Three-dimensional modeling device and method for manufacturing three-dimensional modeled object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022339856-A1
Application number	US-202217659959-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2022
Priority date	Apr 23, 2021
Publication date	Oct 27, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A three-dimensional modeling device includes a modeling unit having a nozzle configured to eject a modeling material, a stage, a movement mechanism unit for changing a relative position between the nozzle and the stage, a measuring unit, a reference unit having a reference surface arranged at a position that corresponds to a deposition surface of the stage in an intersecting direction and where the reference surface can face the measuring unit, the reference unit being separate from the nozzle, and a control unit controlling the modeling unit and the movement mechanism unit. The control unit controls the measuring unit to measure a first distance between the measuring unit and the reference surface and a second distance between the measuring unit and the distal end surface, and decides a distance between a distal end surface of the nozzle and the deposition surface, based on the first and second distances.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A three-dimensional modeling device comprising:
a modeling unit having a nozzle ejecting a modeling material from a nozzle opening formed at a distal end surface; a stage having a deposition surface where the modeling material is deposited; a movement mechanism unit changing a relative position between the nozzle and the stage; a measuring unit arranged at a position where the measuring unit can face the distal end surface; a reference unit having a reference surface arranged at a position that corresponds to the deposition surface in an intersecting direction intersecting the deposition surface and where the reference surface can face the measuring unit, the reference unit being separate from the nozzle; and a control unit controlling the modeling unit and the movement mechanism unit to model a three-dimensional modeled object, the control unit controlling the measuring unit to measure a first value that is a value about a distance between the measuring unit and the reference surface and a second value that is a value about a distance between the measuring unit and the distal end surface, and deciding a distance between the distal end surface and the deposition surface for when modeling the three-dimensional modeled object, based on the first value and the second value.

2 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heating unit moving with the movement of the nozzle and configured to heat the modeling material deposited on the deposition surface, wherein the distal end surface is located between the heating unit and the deposition surface in the intersecting direction.

3 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an adjustment unit changing the position in the intersecting direction of the reference unit, wherein the control unit controls the heating unit to start heating the stage and subsequently controls the adjustment unit to bring the reference surface and the deposition surface into contact with each other directly or indirectly so as to cause the position in the intersecting direction of the reference surface and the position in the intersecting direction of the deposition surface to coincide with each other before measuring the first value and the second value.

4 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , wherein
the modeling unit has an attachment/detachment part configured to be able to attach and detach the nozzle, and after the nozzle is attached to the attachment/detachment part, the control unit measures the first value and the second value before starting the modeling of the three-dimensional modeled object.

5 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first cleaning unit cleaning the distal end surface, wherein the control unit causes the first cleaning unit to clean the distal end surface before measuring the second value.

6 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cleaning unit cleaning the measuring unit, wherein the control unit causes the second cleaning unit to clean the measuring unit before measuring the first value and the second value.

7 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit brings the measuring unit and the reference surface into contact with each other and thus measures the first value.

8 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit brings the measuring unit and the distal end surface into contact with each other and thus measures the second value.

9 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , wherein
the reference unit has an inspection surface arranged at a position that is spaced apart from the reference surface by a predetermined distance in the intersecting direction and where the inspection surface can face the measuring unit, and the control unit controls the measuring unit to measure a height difference between the reference surface and the inspection surface and inspects accuracy of the measuring unit, based on the height difference that is measured.

10 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a reporting unit, wherein when the accuracy of the measuring unit does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the control unit controls the reporting unit to report information about the accuracy of the measuring unit.

11 . The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 1 , wherein
the movement mechanism unit moves the nozzle in the intersecting direction in relation to the stage, moves the stage in a direction along the deposition surface in relation to the nozzle, and thus changes the relative position between the nozzle and the stage.

12 . A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional modeled object in a three-dimensional modeling device, the three-dimensional modeling device comprising:
a nozzle ejecting a modeling material from a nozzle opening formed at a distal end surface; a stage having a deposition surface where the modeling material is deposited; a movement mechanism unit changing a relative position between the nozzle and the stage; a measuring unit arranged at a position where the measuring unit can face the distal end surface; and a reference unit having a reference surface arranged at a position that corresponds to the deposition surface in an intersecting direction intersecting the deposition surface and where the reference surface can face the measuring unit, the reference unit being separate from the nozzle, the method comprising: a first process of causing the measuring unit to measure a first value that is a value about a distance between the measuring unit and the reference surface; a second process of causing the measuring unit to measure a second value that is a value about a distance between the measuring unit and the distal end surface; and a third process of changing the relative position between the nozzle ejecting the modeling material and the stage and thus modeling the three-dimensional modeled object, wherein a distance between the distal end surface and the deposition surface in the third process is decided, based on the first value and the second value.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Yanagisawa Hirokazu
• Ono Kenichi
• Shishido Naoki

Classifications

• B22F12/30

  Platforms or substrates · CPC title

• B29C64/393 Primary

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29C64/245

  Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) · CPC title

• B22F10/31

  Calibration of process steps or apparatus settings, e.g. before or during manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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