JP6474290B2 - 3D modeling equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by combining powder materials.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus including a material storage tank that stores a powder material such as gypsum and starch, and a modeling tank that forms a three-dimensional model by combining the powder material. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that supplies a powder material stored in a material storage tank to a modeling tank by an extension roller that rotationally drives the molding material to form a three-dimensional object in the modeling tank. Yes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-231183

  However, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the extender (extension roller) pushes the powder material toward the modeling tank and spreads it, the powder material does not flow and is simply pushed and translated. Then, the surface layer of the powder material is hardened on the material storage tank side through which the extension body has passed, and the surface of the powder material is simply pushed in the lump in front of the extension body on the modeling tank side by the so-called lumps of the powder material. Is rough. For this reason, in the conventional three-dimensional modeling apparatus, there is a problem that the powder material cannot be supplied smoothly and sufficiently, and the bonding strength and surface roughness between the layers in the three-dimensional model become rough.

  The present invention has been made in order to address the above-described problems, and the object thereof is to form a three-dimensional structure with improved strength and surface accuracy by laying a powder material flat in a modeling tank without unevenness. The object is to provide a three-dimensional modeling apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that, in a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by combining powder materials, the powder material is contained in a container in which an upper part opens and a supply stage that constitutes a bottom part moves up and down. And a modeling tank that receives a powder material from the material storage tank and accommodates a three-dimensional object in a container that is disposed adjacent to the material storage tank and opens upward and the modeling stage that constitutes the bottom portion is moved up and down. And the surface of the powder material stored in the material storage tank from the material storage tank to the modeling tank is pushed out to the modeling tank side and spread on the upper surface of the powder material in the modeling tank. And a material unraveling body having a unrolling portion that is arranged on the modeling tank side with respect to the extension body and is inserted into the surface layer portion of the powder material stored in the material storage tank to unravel the surface layer portion. That That.

  According to the feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is configured so that the powder material on the front side in the moving direction of the extension body pushed out by the extension body is preliminarily solved by the material unraveling body. In the modeling tank, the hardened powder material is unraveled, and in the modeling tank, the unraveled powder material is pushed by the extension body, and the whole flows continuously in front of the extension body (swells like a spring water) It is laid while being). As a result, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention, the powder material can be laid flat in the modeling tank without unevenness with a smooth and sufficient supply amount, and the three-dimensional modeling with improved strength and surface accuracy. A model can be formed.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the material unraveling body includes a rotating rod formed of a rotatable rod body, and the unraveling portion is on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod. And projecting outward in the radial direction.

  According to the other feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is configured such that the unraveling portion is on the outer side in the radial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod composed of a rod body whose material unraveling body is rotatable. Since it is formed to project, the powder material in front of the extension body can be unwound continuously or intermittently by the rotation of the rotating rod. In this case, the material unraveling body is dragged and rotated by being caught on the surface layer of the powder material when the material unraveling body is displaced together with the extension body to the modeling tank side, and is forcibly rotated by an electric motor described later. There are cases.

  Another feature of the present invention is that, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the rotating rod is forcibly rotated by an electric motor.

  According to the other feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is more reliable and accurate even when the powder material is solidified because the rotating rod is forcibly rotated by the electric motor. Can be well understood.

  Another feature of the present invention is that, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the extension body is formed of a round bar that is driven to rotate together with the rotary rod by an electric motor.

  According to another feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is configured by a round bar body that is rotationally driven together with a rotating rod by an electric motor. The surface layer portion of the powder material in the tank can be guided to the modeling tank while being formed flat, and the powder material can be laid flat in the modeling tank. In addition, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus can simplify the configuration by sharing the electric motor that rotationally drives the extension body and the material unraveling body.

  Another feature of the present invention is that in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the extension body is rotationally driven from below to the upper side with respect to the modeling tank side, and the material unraveling body is upward from the lower side with respect to the extension body side. It is to drive to the side.

  According to another feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is configured such that the extension body is rotationally driven from below to the upper side with respect to the modeling tank side, and the material unraveling body is relative to the extension body side. Since it is rotationally driven from the lower side to the upper side, the entire powder material flows continuously in front of the extension body, and the powder material can be moved and spread with high accuracy.

  Another feature of the present invention is that in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, a plurality of unraveling portions are provided along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod.

  According to another feature of the present invention configured as described above, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, since a plurality of unraveling portions are provided along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod, the powder material can be quickly and finely selected. Can be solved.

  Another feature of the present invention is that, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the material unraveling body is formed such that the lower end portion of the unraveling portion is higher than the lower end portion of the extension body.

  According to the other feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is configured so that the lower end portion of the unraveling portion in the material unraveling body is formed at a height higher than the lower end portion of the extending body. It is possible to spread the powder material accurately without unraveling the powder material below the lower end of the body, and each part by the material unraveling body contacting each upper end of the material storage tank or modeling tank, specifically Can prevent damage to the material storage tank, the modeling tank, the material unraveling body, the extension body, the flatly formed powder material, and the three-dimensional structure.

  Another feature of the present invention is that, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus, the material unraveling body is composed of an elastic body whose unraveling portion is elastically deformable. In this case, the elastic body constituting the unraveling portion can be formed by forming a resin material or a rubber material into a plate shape, a spherical shape, a hemispherical shape, or a brush shape.

  According to another feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is configured by an elastic body in which the unraveling portion in the material unraveling body is elastically deformable, and therefore, by the elastic force of the unraveling portion. It is possible to effectively solve by scraping up the powder material, and it is possible to prevent damage to the respective parts when the unraveling part comes into contact with the material storage tank or the modeling tank.

  Another feature of the present invention is that the three-dimensional modeling apparatus further includes a height that regulates a height of the powder material that is disposed on the modeling tank side with respect to the material unraveling body and guided to the material unraveling body. The provision of a regulatory body. In this case, the height restricting body may be formed, for example, in the form of a metal or resin rod, plate, or brush, and arranged above the upper surface of the powder material via a predetermined gap. it can.

  According to another feature of the present invention configured as described above, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus can prevent a powder material having an excessive thickness or amount from being guided to the material unraveling body by the height regulating body, and always has a predetermined amount. Since the powder material having the following thickness is supplied to the material unraveling body, the powder material can be accurately guided to the modeling tank and laid flat.

It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure of the principal part of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control system which controls the action | operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the external appearance structure of the material disassembly body in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which arrange | positioned the modeling tank in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to the material storage tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which raised the modeling stage of the modeling tank in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and raised the supply stage of the material storage tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation state on the material storage tank at the time of moving a material extension unit from the material storage tank to the modeling tank side in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation state on the boundary part of a material storage tank and a modeling tank at the time of moving a material extension unit from the material storage tank to the modeling tank side in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation state on a modeling tank at the time of moving a material extension unit from the material storage tank to the modeling tank side in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation state on the unnecessary material receptacle at the time of moving a material extension unit from the material storage tank to the modeling tank side in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a main part of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Note that each drawing referred to in the present specification is schematically represented by exaggerating some of the components in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention. For this reason, the dimension, ratio, etc. between each component may differ. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 is a mechanical apparatus that laminates and forms a desired three-dimensional modeled object WK from below to above by bonding powder materials made of gypsum, starch, and the like with a binder.

(Configuration of 3D modeling apparatus 100)
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 includes a modeling tank 110. The modeling tank 110 is a container for receiving the powder material PM, which is a material of the three-dimensional modeled object WK, from a material storage tank 140 to be described later, and molding the three-dimensional modeled object WK, and has a rectangular bottom in a plan view. It is formed in a cylindrical shape. More specifically, the modeling tank 110 mainly includes a modeling stage 111 and a side wall 112.

  The modeling stage 111 is a plate-like component that constitutes the bottom of the modeling tank 110, and is configured by a rectangular metal plate in plan view. The modeling stage 111 is supported by a modeling stage elevating mechanism 113 so as to be movable up and down in the vertical direction in the figure, which is the Z-axis direction, while sliding with respect to the side wall 112. The side walls 112 are plate-like components that constitute the side walls of the modeling tank 110, and are provided in a state of standing on the four sides of the modeling stage 111 so as to surround the periphery of the modeling stage 111. Thereby, the modeling tank 110 is formed in the box shape which the upper direction which the modeling stage 111 opposes opens. In addition, the height of the upper end part of the side wall 112 of the modeling tank 110 is formed in the same height as the upper end part of the side wall 142 of the material storage tank 140 mentioned later.

  The modeling stage raising / lowering mechanism 113 is a mechanical device for raising and lowering the modeling stage 111 in the vertical direction by operation control of a control device 170 described later, and mainly includes an elevation base 113a, a support shaft 113b, a drive motor 113c, and a drive belt 113d. Each of them is configured. The elevating pedestal 113a is a part made of a metal plate that supports the modeling stage 111 from the lower side, and after each periphery of a rectangular horizontal plate-like portion that supports the modeling stage 111 is bent downward, the lower end is horizontal again. A longitudinal section that is bent outwardly in the direction and projects into a flange shape is formed in a rectangular wave shape.

  The support shaft 113b is a bar body that penetrates and rises in a state of being screw-fitted to the protruding portion of the lower end portion of the lift base 113a. A plurality of support shafts 113b are arranged (four in this embodiment) around the elevating pedestal 113a so that the elevating pedestal 113a can be guided in the vertical direction while keeping the elevating pedestal 113a in a horizontal state. Each of these support shafts 113b is supported in a state where both ends thereof are rotatable with respect to a support housing 114 described later.

  The drive motor 113 c is a drive source that raises and lowers the modeling stage 111, and is configured by an electric motor that is operation-controlled by the control device 170. The drive shaft of the drive motor 113c is connected to the support shaft 113b via a drive belt 113d. The drive belt 113d is a rubber endless belt for connecting the drive motor 113c and each support shaft 113b to each other and transmitting the drive force of the drive motor 113c to each support shaft 113b. Therefore, in the modeling stage elevating mechanism 113, when the driving motor 113c is rotationally driven, each support shaft 113b is rotationally driven via the driving belt 113d, whereby the elevating pedestal 113a is elevated and the modeling stage 111 is elevated.

  The support housing 114 is a component that supports the modeling tank 110 and covers the modeling stage elevating mechanism 113, and is configured by forming a metal plate in a box shape. The lower surface of the support housing 114 is formed in a concave shape in a state of penetrating along the Y-axis direction (the left-right direction in the drawing) approaching or separating from the material storage tank 140, and the concave portion It is connected to and supported by the modeling tank moving mechanism 115 disposed in the. Note that the Y-axis direction is orthogonal to the Z-axis direction.

  The modeling tank moving mechanism 115 is a device for reciprocating the modeling tank 110 in the Y-axis direction so that the modeling tank 110 is brought into close contact with or separated from the material storage tank 140. The Y-direction first guide guide 115a and the drive motor are mainly used. 115b, respectively. The Y-direction first guide guide 115a is a metal rail or feed screw extending in the Y-axis direction for guiding in the Y-axis direction to be brought into close contact with or separated from the material storage tank 140 while supporting the support housing 114. It is a component provided with a mechanism (both not shown). The Y-direction first guide guide 115a is fixedly mounted on a base 120 that is fixedly provided in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100.

  The drive motor 115 b is a drive source that reciprocates in the direction in which the modeling tank 110 and the support housing 114 are moved toward or away from the material storage tank 140, and is configured by an electric motor that is controlled by the control device 170. The drive motor 115b reciprocates the modeling tank 110 and the support housing 114 by rotating the feed screw mechanism in the Y-direction first guide guide 115a.

  An unnecessary material receiver 116 is provided on the support housing 114 on the side opposite to the material storage tank 140 side with respect to the modeling tank 110. The unnecessary material receptacle 116 is a metal container for recovering an excess portion of the powder material PM supplied to the modeling tank 110 that has not been used. The unnecessary material receptacle 116 is formed in a box shape having an opening at the top like the modeling tank 110 and is disposed adjacent to the modeling tank 110. A modeling head 130 is provided above the modeling tank 110.

  The modeling head 130 is a mechanical device for combining the powder material PM in the modeling tank 110 so as to have a three-dimensional shape desired by the user, and mainly includes the ejection head 131 and the UV lamp 132, respectively. . The ejection head 131 is a device that ejects ultraviolet curable resin droplets onto the powder material PM in the modeling tank 110, and is an inkjet method (a method in which an ejection force is obtained by a volume change caused by bending deformation of a piezoelectric element). It consists of a discharge head. Here, the ultraviolet curable resin is a liquid acrylate-based or epoxy-based resin material that is cured by a radical polymerization reaction or a cationic polymerization reaction when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  The UV lamp 132 is a light source that irradiates ultraviolet rays for curing the ultraviolet curable resin discharged to the powder material PM in the modeling tank 110, and is configured by an LED that emits ultraviolet rays. The UV lamps 132 are provided on both sides of the ejection head 131 on the X-axis direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, respectively. The operations of the discharge head 131 and the UV lamp 132 are controlled by the control device 170. The modeling head 130 is supported by the modeling head scanning mechanism 133.

  The modeling head scanning mechanism 133 is a mechanical device for reciprocating the modeling head 130 along the X-axis direction, and mainly includes an X-direction guide guide 133a and a drive motor 133b. The X-direction guide guide 133a is an endless belt feed mechanism in which an endless belt is installed between a metal rail extending in the X-axis direction and two pulleys in order to guide the modeling head 130 in the X-axis direction shown in the figure. (Not shown).

  The drive motor 133 b is a drive source that reciprocates the modeling head 130 in the X axis direction with respect to the modeling tank 110, and is configured by an electric motor that is controlled by the control device 170. The drive motor 133b reciprocates the modeling head 130 in the X-axis direction by rotationally driving an endless belt feed mechanism in the X-direction guide guide 133a.

  The material storage tank 140 is a storage container for storing the powder material PM supplied to the modeling tank 110, and is configured by forming a metal plate into a rectangular bottomed cylindrical shape in plan view. More specifically, the material storage tank 130 mainly includes a supply stage 141 and a side wall 142, respectively. The supply stage 141 is a component that forms part of the bottom and side walls of the material storage tank 140 and moves up and down in the illustrated vertical direction, and is configured by forming a metal plate in an L shape in a side view. The supply stage 141 is supported by the supply stage elevating mechanism 143 so as to be movable up and down in the vertical direction in the figure while sliding with respect to the side wall 142.

  The side wall 142 is a metal plate part that stands and surrounds the periphery (three sides) of a rectangular portion in plan view that constitutes the bottom of the material storage tank 140 in the supply stage 141. Thereby, the material storage tank 140 is formed in the box shape which the upper part facing the part which comprises the bottom part of the material storage tank 140 in the supply stage 141 opens. The side wall 142 is provided in a standing state on the upper surface of the base 120. That is, the material storage tank 140 is fixedly provided on the base 120 in a state where the supply stage 141 can be moved up and down.

  The supply stage raising / lowering mechanism 143 is a device that raises and lowers the supply stage 141 in the vertical direction by the operation control of the control device 170, and mainly includes a Z-direction guide guide 143a and a drive motor 143b. The Z-direction guide 143a is a component including a metal rail and a feed screw mechanism (both not shown) extending in the Z-axis direction in order to guide the supply stage 141 in the Z-axis direction shown in the figure. The Z-direction guide 143a is fixedly provided in a standing state on the base 120.

  The drive motor 143 b is a drive source that raises and lowers the supply stage 141 in the Z-axis direction, and is configured by an electric motor that is controlled by the control device 170. The drive motor 143b is fixedly provided on the base 120 on one end side of the Z-direction guide guide 143, and rotates to drive the feed screw mechanism in the Z-axis direction guide guide 143a. 141 is moved up and down.

  A material extension unit 150 is provided above the material storage tank 140. The material extension unit 150 is a device for moving from the material storage tank 140 onto the modeling tank 110 to supply the powder material PM in the material storage tank 130 onto the modeling tank 110 and spreading it flatly. The extension body 151, the drive belt 152, the material unraveling body 153, the drive motor 154, the height regulating body 155, and the unit support body 156 are provided.

  The extension body 151 is a part that extrudes the surface layer of the powder material PM in the material storage tank 140 onto the modeling tank 110 and spreads it on the modeling tank 110, and is composed of a metal roller extending along the X-axis direction. Yes. The extension body 151 is connected to the drive motor 154 via a pulley (not shown), two gears (not shown), and a drive belt 152 in a state where both ends are rotatably held by the unit support 156. It is connected.

  In this case, the pulley is a cylindrical part that is driven to rotate by being driven by the drive belt 152, and is rotatably supported by the unit support 156. The two gears are components for reversing the direction of rotation of the pulley and transmitting it to the extension body 151. One gear rotates integrally with the pulley in the same direction and the other gear extends to the extension body. In the state of being attached to the gear 151, the gear meshes with the one gear and rotates in the opposite direction to the one gear. Further, the extension body 151 is supported at a height at which the lower end portion of the roller is located slightly above the upper end portion of the side wall 142 of the material storage tank 140 (for example, 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm). In the present embodiment, the extension body 151 is supported at a height at which the lower end of the roller is positioned 0.5 mm above the upper end of the side wall 142 of the material storage tank 140.

  The driving belt 152 is a component that transmits the rotational driving force of the driving motor 154 to the extension body 151 and the material unraveling body 153, and is constituted by an endless belt made of a rubber flat belt. The driving belt 152 may be any component that can transmit the rotational driving force of the driving motor 154 to the extension body 151 and the material unraveling body 153, and may be a belt having a circular or trapezoidal cross section. A toothed belt may also be used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the material unraveling body 153 is a part for unraveling the surface layer portion of the powder material PM stored in the material storage tank 140 prior to the passage of the extension body 151. The rod 153a, the unwinding portion 153, and the pulley 153c are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating rod 152a is a component that supports and rotates the unwinding portion 153b, and is composed of a metal round bar extending in the X-axis direction.

  The unraveling portion 153b is a portion that is inserted into the surface layer portion of the powder material PM stored in the material storage tank 140 to unravel the surface layer portion, and is formed to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod 153a. More specifically, the unraveling portion 153b is configured by attaching a plurality of metal plate-like bodies extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotating rod 153a at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating rod 153a. That is, the material breaker 153 is formed in a shape like a water wheel. In the present embodiment, the unraveling portion 153b is provided with eight rectangular (band-like) plate-like bodies extending in the X-axis direction at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating rod 153a. In this case, the length of the unwinding portion 153b in the X-axis direction is set to a length equal to or shorter than the inner dimension of the material storage tank 140 in the X-axis direction.

  Further, the amount of protrusion of the unwinding portion 153b from the rotating rod 153a is such that the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod 153a contacts the upper surface of the powder material PM when the unwinding portion 153b is inserted into the powder material PM. Or it can set to the overhang | projection amount which the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod 153a does not contact with the upper surface of the same powder material PM, respectively. In this case, the unraveling part 153b sets the powder material PM by setting the overhang amount so that the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod 153a contacts the upper surface of the powder material PM when the unraveling part 153b is inserted into the powder material PM. Can be suppressed.

  Further, the unraveling portion 153b is set to a protruding amount that does not contact the upper surface of the powder material PM when the unraveling portion 153b is inserted into the powder material PM, so that the powder material PM jumps up and becomes more powdery. Can be solved. In the present embodiment, the unraveling part 153b is an unraveling amount in which the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod 153a contacts the upper surface of the powder material PM when the unraveling part 153b is inserted into the powder material PM. The part 153b is formed with the same overhang amount.

  The pulley 153c is a component that transmits the rotational driving force of the driving motor 154 transmitted by the driving belt 152 to the rotating rod 153a, and is configured by forming a resin material in a cylindrical shape. In other words, the pulley 153 c receives the rotational driving force of the driving motor 154 in a state in which slippage is allowed due to plane contact with the driving belt 152.

  The material unraveling body 153 is connected to a driving motor 154 via a pulley 153c and a driving belt 152 hung on the pulley 153c in a state where both ends of the rotating rod 153a are rotatably held by the unit support 156. Yes. In this case, in the material unraveling body 153, the lower end portion of the unraveling portion 153b is not less than the lower end portion of the rotating rod 153a, preferably slightly above the lower end portion of the rotating rod 153a (for example, 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm). It is supported at the position where it is located. In the present embodiment, the material unraveling body 153 is supported at a position where the lower end portion of the unraveling portion 153b is positioned 0.2 mm above the lower end portion of the rotating rod 153a.

  The drive motor 154 is a drive source that rotates and drives the extension body 151 and the material unraveling body 153, and is configured by an electric motor that is controlled by the control device 170. The drive motor 154 is attached to the unit support 156, and is connected to the pulley (not shown) and the pulley 153c via the drive belt 152, respectively. As a result, the drive motor 154 rotationally drives the extension body 151 from the lower side to the upper side with respect to the modeling tank 110 side through the pulley, the two gears, and the drive belt 152, and the material unraveling body 153. Is driven to rotate upward from the lower hole with respect to the extending body 151 side via the drive belt 152 and the pulley 153c.

  The height regulating body 155 is a component for defining the height of the surface layer portion of the powder material PM stored in the material storage tank 140 with respect to the material unraveling body 153, and is a metal plate-like body. It is configured. More specifically, the height restricting body 155 is formed of a rectangular (band-shaped) plate-like body extending in the X-axis direction, and both end portions thereof are fixedly supported by the unit support bodies 156, respectively. In this case, the height regulation body 155 is provided so that the lower end portion of the plate-like body is positioned at the upper surface position of the powder material PM that can be supplied to the material unraveling body 153.

  The unit support 156 is a part that supports the extension body 151, the material unraveling body 153, and the height regulating body 155 above each of the material storage tank 140 and the modeling tank 110, and the extension body 151 and the material unraveling body 153. And a plate-shaped body made of metal that stands on the both end sides of the height regulating body 155. The unit support 156 has the lower end portion supported by the extension unit moving mechanism 160 and the extension body 151, the material unraveling body 153, and the height regulation body 155 above the material storage tank 140 and the modeling tank 110. Each end is supported.

  The extension unit moving mechanism 160 is a device for reciprocating the material extension unit 150 between the material storage tank 140 and the modeling tank 110, and mainly includes a Y-direction second guide guide 161 and a drive motor 162. It is configured. The Y-direction second guide guide 161 is a metal rail or feed screw mechanism that extends in the Y-axis direction to support the unit support 156 and guide it in the Y-axis direction between the material storage tank 140 and the modeling tank 110. (None of which is shown). The Y direction second guide 161 is fixedly mounted on the base 120.

  The drive motor 162 is a drive source that reciprocates the material extension unit 150 between the material storage tank 140 and the modeling tank 110, and is configured by an electric motor that is controlled by the control device 170. The drive motor 162 reciprocates the material extension unit 150 by rotationally driving a feed screw mechanism in the Y direction second guide guide 161.

  The control device 170 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control device 170 is provided in an instruction from the external computer device 200 connected via the interface 171 and a housing (not shown) in the 3D modeling apparatus 100. The entire operation of the 3D modeling apparatus 100 is comprehensively controlled in accordance with an input operation from the operation panel 172. In the present embodiment, the control device 170 includes at least a driving motor 113c for the modeling stage lifting mechanism 113, a driving motor 115b for the modeling tank moving mechanism 115, a modeling head 130, a driving motor 133b for the modeling head scanning mechanism 133, and a supply stage lifting / lowering. The operation of the drive motor 143b of the mechanism 143, the drive motor 155 of the material extension unit 150, and the drive motor 162 of the extension unit moving mechanism 160 is controlled.

  The external computer device 200 is constituted by a microcomputer composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, hard disk, etc., and is a personal computer (so-called personal computer) including an input device 201 composed of a keyboard and a mouse and a display device 202 composed of a liquid crystal display. The operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 is controlled by executing a modeling program (not shown). In this case, the modeling program is stored in the hard disk in advance by the user. The external computer device 200 may be any type of computer device as long as the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 can be controlled.

(Operation of 3D modeling apparatus 100)
Next, the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described. First, the user connects the external computer apparatus 200 and the 3D modeling apparatus 100 via the interface 131, and turns on the power of the external computer apparatus 200 and the 3D modeling apparatus 100, respectively. As a result, the external computer device 200 enters a standby state in which it waits for the input of a command from the user by executing a predetermined control program (not shown).

  In addition, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 executes a predetermined control program (not shown) stored in advance in a ROM in the control apparatus 170, thereby forming the modeling tank 110, the modeling stage 111, the modeling head 130, the supply stage 141, and the material. After each of the extension units 150 is returned to the origin (see FIG. 1), it enters a standby state waiting for an instruction from the external computer device 200.

  In this case, the origin position of the modeling tank 110 is a position for modeling the three-dimensional modeled object WK that is most separated from the material storage tank 140 in the Y-axis direction. In addition, the origin position of the modeling stage 111 is a position that is most elevated in the Z-axis direction, and is a position where the modeling stage 111 is flush with the upper end portion of the side wall 112. The origin position of the modeling head 130 is a movable limit position on one end side in the X-axis direction. The origin position of the supply stage 141 is a position that is the lowest in the Z-axis direction and is the innermost portion of the material storage tank 140 in the Z direction. The origin position of the material extension unit 150 is a position on the front surface side of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 that is farthest from the modeling tank 110 in the Y-axis direction.

  Next, after filling the material storage tank 140 in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 with the powder material PM, the user operates the input device 201 of the external computer apparatus 200 to execute a modeling program (not shown) on the external computer apparatus 200. Instruct. In this case, the modeling program generates cross-section processing data obtained by dividing the three-dimensional structure WK into a plurality of cross sections in order to form the three-dimensional shape desired by the user as the three-dimensional structure WK. It is a program that outputs to.

  In response to this instruction, the external computer device 200 starts execution of the modeling program and generates cross-section processing data. In this case, the external computer device 200 generates cross-section processing data based on the three-dimensional shape data representing the three-dimensional shape input by the user. Then, the external computer device 200 outputs the generated cross-section processing data to the control device 170 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. The controller 170 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 that has input the cross-section processing data includes a modeling stage lifting mechanism 113, a modeling tank moving mechanism 115, a modeling head 130, a modeling head scanning mechanism 133, a supply stage lifting mechanism 143, a material extension unit 150, and The operation of the extension unit moving mechanism 160 is controlled to combine the powder material PM in the modeling tank 110 to form the three-dimensional modeled object WK by stacking layers from below to above.

  In the modeling process of the three-dimensional structure WK, the control device 170 forms the three-dimensional structure WK while supplying the powder material PM in the material storage tank 140 to the modeling tank 110. Specifically, the control device 170 executes the supply process of the powder material PM by executing the processes of the following sub-step 1 to sub-step 4.

Substep 1; First, the controller 170 positions the modeling tank 110. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the control device 170 controls the operation of the drive motor 115 b of the modeling tank moving mechanism 115 to move the modeling tank 110 to the material storage tank 140 side to thereby move the material storage tank 140. Adhere to.

Sub-step 2: Next, the control device 170 performs positioning of the height, which is the position in the Z-axis direction, of the modeling stage 111 and the supply stage 141. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the control device 170 controls the operation of the drive motor 143 b of the supply stage elevating mechanism 143 to raise the supply stage 141 and operate the drive motor 113 c of the modeling stage elevating mechanism 113. And the modeling stage 111 is lowered.

  In this case, the control device 170 projects the supply stage 141 upward slightly so that the upper surface of the powder material PM on the supply stage 141 is slightly (0.5 mm to several mm) with respect to the upper end portion of the side wall 142 of the material storage tank 140. Position at the height position. In the present embodiment, the control device 170 has a height position at which the upper surface of the powder material PM on the supply stage 141 protrudes upward by 1.0 mm from the upper end portion of the side wall 142 of the material storage tank 140. Position to. As a result, the lower ends of the extending roller 151 and the unwinding portion 153b of the material unwinding body 153 in the material extending unit 150 are inserted into the surface layer portion of the powder material PM that has been pushed up.

  In addition, the control device 170 has a height at which the upper surface of the powder material PM on the modeling stage 111 protrudes downward slightly (0.05 mm to several mm) with respect to the upper end portion of the side wall 112 of the modeling tank 110. Position to position. In the present embodiment, the control device 170 places the modeling stage 111 at a height position where the upper surface of the powder material PM on the modeling stage 111 protrudes downward by 0.1 mm with respect to the upper end portion of the side wall 112 of the modeling tank 110. Position it.

Sub-step 3: Next, the control device 170 supplies the powder material PM in the material storage tank 140 into the modeling tank 110 using the material extension unit 150. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the control device 170 operates the drive motor 154 in the material extension unit 150 to rotate the material unraveling body 153 and the extension roller 151, respectively, and then the extension unit moving mechanism. The material extending unit 150 is moved from the material storage tank 140 toward the modeling tank 110 by controlling the operation of the drive motor 162 of 160. In this case, as shown by a broken line arrow in FIG. 6, the material unraveling body 153 is rotationally driven from the lower side to the upper side with respect to the extending body 151 side, and the extending body 151 is moved with respect to the material unraveling body 153 side. It is rotationally driven from below to above. That is, the material unraveling body 153 and the extension body 151 are rotationally driven in opposite directions from the bottom to the top on the sides facing each other.

  As a result, the surface layer portion of the powder material PM in the material storage tank 140 is adjusted to a height equal to or lower than a predetermined height by the height regulating body 155, and then the unwinding portion 153b of the material unraveling body 143 that is rotationally driven. Is dug up and solved. Then, the surface layer portion of the powder material PM unraveled by the material unraveling body 143 is pushed upward by the rotational drive of the extension body 151 after being pushed out to the extension body 151 side by the rotational drive of the material unraveling body 143. It is conveyed toward the modeling tank 110 side. In this case, since the powder material PM that has reached the extension body 151 is preliminarily dissolved by the material unraveling body 153, the powder material PM flows to the modeling tank 110 side while continuously flowing like spring water in front of the extension body 151. Be transported.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the powder material PM pushed to the modeling tank 110 side by the extending body 151 passes through the upper side of the side wall 142 of the material storage tank 140 and the side wall 112 of the modeling tank 110 that are in close contact with each other. It is carried into the tank 110. In this case, since the lower end portions of the unraveling portion 153b of the material unraveling body 153 and the extending body 151 are located above the upper end portions of the side wall 142 of the storage tank 140 and the side wall 112 of the modeling tank 110, There is no contact with each side wall 142,112.

  Further, even if the unraveling part 153b of the material unraveling body 153 and the extension body 151 come into contact with the side walls 142 and 112 due to some trouble, the material unraveling body 153 and the extension body 151 are attached to the drive belt 152. On the other hand, slipping of the pulley 153c and the pulley (not shown) prevents the material unraveling body 153, the extension body 151, the modeling tank 110, and the material storage tank 140 from being damaged.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the powder material PM introduced into the modeling tank 110 is pushed backward by the extension body 151 while being partly pushed upward by the rotational drive of the extension body 151. Will be laid. Thereby, the extending body 151 can spread the powder material PM on the back side of the extending body 151 on a flat and dense surface without unevenness. In this case, since the lower end portion of the unraveling portion 153b is positioned above the lower end portion of the extension body 151, the material unraveling body 153 that is rotationally driven has the powder material PM and the three-dimensional structure WK in the modeling tank 110. Never touch. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the extended powder 153 moves up to the unnecessary material receiver 116, so that excess powder material PM that cannot be spread in the modeling tank 111 is guided into the unnecessary material receiver 116.

  Next, the control device 170 controls the operation of the drive motor 162 of the extension unit moving mechanism 160 to move the material extension unit 150 from the modeling tank 110 toward the material storage tank 140. In this case, the control device 170 may control the operation of the drive motor 154 in the material extension unit 150 to stop the rotation driving of the material disassembling body 153 and the extension roller 151, but maintains these rotation drives. By moving the extension unit moving mechanism 160 in this state, damage to the surface of the ground powder material PM can be prevented. Then, after positioning the material extension unit 150 at the origin position of the material storage tank 140, the control device 170 controls the operation of the drive motor 154 in the material extension unit 150 to rotate each of the material unraveling body 153 and the extension roller 151. Stop driving.

Sub-step 4; Next, the control device 170 positions the modeling tank 110 with respect to the modeling head 130. Specifically, the control device 170 controls the operation of the drive motor 115 b of the modeling tank moving mechanism 115 to move the modeling tank 110 to the side away from the material storage tank 140 and position it below the modeling head 130. .

  Thereby, the control apparatus 170 can complete | finish the supply process of the powder material PM to the modeling tank 110. FIG. Therefore, after that, the control device 170 controls the operation of the driving motor 115b of the modeling tank moving mechanism 115 and the driving motor 133b of the modeling head 130, thereby causing the modeling tank 110 and the modeling head 130 to move relative to each other in the XY axis direction. By controlling the operations of the ejection head 131 and the UV lamp 132 while displacing them and executing a modeling process for combining a part of the powder material PM in the surface layer portion, a three-dimensional modeled object WK is formed. And the control apparatus 170 can shape | mold the three-dimensional molded item WK one by one toward the upper direction from the downward direction by repeatedly performing the supply process of powder material PM to the above-mentioned modeling tank 110, and the modeling process for one layer. it can.

  As can be understood from the above operation description, according to the above embodiment, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 preliminarily moves the powder material PM on the front side in the moving direction of the extension body 151 pushed out by the extension body 151 by the material unraveling body 153. Therefore, the solidified powder material PM is unraveled in the material storage tank 140, and the unraveled powder material PM is pushed by the extension body 151 in the modeling tank 110 and in front of the extension body 151. The whole is laid while continuously flowing (a state that springs up like spring water). As a result, in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 according to the present invention, the powder material PM can be smoothly and evenly provided in the modeling tank 110 with a sufficient supply amount without unevenness, and the strength and surface accuracy are improved. It is possible to mold the three-dimensional modeled object WK.

  Furthermore, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the material unraveling body 153 is configured by providing the plate-shaped unraveling portion 153b on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod 153a. However, the material unraveling body 153 is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the material unraveling body 153 is provided on the front side in the traveling direction toward the modeling tank 110 with respect to the extending body 151 and can dissolve the powder material PM. Accordingly, the material unraveling body 153 can be formed such that the unraveling portion 153b is, for example, a comb shape or a brush shape inserted into the powder material PM. In this case, the material unraveling body 153 may be rotationally driven as in the above embodiment, or the unraveling portion 153b may be fixedly positioned at a predetermined insertion position.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the material unraveling body 153 is configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor 154. However, the material breaker 153 can be driven to rotate without using the drive motor 154. For example, the material unraveling body 153 has the rotating rod 153a attached to the unit support 156 in a rotatable state. The material unraveling body 153 can unravel the powder material PM when the material extending unit 150 moves toward the modeling tank 110 and the unraveling portion 153b rolls on the powder material PM.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the material unraveling body 153 was comprised so that it might be rotationally driven toward the upper direction with respect to the extension body 151 from the downward direction. However, the material unraveling body 153 can also be configured to be rotationally driven from below to above with respect to the modeling tank 110.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the material unraveling body 153 comprised the unraveling part 153b by the rigid body made from a metal plate. However, in the material unraveling body 153, the unraveling portion 153b can be made of a material other than a metal plate, such as a resin material, a rubber material, a ceramic material, or wood. Further, the material unraveling body 153 can be configured such that the unraveling portion 153b is an elastic body such as a resin material or a rubber material. The material unraveling body 153 can also be configured by forming the unraveling portion 153b into a shape other than a plate shape, for example, a spherical shape, a hemispherical shape, or a brush shape. The material unraveling body 153 can be used by pressing the smooth outer surface of the rotating rod 153a against the powder material PM as the unraveling portion 153b. Further, the material unraveling body 153 can be formed as a portion 153b in which fine irregularities such as knurls are unraveled on the outer surface of the rotating rod 153a. Further, the material unraveling body 153 only needs to include at least one unraveling portion 153b for unraveling the powder material PM.

  In the above embodiment, the extension body 151 is configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor 154. However, the extension body 151 is not necessarily required to be configured to be rotationally driven as long as the powder material PM can be guided from the material storage tank 140 to the modeling tank 110. Therefore, the extension body 151 can be constituted by a roller or a plate-like body fixedly supported by the unit support plate 156. Further, even when the extension body 151 is rotationally driven, it can be rotationally driven by a drive motor independent of the material unraveling body 153.

  In the above embodiment, the height regulating body 155 is provided on the front side where the material unraveling body 153 moves toward the modeling layer 110. Thus, the material extension unit 150 prevents the powder material PM having an excessive thickness or amount from being guided to the material unraveling body 153 by the height restricting body 155, so that the powder material PM having a thickness always equal to or less than a predetermined amount is prevented. Since it is supplied to the material unraveling body 153, the powder material PM can be accurately guided to the modeling tank 110 and laid flat. However, the material extension unit 150 can be configured by omitting the height regulating body 155 when the thickness and amount of the powder material PM supplied to the material unraveling body 153 are not a problem.

  In the above-described embodiment, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 is configured to form the three-dimensional modeled object WK by irradiating ultraviolet rays after attaching the ultraviolet curable resin to the powder material PM and bonding the powder material PM. . However, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 only needs to be configured to combine the powder material PM to form the three-dimensional model WK, and is not necessarily limited to the configuration of combining the powder material PM using ultraviolet rays. Absent. Therefore, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 discharges the powder material PM by discharging an anaerobic or aerobic binder from the discharge head 131 in addition to a binder made of an adhesive that is solidified other than light, for example, a binder that is solidified by heat. It can also be combined. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 can also be configured to cure the powder material PM made of gypsum with a binder containing water. Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 can form the three-dimensional modeled object WK by coloring the powder material PM by providing the head 131 to the ejection for ejecting the colored ink in addition to the ejection head 131 for ejecting the binder.

WK ... 3D objects, PM ... powder materials,
100 ... 3D modeling equipment,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Modeling apparatus, 111 ... Modeling stage, 112 ... Side wall, 113 ... Modeling stage raising / lowering mechanism, 113a ... Lifting base, 113b ... Support shaft, 113c ... Drive motor, 113d ... Drive belt, 114 ... Support housing, 115 ... Modeling Tank moving mechanism, 115a ... Y direction first guide, 115b ... drive motor, 116 ... unnecessary material receiver,
120 ... the base,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 130 ... Modeling head, 131 ... Discharge head, 132 ... UV lamp, 133 ... Modeling head scanning mechanism, 133a ... X direction guide guide, 133b ... Drive motor,
140 ... Material storage tank, 141 ... Supply stage, 142 ... Side wall, 143 ... Supply stage lifting mechanism, 143a ... Z direction guide guide, 143b ... Drive motor,
150 ... Material extension unit, 151 ... Extension body, 152 ... Drive belt, 153 ... Material unraveling body, 153a ... Rotating rod, 153b ... Unraveling part, 153c ... Pulley, 154 ... Drive motor, 155 ... Height regulating body, 156 ... Unit support plate,
160 ... extension unit moving mechanism, 161 ... Y direction second guide, 162 ... drive motor,
170 ... Control device, 171 ... Interface, 172 ... Operation panel,
200: external computer device, 201: input device, 202: display device.

Claims (9)

In a three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by combining powder materials,
A material storage tank for storing the powder material in a container in which an upper part is opened and a supply stage constituting the bottom is raised and lowered;
A modeling tank for receiving the powder material from the material storage tank and accommodating the three-dimensional modeled object in a container in which the modeling stage that is arranged adjacent to the material storage tank opens upward and the bottom forming part is raised and lowered,
The surface layer portion of the powder material that has been moved from the material storage tank onto the modeling tank and stored in the material storage tank is pushed out to the modeling tank side and laid on the upper surface of the powder material in the modeling tank. And an extension body
A material unraveling body having a unraveling portion that is arranged on the modeling tank side with respect to the extension body and is inserted into a surface layer portion of the powder material stored in the material storage tank to unravel the surface layer portion. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising: In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1,
The material unraveling body is
It has a rotating rod composed of a rotatable rod,
The unraveling part is
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the three-dimensional modeling apparatus is formed to protrude radially outward on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2,
The rotating rod is
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus that is forcibly rotated by an electric motor. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 3,
The extension body is
3. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising a round bar that is driven to rotate together with the rotating rod by the electric motor. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in claim 4,
The extension body is
Rotation drive from below to the upper side with respect to the modeling tank side,
The material unraveling body is
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus that is rotationally driven from below to above with respect to the extension body side. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The unraveling part is
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein a plurality of the three-dimensional modeling apparatuses are provided along a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rod. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The material unraveling body is
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein a lower end portion of the unraveling portion is formed at a height equal to or higher than a lower end portion of the extension body. In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7,
The material unraveling body is
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus, wherein the unraveling portion is made of an elastic body that can be elastically deformed. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising: a height regulating body that is disposed on the modeling tank side with respect to the material unraveling body and regulates a height of the powder material guided to the material unraveling body.

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