阅读说明：本技术 控制装置、方法、3d打印方法及打印设备 (Control device and method, 3D printing method and printing equipment ) 是由 于清晓 付寒梅 丁泽锋 杜迪坤 于 2021-09-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请公开一种控制装置、方法、3D打印方法及打印设备,3D打印设备包括能量辐射装置、构件平台、以及用于盛放打印材料的容器,能量辐射装置包括用以提供辐射能量的辐射源、以及用以显示分层图像的面板。在打印时,令能量辐射装置将3D构件模型中的分层图像照射到所填充的打印材料以获得图案固化层；其中,能量辐射装置中辐射源的辐射能量值满足打印材料所需的曝光能量值,辐射能量值是基于辐射源的辐射强度和辐射源的辐射时间确定的,辐射强度不大于面板的接收强度阈值。本申请可有效延长面板的使用寿命,并使能量辐射装置保持稳定的能量输出。(The application discloses a control device, a control method, a 3D printing method and a printing device, wherein the 3D printing device 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. At the time of printing, causing an energy radiation device to irradiate a layered image in the 3D member model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; 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 greater 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.)

1. A 3D printing method, for a 3D printing apparatus, the 3D printing apparatus comprising an energy radiation device, a component platform, and a container for holding a printing material, the energy radiation device comprising a radiation source to provide radiation energy, and a panel to display a layered image, the 3D printing method comprising the steps of:

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

causing the energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D member 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;

the above steps are repeated to accumulate a pattern cured layer on the member platform to form a corresponding 3D member.

2. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring an exposure energy value required by the printing material;

and determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source 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 value of the panel comprises: determining the radiation intensity required by the printing material and the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required by the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity; when the required radiation intensity of the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation time of the radiation source is larger than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of the printing material.

4. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

and enabling the radiation source to output a radiation energy value which can meet the exposure energy value required by the printing material according to the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity.

5. The 3D printing method according to claim 4, wherein the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by: and fitting a corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source when receiving different control signals.

6. The 3D printing method according to claim 5, wherein the step of constructing the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is repeatedly performed after the 3D printing device performs the printing job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

7. The 3D printing method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the layered image corresponding to the type of solid portion in the 3D member.

8. A control method for controlling an energy radiation device in a 3D printing apparatus, the energy radiation device being configured to radiate energy to a printing material in a print job to cure and mold the printing material, the energy radiation device including a radiation source configured to supply radiation energy and a panel configured 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 member 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 is determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, and the radiation intensity is not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized by further comprising: and determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source 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.

10. The control method according to claim 9, 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 the radiation intensity required by the printing material and the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required by the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity; when the required radiation intensity of the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation time of the radiation source is larger than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of the printing material.

11. The control method according to claim 8, wherein the radiation source is caused to output a radiation energy value that satisfies a required exposure energy value for the printing material, based on a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity.

12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by: and fitting a corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source when receiving different control signals.

13. The control method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the control signal comprises one of: PWM signals, voltage signals, current signals.

14. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the step of constructing the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is repeatedly performed after the 3D printing apparatus performs the printing job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

15. The control method according to claim 8, wherein the radiant energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the layered image corresponding to the type of solid portion in the 3D member.

16. A control device for controlling an energy radiation device in a 3D printing apparatus, the energy radiation device being configured to radiate energy to a printing material in a print job to cure and shape the printing material, the energy radiation device including a radiation source configured to provide radiation energy and a panel configured to display a layered image, the control device comprising:

the interface module is connected with the energy radiation device, and is used for acquiring the exposure energy value required by the printing material and sending a signal to the energy radiation device so that the energy radiation device irradiates the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer;

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 a radiation source and a radiant time of the radiation source, the radiant intensity being not greater than a receive intensity threshold of the panel.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein the processing module determines a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source based on the exposure energy value required for the printing material and a reception 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.

18. The control device of claim 17, wherein the processing module determines a radiation intensity required for printing the material and a radiation time required for printing the material at the radiation intensity based on the exposure energy value required for printing the material, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required for printing the material when the radiation intensity required for printing the material is less than or equal to a receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required for printing the material at the radiation intensity; when the required radiation intensity of the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation time of the radiation source is larger than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of the printing material.

19. The control device according to claim 16, wherein the control device causes the radiation source to output a radiation energy value that satisfies a required exposure energy value of the printing material according to a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity.

20. The control device according to claim 19, wherein the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is constructed by: and fitting a corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source when receiving different control signals.

21. The control device of claim 19 or 20, wherein the control signal comprises one of: PWM control signals, voltage control signals, current control signals.

22. The control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the step of constructing the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity is repeatedly performed after the 3D printing device performs the printing job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

23. The control device of claim 19, wherein the interface module is further connected to a power detection device, the power detection device is configured to detect the radiation intensity of the radiation source, and the processing module fits the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation intensities of the radiation source provided by the power detection device corresponding to different control signals.

24. A control device according to claim 23, wherein the power detection means is located across the extent of the energy radiating means.

25. The control device of claim 16, wherein the processing module adjusts the radiant energy value of the radiation source based on the layered image corresponding to a type of solid portion in the 3D component.

26. A3D printing apparatus, comprising:

a container for holding a printing material;

the energy radiation device is positioned above or below the container and comprises a radiation source used for providing radiation energy and a panel used for displaying a layered image, and the panel is used for radiating energy to the printing material in the container according to the layered image so as to enable the printing material to be solidified and molded; wherein a radiation energy value of the radiation source satisfies an exposure energy value required by the printing material, and the radiation energy value is not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel;

the component platform is positioned in the container in the printing operation and used for accumulating and attaching the pattern curing 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 between the component platform and a printing reference surface in a printing operation;

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 an adhesion pattern curing layer on the component platform to form a corresponding 3D component.

27. The 3D printing device according to claim 26, wherein the 3D printing device is an LCD printing device.

28. The 3D printing device according to claim 27, wherein the radiation source is a 405nm UV LED or a 355nm UV LED or visible light.

29. The 3D printing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the 3D printing apparatus further comprises a power detection device connected to the control system, the power detection device is configured to detect the radiation intensity of the radiation source, the control system fits the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation intensity of the radiation source provided by the power detection device under different control signals, so that the control system outputs the corresponding control signal to the radiation source based on the required radiation energy value in the printing job.

30. The 3D printing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the power detection means is located at a printing reference surface within the container in a detection job.

31. The 3D printing apparatus of claim 29, wherein the power detection device is located within a breadth of the energy radiation device during a print job.

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 technique for building objects by layer-by-layer printing from powdered metal, plastic, resin, etc. printing materials based on digital model files, which shape the printing material by radiant energy during printing.

In some 3D printing apparatuses, the energy radiation device includes a radiation source and a panel, however, the energy capable of penetrating through the panel is limited, so at present, in such a printing apparatus, the maximum radiation energy that can be generated by the radiation source is generally adopted for irradiation, thereby greatly affecting the service life of the panel, and as the apparatus is used, there are problems of printing off after the radiation source energy is attenuated.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the related art, it is an object of the present application to provide a control device, a method, a 3D printing method and a printing apparatus for an energy radiation device, so as to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems in 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, the 3D printing apparatus including an energy radiation device, a member platform, and a container for containing a printing material, the energy radiation device including a radiation source to provide radiation energy, and a panel to display a layered image, the 3D printing method including the steps of: adjusting the height of the component platform to fill the printing material to be solidified on a printing reference surface; causing the energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D member 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; the above steps are repeated to accumulate a pattern cured layer on the member platform to form a corresponding 3D member.

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

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

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 a corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source when 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 executes the print job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the radiant energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of solid portion in the 3D building block that the layered image corresponds to.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a control method for controlling an energy radiation device in a 3D printing apparatus, the energy radiation device being configured to radiate energy to a printing material in a print job to cure and mold the printing material, the energy radiation device including a radiation source configured to provide radiation energy, and a panel configured to display a layered image, the control method including 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 member 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 is determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, and the radiation intensity is not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, further comprising: and determining the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source 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 exposure energy value required for the printing material and the reception intensity threshold of the panel comprises: determining the radiation intensity required by the printing material and the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material, wherein when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required by the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required by the printing material under the radiation intensity; when the required radiation intensity of the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation time of the radiation source is larger than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of 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 that satisfies a required exposure energy value for the printing material, based on a correspondence between the control signal and the 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 a corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source when receiving different control signals.

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

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 device performs the printing job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the radiant energy value of the radiation source is adjusted according to the type of solid portion in the 3D building block that the layered image corresponds to.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a control device for controlling an energy radiation device in a 3D printing apparatus, the energy radiation device being configured to radiate energy to a printing material in a print job to cure and mold the printing material, the energy radiation device including a radiation source configured to provide radiation energy, and a panel configured to display a layered image, the control device including: the interface module is connected with the energy radiation device, and is used for acquiring the exposure energy value required by the printing material and sending a signal to the energy radiation device so that the energy radiation device irradiates the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain a pattern cured layer; 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 a radiation source and a radiant time of the radiation source, the radiant intensity being not 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 reception 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 during printing.

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the processing module determines, based on a value of exposure energy required to print a material, a radiation intensity required to print the material and a radiation time required to print the material at the radiation intensity, when the radiation intensity required to print the material is equal to or less than a reception intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required to print the material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required to print the material at the radiation intensity; when the required radiation intensity of the printing material is larger than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation time of the radiation source is larger than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of 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 that satisfies a required exposure energy value 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 a corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity based on the corresponding radiation intensity of the radiation source when receiving different control signals.

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

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 device performs the printing job for a preset number of times or a preset working time.

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

In certain embodiments of the third aspect of the present application, the power detection device is located within a breadth of the energy radiation device.

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

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a 3D printing apparatus, including: a container for holding a printing material; the energy radiation device is positioned above or below the container and comprises a radiation source used for providing radiation energy and a panel used for displaying a layered image, and the panel is used for radiating energy to the printing material in the container according to the layered image so as to enable the printing material to be solidified and molded; wherein a radiation energy value of the radiation source satisfies an exposure energy value required by the printing material, and the radiation energy value is not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel; the component platform is positioned in the container in the printing operation and used for accumulating and attaching the pattern curing 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 between the component platform and a printing reference surface in a printing operation; 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 an adhesion 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 present application, the radiation source is a 405nm UV LED or a 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, the power detection device is configured to detect the radiation intensity of the radiation source, the control system fits the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation intensities of the radiation source provided by the power detection device corresponding to different control signals, so that in a printing job, the control system outputs the corresponding control signal to the radiation source based on the required radiation energy value.

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

In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present application, the power sensing device is located within a swath of the energy radiation device during a print job.

To sum up, the embodiment that this application provided avoids the panel to absorb too much energy and suffer damage through the radiation intensity control with the radiation source within the received intensity threshold value of panel, has effectively prolonged the life of panel. Meanwhile, the embodiment provided by 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 energy radiation device can be controlled to be stable in radiation energy, namely, the printing equipment can adopt the same radiation intensity when the workpiece is made every time under the requirement of the same exposure energy value, so that the equipment is ensured to have stable workpiece making success rate, and the influence of radiation source energy attenuation on the workpiece making success rate of the equipment is reduced.

Other aspects and advantages of the present application will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. Only exemplary embodiments of the present application have been shown and described in the following detailed description. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the disclosure of the present application enables those skilled in the art to make changes to the specific embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as it is directed to the present application. Accordingly, the descriptions in the drawings and the specification of the present application are illustrative only and not limiting.

Drawings

The specific features of the invention to which this application relates are set forth in the appended claims. The features and advantages of the invention to which this application relates will be better understood by reference to the exemplary embodiments described in detail below and the accompanying drawings. 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 disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a simple structure of a 3D printing apparatus in another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of 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 disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the steps in one embodiment for determining the radiation intensity of a radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source as described herein.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a simple structure 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 present application.

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

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

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application is provided for illustrative purposes, and other advantages and capabilities of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that describe several embodiments of the application. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes in the module or unit composition, electrical, and operation 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.

Also, 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," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, species, and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence, or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, species, and/or groups thereof. 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; b; c; 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 inherently mutually exclusive in some way.

As described in the background, in some 3D printing apparatuses, an energy radiation device includes a radiation source and a panel. Taking an LCD printing apparatus as an example, generally, an energy radiation device of the LCD printing apparatus includes an LED light source and an LCD panel. However, since the LCD panel has a certain area of opaque black mask area around each pixel, these black mask areas are mainly used to mask the control circuits of the pixels, but the existence of these black mask areas also affects the light transmission capability of the LCD panel, and a small part of the radiation energy within about 5% of the knowledge of the light transmission capability can be transmitted. For this reason, in the LCD printing apparatus, it is necessary to irradiate the LCD panel with high-power ultraviolet light provided by the LED light source, and perform curing molding on the printed material by using the transmitted ultraviolet light. And after the high-power ultraviolet light irradiates the LCD panel, the LCD panel is heated too high, and the aging of the LCD panel is accelerated very quickly. Therefore, in the current LCD printing device, the LCD panel is a consumable part, and needs to be replaced after about 2-3 months of use, which not only increases the use cost of the device, but also brings inconvenience to the user due to the operation of replacing the screen.

In addition, in the use process of the printing equipment, the energy of the radiation source is attenuated, especially, the radiation of the radiation source with the maximum energy inevitably causes the attenuation of the energy, the energy received by the printing material is unstable, the part falling occurs in the use of the equipment, and the printing success rate and the forming quality of the equipment are reduced. In order to reduce the above-mentioned problems caused by the energy attenuation of the radiation source, in some embodiments the exposure time of the radiation source of the printing device is manually adjusted by the operator after the operator has found an abnormality, however, this embodiment places a higher demand on the operator, requiring repeated modification of the parameters and separate testing in order to determine the desired value. Therefore, how to reduce the damage to the panel while ensuring the success rate and efficiency of the workpiece making is an urgent technical problem to be solved by those skilled in the art.

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

It should be understood that 3D printing is one of the rapid prototyping techniques, which is a technique for building objects by layer-by-layer printing using bondable printable material, such as powdered metal or plastic, based on a digital model file. When printing, the digital model file is firstly processed to realize the import of 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 a CAD component, which is, for example, an STL file, and the control system performs layout and layer cutting processing on the imported STL file. The 3D component model may be imported into the control system through a data interface or a network interface. The solid part in the imported 3D member model may be any shape, wherein the solid part is a part for characterizing the 3D member structure, and the solid part may include teeth, spheres, houses, teeth, or any shape with a preset structure. Wherein the preset structure includes but is not limited to at least one of the following: cavity structures, structures containing abrupt shape changes, and structures with preset requirements for profile accuracy in solid parts, etc. In some embodiments, the solid portion may further include a base portion, a support portion, a contour portion, a filler portion, and the like based on its function and location in the 3D member. Wherein the contour portion generally refers to a portion of the 3D member that constitutes a primary shape, generally located on a surface of the 3D member; the filler portion is generally located within the contoured portion, forming a body portion of the 3D member in cooperation with the contoured portion; the support portion generally refers to a portion to support 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 main portion of the 3D member and the member platform to enable the 3D member to be attached to the member platform during printing and to facilitate removal after printing is completed, and in most cases, the support portion is located between the base portion and the main portion.

In a photo-curing 3D printing device, the printing material is typically a photo-curing material. 3D printing apparatus carries out the mode of layer by layer exposure solidification and the accumulation each solidified layer to photocuring material through energy radiation device and prints the 3D component, and concrete photocuring rapid prototyping technique's theory of operation does: the light curing material is used as a raw material, under the control of a control system, the energy radiation device irradiates and performs layer-by-layer exposure or scanning according to slice images of all slice layers, and the slice images and the resin thin layer in the radiation area are cured after photopolymerization reaction, so that a thin layer section of the workpiece is formed. After one layer is cured, the worktable moves one layer thick, and a new layer of light-cured material is coated on the surface of the resin which is just cured so as to carry out cyclic exposure or scanning. And (3) firmly bonding the newly cured layer on the previous layer, repeating the steps, and stacking the layers one by one 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 after being irradiated by light (such as ultraviolet light, laser light, etc.), and includes but is not limited to: photosensitive resin, or a mixture of photosensitive resin and other materials. Such as ceramic powders, pigments, etc.

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

In an exemplary embodiment, please refer to fig. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a 3D printing apparatus in an embodiment of the present application. As shown, the 3D printing apparatus includes: energy radiation device 11, container 12, component platform 13, Z-axis drive system 14, control system 15.

The container 12 is used for containing printing materials, namely, light-cured materials in the light-cured printing equipment. The light-curable material includes any liquid or powder material that is easily light-cured, and examples of the liquid material include: a photocurable resin liquid, or a resin liquid doped with a mixed material such as ceramic powder or a color additive. The materials of the container include but are not limited to: glass, plastic, resin, etc. The volume of the container depends on the type of 3D printing device or the overall breadth of the energy radiation means in the 3D printing device. In some cases, the container may also be referred to as a resin tank. The container may be entirely transparent or only the bottom of the container may be transparent, for example, the container is a glass container, and the container wall is attached with light absorbing paper (such as black film, black paper, etc.) so as to reduce the curing interference of the light-curing material due to light scattering during projection. In some embodiments, for the bottom-surface exposure forming printing apparatus, a transparent flexible film (not shown) for peeling the printed cured layer from the bottom surface of the container is further laid on the inner bottom surface of the container, and the transparent flexible film is, for example, an FEP release film made of an ultra-high purity FEP resin (fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer) which has excellent non-adhesiveness, 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 drive the component platform 13 to ascend or descend in a print job, and includes a Z-axis component and a drive device for driving the Z-axis component to ascend and descend. The component platform is generally positioned in the container and connected with the Z-axis component in a printing operation, is controlled by a Z-axis driving system in the printing operation to adjust the distance between the component platform and a printing reference surface, and is used for accumulating and adhering solidified layers layer by layer to form the 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 adhering the light-cured material on the irradiated printing reference surface to form a pattern cured layer through curing, and the corresponding 3D component is formed after the pattern cured layer is accumulated on the component platform. The Z-axis driving mechanism includes a driving unit and a Z-axis moving unit, the driving unit is configured to drive the Z-axis to move, so that the Z-axis moving unit drives the component platform to move along the Z-axis axially, for example, the driving unit may be a driving motor. The drive unit is controlled by a control instruction. Wherein the control instructions include: the directional commands for indicating the ascending, descending or stopping of the component platform may even include parameters such as rotation speed/rotation speed acceleration, or torque/torsion. This is advantageous for precisely controlling the rising distance of the Z-axis moving unit to achieve precise adjustment of the Z-axis. Here, the Z-axis moving unit includes a fixed rod with one end fixed on the component platform, and an engagement moving assembly fixed to the other end of the fixed rod, wherein the engagement moving assembly is driven by the driving unit to drive the fixed rod to move axially along the Z-axis, and the engagement moving assembly is, for example, a limit moving assembly engaged by a tooth-shaped structure, such as a rack. As another example, the Z-axis moving unit includes: the positioning and moving structure comprises a screw rod and a positioning and moving structure screwed with the screw rod, wherein two ends of the screw rod are screwed with a driving unit, an extending end of the positioning and moving structure is fixedly connected to a component platform, and the positioning and moving structure can be a ball screw. The component platform is a means to attach and carry the formed cured layer. The component platform is used for attaching and bearing the formed cross-section layers, and the cross-section layers on the component platform are accumulated layer by layer to form the 3D component. In some embodiments, the component platform is also referred to as a component plate.

The energy radiation device is used for projecting an image towards the component platform, and the image projected by the energy radiation device can form the light-cured material on the printing reference surface 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 the attached curing layer on the component platform to obtain the corresponding 3D component.

In an embodiment, taking the 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, wherein the radiation source 111 is configured to provide radiation energy, examples of which include, but are not limited to, a 406nm UV-LED light source, a 355nm UV-LED light source, visible light, and the like, and in a specific application, the radiation energy may be determined according to specific requirements of a printing material, for example, visible light may be used as the radiation source for a printing material formed by visible light curing irradiation, and for example, ultraviolet light of a corresponding wavelength band may be used as the radiation source for a printing material formed by ultraviolet light irradiation based on a certain wavelength band. The panel 112 is configured to provide a layered image such that the light source illuminates a pattern exhibiting brightness after the layered image, and the panel includes, but is 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 in the Z-axis direction (i.e., in the height direction) based on the 3D component model in advance. Wherein a slice pattern outlined by the contour of the 3D component model is formed on a cross-sectional layer formed by each adjacent cross-sectional partition, the contour lines of the upper and lower cross-sectional surfaces of which are generally assumed to be identical in the case that the cross-sectional layer is sufficiently thin.

In some embodiments, referring to fig. 2, which is a simplified schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of the 3D printing apparatus in the present application, the energy radiation device further includes a radiation source driving device 113 for adjusting the radiation energy output by the radiation source. The radiation source driving device is connected to 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. Examples of the radiation source driving device include, but are not limited to, an LED driving board and the like.

And 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 using the pattern radiation surface provided by the LCD panel.

The LCD printing device can 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 structural schematic diagram of a 3D printing apparatus in another embodiment of the present application, as shown in the figure, when the energy radiation device 11 is located above the container 12, the energy radiation device 11 radiates energy to the container 12 located below the energy radiation device, i.e. projects downward; in the printing apparatus based on the top 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 upper surface of the component platform and the liquid level of the printing material in the container. In the bottom projection printing apparatus, with continuing reference 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 located above the energy radiation device, i.e. upward projection.

The control system 15 is an electronic device including a processor, and the control system may be a computer device, an embedded device, or an integrated circuit integrated 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. And each interface unit is respectively connected with a device which is independently packaged in 3D printing equipment such as an energy radiation device and a Z-axis driving mechanism and transmits data through an interface. The control system further comprises at least one of: a prompting device, a human-computer interaction device and the like. The interface unit determines its interface type according to the connected device, which includes but is not limited to: universal serial interface, video interface, industrial control interface, etc. For example, the interface unit includes: USB interface, HDMI interface and RS232 interface, wherein, USB interface and RS232 interface all have a plurality ofly, and the USB interface can connect human-computer interaction device etc.. The storage unit is used for storing files required by 3D printing equipment for printing. The file includes: the CPU runs the required program files and configuration files, etc. The memory unit includes a non-volatile memory and a system bus. The nonvolatile memory is exemplified by a solid state disk or a U disk. The system bus is used to connect the non-volatile 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 non-volatile memory through the system bus. The processing unit includes: a CPU or a chip integrated with a CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA), and a multi-core processor. The processing unit also includes memory, registers, etc. 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, the processing unit transmits the corresponding layered image to the panel of the energy radiation device after controlling the Z-axis driving mechanism to move the component platform to a distance position away from the preset printing reference surface, and causes the radiation source to radiate energy, 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 distance position away from the preset printing reference surface, and the exposure process is repeated.

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

As shown, in step S110, the height of the member stage is adjusted to fill the printing material to be cured on the printing reference surface.

Here, the Z-axis drive system is caused to control the movement of the component stage in the Z-axis direction so as to fill the printing material on the printing reference surface, for example, when the printing apparatus is a top-exposure printing apparatus, the component stage is lowered below the liquid level in an embodiment so that a space between an upper surface of the component stage and a liquid level surface of the printing material serves as the printing reference surface; for example, when the printing apparatus is a bottom-exposure printing apparatus, the component platform is lowered to a position close to the bottom of the container in one embodiment, so that a position between the lower surface of the component platform and the inner surface of the bottom of the container serves as a printing reference surface.

Continuing to refer to fig. 4, in step S120, the energy radiation device is made 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 is determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, and the radiation intensity is not greater than a reception intensity threshold of the panel.

Here, in order to satisfy the exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation source of the energy radiation device needs to provide a corresponding radiation energy value, and in order to protect the panel of the energy radiation device, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the reception intensity threshold of the panel.

The exposure energy value reflects the energy required for curing and forming the printing material, and is generally determined based on the radiation intensity and the radiation time. Here, the radiation intensity includes exposure energy per unit time, and the radiation time includes an exposure time period.

It should be understood that the panel receiving threshold includes the maximum radiant energy value that the panel is expected to receive, which reflects the maximum energy value that is radiated onto the panel as defined for protecting the panel. The panel reception threshold may be generally obtained based on the tolerance threshold of the panel, for example, by directly using the tolerance threshold of the panel as the panel reception threshold, or by using a value close to the panel reception threshold as the panel reception threshold. The tolerance threshold refers to the maximum radiant energy value that the panel can bear under ideal use conditions. However, even if the radiant energy exceeds the tolerance threshold, the panel is not normally used, and generally, when the radiant energy received by the panel is greater than the tolerance threshold, the normal use is not 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 the energy.

In the printing operation, the radiation source provides a radiation energy value which can meet the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the panel is used for displaying the layered image corresponding to each printing layer, so that the layered image in the 3D component model is irradiated to the filled printing material through the energy radiation device to obtain the pattern curing layer corresponding to the layered image, and the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, so that the panel is not excessively damaged, and the service life of the panel is obviously prolonged compared with the prior art.

In an embodiment, the exposure energy value of the printing material may be pre-stored in the printing apparatus, for example, the printing apparatus pre-stores one or more exposure energy values of the printing material, the operator may select the corresponding printing material before printing, and the printing apparatus may determine the radiation energy value of the radiation source according to the exposure energy value required by the selected printing material when printing.

In another embodiment, the printing apparatus may also acquire the exposure energy value required for the printing 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 a radiation energy value of the radiation source based on the input exposure energy value. For 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 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 printing the material and the reception intensity threshold of the panel.

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

In some cases, please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic diagram of the steps of determining the radiation intensity and the radiation time of the radiation source in one embodiment. As shown in fig. 5, after the exposure energy value required for printing the material is acquired, the radiation intensity required for printing the material and the radiation time required for printing the material at the radiation intensity can be determined based on the exposure energy value required for printing the material. When the required radiation intensity of the printing material is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the required radiation time of the printing material under the radiation intensity. When the required radiation intensity of 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 required exposure energy value of the printing material, the original radiation time needs to be correspondingly prolonged, namely the radiation time of the radiation source is greater than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material.

In other cases, the threshold of the received intensity of the panel may be directly used as the radiation intensity required by the printing material, or the threshold of the received intensity slightly smaller than 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 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 to print the material, and the reception intensity threshold of the panel are known. The radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required by the printing material when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required by the printing material at the radiation intensity. When the required radiation intensity of the printing material is greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, and in order to ensure that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of the printing material, the original radiation time is correspondingly prolonged, namely the radiation time of the radiation source is greater than the radiation time required for printing the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material.

In an exemplary embodiment, in order to facilitate the radiation source to output a corresponding radiation energy value based on the required exposure energy value of the printing material, the radiation source may be made to output a radiation energy value that satisfies the required exposure energy value of the printing material according to a correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity. The correspondence between the control signals and the radiation intensities reflects the radiation intensities output by the radiation source with different control signals 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 at the reception of different control signals.

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

Please refer to fig. 6, which 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 bottom projection printing apparatus, and the radiation source 111 and the panel 112 of the energy radiation device are both located below the container 12 and radiate energy toward the bottom surface of the container during printing. A power detection device 16 is positioned above the container near the printing reference surface, and a control system 15 is connected with the power detection device 16 and the radiation source driving device 113. The control system obtains the radiation intensity of the panel in the current state through signals collected by the power detection device, adjusts the signals output to the radiation source driving device by the control system, further adjusts the radiation intensity output by the radiation source driving device, records the radiation intensity detected by the power detection device after each adjustment, performs calculation such as interpolation, fitting and the like on the detected radiation intensity through an algorithm after adjusting the signals and detecting the radiation intensity for multiple times, and can obtain the curve relation between the output signals of the control system and the radiation intensity, namely the corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity. The interpolation, fitting and other calculations include, but are not limited to, for example, a quadratic interpolation algorithm, a B-spline curve fitting and other calculations.

It should be understood that, although the bottom projection printing apparatus is taken as an example in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus may also be applied to the top projection printing apparatus in practical applications, and details thereof are not described herein.

In one embodiment, the control instructions output by the control system may include a control signal for radiation intensity and a control signal 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 the correspondence between the control signal and the radiation intensity to cause the radiation source to perform radiation based on the determined radiation intensity, and 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 perform radiation based on the determined radiation intensity within the determined radiation time.

In an exemplary embodiment, assume that the amount of exposure energy required to print a material is P₀The radiation intensity required for the printing material is S₀The radiation time required for printing the material is T₀The receiving intensity threshold of the panel is V, and the radiant energy value radiated by the radiant source is P₁The radiation intensity of the radiation source is S₁Radiation time of the radiation source is T₁。

The control system obtains the exposure energy value P required by the printing material₀Thereafter, in order to make the radiation energy value P radiated by the radiation source₁Can satisfy the exposure energy value P required by the printing material₀The control system is based on the exposure energy value P required by the printing material₀Determining the radiation intensity S of the radiation source from the panel tolerance value V₁And radiation time T₁And generating a control instruction for the radiation source driving device, wherein the instruction comprises a control signal for the radiation intensity of the radiation source and a control signal for the radiation time of the radiation source. After receiving corresponding control signal, the radiation source driving device adjusts the radiation source to make it in the radiation time T₁Internal radiation intensity S₁Radiant energy, whereby the radiant energy value P of the radiation source₁Satisfying the exposure energy value required by the printing materialP₀And the radiation intensity S of the radiation source₁Not greater than panel tolerance value V, i.e. P₁≥P₀，S₁≤V。

Through the corresponding relation between the control signal and the radiation intensity, the corresponding control signal can be sent to the radiation source based on the required radiation intensity, and the exposure time of the radiation source of the printing equipment does not need to be automatically adjusted by an operator to compensate for energy attenuation.

In an exemplary embodiment, since the radiation source may have energy attenuation 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 can stably output the desired energy. For example, rebuild after a preset number of uses, including, but not limited to, a printing device being used 50 times, 60 times, etc.; for another example, the printing device may be reconstructed after using the preset working time, where the preset working time includes, but is not limited to, the cumulative using time of the printing device exceeding 400 hours, 500 hours, and the like; as another example, the printing device may be reconfigured after every predetermined time, such as every 90 days, 100 days, 2 months, 3 months, etc. It should be understood that the above-mentioned construction frequency is only an example and not a limitation, and can be configured according to specific requirements in practical application.

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

In a further exemplary embodiment, the power detection device is located in the region of the extent 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, so as to compare the detected radiation intensity with an expected radiation intensity. If the actual 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 control signal and radiation intensity needs to be reconstructed. Thereby, a feedback control relationship can be formed between the power detection device and the control system, so that the energy radiated by the energy radiation device is stable.

In another exemplary embodiment, the printing device may include a plurality of operational states, such as a print job state, a detect job state, a calibrate job state, a filter job state, and the like. Generally, the printing operation state includes an operation state when the printing device executes a printing task, the detection operation state includes an operation state in which the printing device is detected by a device inside or outside the 3D printing device, the calibration operation state includes an operation state such as breadth calibration of the energy radiation device, and the filtering operation state includes an operation state in which the printing material in the container is filtered.

In order to more accurately detect the intensity of radiation radiated from the radiation source to the printing reference surface, the power detection means may be located at the printing reference surface in the container when detecting the intensity of radiation from the radiation source. In order to avoid the influence on the printing when the power detection device detects the radiation intensity of the radiation source, the detection process of the power detection device may be separated from the printing process, that is, the power detection device is located at the printing reference surface in the container in the detection operation of the printing apparatus, and is located at another position in the printing operation to avoid the influence on the printing, for example, the power detection device may be removed by a detachable device, or moved to another position, or the like.

In some further embodiments, the control system may further construct a corresponding relationship between the control command and the radiation energy, that is, the corresponding relationship between the control command and the radiation energy is constructed by the change of the radiation energy output by the radiation source under different commands, wherein each different command simultaneously includes control signals for the radiation time and the radiation intensity, and the radiation energy output by the radiation source can be calculated by the radiation intensity detected by the power detection device and the radiation time of the radiation source. After the instructions are adjusted for multiple times and the corresponding radiation energy is calculated, the detected radiation energy is subjected to calculation such as interpolation and fitting through an algorithm, so that the curve relation between the output instructions of the control system and the radiation energy, namely the corresponding relation between the control instructions and the radiation energy can be obtained. The interpolation, fitting and other calculations include, but are not limited to, for example, a quadratic interpolation algorithm, a B-spline curve fitting and other calculations. Therefore, after the control system acquires the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the radiation source can be enabled to output corresponding radiation energy through the corresponding relation between the control instruction and the radiation energy, if the radiation intensity output by the radiation source is greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity output by the radiation source can be reduced, the radiation time is prolonged, and the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel while the exposure energy value required by the printing material can be met.

In an exemplary embodiment, different solid portions of the 3D structure may require different amounts of radiation energy, e.g., the base portion may require more radiation energy than other portions, and thus the amount of radiation energy from the radiation source may be adjusted based on the type of solid portion in the 3D structure corresponding to the layered image to be printed. If the requirement of the solid part type on the radiation energy is higher than that of other solid part types, the radiation intensity of the radiation source can be properly adjusted to be high and/or the radiation time can be prolonged; if the requirement for radiation energy is lower for this type of solid part compared to other types of solid part, the radiation intensity of the radiation source may be suitably adjusted lower and/or the radiation time may be reduced.

Continuing with fig. 4, in step S130, the steps of S110 and S120 are repeated to accumulate the pattern cured layer on the component platform to form the corresponding 3D component.

Here, in each printing layer, the height of the component platform is respectively adjusted to fill the printing material to be solidified on the printing reference surface, and each layer is printed according to the manner described in each embodiment in S120, so as to obtain each pattern solidified layer, and the pattern solidified layers are attached and accumulated layer by layer, thereby finally forming the 3D component.

In an exemplary embodiment, the control module for controlling the energy radiation device in the present application may also be 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 radiation 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 is a schematic block diagram of a control apparatus 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 according to the connected device, which includes but is 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, so that the energy radiation device irradiates the layered image in the 3D component model to the filled printing material to obtain the pattern cured layer. The processing module 202 comprises: a CPU or a chip integrated with a CPU, a programmable logic device (FPGA), and a multi-core processor. The processing module 202 also includes memory, registers, etc. for temporarily storing data.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to fig. 7, which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the control method of the present application, in step S210, an exposure energy value required by a printing material is obtained; in step S220, causing the energy radiation device to irradiate the layered image in the 3D member 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 is determined based on a radiation intensity of the radiation source and a radiation time of the radiation source, and the radiation intensity is 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 amount of exposure energy required to print the material. For example, the control device may be connected to a control system of the 3D printing apparatus to obtain a required exposure energy value for a printing material used by the printing apparatus. In other embodiments, the control device may also include an input module to allow an operator to input a desired exposure energy value for the printed 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 a radiation source and a radiant time of the radiation source, the radiant intensity being not greater than a receive intensity threshold of the panel.

Here, in order to satisfy the exposure energy value required for the printing material, the radiation source of the energy radiation device needs to provide a corresponding radiation energy value, and in order to protect the panel of the energy radiation device, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the reception intensity threshold of the panel.

The exposure energy value reflects the energy required for curing and forming the printing material, and is generally determined based on the radiation intensity and the radiation time. Here, the radiation intensity includes exposure energy per unit time, and the radiation time includes an exposure time period.

It should be understood that the panel receiving threshold includes the maximum radiant energy value that the panel is expected to receive, which reflects the maximum energy value that is radiated onto the panel as defined for protecting the panel. The panel reception threshold may be generally obtained based on the tolerance threshold of the panel, for example, by directly using the tolerance threshold of the panel as the panel reception threshold, or by using a value close to the panel reception threshold as the panel reception threshold. The tolerance threshold refers to the maximum radiant energy value that the panel can bear under ideal use conditions. However, even if the radiant energy exceeds the tolerance threshold, the panel is not normally used, and generally, when the radiant energy received by the panel is greater than the tolerance threshold, the normal use is not 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 the energy.

In the printing operation, the radiation source provides a radiation energy value which can meet the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the panel is used for displaying the layered image corresponding to each printing layer, so that the layered image in the 3D component model is irradiated to the filled printing material through the energy radiation device to obtain the pattern curing layer corresponding to the layered image, and the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, so that the panel is not excessively damaged, and the service life of the panel is obviously prolonged compared with the prior art.

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

In some cases, after obtaining the exposure energy value required to print the material, the processing module may determine, based on the exposure energy value required to print the material, an intensity of radiation required to print the material, and a radiation time required to print the material at the intensity of radiation. When the required radiation intensity of the printing material is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the required radiation intensity of the printing material, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the required radiation time of the printing material under the radiation intensity. When the required radiation intensity of 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 required exposure energy value of the printing material, the original radiation time needs to be correspondingly prolonged, namely the radiation time of the radiation source is greater than the radiation time required by the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material.

In other cases, the processing module may also directly use the threshold of the received intensity of the panel as the radiation intensity required by the printing material, or use the threshold of the received intensity slightly smaller than 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 use 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 another exemplary embodiment, the radiation intensity and radiation time required to print the material, and the reception intensity threshold of the panel are known. The radiation intensity of the radiation source is equal to the radiation intensity required by the printing material when the radiation intensity required by the printing material is less than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold of the panel, and the radiation time of the radiation source is equal to the radiation time required by the printing material at the radiation intensity. When the required radiation intensity of the printing material is greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity of the radiation source is smaller than or equal to the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, and in order to ensure that the radiation energy value of the radiation source meets the required exposure energy value of the printing material, the original radiation time is correspondingly prolonged, namely the radiation time of the radiation source is greater than the radiation time required for printing the printing material under the required radiation intensity of the printing material.

In an exemplary embodiment, in order to facilitate the radiation source to output a corresponding radiation energy value based on the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the processing module may enable the radiation source to output a radiation energy value capable of satisfying the exposure energy value required by the printing material according to a corresponding relationship between the control signal and the radiation intensity. The correspondence between the control signals and the radiation intensities reflects the radiation intensities output by the radiation source with different control signals 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 at the reception of different control signals.

Please refer to fig. 9, which is a block diagram of a control device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The interface module 201 is connected to a power detection device 30, the power detection device 30 is used for detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation source, the processing module 202 fits the corresponding relationship between the control signal and the radiation intensity based on the radiation energy values of the radiation source provided by the power detection device 30 under different control signals, so that in the printing operation, the control device outputs the 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, 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 called during the processing of the processing module.

In one embodiment, the 3D printing apparatus is a bottom projection printing apparatus, and the radiation source and the panel of the energy radiation device are both located below the container and radiate energy toward 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 obtains the radiation intensity of the panel in the current state through signals collected by the power detection device, the signals output to the radiation source driving device through the adjustment control device are further utilized to adjust the radiation intensity output by the radiation source driving device, the control device records the radiation intensity detected by the power detection device after each adjustment, after the signals are adjusted for many times and the radiation intensity is detected, the detected radiation intensity is subjected to calculation such as interpolation, fitting and the like through an algorithm, and the curve relation between the output signals of the control device and the radiation intensity, namely the corresponding relation between the control signals and the radiation intensity can be obtained. The interpolation, fitting and other calculations include, but are not limited to, for example, a quadratic interpolation algorithm, a B-spline curve fitting and other calculations.

It should be understood that, although the bottom projection printing apparatus is taken as an example in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus may also be applied to the top projection printing apparatus in practical applications, and details thereof are not described herein.

In one embodiment, the control instruction output by the control device may include a control signal for the radiation intensity and a control signal for the radiation time. The control signal may include a PWM signal, a voltage signal, a current signal, or other communication signal. For example, after the radiation intensity of the radiation source and the radiation time of the radiation source are determined, 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 perform radiation based on the determined radiation intensity, and 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 perform radiation based on the determined radiation intensity within the determined radiation time.

In an exemplary embodiment, assume that the amount of exposure energy required to print a material is P₀The radiation intensity required for the printing material is S₀The radiation time required for printing the material is T₀The receiving intensity threshold of the panel is V, and the radiant energy value radiated by the radiant source is P₁The radiation intensity of the radiation source is S₁Radiation time of the radiation source is T₁。

The control device obtains the exposure energy value P required by the printing material₀Thereafter, in order to make the radiation energy value P radiated by the radiation source₁Can satisfy the exposure energy value P required by the printing material₀The control means being based on the amount of exposure energy P required for the printing material₀Determining the radiation intensity S of the radiation source from the panel tolerance value V₁And radiation time T₁And generating a control instruction for the radiation source driving device, wherein the instruction comprises a control signal for the radiation intensity of the radiation source and a control signal for the radiation time of the radiation source. After receiving corresponding control signal, the radiation source driving device adjusts the radiation source to make it in the radiation time T₁Internal radiation intensity S₁Radiant energy, whereby the radiant energy value P of the radiation source₁Satisfying the required exposure energy value P of the printing material₀And the radiation intensity S of the radiation source₁Not greater than panel tolerance value V, i.e. P₁≥P₀，S₁≤V。

In an exemplary embodiment, since the radiation source may have energy attenuation 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 can stably output the desired energy. For example, rebuild after a preset number of uses, including, but not limited to, a printing device being used 50 times, 60 times, etc.; for another example, the printing device may be reconstructed after using the preset working time, where the preset working time includes, but is not limited to, the cumulative using time of the printing device exceeding 400 hours, 500 hours, and the like; as another example, the printing device may be reconfigured after every predetermined time, such as every 90 days, 100 days, 2 months, 3 months, etc. It should be understood that the above-mentioned construction frequency is only an example and not a limitation, and can be configured according to specific requirements in practical application.

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

In a further exemplary embodiment, the power detection device is located in the region of the extent 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, so as to compare the detected radiation intensity with an expected radiation intensity. If the actual 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 control signal and radiation intensity needs to be reconstructed. Thereby, a feedback control relationship can be formed between the power detection device and the control device, so that the energy radiated by the energy radiation device is stable.

In another exemplary embodiment, the printing device may include a plurality of operational states, such as a print job state, a detect job state, a calibrate job state, a filter job state, and the like. Generally, the printing operation state includes an operation state when the printing device executes a printing task, the detection operation state includes an operation state in which the printing device is detected by a device inside or outside the 3D printing device, the calibration operation state includes an operation state such as breadth calibration of the energy radiation device, and the filtering operation state includes an operation state in which the printing material in the container is filtered.

In order to more accurately detect the intensity of radiation radiated from the radiation source to the printing reference surface, the power detection means may be located at the printing reference surface in the container when detecting the intensity of radiation from the radiation source. In order to avoid the influence on the printing when the power detection device detects the radiation intensity of the radiation source, the detection process of the power detection device may be separated from the printing process, that is, the power detection device is located at the printing reference surface in the container in the detection operation of the printing apparatus, and is located at another position in the printing operation to avoid the influence on the printing, for example, the power detection device may be removed by a detachable device, or moved to another position, or the like.

In some further embodiments, the control device may further construct a corresponding relationship between the control command and the radiation energy, that is, the corresponding relationship between the control command and the radiation energy is constructed by the change of the radiation energy output by the radiation source under different commands, wherein each different command simultaneously includes control signals for the radiation time and the radiation intensity, and the radiation energy output by the radiation source can be calculated by the radiation intensity detected by the power detection device and the radiation time of the radiation source. After the instructions are adjusted for multiple times and the corresponding radiation energy is calculated, the detected radiation energy is subjected to calculation such as interpolation and fitting through an algorithm, so that the curve relation between the output instructions of the control device and the radiation energy, namely the corresponding relation between the control instructions and the radiation energy can be obtained. The interpolation, fitting and other calculations include, but are not limited to, for example, a quadratic interpolation algorithm, a B-spline curve fitting and other calculations. Therefore, after the control device obtains the exposure energy value required by the printing material, the radiation source can be enabled to output corresponding radiation energy through the corresponding relation between the control instruction and the radiation energy, if the radiation intensity output by the radiation source is greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel, the radiation intensity output by the radiation source can be reduced, the radiation time is prolonged, and the radiation intensity of the radiation source is not greater than the receiving intensity threshold value of the panel while the exposure energy value required by the printing material can be met.

In an exemplary embodiment, different solid portions of the 3D structure may require different amounts of radiation energy, e.g., the base portion may require more radiation energy than other portions, and thus the amount of radiation energy from the radiation source may be adjusted based on the type of solid portion in the 3D structure corresponding to the layered image to be printed. If the requirement of the solid part type on the radiation energy is higher than that of other solid part types, the radiation intensity of the radiation source can be properly adjusted to be high and/or the radiation time can be prolonged; if the requirement for radiation energy is lower for this type of solid part compared to other types of solid part, the radiation intensity of the radiation source may be suitably adjusted lower and/or the radiation time may be reduced.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described in the computer program of the methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the 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 herein may be embodied in a processor-executable software module, which may be located on a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable and/or 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 of the present application 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 and utilities of the present application and are not intended to limit the application. Any person skilled in the art can modify or change the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, it is intended that all equivalent modifications or changes which can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concepts disclosed in the present application shall be covered by the claims of the present application.