JP2008137251A - Stereolithography equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided an optical modeling apparatus in which even when a photocurable resin having a high viscosity is used, an uncured photocurable resin attached to a squeegee does not peel off and deteriorate flatness.
An optical modeling apparatus for forming a three-dimensional model by laminating a part of a photocurable resin layer while exposing and curing with a laser beam. The optical modeling apparatus includes a photocurable resin. 8, a modeling tank 9 filled in, a base 10 disposed in the modeling tank 9 so as to be freely movable up and down, and disposed above the modeling tank 9, moving in contact with the surface of the photocurable resin 8 and moving horizontally. By doing so, the squeegee 12 for forming the flat photocurable resin layer 11 on the base 10, the laser light source for irradiating a part of the photocurable resin layer 11 with laser light and curing, and the squeegee 12 are attached. And a removal mechanism 13 for removing the photocurable resin 8, the squeegee 12 reciprocates over the modeling tank 9, and the excess photocuring attached to the squeegee 12 by the removal mechanism 13 disposed at the moving end. It was set as the structure which removes a functional resin.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by exposing and curing a photocurable resin layer with laser light.

  As a method of forming a three-dimensional shape model in a short time from three-dimensional CAD data, an optical modeling apparatus using a photocurable resin is known. As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional optical modeling apparatus is disposed above the modeling tank 2, a modeling tank 2 filled with the photocurable resin 1, a base 3 that can be moved up and down disposed in the modeling tank 2. The squeegee 4 that can move horizontally and the laser light source 5 that exposes and cures the photo-curable resin 1 are mainly configured.

  First, a flat photocurable resin layer 6 is formed on the base 3 by bringing the squeegee 4 into contact with the photocurable resin 1 on the base 3 and moving it horizontally. Next, the photocurable resin layer 6 is irradiated with laser light from the laser light source 5 to be cured. At this time, the laser light source 5 is connected to the control device 7 that stores the three-dimensional CAD data of the shape model to be produced. By scanning the laser light based on the CAD data of each cross section, the layered shape in each cross section is obtained. Form a shape model. Then, by repeating the above, a three-dimensional shape model is formed by stacking layered shape models.

As prior art document information relating to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2000-218705 A

  In the above conventional example, when the surface of the photocurable resin layer 6 is flattened by the squeegee 4, the excess photocurable resin 1 is always moved to the end while scraping off the front surface in the moving direction of the squeegee 4. Therefore, when the photocurable resin layer 6 is flattened again on the back surface of the squeegee 4 by being moved in the opposite direction at the end portion, the photocuring resin 1 attached to the front surface is dropped, so that the flatness is improved. There was a problem of deterioration.

  Then, an object of this invention is to planarize a photocurable resin layer with high precision.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical modeling apparatus for forming a three-dimensional modeled object by laminating a part of a photocurable resin layer while exposing and curing with a laser beam. The apparatus includes a modeling tank filled with a photocurable resin, a base disposed in the modeling tank so as to freely move up and down, and is disposed above the modeling tank so as to contact the surface of the photocurable resin. A squeegee that forms a flat photocurable resin layer on the base by moving horizontally, a laser light source that cures a part of the photocurable resin layer by irradiating a laser beam, and a squeegee A removal mechanism for removing the adhering photocurable resin, the squeegee reciprocates beyond the modeling tank, and the excess photocurable resin adhering to the squeegee is removed by the removing mechanism disposed at the moving end. Since it is removed, it adheres at the moving end of the squeegee Minute photocurable resin can be reliably removed, so that no drop of extra light-curable resin, it is possible to form a flat light-curable resin layer.

  According to the stereolithography apparatus according to the present invention, in the squeegee that is flattened by reciprocating the photocurable resin layer, the moving end portion is configured with a hook-shaped elastic body with the tip portion facing downward. A removal mechanism is provided. For this reason, the elastic body is bent by pushing the squeegee into contact with the elastic body at the moving end, and the tip of the elastic body is slid toward the tip of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to form a flat photocurable resin layer in which no excess photocurable resin is dropped.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an optical modeling apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

  The optical modeling apparatus in the present embodiment is arranged above the modeling tank 9, a modeling tank 9 for filling the photocurable resin 8, a base 10 that can be moved up and down arranged in the modeling tank 9. Then, by horizontally moving the surface of the photocurable resin 8 supplied on the base 10, a squeegee 12 that forms a flat photocurable resin layer 11, and a modeling tank 9 in which the squeegee 12 moves. It is comprised from the removal mechanism 13 arrange | positioned at the both ends 9a (FIG. 2).

  The squeegee 12 includes a blade 14 for scraping off the photocurable resin 8 and a bracket 15 for fixing and supporting the blade 14. The material of the blade 14 is usually a thin steel plate or the like having high rigidity, so that the bending of the blade 14 accompanying the horizontal movement of the squeegee 12 and the photocurable resin 8 adhere to the bottom surface of the blade 14. In this way, the photocurable resin layer 11 having a certain thickness can be formed on the base 10.

  Further, the squeegee 12 can be reciprocated in the horizontal direction (x direction) by a moving mechanism fixed to the bracket 15, and the light supplied onto the base 10 is moved by horizontally moving the squeegee 12 by this moving mechanism. The curable resin 8 is flattened by a blade 14 in contact with the surface thereof to form a photocurable resin layer 11 having a certain thickness. Then, by irradiating the photocurable resin layer 11 with laser light from a laser light source (not shown) composed of a laser oscillation source such as a semiconductor laser or He-Cd, a scanning mirror, etc., light of the irradiation part The curable resin 8 is cured. The laser light source creates a shape model for each cross section by scanning the scanning mirror with the control device based on the cross section data (shape data sliced thinly in the z direction) generated from the 3D CAD data of the shape model to be produced. To do. The base 10 includes a mechanism capable of moving up and down in the vertical direction (z direction). After a single layer shape model is manufactured, the shape model of each layer, that is, a cross section, is lowered by repeating a laser beam irradiation again by a certain amount. By stacking the shapes, a three-dimensional shape model is produced in a short period of time. The thickness of each layer, that is, the descending amount of the base 10 is usually set in the range of about 50 microns to 100 microns, but is appropriately set depending on the accuracy of the required shape model.

  The feature of the optical modeling apparatus in the present embodiment is that a removal mechanism for removing excess photocurable resin adhering to the blade 14 is provided at the moving end (both ends) where the squeegee 12 reciprocates. In particular, in optical modeling that requires heat resistance and high rigidity, such as trial mold use, a high-viscosity photocurable resin 8 in which a filler is contained in an epoxy base is used. When the filler-containing type photocurable resin 8 is scraped and adhered to the front surface of the blade 14, it does not fall off due to its high viscosity but remains as it is. The remaining photocurable resin 8 falls when the squeegee 12 is moved in the reverse direction, so that the flatness of the photocurable resin layer 11 is deteriorated. In the present embodiment, a removal mechanism 13 is provided at the moving end of the squeegee 12 to reliably scrape and remove the excess photocurable resin 8 attached, thereby preventing the attached photocurable resin 8 from falling. Is.

  Next, details of the removal mechanism 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

  2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-AA of the optical modeling apparatus in FIG.

  The removing mechanism 13 according to the present embodiment is provided at both end portions 9 a of the modeling tank 9 with the base 10 interposed therebetween, and includes a plate-like elastic body 16 and an adjustment post 17. The plate-like elastic body 16 is shaped like a bowl by fixing one end 16 a downward and the other end 16 b sandwiched between the adjustment posts 17. The front surface 14 a of the blade 14 is brought into contact with one end 16 a of the elastic body 16 and further pushed in, thereby bending the plate-like elastic body 16 and sliding the tip 16 a along the blade 14 downward. By moving, the excess photocurable resin 8 attached to the front surface 14a of the blade 14 is surely scraped and removed. As the material of the elastic body 16, a material having an elastic modulus smaller than that of the blade 14 is always selected. In this way, when the blade 14 is brought into contact with the blade 14 and pushed in, the elastic body 16 can follow the front surface 14a of the blade 14 while being bent downward. 16 can be set. Furthermore, by using a material whose hardness is lower than that of the blade 14 as the material of the elastic body 16, the photocurable resin 8 can be scraped off without damaging the blade 14 at the time of contact. The excess photocurable resin 8 that has been scraped off is collected in the modeling tank 9.

  Next, details of the scraping operation by the removing mechanism 13 will be described.

  3 to 6 respectively show side views of steps for explaining the removing operation of the photocurable resin 8 in the present embodiment.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the squeegee 12 is moved in the horizontal direction (x direction) while the tip of the blade 14 is in contact with the surface of the photocurable resin 8 supplied on the base 10. A light-curing resin layer 11 is formed. At this time, since the photocurable resin 8 slightly thicker than the thickness of the photocurable resin layer 11 to be formed is supplied onto the base 10, the excess photocurable resin 8 a is scraped to the front surface 14 a of the blade 14. Will be taken.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, after further moving the squeegee 12 horizontally beyond the base 10 to the removal mechanism 13 disposed at the end 9 a of the modeling tank 9, the photocurable resin layer 11 on the base Is cured by exposing the laser beam to cross-sectional data generated based on the three-dimensional CAD data. On the other hand, the squeegee 12 is brought into contact with the removing mechanism 13 disposed at the end portion 9a of the modeling tank 9 in a state where the excess photocurable resin 8a scraped off from the front surface 14a of the blade 14 is adhered. As described above, the removal mechanism 13 has a hook-like shape in which the distal end portion 16a of the plate-like elastic body 16 is directed downward and the other end 16b is sandwiched and fixed. The tip 16a is attached to the adjustment post 17 such that the height of the tip 16a is higher than that of the excess photo-curable resin 8a scraped off by the front surface 14a, and the mounting angle B is always an acute angle. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the front surface 14 a of the blade 14 is pushed into the plate-like elastic body 16 by further moving the squeegee 12 horizontally. By pushing the blade 14 into the elastic body 16 in this way, at least the distal end portion 16a of the elastic body 16 bends, and the excess photocurable resin 8a attached by sliding along the front surface 14a is scraped off and removed. At this time, the moving amount of the squeegee 12, that is, the pushing amount of the blade 14, is set so that at least the distal end portion 16 a of the elastic body 16 that is bent by contact always exceeds the distal end of the blade 14. By doing so, it is possible to reliably remove the excess photocurable resin 8a adhering to the blade 14 including the bottom surface portion. Furthermore, by setting the mounting angle B to an acute angle, excess photo-curable resin 8a can be scraped and collected on the back side 16c of the elastic body 16, so that the blade 14 is reversed and suddenly detached from the elastic body 16. Even in such a case, it is possible to prevent the photocurable resin 8a scraped off by the spring of the elastic body 16 from being scattered on the base 10 or the like. In addition, by making the front-end | tip part 16a into the shape which has a blade-shaped acute front-end | tip angle, the excess photocurable resin 8a can be scraped and collected more reliably to the back surface side 16c.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 6, after the base 10 is lowered by a certain amount and a new photocurable resin 8 is supplied, the squeegee 12 is horizontally moved in the opposite direction and flattened again. At this time, the photocurable resin 8a adhering to the back surface side 16c of the elastic body 16 is dropped and collected in the modeling tank 9 by, for example, springing up when the blade 14 is detached. In the present embodiment, the removal operation at one end has been described. However, a similar removal mechanism 13 is arranged at the other end, and the excess photo-curable resin 8a is similarly removed. .

  As described above, the stereolithography apparatus of the present invention scrapes and removes the excess photocurable resin 8a that is always attached at the moving end from the blade 14 after the photocurable resin 8 is flattened. The uncured or excessive photocurable resin 8a does not fall on the flattened photocurable resin layer 11, and as a result, the formation accuracy of the shaped article can be increased.

  According to the stereolithography apparatus according to the present invention, in the squeegee that is flattened by reciprocating the photocurable resin layer, the moving end portion is configured with a hook-shaped elastic body with the tip portion facing downward. A removal mechanism is provided. For this reason, the elastic body is bent by pushing the squeegee into contact with the elastic body at the moving end, and the tip of the elastic body is slid toward the tip of the squeegee. The photocurable resin layer can be reliably scraped off, and as a result, a flat photocurable resin layer can be formed in which no excess photocurable resin falls, so the photocurable resin layer is exposed with laser light. It is useful for an optical modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by curing.

The principal part perspective view of the optical modeling apparatus in one embodiment of this invention A-AA sectional view of the optical modeling apparatus shown in FIG. The side view explaining the removal operation of the optical modeling apparatus of this invention The side view explaining the removal operation of the optical modeling apparatus of this invention The side view explaining the removal operation of the optical modeling apparatus of this invention The side view explaining the removal operation of the optical modeling apparatus of this invention Sectional drawing explaining the conventional optical modeling apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Photocurable resin 9 Modeling tank 10 Base 11 Photocurable resin layer 12 Squeegee 13 Removal mechanism 16 Elastic body

Claims (2)

It is an optical modeling apparatus that forms a three-dimensional model by laminating a part of a photocurable resin layer while exposing and curing with laser light, and the optical modeling apparatus is a model that is filled with a photocurable resin. A tank, a base that can be moved up and down in the modeling tank, and a base that is disposed above the modeling tank and moves horizontally in contact with the surface of the photocurable resin. A squeegee for forming a flat photo-curable resin layer, a laser light source for irradiating a part of the photo-curable resin layer with a laser beam, and a removal mechanism for removing the photo-curable resin adhering to the squeegee The squeegee moves reciprocally beyond the modeling tank, and an excess photocurable resin attached to the squeegee is removed by the removing mechanism arranged at the moving end. The removal mechanism is made of an elastic body that protrudes obliquely downward in a bowl shape, and further presses the squeegee after it is brought into contact with the elastic body, thereby bending the elastic body and causing the tip of the elastic body to move on the squeegee. The optical modeling apparatus according to claim 1, which is slid to remove excess photocurable resin adhered thereto.

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