TW201634237A - Miniature extruder and preparation method of 3D printing material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a miniature extruder and a preparation method of a 3D printing material. The miniature extruder comprises simple parts such as a frame, a motor, a reduction gear box, a material pushing screw, a feeding pipe, a feeding hopper, an extrusion head, a temperature controller, a temperature measurement probe and a heating pipe. The miniature extruder has the advantages of small volume and light weight, belongs to a desktop-level 3D printing material preparation device, and is suitable for personal or household preparation of various 3D printing materials. Through reading of a preset heating temperature and an actual temperature displayed by a display of the temperature controller, visual, convenient and efficient temperature control and preparation are realized.

Description

Micro extruder and 3D printing material preparation method

The present invention relates to the field of 3D printing material preparation, and in particular to a micro-extruder which can be used for preparing a wire for use in a FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) fused deposition manufacturing method in a 3D printing material.

The preparation of traditional 3D printing materials is carried out in large factories by large-scale industrial extruders and cooling equipment and coiling equipment through industrial mass production, which is usually impossible for individuals or ordinary households to prepare. At the same time, unqualified finished products made by individuals or families cannot be recycled and can only be disposed of. In addition, conventional industrial extruders have various drawbacks such as difficulty in controlling the temperature, and the extrusion head tends to stick to the formation of wire waste after condensation of the molten 3D printing material, resulting in difficulty in extrusion.

Therefore, in view of the problems existing in the above-mentioned conventional structure, how to develop an innovative structure that is more ideal and practical, and to use the eagerly awaited by consumers, is also the goal and direction of the relevant industry to strive to develop breakthroughs.

In view of this, the inventor has been engaged in the manufacturing development and design experience of related products for many years. After detailed design and careful evaluation, the inventor has finally obtained the practical invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a micro-extruder that can be used by individuals or households, is temperature-controlled, and is suitable for use in the preparation of wires for use in various fused deposition processes.

A micro-extruder proposed by the present invention, comprising a frame and a horse mounted on the frame a reduction gear box, a push screw, a feed pipe, a feed hopper, an extrusion head, a temperature controller, a temperature probe and a heating pipe; the motor is drivingly connected with an input end of the reduction gear box; the reduction gear An output end of the box is drivingly coupled to the second end of the push screw; a first end of the push screw is mounted in the second end of the feed tube, and the drive is in the motor and the reduction gear box Lowering from a second end of the feed tube along a first end of the feed tube; the extrusion head being mounted at a first end of the feed tube and having a second end in communication with the feed tube And the first end is provided with an extrusion port; the feeding hopper is disposed above the feeding pipe, and communicates with the feeding pipe; the heating pipe and the temperature measuring probe are all mounted on the outer surface of the feeding pipe The thermostat is provided with a display screen electrically connected to the heating tube and the temperature measuring probe, respectively, to control the heating tube to heat the feeding tube according to a preset heating temperature, and pass the temperature measurement The probe monitors the actual temperature of the feeding tube; the display screen is used for display The preset heating temperature and the actual temperature.

The heating pipe includes a first heating pipe and a second heating pipe, the first heating pipe is mounted on an outer surface of the first end of the feeding pipe, and the second heating pipe is installed outside the middle of the feeding pipe On the surface.

The temperature measuring probe is specifically mounted on an outer surface of the first end of the feeding tube.

The temperature measuring probe is specifically a thermocouple.

The first end of the extrusion head is tapered and the extrusion port is located at the apex of the cone.

The micro-extruder further includes a transformer, one end of the transformer is used to connect an external power source, and the other end is electrically connected to the motor and the thermostat, respectively.

The micro-extruder further includes a coupling that is coupled between the push screw and the reduction gear box.

The extrusion port of the extrusion head has a diameter of 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm.

The diameter of the extrusion port of the extrusion head is specifically 1.6 mm to 1.8 mm.

The diameter of the extrusion port of the extrusion head is specifically 2.8 mm to 3.1 mm.

The invention relates to a micro-extruder which comprises only a simple component such as a frame, a motor, a reduction gear box, a push screw, a feeding tube, a feeding hopper, an extrusion head, a temperature controller, a temperature measuring probe and a heating tube. It has the advantages of small size and light weight. It is a desktop-level 3D printing material preparation device suitable for various 3D printing materials required for personal or general household preparation (such as ABS plastic, PETG plastic, NYLON plastic, PLA environmental protection material or TPU soft material or other thermoplastic Polymer materials, etc., solve the problem that the 3D printing materials cannot be prepared by individuals or ordinary households in the prior art. At the same time, the unqualified finished products made by individuals or ordinary households can be directly recovered and utilized after being crushed by other mechanical equipment. The invention produces a new finished product. In addition, the user can perform temperature control and preparation operations more intuitively, conveniently, and efficiently by reading the preset heating temperature and actual temperature displayed in the display screen of the thermostat.

[this creation]

10‧‧‧Rack

21‧‧‧Motor

22‧‧‧Reduction gearbox

23‧‧‧ Pusher screw

31‧‧‧Feed tube

32‧‧‧ Feeding hopper

33‧‧‧Extrusion head

34‧‧‧Extruder

40‧‧‧ thermostat

41‧‧‧ display screen

51‧‧‧First heating tube

52‧‧‧Second heating tube

60‧‧‧Transformers

70‧‧‧Coupling

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of an embodiment of a micro-extruder proposed by the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the preparation of a 3D printing material using the micro-extruder of Figure 1.

The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments in order to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art.

An embodiment of a micro-extruder proposed by the present invention, please refer to FIG. 1 , which includes a frame 10 and a motor 21 mounted on the frame 10 , a reduction gear box 22 , a push screw 23 , a feed pipe 31 , and a feed hopper . 32. Extrusion head 33, thermostat 40, temperature probe and heating tube. Wherein, the heating tube may be provided with one or more as needed, but in order to make the heating uniform, controllable, and achieve a better heating effect, the embodiment is preferably two, that is, includes the first heating tube 51 and the second heating. Tube 52. The first heating tube 51 is mounted on the outer surface of the first end of the feeding tube 31 (in the components involved in the embodiment, taking FIG. 1 as an example, the left side in FIG. 1 is the first end of the corresponding component, and the right side The second heating tube 52 is mounted on the outer surface of the middle portion of the feed tube 31 for the second end of the respective component.

Wherein, the second heating tube 52 is mounted on the outer surface of the middle portion of the feeding tube 31 for heating the entire feeding tube 31; and the first heating tube 51 is mounted on the first portion of the feeding tube 31. On the outer surface of the end, it is to ensure that the 3D printing material entering the extrusion head 33 from the first end of the feeding tube 31 is in a sufficient molten state to avoid heat Both cause problems in that the 3D printing material is difficult to extrude or even cause clogging.

The temperature measuring probe (not shown) may specifically adopt a thermocouple, which may be installed at an appropriate position on the surface of the feeding tube according to specific needs. Since the actual temperature of the first end of the feed tube 31 is mainly controlled in this embodiment, it is ensured that the 3D printing material entering the extrusion head 33 from the first end of the feed tube 31 is sufficiently melted. In the present embodiment, the temperature probe is preferably mounted on the outer surface of the first end of the feed tube 31. Specifically, the temperature probe is mounted on the first heating tube 51 and the feed tube 31. Between the first end outer surfaces (the temperature probe does not affect the heating effect of the first heating tube 51 on the first end of the feed tube 31).

In this embodiment, the motor 21 is drivingly connected to the input end of the reduction gear box 22; the output end of the reduction gear box 22 is drivingly connected with the second end of the push screw 23; A first end of the feed tube 31 is mounted in the second end of the feed tube 31, and is detachable from the second end of the feed tube 31 along the feed tube 31 under the drive of the motor 21 and the reduction gear box 22. a first end movement; the extrusion head 33 is mounted at the first end of the feed tube 31, the second end of the feed tube 31 is in communication with the feed tube 31, and the first end thereof is provided with an extrusion port 34; A feed hopper 32 is disposed above the feed tube 31 and is in communication with the feed tube 31.

In this embodiment, the temperature controller 40 is provided with a display screen 41 electrically connected to the heating tube (the first heating tube 51, the second heating tube 52) and the temperature measuring probe to control the heating tube. (the first heating pipe 51, the second heating pipe 52) heats the feeding pipe 31 according to a preset heating temperature, and monitors the actual temperature of the feeding pipe 31 through the temperature measuring probe; The preset heating temperature and the actual temperature are displayed (specifically, the upper portion of the display screen 41 in FIG. 1 is for displaying the actual temperature, and the lower portion is for displaying the preset heating temperature). In addition, the extrusion head 33 is further optimized in this embodiment. Specifically, the first end of the extrusion head 33 is tapered, and the extrusion port 34 is located at the apex of the cone. In view of the technical problem that the extrusion head in the prior art is easy to stick to the wire scrap after the condensation of the molten 3D printing material, the first end of the extrusion head 33 (at the extrusion port 34) is designed to be tapered. The contact area of the extruded wire (the molten 3D printing material extruded from the extrusion port 34 in the air to form a wire) and the outer surface of the extrusion head 33 can be greatly reduced, thereby greatly reducing the extruded wire. The probability of condensation forming a wire scrap on the outer surface of the extrusion head 33 is condensed.

In this embodiment, the extrusion head 33 may specifically be a copper shower head or a stainless steel head, and it is replaceable. The diameter of the extrusion port 34 is preferably from 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm to be suitable for extruding various desired fine wires, and since the wire is sufficiently slender, 30 can be automatically cooled and solidified in air. Further, the diameter of the extrusion port 34 of the extrusion head 33 may also preferably be 1.6 mm to 1.8 mm and 2.8 mm to 3.1 mm or other wire diameter.

Further, the embodiment may further include a transformer 60. One end of the transformer 60 is used for connecting an external power source, and the other end is electrically connected to the motor 21 and the temperature controller 40, respectively. The transformer 60 is used to convert an external power source (eg, 220V) to a rated voltage (eg, 12V) to power the motor 21, the thermostat 40. Meanwhile, in order to achieve a better transmission connection between the push screw 23 and the reduction gear box 22, the embodiment further includes a coupling 70 connected to the push screw 23 and the reduction gear box Between 22.

The micro-extruder proposed in this embodiment includes only the frame 10, the motor 21, the reduction gear box 22, the push screw 23, the feeding tube 31, the feeding hopper 32, the extrusion head 33, the temperature controller 40, and the measurement. Simple components such as temperature probes and heating tubes have the advantages of small size and light weight. They are desktop-level 3D printing material preparation devices suitable for various 3D printing materials required for personal or general household preparation (eg ABS plastic, PETG). Plastics, NYLON plastics, PLA environmentally friendly materials or TPU soft 10 materials or other thermoplastic polymer materials, etc., solve the problem that the personal or general households in the prior art cannot prepare 3D printing materials, and at the same time, made by individuals or ordinary families. The unqualified finished product can be directly recovered by using other mechanical equipment, and a new finished product can be prepared by using the embodiment. In addition, the user can read the preset heating temperature and the actual temperature displayed in the display screen 41 of the thermostat, and can perform temperature control and preparation operations more intuitively, conveniently, and efficiently.

A method of preparing a 3D printing material using the above-described micro-extruder embodiment will be described below. Referring to FIG. 2, it mainly includes the following steps S100 to S500:

S100: preset a heating temperature in the thermostat according to a temperature required for melting the different 3D printing materials, and control the heating tube to heat the feeding tube correspondingly; and display through the thermostat The screen displays the preset heating temperature.

S200. Monitor an actual temperature of the feeding tube by using the temperature measuring head, and display the actual temperature through a display screen of the temperature controller to determine whether the actual temperature reaches the preset heating temperature. .

S300. When the actual temperature reaches the preset heating temperature, the raw material of the corresponding 3D printing material is placed into the feeding tube from the feeding hopper.

S400: Turn on the motor, and the motor is driven to rotate by the reduction gear box to drive the push screw to rotate.

S500, the push screw rotates from the second end of the feeding tube along the first end of the feeding tube, and squeezes the molten 3D printing material in the feeding tube from the extrusion head Extrusion in the exit.

The molten 3D printing material extruded through the step S500 is cooled in the air to form a wire, and then the wire is taken up in a roll shape by a take-up reel, and can be stored as a 3D printing wire, the 3D printing wire. Suitable for 3D printers or 3D printers or similar wire-consuming machines.

Specifically, the raw materials of the 3D printing material include one of ABS plastic, PETG plastic, NYLON plastic, PLA environmental protection material, TPU and TPE soft material or other thermoplastic polymer materials.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely illustrative of several embodiments of the present invention, and the description thereof is more specific and detailed, but is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that a number of variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.

10‧‧‧Rack

21‧‧‧Motor

22‧‧‧Reduction gearbox

23‧‧‧ Pusher screw

31‧‧‧Feed tube

32‧‧‧ Feeding hopper

33‧‧‧Extrusion head

34‧‧‧Extruder

40‧‧‧ thermostat

41‧‧‧ display screen

51‧‧‧First heating tube

52‧‧‧Second heating tube

60‧‧‧Transformers

70‧‧‧Coupling

Claims (10)

A micro-extruder characterized by comprising a frame and a motor mounted on the frame, a reduction gear box, a push screw, a feeding tube, a feeding hopper, an extrusion head, a temperature controller, a temperature measuring probe and heating The motor is drivingly connected to the input end of the reduction gear box; the output end of the reduction gear box is drivingly connected with the second end of the push screw; the first end of the push screw is installed at the In the second end of the feed tube, and movable from the second end of the feed tube along the first end of the feed tube under the transmission of the motor and the reduction gear box; the extrusion head is mounted at a first end of the feed pipe, the second end of which is in communication with the feed pipe, and a first end thereof is provided with an extrusion port; the feed hopper is disposed above the feed pipe, and the feed pipe is opposite to the feed pipe Connected to each other; the heating tube and the temperature measuring probe are both mounted on the outer surface of the feeding tube; the temperature controller is provided with a display screen electrically connected to the heating tube and the temperature measuring probe, respectively, to control the The heating tube heats the feeding tube according to a preset heating temperature, and passes through The temperature probes to monitor the actual temperature of the feed tube; said display screen for displaying the preset heating temperature and the actual temperature. A micro-extruder according to claim 1, wherein said heating pipe comprises a first heating pipe and a second heating pipe, said first heating pipe being mounted on an outer surface of said first end of said feeding pipe The second heating tube is mounted on an outer surface of the middle portion of the feed tube. The micro-extruder according to claim 1, wherein said temperature measuring probe is specifically mounted on an outer surface of said first end of said feed tube. The micro-extruder according to claim 3, wherein the temperature measuring probe is specifically a thermocouple. The micro-extruder of claim 1 wherein the first end of the extrusion head is tapered and the extrusion port is located at the apex of the cone. The micro-extruder according to claim 1, further comprising a transformer, one end of the transformer for connecting an external power source, and the other end being electrically connected to the motor and the thermostat, respectively. The micro-extruder according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling that is coupled between the push screw and the reduction gear box. The micro-extruder according to claim 1, wherein the extrusion port of the extrusion head has a diameter of from 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm. A method for preparing a 3D printing material, characterized in that it is based on claim 1 The micro-extruder according to any one of claims 8 to 4, comprising the steps of: presetting a heating temperature in the thermostat according to a temperature required for melting of the different 3D printing materials, and controlling the heating tube Heating the feeding tube accordingly; and displaying the preset heating temperature through a display screen of the thermostat; monitoring the actual temperature of the feeding tube by the temperature measuring head, and passing the temperature The display screen of the controller displays the actual temperature to determine whether the actual temperature reaches the preset heating temperature; when the actual temperature reaches the preset heating temperature, the corresponding 3D printing material is Putting the raw material into the feeding pipe from the feeding hopper; opening the motor, causing the pushing screw to rotate after the motor is decelerated by the reduction gear box; and the feeding screw rotates from the feeding A second end of the tube moves along the first end of the feed tube and extrudes molten 3D printing material from the feed tube from the extrusion port of the extrusion head. The method for preparing a 3D printing material according to claim 9, wherein the raw material of the 3D printing material is thermoplastic including ABS plastic, PETG plastic, NYLON plastic, PLA environmental protection material, TPE and TPU soft material. One of the polymer materials.