KR20220064565A - Three dimensional printer and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) printer and a driving method thereof, the 3D printer comprising: a water tank accommodating a photocurable liquid resin therein; a driving module which divides a three-dimensional molding model into a plurality of unit layers, generates a cross-sectional image for each unit layer, detects the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer, and sets a moving distance and position for each unit layer, wherein the three-dimensional molding model is disposed close to a preset origin position in an output area corresponding to the water tank; and a recoater module which coats the output area with the photocurable liquid resin while moving according to the moving distance and position of each unit layer.

Description

3D printer and driving method thereof

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printer and a method of driving the same, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional printer capable of shortening an overall output time for outputting a three-dimensional molded article by a photo-curing method, and a driving method thereof.

In general, a 3D printer refers to an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional molded product by using additive manufacturing technology (AMT), out of methods such as milling, cutting, and assembling. Even if 3D printer is installed in a narrow space outside of the existing manufacturing line, it is suitable for small quantity production of various types based on additive manufacturing technology and can be customized, so it is very useful in the medical field.

In addition, since the three-dimensional molding requires processability and functionality in the additive manufacturing technology, it is manufactured under a great influence on the printing material and the material planarization. Here, the printing material uses a photocurable liquid resin in a 3D printer of a stereo lithography apparatus (SLA) method or a digital light processing (DLP) method. The photocurable liquid resin has a property of being cured by being irradiated with laser light or ultraviolet light in a container.

The light-curable liquid resin can be applied uniformly with the movement that occurs naturally by the flow of liquid in the water bath. However, as more fillers are added to the photo-curable liquid resin to increase the strength or change the color of the three-dimensional molded product according to the user's request, the photo-curable liquid resin has a high viscosity close to a gel state.

Since it is difficult to apply such a high-viscosity photo-curable liquid resin uniformly with natural movement, the process of uniformly applying the photo-curable liquid resin using a recoater after the output step of each layer of the three-dimensional molding is difficult. need. The recoater applies the light-curable liquid resin by rapidly inducing the movement of the light-curable liquid resin generated by the natural liquid flow while moving from one direction to the other of the water tank.

In general, the recoater takes one side of the tank as the origin, moves to the other side of the tank, and then performs a reciprocating movement returning to the origin. Since the recoater reciprocates over the entire area of the water tank whenever the output step of each layer of the three-dimensional molded product is performed, the moving time of the recoater consumes the most time among the total printing time of the three-dimensional molding.

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional printer capable of shortening the overall output time for outputting a three-dimensional molded article by a light curing method and a driving method thereof.

Among the embodiments, the three-dimensional printer includes a water tank containing a light-curable liquid resin; A three-dimensional molded model disposed close to the preset origin of the output area corresponding to the water tank is divided into a plurality of unit layers to generate a cross-sectional image for each unit layer, and the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer is detected by detecting the size of the unit layer. a driving module for setting the moving distance of each star; and a coater module for applying the photo-curable liquid resin on the output area by moving according to the movement distance for each unit layer.

Here, the origin position is set as a position at which the recoater module starts to move from one side of the output area.

Here, the driving module sets the movement distance by calculating a distance between the origin position and the outermost position of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer.

Here, the three-dimensional molded model is plural, and the driving module arranges the plurality of three-dimensional molded models in order of increasing height from the origin position.

Here, the driving module detects a region in which the cross-sectional image is present and an area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist for each unit layer, and sets the region in which the cross-sectional image does not exist at a moving speed of the recoater module than in the region in which the cross-sectional image exists. set quickly.

Here, it may further include a molding module for curing the photo-curable liquid resin according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to form a unit three-dimensional molded product, and for outputting a three-dimensional molded product by laminating the unit three-dimensional molded product for each unit layer. .

Here, the molding module includes: a light source unit for curing the light-curable liquid resin by irradiating light according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer; and a lamination plate supporting the three-dimensional molded product formed by curing the photo-curable liquid resin, and descending in the upper direction of the water tank to output the three-dimensional molded product laminated for each unit layer as the three-dimensional molded product.

Here, after the unit three-dimensional molded product of the current unit layer is output, the recoater module moves as much as a movement distance set in the current unit layer to apply the photo-curable liquid resin.

Among the embodiments, the driving method of a 3D printer divides a three-dimensional molded model disposed close to a preset origin position of an output area into a plurality of unit layers in a driving module to generate a cross-sectional image for each unit layer, and the unit detecting the size of the cross-sectional image for each layer and setting a movement distance for each unit layer; and applying, in the recoater module, a light-curable liquid resin on the output area by moving according to the movement distance for each unit layer.

Here, the origin position is set as a position at which the recoater module starts to move from one side of the output area.

Here, the driving module sets the movement distance by calculating a distance between the origin position and the outermost position of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer.

Here, the three-dimensional molded model is plural, and the driving module arranges the plurality of three-dimensional molded models in order of increasing height from the origin position.

Here, the driving module detects a region in which the cross-sectional image is present and an area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist for each unit layer, and sets the region in which the cross-sectional image does not exist at a moving speed of the recoater module than in the region in which the cross-sectional image exists. set quickly.

Here, in the driving method of the 3D printer, in the molding module, the photo-curable liquid resin is cured according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to form a unit three-dimensional molded product, and the three-dimensional molded product is laminated for each unit layer to form a three-dimensional molded product. It further includes the step of outputting.

Here, after the unit three-dimensional molded product of the current unit layer is output, the recoater module moves as much as a movement distance set in the current unit layer to apply the photo-curable liquid resin.

The disclosed technology may have the following effects. However, this does not mean that a specific embodiment should include all of the following effects or only the following effects, so the scope of the disclosed technology should not be understood as being limited thereby.

A three-dimensional printer and a driving method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention can shorten the total output time for outputting a three-dimensional molded article by a light curing method.

1 is a diagram illustrating a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the forming module and the recoater module shown in FIG. 1 .
3 is a flowchart illustrating a driving method of the 3D printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
4A to 4C are exemplary views illustrating a method of driving the 3D printer shown in FIG. 1 .

The terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor may appropriately define the concept of the term in order to best describe his invention. Based on the principle, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain element, it means that other elements may be further included, rather than excluding other elements, unless otherwise stated.

The use of the word "a" when used in conjunction with the term "comprising" in the specification and claims may mean "a," or "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." may be

The use of the term “or” in the claims means that, although this disclosure supports a definition indicating only the selectables and “and/or,” the selectable are mutually exclusive or unless expressly indicated as indicating merely the selectable. and/or".

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, the detailed description and specific examples represent specific embodiments of the invention, but only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. It should be understood that they are given as examples.

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. While specific implementations are discussed, this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the art will recognize that other elements and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the 3D printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a water tank 110 , a driving module 120 , a forming module 130 , and a recoater module 140 . The water tank 110 accommodates a light-curable liquid resin. The water tank 110 may have a predetermined size corresponding to the output area to which the three-dimensional molding is output, and may be formed as a transparent water tank through which light is transmitted.

Here, the water tank 110 may be made of a transparent heat-resistant polyolefin-based resin, an embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the water tank 110 may be made of a transparent material such as acrylic, PC, glass, etc. .

The driving module 120 arranges the three-dimensional molded model close to a preset origin position of the output area, divides the three-dimensional molded model into a plurality of unit layers, and generates a cross-sectional image for each unit layer.

Here, the three-dimensional molding model is a model that virtually models a three-dimensional molding to be output, and may be a model designed in a stereo lithography (STL) file format. And, the origin position may be a position at which the recoater module 140 starts to move from one side of the output area. That is, the driving module 120 arranges the cross-sectional image for each unit layer for the three-dimensional molded model closest to the moving start position of the recoater module 140 so that the moving distance of the recoater module 140 can be minimized. .

The driving module 120 may generate a cross-sectional image for each unit layer by cutting the three-dimensional molding model into a plurality of unit layers using slicer software. The driving module 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as a computing device such as a notebook computer, a desktop computer, and a smart phone.

When there are a plurality of three-dimensional molded models, the driving module 120 may arrange the plurality of three-dimensional molded models to be spaced apart from the origin by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. The driving module 120 may arrange a plurality of three-dimensional molding models in an order of increasing height from the origin position. That is, the driving module 120 shortens the moving distance of the recoater module 140 by arranging the three-dimensional molded model having the largest number of unit layers due to its high height among the plurality of three-dimensional molding models closest to the origin to shorten the movement time. can be shortened

The driving module 120 detects the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer, sets a moving distance for each unit layer, and drives the recoater module 140 according to the set moving distance. Here, the driving module 120 may set the movement distance by calculating the distance to the outermost position of the cross-sectional image for each unit floor based on the movement start position for each unit floor. The movement distance may be set by reflecting the error distance in the distance between the movement start position for each unit floor and the outermost position of the cross-sectional image. That is, the movement distance may be set to be greater than the distance between the movement start position for each unit floor and the outermost position of the cross-sectional image by a certain distance.

The driving module 120 detects an area in which a cross-sectional image exists and an area in which a cross-sectional image does not exist for each unit layer, and moves the recoater module 140 in the area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist compared to the area in which the cross-sectional image exists. You can set the speed quickly. That is, it is possible to shorten the movement time by allowing the recoater module 140 to skip the area where the cross-sectional image does not exist at high speed.

The molding module 130 hardens the photo-curable liquid resin applied on the output area according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer generated by the driving module 120 to form a unit three-dimensional molded product, and the unit three-dimensional molded product formed for each unit layer By laminating, the final three-dimensional molded product is output. A case in which the forming module 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention operates in a bottom-up manner will be described as an example. That is, the forming module 230 may be configured in such a way that the lamination plate moves upward whenever the unit three-dimensional molded product is laminated.

The recoater module 140 moves according to the movement distance set by the driving module 120 to apply the light-curable liquid resin. That is, the recoater module 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention reciprocates from the origin position to the maximum position where the cross-sectional image for each unit layer exists. Accordingly, since the moving distance of the recoater module 140 varies according to the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer, the moving time of the recoater module 140 may be shorter than the time required to reciprocate the entire output area with the same moving distance.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the forming module and the recoater module shown in FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the forming module 130 may include a light source unit 131 and a lamination plate 133 . Here, the light source unit 131 irradiates light on the output area according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to cure the light-curable liquid resin 200 accommodated in the water tank 110 . The light source unit 131 may be disposed under the water tank 110 and may be irradiated with laser or ultraviolet light.

The lamination plate 133 supports the unit three-dimensional molding for each unit layer formed by curing by the light source unit 131 . The lamination plate 133 may support and output the three-dimensional molded article F in which the unit three-dimensional molded article is laminated for each unit layer upward from the bottom surface of the water tank 110 .

The recoater module 140 is set at its origin as close as possible to one end of the water tank 110 , and is controlled by the driving module 130 to horizontally rotate the output area between one side and the other side of the water tank 110 . move round-trip to The high-viscosity light-curable liquid resin 200 may be uniformly applied by the movement of the recoater module 140 .

In the high-viscosity light-curable liquid resin 200 , an empty space corresponding to a cross-sectional image may be generated when the three-dimensional molded product F is output for each unit layer. Accordingly, the recoater module 140 may apply the light-curable liquid resin 200 in a manner to fill the empty space by inducing the movement of the high-viscosity light-curable liquid resin 200 . That is, the recoater module 140 stirs the photo-curable liquid resin 200 to uniformly coat and flatten it. The recoater module 140 may be formed in the form of a horizontal blade moving along the water tank 110 .

3 is a flowchart illustrating a driving method of the 3D printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and FIGS. 4A to 4C are exemplary views illustrating the driving method of the 3D printer shown in FIG. 1 .

In FIG. 3 , first, the driving module 120 arranges the three-dimensional molding model to be closest to the preset origin position (S110). Here, the origin position may be set as a position at which the recoater module 140 starts to move from one side of the output area.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A , the driving module 120 moves the three-dimensional molded model 300 to the origin position O1 at which the recoater module 140 starts to move within the output area of the water tank 110 . can be placed closest to each other. That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, the movement distance of the recoater module 140 can be minimized by disposing the three-dimensional molded model 300 closest to the origin position O1 rather than arranging it in the center of the output area. .

Next, the driving module 120 generates a cross-sectional image for each unit layer corresponding to the three-dimensional molding model 300 ( S120 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 4B , the driving module 120 cuts the three-dimensional molding model 300 layer by layer using slicer software to obtain cross-sectional images (a, b, c, d) for each unit layer. can create Here, (a) is a cross-sectional image of the first unit layer, (b) is a cross-sectional image of the 150th unit layer, (c) is a cross-sectional image of the 200th unit layer, and (d) is a cross-sectional image of the 250th unit layer It is a cross-sectional image.

Then, the driving module 120 sets the moving distance of the recoater module 140 corresponding to the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer (S130). Here, the driving module 120 may calculate the distance from the origin position O1 to the outermost position of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer and set it as the moving distance of the recoater module 140 .

For example, the driving module 120 calculates the distance from the origin position O1 to the outermost position O2 of the cross-sectional image (a) of the first unit layer as shown in FIG. It is possible to set the moving distance D1 of the recoater module 140 for the . Similarly, the driving module 120 calculates the distance from the origin position O1 to the outermost position O3 of the cross-sectional image (b) of the 150th unit layer of the recoater module 140 for the 150th unit layer. The movement distance D2 can be set.

Then, the driving module 120 calculates the distance from the origin position O1 to the outermost position O4 of the cross-sectional image c of the 200th unit layer of the recoater module 140 for the 200th unit layer. The movement distance D3 can be set. In addition, the driving module 120 calculates the distance from the origin position O1 to the outermost position O5 of the cross-sectional image d of the 250th unit layer of the recoater module 140 for the 250th unit layer. The movement distance D4 can be set.

Then, the molding module 130 outputs the unit three-dimensional molding according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer (S140). The recoater module 140 moves by the moving distance set by the driving module 120 whenever a cross-sectional image for each unit layer is output to uniformly apply the light-curable liquid resin 200 (S150).

Specifically, first, the recoater module 140 reciprocates the entire output area to uniformly apply the photo-curable liquid resin 200, and after performing an initial application process of returning to the origin position (O1), the molding module ( 130 , laser or ultraviolet light is irradiated to the bottom surface of the water tank 110 through the light source unit 131 according to the cross-sectional image of the first unit layer.

At this time, the lamination plate 133 descends from the bottom surface of the water tank 110 to the height of the unit layer. Then, the light-curable liquid resin 200 is cured and attached to the laminated plate 133 in a gap space formed by a unit layer height between the laminated plate 133 and the bottom surface of the water tank 110 , and thus the first A unit three-dimensional molded product of a unit layer is output. At this time, the bottom surface of the water tank 110 is coated with a release agent, so that the unit three-dimensional molded product is not attached. Then, the lamination plate 133 rises.

Then, the recoater module 140 moves from the origin position O1 by the movement distance for the first unit floor set by the driving module 120 . For this reason, the photocurable liquid resin 200 is uniformly re-applied (S150). That is, the recoater module 140 moves by the size of the cross-sectional image of the first unit layer.

Then, the molding module 130 outputs the second unit three-dimensional molded product according to the cross-sectional image of the second unit layer, and the recoater module 140 moves from the origin position O1 to the second unit layer set by the driving module 10. moves as much as the moving distance. For this reason, the photocurable liquid resin 200 is uniformly re-applied. By repeating this process to output the n-th unit three-dimensional molded article, the three-dimensional molded article F in which n unit three-dimensional molded articles are stacked is completed.

That is, the total output time of the three-dimensional molding F is determined by the sum of the light irradiation time of the light source unit 131 for each unit layer, the rise time of the lamination plate 133 , and the movement time of the recoater module 140 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the recoater module 140 is moved only to the maximum position where the cross-sectional image exists in a state in which the cross-sectional image for each unit layer is arranged closest to the origin of the recoater module 140 .

Therefore, as the moving distance of the recoater module 140 is varied according to the size of the cross-sectional image, whenever a unit three-dimensional molded product is output, the recoater module 140 is moved by the same moving distance. travel time can be shortened.

In addition, the moving time of the recoater module 140 can be further shortened by skipping the area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist at a higher speed than in the area in which the cross-sectional image exists. Accordingly, the total output time of the 3D printer 100 may be shortened.

And, even when there are a plurality of three-dimensional molding models, the three-dimensional molding model with a large number of unit layers, that is, a three-dimensional molding model having a relatively high height, is placed close to the origin position, and after the remaining three-dimensional molding model is output, the recoater module ( 140) can shorten the moving distance and time.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through preferred embodiments above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is common knowledge in the art that various changes and applications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. self-explanatory to the technician. Accordingly, the true protection scope of the present invention should be construed by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: 3D printer
110: water tank
120: drive module
130: forming module
140: recoater module

Claims (15)

a water tank containing a light-curable liquid resin;
A three-dimensional molded model disposed close to the preset origin of the output area corresponding to the water tank is divided into a plurality of unit layers to generate a cross-sectional image for each unit layer, and the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer is detected by detecting the size of the unit layer. a driving module for setting the moving distance of each star; and
and a recoater module for applying the photo-curable liquid resin on the output area by moving according to the movement distance for each unit layer. According to claim 1,
The origin position is set as a position where the recoater module starts to move from one side of the output area. According to claim 1,
The driving module calculates a distance between the origin position and the outermost position of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to set the movement distance. According to claim 1,
The three-dimensional molding model is a plurality,
The driving module is a three-dimensional printer for arranging the plurality of three-dimensional molded models in the order of height from the origin position. According to claim 1,
The driving module detects a region in which a cross-sectional image exists and an area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist for each unit layer, and sets the moving speed of the recoater module faster in the area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist than in the area in which the cross-sectional image exists 3D printer that does. According to claim 1,
The three-dimensional printer further comprising a molding module for curing the photo-curable liquid resin according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to form a unit three-dimensional molded article, and for outputting a three-dimensional molded article by laminating the unit three-dimensional molded article for each unit layer. 7. The method of claim 6,
The molding module is
a light source unit for curing the photo-curable liquid resin by irradiating light according to the cross-sectional image of each unit layer; and
A three-dimensional printer comprising a lamination plate supporting the three-dimensional molded article formed by curing the photo-curable liquid resin, and descending in the upper direction of the water tank to output the three-dimensional molded article laminated for each unit layer as the three-dimensional molded article. 7. The method of claim 6,
The recoater module is a three-dimensional printer for applying the photo-curable liquid resin by moving as much as a movement distance set in the current unit layer after the unit three-dimensional molded product of the current unit layer is output. In the driving module, a three-dimensional molded model disposed close to the preset origin of the output area is divided into a plurality of unit layers to generate a cross-sectional image for each unit layer, and the size of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer is detected by unit layer setting a moving distance; and
In the recoater module, moving according to the movement distance for each unit layer, the driving method of a 3D printer comprising the step of applying a photo-curable liquid resin on the output area. 10. The method of claim 9,
The method of driving a three-dimensional printer, wherein the origin position is set as a position at which the recoater module starts to move from one side of the output area. 10. The method of claim 9,
The drive module calculates a distance between the origin position and the outermost position of the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to set the movement distance. 10. The method of claim 9,
The three-dimensional molding model is a plurality,
The drive module is a driving method of a three-dimensional printer for arranging the plurality of three-dimensional molded models in the order of height from the origin position. 10. The method of claim 9,
The driving module detects a region in which a cross-sectional image exists and an area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist for each unit layer, and sets the moving speed of the recoater module faster in the area in which the cross-sectional image does not exist than in the area in which the cross-sectional image exists How to drive a 3D printer. 10. The method of claim 9,
In the molding module, curing the photo-curable liquid resin according to the cross-sectional image for each unit layer to form a unit three-dimensional molded product, and stacking the unit three-dimensional molded product for each unit layer to output a three-dimensional molded product How the printer works. 15. The method of claim 14,
The recoater module is a driving method of a three-dimensional printer for applying the photo-curable liquid resin by moving as much as a movement distance set in the current unit layer after the unit three-dimensional molded product of the current unit layer is output.

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