RU216676U1 - BUILDING DESK FOR FDM 3D PRINTER WITH CONVEYOR LAYOUT - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of additive technologies, in particular to devices for fixing and locating a manufactured part on a 3D printer using layer-by-layer deposition technology (FDM). A construction table for a conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer is proposed, consisting of a table frame, a base plate, a conveyor belt, drive mechanisms, including a stepper motor and drive shafts, tension shafts. Distinctive design features of the proposed utility model is that the conveyor belt is a consumable material and is made in the form of an open tape substrate, the supply of an open tape substrate is carried out by dragging it between the drive shafts driven by a stepper motor in the back of the construction table for FDM 3D- of the conveyor-layout printer, the open-ribbon substrate is tensioned by tension rollers at the front of the build table for the conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer, and the base plate has a heating element to preheat the first layer of the printed part. The technical result consists in the fact that a construction table for a conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer has been created, the design of which ensures a high-quality and stable process of 3D printing of a product, namely, it maintains high adhesion of the product to the printer table with the possibility of non-damaging separation of the part from the surface of the latter.

Description

Fused Deposition Printing (FDM) technology has become widespread among individual users and small companies due to its wide capabilities, relative simplicity and good affordability.

The utility model relates to the field of additive technologies, in particular to the technology of layer-by-layer deposition (hereinafter referred to as FDM) 3D printing and is designed to hold and base the printed part on the surface of the table. Due to the conveyor arrangement, the substrate moves parallel to the table, providing continuous printing of the product along the Z axis. The utility model can be used as an alternative heating table for 3D printers operating on the conveyor-layout FDM 3D printing technology.

A patent is known (WO 2017209337 A1, publication date 07.12.2017) relating to an automatic table changer for continuous FDM 3D printing. According to this patent, the device improves the printing performance and efficiency of the 3D printer by automating the change of the table upon completion of the 3D printing of the product and replacing the table with the finished product with a new table to continue the print cycle, thereby ensuring continuous printing of a batch of products. Moving, replacing the table is carried out by a pusher, which is driven by an electric motor through a drive belt. The movement of the pusher is carried out reciprocating along the table. Upon completion of printing, the pusher moves the new table through the gap between the stop plate and the printer body, then comes into contact with the installed table and shifts it along the axis of the pusher movement, taking the place of the current table.

The disadvantage of this solution is the approach to the implementation of continuous printing. First, since interchangeable tables have a specific print surface area, the size of the printed product is limited by the surface area of the table and the height of the printer frame. Secondly, continuous printing, implemented in this solution, is carried out by replacing the table with a new one, which requires time for the change and leads to downtime of the print head. Thirdly, two or more tables are required to implement continuous printing.

The patent (US 20170190120 A1, publication date 07/06/2017) claims the device of the FDM 3D printer table. The printer table includes the first plate on which a three-dimensional object is formed, the second plate, which is located below the first plate with some clearance. The second plate has a heating element, while the first plate, separated from the second by a gap, is thermally insulated. The first plate has special holes, which are filled with filament at the beginning of printing. Thus, pins are formed, which, during subsequent printing, hold the part on the table. The second plate plays the role of strengthening the pins, and also serves to separate the part from the table at the end of printing. This is done by heating the second plate, bringing the pins to a softened state, which results in easier removal of the part from the table.

The patent (KR 101692146 B1, publication date 01/03/2017) claims a conveyor belt device. The conveyor is driven by a drive device. The conveyor belt is covered with the material that is suitable for printing this or that filament. The design includes a roller for separating the printed part, as well as a roller for cleaning from residual adhering filament. On the surface of the tape there are grooves for providing, in which the blocks are located.

The disadvantage of this solution is the complicated method of applying the material into the grooves. Before printing, it is required to apply the filament material into the grooves to ensure adhesion between the part and the 3D printer table. This requires additional time costs.

A patent is known (KR 20200084931 A, publication date 12/20/2018), which presents a device for a conveyor 3D printer. The patent specifies the applied printing angle (45 degrees). Printing of the product is carried out by the movement of the print head along the portal of the printer, which is at an inclination of 45 degrees, as well as by the movement of the conveyor belt. The main emphasis in the patent is on the description of the kinematics of the printer, while there is no description of the principle of heating and holding the part on the table.

The closest to the claimed utility model is patent US 8668859 B2, publication date 03/11/2014, which describes the design of the conveyor-type 3D printer table. The device is presented as a mechanism designed to support the sequential construction of a (serial) printed part, which, as it moves along the conveyor, detaches itself from the conveyor table. It is noted that the device can be used not only for printing with FDM technology, but also, for example, for laser sintering. The conveyor belt is driven by a drive mechanism. Its base (plate) must be rigid to ensure a stable fit of the tape to the table. The tape can be made from the following materials: mesh material, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide film, or any sufficiently strong material. The working surface of the tape can be processed in various ways to promote the adhesion of the material to the table or, conversely, to simplify the removal of the printed product from the table (with high adhesion of the material). An example of a possible surface treatment of the belt is given: surface treatment by grinding or conveying the texture of the surface of the belt (for example, grooves, protrusions, etc.) to improve the adhesion of the material to the surface of the table. In addition to the mechanical method of treating the surface of the belt, a chemical method is proposed, which consists in applying a substance to the surface of the conveyor: wax, glue, while it is possible to apply the substance to the surface of the table by spraying. In an alternative example, the conveyor belt may be made from a sheet of disposable material, which may be fed from a dispenser, with each successive print. The authors note that several tapes can be developed for different materials (different surface material, texture, etc.).

The disadvantage of this solution is that the annular configuration of the conveyor belt predetermines the stage of tearing off the tape from the printed product when it reaches the edge of the table. Thus, in the case of providing high strength fastening of the part on the surface of the tape, when tearing off, intensive wear of the surface of the tape will occur, or damage to the part.

The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is the creation of a construction table for printing by layer-by-layer deposition (FDM) of a conveyor-layout 3D printer (hereinafter, a build table for a conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer), the design of which ensures a high-quality and stable 3D printing process. product printing, namely, it maintains high adhesion of the product to the printer construction table with the possibility of non-damaging separation of the part from the surface of the latter.

To solve this problem, a construction table for an FDM 3D printer of a conveyor layout is proposed, consisting of a table frame, a base plate, a conveyor belt, drive mechanisms, including a stepper motor and drive shafts, tension shafts.

Distinctive design features of the proposed utility model is that the conveyor belt is a consumable material and is made in the form of an open tape substrate, the supply of an open tape substrate is carried out by dragging it between the drive shafts driven by a stepper motor in the back of the construction table for FDM 3D- of the conveyor-layout printer, the open-ribbon substrate is tensioned by tension rollers at the front of the build table for the conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer, and the base plate has a heating element to preheat the first layer of the printed part.

The design of the proposed utility model makes it possible to use a paper (with or without impregnation) or a polymer substrate as a consumable conveyor belt, which makes it possible to securely hold the printed product from any material on the construction table with the possibility of accurately moving it along the Z axis during printing. Depending on the size of the part, at the end of the printing of the product, the substrate is cut off, remaining on the part. Then the substrate is removed by mechanical methods (soaking and separation, surface grinding, cutting).

The printing process is based on the conveyor layout of the FDM 3D printer construction table, when the extruder moves along an inclined portal along the conditional X and Y axes, and at the same time, the part gradually moves due to the movement of the conveyor belt, made in the form of an open tape substrate along the conditional Z axis .

The problem is solved by using in the design of the proposed utility model an open tape substrate, which plays the role of a conveyor belt. In this case, the part is removed from the FDM 3D printer directly from the substrate. During the printing process, the open tape substrate is driven by being pulled between drive shafts driven by a stepper motor at the back of the build table for the FDM 3D printer in a pipelined layout. By pulling the open tape substrate between the tension rollers in the front of the table for the conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer, the tension of the open tape substrate is provided. Between the tension and drive shafts there is a base plate with a heating element, on which the open tape substrate slides during the printing process. Consumables for FDM 3D printing are applied to an open tape substrate, and as the product grows, it moves along the Z axis (horizontal axis of conveyor movement) with it.

The essence of the utility model is illustrated by the drawing.

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of the build table for an FDM 3D printer of a conveyor layout.

1 - frame of the construction table;

2 - base plate;

3 - heating element;

4 - open tape substrate;

5 - a roll of an open tape rolled substrate;

6 - drive shafts;

7 - stepper motor;

8 - tension shafts.

The design of the conveyor table for building a 3D printer consists of the following elements. The build table frame (1) is the supporting structure on which the remaining elements of the build table for the FDM 3D printer of the conveyor layout are attached. It can be made from aluminum profile. A base plate (2) is bolted to the construction table frame (1) and acts as a rigid flat support on which an open tape substrate (4) is placed. On top of the inside of the base plate (2) is placed the heating element of the build table (3) to heat the lower layers of the part during printing.

The open tape substrate (4) is represented as a roll of an open tape roll substrate (5). The open tape substrate (4) is driven by drive shafts (6), which in turn are rotated by a stepper motor (7). The drive shafts (6) and the stepper motor (7) are located at the end of the construction table, thereby pulling the open tape substrate (4) between the shafts. Tension rollers (8) create resistance to the movement of the open tape substrate (4) from the opposite edge of the table (from the front of the table). Thus, due to the resistance of the tension rollers (8) and the retraction of the drive shafts (6), the open tape substrate (4) is stretched and pressed against the base of the construction table, taking on its flatness.

The utility model works as follows. An open tape substrate (4) made in the form of a roll of an open tape substrate (5) is suspended on brackets. Then, the open tape substrate (4) is pulled from the roll of the open tape substrate (5) between the tension rollers (8) and is pulled along the construction table, over the surface of the base plate (2). At the end of the base plate (2), the open tape substrate (4) is pulled through the drive shafts (6) with some protrusion of the end of the open tape substrate (4). A portal with a print head (not specified in the description) starts the printing process from its original position, i.e. from the front of the construction table, at the point of entry of the tape substrate (4) through the tension rollers (8). As you print, i.e. applying layers of thermoplastic on an open tape substrate (4) and then, layer by layer, the process of creating a product takes place. During the operation of the FDM 3D printer, the open tape substrate (4) moves along with the product being grown, so one of the axes of the 3D printer is located along the table. Therefore, during printing, the tape substrate (4) moves a certain distance with a step corresponding to the G-code program of the FDM 3D printer.

Two options for removing the part after printing are considered. The first option can be applied when one product is printed. After printing is completed, the backing tape (4) is cut off. The cut in this embodiment is carried out immediately after printing, and then the end of the tape substrate (4) is re-stretched between the tension rollers (8).

In the second case, the option of printing a series of products is considered. In this case, the products are sheared off after passing through the area of the tension rollers (8).

Optionally, you can use various types of coatings and impregnations (for example, on an adhesive basis) for application to the tape substrate (4) before printing, or use a polymer tape. The result must meet the task of the PM, everything else is written in the description.

The technical result consists in the fact that a construction table has been created for a conveyor-layout FDM 3D printer, the design of which ensures a high-quality and stable process of 3D printing of a product, namely, it maintains high adhesion of the product to the printer's construction table with the possibility of non-damaging separation of the part from the surface of the latter.

Claims (1)

Construction table for printing by layer-by-layer deposition method (FDM) of a conveyor-layout 3D printer, consisting of a table frame, a base plate, a conveyor belt, drive mechanisms, including a stepper motor and drive shafts, tension shafts, characterized in that the conveyor belt is made in the form of an open tape substrate, the open tape substrate is fed by pulling it between the drive shafts driven by a stepper motor at the rear of the build table for the FDM 3D printer in a conveyor layout, the tension of the open tape substrate is due to the tension rollers in the front of the FDM build table 3D printer conveyor layout, and the base plate has a heating element for heating the first layer of the printed part.

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