Three-dimensional printing prototyping system

• US 20060099287A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (Dawonsys Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (Dawonsys Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Dong Soo, Lee, Won Hee, Lee, Taik Min, Lim, Hyun Eui, Choi, Byung Oh
• Application Number:
  US11/093,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing prototyping system which includes a prototyping chamber having a prototyping table capable of moving up and down by a predetermined range, a material containing chamber containing a powder material and having a material supply table capable of moving up and down by a predetermined range, and a material supplying means for supplying the powder material contained in the material containing chamber to the prototyping table as much as a sectional thickness corresponding to divided section data of a three-dimensional prototype to be prototyped. The system of the present invention comprises a printing head for injecting a photocuring adhesive material to a region, corresponding to the sectional data, on the powder material supplied to the prototyping table; a curing device for photocuring at least the region on which the adhesive material is injected; and a control computer for controlling the printing head and the curing device such that the adhesive material is injected and cured, respectively, on the region corresponding to the divided section data of the three-dimensional prototype. According to the present invention, a period of time required in curing a three-dimensional prototype can be remarkably shortened and the three-dimensional prototype with its superior solidity can be obtained.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional printing prototyping system including a prototyping chamber having a prototyping table capable of moving up and down by a predetermined range, a material containing chamber containing a powder material and having a material supply table capable of moving up and down by a predetermined range, and a material supplying means for supplying the powder material contained in the material containing chamber to the prototyping table as much as a sectional thickness corresponding to divided section data of a three-dimensional prototype to be prototyped, said system comprising:

a printing head for injecting a photocuring adhesive material to a region, corresponding to the sectional data, on the powder material supplied to the prototyping table;

a curing device for photocuring at least the region on which the adhesive material is injected; and

a control computer for controlling the printing head and the curing device such that the adhesive material is injected and cured, respectively, on the region corresponding to the divided section data of the three-dimensional prototype.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photocuring adhesive material is a mixture of UV resin and liquid binder with low viscosity.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the control computer controls the powder material to be supplied to the prototyping table as much as a thickness of each section in order of the section data,

the control computer controls an operation of the printing head for injecting the adhesive material and an operation of the curing device such that the adhesive material is injected and cured, respectively, on the powder material in a region corresponding to the section data when the powder material corresponding to the relevant section thickness is supplied to the prototyping table; and

the control computer controls the prototyping table to be lowered by the thickness of the section when the adhesive material has been completely injected and cured on the relevant section.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the curing device is a curing device with a lamp for irradiating ultraviolet rays to a whole or partial area in the prototyping chamber.