JP2018171779A - Molding device and molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable visual identification of a three-dimensional object regarding on which molding request it is based, while keeping a secret of an appearance or a configuration of a three-dimensional object to be produced.SOLUTION: According to three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model, a molding device produces a three-dimensional object including a structural body corresponding to the three-dimensional model. As the three-dimensional object, a three-dimensional object is formed such that a cover body covering at least part of the structural body is added to the structural body. The molding device includes addition means configured to add identification ID being identification information of the three-dimensional object on a surface of the cover body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

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

  In recent years, three-dimensional modeling techniques called additive manufacturing (AM), three-dimensional printers, rapid prototyping (RP), and the like have attracted attention (in this specification, these techniques are collectively referred to as AM techniques). The AM technology generates a plurality of slice data by slicing the three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model, and sequentially stacks and fixes a material layer made of a modeling material on a modeling table based on the slice data. This is a technique for producing an object (three-dimensional object).

Patent Document 1 includes a selection unit that allows a user of a device to select a secret output, and a unit that stores and seals an output sheet in an envelope according to a selection result of the selection unit. An image recording apparatus capable of preventing a printed document from being viewed is disclosed. The document also includes means for recording information that can be identified as the document owner (output person), such as words and output times specified for sealed envelopes or box-like ones, and output time. An apparatus is also disclosed.
Patent Document 2 discloses a method for producing a three-dimensional structure by performing a layer formation step of forming a layer using a composition a plurality of times and laminating the layers. Patent Document 2 discloses that individual management can be easily and reliably performed for a plurality of three-dimensional structures to be manufactured by embedding RFID tags between a plurality of the layer forming steps.

JP 2006-218636 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-174272

By the way, a modeling service provider that receives a request from another person through a network or the like and performs modeling output has appeared. Among such requests for modeling output, there are those related to “prototypes” before commercialization, etc., and it may be necessary to manage the appearance and configuration secretly. For this reason, the formed three-dimensional object is generally covered with a support material, a container, or the like, and cannot be identified by its appearance. For this reason, it has been difficult for a modeling service provider or the like to identify and manage a three-dimensional object covered with a support material or a container.
Patent Document 1 discloses means for recording information that can be specified as the document owner (output person) such as words and output times specified for envelopes or box-like ones. However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot conceal the appearance and configuration of a three-dimensional object while appropriately storing three-dimensional objects of various shapes and sizes. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for embedding an RFID tag in a three-dimensional structure and managing the individual, but the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 cannot conceal a three-dimensional object.
In other words, in the prior art, the appearance and configuration of the three-dimensional object of various shapes and sizes that have been modeled are stored in a concealable manner so that the orderer who requested the modeling output does not have an error in the destination. It was difficult to deliver properly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to visually identify which three-dimensional object is based on a modeling request while keeping the appearance and configuration of the three-dimensional object to be produced in secret. And

The first aspect of the present invention is:
In a modeling apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object including a structure corresponding to the three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model,
As the three-dimensional object, a three-dimensional object in which a cover body covering at least a part of the structure body is added to the structure body is produced,
There is provided a modeling apparatus comprising an adding means for adding an identification ID as identification information of the three-dimensional object to the surface of the cover body.

The second aspect of the present invention is:
In a modeling method for producing a three-dimensional object including a structure corresponding to the three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model,
Producing a three-dimensional object in which a cover covering at least a part of the structure is added to the structure;
Adding an identification ID which is identification information of the three-dimensional object to the surface of the cover body;
The modeling method characterized by including this is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to visually identify and identify which 3D object is based on which modeling request, while keeping the appearance and configuration of the 3D object to be made secret.

External appearance perspective view showing a modeling apparatus of Example 1 Schematic sectional view showing the modeling unit, plate and stage of Example 1 The schematic perspective view explaining the form by which ID of Example 1 is printed on a cover body Flowchart for explaining the flow of determination / processing of the modeling apparatus of the first embodiment The schematic perspective view which shows the state by which ID of Example 2 was printed on the cover body

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 that employs a technique for producing a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) by arranging modeling materials in two dimensions and laminating them in layers. In this specification, the three-dimensional model (that is, the three-dimensional object represented by the three-dimensional shape data given to the modeling apparatus) to be produced using the modeling apparatus is referred to as a “modeling object”. In addition, a three-dimensional object produced (output) by the modeling apparatus is referred to as a “modeled object”. In the modeling apparatus, an additional structure (referred to as “additional body”) is modeled simultaneously with a structure corresponding to the modeling target (referred to as “structure”). The additional body includes a “support body” which is a structure for supporting an overhang part or a weak part of the structure, and a structure body in order to conceal the appearance (appearance shape) / configuration of the structure. A “cover body” that covers all or part of the structure is included. By removing the additional body (support body and cover body) from the molded object created by the modeling apparatus, a “structure” corresponding to the modeling object is obtained.

As the modeling material, various materials can be selected according to the use, function, purpose, etc. of the modeled object to be produced. In the present specification, a material mainly used for modeling a structure is referred to as “structural material”, and a material mainly used for modeling a support body is referred to as “support material”. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, the term “modeling material” is simply used. In addition, although any material may be used for modeling of a cover body, the removal from a structure can be simplified by using a support material.
As the structural material, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), ABS, PS (polystyrene) can be used. Alternatively, a metal material or a ceramic material may 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 the cross section data of the support body and the cross section data of the cover body as necessary. A 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.

<Example 1>
Example 1 will be described below.
In this embodiment, a modeled object is produced by covering the structure with a cover body, and an identification ID (identification ID for identifying the modeled object) related to the modeling request of the modeled object is printed on the surface of the cover body. It is characterized by (addition).
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.
In the figure, there is shown a modeling chamber 50 that houses the modeling unit 10, the plate 20, the stage 30, a camera unit (not shown), and a code writing unit (not shown). Further, a modeling chamber door 51, an operation display unit 60, a cartridge housing unit 70, and a work chamber 80 are shown.
The modeling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a system control unit 101 (see FIG. 2) as a control unit configured by a CPU (processor), a ROM, a RAM, a user interface unit, a communication unit, and the like. In the system control unit 101, the CPU controls the operation of the modeling apparatus 100 by executing a program stored in a ROM or the like. The operation control program is not necessarily executed by the modeling apparatus 100, and may be executed anywhere in the modeling system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the modeling unit 10, the plate 20, and the stage 30 of this embodiment.
The modeling unit 10 mainly includes a material layer forming unit 3, an intermediate transfer body 4, and a heating member 6. The material layer forming unit 3 forms the particulate material layer 1 made of a modeling material based on the slice data of a plurality of layers generated from the three-dimensional shape data of the modeling object.
Here, when the additional body is manufactured together with the structure, and the additional body includes the support body and the cover body, the cross-sectional data of the support body and the cross-section data of the cover body are also included in the slice data. For example, when a cover body is used to conceal the appearance and configuration of the structure, the slice data includes cross-sectional data of the cover body. Further, when the identification ID is printed, the slice data includes cross-sectional data of the identification ID. The printing of the identification ID will be described later.
In this embodiment, the material layer forming unit 3 forms a material layer for one layer made of a modeling material using an electrophotographic process. Hereinafter, an example in which the material layer forming unit 3 uses an electrophotographic process will be described. However, the present invention can also be applied to cases where other methods such as an inkjet process are used.

The intermediate transfer body 4 is an endless belt-like transport body that sequentially receives the material layer 1 formed by the material layer forming unit 3 at the transfer position 7 and carries the material layer 1 and transports it to a predetermined position. The intermediate transfer body 4 is stretched by a drive roller 5a having a drive motor and a driven roller 5b whose tilting axis can be tilted by a drive system (not shown) to correct the meandering of the intermediate transfer body 4. Yes. Each of the driving roller 5a and the driven roller 5b is formed in a crown shape in which the central side is slightly higher than the both end sides in the rotation axis direction in order to prevent the intermediate transfer body 4 from meandering.
The plate 20 is a substrate (modeling table) having a layered surface 20 a that holds the modeled object 2 that is produced by stacking the material layers 1, and is detachably held on the stage 30. The heating member 6 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer body 4, is movable in the Z direction (height direction), and is temperature-controlled to heat and melt the material layer 1 on the intermediate transfer body 4. It is. The heating member 6 has a heating surface (pressure surface) 6 a that can contact the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer body 4 at the stacking position 8.

The material layer 1 formed in the material layer forming unit 3 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 4 at the transfer position 7 and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 9 in the drawing by the rotation of the driving roller 5a. When the material layer 1 is transported to the predetermined stacking position 8, the transport operation of the material layer 1 by the intermediate transfer body 4 is stopped.
The material carried on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer body 4 between the heating surface 6 and the layered surface 20a of the plate 20 or the model 2 on the stacked surface 20a (on the stacked surface) and the heating member 6 at the stacking position 8. Lamination is performed by sandwiching the layer 1.

3A to 3C, in the modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the structure 2a and the cover body 2b are layered and modeled, and an identification ID (hereinafter referred to as ID) 21 for identifying the modeled object is printed on the cover body 2b. It is a schematic perspective view for demonstrating this form.
In this embodiment, the structure body 2a and the cover body 2b made of a structural material common to the structure body 2a are layered on the plate 20, and this cover body is a “cover” covering the structure body 2a. The ID 21 related to the modeling request for the modeling object is printed on 2b.
FIG. 3A shows a state in which modeling of the structure 2a and the cover body 2b is started on the plate 20. In addition, although a support body is suitably provided between the structure 2a and the cover body 2b, the support body is not illustrated in FIGS.
FIG. 3B shows a state in which the modeling of the structure body 2a is finished and the cover body 2b completely covers the structure body 2a. A portion indicated by a dotted line is a portion that cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the cover body 2b.
FIG. 3C shows a state where ID21 is printed on the upper surface of the cover body 2b.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of determination / processing of the modeling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
The modeling apparatus 100 of this embodiment (or a server connected to the modeling apparatus 100) displays a home page for accepting a modeling request on the network (S401).
When a modeling request is made on the homepage by the orderer (S402), the modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment stores and manages the modeling request of the orderer as a modeling job (S403). The modeling job includes order data and attribute information held in association with the order data. The attribute information includes ordering data identification information, ordering data transmission / reception date / time information, information about the delivery date of the modeled object, information about the footprint of the modeled object (top projection shape / area), orderer identification information, etc. It is. The order data includes three-dimensional shape data indicating the three-dimensional shape of the modeling object.

The modeling apparatus 100 also displays the orderer so that the application program for ordering the three-dimensional modeling can be downloaded (S404).
The modeling apparatus 100 also creates a modeling plan based on one or more modeling jobs (S405). Here, the modeling plan refers to assignment of the plate 20 for collectively performing modeling jobs, arrangement of the plate 20 on the stage 30, calculation of modeling start / end scheduled times, and the like.
When the modeling start time comes (S406), the modeling apparatus 100 confirms whether the setting in the modeling chamber 50 and other preparations are complete (S407). Then, a data request is made to each orderer terminal (S408). Then, the modeling room door 51 is locked (S409), and layered modeling is performed on each plate 20 based on the slice data for each layer (S410). The slice data for each layer is deleted from the modeling apparatus 100 when the modeling of the layer is completed (S411).

In S <b> 412, it is determined whether or not the modeling process including the ID 21 print related to the modeling job has been completed for all the modeling jobs. If a negative determination is made in S412, the process returns to S410.
At this time, an operation for printing the ID 21 related to the modeling job is performed on the cover body 2b of the modeled object 2 for the object whose fabrication of the modeling object 2 is completed. That is, when the cover body 2b is layered, the material layer 1 based on the slice data including the cross-section data of ID21 related to the modeling job is formed following the slice data including the cross-section data of the cover body 2b. It is laminated | stacked on the cover body 2b of the molded article 2. FIG.
Here, in this embodiment, “printing” means that a material layer made of a support material or a structural material formed by the material layer forming unit 3 that also serves as an adding means is laminated on the cover body 2b. However, it is not limited to this. “Print” is a general term for adding characters, symbols, or designs on a material, such as transferring or spraying ink or toner, or glaring holes or dents with an arc or laser. is there. The modeling apparatus 100 only needs to be provided with an adding means for performing such an addition.

When the modeling process is completed for all the modeling jobs (Yes in S412), the modeling chamber door 51 is unlocked (S413), the operator is notified (S414), and the flow is terminated.
Here, even if the ID 21 related to the modeling request of the modeling target cannot identify the modeling object from the appearance, the modeling service operator operator or the like visually identifies which modeling request is related to It is configured to contain information that can. Here, the ID 21 may include information associated with the three-dimensional shape data. By associating the ID 21 with the three-dimensional shape data, the ID 21 for identifying the modeled object can be reliably printed on the modeled object produced based on the three-dimensional shape data.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the cover 2b that covers the structure 2a is formed together with the structure 2a, the appearance of the structure 2a regardless of the shape and size of the structure 2a. The configuration can be appropriately concealed. Furthermore, since the ID 21 related to the modeling request for the modeling object is printed on the cover body 2b, the modeling service provider can determine which modeling request is related to even if the modeling object cannot be identified from the appearance. Can be identified by visual recognition. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately manage the produced modeled object such as sending without error to the orderer.

<Example 2>
Example 2 will be described below. In the present embodiment, configurations and processes different from those in the first embodiment will be described, and descriptions of configurations and processes similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
In the present embodiment, the ID 21 printed on the cover body 2b covering the structure 2a includes the name and / or address of the orderer of the modeling object.
As described above, the modeling object 2 produced by the modeling apparatus 100 can be identified and managed by the ID 21 printed on the cover body 2b even if it cannot be identified by its appearance. For a modeling service provider that performs modeling output at the request of the orderer, what is particularly important in the management of the manufactured model 2 is that the model 2 is appropriately delivered to the orderer. That is.
Here, it is generally a delivery company (a courier or a transportation company) that delivers the modeled object 2 to the orderer. For this reason, it is even more important for the delivery company to clearly identify the orderer of the modeled object 2 in order to appropriately manage the modeled model 2 produced.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the ID 21 is printed on the upper portion of the cover body 2b covering the structure body 2a produced by the modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment (a form different from that shown in FIG. 3). It is.
In the ID 21 in the present embodiment, the name and / or address of the orderer is represented in alphabet. If the ID 21 does not include the name or address of the orderer, the delivery person of the delivery company must refer to the table etc. that contrasts the ID 21 and the name and address of the orderer. Can not be delivered properly.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, if the ID 21 including the orderer's name and / or address is printed on the cover body 2 b, the delivery person visually recognizes the ID 21 and displays the model 2. It is possible to reliably deliver to the orderer.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, even if the manufactured structure 2a is covered with the cover body 2b and cannot be identified by its appearance, the delivery of the delivery company based on the ID 21 attached to the cover body 2b. A person or the like can surely deliver the molded article 2 to the orderer.

<Example 3>
Example 3 will be described below. In the present embodiment, configurations and processes different from those in the first embodiment will be described, and descriptions of configurations and processes similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
In this embodiment, the ID 21 printed on the cover body 2b covering the structure 2a includes a specific delivery company name, and is associated with a delivery destination (information on the orderer) in the specific delivery company. It is characterized by being.
As described above, it is particularly important in the management of the model 2 that the model 2 is properly delivered to the orderer. Here, it is not always necessary for the modeling service provider to know information about the orderer in order to appropriately deliver the modeled object 2 to the orderer. In order for the appearance and configuration of the modeled object 2 to be connected to the orderer and not be known as a unit, it is rather advantageous in terms of secret management to keep the information about the orderer secret from the modeling service provider. .

Therefore, for example, the modeling object 2 can be delivered to the orderer while keeping the information regarding the orderer secret from the modeling service provider as follows.
First, a homepage (hereinafter referred to as a “second homepage”) established by a delivery company (a courier or a transportation company), which is different from a homepage (hereinafter referred to as a “first homepage”) established by a modeling service provider. Set). At this time, the user inputs the orderer's name and / or address as information about the orderer on the second homepage, and an ID issued in association with the input information (hereinafter referred to as “delivery ID”). To the first home page. The delivery ID is associated with the delivery company name, and the modeling apparatus 100 generates an identification ID including the delivery company name (hereinafter referred to as “modeled article ID”) based on the input delivery ID. To do. Here, the model ID is associated with the delivery ID (identification ID on the delivery company side) associated with the information on the orderer and the terminal on the delivery company side.
When modeling the modeling object 2, the modeling apparatus 100 prints the modeling object ID as ID21 on the cover body 2b.

The modeling service company delivers the model 2 to the delivery company based on the delivery company name included in the model ID. At this time, the table which contrasted delivery ID and the molded article ID attached | subjected to the cover body 2b of the molded article 2 is disclosed.
Thereby, this delivery company can acquire delivery ID corresponding to the model 2 delivered from the model service company based on the model ID attached to the cover body 2b of the model 2. Then, from this delivery ID, the name and / or address of the orderer entered by the orderer on the second home page is acquired, and the modeled article delivered from the modeling service provider to the orderer 2 can be delivered.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the modeling object 2 can be reliably delivered to the ordering party while keeping the name and / or address of the ordering party secret. It becomes possible.
Therefore, the risk that the appearance and configuration of the modeled object 2 and the orderer are combined to be known as one body is reduced, and the security of the secret management is further enhanced.

2 ... modeling object, 2a ... structure, 2b ... cover body, 3 ... material layer forming part, 21 ... identification ID, 100 ... modeling apparatus

Claims (6)

In a modeling apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object including a structure corresponding to the three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model,
As the three-dimensional object, a three-dimensional object in which a cover body covering at least a part of the structure body is added to the structure body is produced,
A modeling apparatus comprising an adding means for adding an identification ID which is identification information of the three-dimensional object to the surface of the cover body. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification ID includes a name and / or an address of an orderer who orders the production of the three-dimensional object.   The identification ID includes information relating to a delivery company that delivers the produced three-dimensional object to an orderer who has ordered the production of the three-dimensional object, and is associated with the information relating to the orderer and the terminal on the delivery company side. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modeling apparatus is associated with an identification ID on the delivery service provider side. Based on slice data generated from the three-dimensional shape data, a material layer forming means for forming a material layer made of a modeling material,
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material layer forming unit also serves as the adding unit. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification ID includes information associated with the three-dimensional shape data. In a modeling method for producing a three-dimensional object including a structure corresponding to the three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model,
Producing a three-dimensional object in which a cover covering at least a part of the structure is added to the structure;
Adding an identification ID which is identification information of the three-dimensional object to the surface of the cover body;
A modeling method comprising:

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