3D modeling device and 3D modeling method for supplying material with high precision

• US 20050248065A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roland DG Corporation
• Original Assignee: Roland DG Corporation
• Inventors: Owada, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/494
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/40 Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts

Abstract

A 3D modeling device performs repeatedly a step of cutting a subsidiary material layer formed of a subsidiary material and cutting a modeling material layer formed of a modeling material. The 3D modeling device comprises at least one of a subsidiary material supplying device which discharges the subsidiary material drop by drop from an outlet positioned apart from a region in which the subsidiary material is to be applied at a predetermined distance, and a modeling material supplying device which discharges the modeling material drop by drop from an output positioned apart from a region in which the modeling material is to be applied at a predetermined distance. Since the material can be applied with high precision, a high-quality 3D molded object is provided.

Claims

1. A 3D modeling device comprising:

subsidiary material supplying means for supplying a subsidiary material;

modeling material supplying means for supplying a modeling material;

processing means for processing a subsidiary material layer formed of the subsidiary material and a modeling material layer formed of the modeling material; and

controlling means for controlling the processing means so that the subsidiary material layer and the modeling material layer are repeatedly processed,

wherein at least one of the subsidiary material and the modeling material is supplied in the form of dots.

2. A 3D modeling device comprising:

subsidiary material supplying means for supplying a subsidiary material;

modeling material supplying means for supplying a modeling material;

processing means for processing a subsidiary material layer formed of the subsidiary material and a modeling material layer formed of the modeling material; and

controlling means for controlling the processing means so that the subsidiary material layer and the modeling material layer are repeatedly processed,

wherein either the subsidiary material supplying means or the modeling material supplying means discharges the subsidiary material or the modeling material drop by drop from an outlet which is positioned apart from a region where the subsidiary material or the modeling material to be applied at a prescribed distance.

3. The 3D modeling device according to claim 2, wherein

the subsidiary material discharged from the outlet of the subsidiary material supplying means is a low melting point alloy, further comprising:

a storing part for storing the low melting point alloy; and

heating means for heating up the storing part.

4. The 3D modeling device according to claim 2, wherein

the modeling material is a light-curing resin which is hardened by light irradiation, further comprising:

light irradiating means arranged lower than the outlet of the modeling material supplying means, for irradiating the modeling material supplied to the region in which the modeling material is to be applied, with light to harden the light-curing resin.

5. A 3D modeling method comprising a step of repeatedly cutting a subsidiary material layer formed of a subsidiary material and cutting a modeling material layer formed of a modeling material and a step of removing the subsidiary material to form a 3D object formed of the modeling material, wherein

at least one of the subsidiary material constituting the subsidiary material layer and the modeling material constituting the modeling material layer is supplied in the form of dots.

6. A 3D modeling method comprising a step of repeatedly cutting a subsidiary material layer formed of a subsidiary material and cutting a modeling material layer formed of a modeling material and a step of removing the subsidiary material to form a 3D object formed of the modeling material, further comprising:

a step of supplying the subsidiary material in the form of dots constituting the subsidiary material layer;

a step of supplying a light-curing resin in the form of dots as the modeling material constituting the modeling material layer; and

a step of irradiating the supplied dot-shaped light-curing resin with light.

7. The 3D modeling method according to claim 6, wherein said subsidiary material is a low melting point alloy heated up to a predetermined temperature.

8. The 3D modeling method according to claim 6, wherein said step of supplying a light-curing resin in the form of dots comprises the steps of depositing the light-curing resin in the form of dots with space and then filing the space with the light-curing resin in the form of dots.