JP2018171775A - Molding apparatus and molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To enable some solid objects to be removed from the stage while producing a plurality of solid objects on the stage, and to reconstruct the three-dimensional objects by rearranging the removed solid objects on the stage. To do. A three-dimensional object is produced by laminating the modeling material on a plurality of plates juxtaposed on a modeling table, and each plate is shaped with the three-dimensional object being produced being placed. An acquisition unit that is detachable with respect to the table and acquires information related to a manufacturing state of a three-dimensional object manufactured on each plate, and a first result that is removed from the modeling table from the acquisition result of the acquisition unit Information relating to the production status of the first three-dimensional object being placed on the plate and information relating to the production status of the second three-dimensional object being produced on the second plate placed on the modeling table And determining means for determining whether or not the production operation for the first three-dimensional object can be resumed. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a modeling apparatus and a modeling method.

In recent years, modeling methods and modeling apparatuses that slice three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model to generate a plurality of slice data, and stack material layers made of modeling materials one by one based on the slice data have become widespread. . Such a modeling device is called rapid prototyping (hereinafter referred to as RP) because it can significantly shorten the production time of prototypes compared to conventional handmade. It is used to confirm. Modeling methods used for RP include stereolithography, powder fixation, powder sintering, resin melt deposition (FDM), ink jet (hereinafter IJ) resin deposition, and electrophotography. A scheme has been proposed.
In particular, in the resin melt deposition method and the like, the laminating apparatus sequentially scans on the laminating surface, and in the electrophotographic system, the material layer prepared in advance is transferred onto the laminating surface at once by heat melting, thereby forming a model. An object (three-dimensional object) is created.
In these techniques, there are two types: a structure in which a structure called a plate is attached on a flat structure called a stage, and lamination is performed thereon, or a structure in which lamination is performed directly on the stage.

JP2015-131439A JP 2013-67036 A

In such a modeling apparatus, in recent years, the laminating speed has been improved with technological evolution. As a result, it is possible to stack a plurality of shaped objects with the same shape at the same time for industrial use from the use limited to the creation of one-point objects, such as for mold creation and prototype creation as in the past. Is also becoming possible.
Furthermore, in a usage mode in which a large number of users share a single modeling apparatus, it is also required to simultaneously stack a plurality of shaped objects having various shapes. In particular, when a modeling apparatus is shared by many users, it is required from the viewpoint of enabling efficient use of the modeling apparatus that a modeled object can be taken out from a user who has completed lamination.
Furthermore, depending on the use of the modeled object, it is required to model an electrical component or a metal part embedded in the modeled object. In such a case, it is conceivable that the modeling object in the middle of the stacking is taken out from the modeling apparatus and the embedded part is attached, and then mounted on the modeling apparatus again to restart the stacking operation.

In response to these requests, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a method of laminating a plurality of shaped objects on a stage by electrophotography. In this method, when removing the model from the stage, the model is bonded to the stage at the bottom, so if you remove the model during lamination, the bottom surface, which is the bonding surface, will be peeled off from the stage. As a result, the adhesive force between the model and the stage disappears. Since force is applied to the shaped object in the height direction during the lamination, it is necessary to adhere the shaped object to the stage again with an adhesive or the like when attempting to start re-lamination.
In addition, since the modeling apparatus captures the position of the modeled object as a relative position with respect to the stage, when restacking, the modeling apparatus must be returned to the position at the time of removal. Even if the position where the model is removed is engraved on the stage, it is very difficult to rearrange it completely to the original position. For this reason, in this method, there is a problem that it is very difficult to re-stack the shaped object once taken out. Therefore, when taking out a modeled object in the middle and applying it to re-lamination, the method of removing a modeled object from a stage as much as possible is calculated | required.

Patent Document 2 proposes a structure in which a single plate is arranged on a stage. The plate is fixed at a predetermined position on the stage by electromagnetic means. When the shaped object on the plate having such a structure is removed from the stage together with the plate in the middle of the lamination, it can be re-stacked unless the shaped object is removed from the plate. This is because the plate can maintain a predetermined position with respect to the stage, and the modeled object can maintain a fixed position with respect to the stage.
However, when a plurality of modeled objects are stacked, there is a problem that the stacking of other modeled objects is stopped every time a part of the modeled objects is taken out.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and during the production of a plurality of three-dimensional objects on the stage, a part of the three-dimensional objects can be removed from the stage, and the removed three-dimensional objects can be remounted on the stage. An object is to arrange and enable the production of a three-dimensional object to be resumed.

The first aspect of the present invention is:
A modeling apparatus that performs a manufacturing operation for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by stacking modeling materials based on three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model,
In a modeling apparatus capable of producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects in one production operation,
A solid object is produced by laminating the modeling material on a plurality of plates juxtaposed on a modeling table,
Each plate can be attached to and detached from the modeling table while the three-dimensional object being produced is placed on the plate.
An acquisition means for acquiring information regarding the production status of a three-dimensional object produced on each plate;
From the acquisition result of the acquisition means, information on the manufacturing status of the first three-dimensional object being manufactured placed on the first plate removed from the modeling table, and arranged on the modeling table Judging means for judging whether or not it is possible to resume the production operation for the first three-dimensional object based on the information on the production status of the second three-dimensional object being produced on the second plate;
The modeling apparatus characterized by having is provided.

The second aspect of the present invention is:
A modeling apparatus that performs a manufacturing operation for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by stacking modeling materials based on three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model,
In a modeling method with a modeling apparatus capable of producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects in one production operation,
A solid object is produced by laminating the modeling material on a plurality of plates juxtaposed on a modeling table,
Each plate can be attached to and detached from the modeling table while the three-dimensional object being produced is placed on the plate.
Obtaining information on the production status of a three-dimensional object produced on each plate by an acquisition means;
From the acquisition result of the acquisition means, information on the manufacturing status of the first three-dimensional object being manufactured placed on the first plate removed from the modeling table, and arranged on the modeling table Determining whether the production operation for the first three-dimensional object can be resumed based on information on the production status of the second three-dimensional object being produced on the second plate;
The modeling method characterized by including this is provided.

  According to the present invention, while producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects on the stage, some of the three-dimensional objects can be removed from the stage, and the removed three-dimensional objects are rearranged on the stage to produce a three-dimensional object. It can be resumable.

Schematic showing the entire modeling system according to the embodiment Schematic showing the stage, the small plate and the plurality of shaped objects of the embodiment The figure which shows the attachment / detachment mechanism which makes the small plate attachable / detachable with respect to the stage Side view showing the procedure from removal and remounting of a model The flowchart explaining the process in the case of restacking the modeling thing once taken out Top view showing the state of the stage before and after mounting the small plate Schematic showing the stage of Comparative Example 1 and a plurality of shaped objects Side view showing the procedure from removal and remounting of the shaped object in Comparative Example 1 Schematic which shows the stage of Comparative Example 2, a plate, and a some molded article Side view showing the procedure from removal and remounting of the shaped object in Comparative Example 2

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, various control procedures, control parameters, target values, etc., such as dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the members described in the following embodiments are described in the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the above to only those.
The present invention relates to a layered modeling technique (AM technique), that is, a modeling apparatus and a modeling method adopting a technique for producing a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) by arranging modeling materials in two dimensions and laminating them in layers.

  As the modeling material, various materials can be selected according to the application, function, purpose, etc. of the three-dimensional object to be produced. In this specification, a material constituting a three-dimensional object for modeling is referred to as “structural material”, and a portion formed of the structural material is referred to as a structure. A material that constitutes a support body (for example, a structure that supports the overhang portion from below) for supporting the structure being manufactured is referred to as a “support material”. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, the term “modeling material” is simply used. As the structural material, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), ABS, PS (polystyrene), and PC (polycarbonate) can be used. As the support material, a material having thermoplasticity and water solubility can be preferably used in order to simplify the removal from the structure. Examples of the support material include carbohydrates, polylactic acid (PLA), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and PEG (polyethylene glycol).

Further, in this specification, digital data generated from cross-sectional data obtained by slicing three-dimensional shape data of a stereoscopic model to be produced into a plurality of layers along the stacking direction is referred to as “slice data”. The slice data is generated by adding information such as support material data as necessary. A layer (an image for one layer) formed of a modeling material based on slice data is referred to as a “material layer”. A “material layer” is a layer of particles formed by combining one or more material layers depending on the type of modeling material used.
A three-dimensional model (that is, a three-dimensional object represented by three-dimensional shape data given to the modeling apparatus) to be produced using the modeling apparatus is called a “modeling object”. In addition, a three-dimensional object produced (output) by the modeling apparatus is referred to as a “modeled object”. In the case where the modeled object includes the support body, a portion excluding the support body becomes a “structure” constituting the modeled object. The modeling apparatus of the present embodiment is configured so that a plurality of modeled objects can be manufactured by a single manufacturing operation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the entire modeling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a modeling process of the modeling apparatus 100.
A modeling apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 sequentially stacks a material layer 10 formed of a modeling material including a layer corresponding to a cross section obtained by cutting a modeling object on parallel planes on a stage 14 (on a modeling table). Then, a model is formed.

<About the overall configuration>
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the modeling system according to the present embodiment includes a modeling apparatus 100 and a system control unit 101.
The system control unit 101 has functions such as a user interface 102, a slice data formation unit 103, a storage unit 104, an acquisition unit 105, a determination unit 106, and a control unit 107. The system control unit 101 can be configured by a computer including, for example, a CPU (processor), ROM, RAM, hard disk, and the like. Each of the above functions is realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM or the hard disk. Or you may comprise a part of said function with a circuit or hardware for exclusive use.
In the user interface 102, three-dimensional shape data of each of a plurality of modeling objects is created using CAD or the like, and the created data is sent to the slice data forming unit 103.
The slice data forming unit 103 determines the arrangement positions of the plurality of modeling objects on the stage based on the information sent from the user interface 102, and creates two-dimensional slice data. The slice data includes cross-sectional data for each of the plurality of modeling objects. Further, as will be described later, when there is a problem in the arrangement of the shaped object specified by the user, the user interface 102 is directed to issue a warning.

The details of each function of the storage unit 104, the acquisition unit 105, the determination unit 106, and the control unit 107 will be described later. In the storage unit 104, information on a modeling object and a manufacturing status of the modeling object (a progress status of the manufacturing operation) Remember. The acquisition unit 105 acquires information regarding the production status of a modeled object produced on a plurality of plates juxtaposed on the stage 14. Further, information regarding the arrangement position of each plate on the stage 14 is acquired. In the determination unit 106, based on the contents of the storage unit 104 and the acquisition result of the acquisition unit 105, a production operation for the first modeled object being produced placed on the first plate removed from the stage 14 is performed. Determine if it can be resumed. At this time, a determination is made based on information on the production status of the first modeled object and information on the production status of the second modeled product being produced on the second plate arranged on the stage 14. In the control unit 107, when the first plate that has been removed from the stage 14 with the first modeled object placed thereon is placed on the stage 14, the control unit 107 determines the first plate based on the determination result of the determination unit 106. The production operation for one model is resumed. At this time, the control unit 107 restarts the production operation for the first modeled object based on the information on the arrangement position of the first plate on the stage 14 and the information on the production status of the first modeled object.
In addition, after some of the plurality of plates are removed from the stage 14, the control unit 107 continues the manufacturing operation for the modeled object on the plate remaining on the stage 14.

The modeling apparatus 100 is a modeling unit that performs a manufacturing operation of a modeled object based on slice data. The modeling apparatus 100 includes a structural material supply unit 1, a support material supply unit 2, a first transport body 4, a second transport body (intermediate transfer body) 8, a heater 9, a temperature control plate 13, a stage 14, and a third.
It has the conveyance body 15, the pressure sensor 12, etc. Each of the structural material supply unit 1 and the support material supply unit 2 has a photosensitive drum 3. By sequentially laminating the material layer 10 on the stage 14, the shaped article 11 is produced on the stage 14. The pressure sensor 12 detects the pressure received by the temperature control plate 13 when the material layer 10 is laminated.
In the present embodiment, the vertical direction (stacking direction) in FIG. 1 is described as the Z-axis direction, and the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 is described as the horizontal direction. Further, an X axis and a Y axis orthogonal to each other are taken in a plane orthogonal to the Z axis.

<Outline of modeling operation>
Hereinafter, a modeling process is demonstrated using FIG.
First, a latent image corresponding to the slice data created by the slice data forming unit 103 is formed on each photosensitive drum 3 by an electrophotographic process. The latent image is developed using the structural material 20 in the structural material supply unit 1 and developed using the support material 21 in the support material supply unit 2. The structural material 20 and the support material 21 are particles (chargeable powder) produced by pulverizing a thermoplastic resin material. The material layer 10 composed of the structural material 20 and the support material 21 is laminated on the stage 14 or the shaped article 11 on the stage 14 by being pressurized and heated using the temperature control plate 13. Both the structural material 20 and the support material 21 are externally added with a charge control agent, and can be developed and transferred by electromagnetic means in the same manner as the toner used in an ordinary electrophotographic 2D printer.

The structural material 20 or the support material 21 developed on the photosensitive drum 3 is sequentially transferred to the first transport body 4 in each primary transfer unit 5, thereby forming the material composed of the structural material 20 and the support material 21. Layer 10 is formed.
The material layer 10 transported by the first transport body 4 is a secondary transfer section 6 formed between the second transport body 8 and the first transport body 4 by an electric field applied to the secondary transfer section 6. Transferred onto the second carrier 8. The material layer 10 transported by the second transport body 8 is a tertiary transfer unit 7 formed between the second transport body 8 and the third transport body 15, similarly to the transfer by the secondary transfer unit 6. It is transferred to the third carrier 15 by the applied voltage. In the present embodiment, the third transport body 15 uses an endless metal belt provided with an insulating coat, but is not limited to this, and a metal cylindrical drum whose surface is provided with an insulating coat. May be used.

Thereafter, the material layer 10 moves to the heating unit as the third transport body 15 rotates, and is heated and melted by the heater 9, and the melted material layer 10 is transported to the stacking unit 16. The stage 14 and the temperature control plate 13 are arranged in parallel with the third transport body 15 interposed therebetween, and both can move in the vertical direction. A pressure sensor 12 for detecting the pressure received by the temperature control plate 13 is attached to the temperature control plate 13.
When the heated and melted material layer 10 reaches the laminated portion 16, the material layer 10 is sandwiched between the shaped article 11 on the stage 14 and the third transport body 15 by the rise of the stage 14 and the lowering of the temperature control plate 13. Pressurized. The pressure sensor 12 monitors the force applied to the temperature control plate 13 and controls so that an appropriate pressure is applied. In particular, when an excessive pressure is applied to the temperature control plate 13, the stacking operation is controlled to be stopped.

The pressed material layer 10 is heated from the temperature control plate 13 via the third conveyance body 15 and is thermally welded and laminated on the uppermost layer portion of the model 11 on the stage 14. Thereafter, the modeled object 11 on the stage 14 is cooled, and the portion of the material layer 10 that is heat-welded in the modeled object 11 on the stage 14 and the third transport body 15 are separated.
By being heated and pressurized in this manner, the shaped article 11 and the material layer 10 on the stage 14 are melted and bonded, and one more material layer 10 is added to the shaped article 11 on the stage 14. Such modeling operation is repeated, and the model 11 is produced on the stage 14.

<Comparative Example / Example>
The modeling apparatus 100 of this embodiment makes it easy to take out the modeled object 11 in the middle of production by arranging a plurality of detachable plates 17 on the stage 14, and further takes out the modeled object 11 in the middle of production. The manufacturing operation can be resumed.
In the following description, first, a method using only a conventional stage will be referred to as Comparative Example 1, a method of mounting a single plate on the stage will be described as Comparative Example 2, and then an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the Examples, the comparative advantage over Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 and the basis thereof will be described together. In the following description, configurations and processes different from those in the above-described embodiments will be described, and descriptions of configurations and processes similar to those in the above-described embodiments will be omitted. For convenience of explanation, in Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, and Examples, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

<Comparative Example 1>
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the stage 14 of Comparative Example 1 and a plurality of shaped objects 111, 112, 113.
Comparative Example 1 is a form in which the shaped objects 111, 112, and 113 are produced directly on the stage 14 as shown in FIG.
The stage 14 is composed of a single metal plate, and the surface (laminate surface) on which the material layer 10 is laminated is a flat surface. After the material layer 10 is laminated on the stage 14, the material layer 10 is cooled, whereby an adhesion force is generated between the material layer 10 and the stage 14, and the modeled object adheres to the stage 14 on the bottom surface.

8A to 8D are side views showing a procedure from taking out the shaped object 111 to remounting (rearrangement) in Comparative Example 1. FIG.
When taking out the modeled object 111 while the modeled objects 111 and 112 are being produced on the stage 14, the user can remove the modeled object 111 from the stage 14 so that the modeled object 111 is not deformed (FIG. 8A). . A metal part or an electrical component 110 is mounted on the removed shaped article 111 (FIG. 8B). In order to continue the production operation, the mounted article 111 on which the parts are already mounted is remounted on the stage 14. At this time, in order to fix the modeled object 111 to the stage 14, it is necessary to use an adhesive or the like so that the modeled object 111 is not peeled off from the stage 14 during the production even if a force is applied in the vertical direction. There is. Moreover, it is necessary to attach the position which fixes the modeling thing 111 on the stage 14 in the completely same position as the time of removal. However, this is very difficult because the position and orientation at the time of removal of the modeled object 111 must be accurately reproduced (FIG. 8C). By completing the remounting of the modeled object 111, it becomes possible to resume the production operation of the modeled object 111 (FIG. 8D).

<Comparative example 2>
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the stage 14, the plate 17, and the plurality of shaped objects 111, 112, 113 of Comparative Example 2.
As shown in FIG. 9, the comparative example 2 is a form in which a single plate 17 is mounted on the stage 14 and the shaped objects 111, 112, and 113 are produced on the plate 17.
The plate 17 is composed of a single metal flat plate, and a plurality of shaped objects are produced thereon. The plate 17 is detachably fixed at a fixed position with respect to the stage 14 by electromagnetic and / or mechanical methods.

10A to 10D are side views showing a procedure from taking out the shaped object 111 to remounting in Comparative Example 2. FIG.
In Comparative Example 2, when the modeled object 111 is taken out, the modeled object 111 is taken out from the stage 14 by taking out the plate 17 together with the modeled object 111 placed on the plate 17 (FIG. 10A). At this time, in order to resume the production operation of the taken-out shaped article 111, it is necessary to attach the parts without removing the shaped article 111 from the plate 17 (FIG. 10B). When the removed model 111 is remounted, the model 111 may be attached to the stage 14 together with the plate 17 (FIG. 10C).
In Comparative Example 2, since the modeled object 111 can be attached to and detached from the stage 14 together with the plate 17, the position of the modeled object 111 on the stage 14 may be shifted before the production operation is interrupted and when the production operation is resumed. Absent. Therefore, after attaching the modeled object 111 together with the plate 17 to the stage 14, the production operation of the modeled object 111 can be resumed as it is (FIG. 10D).

<Example>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the stage 14, the small plates 171, 172, and 173 and the plurality of shaped objects 111, 112, and 113 according to the embodiment.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of small plates 171, 172, and 173 are mounted and fixed on the stage 14 by electromagnetic and / or mechanical means. The small plates 171, 172, and 173 are detachably attached to the stage 14. Each modeled object 111, 112, 113 is produced on each small plate 171, 172, 173.

Here, the electromagnetic and / or mechanical means for attaching and fixing the plurality of small plates 171, 172, and 173 on the stage 14 is not particularly limited, and a general method can be adopted.
In addition, FIG. 2 shows a form in which one model is produced on one small plate. However, when the size of one model is large and does not fit on one small plate, 2 A shaped article may be created across two or more small plates.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an attachment / detachment mechanism that allows the small plate 171 to be attached to and detached from the stage 14.
In the embodiment, each small plate 171, 172, 173 is attached to the stage 14 by a mechanical mechanism as shown in FIG. That is, tenons (projections) 1711, 1712, and 1713 are provided on the small plate 171, and tenon holes 141, 142, and 143 corresponding to the tenons are provided on the stage 14.
With such a mechanism, the attachment / detachment direction of the small plate 171 with respect to the stage 14 can be set (restricted) in one specific direction.
In this embodiment, the plurality of small plates provided on the stage 14 have the same shape, and the small plates can be mounted at any mounting position on the stage 14. Yes. However, such compatibility is not necessarily required, and a configuration in which the small plate can be mounted only at a specific position on the stage 14 may be employed.

4A to 4D are side views showing a procedure from taking out a modeled object to remounting in the embodiment.
During the production of the shaped objects 111 and 112 on the small plates 171 and 172 on the stage 14, the shaped object 111 is taken out. In this case, the modeled object 111 can be taken out from the stage 14 by removing the modeled object 111 together with the small plate 171 from the stage 14 (FIG. 4A).
In order to resume the production operation for the taken-out shaped article 111, it is necessary to attach the parts without removing the shaped article 111 from the small plate 171 (FIG. 4B). When the taken-out shaped article 111 is remounted, the small plate 171 may be attached to the stage 14 (FIG. 4C). In this embodiment, since the modeled object 111 can be removed together with the small plate 171, the position of the modeled object 111 on the stage 14 does not shift before the preparation operation is interrupted and when the preparation operation is resumed.
Therefore, after attaching the modeled article 111 together with the small plate 171 to the stage 14, the production operation of the modeled article 111 can be resumed as it is (FIG. 4D).

In the present embodiment, when the molded article 111 is taken out from the stage 14 (FIG. 4A), the following items are stored in the storage unit 104.
That is, the storage unit 104 stores the identification number of the modeled object 111 to be taken out, the manufacturing status when the manufacturing operation of the modeled object 111 is interrupted, and the position of the modeled object 111 on the small plate 171. In the example, the stacking height (the height in the stacking direction) of the modeled object 111 when the manufacturing operation was interrupted was used as the manufacturing status when the modeled object 111 was interrupted. 4A to 4D, the case where one shaped object is stacked on one small plate has been described. However, as described above, the case where one shaped object is stacked across a plurality of small plates. For example, all the small plates may be attached and detached together with the modeled object.

  Here, the determination (acquisition) method of the position of the molded article 111 on the small plate 171 stored in the storage unit 104 is not particularly limited. This may be determined based on slice data, for example, and the production reference position of the shaped article 111 on the small plate 171 is determined in advance, and is determined based on this position. Also good. Further, the position of the model with respect to the stage may be determined by determining the position of the plate with respect to the stage. Moreover, although it does not specifically limit also in the determination method of the lamination | stacking height of the molded article 111, It is good to be determined based on the information regarding the lamination | stacking height of the molded article 111. FIG. For example, when the material layer 10 is stacked, the moving amount of the stage 14 that moves in the stacking direction is acquired, and may be determined based on the moving amount.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process in a case where the production operation is resumed with respect to the modeled object 111 once taken out during the production.
When the production operation is resumed with respect to the modeled object 111 taken out together with the small plate 171, it is determined whether or not interruption is possible during the process of producing the modeled object 112. For this reason, in this embodiment, first, the stacking height of the modeled object 112 being produced by the modeling apparatus and the stacking height of the modeled object 111 at the time of taking out stored in the storage unit 104 are acquired. And based on this acquisition result, it is determined in step S201 whether or not the stacking height of the modeled object 112 being produced by the modeling apparatus matches the stacking height of the modeled object 111 stored in the storage unit 104 at the time of extraction. to decide. The stacking height of the modeled object 112 being manufactured by the modeling apparatus may be stored in the storage unit 104, and information regarding the stacking height of the modeled object 112 is acquired during the manufacturing of the modeled object 112. May be obtained.

If it is determined in step S201 that the stacking heights of the respective shaped objects are the same, it is determined that the production operation can be resumed, and the process proceeds to the next step S202. If it is determined in step S201 that the stacking heights of the respective shaped objects do not match, the production operation of the shaped object being produced by the shaping apparatus is continued, and after the production operation is finished, When the manufacturing operation is started, the determination in step S201 is performed again.
When it is determined in step S201 that the production operation can be resumed, the user can place the small plate 171 on which the modeled article 111 is placed in an area (partition, part) where no other small plate on the stage 14 is attached. Attach to.

6A is a top view showing a state of the stage 14 before the small plate 171 is mounted, and FIG. 6B is a top view showing a state of the stage 14 after the small plate 171 is mounted.
In the state shown in FIG. 6A, four of the nine placeable areas of the small plates are already filled, and therefore the small plate 171 on which the modeled article 111 is placed is mounted in the vacant area 2-c (FIG. 6A). 6B).

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 5, in step S <b> 202, the position of the attached small plate 171 on the stage 14 (the region 2-c in FIG. 6B) and the identification number of the modeled object 111 are input by the user. . Information regarding this user input operation is acquired by the acquisition unit 105 and stored in the storage unit 104.
Here, the position of the attached small plate 171 on the stage 14 is stored in the storage unit 104 based on information related to the user's input operation, but is not limited thereto. Even if information about the detection result is acquired by the acquisition unit 105 and stored in the storage unit 104 using a method of automatically detecting the position of the small plate 171 on the stage 14 by an electrical detection means. Good.

In step S203, first, the position of the modeled object 111 on the small plate 171 is loaded from the storage unit 104 based on the identification number of the modeled object 111 input in step S202.
In step S204, the position of the modeling object 111 on the stage 14 is determined by combining the input position of the small plate 171 on the stage 14 and the position of the modeling object 111 on the small plate 171. .
In addition, the cross-sectional data used when resuming the production operation of the modeled object 111 is determined from the stacking height of the modeled object 111 stored in the storage unit 104 at the time of taking out.

Based on the position of the modeled object 111 with respect to the stage 14 and the cross-sectional data used at the time of resuming the manufacturing operation of the modeled object 111 determined as described above, slice data used at the time of resuming the manufacturing operation of the modeled object 111 is formed. It becomes possible. Thereby, it becomes possible to restart the production | generation operation | movement of the molded article 111. FIG.
Note that each operation described above may be automated as much as possible.

<Advantage of Examples to Comparative Examples>
Hereinafter, the superiority of the embodiment over Comparative Examples 1 and 2 will be described.
In Comparative Example 1, lamination is performed directly on the stage 14 unlike the example. In Comparative Example 1, when a modeled object is taken out during production, it must be peeled off from the laminated surface of the stage on which the modeled object is produced, so it is difficult to resume the production operation for the extracted modeled object. It is. This is because in order to resume the production operation, it is necessary to rearrange the taken-out modeled object at the same position as the position on the stage when the production operation is interrupted. If the modeled object is not rearranged in exactly the same position as when the production operation is interrupted, the modeling device cannot identify the position of the rearranged modeled object when the production operation is resumed, which may cause image misalignment. Is done.

  Comparative Example 2 is the same as the example in that a shaped object is stacked on the plate. However, in Comparative Example 2, since all the modeled objects are stacked on one plate, it is necessary to remove the entire plate from the stage together with other modeled objects when taking out the modeled object. Since the removal of the plate, the part is mounted on a specific model, and the plate is remounted on the stage, the production operation for other models will be interrupted, resulting in reduced work efficiency. There is a concern that

  In an Example, after taking out a molded article with a small plate, the remaining molded articles can be laminated | stacked continuously. This is an advantage over Comparative Example 2. At the time of remounting, since the modeled object is mounted on the stage together with the small plate, the extracted modeled object can be rearranged at the same position as when the production operation is interrupted. Therefore, it is possible to easily resume the production operation of the taken-out modeled object. This is an advantage over Comparative Example 1.

As described above, according to the embodiment, when a plurality of modeling objects are manufactured at the same time, the influence on the manufacturing operation of other modeling objects can be minimized, and further, the manufacturing operation of some modeling objects Extraction in the middle and resumption of the production operation for the extracted modeled object can be enabled.
At this time, since it is possible to resume the production operation for the taken-out modeled object without causing misalignment or the like in the part where the production operation is interrupted, it is possible to obtain a modeled object with good shape accuracy even when the production operation is interrupted. It becomes possible.

<Other examples>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Stage, 100 ... Modeling apparatus, 101 ... System control part, 111, 112, 113 ... Modeling thing, 171, 172, 173 ... Small plate

Claims (8)

A modeling apparatus that performs a manufacturing operation for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by stacking modeling materials based on three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model,
In a modeling apparatus capable of producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects in one production operation,
A solid object is produced by laminating the modeling material on a plurality of plates juxtaposed on a modeling table,
Each plate can be attached to and detached from the modeling table while the three-dimensional object being produced is placed on the plate.
An acquisition means for acquiring information regarding the production status of a three-dimensional object produced on each plate;
From the acquisition result of the acquisition means, information on the manufacturing status of the first three-dimensional object being manufactured placed on the first plate removed from the modeling table, and arranged on the modeling table Judging means for judging whether or not it is possible to resume the production operation for the first three-dimensional object based on the information on the production status of the second three-dimensional object being produced on the second plate;
A modeling apparatus comprising: The acquisition means further acquires information regarding the arrangement position of each plate on the modeling table,
When the first plate, which has been removed from the modeling table in a state where the first three-dimensional object is placed, is arranged on the modeling table, the acquisition result of the acquiring unit determines that the first plate is on the modeling table. And a control means for resuming the production operation for the first three-dimensional object based on information relating to an arrangement position of the first plate and information relating to a production status of the first three-dimensional object. Item 2. The modeling apparatus according to Item 1. When a part of the plurality of plates is removed from the modeling table, the control unit continues the manufacturing operation for the three-dimensional object on the plate remaining on the modeling table. The modeling apparatus according to claim 2. In each of a plurality of regions where the plate on the modeling table can be disposed, the detecting unit detects that the plate is disposed;
The modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition unit acquires information related to an arrangement position of the plate on the modeling table from a detection result of the detection unit. In the second or third aspect, the acquisition unit acquires information related to a user's input operation for setting a region in which the plate is arranged among a plurality of regions in which the plate on the modeling table can be arranged. The modeling apparatus of description. The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information regarding the production status of the three-dimensional object is information regarding the height of the three-dimensional object on the plate. The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a fixing unit that positions and fixes the plate on the modeling table electromagnetically and / or mechanically. A modeling apparatus that performs a manufacturing operation for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by stacking modeling materials based on three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model,
In a modeling method with a modeling apparatus capable of producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects in one production operation,
A solid object is produced by laminating the modeling material on a plurality of plates juxtaposed on a modeling table,
Each plate can be attached to and detached from the modeling table while the three-dimensional object being produced is placed on the plate.
Obtaining information on the production status of a three-dimensional object produced on each plate by an acquisition means;
From the acquisition result of the acquisition means, information on the manufacturing status of the first three-dimensional object being manufactured placed on the first plate removed from the modeling table, and arranged on the modeling table Determining whether the production operation for the first three-dimensional object can be resumed based on information on the production status of the second three-dimensional object being produced on the second plate;
A modeling method comprising:

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