CN113715337B

CN113715337B - Control device, control method, 3D printing method and printing equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113715337B
Application number: CN202111131272.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 于清晓; 付寒梅; 丁泽锋; 杜迪坤
Original assignee: Shanghai Union Technology Corp
Current assignee: Shanghai Union Technology Corp
Priority date: 2021-09-26
Filing date: 2021-09-26
Publication date: 2023-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2041-09-26
Also published as: CN113715337A

Abstract

The application discloses a control device, a method, a 3D printing method and printing equipment, wherein the 3D printing equipment comprises an energy radiation device, a component platform and a container for containing printing materials, and the energy radiation device comprises a radiation source for providing radiation energy and a panel for displaying layered images. During printing, causing an energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; wherein the radiation energy value of the radiation source in the energy radiation device meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the radiation energy value is determined based on the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source, and the radiation intensity is not more than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel. The application can effectively prolong the service life of the panel and ensure that the energy radiation device keeps stable energy output.

Description

Control device, control method, 3D printing method and printing equipment

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of 3D printing, in particular to a control device and method of an energy radiation device, a 3D printing method and printing equipment.

Background

3D printing is a technology for constructing an object by layer-by-layer printing using a printing material such as powdered metal, plastic, resin, etc. based on a digital model file, during which the printing material is shaped by radiant energy.

In some 3D printing apparatuses, the energy radiation device includes a radiation source and a panel, but the energy that can penetrate the panel is limited, so in such printing apparatuses, the radiation source is generally used to irradiate the maximum radiation energy that can be generated, so that the service life of the panel is greatly affected, and as the apparatus is used, after the energy of the radiation source is attenuated, there is a problem of printing out a piece or the like.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the related art, an object of the present application is to provide a control device, a method, a 3D printing method and a printing apparatus for an energy radiating device, which are used to overcome the technical problems of the related art.

To achieve the above and other related objects, a first aspect of the present disclosure provides a 3D printing method for a 3D printing apparatus including an energy radiation device including a radiation source to supply radiation energy, and a panel to display a layered image, a member stage, and a container to hold a printing material, the 3D printing method comprising the steps of: adjusting the height of the component platform to fill the printing material to be solidified on the printing reference surface; causing the energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; wherein a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device satisfies an exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation energy value being determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, the radiation intensity being not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel; repeating the steps to accumulate the pattern cured layer on the component platform to form a corresponding 3D component.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, further comprising: acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material; the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source are determined based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material and the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, so that the radiation source radiates energy to the printing material according to the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source in the printing process.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the step of determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source based on the required exposure energy value of the printing material and the receive intensity threshold of the panel comprises: determining a radiation intensity required for the printing material and a radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity based on an exposure energy value required for the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to a receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity; when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is longer than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, further comprising: according to the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity, the radiation source is enabled to output a radiation energy value which can meet the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by: and fitting out the corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source under the condition of receiving different control signals.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the step of constructing the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is repeatedly performed after the 3D printing device performs the print job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the application, the radiation energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of physical portion in the layered image corresponding to the 3D member.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a control method for controlling an energy radiation device in a 3D printing apparatus for radiating energy to a printing material to cure the printing material in a print job, the energy radiation device including a radiation source to supply radiation energy, and a panel to display a layered image, the control method comprising the steps of: acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material; causing the energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; wherein a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device satisfies an exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation energy value being determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, the radiation intensity being not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, further comprising: the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source are determined based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material and the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, so that the radiation source radiates energy to the printing material according to the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source in the printing process.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the step of determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source based on the required exposure energy value of the printing material and the receive intensity threshold of the panel comprises: determining a radiation intensity required for the printing material and a radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity based on an exposure energy value required for the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to a receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity; when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is longer than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the radiation source is caused to output a radiation energy value capable of satisfying a required exposure energy value of the printing material, in accordance with a correspondence between a control signal and a radiation intensity.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by: and fitting out the corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source under the condition of receiving different control signals.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the control signal comprises one of: PWM signal, voltage signal, current signal.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the step of constructing the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is repeatedly performed after the 3D printing apparatus performs the print job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the application, the radiation energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of physical portion in the 3D member corresponding to the layered image.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a control apparatus for controlling an energy radiation apparatus in a 3D printing device for radiating energy to a printing material to cure the printing material in a print job, the energy radiation apparatus including a radiation source to supply radiation energy, and a panel to display a layered image, the control apparatus comprising: an interface module connected to the energy radiating device for acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material and for transmitting a signal to the energy radiating device to cause the energy radiating device to irradiate a layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; a processing module for determining a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device such that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets an exposure energy value required for the printing material; wherein the radiant energy value is determined based on a radiant intensity of the radiant source and a radiant time of the radiant source, the radiant intensity not being greater than a receive intensity threshold of the panel.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module determines the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material and the receive intensity threshold of the panel, so as to cause the radiation source to radiate energy to the printing material according to the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source during printing.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module determines a radiation intensity required for the printing material and a radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation intensity of the radiation source being equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to a receive intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation time of the radiation source being equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity; when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is longer than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the control device causes the radiation source to output a radiation energy value capable of satisfying an exposure energy value required for the printing material according to a correspondence between a control signal and a radiation intensity.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by: and fitting out the corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source under the condition of receiving different control signals.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the control signal comprises one of: PWM control signal, voltage control signal, current control signal.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the step of constructing the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is repeatedly performed after the 3D printing apparatus performs the print job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

In some embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the interface module is further connected to a power detection device, where the power detection device is configured to detect a radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the processing module fits a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation intensities of the radiation source provided by the power detection device and corresponding to the radiation intensities under different control signals.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the power detection means is located within the breadth of the energy radiating means.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module adjusts the radiation energy value of the radiation source according to the type of physical portion in the layered image corresponding to the 3D member.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a 3D printing apparatus, comprising: a container for holding a printing material; an energy radiation device located above or below the container, comprising a radiation source for providing radiation energy, and a panel for displaying a layered image, for radiating energy to the printing material in the container according to the layered image, so as to solidify the printing material; wherein the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets an exposure energy value required by the printing material and the radiation energy value is not greater than a receive intensity threshold of the panel; a component platform positioned in the container in the print job for accumulating the attached pattern cured layer by layer to form a corresponding 3D component; the Z-axis driving system is connected with the component platform and is used for adjusting the height of the component platform in the Z-axis direction so as to adjust the distance from the component platform to a printing reference plane in a printing job; and the control system is connected with the energy radiation device and the Z-axis driving system and is used for controlling the energy radiation device and the Z-axis driving system in a printing operation so as to accumulate and attach the pattern curing layer on the component platform to form a corresponding 3D component.

In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present application, the 3D printing device is an LCD printing device.

In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect of the application, the radiation source is a 405nm UV LED or 355nm UV LED or visible light.

In some embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present application, the 3D printing apparatus further includes a power detection device connected to the control system, where the power detection device is configured to detect a radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the control system fits a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation intensities of the radiation source provided by the power detection device and corresponding to the radiation intensities under different control signals, so that in a print job, the control system outputs a corresponding control signal to the radiation source based on a required radiation energy value.

In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present application, the power detection means is located at a print datum within the container during a detection job.

In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect of the application, the power detection means is located within the breadth of the energy radiating means in a print job.

In summary, according to the embodiment of the application, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is controlled within the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, so that the panel is prevented from absorbing excessive energy to be damaged, and the service life of the panel is effectively prolonged. Meanwhile, the embodiment of the application also ensures that the radiation energy of the radiation source can meet the exposure energy value required by the printing material, namely, the effective molding of the printing material is ensured. In addition, the application can control the energy radiation device to stable radiation energy, namely, the printing equipment can adopt the same radiation intensity when the equipment is manufactured each time under the same exposure energy value requirement, thereby ensuring that the equipment has stable success rate of manufacturing the piece and reducing the influence of energy attenuation of a radiation source on the success rate of manufacturing the piece of the equipment.

Other aspects and advantages of the present application will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. Only exemplary embodiments of the present application are shown and described in the following detailed description. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the present disclosure enables one skilled in the art to make modifications to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the application as claimed. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions of the present application are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Drawings

The specific features of the application related to the application are shown in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the application in accordance with the present application will be obtained by reference to the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings that are described in detail below. The brief description of the drawings is as follows:

fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a simplified structure of a 3D printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a simple structure of a 3D printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a 3D printing method according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural view of a 3D printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a control method according to an embodiment of the application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a control device according to another embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Further advantages and effects of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure of the present application, which is described by the following specific examples.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which describe several embodiments of the application. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments of the present application is defined only by the claims of the issued patent. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

Furthermore, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including" specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, categories, and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence, presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, categories, and/or groups. The terms "or" and/or "as used herein are to be construed as inclusive, or meaning any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B or C" or "A, B and/or C" means "any of the following: a, A is as follows; b, a step of preparing a composite material; c, performing operation; a and B; a and C; b and C; A. b and C). An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or operations are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

As described in the background, in some 3D printing devices, the energy radiating device includes a radiation source and a panel. Taking an LCD printing apparatus as an example, generally, an energy radiating device of the LCD printing apparatus includes an LED light source and an LCD panel. However, since the LCD panel has an area of opaque black mask regions around each pixel, these black mask regions are mainly used to mask the control circuitry of the pixel, but the presence of these black mask regions also affects the light transmission capability of the LCD panel, allowing a small fraction of radiant energy within about 5% of the knowledge to be transmitted. For this reason, in the LCD printing apparatus, it is generally required to irradiate the LCD panel with high-power ultraviolet light provided by the LED light source and cure the printing material by using the transmitted ultraviolet light. And after the high-power ultraviolet light irradiates the LCD panel, the temperature of the LCD panel is excessively high, so that the aging of the LCD panel is accelerated very rapidly. Therefore, in the current LCD printing apparatus, the LCD panel is used as a consumable part, and needs to be replaced about 2-3 months, which not only increases the use cost of the apparatus, but also brings inconvenience to the user in replacing the screen.

In addition, in the use process of the printing equipment, the energy of the radiation source is attenuated, and particularly the radiation source can certainly cause the attenuation of the energy through the radiation of the maximum energy, so that the energy received by the printing material is unstable, and further the equipment is caused to drop in the use process, and the printing success rate and the forming quality of the equipment are reduced. In order to reduce the above problems caused by the energy decay of the radiation source, in some embodiments the exposure time of the radiation source of the printing apparatus is manually adjusted by the operator himself after an abnormality is found, however, this embodiment places higher demands on the operator, who needs to repeatedly modify the parameters and test separately to determine the desired value. Therefore, how to ensure the success rate and efficiency of the work-out and reduce the damage to the panel as much as possible is a technical problem to be solved by the technicians in the field.

In view of the above, the present application provides a 3D printing method and printing apparatus.

It should be appreciated that 3D printing is one of the rapid prototyping techniques, which is a technique that builds objects by printing layer by layer using a bondable printing material such as powdered metal or plastic based on a digital model file. At the time of printing, the digital model file is first processed to realize importing the 3D component model to be printed to the 3D printing device. And printing the obtained real object, namely the 3D component, based on the 3D component model. Here, the 3D component model includes, but is not limited to, a 3D component model based on CAD components, which is exemplified by STL files, and the control system performs layout and slicing processes on the imported STL files. The 3D component model may be imported into the control system through a data interface or a network interface. The solid portion in the introduced 3D component model may be any shape, wherein the solid portion is a portion for representing the 3D component structure, and the solid portion may include any shape of teeth, spheres, houses, teeth, or a preset structure, etc. Wherein the preset structure includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: cavity structures, structures containing abrupt shape changes, structures with preset requirements for contour accuracy in solid portions, and the like. In some embodiments, the solid portion may further include a base portion, a support portion, a contour portion, a fill portion, etc., based on its function and location in the 3D member. Wherein the contoured portion generally refers to the portion of the 3D member that constitutes the predominant shape, and is generally located on the surface of the 3D member; the filling portion is typically located within the contour portion, forming together with the contour portion a body portion of the 3D member; the supporting portion generally refers to a portion for supporting the main body portion to ensure structural stability at the time of printing; the base portion is typically used to form an attachment relationship between the body portion of the 3D component and the component platform to enable the 3D component to be attached to the component platform when printed and to facilitate removal after printing is complete, in most cases the support portion being located between the base portion and the body portion.

In a photo-curable 3D printing device, the printing material is typically a photo-curable material. The 3D printing equipment prints 3D components in a mode of exposing and curing the photo-curing material layer by layer and accumulating each curing layer through the energy radiation device, and the working principle of the specific photo-curing rapid prototyping technology is as follows: the light-cured material is used as raw material, under the control of a control system, an energy radiation device irradiates slice images of slice layers to perform exposure or scanning layer by layer, and the slice images and resin thin layers in the radiation area are cured after photo-polymerization reaction to form a thin layer section of the product. After one layer is cured, the stage is moved a layer thickness and the surface of the freshly cured resin is covered with a new layer of photo-curable material for cyclical exposure or scanning. And firmly adhering the newly solidified layer to the previous layer, repeating the steps, and stacking layer by layer to finally form the whole product prototype, namely the 3D component. The photo-curable material generally refers to a material that forms a cured layer upon irradiation with light (e.g., ultraviolet light, laser light, etc.), including but not limited to: photosensitive resin, or a mixture of photosensitive resin and other materials, and the like. Such as ceramic powders, colorants, etc.

In the present application, the 3D printing apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a surface exposure photo-curing printing apparatus including a top projection LCD printing apparatus, a bottom projection LCD printing apparatus, and the like. In some embodiments, the top projection may also be referred to as top exposure, top projection; the bottom projection may also be referred to as bottom exposure, bottom projection.

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 1, which shows a simplified schematic structure of a 3D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown, the 3D printing apparatus includes: an energy radiating device 11, a container 12, a component platform 13, a Z-axis drive system 14, and a control system 15.

Wherein the container 12 is used for holding printing material, i.e. photo-curable material, in a photo-curable printing device. The photocurable material includes any liquid material or powder material that is readily photocurable, examples of which include: photo-curing resin liquid, resin liquid doped with a mixed material such as ceramic powder and color additive, etc. The materials of the container include but are not limited to: glass, plastic, resin, etc. The capacity of the container depends on the type of 3D printing apparatus or the overall format of the energy radiating device in the 3D printing apparatus. In some cases, the container may also be referred to as a resin tank. The container may be transparent in its entirety or only at its bottom, e.g. a glass container, with a light absorbing paper (e.g. black film, or black paper, etc.) attached to the container wall to reduce curing disturbances of the light curable material due to light scattering during projection. In some embodiments, for the printing apparatus for bottom surface exposure molding, a transparent flexible film (not shown) for facilitating stripping of the printed cured layer from the bottom surface of the container is further laid on the bottom surface of the inner side of the container, for example, an FEP release film, which is a hot-melt extrusion casting film made of ultra-high purity FEP resin (fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer), and has excellent non-tackiness, high temperature resistance, electrical insulation, mechanical properties, wear resistance, and the like.

With continued reference to fig. 1, the Z-axis drive system 14 is movable in the Z-axis direction to raise and lower the component table 13 in a print job, and includes a Z-axis component and a drive device for driving the Z-axis component to move up and down. The component platform is typically located within the container and is coupled to the Z-axis component during a print job, for adjusting the distance of the component platform from a print datum under control of a Z-axis drive system during the print job, and for accumulating the solidified layers layer by layer to form a 3D component. In the printing apparatus based on the bottom exposure, the Z-axis driving mechanism is used for controllably moving and adjusting the position of the component platform along the Z-axis direction so as to form a printing reference surface between the lower surface of the component platform and the inner lower surface of the container. The component platform is used for attaching the photo-curing material on the irradiated printing reference surface to form a pattern curing layer through curing, and the corresponding 3D component is formed after the pattern curing layer is accumulated and attached on the component platform. The Z-axis driving mechanism comprises a driving unit and a Z-axis moving unit, wherein the driving unit is used for driving the Z-axis to move, so that the Z-axis moving unit drives the component platform to move along the Z-axis, and the driving unit can be a driving motor, for example. The driving unit is controlled by a control instruction. Wherein the control instruction includes: the directional command for indicating the ascending, descending or stopping of the component platform may even include parameters such as rotational speed/rotational speed acceleration, or torque/torsion. The lifting distance of the Z-axis moving unit is controlled accurately, so that accurate adjustment of the Z axis is achieved. The Z-axis moving unit includes a fixed rod with one end fixed on the component platform and a snap-in moving assembly fixed with the other end of the fixed rod, where the snap-in moving assembly is driven by the driving unit to drive the fixed rod to move axially along the Z-axis, and the snap-in moving assembly is, for example, a limit moving assembly snapped by a tooth structure, such as a rack. As another example, the Z-axis moving unit includes: the positioning moving structure is characterized by comprising a screw rod and a positioning moving structure screwed with the screw rod, wherein two ends of the screw rod are screwed with a driving unit, the outer end of the positioning moving structure is fixedly connected to a component platform, and the positioning moving structure can be a ball screw, for example. The component platform is a component to attach and carry the formed cured layer. The component platform is used for attaching and bearing the formed transverse layers, and the transverse layers on the component platform are accumulated layer by layer to form the 3D component. In certain embodiments, the component platform is also referred to as a component plate.

The energy radiation device is used for projecting an image to the direction of the component platform, and the image projected by the energy radiation device can enable the light-cured material on the printing reference surface to be molded in the printing operation. The control system is connected with the energy radiation device and the Z-axis driving system and is used for controlling the energy radiation device and the Z-axis driving system in a printing operation so as to accumulate and adhere the solidified layer on the component platform to obtain a corresponding 3D component.

In an embodiment, taking a 3D printing apparatus as an LCD printing apparatus as an example, please continue to refer to fig. 1, since the printing apparatus in fig. 1 is a bottom projection printing apparatus, the energy radiation device 11 is located below the container 12. The energy radiation device 11 includes a radiation source 111 and a panel 112, where the radiation source 111 is used to provide radiation energy, and examples thereof include, but are not limited to, a UV-LED light source of 406nm, a UV-LED light source of 355nm, visible light, and so on, which may be determined according to specific requirements of a printing material in specific applications, for example, for a printing material formed by curing and irradiating visible light, the radiation source may be used as the visible light, and for example, for a printing material formed by irradiating ultraviolet light based on a certain band, ultraviolet light of a corresponding band may be used as the radiation source. The panel 112 is used to provide a layered image such that the light source emits a pattern having brightness after the layered image, such as, but not limited to, an LCD panel. The layered image is a slice pattern of each layer of the 3D component model, and the slice pattern is obtained by performing cross-sectional division along the Z-axis direction (i.e., along the height direction) based on the 3D component model in advance. Wherein a slice pattern delineated by the contour of the 3D component model is formed on a cross-sectional layer formed by each adjacent cross-sectional division, the contour lines of the upper and lower cross-sectional surfaces of the cross-sectional layer being generally considered to be identical if the cross-sectional layer is sufficiently thin.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 2, a simplified schematic diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application is shown, wherein the energy source driving device 113 further includes a radiation source driving device for adjusting the radiation energy output by the radiation source. The radiation source driving device is connected with the control system 15 and the radiation source 111, so that the output energy of the radiation source can be adjusted under the control of the control system. The radiation source driving means include, for example, but not limited to, LED driving boards and the like.

The control system of the 3D printing device projects the layered image of the slice to be printed to the printing surface through the LCD panel, and the material to be solidified in the container is solidified into a corresponding pattern solidified layer by utilizing the pattern radiation surface provided by the LCD panel.

The LCD printing device may be a top-projection printing device or a bottom-projection printing device. In the top projection printing apparatus, please refer to fig. 3, which is a simplified schematic diagram of a 3D printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application, wherein the energy radiating device 11 is located above the container 12, and the energy radiating device 11 radiates energy to the container 12 located below the energy radiating device, i.e. projects downward; in a top exposure based printing apparatus, the Z-axis drive mechanism is configured to controllably move the position of the component stage in the Z-axis direction to form a print datum between the upper surface of the component stage and the level of printing material in the container. In the bottom projection printing apparatus, please continue to refer to fig. 1, the energy radiation device 11 is located below the container 12, and the energy radiation device 11 radiates energy to the bottom surface of the container 12 above the bottom surface, i.e. projects upwards.

The control system 15 is an electronic device including a processor, and may be a computer device, an embedded device, or an integrated circuit with a CPU. For example, the control system may include: the device comprises a processing unit, a storage unit and a plurality of interface units. Each interface unit is respectively connected with an energy radiation device, a Z-axis driving mechanism and other devices which are independently packaged in the 3D printing equipment and transmit data through the interfaces. The control system further comprises at least one of: a prompting device, a man-machine interaction device and the like. The interface unit determines its interface type from the connected devices, including but not limited to: universal serial interface, video interface, industrial control interface, etc. For example, the interface unit includes: the USB interface, the HDMI interface and the RS232 interface are all multiple, and the USB interface can be connected with a man-machine interaction device and the like. The storage unit is used for storing files required by printing of the 3D printing device. The file includes: program files and configuration files required for the CPU to run, and the like. The memory unit includes a nonvolatile memory and a system bus. The nonvolatile memory is exemplified by a solid state disk or a USB flash disk. The system bus is used to connect the nonvolatile memory with the CPU, wherein the CPU may be integrated in the memory unit or packaged separately from the memory unit and connected to the nonvolatile memory through the system bus. The processing unit includes: at least one of a CPU or a chip integrated with a CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA), and a multi-core processor. The processing unit further comprises a memory, a register and the like for temporarily storing data. The processing unit is an industrial control unit for controlling each device to execute according to time sequence. For example, in the printing process, after the Z-axis driving mechanism is controlled to move the component platform to a spacing position away from the preset printing reference plane, the processing unit transmits a corresponding layered image to the panel of the energy radiation device, and causes the radiation source to radiate energy, and after the energy radiation device finishes irradiation to pattern and cure the photo-curing material, the Z-axis driving mechanism drives the component platform to adjust and move to a new spacing position away from the preset printing reference plane, and the exposure process is repeated.

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 4, which is a schematic flow chart of the 3D printing method according to an embodiment of the present application.

As shown, in step S110, the height of the component stage is adjusted to fill the printing material to be cured at the printing reference plane.

Here, the Z-axis drive system is caused to control movement of the component stage in the Z-axis direction so as to fill the printing reference surface with printing material, for example, when the printing apparatus is a top-exposure printing apparatus, the component stage is submerged below the liquid surface in one embodiment so that a space between the upper surface of the component stage and the liquid surface of the printing material serves as the printing reference surface; for another example, when the printing apparatus is a bottom-exposed printing apparatus, the component platform is in one embodiment submerged to a position near the bottom of the container such that a printing datum is between the lower surface of the component platform and the bottom interior surface of the container.

With continued reference to fig. 4, in step S120, the energy radiation device irradiates the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; wherein a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device satisfies an exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation energy value being determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, the radiation intensity being not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel.

In this case, the radiation source of the energy radiation device is required to supply a corresponding radiation energy value in order to meet the exposure energy value required for the printing material, and the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the reception intensity threshold value of the panel in order to protect the panel of the energy radiation device.

Wherein the exposure energy value reflects the energy required for curing and shaping the printing material, and is generally determined based on the radiation intensity and the radiation time. The radiation intensity here includes the exposure energy per unit time, and the radiation time includes the exposure time.

It should be appreciated that the panel reception threshold, i.e. comprises the maximum radiant energy value that the panel is expected to receive, reflects the maximum energy value of the radiation onto the panel defined for protecting the panel. The panel acceptance threshold may generally be derived based on the tolerance threshold of the panel, for example, by directly taking the tolerance threshold of the panel as the panel acceptance threshold, or by taking some value near the panel acceptance threshold as the panel acceptance threshold. Wherein, the tolerance threshold refers to the maximum radiant energy value that the panel can bear under ideal use condition. However, in general, even if the radiant energy value exceeds the tolerance threshold value, the panel cannot be used normally, and generally, when the radiant energy value received by the panel is greater than the tolerance threshold value, the current normal use will not be affected, but the temperature of the panel may be significantly increased, and the service life of the panel may be significantly reduced with the increase of energy.

In a print job, the radiation source provides a radiation energy value capable of satisfying an exposure energy value required for a printing material, the panel is used for displaying layered images corresponding to each printing layer, so that the layered images in the 3D component model are irradiated to the filled printing material through the energy radiation device to obtain pattern curing layers corresponding to the layered images, and the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not larger than a receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, so that excessive damage is not caused to the panel, and the service life of the panel is remarkably prolonged compared with the prior art.

In an embodiment, the exposure energy value of the printing material may be pre-stored in the printing device, e.g. the exposure energy value of one or more printing materials is pre-stored in the printing device, and the operator may select the corresponding printing material before printing, i.e. the printing device may determine the radiation energy value of the radiation source at the time of printing according to the exposure energy value required for the selected printing material.

In another embodiment, the printing apparatus may also acquire an exposure energy value required for printing the material from the outside. For example, an operator may input an exposure energy value of the printing material into the printing apparatus before printing, and the printing apparatus may determine the radiation energy value of the radiation source based on the input exposure energy value. As another example, in some devices, the printing material is stored in a cartridge, the cartridge is inserted into the printing device during printing, the printing device can automatically replenish the printing material in the cartridge into the container, and the printing device can read the identification information on the material taking cartridge to obtain the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

As mentioned above, the exposure energy value is typically determined based on the radiation intensity and the radiation time, and thus in a possible embodiment the radiation intensity and the radiation time of the radiation source may be determined based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material and the receive intensity threshold of the panel.

In one exemplary embodiment, the receive intensity threshold of the panel and the exposure energy value required to print the material are known.

In some cases, please refer to fig. 5, which shows a schematic diagram of the step of determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, after the exposure energy value required for the printing material is obtained, the radiation intensity required for the printing material and the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity can be determined based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material. When the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity. When the radiation intensity required by the printing material is greater than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source needs to be smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and in order to ensure that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the original radiation time needs to be correspondingly prolonged, that is, the radiation time of the radiation source is greater than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material.

In other cases, the receiving intensity threshold of the panel may be directly used as the radiation intensity required by the printing material, or a receiving intensity threshold slightly smaller than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel may be used as the radiation intensity required by the printing material, the radiation time required by the printing material may be determined based on the radiation intensity and the exposure energy value, and then the radiation intensity and the radiation time required by the printing material may be used as the radiation intensity and the radiation time of the radiation source.

In another exemplary embodiment, the radiation intensity and radiation time required for printing the material, and the receive intensity threshold of the panel are known. The radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to the receive intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity. When the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and in order to ensure that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the original radiation time is correspondingly prolonged, namely, the radiation time of the radiation source is larger than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material.

In one exemplary embodiment, to facilitate having the radiation source output a corresponding radiation energy value based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation source output may be made to output a radiation energy value that is capable of satisfying the exposure energy value required for the printing material according to the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity. The correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity reflects the radiation intensity output by the radiation source when different control signals are used as input quantities.

In some embodiments, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity may be included in device factory data of the radiation source. In other embodiments, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity may also be obtained by construction.

In a possible embodiment, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity may be fitted based on the corresponding radiation energy values of the radiation source when receiving different control signals.

The 3D printing apparatus may further include a power detection device, where the power detection device is connected to the control system and is configured to detect a radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the control system fits a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on radiation energy values corresponding to the radiation source provided by the power detection device under different control signals, so that in a print job, the control system outputs a corresponding control signal to the radiation source based on the required radiation energy value.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a simple structure of a 3D printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown, in the present embodiment, the 3D printing apparatus is a printing apparatus of bottom projection, and the radiation source 111 and the panel 112 in the energy radiation device are both located below the container 12 and radiate energy toward the bottom surface of the container during printing. The power detection means 16 is located above the container near the printing reference plane and the control system 15 connects the power detection means 16 with the radiation source driving means 113. The control system acquires the radiation intensity transmitted through the panel in the current state through the signals acquired by the power detection device, and adjusts the radiation intensity output by the radiation source driving device through adjusting the signals output by the control system to further utilize the radiation source driving device to adjust the radiation intensity output by the radiation source, the control system records the radiation intensity detected by the power detection device after each adjustment, and after adjusting the signals and detecting the radiation intensity for a plurality of times, the detected radiation intensity is subjected to interpolation, fitting and other calculations through an algorithm, so that the curve relationship between the output signal of the control system and the radiation intensity, namely the corresponding relationship between the control signal and the radiation intensity can be acquired. The computation of interpolation, fitting, etc. includes, for example, computation such as a quadratic interpolation algorithm, B-spline curve fitting, etc.

It should be understood that, although the bottom projection printing apparatus is taken as an example in the present embodiment, the present invention can be applied to the top projection printing apparatus in practical applications, and will not be described herein.

In an embodiment, the control instructions output by the control system may include control signals for radiation intensity and control signals for radiation time. The control signal may include a PWM signal, a voltage signal, a current signal, or other communication signal. For example, after determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source, the control system outputs a corresponding radiation intensity control signal to the radiation source driving device based on a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity to cause the radiation source to radiate based on the determined radiation intensity, and the control system outputs a corresponding radiation time control signal to the radiation source driving device based on the determined radiation time of the radiation source to cause the radiation source to radiate based on the determined radiation intensity within the determined radiation time.

In one exemplary embodiment, assume that the exposure energy value required to print the material is P ₀ The radiation intensity required for the printing material is S ₀ The irradiation time required for printing material is T ₀ The panel has a receiving intensity threshold of V and the radiation energy value radiated by the radiation source is P ₁ The radiation intensity of the radiation source is S ₁ The irradiation time of the irradiation source is T ₁ 。

The control system obtains the exposure energy value P required by the printing material ₀ Then, in order to make the radiation energy value P radiated by the radiation source ₁ Can meet the exposure energy value P required by printing materials ₀ The control system is based on the exposure energy value P required for the printing material ₀ Determining the radiation intensity S of the radiation source from the panel tolerance value V ₁ And a radiation time T ₁ And generates control commands for the radiation source driving device, wherein the commands comprise control signals for the radiation intensity of the radiation source and control signals for the radiation time of the radiation source. The radiation source driving device adjusts the radiation source to make it radiate for a time T after receiving the corresponding control signal ₁ Intensity S of internal radiation ₁ Radiant energy, thereby causing a radiant energy value P of the radiation source ₁ An exposure energy value P required to satisfy the printing material ₀ And the radiation intensity S of the radiation source ₁ Not greater than the panel tolerance value V, i.e. P ₁ ≥P ₀ ，S ₁ ≤V。

By the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity, the corresponding control signal can be given to the radiation source based on the required radiation intensity, and the operator does not need to adjust the exposure time of the radiation source of the printing equipment for compensating the energy attenuation.

In an exemplary embodiment, since there may be energy attenuation of the radiation source during operation, the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity may be periodically reconstructed in order to ensure that the energy radiation device is able to stably output the desired energy. For example, rebuild after a preset number of uses including, but not limited to, 50 uses, 60 uses, etc. of the printing device; as another example, the device may be reconfigured after a preset operating time is used, including, but not limited to, a cumulative operating time of the printing device exceeding 400 hours, 500 hours, etc.; for another example, the printing apparatus may be reconfigured after every predetermined time, for example, every 90 days, 100 days, 2 months, 3 months, etc. It should be understood that the above construction frequencies are merely examples and are not limiting, and may be configured according to specific needs in practical applications.

When the radiation energy output by the radiation source is obviously attenuated along with the increase of the service time, the power detection device is used for correcting the energy of the radiation source again, and the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity is obtained again, so that the equipment can stably output the required radiation energy in the printing process, and the success rate of equipment printing is ensured.

In another exemplary embodiment, the power detection device is located within the breadth of the energy radiation device. In a possible embodiment, the power detection means may also detect the radiation intensity of the radiation source during the print job, thereby comparing the detected radiation intensity with an expected radiation intensity. If the actually detected radiation intensity does not correspond to the expected radiation intensity, there may be problems, for example, the radiation source may produce energy attenuation, and the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity needs to be reconstructed. Thereby, a feedback control relation can be formed between the power detection device and the control system, and the energy radiated by the energy radiation device is stable.

In another exemplary embodiment, the printing device may include a variety of operating states, such as a print job state, a detect job state, a calibrate job state, a filter job state, and so forth. In general, the print job status includes an operation status when the printing apparatus performs a print job, the detection operation status includes an operation status of detecting the printing apparatus by using a device inside or outside the 3D printing apparatus, the calibration operation status includes an operation status of performing a web calibration of the energy radiation device, and the filtering operation status includes an operation status of filtering the printing material in the container.

In order to more accurately detect the intensity of the radiation from the radiation source to the printed datum, the power detection means may be located at the printed datum within the container when detecting the intensity of the radiation from the radiation source. In order to avoid the influence on printing when the power detection device detects the radiation intensity of the radiation source, the detection process of the power detection device can be separated from the printing process, namely, the power detection device is positioned at a printing reference surface in the container in the detection operation of the printing equipment, and is positioned at other positions in the printing operation so as to avoid the influence on printing, for example, the power detection device can be detached by a detachable device, or can be moved to other directions and the like.

In still other embodiments, the control system may further construct a correspondence between the control command and the radiant energy, that is, by constructing the correspondence between the control command and the radiant energy by using the radiant energy variation output by the radiant source under different commands, where each different command includes a control signal for the radiant time and the radiant intensity, and the radiant energy output by the radiant source may be calculated by using the radiant intensity detected by the power detection device and the radiant time of the radiant source. After the instructions are adjusted for a plurality of times and the corresponding radiant energy is calculated, the detected radiant energy is calculated through interpolation, fitting and the like by an algorithm, so that the curve relationship between the output instruction of the control system and the radiant energy, namely the corresponding relationship between the control instruction and the radiant energy, can be obtained. The computation of interpolation, fitting, etc. includes, for example, computation such as a quadratic interpolation algorithm, B-spline curve fitting, etc. Therefore, after the control system acquires the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the corresponding radiation energy can be output by the radiation source through the corresponding relation between the control instruction and the radiation energy, if the radiation intensity output by the radiation source is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity output by the radiation source can be reduced, and the radiation time can be prolonged, so that the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel while the exposure energy value required by the printing material can be met.

In an exemplary embodiment, the radiation energy requirements for different solid portions of the 3D member are different, e.g. the base portion requires more radiation energy than other portions, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source may be adjusted according to the layered image to be printed corresponding to the solid portion type in the 3D member. If the physical part type has higher requirements on the radiation energy than other physical part types, the radiation intensity of the radiation source can be properly increased and/or the radiation time can be prolonged; if the physical portion type requires less radiation energy than other physical portion types, the radiation intensity of the radiation source may be suitably reduced and/or the radiation time may be decreased.

With continued reference to fig. 4, in step S130, the steps of S110 and S120 are repeated to build up a pattern cured layer on the component platform to form a corresponding 3D component.

In each printing layer, the height of the component platform is respectively adjusted to fill the printing material to be cured on the printing reference surface, and each layer is printed according to the mode of each embodiment in S120, so that each pattern curing layer is obtained, each pattern curing layer is adhered and accumulated layer by layer, and finally the 3D component is formed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the control module controlling the energy radiating device in the present application may be further independent of the control system of the 3D printing apparatus. Based on such understanding, the present application also provides a control device for controlling an energy radiating device in a 3D printing apparatus, and a control method thereof. The control means are embodied by software and hardware in a computer device.

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 8, which illustrates a schematic block diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown, the control device 20 includes: an interface module 201 and a processing module 202. The interface module 201 determines its interface type from the connected devices, including but not limited to: universal serial interface, video interface, industrial control interface, etc. For example, the interface module 201 may include a USB interface, an HDMI interface, an RS232 interface, and the like. The interface module is connected with the energy radiation device, so that a corresponding control signal can be sent to the energy radiation device based on the processing result of the processing module, and the energy radiation device can irradiate layered images in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern curing layer. The processing module 202 includes: at least one of a CPU or a chip integrated with a CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA), and a multi-core processor. The processing module 202 further includes memory, registers, etc. for temporarily storing data.

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 7, which is a schematic diagram illustrating a control method according to an embodiment of the present application, as shown in the drawing, in step S210, an exposure energy value required for printing a material is obtained; in step S220, causing the energy irradiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; wherein a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device satisfies an exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation energy value being determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, the radiation intensity being not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel.

In some embodiments, the control device may be connected to an external device through the interface module to obtain the desired exposure energy value for the printed material. For example, the control device may be connected to a control system of the 3D printing apparatus to obtain the required exposure energy value for the printing material used by the printing apparatus. In other embodiments, the control device may also include an input module for an operator to input the exposure energy value required to print the material.

The processing module is used for determining the radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material; wherein the radiant energy value is determined based on a radiant intensity of the radiant source and a radiant time of the radiant source, the radiant intensity not being greater than a receive intensity threshold of the panel.

In some cases, after the desired exposure energy value for the printing material is obtained, the processing module may determine the desired radiation intensity for the printing material, and the desired radiation time for the printing material at that radiation intensity, based on the desired exposure energy value for the printing material. When the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity. When the radiation intensity required by the printing material is greater than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source needs to be smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and in order to ensure that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the original radiation time needs to be correspondingly prolonged, that is, the radiation time of the radiation source is greater than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material.

In other cases, the processing module may also directly take the receiving intensity threshold of the panel as the radiation intensity required by the printing material, or take the receiving intensity threshold slightly smaller than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel as the radiation intensity required by the printing material, determine the radiation time required by the printing material based on the radiation intensity and the exposure energy value, and take the radiation intensity and the radiation time required by the printing material as the radiation intensity and the radiation time of the radiation source.

In one exemplary embodiment, to facilitate having the radiation source output a corresponding radiation energy value based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material, the processing module may cause the radiation source to output a radiation energy value that is capable of satisfying the exposure energy value required for the printing material according to the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity. The correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity reflects the radiation intensity output by the radiation source when different control signals are used as input quantities.

Herein, please refer to fig. 9, which is a schematic diagram illustrating a module structure of a control device according to another embodiment of the present application. The interface module 201 is connected to a power detection device 30, the power detection device 30 is configured to detect a radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the processing module 202 fits a corresponding relationship between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation energy values corresponding to the radiation source provided by the power detection device 30 under different control signals, so that in a print job, the control device outputs a corresponding control signal to the radiation source based on the required radiation energy value.

In some embodiments, the control device may further include a storage module 203, where the storage module 203 is connected to the interface module 201, and the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity may be stored in the storage module 203, so as to be invoked during the processing of the processing module.

In an embodiment, the 3D printing apparatus is a printing apparatus for bottom projection, and the radiation source and the panel in the energy radiation device are both located below the container and radiate energy towards the bottom surface of the container during printing. The power detection device is positioned above the container and close to the printing reference surface, and the control device is connected with the power detection device and the radiation source driving device. The control device acquires the radiation intensity transmitted through the panel in the current state through the signals acquired by the power detection device, and adjusts the radiation intensity output by the radiation source driving device through adjusting the signals output by the control device, so that the radiation intensity output by the radiation source driving device is adjusted, the control device records the radiation intensity detected by the power detection device after each adjustment, and after adjusting the signals and detecting the radiation intensity for a plurality of times, the detected radiation intensity is subjected to interpolation, fitting and other calculations through an algorithm, so that the curve relationship between the output signal of the control device and the radiation intensity, namely the corresponding relationship between the control signal and the radiation intensity, can be acquired. The computation of interpolation, fitting, etc. includes, for example, computation such as a quadratic interpolation algorithm, B-spline curve fitting, etc.

In an embodiment, the control instructions output by the control device may include a control signal for the intensity of radiation and a control signal for the time of radiation. The control signal may include a PWM signal, a voltage signal, a current signal, or other communication signal. For example, after determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source, the control device outputs a corresponding radiation intensity control signal to the radiation source driving device based on the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity to cause the radiation source to radiate based on the determined radiation intensity, and the control device outputs a corresponding radiation time control signal to the radiation source driving device based on the determined radiation time of the radiation source to cause the radiation source to radiate based on the determined radiation intensity within the determined radiation time.

The control device obtains the printing materialExposure energy value P of (2) ₀ Then, in order to make the radiation energy value P radiated by the radiation source ₁ Can meet the exposure energy value P required by printing materials ₀ The control means is based on the exposure energy value P required for the printing material ₀ Determining the radiation intensity S of the radiation source from the panel tolerance value V ₁ And a radiation time T ₁ And generates control commands for the radiation source driving device, wherein the commands comprise control signals for the radiation intensity of the radiation source and control signals for the radiation time of the radiation source. The radiation source driving device adjusts the radiation source to make it radiate for a time T after receiving the corresponding control signal ₁ Intensity S of internal radiation ₁ Radiant energy, thereby causing a radiant energy value P of the radiation source ₁ An exposure energy value P required to satisfy the printing material ₀ And the radiation intensity S of the radiation source ₁ Not greater than the panel tolerance value V, i.e. P ₁ ≥P ₀ ，S ₁ ≤V。

In another exemplary embodiment, the power detection device is located within the breadth of the energy radiation device. In a possible embodiment, the power detection means may also detect the radiation intensity of the radiation source during the print job, thereby comparing the detected radiation intensity with an expected radiation intensity. If the actually detected radiation intensity does not correspond to the expected radiation intensity, there may be problems, for example, the radiation source may produce energy attenuation, and the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity needs to be reconstructed. Thereby, a feedback control relation can be formed between the power detection device and the control device, and the energy radiated by the energy radiation device is stable.

In still other embodiments, the control device may further construct a correspondence between the control command and the radiant energy, that is, by constructing the correspondence between the control command and the radiant energy by using the radiant energy variation output by the radiant source under different commands, where each different command includes a control signal for the radiant time and the radiant intensity, and the radiant energy output by the radiant source may be calculated by using the radiant intensity detected by the power detection device and the radiant time of the radiant source. After the instructions are adjusted for a plurality of times and the corresponding radiant energy is calculated, the detected radiant energy is calculated through interpolation, fitting and the like by an algorithm, so that the curve relationship between the output instruction of the control device and the radiant energy, namely the corresponding relationship between the control instruction and the radiant energy, can be obtained. The computation of interpolation, fitting, etc. includes, for example, computation such as a quadratic interpolation algorithm, B-spline curve fitting, etc. Therefore, after the control device acquires the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the corresponding radiation energy can be output by the radiation source through the corresponding relation between the control instruction and the radiation energy, if the radiation intensity output by the radiation source is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity output by the radiation source can be reduced, and the radiation time can be prolonged, so that the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel while the exposure energy value required by the printing material can be met.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described by the computer program of the methods of the present application may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, these functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed in the present application may be embodied in a processor-executable software module, which may be located on a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable and writable storage medium. Tangible, non-transitory computer readable and writable storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures described above illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present application. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present application and its effectiveness, and are not intended to limit the application. Modifications and variations may be made to the above-described embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, it is intended that all equivalent modifications and variations of the application be covered by the claims, which are within the ordinary skill of the art, be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A 3D printing method, characterized by being used in a 3D printing apparatus, the 3D printing apparatus including an energy radiation device, a component platform, a power detection device, and a container for containing a printing material, the energy radiation device including a radiation source for providing radiant energy, and a panel for displaying layered images, wherein the 3D printing apparatus is an LCD printing apparatus, the radiation source is a UV-LED light source or visible light, the 3D printing method comprising the steps of:

adjusting the height of the component platform to fill the printing material to be solidified on the printing reference surface;

causing the energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; wherein a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device satisfies an exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation energy value being determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, the radiation intensity being not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel; wherein the step of making the radiation energy value of the radiation source in the energy radiation device satisfy the exposure energy value required for the printing material includes: according to the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity, the radiation source is correspondingly controlled by the radiation intensity corresponding to the radiation energy value meeting the exposure energy value required by the printing material, so that the radiation source outputs the radiation energy value meeting the exposure energy value; wherein, the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity reflects the radiation intensity output by the radiation source when different control signals are taken as input quantities; wherein, the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by the following method: fitting out the corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source provided by the power detection device under the condition of receiving different control signals; wherein the radiation energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of the physical portion of the layered image corresponding to the 3D member; the power detection device is positioned at a printing reference surface in the container when detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation source;

Repeating the steps to accumulate a pattern cured layer on the component platform to form a corresponding 3D component;

and repeatedly executing the step of constructing the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity after the 3D printing equipment executes the printing task for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

2. The 3D printing method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material;

the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source are determined based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material and the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, so that the radiation source radiates energy to the printing material according to the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source in the printing process.

3. The 3D printing method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material and the reception intensity threshold of the panel comprises: determining a radiation intensity required for the printing material and a radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity based on an exposure energy value required for the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to a receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity; when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is longer than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

4. A control method for controlling an energy radiating device and a power detecting device in a 3D printing apparatus, the energy radiating device being configured to radiate energy to a printing material to cure the printing material in a printing job, the energy radiating device including a radiation source configured to supply the radiation energy, and a panel configured to display a layered image, wherein the 3D printing apparatus is an LCD printing apparatus, the radiation source is a UV-LED light source or visible light, the control method comprising the steps of:

acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material;

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized by further comprising: the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source are determined based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material and the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, so that the radiation source radiates energy to the printing material according to the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source in the printing process.

6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the step of determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material and the reception intensity threshold of the panel includes: determining a radiation intensity required for the printing material and a radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity based on an exposure energy value required for the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to a receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity; when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is longer than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

7. The control method of claim 4, wherein the control signal comprises one of: PWM signal, voltage signal, current signal.

8. A control apparatus for controlling an energy radiation apparatus in a 3D printing device, the energy radiation apparatus for radiating energy to a printing material to cure the printing material in a print job, the energy radiation apparatus including a radiation source for supplying radiation energy, and a panel for displaying a layered image, wherein the 3D printing device is an LCD printing device, the radiation source is a UV-LED light source or visible light, the control apparatus comprising:

an interface module connected to the energy radiating device for acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material and for transmitting a signal to the energy radiating device to cause the energy radiating device to irradiate a layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer;

a processing module for determining a radiation energy value of a radiation source in the energy radiation device such that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets an exposure energy value required for the printing material; wherein the radiant energy value is determined based on a radiant intensity of the radiant source and a radiant time of the radiant source, the radiant intensity not being greater than a receive intensity threshold of the panel; wherein the step of the processing module causing the radiation energy value of the radiation source in the energy radiation device to satisfy the exposure energy value required by the printing material comprises: the processing module is used for outputting a radiation energy value meeting the exposure energy value required by the printing material to the radiation source based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation energy value meeting the exposure energy value required by the printing material according to the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity; wherein, the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity reflects the radiation intensity output by the radiation source when different control signals are taken as input quantities; the processing module is further used for repeatedly constructing the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity after the 3D printing equipment executes the printing task for a preset number of times or a preset working time; wherein the radiation energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of the physical portion of the layered image corresponding to the 3D member;

The interface module is also connected with a power detection device, the power detection device is positioned at a printing reference plane in the container when detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation source and is used for detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the processing module is used for fitting out the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensities of the radiation source provided by the power detection device under different control signals.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the processing module determines the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material and the receive intensity threshold of the panel to cause the radiation source to radiate energy to the printing material during printing according to the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the processing module determines a radiation intensity required for the printing material and a radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material, and wherein the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for the printing material and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for the printing material at the radiation intensity when the radiation intensity required for the printing material is less than or equal to a receive intensity threshold of the panel; when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is longer than the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity required by the printing material, so that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material.

11. The control device of claim 8, wherein the control signal comprises one of: PWM control signal, voltage control signal, current control signal.

12. Control device according to claim 8, characterized in that the power detection means are located in the area of the energy radiation means.

13. The control device of claim 8, wherein the processing module adjusts the radiant energy value of the radiant source based on the layered image corresponding to a type of solid portion in the 3D member.

14. A 3D printing apparatus, wherein the 3D printing apparatus is an LCD printing apparatus, comprising:

a container for holding a printing material;

an energy radiation device located above or below the container, comprising a radiation source for providing radiation energy, and a panel for displaying a layered image, for radiating energy to the printing material in the container according to the layered image, so as to solidify the printing material; wherein the radiation source is a UV-LED light source or visible light, the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the exposure energy value required by the printing material, and the radiation energy value is not more than the receiving intensity threshold of the panel;

A component platform positioned in the container in the print job for accumulating the attached pattern cured layer by layer to form a corresponding 3D component;

the Z-axis driving system is connected with the component platform and is used for adjusting the height of the component platform in the Z-axis direction so as to adjust the distance from the component platform to a printing reference plane in a printing job;

a control system connected with the energy radiating device and the Z-axis driving system for controlling the energy radiating device and the Z-axis driving system in a printing operation so as to accumulate and attach a pattern curing layer on the component platform to form a corresponding 3D component; wherein the step of the control system causing the radiation energy value of the radiation source in the energy radiation device to satisfy the exposure energy value required for the printing material comprises: according to the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity, the radiation source is correspondingly controlled by the radiation intensity corresponding to the radiation energy value meeting the exposure energy value required by the printing material, so that the radiation source outputs the radiation energy value meeting the exposure energy value; wherein, the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity reflects the radiation intensity output by the radiation source when different control signals are taken as input quantities; wherein the radiation energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of the physical portion of the layered image corresponding to the 3D member; the control system is further used for repeatedly constructing the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity after the 3D printing equipment executes the printing task for a preset number of times or a preset working time;

The power detection device is positioned at a printing reference surface in the container when detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation source and is connected with the control system, the power detection device is used for detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the control system fits out the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensities of the radiation source provided by the power detection device under different control signals, so that in a printing operation, the control system outputs corresponding control signals to the radiation source based on the required radiation energy value.

15. The 3D printing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the radiation source is a 405nm UV LED or a 355nm UV LED.

16. 3D printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the power detection means is located within the breadth of the energy radiating means in a print job.