JP2016022641A - Three-dimensional molding device and three-dimensional molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional molding device capable of high speed molding at a relatively low cost.SOLUTION: Each cross-section shape is divided into a first drawing region of drawing at a high resolution and a second drawing region of drawing at a low resolution, the first drawing region is drawn with a first nozzle head of discharging a model material at a high resolution, and the second drawing region is drawn with a second nozzle head of discharging the model material at a resolution lower than that of the first nozzle head, thus the high speed molding of a cubic shape is made possible even without using a nozzle head having a high integration degree in a wide range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for layering an object into a three-dimensional shape. Layered modeling is a method of drawing an arbitrary three-dimensional structure by drawing a cross-sectional shape with a modeling material (model material) and laminating it, and a device that performs such layered modeling is generally used. Is called a 3D (three-dimensional) printer or a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and method of modeling by discharging a model material from a nozzle.

Conventionally, by drawing the material for modeling (model material) and the support material with an inkjet nozzle etc., drawing the cross-sectional shape of the three-dimensional structure, curing the drawn cross-sectional shape and then laminating sequentially, arbitrary Various three-dimensional modeling apparatuses that model the three-dimensional shape have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, three types of nozzle arrays each including a plurality of nozzles are provided, and a model material and a support material are respectively ejected from each nozzle array to draw a cross-sectional shape layer of a stereoscopic image. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus is disclosed in which three-dimensional modeling is performed by sequentially stacking layers.
In Patent Document 2, a multi-head unit in which a plurality of head units in which a plurality of discharge nozzles are arranged is provided for each type of discharge material is discharged in a uniaxial direction while discharging a support material. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus is disclosed in which a molded object material is sprayed and stacked after being formed.

JP 2004-255839 A JP 2004-90530 A

  In such a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, a thin three-dimensional shape layer (referred to as a two-dimensional drawing layer or a 2.5-dimensional drawing layer) that represents a cross-sectional shape obtained by cutting the three-dimensional shape in a plane direction is sequentially laminated to obtain a final three-dimensional shape. Is shaped. Therefore, by moving (scanning) a printing (modeling) head (hereinafter referred to as “nozzle head”) or a drawing table in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, first, one two-dimensional drawing layer (cross-sectional shape layer) is formed. Form. Thereafter, the next two-dimensional drawing layer is formed on the formed two-dimensional drawing layer and sequentially stacked. It is necessary to stack thousands of two-dimensional drawing layers in the Z direction until the three-dimensional shape is completed. Therefore, it takes an enormous amount of time from several hours to several tens of hours to form a single three-dimensional shape. Become.

For example, Patent Document 1 forms a three-dimensional shape by discharging a support member, a release material, and a model material, respectively, using three types of nozzles (nozzle rows 2 to 4). Upon receiving data obtained by slicing the target three-dimensional structure in the horizontal plane direction, different types of liquid droplets (second support material, model material) are obtained from the nozzle rows 2, 3, 4. , And the first support material) are discharged, and a cross-sectional shape in a planar direction having a thickness of about 10 μm is drawn (see paragraph “0014” of the specification).
In addition, in the case of the shape etc. where the modeling part formed by the model material overhangs, the support material is a support part for supporting the overhang part in advance to enable drawing of the model material of the part. It is a modeling auxiliary material for modeling. The mold release material is an auxiliary material for easily separating the model material and the support material after the drawing of the three-dimensional shape is completed.

 Although the stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of nozzles, there is only one nozzle row that discharges a model material, and this single nozzle row is divided into two in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. It is moved in the axial direction (hereinafter referred to as “XY direction”) to form one cross-sectional shape layer (two-dimensional drawing layer). After curing the formed two-dimensional drawing layer, the table is raised in the Z direction (upward) by a predetermined height (for example, about 10 μm), and the next cross-sectional shape layer is drawn on the cured two-dimensional drawing layer. . By repeating this sequentially, a two-dimensional drawing layer is laminated to create a three-dimensional shape.

 In order to form one two-dimensional drawing layer, it is necessary to scan the nozzle array in the XY direction. Usually, a final three-dimensional shape is completed by stacking several thousand to several tens of thousands of two-dimensional drawing layers. To do. Here, in order to form one two-dimensional drawing layer, it is necessary to scan the nozzle row in the XY direction, and therefore, the scanning in the XY direction is performed several thousand to several tens of thousands of times until the solid shape is completed. Will repeat. Therefore, a lot of time is required for modeling a three-dimensional shape.

  In order to shorten the modeling time for such a three-dimensional shape, in Patent Document 2, a multihead unit in which a length corresponding to the length in one axial direction (for example, the X direction) for scanning a plurality of nozzles is arranged on one axis A configuration is proposed in which additive manufacturing is performed by moving (scanning) in the Y-axis direction (for example, refer to paragraph “0018” of the specification). With this nozzle row, scanning to move the multi-head unit in the X-axis direction becomes unnecessary, so that only one uniaxial direction (Y-axis direction) can be drawn to draw one cross-sectional shape layer (two-dimensional (Drawing layer) can be completed, and high-speed modeling is possible.

  Certainly, the invention according to Patent Document 2 can form a two-dimensional drawing layer (cross-sectional shape layer) only by moving the nozzle head in one axial direction, so that high-speed modeling is possible. However, in this configuration, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of nozzles at least over the same length as that of the three-dimensional shape in the uniaxial direction. However, in order to manufacture such a highly integrated large nozzle head, an advanced manufacturing technique is required, which causes an extremely large cost increase.

 That is, although the diameter of each nozzle of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus changes with the modeling precision calculated | required, it is a nozzle with a diameter of about 10 micrometers normally. Advanced manufacturing technology is required to accurately arrange nozzles with a small diameter of 10 μm over the entire length of one axis (X axis or Y axis) of a solid shape without one defect. In order to manufacture such a highly integrated nozzle head, an extremely high manufacturing technique is required, and the manufacturing yield is extremely deteriorated. As a result, the manufacturing cost is significantly increased, which increases the overall cost of the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems in the conventional three-dimensional modeling apparatus, and an object thereof is to provide an inexpensive three-dimensional modeling apparatus capable of high-speed drawing.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention is
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape by drawing each cross-sectional shape layer constituting a three-dimensional shape by discharging a model material, and sequentially laminating these cross-sectional shape layers,
A first nozzle head including at least one first discharge nozzle that discharges a model material having a size and a droplet amount corresponding to a high resolution required for forming a stereoscopic image to be formed as a discharge range per one time; ,
A second nozzle head having one or more second discharge nozzles, each of which has a discharge range that is an integral multiple of that of the first discharge nozzle.
A controller that controls the first drawing area to be drawn by the first nozzle head and the second drawing area other than the first drawing area to be drawn by the second nozzle head;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus having the above-described configuration, a part of the area (second drawing area) drawn by the first nozzle head in the prior art is drawn by the second nozzle head having a low nozzle integration degree. Thus, the length of the first nozzle head can be shortened. Since the second nozzle head does not require a high integration technique as compared with the first nozzle head, the manufacturing yield can be increased and the manufacturing cost of the nozzle head can be reduced. The second nozzle head need not be an inkjet nozzle, and for example, a slit coater can be used.

As described above, the drawing can be performed separately for the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head with different drawing accuracy for the following reason.
Usually, for example, when modeling a cylinder and a socket into which the cylinder is inserted, high precision is required for the cylindrical part and the outer shape part of the socket, but the internal structure of the cylinder is not required to be so high. In such a case, even if only the outer part is drawn by the first nozzle head and a relatively large number of model materials are drawn by the second nozzle head inside the cylinder, there is no particular problem. As described above, the three-dimensional shape to be modeled includes a portion where high accuracy is required and a portion where high accuracy is not required depending on the use and purpose of the three-dimensional shape. According to the present invention, drawing is performed with different heads in accordance with the accuracy of each part required for the three-dimensional shape to be formed, divided into a part that requires high precision and other parts.

  The first drawing area and the second drawing area are configured to be created based on the cross-sectional shape data and the control data by executing a predetermined execution program stored in advance in the control unit. Can do.

In the present specification, an example is shown in which the cross-sectional shape layer is divided into only two parts, a part (first drawing area) where high accuracy is required (second drawing area) and the other part (second drawing area). It is also possible to divide the drawing area into a plurality of stages (for example, according to the difference in density or intensity).

  By adopting, for example, a slit coater as the second nozzle head, the second nozzle head can be moved (scanned) at a high speed when drawing the second drawing area, and the overall drawing speed is increased. Can be drawn at high speed.

Further, if the nozzle head capable of precise drawing is shortened, the manufacturing yield can be increased and the manufacturing cost of the nozzle head can be reduced.
For example, by setting the first nozzle head to half the length of the X axis and the second nozzle head to the remaining length, at least the first nozzle head with high accuracy may be half the length of the X axis. Compared with the case where the first nozzle head is a nozzle head having the entire length of the X axis, the manufacturing yield is improved.

  In the configuration described above, the shape of the second nozzle may be various, such as a cylindrical nozzle, such as a slit-shaped nozzle that is the same size as the diameter of the first nozzle and extends in the lateral direction. Is possible.

  In addition, the first drawing portion and the second drawing portion can be configured such that the shape or size can be changed or designated according to the function and characteristics of the three-dimensional shape to be formed. For example, in the case of modeling a three-dimensional shape of a cylinder as described above, if the accuracy and density of the internal structure of the cylinder are not a problem, only a portion of about 15% to 20% from the outer shape of the cylinder toward the inside Drawing is performed by the first nozzle head, and the remaining internal structure portion is drawn by the second nozzle head capable of ejecting a large amount of model material at a time.

  When the strength is particularly required inside the cylinder or when a special function is required, a model material of a different type from the outside model material may be used as the internal model material. For example, when electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, heat insulation, porous raw material, etc. are required, the types of model materials discharged by the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head according to their required functions May be different.

  According to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus of the present invention, the nozzle head as a whole is provided by providing nozzle heads (for example, a first nozzle head and a second nozzle head) for a plurality of types of model materials with different discharge amounts of model materials. Thus, it is possible to provide a three-dimensional drawing apparatus capable of high-speed drawing while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

The functional block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the 1st nozzle head which concerns on this invention, and a 2nd nozzle head. The schematic diagram which shows the other example of a structure of the 1st nozzle head which concerns on this invention, and a 2nd nozzle head. The schematic diagram which shows the other example of a structure of the 1st nozzle head which concerns on this invention, and a 2nd nozzle head. The schematic diagram which shows the other example of a structure of the 1st nozzle head which concerns on this invention, and a 2nd nozzle head. The schematic diagram which shows the other example of a structure of the 1st nozzle head which concerns on this invention, and a 2nd nozzle head. The schematic diagram which shows the other example of a structure of the 1st nozzle head which concerns on this invention, and a 2nd nozzle head. The schematic diagram which shows the state in the middle of modeling of a three-dimensional shape with the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on this invention. The top view which shows the example of the 1st drawing area and the 2nd drawing consideration area in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on this invention. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The top view which shows the other example of a 1st drawing area and a 2nd drawing consideration area. The figure for demonstrating the scanning range in the example from which the setting of a 2nd drawing area differs in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus and a modeling method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Unlike the conventional three-dimensional shape apparatus, the present invention includes two or more types of nozzle heads (first nozzle head and second nozzle head) composed of nozzles having different discharge amounts as model material nozzle heads. . In the three-dimensional shape to be modeled, the first drawing area where high-precision drawing is required draws the three-dimensional shape by discharging the model material from the first nozzle, and the part other than the first drawing area (second drawing area) ) Forms a three-dimensional shape by drawing the three-dimensional shape by discharging the model material from the second nozzle. This will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 7 are first and second drawings used in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention. It is a top view which shows a 2nd nozzle head typically. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the operation of the first and second nozzle heads during modeling. FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of the first drawing area and the second drawing area, and the nozzle head. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a motion.
Although examples of various nozzle heads are illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7, the configurations of the size and arrangement of the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head are based on the common general technical knowledge in the field. These configurations can be modified as appropriate.

  Please refer to FIG. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 11, a control unit 12, a temporary storage memory 13, a storage memory 14, a head drive unit 15, a first nozzle head 16, a second nozzle head 17, and shape data. An input unit 18, a table driving unit 20, a table 21 and the like are provided. Other displays and the like can be added as necessary.

  The operation unit 11 includes input means (keyboard, touch plate, switch, and other input means) for inputting activation of the 3D modeling apparatus 10, various settings, and necessary operation instructions by the user. In response to the input of the operation instruction, a predetermined signal is transmitted to the control 12 to execute various operations.

  The control unit 12 includes a CPU and the like, and controls the overall operation of each unit and the operation of each unit of the 3D modeling apparatus 10 based on the basic program, various operation programs, control data, and the like. Shape a three-dimensional shape. The control unit 12 can access an external server (not shown) or an internal storage memory 14 and can obtain various operation programs and data by accessing these. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the operation program is stored in the temporary storage memory 14, the basic operation program may be stored in the control unit. .

  In the various operation programs, two-dimensional data representing a cross-sectional shape obtained by slicing a three-dimensional image thinly in a plane direction is cut out from the three-dimensional shape data, and the drawing ranges of the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are determined. A scanning control program for controlling the head driving unit based on the drawing range and driving the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 to move in the X and Y directions, the first A discharge drive control program for controlling the discharge timing and discharge amount of the model material by the nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 is included.

  The partial storage unit 13 is preferably composed of a memory such as a DRAM that operates at a relatively high speed, stores various data necessary for the operation of the 3D modeling apparatus 10, and is activated when the 3D storage apparatus 10 is activated. The control program and control data are read from the storage memory 14 and necessary programs and data are stored. It is also used as a work memory necessary for temporarily storing these cross-sectional data and for other data processing. Although FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the first drawing data and the second drawing data are stored in the storage memory 14, these data may be stored in the temporary storage memory 13. .

  The storage memory 14 is composed of a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk device, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an operation program, a control program, three-dimensional shape data, first drawing data, second drawing data, and the like are necessary. Data and programs can be stored.

  The shape data input unit 18 includes, for example, a three-dimensional scanner, a recorded information reading device, and / or a data communication device. The shape data input unit 18 obtains the solid shape data by directly operating the solid with the stereoscopic scanner, inputs the solid shape data using a stored CD or DVD device, etc. It becomes possible to receive the solid shape data transmitted from the solid shape generation device.

The nozzle head used in the present invention will be described. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to the present invention includes a first nozzle head capable of drawing with high accuracy (drawing with high resolution) as a nozzle head for discharging a model material, and a second nozzle having a lower resolution than the first nozzle head. It has a nozzle head.
In principle, drawing in the X-axis direction can be completed at once by arranging nozzles corresponding to the same length as the X-axis in the first nozzle head. With this configuration, it is not necessary to scan the nozzle head in the X-axis direction, and a highly accurate cross-sectional shape can be drawn only by scanning in the Y-axis direction, and the drawing speed is improved.

 However, in order to arrange the first nozzles 30 having a diameter of about 10 μm over a distance corresponding to the length of the X axis with high density, thousands to tens of thousands of nozzles are arranged in a straight line at a narrow interval. Therefore, extremely advanced and highly accurate micromachining technology is required. In addition, if even one of the large number of first nozzles 30 of the manufactured first nozzle head 16 has a defect, it becomes a defective product due to missing drawing dots. The production yield of the nozzle head 16 is poor and the production cost is extremely high.

 The present invention changes the configuration of the nozzle head of the model material constituting the three-dimensional shape and the control method (control of the ejection amount of the model material and the scan control of the nozzle head), thereby changing the first nozzle with high drawing accuracy to X It is possible to form a three-dimensional shape at high speed without providing it over the length of the shaft.

  The first nozzle head 16 is an ink jet nozzle head that performs drawing with high resolution. For example, a plurality of nozzles having a small diameter of about 10 μm (hereinafter referred to as “first nozzles”) are provided at predetermined intervals. An array of nozzle rows is provided. The second nozzle head 17 is a nozzle head in which one or a plurality of nozzles (hereinafter referred to as “second nozzles”) that have a larger discharge amount and lower resolution than the first nozzle when the model material is discharged are arranged. .

  The discharge amount of the model material of the second nozzle can be several times to several thousand times that of the first nozzle. If the second drawing region is a simple rectangular shape, a wide range of drawing can be performed at once by increasing the discharge amount of the model material per second nozzle. However, when the second drawing area has a complicated shape, if the discharge amount of one nozzle is too large, drawing becomes difficult and drawing accuracy and drawing speed may be reduced. Assuming that the second nozzle is to draw the second drawing area of various shapes, the second nozzle has an appropriate shape, size and arrangement so that it can be drawn at high speed and accurately according to the shape of the various drawing areas. Can be determined.

  The second nozzle may be an inject type nozzle or another type. However, it is desirable that a thin film having a thickness of about 10 μm to 20 μm can be formed. For example, a slit coater type nozzle can be used as a discharge type nozzle other than the inkjet type.

  When a slit-type inkjet nozzle is used as the second nozzle, for example, a piezo element is stacked in the length direction of the thin plate on a thin plate made of a material such as an elongated thin metal (hereinafter referred to as “metal plate”). By using a bonded structure, a driving source for discharging the model material can be obtained. In this structure, when the piezo element is expanded and contracted in one direction at high speed, the metal plate is deformed at high speed in the thickness direction. The air inside the nozzle is compressed by the high-speed deformation of the metal plate, and the model material can be discharged at high speed in the thickness direction of the metal plate by the compressed air. Further, the model material may be discharged from the nozzle by opening and closing the electromagnetic valve at high speed in the passage of the compressed gas from the compressor.

  When adopting a slit coater type nozzle head, the second nozzle is formed into a slit shape, and the second nozzle is moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slit-shaped nozzle while discharging the model material from the slit-shaped discharge port. The drawing area is drawn with a thin film of model material. The film thickness of the thin film of the model seat is adjusted so as to be the same as that of the model material discharged from the first nozzle. By using the slit coater as the second nozzle in this way, it is possible to continuously discharge a thin film while moving a relatively wide area at high speed, so that the second drawing area can be drawn at high speed. It becomes.

  The shape of the first nozzle and the second nozzle 32 may be the same shape (for example, the discharge port is circular) or different shapes. As examples of the different shapes, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7, the first nozzle 30 has a circular cross section near the discharge port, and the second nozzles 32 to 37 have an elongated slit shape. can do. The width (length on the short side) of the slits of the second nozzles 32 to 37 is set to be approximately the same as the diameter of the first nozzle, and the length in the long side direction is an integral multiple of the nozzle diameter (several times to several times). (1000 times), the model material is discharged from the second nozzles 32 to 37 into an elongated slit shape having a width (short side) approximately the same as the diameter of the first nozzle 30. Even if the second nozzle head uses an ink jet method, the degree of integration can be lowered as compared with the first nozzle head, so that the manufacturing becomes easy. Therefore, even if the length of the second nozzle head is increased, the manufacturing yield is increased, and the manufacturing cost of the entire nozzle head for the model material can be reduced.

 The size and arrangement of the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 and the size and arrangement of the first nozzle 30 and the second nozzles 32 to 37 depend on the functions and quality required for the three-dimensional modeling apparatus. It can be set freely depending on the situation.

2 to 7 illustrate a first nozzle head 16 and a second nozzle head 17 according to the present invention. These are merely examples, and the present invention can be applied to the shapes, sizes, arrangements, and the like of the first and second nozzle heads 16 and 17 and the first nozzle 30 and the second nozzle 32 shown below. It is not intended to be limited.
In FIGS. 2 to 7, the second nozzles 32, 32 ′ and the like may be ink jet nozzles, slit coater nozzles, or other methods.

 Further, in any case including the examples shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the first nozzle heads 16, 16 ′, 16 ″, and the second nozzle heads 17, 17 ′, 17 ″, 17 ′ ″ Even if the two nozzle heads are mounted on the same carriage and are moved together by the head drive unit 15, they are mounted on different carriages, and the first nozzle heads 16, 16 'and the second nozzles are mounted. The heads 17 to 17 ′ ″ may be driven separately.

 FIG. 2 shows an example of the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 having the most basic configuration according to the present invention. A plurality of first nozzles 30 having a small diameter are arranged in the first nozzle head 16 at a predetermined interval. The second nozzle head 17 is provided with a thin long slit-like second nozzle 32. In addition, the length of the 2nd nozzle 32 can be made into the integral multiple (several times-several thousand times or more) of the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the two adjacent 1st nozzles 30. FIG. The same applies to the second nozzles 33 to 37 shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 or other second nozzles.

  FIG. 3 shows another example of the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17. In the example of FIG. 3, one first nozzle head 16 is provided on each of the left side and the right side, and a second nozzle head 17 ′ is provided therebetween. According to this configuration, when all the nozzle heads 16 ′, 17 ′, 16 ′ are mounted on one carriage, the boundary between the first drawing area and the second drawing area, in particular, a cylinder It is possible to reduce the number of scans of the X axis and the carriage movement amount at the boundary portion of the three-dimensional shape in which the first drawing area exists at both ends in the X axis direction.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of the nozzle head. In this example, the first nozzle heads 16, 16 ″ are arranged in two upper and lower stages, and the first nozzle heads 16, 16 ″ are misaligned in the upper and lower stages. The upper nozzles 30 are arranged so as to be exactly in the middle. As a result, the drawing density in the length direction of the first nozzle head 16 can be made twice as accurate as the arrangement interval of the first nozzles 30.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the second nozzle head 17 is provided with a plurality of slit-shaped second nozzles having different lengths. 3 and 5 show an example in which three second nozzles 33 to 35 are provided in the second nozzle head 17 ′, but there are three even if three or more second nozzles are provided. It is good also as follows. The length of the second nozzles 33, 34 and 35 is preferably an integral multiple of the length of the second nozzle 35. By making the integral multiple in this way, when the length of the second drawing area in the X-axis direction is not an integral multiple of the length of the second nozzle 32, the first drawing area and the second drawing area The boundary portion can be drawn quickly. The lengths of the second nozzles 33, 34, and 35 are preferably set to an integral multiple of the interval between two adjacent first nozzles 30.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are arranged so as to be orthogonal. In the example of FIG. 6, the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are each composed of one piece, but it is also possible to provide a plurality of either one or both of them.

 In FIG. 7, second nozzle heads 17 ″ and 17 ′ ″ including second nozzles 33 and 34 having different lengths are provided below the second nozzle head 17. As a result, when the second drawing area is not an integral multiple of the length of the second nozzle 32 as in the example of FIG. 5, the drawing of the boundary portion between the first drawing area and the second drawing area is quickly performed. It can be carried out. The lengths of the second nozzles 32, 36, and 37 are preferably set to a multiple of 2 times the interval between two adjacent first nozzles 30.

Next, control of the head drive unit 15 that moves the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the following description, it is assumed that the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 shown in FIG. 2 are mounted on one carriage.

 Based on the drive control signal from the control unit 12, the head drive unit 15 places the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head in two orthogonal directions in the horizontal plane (for example, the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction). ). The head drive unit 15 moves the first nozzle head 16 to the first drawing area, and moves the second nozzle head 17 to the second drawing area. Drawing is performed by discharging the model material.

 When the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are mounted on the same carriage, the head drive unit 15 determines that the first nozzle head is the first drawing based on the control signal from the control unit 12. The carriage is driven so that the area is moved and the second nozzle head 17 moves in the second drawing area.

Please refer to FIG. In FIG. 8, numeral 50 indicates a completed three-dimensional shape (cylinder) in a state where the modeling process is completed, and numeral 50 ′ indicates a three-dimensional shape in the middle of modeling.
Normally, when modeling a three-dimensional shape, it is required to form at least the outer shape part (surface shape) of the three-dimensional shape in an accurate dimensional shape, but for example, an internal structure such as a cylinder does not require a very high modeling accuracy. There are many. Therefore, the required outer shape can be formed with high accuracy, and the internal structure portion such as the inside of the cylinder can be formed with reduced drawing accuracy as long as it does not affect the final quality.

When the second nozzle head is an ink jet system, the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are moved in the X-axis direction as shown in the figure, and each nozzle drawing region is discharged with a model material. And draw.
Specifically, the first drawing area 55 is drawn by the first nozzle head 16, and the second drawing area 56 inside the cylinder is drawn by the second nozzle head 17. The movement order of the nozzle heads 16 and 17 is as follows. First, when drawing in the X-axis direction is completed, the drawing in the X-axis direction is completed. draw. By repeating this, the drawing of one cross-sectional shape is completed by moving to the final position of the Y axis.

 When a slit coater type nozzle is employed as the second nozzle head, it is preferable to draw the first drawing area and the second drawing area separately. When drawing separately, either the first drawing area or the second drawing area may be drawn first, but the second drawing area is drawn first, and then the first drawing area is drawn. This is better. In addition, it is preferable to form the second drawing area as simple as possible (for example, rectangular).

 The drawing area of the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head 17 and the head drive will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the second drawing area is set in a circular shape, and FIG. 10 shows a state in which the second drawing area is set in a rectangular shape.

 The first drawing area and the second drawing area can be set by an input from the scanning unit or can be automatically set by the control unit. In the case of the control unit, a program for determining a drawing area is prepared and the drawing area is automatically set.

 The drawing area determination program determines the first drawing area and the second drawing area based on the length, arrangement, size, and the like of the nozzle row of each nozzle head. For example, the first drawing area and the second drawing area are preferably determined such that the width in the X direction is an integral multiple of the length of the first nozzle row and the length of the second nozzle. As described above, the length of the nozzle row of the first nozzle head 16 and the length of the nozzle of the second nozzle head 17 are an integral multiple of the interval between the adjacent first nozzles which is the minimum unit of resolution. It is configured. Therefore, by setting the first and second drawing areas to be an integral multiple of the nozzle row of the first nozzle head or the nozzles of the second nozzle head by the drawing area determination program, scanning in the X-axis direction is wasted. And can be performed efficiently.

Based on the set first drawing region and second drawing region, the first and second nozzle heads are scanned in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the cross-sectional shape layer (two-dimensional drawing layer) Drawing is executed.
The first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are divided into a scan for drawing the first drawing area and a scan for drawing the second drawing area, and scans each separately. Also good. However, when the second nozzle also adopts the ink jet system, the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head are respectively located at positions where the first drawing area and the second drawing area can be drawn simultaneously. When moving, it is possible to draw more efficiently by drawing at the same time.

First, an example of scanning control in the case where the ink jet method is adopted as the second nozzle head will be described.
For example, when the first nozzle head 16 and the second nozzle head 17 are moved to the positions indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 9, the first nozzle head 16 is in the first drawing area, and the second nozzle head 17 is arranged on the second drawing area. In such a case, it is possible to draw the first drawing area and the second drawing area at the same time, and by simultaneously drawing, the number of scans and scanning of the second nozzle head for the second drawing area. It is possible to reduce the range.

 Also, as shown in FIG. 10, by making the shape of the second drawing area 55 ′ rectangular, scanning control of the boundary portion between the first drawing area and the second drawing area is simplified, and the X-axis direction It is possible to further reduce the number of scans.

 Furthermore, the shape, position, and size of the first drawing area and the second drawing area are matched to the length, shape, and arrangement of the first nozzle and the length, shape, and arrangement (control data) of the second nozzle. By setting the length, the nozzle head can be scanned and drawn more efficiently. The program for setting the drawing area is configured to create the first drawing data and the second drawing data that can scan the cross-sectional shape data most efficiently based on the predetermined control data. At this time, it is possible to input the thickness of the first drawing area or the like from the operation unit as the predetermined control data.

 For example, the width of the left and right portions of the first drawing region 55 shown in FIG. 9 is the same as the length of the first nozzle row of the first nozzle head 30, and the upper and lower portions are drawn so as to be a straight line parallel to the X axis. Set the area. Thereby, when the first drawing area and the second drawing area exist on the X axis, the drawing of the first drawing area in the X axis direction is completed only by moving twice on the X axis. In addition, as described above, by setting the length of the second nozzle to be an integral multiple of the interval between two adjacent first nozzles 30, the boundary between the first drawing area and the second drawing area can be simplified. It is possible to draw by scanning.

Next, an example of nozzle head movement control (scanning control) when a slit coater type nozzle is employed as the second nozzle will be described. When a slit coater type nozzle is employed as the second nozzle head, it is preferable to draw the second drawing area first as described above. In particular, when drawing by the slit coater method, it is preferable to set the second drawing area to a rectangle as shown in FIG. In this way, by making the second drawing area rectangular, the second nozzle heads 17, 17 ′ and the like are moved at high speed in the Y-axis direction, thereby completing the rectangular drawing. When the second nozzle head is longer than the length of the X axis of the drawing area, the drawing of the second drawing area is completed only by moving once in the Y axis direction at a high speed.
When the drawing of the second drawing area is completed, the drawing of one end face shape is completed by drawing the first drawing area by the first nozzle head 16, and the drawing of the next cross section can proceed.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate.

  For example, the second nozzle may have a circular shape or a rectangular shape instead of a slit shape. In addition, the scanning control of the first drawing area and the second drawing area of the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head includes the length, shape and arrangement of the first nozzle and the second nozzle length and shape. It is preferable to create a scanning procedure so that scanning positions do not overlap as much as possible from the arrangement and the positions, sizes, and sizes of the first drawing area and the second drawing area.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which scanning is performed by moving the nozzle head in relation to scanning in the x-Y direction has been described. However, the scanning is performed by moving the table, and scanning is performed by moving both the nozzle head and the table. Any configuration can be adopted. Further, in the movement in the Z direction, either the nozzle head or the table may be moved in the z direction.
Furthermore, it is also possible to designate the first drawing area and the second drawing area and input conditions from the operation unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 3D modeling apparatus 14 Storage memory 16 1st nozzle head 17,17 ', 17'',17''' 2nd nozzle head 30 1st nozzle 32-37 2nd nozzle 41 Table 50 Three-dimensional shape 50 'three-dimensional shape 55, 55' first drawing area 56, 56 'second drawing area in the middle of modeling

Claims (10)

A three-dimensional modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional shape by drawing each cross-sectional shape layer constituting a three-dimensional shape by discharging a model material, and sequentially laminating these cross-sectional shape layers,
A first nozzle head including at least one first discharge nozzle that discharges a model material having a size and a droplet amount corresponding to a high resolution required for forming a stereoscopic image to be formed as a discharge range per one time; ,
A second nozzle head having one or more second discharge nozzles, each of which has a discharge range that is an integral multiple of that of the first discharge nozzle.
A controller that controls the first drawing area to be drawn by the first nozzle head and the second drawing area other than the first drawing area to be drawn by the second nozzle head;
3D modeling device.   The control unit obtains first drawing data defining the first drawing area and second drawing data defining the second drawing area, and the first drawing data and the second drawing data are obtained. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head are controlled based on the drawing data.   The control unit creates the first drawing data defining the first drawing area and the second drawing data defining the second drawing area based on the cross-sectional shape data, The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first nozzle head and the second nozzle head are controlled based on one drawing data and the second drawing data.   The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second nozzle head includes a plurality of the second discharge nozzles having different sizes.   The second nozzle head has a slit-like discharge port whose short side is the same length as the diameter of the first discharge nozzle and whose length in the long side direction is an integral multiple of the diameter of the first discharge nozzle. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the second discharge nozzle.   6. The three-dimensional modeling according to claim 5, wherein the second nozzle head includes a plurality of the second discharge nozzles, each of which has a length in the long side direction of the slit-shaped discharge port that is different by an integral number. apparatus.   7. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second discharge nozzle has the slit-shaped discharge port extending in a direction orthogonal to the row of the first nozzles.   The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second nozzle head includes a slit coater type nozzle. A three-dimensional modeling method for forming a three-dimensional solid shape by drawing each cross-sectional shape layer constituting a three-dimensional shape by discharging a model material, and sequentially laminating these cross-sectional shape layers,
First drawing data defining a first drawing area to be drawn with a predetermined accuracy corresponding to a resolution required for a three-dimensional shape to be modeled, and a second drawing area having a lower resolution than the first drawing area Obtaining second drawing data defining
Drawing the first drawing area with a first nozzle head based on the first drawing data, and drawing the second drawing area with a second nozzle head based on second drawing data; ,
3D modeling method.   The step of acquiring the first drawing data and the second drawing data generates the first drawing data and the second drawing data based on the three-dimensional cross-sectional shape data and predetermined control data. The three-dimensional modeling method according to claim 9, wherein:

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