laminate resin thin films, and in particular, the liquid photo-curing By appropriately adjusting the moving speed of the smooth member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the organic resin, a high-quality three-dimensional object can be manufactured in a short time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique of this type, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-114818 is known. That is, this conventional technique shortens the time required to smooth the liquid photocurable resin that newly covers the upper surface of the thin film generated by selectively irradiating the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light. It is a technology developed for the purpose of
Briefly, a smooth plate having a length corresponding to the width of the bath is placed on the bath containing the liquid photocurable resin, and the liquid photocurable resin supplied into the bath from the resin supply port is stroked. As described above, the smooth plate is horizontally moved.

With such a structure, even a liquid photocurable resin having a high viscosity (usually about 5 to 200 poise) can be smoothed in a relatively short time. Therefore, it was possible to reduce the total time required for manufacturing the three-dimensional object.

[0004]

The liquid photocurable resin used in this type of technique is characterized in that the photopolymerization reaction proceeds in accordance with the irradiation amount of light and the mechanical strength also increases. Have. Usually, at the stage of forming each thin film, the minimum amount of light required for thin film formation is irradiated to shorten the molding time, and after the molding of the three-dimensional object is completed, the light is irradiated again to obtain a sufficient amount of light. A method of obtaining mechanical strength is adopted. Therefore, even if new thin films are successively formed above one thin film, the mechanical strength of each thin film is not so high at this stage, and the adhesive strength between the thin films is also very weak. Therefore, if the conventional technique described above is adopted and the smooth plate is moved at a high speed in order to significantly reduce the required time, the shear stress suddenly becomes smooth due to the viscosity of the liquid photocurable resin. It occurs at the interface between the plate and the liquid photo-curable resin, and the stress acts on the interface between the thin film in the lower layer and the new liquid photo-curable resin, increasing the possibility of peeling deformation between the thin films. I will end up. Then, when this peeling deformation becomes large and the upper end of the thin film comes to squeeze upward from the liquid surface of the liquid photocurable resin, it comes into contact with the moving smooth plate and damages the object being manufactured, Depending on the situation, the object may even peel off from the molding stand (first problem).

Further, when the speed of the smooth plate is high, bubbles tend to be entrapped on the surface of the liquid photocurable resin during its movement, and a large amount of bubbles are mixed in the liquid photocurable resin, Not only does the surface of the liquid photocurable resin not maintain its smoothness, but it is also cured with voids inside, and the upper edge of the thin film is the liquid surface of the liquid photocurable resin due to poor adhesion between the thin films. From above, it squeezes out upward, and causes the above-mentioned inconvenience. Even if such a problem is not caused, a defect such as a pinhole may occur in the manufactured object, or sufficient voids may not be obtained due to the internal void (second problem). ).

Furthermore, it is usual that the liquid photo-curable resin contains air bubbles that are trapped when the molding frame is immersed in the liquid photo-curable resin in the bath at the start of production. Since it takes a long time (depending on the viscosity of the resin, it takes about half a day depending on the viscosity of the resin) to completely remove the bubbles from the liquid photocurable resin with high viscosity. The current situation is that we have no choice but to use. Such bubbles naturally float and defoam from the surface of the liquid photo-curable resin, but when the bubbles reaching the liquid surface and the moving smooth plate collide violently, the relatively large bubbles are generated. Ruptures, and the air trapped inside is agitated with the liquid photocurable resin around it, and many small bubbles are generated. Then, a large number of these small air bubbles are widely spread on the surface of the liquid photo-curable resin that is to be cured, which causes the above-mentioned problem due to air bubble mixing (third problem).

From the above points, the smooth plate could not be moved at high speed, but in order to further reduce the time required for manufacturing the object, the time required for moving the smooth plate can be shortened. Development of technology was desired. Therefore, the present invention has been made by paying attention to the unsolved problem of such a conventional technique, and provides a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for a three-dimensional object that can significantly reduce the required time. Is intended.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is such that the liquid photo-curing is mounted on the upper surface of a molding stand which can be raised and lowered in a bath containing a liquid photo-curable resin. Of the liquid photo-curable resin is selectively irradiated with light while being held at a position where a thin layer of a conductive resin is formed to form a thin film of the lowermost layer, and then the molding frame is lowered by a predetermined distance. A pedestal descending step, a smoothing step of smoothing the surface of the liquid photocurable resin by moving a smoothing member so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, and a surface of the liquid photocurable resin. In a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object having a desired shape by repeatedly performing a thin film forming step of selectively irradiating light to form a thin film, the moving speed of the smoothing member is changed according to the number of times the thin film is formed. I decided.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 2 is such that a molding stand which can be raised and lowered in a bath containing a liquid photo-curable resin has a thin liquid photo-curable resin on its upper surface. A cradle lowering step of selectively irradiating the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light in a state where the layer is formed to form a lowermost thin film, and then lowering the molding cradle by a predetermined distance. And a resin replenishing step of replenishing the liquid photocurable resin in the bath, and a smooth member is moved so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin to smooth the surface of the liquid photocurable resin. In the method for producing a three-dimensional object having a desired shape by repeatedly performing a smoothing step and a thin film forming step of selectively irradiating the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light to form a thin film, The moving speed of the member is It was be varied depending on the number of formation.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is that the liquid photocurable resin contained so as to form a thin layer in the bath is selectively irradiated with light to form the lowermost layer. Forming a thin film of the liquid photocurable resin in the bath, and then moving the smooth member so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, the liquid photocurable resin A three-dimensional object having a desired shape is obtained by repeatedly performing a smoothing step of smoothing the surface of the resin and a thin film forming step of selectively irradiating the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light to form a thin film. In the manufacturing method, the moving speed of the smooth member is changed according to the number of times the thin film is formed.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2 or 3, the resin replenishing step includes a step of gradually replenishing the liquid photocurable resin into the bath from a container that moves horizontally prior to the smoothing member. It is also possible to do so (hereinafter referred to as improved invention A). Further, in the above invention, the moving speed of the smoothing member can be increased in accordance with the increase in the number of times of forming the thin film (hereinafter referred to as improved invention B).

On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 4 is a bath containing a liquid photocurable resin,
A molding stand that is arranged so as to be able to move up and down in the bath and that descends stepwise by a predetermined distance from an initial position where a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin is formed on the upper surface, and after the molding stand descends by one step, A smooth member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, and a light irradiation unit that selectively irradiates the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light after the operation of the smooth member is completed to form a thin film. In the apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object including the above, the speed control means for changing the moving speed of the smoothing member according to the number of times of forming the thin film is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 is a bathtub containing a liquid photocurable resin,
A molding stand that is arranged so as to be able to move up and down in the bath and that descends stepwise by a predetermined distance from an initial position where a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin is formed on the upper surface, and after the molding stand descends by one step, A resin replenishing means for replenishing the liquid photocurable resin in the bath, and a smooth member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin after the liquid photocurable resin is replenished by the resin replenishing means. A light irradiation unit that selectively irradiates the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light after the operation of the smoothing member is completed to form a thin film,
In the apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, the speed control means for varying the moving speed of the smoothing member according to the number of times the thin film is formed is provided.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 6 replenishes a predetermined amount of the liquid photocurable resin into a bath containing the liquid photocurable resin so as to form a thin layer. A resin replenishing means for forming a thin film by selectively irradiating the surface of the liquid photocurable resin before the liquid photocurable resin is replenished by the resin replenishing means to form a thin film; In a manufacturing apparatus for a three-dimensional object, comprising: a smooth member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin after the liquid photocurable resin is replenished by a resin replenishing means, a moving speed of the smooth member. There is provided a speed control means for varying the temperature according to the number of times the thin film is formed.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5 or 6, the resin replenishing means is moved horizontally prior to the smoothing member and gradually replenishing the liquid photocurable resin into the bath. It can also be used as a formula replenishing means (hereinafter referred to as improved invention C). And in the above invention,
The speed control means can also increase the moving speed of the smoothing member in accordance with the increase in the number of times the thin film is formed (hereinafter referred to as improved invention D).

[0016]

In the invention according to claim 1, first, the thin film of the lowermost layer is formed on the upper surface of the molding stand, and thereafter, the stand lowering step, the smoothing step, and the thin film forming step are repeated. A thin film formed by curing the liquid photocurable resin is sequentially laminated on the upper surface of the molding stand. Further, in the invention according to claim 2, first, the lowermost thin film is formed on the upper surface of the molding stand, and thereafter, the stand lowering step, the resin replenishing step, the smoothing step, and the thin film forming step are performed. Since the process is repeated, thin films formed by curing the liquid photocurable resin are sequentially laminated on the upper surface of the molding frame. And in the invention which concerns on Claim 3, first, the liquid photocurable resin accommodated in the bathtub hardens | cures and a thin film of the bottom layer is formed, and after that, a resin replenishment process and a smoothing process are carried out. Since the thin film forming process is repeated,
In the bath, thin films formed by curing the liquid photocurable resin are successively laminated.

Therefore, in any of the first to third aspects of the invention, a three-dimensional object having a desired shape can be manufactured by appropriately selecting the planar shape of each thin film. Here, among the above-mentioned first to third problems, it has been confirmed by experiments by the present inventors that the first and second problems can be avoided by slowing the moving speed of the smoothing member to some extent. However, even if the moving speed of the smoothing member is slowed to the extent that the first and second problems can be avoided, the third problem cannot be avoided.

That is, in order to avoid all the first to third problems, it is necessary to avoid the third problem. Therefore, even if the bubbles mixed in the liquid photocurable resin and the smooth member that moves so as to stroke the liquid surface come into contact with each other, it is only necessary to prevent generation of a large number of small bubbles. Even if the bubbles floating near the liquid surface come into contact with the smooth member and are crushed, the air in the bubbles only needs to be diffused into the atmosphere.
It suffices to move the smooth member at a sufficiently slow speed, but this requires a very long time and reduces productivity.

On the other hand, the bubbles mixed in the liquid photo-curable resin are mainly the bubbles mixed when the liquid photo-curable resin was injected into the bath, so that a large amount of bubbles were included immediately after the start of production, With the passage of time, it floats to the liquid surface and escapes into the atmosphere. Also, the bubbles that have floated near the liquid surface move together when the smooth member strokes the surface of the liquid photo-curable resin, and collect at the edge of the bathtub, which is a position that does not hinder the production of three-dimensional objects. Become.

From the above, the amount of bubbles mixed in the liquid photo-curable resin (particularly, the liquid photo-curable resin in the range where a three-dimensional object is manufactured) is determined by the amount of air bubbles that have passed since the start of manufacturing. It can be said that it changes (decreases) according to time (number of times of forming thin film). When the amount of bubbles is small, small bubbles generated due to the collision with the moving smooth member are less likely to be generated. Therefore, the upper limit of the moving speed of the smooth member required to avoid the third problem described above. Is faster than when the amount of bubbles is large.

In other words, the upper limit of the moving speed of the smoothing member necessary for avoiding all the above first to third problems is not constant. Therefore, in the invention according to claims 1 to 3, since the moving speed of the smoothing member is variable according to the number of times of forming the thin film, the moving speed of the smoothing member is appropriately set according to the number of times of forming the thin film. If you do, the smooth member
The vehicle always moves at a speed close to the upper limit of the moving speed required to avoid the first to third problems.

Further, in the improved invention A, since the liquid photocurable resin is gradually replenished in the bathtub from the container moving prior to the smooth member, the liquid photocurable resin is concentrated in a part of the bathtub. Unlike replenishing the photo-curable resin, the liquid photo-curable resin is supplied in a wide range, so that the smoothing member that follows it makes the upper surface of the thin film thin with a constant thickness of the liquid photo-curable resin. To be covered.

Further, as described above, since the amount of bubbles mixed in the liquid photo-curable resin decreases according to the elapsed time from the start of the production, as in the improved invention B, the smoothness is improved. When the moving speed of the member is increased in accordance with the increase in the number of times the thin film is formed, the moving speed of the smooth member is
It changes according to the change in the upper limit of the moving speed required to avoid the third problem. The increase in the moving speed of the smoothing member according to the increase in the number of times of forming the thin film may be changed linearly or may be changed stepwise. When changing in stages, the speed may be switched from low speed to high speed, for example, at the time point when sufficient defoaming is performed as a boundary.

The inventions according to claims 4 to 6 and the improved inventions C and D are apparatuses for realizing the method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object according to the inventions according to claims 1 to 3 and the improved inventions A and B. It is an invention related to. Therefore, the actions of the inventions and the improved inventions C and D according to claims 4 to 6 are substantially the same as the actions of the inventions and the improved inventions A and B according to the above-described claims 1 to 3, respectively.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a liquid photocurable resin R that is cured by being irradiated with light. The bathtub 2 accommodated therein, the molding base 3 that can be raised and lowered in the bathtub 2, and the surface R ₀ of the liquid photocurable resin R that is disposed above the bathtub 2 are focused and selectively (any 2 A light irradiating device capable of irradiating the light L (in order to draw a three-dimensional shape), and a doctor blade 4 as a smooth member movable horizontally so as to stroke the surface R ₀ of the liquid photocurable resin R. It is configured.

Of these, the light irradiator is not shown in FIG. 1, but is known, for example, composed of a He-Cd laser, a collimation lens, a cylindrical lens, a polygon mirror, a toroidal lens, a converging lens, and the like. An optical scanning device is applied. Also, the molding frame 3 is
It has an upper surface 3a parallel to the surface R ₀ of the liquid photocurable resin R, and can be displaced to any position in the vertical direction in the bathtub 2 by an elevating device (not shown).

The doctor blade 4 is a flat plate member having a width slightly shorter than the width of one side of the bathtub 2 (direction orthogonal to FIG. 1), and the tip 4a formed at an acute angle is made of the liquid photocurable resin R. It is hung vertically so that it slightly contacts the surface R _0, and the surface R ₀ is
Along ₀ , it is movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 (thickness direction of the doctor blade 4) over substantially the entire widthwise direction of the bathtub 2.

The operation for manufacturing a three-dimensional object having a desired shape by the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given together with (d). That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the molding frame 3 is moved to an initial position where a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin R is formed on the upper surface 3a thereof, and the light irradiation device is maintained in that state. The liquid photo-curable resin R is cured by selectively irradiating the liquid L with the thin film 5a on the upper surface 3a.
To form. In addition, the scanning of the light L emitted from the light irradiating device is one plane data in which the two-dimensional multi-layer data generated by dividing the three-dimensional shape data of the desired shape into multiple layers on the horizontal plane is sequentially selected from the lowermost layer side. Is based on. The three-dimensional shape data is generated by designing by three-dimensional CAD or measuring an actual object with a three-dimensional shape measuring instrument or the like.

When the lowermost thin film 5a is formed, FIG.
As shown in (b), the molding frame 3 is lowered by a predetermined distance (frame lowering step). The descending distance of the molding pedestal 3 corresponds to the thickness of the thin films formed one after another (about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm). Immediately after the molding pedestal 3 is lowered, the surface tension of the liquid photo-curable resin is large, and the descending distance of the molding pedestal 3 is very short. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The surrounding liquid photo-curable resin does not enter the surface of the thin film 5a.

Therefore, in this embodiment, after the molding frame 3 is lowered by a predetermined distance, the doctor blade 4 is moved at a predetermined speed so as to stroke the surface R ₀ (smoothing process). Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the liquid photocurable resin R moves so as to be dragged by the tip 4a of the doctor blade 4, so that the liquid photocurable resin R also enters on the thin film 5a. , Thin liquid photocurable resin R on the thin film 5a
And the fine irregularities on the surface R ₀ are leveled by the doctor blade 4, and the surface R ₀ is substantially smoothed when the movement of the doctor blade 4 is completed.

That is, by moving the doctor blade 4 immediately after lowering the molding base 3, the time until the surface R ₀ of the liquid photocurable resin R is smoothed can be greatly shortened. After the surface R ₀ is smoothed, as shown in FIG. 2D, the light L is selectively irradiated again from the light irradiation device to cure the liquid photocurable resin R, and the thin film 5 a is formed.
The thin film 5b of the next stage is formed on it (thin film forming step). At this time, the scanning of the light L emitted from the light irradiating device is performed based on the upper plane data of one plane data selected when the thin film 5a of the lowermost layer is formed.

After the thin film 5b is formed, the molding frame 3 is lowered again by a predetermined distance as in FIG.
Move the doctor blade 4 in the same manner as in (c), and
Similarly to (d), the light L is selectively emitted, and then again shown in FIG.
Similar to (b), the molding pedestal 3 is lowered by a predetermined distance, and so on, and the operations shown in FIGS. 2B to 2D are repeatedly executed.

Then, since the thin films 5a, 5b, ... Are successively laminated on the upper surface 3a of the molding frame 3, the two-dimensional multi-layer data generated by dividing the above-mentioned three-dimensional shape data into multiple layers on the horizontal plane. When the above repeated operation is performed for all of the above, the molding of the three-dimensional object having the desired shape is completed.
Then, the doctor blade 4 is moved for smoothing.
Is the viscosity of the liquid photocurable resin R and the thin film 5 in this embodiment.
A, 5b ... Are moved at a predetermined speed determined by the number of times of lamination.

The moving speed of the doctor blade 4 is determined not only by the viscosity of the liquid photo-curable resin R but also by the number of laminations of the thin films 5a, 5b ... For the following reason. That is, using the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, a solid cube having a model size of 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm, each thin film having a thickness of 0.2 mm and a viscosity of 25 poise (20
℃) liquid photo-curable resin R, light scanning speed 100mm / se
c, He-Cd laser 10m as light (actinic ray)
W, the beam diameter on the irradiation surface is 200 μm, the size of the bathtub 2 is 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm, and the moving distance of the doctor blade 4 is 150 mm. When I went there, the following results were obtained.

First, when the doctor blade 4 is moved at a constant speed of 75 mm / sec regardless of the number of laminations,
No inclusion of bubbles from the atmosphere due to the movement of the doctor blade 4 was confirmed. In this case, the total time required to move the doctor blade 4 was 1000 seconds, which was a relatively short time. However, the air bubbles trapped in the liquid photocurable resin R at the start of the production (such as the moment when the molding frame 3 is dipped in the liquid photocurable resin R) are generated on the surface R ₀ during the production.
It floats up to and violently collides with the moving doctor blade 4, and a large bubble ruptures, and the air inside thereof is agitated with the excess liquid photo-curable resin R around the doctor blade 4 to grow into a small bubble. proliferated small bubbles will be sprayed on substantially the entire area of the surface R ₀ of the liquid photocurable resin R, not only smooth the surface R ₀ is deteriorated rather, states having void portions in a liquid photocurable the resin R As a result, a thin film is formed, and a defect such as a pinhole is generated in the three-dimensional object, or the thin film is defectively adhered and the upper end of the thin film even pushes out from the surface R _0. The exposed part may even come into contact with the moving doctor blade 4 and even damage the object being manufactured.

Next, when the doctor blade 4 is moved at a constant speed of 30 mm / sec regardless of the number of stacking,
Almost no growth of small bubbles due to the collision between the bubbles in the liquid photocurable resin R and the doctor blade 4 described above occurred. As a result, the smoothness of the surface R ₀ of the liquid photocurable resin R was improved, and problems such as breakage of an object during manufacturing due to peeling deformation were solved.

However, the total time required to move the doctor blade 4 was 2500 sec, which is not preferable for shortening the entire manufacturing time. Next, the doctor blade 4 is set at a constant speed of 40 mm / se regardless of the number of laminations.
When I moved it at c, 50 mm / sec, 60 mm / sec,
It was found that the above-mentioned phenomenon of small bubble growth becomes remarkable at about 50 mm / sec.

The above is summarized in Table 1 below.

[0039]

[Table 1]

Next, the moving speed of the doctor blade 4 is
It was made variable according to the number of times the thin film was formed. In particular,
40mm / sec from 1 to 40 layers, 75mm from 41 to 500 layers
In terms of / sec, the phenomenon of multiplication of small bubbles due to the collision between the bubbles in the liquid photocurable resin R and the doctor blade 4 hardly occurred. The reason is that during the 1 to 40 layers where the doctor blade 4 is moved at a low speed, almost no growth of small bubbles occurs as described above, and between the 41 to 500 layers where the doctor blade 4 is moved at a relatively high speed. Regarding, regarding the bubbles that have been substantially defoamed when the air bubbles entrapped in the liquid photocurable resin R at the start of production have formed a thin film of the thirty-odd layer, Also, when the liquid photocurable resin R floats up to near the surface R ₀ , the liquid photocurable resin R accumulates at the edge portion of the bathtub, which is a position that does not hinder the manufacture of the three-dimensional object as the doctor blade 4 moves. is there.

Since the doctor blade 4 is moved at a high speed midway, the total moving time of the doctor blade 4 is 1070 sec, which is a relatively short time, and an efficient three-dimensional object can be manufactured. Becomes How to specifically change the moving speed of the doctor blade 4 in accordance with the number of times of forming the thin film is delicate depending on the type of the liquid photocurable resin R and the shape of the three-dimensional object to be manufactured. Although it changes, it is possible to systematically summarize the correspondence by conducting appropriate experiments.

In any case, as in the present embodiment, the moving speed of the doctor blade 4 is made variable, for example, by using an electric motor having a variable rotational speed as the driving device, and a micro controller for controlling the driving device of the doctor blade 4 is used. The number of times the thin film is formed is counted by a computer (speed control means), and the moving speed of the doctor blade 4 is set to a low speed until the count exceeds a predetermined value according to the count, and after that, the doctor blade 4 moves. By increasing the moving speed, it is possible to reduce the time required to manufacture the three-dimensional object and to efficiently manufacture the three-dimensional object, without inviting the problems such as the above-mentioned phenomenon of small bubble multiplication. Of.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 in the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the first
The same members and parts as those in the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be omitted. That is, this embodiment is a characteristic part different from the above-mentioned first embodiment in that a configuration for replenishing a new liquid photocurable resin R is provided, and specifically, before and after the advancing and retracting direction of the doctor blade 4. Container 10 as movable replenishing means (resin replenishing means) whose lower ends can be opened on both sides
A and 10B are attached and the container 10A, 1
A nozzle 11 capable of supplying the liquid photo-curable resin R to 0B is exposed to the bathtub 2, and a tray 12 for collecting the liquid photocurable resin R overflowing from the bathtub 2 is provided around the upper end of the bathtub 2. ing.

The method of using the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 1 is as follows.
Basically the same as in the first embodiment, except that the edge of the bath 2 is filled with the liquid photo-curable resin R, that is, the height of the surface R ₀ of the liquid photo-curable resin R is the upper end of the bath 2. The three-dimensional object is manufactured in a state in which the parts match each other. And when moving the doctor blade 4,
The container 10A or 10B that moves horizontally in advance of the doctor blade 4 (that is, the doctor blade 4 shown in FIG.
When moving from the right side to the left side, the lower end side of the container 10A, and when moving in the opposite direction, the lower end side of the container 10A is opened as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4, and is supplied from the nozzle 11 into the containers 10A and 10B. The liquid photocurable resin R that has been used is gradually replenished into the bath 2 from the opening on the lower end side of the container 10A or 10B (resin replenishing step).

With such a structure, when the doctor blade 4 moves along the surface R ₀ of the liquid photo-curable resin R in the bath 2, the moving container 10A or 10B precedes it. A new liquid photo-curable resin R is gradually replenished into the bath 2 from the above, and the replenished liquid photo-curable resin R is leveled by the doctor blade 4 which moves immediately after that, and excess liquid photo-curable resin R is added. Since R overflows from the bathtub 2 and is collected in the tray 12, the surface R
₀ can be surely smoothed. The tray 12
Since the liquid photocurable resin R collected in step 1 is reused,
There is no waste.

If the liquid photo-curable resin R is not filled in the bath 2 and the liquid photo-curable resin R is intensively replenished to a specific position in the bath 2 from the nozzle 11 or the like, The liquid photocurable resin R leaked laterally from the longitudinal end of the doctor blade 4 at the start of movement is the bath 2
To form a thick layer of the liquid photo-curable resin R, and the thick layer collapses inside the bath 2 after the doctor blade 4 has passed. It is likely that it will be thick,
With the configuration of the present embodiment, such a situation does not occur, so that the surface R ₀ can be smoothed with high accuracy.

Further, since the height of the surface R ₀ always coincides with the upper end of the bath 2, it is not necessary to correct the focus of the light emitted from the light irradiation device when forming the thin film. Moreover, since the containers 10A and 10B are provided on both sides of the doctor blade 4, the liquid photocurable resin R can be replenished to the front side of the doctor blade 4 regardless of the moving direction of the doctor blade 4. Therefore, there is no need to perform a wasteful operation of merely returning the doctor blade 4 to the predetermined position.

Also in this embodiment, the moving speed of the doctor blade 4 is made variable according to the number of times the thin film is formed, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, other operational effects are similar to those of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, the thin films 5a,
b ... are laminated one after another, and in the second embodiment, thin film is laminated one after another by replenishing the liquid photocurable resin R while lowering the molding stand 3, but a three-dimensional object to which the present invention can be applied. The type of the manufacturing apparatus 1 is not limited to these, for example, the type disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-114818, that is, the lowermost layer on the bottom surface of the bath 2 without providing the vertically movable molding base 3. Of the liquid photo-curable resin R, the doctor blade 4 is moved along the surface R ₀ of the liquid photo-curable resin R for smoothing, and light is applied to the next-stage thin film. It may be a type of device for forming a three-dimensional object by laminating thin films one after another on the bottom surface of the bath 2 such that the liquid photo-curable resin R is formed and replenished again with a predetermined amount.

[0049]

As described above, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 3 or 4 to 6, the moving speed of the smoothing member which moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin is set to the thin film. Since it is variable according to the number of times of forming, it is possible to move the smoothing member at a speed close to the upper limit of the moving speed of the smoothing member, which changes according to the number of times of forming the thin film, and avoid the phenomenon of small bubble growth while manufacturing. The effect that the time is shortened is obtained.

According to the improved invention A or the improved invention C, in addition to the above effects, there is an effect that the surface of the liquid photocurable resin can be made smoother. Then, according to the improved invention B or the improved invention D, for example, at the start of the production, the liquid photocurable resin moves at a low speed until the bubbles are removed, and after the defoaming, it moves at a high speed. There is an effect that the production time can be shortened while surely avoiding the phenomenon of bubble growth and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 2 bathtub 3 molding stand 4 doctor blade (smooth member) 5a, 5b thin film 10A, 10B container (movable resin replenishing means) R liquid photocurable resin R ₀ liquid photocurable resin surface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A liquid photo-curable resin in a state in which a molding frame which can be raised and lowered in a bath containing a liquid photo-curable resin is held at a position where a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin is formed on the upper surface thereof. The surface of the resin is selectively irradiated with light to form a thin film of the lowermost layer, and then a cradle lowering step of lowering the molding cradle by a predetermined distance, and a smooth member for stroking the surface of the liquid photocurable resin And a thin film forming step of forming a thin film by selectively irradiating the surface of the liquid photo-curable resin with light to perform smoothing. In the method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object having a desired shape, the moving speed of the smoothing member is changed according to the number of times the thin film is formed. 2. A liquid photo-curable resin in a state where a molding frame that can be raised and lowered in a bath containing a liquid photo-curable resin is held at a position where a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin is formed on the upper surface thereof. Light is selectively applied to the surface of the resin to form a thin film of the lowermost layer, and then a pedestal lowering step of lowering the molding pedestal by a predetermined distance, and a resin for replenishing the liquid photocurable resin in the bath A replenishing step, a smoothing step of smoothing the surface of the liquid photocurable resin by moving a smoothing member so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, and a selective step for the surface of the liquid photocurable resin. In the method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object having a desired shape by repeatedly performing a thin film forming step of irradiating a film with light to form a thin film, changing the moving speed of the smoothing member according to the number of times the thin film is formed. Of the characteristic three-dimensional object Production method. 3. The liquid photocurable resin contained so as to form a thin layer in the bath is selectively irradiated with light to form a lowermost thin film, and then the liquid photocurable resin is placed in the bath. A resin replenishing step of replenishing a curable resin, a smoothing step of moving a smoothing member so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin to smooth the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, and the liquid photocuring In the method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object having a desired shape by repeatedly performing a thin film forming step of selectively irradiating light on the surface of a flexible resin to form a thin film, the moving speed of the smooth member is changed to the thin film forming step. A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, which is characterized in that it is changed according to the number of times. 4. A bath containing the liquid photo-curable resin, and a stepwise predetermined distance from an initial position in which the liquid photo-curable resin is arranged to be movable up and down and a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin is formed on the upper surface. To the surface of the liquid photo-curable resin after the operation of the smooth member is completed, and a smoothing member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photo-curable resin after the molding frame descends one step. A light irradiation means for selectively irradiating light to form a thin film, and a speed control means for varying the moving speed of the smoothing member according to the number of times the thin film is formed. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, comprising: 5. A bath containing the liquid photo-curable resin, and a stepwise predetermined distance from an initial position in which the liquid photo-curable resin is arranged to be movable up and down and a thin layer of the liquid photo-curable resin is formed on the upper surface. And a resin replenishing means for replenishing the liquid photo-curable resin in the bath after the molding cradle descends by one step, and the liquid photo-curable resin is replenished by the resin replenishing means, and A smooth member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, and a light irradiation unit that selectively irradiates the surface of the liquid photocurable resin with light after the operation of the smooth member is completed to form a thin film. And a speed control means for varying the moving speed of the smoothing member according to the number of times the thin film is formed. 6. A resin replenishing means for replenishing the liquid photocurable resin by a predetermined amount in a bath containing the liquid photocurable resin so as to form a thin layer, and the liquid photocurable resin by the resin replenishing means. Light irradiation means for selectively irradiating light onto the surface of the liquid photocurable resin before the resin is replenished to form a thin film, and the liquid photocurable resin after being replenished by the resin replenishing means. In a three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus provided with a smooth member that moves so as to stroke the surface of the liquid photocurable resin, a speed control means that makes the moving speed of the smooth member variable according to the number of times the thin film is formed. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object characterized by being provided.