Three-dimensional modeling apparatus, manufacturing method and computer program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124538-B2
Application number	US-201615044438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 3, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

In the case where a designated amount of one of the plurality of types of chromatic liquids is discharged into each of the sub unit grilles by controlling the head unit and the spatial volume of the sub unit grille is not filled, the control unit causes the achromatic liquid to be discharged into the sub unit grille in addition to the chromatic liquid so as to fill the spatial volume of the unit grille.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object by laminating a plurality of cross section bodies in a Z direction, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus comprising:
a head unit that models the object by discharging a liquid that is to be a material of the object into each unit grille that is defined in accordance with a modeling resolution of the cross section body in an X direction, a modeling resolution of the cross section body in a Y direction, and a lamination interval of the cross section body in the Z direction; and
a control unit that controls the head unit,
wherein the unit grille has a plurality of sub unit grilles aligned in the Z direction,
the head unit is configured to individually discharge, into each of the sub unit grilles, an achromatic liquid and a plurality of types of chromatic liquids in designated amounts, and
in a case where a designated amount of one of the plurality of types of chromatic liquids is discharged into each of the sub unit grilles by controlling the head unit and the spatial volume of the sub unit grille is not filled, the control unit causes the achromatic liquid to be discharged into the sub unit grille in addition to the chromatic liquid so as to fill the spatial volume of the sub unit grille.

2. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit expresses color gradation represented by one of the plurality of types of chromatic liquids by changing the number of unit grilles into which the one chromatic liquid is to be discharged, with respect to a unit grille column that is constituted by a plurality of unit grilles aligned in a direction inwardly from a surface of the object.

3. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein in a case where a plurality of the unit grilles into which the one chromatic liquid is to be discharged exist in the unit grille column,
the control unit discharges the one chromatic liquid into the sub unit grilles whose positions in the Z direction are the same in the plurality of unit grilles, and
discharges the one chromatic liquid into each of the sub unit grilles in the unit grille column such that the one chromatic liquid is arranged on the surface side relative to the achromatic liquid.

4. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the color of the achromatic liquid is white.

5. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the head unit is configured to discharge each of the plurality of types of chromatic liquids in at least a first amount and a second amount that is larger than the first amount, and
the second amount is not a multiple of the first amount.

6. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the amount of the achromatic liquid that is discharged from the head unit into the sub unit grilles is adjusted in advance in accordance with the difference between a cure shrinkage rate of the achromatic liquid and a cure shrinkage rate of each of the chromatic liquids.

7. A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object using a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object by laminating a plurality of cross section bodies in a Z direction,
the three-dimensional modeling apparatus including a head unit that models the object by discharging a liquid that is to be a material of the object into each unit grille that is defined in accordance with a modeling resolution of the cross section body in an X direction, a modeling resolution of the cross section body in a Y direction, and a lamination interval of the cross section body in the Z direction, and
the unit grille having a plurality of sub unit grilles aligned in the Z direction,
the head unit being configured to individually discharge, into each of the sub unit grilles, an achromatic liquid and a plurality of types of chromatic liquids in designated amounts,
the method comprising, in a case where a designated amount of one of the plurality of types of chromatic liquids is discharged into each of the sub unit grilles by controlling the head unit and the spatial volume of the sub unit grille is not filled, discharging the achromatic liquid into the sub unit grille in addition to the chromatic liquid so as to fill the spatial volume of the sub unit grille.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by causing a computer to control a three-dimensional modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object by laminating a plurality of cross section bodies in a Z direction,
the three-dimensional modeling apparatus including a head unit that models the object by discharging a liquid that is to be a material of the object into each unit grille that is defined in accordance with a modeling resolution of the cross section body in an X direction, a modeling resolution of the cross section body in a Y direction, and a lamination interval of the cross section body in the Z direction, and
the unit grille having a plurality of sub unit grilles aligned in the Z direction,
the head unit being configured to individually discharge, into each of the sub unit grilles, an achromatic liquid and a plurality of types of chromatic liquids in designated amounts,
the non-transitory computer-readable medium causing the computer to function such that, in a case where a designated amount of one of the plurality of types of chromatic liquids is discharged into each of the sub unit grilles by controlling the head unit and the spatial volume of the sub unit grille is not filled, the achromatic liquid is discharged into the sub unit grille in addition to the chromatic liquid so as to fill the spatial volume of the sub unit grille.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Okamoto Eiji

Classifications

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29K2995/0021

  Multi-coloured · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29K2105/0032

  Pigments, colouring agents or opacifiyng agents · CPC title