阅读说明：本技术 三维打印的方法、三维打印机以及计算机可读存储介质 (Three-dimensional printing method, three-dimensional printer and computer readable storage medium ) 是由 小詹姆斯·埃尔默·阿博特 戴维·A·钱皮恩 费尔南多·朱昂 于 2015-12-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：三维打印的方法、三维打印机以及计算机可读存储介质。在示例性实施方式中,一种用于将构造材料的层提取至载体中的方法。该方法包括将构造材料的层提供至床上。用液体功能材料(LFM)数字打印床上的构造材料的层的部分。该方法重复提供构造材料的层和数字打印而不向LFM施加能量,以在床上的构造材料的层中限定结构。将构造材料的层提取至载体中并且移除载体。(A method of three-dimensional printing, a three-dimensional printer, and a computer-readable storage medium. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for extracting a layer of build material into a carrier. The method includes providing a layer of a build material onto the bed. Portions of a layer of build material on a bed are digitally printed with a Liquid Functional Material (LFM). The method repeats providing the layer of build material and digital printing without applying energy to the LFM to define a structure in the layer of build material on the bed. The layer of build material is extracted into the carrier and the carrier is removed.)

1. A method of three-dimensional printing, comprising:

providing a layer of a build material onto a bed;

digitally printing a Liquid Functional Material (LFM) on a portion of the layer of build material on the bed, wherein the liquid functional material does not bind to the build material without applying energy;

repeating said providing and said digitally printing without applying energy to said liquid functional material to define a structure in a layer of build material on said bed;

extracting the layer of build material into a carrier;

placing the carrier into a furnace;

bonding the digitally printed structures in the layer of build material in the carrier; and

removing the carrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting comprises:

the carrier is sealed with a substrate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the substrate is a microwave-reflective metal or microwave-transmissive.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a microwave transparent material.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the microwave-transmissive material comprises at least one of: alumina, silicon nitride, ceramic, glass-ceramic, glass, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), zirconium dioxide (ZrO)₂) Silicon dioxide (SiO)₂) Yttrium oxide (Y)₂O₃) Magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Boron Nitride (BN), calcium fluoride (CaF)₂) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta)₂O₅) Niobium pentoxide (Nb)₂O₅) Titanium oxide (TiO)₂) Quartz, fused silica or mullite.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure is defined in the layer of build material at a minimum distance from a wall of the carrier to provide an insulating layer.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions to dispense a layer of build material onto a bed;

instructions to dispense a Liquid Functional Material (LFM) onto a portion of a layer of the build material, wherein the liquid functional material does not bind to the build material without applying energy;

instructions for repeating the instructions for dispensing the layer of build material and the liquid functional material without applying energy to define a structure in the layer of build material on the bed; and

directing the bed upward until the layer of build material is contained in a carrier for transport into a furnace to bond the structure, wherein the carrier is removed from the bed with the layer of build material.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the liquid functional material absorbs microwaves.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the carrier comprises a microwave-transmissive material.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the microwave-transmissive material comprises at least one of: alumina, silicon nitride, ceramic, glass-ceramic, glass, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), zirconium dioxide (ZrO)₂) Silicon dioxide (SiO)₂) Yttrium oxide (Y)₂O₃) Magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Boron Nitride (BN), calcium fluoride (CaF)₂) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta)₂O₅) Niobium pentoxide (Nb)₂O₅) Titanium oxide (TiO)₂) Quartz, fused silica or mullite.

11. A three-dimensional printer comprising:

a Liquid Functional Material (LFM) dispenser, wherein the liquid functional material does not bind to a construction material without the application of energy;

a build material dispenser and applicator;

a bed receiving layers of build material and receiving liquid functional material to portions of each of the layers of build material to digitally print a structure; and

a controller in communication with the liquid functional material dispenser, the build material dispenser and applicator, and the bed to control dispensing of the layer of build material, dispensing of liquid functional material, and movement of the bed without applying energy between the dispensed layer of build material and the liquid functional material, wherein the controller extracts the layer of build material from the bed into a carrier for transport to a microwave furnace.

12. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the carrier comprises a microwave transmissive material.

13. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 12, wherein the carrier is sealed with a piston separate from a connecting rod.

14. The three-dimensional printer according to claim 11, wherein the carrier is sealed with a base plate interposed between a bottom layer of the layer of build material and the bed.

Background

As the cost of printers decreases, three-dimensional (3D) printers have become more prevalent. 3D printers, also known as additive manufacturing machines, typically operate by generating 3D objects layer by layer using materials. In some systems, three-dimensional computer-aided drawing (CAD) models may be created. The object may then be generated from the model. Exemplary materials may include polymers, metals, or plastics.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus of an example of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of an example of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for extracting a layer of unbound build material into a carrier (carrier);

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a controller of an example of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a front cross-sectional block diagram of a carrier and substrate of an example of the present disclosure; and

fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional block diagram of a carrier and substrate of an example of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure discloses methods and apparatus for extracting digitally printed build material from a 3D printer via a carrier. The carrier and the digitally printed but unbonded layers of build material may be placed into a microwave furnace for melting.

For example, portions of each layer of build material can be digitally printed with liquid functional material at each print pass. The liquid functional material "outlines" the portions of each layer that will form the three-dimensional object after the build material is melted. Note that in this disclosure, after the liquid functional material is applied to portions of each layer of the build material, each layer is not solidified or melted.

Rather, after portions of each layer of build material are digitally printed, the carrier containing the unbound layers of digitally printed build material can be moved to a furnace to melt the portions of each layer of digitally printed build material. In other words, the melting of the layers of digitally printed build material occurs in a furnace, rather than within a 3D printer as some other 3D printing techniques do.

In contrast, some 3D printing processes heat and melt each layer as it is printed or immediately after each pass of the layer. By eliminating the heating process during or after printing each layer, the efficiency of the 3D printing process and the uniformity of the material properties can be improved. In addition, the present disclosure allows for the use of certain materials, such as ceramics, that require excessive temperatures for some 3D printers.

In addition, the present disclosure allows layers of digitally printed but unbonded build material to be placed into a carrier and into a furnace (e.g., a microwave furnace, a melting chamber that exposes an object to electromagnetic radiation designated as outside of the microwave radiation range). The furnace provides heat or energy that melts the portions of the build material between the layers of build material that receive the liquid functional material and each other. Portions of each of the layers of build material digitally printed with liquid functional material may be melted within the carrier simultaneously or simultaneously in a single operation.

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example 3D printer 100 of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the 3D printer 100 may include a bed 108, a Liquid Functional Material (LFM) dispenser 110, and a build material dispenser and applicator 112. In one embodiment, bed 108 may be coupled to a motor 116 to move bed 108 up and down.

In one embodiment, the controller 114 may be in communication with the LFM dispenser 110, the build material dispenser and applicator 112, and the motor 116. Controller 114 may control build material dispenser and applicator 112 to dispense layers 104-1 through 104-N (each referred to herein as layer 104 or collectively as layer 104) of build material 102. The controller 114 may control the LFM dispenser 110 to dispense LFMs on portions of each layer 104 of the build material 102. The controller 114 may control the motor 116 to move the bed 108 further down to receive additional layers 104 of build material 102 after each layer 104 is provided and digitally printed by the LFM. The controller 114 may also control the motor 116 to move the bed 108 further upward to place the layers 104-1 through 104-N into carriers that are removed and placed into a furnace (e.g., a microwave furnace, a melting chamber that exposes the object to electromagnetic radiation designated as outside of the microwave radiation range), as discussed in further detail below.

In one embodiment, bed 108 may be coupled to motor 116 via a mechanical connection. For example, bed 108 may be coupled with a lead screw connected to motor 116. The motor 116 may be a stepper motor that moves a lead screw in defined increments. The movement of the bed 108 in the downward direction may be referred to as an indexing down and the movement of the bed 108 in the upward direction may be referred to as an indexing up.

In one embodiment, the structure 106 may be designed using, for example, a computer-aided design (CAD) program and uploaded to the controller 114. In some implementations, bitmap slices for each layer or raster slices for each layer of the design of the structure 106 can be uploaded to the controller 114. The controller 114 may then control the LFM dispenser 110, build material dispenser and applicator 112, and motor 116 to digitally print the structure 106 in the layer 104 of build material 102 without applying energy.

In one embodiment, build material 102 may be a microwave transparent material. In other words, the build material 102 may not absorb microwave energy or allow microwave energy to pass through without altering the build material 102. In other words, the build material 102 may not absorb microwave energy as well as another material (e.g., a liquid functional material described below).

The microwave-transmissive material may be any type of particulate material that is primarily microwave-transmissive, including powders, gels, slurries, and the like. The particulate material may have an average diameter of about 3-30 microns (μm). For slurries and gels, the average diameter can be as small as 1 nanometer (nm). Examples of microwave-transmissive materials that may be used as the build material 102 may include aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Silicon nitride (SiN), ceramic, glass-ceramic, glass, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), zirconium dioxide (ZrO)₂) Silicon dioxide (SiO)₂) Yttrium oxide (Y)₂O₃) Magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Boron Nitride (BN), calcium fluoride (CaF)₂) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta)₂O₅) Niobium pentoxide (Nb)₂O₅) Titanium oxide (TiO)₂) Quartz, fused silica, mullite, and the like.

The layer 104 of build material 102 may be dispensed on a bed 108 and rolled to be horizontal or flat by a build material dispenser and spreader 112. Based on the structure 106, the controller 114 may dispense the LFM on a portion of the layer 104 of the build material 102. The LFM may be a susceptor that selectively absorbs microwave energy better than the build material 102. The LFM may also be a material designed to lower the local melting temperature or otherwise locally modify the material properties of the digitally defined object. The layer 104 of build material 102 is digitally printed by applying LFM to portions of the layer 104 of build material 102 to create a susceptor pattern corresponding to a respective layer of structure 106. LFMs may also be used to modify the local electrical or other fundamental properties of the build material 102 to provide benefits to the final structure 106.

It should be noted that the LFM is not an adhesive per se and does not bond to the particles of the build material 102 without the application of energy. In other words, the LFM alone does not bind the particles of the build material 102. Rather, energy is applied to the LFM in a furnace as described below to bond the build material 102.

Examples of LFMs may include any type of material that is conductive, semiconductive, or has a magnetic dipole that can function as a microwave or Radio Frequency (RF) susceptor at ambient temperatures. Some examples may include carbon black, graphite, carbon nanotubes, silicon carbide (SiC), zinc oxide (ZnO), Indium TiN Oxide (ITO), titanium nitride (TiN), ferrite ink, ferromagnetic materials, ferroelectric materials, and the like.

Additionally, the LFM may include materials designed to react with the base material to ensure melting with less melting energy delivered. This may include the formation of interstitial regions between the particlesSilica (SiO) of glass₂) Nanoparticles, combinations of oxides, and the like.

Portions of layer 104 of build material 102 and digitally printed build material 102 may be repeatedly dispensed until the entire structure 106 is digitally printed within multiple layers 104-N of build material 102. Note that each layer 104 of build material 102 is not heated or melted. Rather, layers 104-1 through 104-N of build material 102 remain loose or unbonded.

In one embodiment, an additional layer 104 without LFM may be dispensed as a bottom most layer and a top most layer to provide insulation. Additionally, the structure 106 may be digitally printed within each layer 104 of build material 102 at a minimum distance 118 from a wall 150 of a 3D printer and/or carrier (discussed below) to provide an insulating layer. In one embodiment, the minimum distance 118 may be about 10 millimeters (mm) or more.

As discussed below, layers 104-1 through 104-N of build material 102 may be inserted into a carrier. The carrier may be removed from the 3D printer 100 and inserted into a microwave furnace to simultaneously melt the digitally printed portions of each layer 104-1 to 104-N.

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic flow diagram of an example of a method 200 for extracting a layer of unbound build material into a carrier. In block 202, a layer 104-1 of build material 102 may be dispensed onto a bed 108 of the 3D printer 100.

In block 204, an LFM may be dispensed onto selective portions of layer 104-1 of build material 102. After the LFM is dispensed, the bed 108 may be directed downward and back to block 202 to receive another layer 104-2 of build material 102. As shown in block 206, blocks 202 and 204 may be repeated until the entire structure 106 is digitally printed in layers 104-1 through 104-N of build material 102.

In one embodiment, a filler material may also be inserted into selected portions of layer 104-1 of build material 102. For example, a filler material may be mixed with the build material 102 prior to dispensing the build material 102. Filler materials may be used to increase the density of the build material 102 or to help drive the melting process (discussed below). Examples of filler materials that may be used may include nanoparticles of ceramics, sol-gels, and the like.

In block 208, the carrier 120 may be coupled with the bed 108. The carrier 120 may be mechanically coupled (e.g., via fasteners, clips, etc.) with a wall 150 surrounding the bed 108 or may be mechanically held above the bed 108 (e.g., via robotic arms, clamps, etc.). The carrier 120 may be composed of a material that is transparent to microwaves. Examples of microwave-transmissive materials may include alumina, silicon nitride, ceramics, glass-ceramics, glass, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), zirconium dioxide (ZrO)₂) Silicon dioxide (SiO)₂) Yttrium oxide (Y)₂O₃) Magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Boron Nitride (BN), calcium fluoride (CaF)₂) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta)₂O₅) Niobium pentoxide (Nb)₂O₅) Titanium oxide (TiO)₂) Quartz, fused silica, mullite, and the like.

In one embodiment, the size of the carrier 120 may be the same as or comparable to the size of the bed 108. For example, the shape (e.g., outer perimeter) of the carrier 120 may be the same as the shape of the bed 108. The length and width of the outer perimeter of the carrier 120 may be the same as the length and width of the bed 108. The volume of carrier 120 may be comparable to the volume of layers 104-1 through 104-N of build material 102 on bed 108.

In one embodiment, the wall 150 surrounding the bed 108 may have sensors or detection systems (not shown) to relay signals to the controller 114 that the carrier 120 is attached. The signal that carrier 120 is attached may cause controller 114 to direct bed 108 upward as described below.

In block 210, bed 108 may be directed upward to move layers 104-1 to 104-N into carrier 120. In one embodiment, bed 108 may be directed upward when controller 114 detects that carrier 120 is attached. In one embodiment, substrate 122 may be inserted between the lowermost layer 104-1 and bed 108 after layers 104-1 to 104-N are extracted into carrier 120. In one embodiment, the substrate 122 may be composed of a material that transmits microwaves or a reflective metal. For example, when carrier 120 is inserted into a complete microwave cavity, substrate 122 may be a microwave-transmissive material. When the base of the carrier 120 is designed to be the active part of the microwave cavity, the substrate 122 may be made of or may comprise a reflective material. Substrate 122 may encapsulate layers 104-1 through 104-N in carrier 120. Base plate 122 can be mechanically coupled or attached to carrier 120 via a mechanical connection (e.g., a slot into which base plate 122 can slide, a mechanical clamp, a locking tab, etc.).

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a substrate 122 and carrier 120. Fig. 5 illustrates a front cross-sectional block diagram of a piston 502 and rod (ram)504 assembly. In one embodiment, the piston 502 may be used as a bed 108 to which the build material 102 is laminated. After layer 104 of build material 102 is placed on piston 502, piston 502 may be moved into carrier 120 via connecting rod 504. The piston 502 may include an opening 508 and the carrier 120 may have an opening 506 corresponding to the opening 508. In other words, the opening 508 of the piston 502 and the opening 506 of the carrier may be aligned and have similar sizes and shapes. The piston 502 and the carrier 120 may have any number of openings 508 and 506, respectively.

Piston 502 may be coupled to carrier 120 via mechanical means using openings 508 and 506. For example, a rod or any other mechanical device may be inserted into the openings 508 and 506. After piston 502 is coupled to carrier 120, piston 502 may be decoupled from connecting rod 504. For example, the piston 502 may be mechanically attached to the rod 504 (e.g., a screw, a fastener, etc.), magnetically attached to the rod 504, and so forth.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side cross-sectional block diagram of a piston 502 and rod 504 assembly. Fig. 6 illustrates two openings 508. However, as described above, the piston 502 may have any number of openings 508.

In block 212, the carrier 120 with the substrate 122 may be removed from the bed 108 and the 3D printer. Carrier 120 and substrate 122 may ensure that layers 104-1 through 104-N remain stable within carrier 120 and substrate 122. For example, the tiers 104-1 to 104-N may be rolled and compacted after each tier 104 is dispensed and filled with carriers 120 without much moving space. As described above, each layer 104-1 through 104-N is not fused after portions of each layer 104 are digitally printed. In other words, layers 104-1 to 104-N remain unbonded or unmelted when transported into carrier 120 with substrate 122.

In block 214, the carrier 120 and substrate 122 may be inserted into the furnace 124. The furnace 124 may be a microwave furnace. The furnace may simultaneously melt portions of each layer 104 that are digitally printed with LFM. As described above, the LFM may be a susceptor that selectively absorbs microwave energy better than the surrounding build material 102 that does not receive the LFM. As a result, the defined structure 106 may be melted without melting the dashed portions of each layer 104, as illustrated in block 214. In one embodiment, excess build material 102 that does not melt may be removed and recycled. Carrier 120 may also be reused.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method 300 for extracting a layer of unbound build material into a carrier. In one embodiment, the blocks of the method 300 may be performed by the controller 114 or using the 3D printer 100.

In block 302, the method 300 begins. In block 304, the method 300 provides a layer of build material onto the bed. In one embodiment, the build material may be a microwave transmissive material. The microwave-transmissive material may be a microwave-transmissive powder. The average diameter of the particles of the powder may be about 3-30 microns (μm). Examples of microwave-transmissive materials that may be used as the build material may include alumina, silicon nitride, ceramics, glass-ceramics, glass, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), zirconium dioxide (ZrO), and the like₂) Silicon dioxide (SiO)₂) Yttrium oxide (Y)₂O₃) Magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Boron Nitride (BN), calcium fluoride (CaF)₂) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta)₂O₅) Niobium pentoxide (Nb)₂O₅) Titanium oxide (TiO)₂) Quartz, fused silica or mullite, and the like.

In block 306, the method 300 digitally prints on the portion of the layer of build material on the bed. For example, the LFM may be dispensed onto portions of the layers of build material that will define the structure. The LFM may be a susceptor that selectively absorbs microwave energy better than the material of construction. LFMs may be applied to portions of the layers of build material to create susceptor patterns corresponding to respective layers of the structure 106.

In block 308, the method 300 repeats the providing and digitally printing to define the structure in the layer of build material on the bed. For example, the structure may be defined or digitally printed layer by layer. In other words, layers of build material may be added, portions of a layer of build material may be digitally printed by applying an LFM to selected portions, another layer of build material may be added on top of a previous layer of build material, portions of a new layer of build material may be digitally printed, and so on until sufficient layers of build material are digitally printed to define a structure.

In block 310, the method 300 extracts a layer of unbound build material into a carrier placed on a bed. For example, the carrier may be mechanically coupled to or held on the bed. The layers of build material may remain unbonded (e.g., each layer is not heated or melted after digital printing). The bed may be directed upwardly into the carrier until the layer of digitally printed and unbonded build material is located within the carrier. The substrate may be mechanically coupled with the bottom of the carrier to seal the layer of build material into the carrier.

In one embodiment, the carrier may comprise a material that is transparent to microwaves. Examples of microwave-transmissive materials may include alumina, silicon nitride, ceramics, glass-ceramics, glass, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), zirconium dioxide (ZrO)₂) Silicon dioxide (SiO)₂) Yttrium oxide (Y)₂O₃) Magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al)₂O₃) Boron Nitride (BN), calcium fluoride (CaF)₂) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta)₂O₅) Niobium pentoxide (Nb)₂O₅) Titanium oxide (TiO)₂) Quartz, fused silica, mullite, and the like. The substrate may comprise a microwave transmissive material or a reflective metal. For example, the substrate may be a microwave transmissive material when the carrier is inserted into a complete microwave cavity. The substrate may be a reflective material when the base of the carrier is designed to be the active part of the microwave cavity.

In block 312, the method 300 removes the carrier. For example, a sealed carrier containing a layer of unbonded build material with a digitally printed structure may be removed from the bed and 3D printer. The entire carrier can be placed in a microwave furnace. A microwave furnace may melt a structure digitally printed in a layer of build material in a carrier. In other words, rather than partially melting each layer of build material after each pass, the present disclosure may synchronize, or melt simultaneously, each layer of digitally printed build material inside the furnace and within the carrier. In block 314, the method 300 ends.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a device 400. In one embodiment, the apparatus 400 may also be the controller 114. In one embodiment, the apparatus 400 may include a processor 402 and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 404. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium 404 may include instructions 406, 408, 410, and 412 that, when executed by the processor 402, cause the processor 402 to implement various functions.

In one embodiment, instructions 406 may include instructions to dispense a layer of build material onto a bed. Instructions 408 may include instructions to dispense LFMs onto portions of a layer of build material. The instructions 410 may include instructions to repeat the instructions to dispense the layer of build material and the LFM to define a structure in the layer of build material on the bed. The instructions 412 may include instructions to direct the bed upward until the layer of unbound build material is contained within a carrier placed on the bed, wherein the carrier is removed from the bed with the layer of build material.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.