TWI723375B - Method for printing 2d documents by using 3d printer - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for printing 2D documents by using an FDM 3D printer having a printing platform arranged with a boundary mark is disclosed and including: accepting a paper setting upon the printing platform and making the paper aligned with the boundary mark; entering to a 2D printing mode when the paper is aligned with the boundary mark; controlling a 2D nozzle of the 3D printer to reset a height of Z-axis and a printing origin of X-axis and Y-axis; controlling the 2D nozzle to move along the X-axis and to jet inks for performing a printing action of a 2D document; and, controlling the 2D nozzle to move along the Y-axis with a width of an ink cartridge each time for performing next printing action of printing next column of the 2D document on the paper after previous printing action of the X-axis is completed.

Description

2D document printing method realized by 3D printer

The invention relates to a 3D printer, in particular to a 2D document printing method realized by the 3D printer.

In view of the maturity of 3D printing technology, as well as the reduction in size and price of 3D printers, 3D printers have become popularized at an extremely rapid rate in recent years.

Generally, a common 3D printer is mainly equipped with a 3D nozzle for injecting molding materials, whereby the molding materials are stacked on a printing platform to form a 3D object. However, most 3D printers can only print objects of a single color (that is, the color of the 3D object is equal to the color of the molding material used), which is rather monotonous.

In order to increase the color of 3D objects produced by 3D printing, a 3D printer that can print 3D objects in multiple colors has recently appeared on the market. Specifically, the printing method adopted by the 3D printer is shown in FIG. 1.

Figure 1 is a flow chart of the related technology for printing color objects. First, a 3D printer loads multiple monochrome 3D models (step S10), and reads the coordinate information of the multiple 3D models (step S12). Then, all layer processing is performed on the multiple 3D models respectively according to the read coordinate information (step S14).

Specifically, since the 3D printer only has a single 3D nozzle, the 3D printer can still only recognize a single color molding material. Therefore, if a color 3D model is to be printed, the color 3D model needs to be converted into multiple monochrome 3D models and loaded into the 3D printer respectively. In this way, after the above-mentioned layering process, the 3D printer can use the multiple 3D models to use multiple rolls of molding materials of different colors for color mixing, thereby printing a color corresponding to the color 3D model 3D object (step S16).

However, because the technical solution adopted by the related technology is to mix colors by molding materials of different colors, the printing cost is quite high, and the colors that can be printed are also limited, which cannot meet the requirements of full-color printing.

Furthermore, the movement of the 3D nozzle of the above-mentioned 3D printer is usually controlled by a stepping motor, which has a better correction effect than the optical ruler used in the traditional 2D printer. Therefore, in comparison, the traditional 2D printing technology realized by 2D printers should be further improved.

The present invention provides a 2D document printing method realized by a 3D printer, and the 2D document can be printed by the 3D printer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method is applied to an FDM-type 3D printer, wherein a printing platform of the 3D printer is provided with a border mark, and the method includes: receiving through the printing platform Place a paper and align the paper with the border mark; enter a 2D printing mode after the paper is aligned with the border mark; control a 2D print head of the 3D printer to reset the height on a Z axis and a A print origin on the X axis and a Y axis; a stepping motor controls the 2D print head to move along the X axis and spray ink to perform a 2D document printing action, so that the 2D print The head achieves the same effect as the optical ruler; and, when the printing action on the X axis ends, the 2D nozzle is controlled to move the width of the ink cartridge in the direction of the Y axis to execute the next printing action. To print the next line of the 2D document on this paper.

Compared with the technical solutions adopted in related technologies, the present invention uses a 3D printer to print 2D documents, which can achieve better results and accuracy.

Related technologies :

S10~S16: Printing steps

The invention :

1: Printer

10: Control lever

2: Printing platform

21: anchor point

22: Boundary marking

3: 3D print head

4: 2D print head

5: 3D color model

50: Boundary block

501: Print origin

6: Path file

7: Image file

71: Cyan image file

72: Magenta image file

73: Yellow image file

74: Black image file

A1: Calibration template

A2: Correction color block

W: ink cartridge width

S20~S28, S240-S242, S260-S262, S280-S282: Processing and printing steps

S2600~S2606, S262: 2D image slice steps

S40~S46: Calibration steps

S50~S66: Printing steps

S70~S86: Printing steps

Figure 1 is a flow chart of the related technology for printing color objects.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

3 is a flowchart of color model processing and printing according to an embodiment of the invention.

4 is a flowchart of 2D image slice processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a path file according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of an image file according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of a boundary block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a flow chart of generating a correction value according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of calibration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of printing a color object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of printing a color object according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the boundary of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of 2D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With regard to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description is given below in conjunction with the drawings.

The present invention discloses a color object printing method for a 3D printer (hereinafter referred to as the method). The method is mainly applied to a 3D printer equipped with a nozzle for ejecting a molding material and a nozzle for ejecting color ink at the same time.

Refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a 3D printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 2 discloses a 3D printer (hereinafter referred to as the printer 1 for short). The printer 1 has a printing platform 2, and the printing platform 2 is configured with injection molding materials to print 3D. A 3D nozzle 3 for the object, and a 2D nozzle 4 for spraying inks of different colors to color the 3D object.

In one embodiment, the 2D nozzle 4 is an ink nozzle used in an existing flat printer, and a plurality of ink cartridges storing inks of different colors are connected behind the 2D nozzle 4. In one embodiment, four ink cartridges are connected to the rear of the 2D nozzle 4, and the four ink cartridges store Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black inks respectively.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the printer 1 is an example of a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printer, and the molding material used by the 3D nozzle 3 is a thermoplastic wire. In another embodiment, the printer 1 is a light-curing (Stereolithography Apparatus, SLA) 3D printer, and the molding material used for the 3D nozzle 3 is a light-curing resin. Of course, the method disclosed in each embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various types of 3D printers, and is not limited to the foregoing.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the 3D spray head 3 and the 2D spray head 4 are arranged on the same control rod 10. Specifically, the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the control rod 10, and the printer 1 controls the control rod 10 to move the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle respectively 4. In other embodiments, the printer 1 can also be provided with multiple control levers, and the 3D spray head 3 and the 2D spray head 4 can be respectively set and controlled by different control levers.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method is that the printer 1 controls the 3D nozzle 3 to print each print layer of a color 3D object on the print platform 2, and prints on each print layer Upon completion, the 2D nozzle 4 is controlled to color the printed layer after printing.

Refer to FIG. 3, which is a flowchart of color model processing and printing according to an embodiment of the present invention. The steps shown in FIG. 3 are mainly executable in the printer 1 or a computer device (not shown in the figure) connected to the printer 1, but are not limited. Specifically, the steps shown in FIG. 3 are executed by a processor of the printer 1 or the computer device.

In one embodiment, the method first loads a 3D file corresponding to a color model (step S20). Specifically, the 3D file is an OBJ file or a PLY file edited by the user in advance, and the user is recorded The color model to be printed. The step S20 is to load the 3D file into a computer device (not shown in the figure) or the printer 1, whereby the computer device or the printer 1 can read a mark information and a color of the color model Information (step S22).

In one embodiment, the coordinate information is the coordinates of each point on the color model on an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis of the printer 1, and the color information is on the color model The color scale of the three primary colors (R, G, B) of each point.

In one embodiment, the method is to perform two different types of slice processing after obtaining the coordinate information and the color information of the color model, including the first layer processing of the body of the color model ( Step S24) and the second slice processing performed on the image of the color model (step S26). And in this embodiment, the method is to control according to the files generated by the first layer processing and the second layer processing after the execution of the first layer processing and the second layer processing are completed. The 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 eject molding materials and ink (step S28), thereby completing the printing operation of a color 3D object.

Specifically, after obtaining the coordinate information and the color information, the method performs a 3D path slicing process (that is, the above-mentioned first layer process) based on the coordinate information to generate multiple print layers A path file of (step S240). Specifically, if the color model can be cut into one hundred printing layers, one hundred of the path files will be generated after the 3D path slice processing. The one hundred path files respectively correspond to the one hundred print layers, and respectively describe the print paths of all layer objects contained in each print layer. Specifically, the color model is formed by stacking the multiple sliced objects.

In one embodiment, each path file is also recorded with a layer number mark, and the layer number mark is used to describe the number of print layers corresponding to each path file. For example, the level of the path file of the first level is marked as "1", the level of the path file of the tenth level is marked as "10", and the level of the path file of the 100th level is marked as "1". Marked as "100", and so on. During the printing process, the printer 1 can obtain the coloring data of the same printing layer by using the layer number mark of each path file, thereby coloring the sliced objects of each printing layer.

Please also refer to FIG. 5A, which is a schematic diagram of a path file according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 5A discloses a 3D color model 5. After the method performs the 3D path slicing process on the color model 5, a plurality of the printing layers can be cut out, and a path is generated for each of the printing layers. File 6, wherein each path file 6 respectively describes the printing path of the sliced object in the corresponding printing layer. In one embodiment, the path file 6 is a G code file, but it is not limited.

Return to Figure 3. After the step S240, the method then stores the generated path files in a path file database (step S242). In one embodiment, the path file database can be located in the cloud, the computer device, the printer 1, or any other location, without limitation.

In one embodiment, the 3D path slicing process is an object slicing process performed on the body of the color model 5, which belongs to a well-known technology in the technical field, and will not be repeated here.

In addition to the above step S240 and the step S242, after obtaining the coordinate information and the color information, the method also executes a 2D image slice process based on the coordinate information and the color information (that is, the above-mentioned second Two-layer processing) to generate an image file with multiple printing layers (step S260). Specifically, the number of the multiple printing layers generated in the step S260 is the same as the number of the multiple printing layers generated in the step S240, and each printing layer has the same height. In other words, the number of the multiple image files is the same as the number of the multiple path files.

In one embodiment, each of the image files further records the layer number mark as described above, and the layer number mark is used to describe the number of print layers corresponding to each image file. For example, the layer number of the image file of the first layer is marked as "1", the layer number of the image file of the tenth layer is marked as "10", and the layer number of the image file of the hundredth layer is marked as "1". Marked as "100", and so on. During the printing process, the printer 1 can obtain the image file of the same printing layer by using the layer number mark of each path file, thereby printing each image file according to the image file of the same printing layer The sliced object of the layer is colored.

Please also refer to FIG. 5B, which is a schematic diagram of an image file according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5B, the method can cut out a plurality of printing layers after performing the 2D image slice processing on the color model 5, and generate an image file 7 for each printing layer, wherein each The image file 7 respectively describes the color information of the sliced object in the corresponding printing layer. In one embodiment, the image file 7 includes a cyan image file 71 describing cyan information (Cyan) of the sliced object, a magenta image file 72 describing magenta information (Magenta), and a description yellow information (Yellow) A yellow image file 73 and a black image file 74 describing black information (Black). In one embodiment, the image files 7 are BMP files, JBG files or RAW files, but it is not limited.

Return to Figure 3. After the step S260, the method then stores the generated image files in an image file database (step S262). In one embodiment, the image file database can be located in the cloud, the computer device, the printer 1, or any other location, without limitation.

After the 3D path slicing process and the 2D image slicing process are executed, the printer 1 can control the 3D nozzle 3 according to the multiple path files to print the sliced objects of each printing layer layer by layer ( Step S280), and obtain the image file of the same printing layer according to the layer number mark of each path file, and control the 2D print head 4 to color the sliced objects of the same printing layer according to the plurality of image files (Step S282). In this way, the printer 1 can control the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 according to the path file and the image file of the same printing layer (ie, the same layer height), so that the 3D nozzle 3 and the image file The 2D nozzle 4 is located at the same Z-axis height to print the sliced object of the printing layer and color the sliced object.

In the present invention, the 3D print head 3 only uses a single color molding material to print each of the sliced objects, and the 2D print head 4 uses a variety of inks of different colors to print the sliced objects according to the description of the multiple image files. Each sliced object printed is colored. Thereby, the printer 1 can print the sliced object in full color, and a full-color 3D object can be formed by stacking a plurality of sliced objects in full color.

Please continue to refer to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart of 2D image slice processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is used to further illustrate the second layer slicing process performed in the step S26 described above.

Specifically, after obtaining the coordinate information and the color information in the aforementioned step S22, the method first sets a boundary block according to the size of the color model 5 (step S2600), wherein the boundary block has a square shape. And cover the entire color model. Next, the method selects the boundary block on the One of the boundary points is used as a printing origin of the 2D print head 4 (step S2602). Then, the coordinate information in the image file 7 of each printing layer is adjusted according to the printing origin (step S2604).

Please also refer to FIG. 5C, which is a schematic diagram of a boundary block according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5C, when the method performs the second slice processing, a boundary block 50 is generated according to the size of the color model 5, and any boundary point on the boundary block 50 is selected as A printing origin 501 of the 2D print head 4. In this embodiment, the method is to select the upper left corner of the boundary block 50 as the printing origin 501, but it is not limited.

Specifically, the image files 7 generated after the second slice processing are used to describe the color information of the slice objects in each print layer, so the file capacity is greater than the file capacity of the path files 6 Big. In order to effectively reduce the file capacity of the image files 7, an embodiment of the present invention is to first set the boundary block 50, and then slice the image portion of the color model 5 in the boundary block 50, and The size of the generated image files 7 is the same as the size of the boundary block 50 (that is, the length and width of the image files 7 are the same as the length and width of the boundary block 50).

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, one of the boundary points on the boundary block 50 is selected as the printing origin 501 of the 2D print head 4, instead of directly using a preset positioning point on the printing platform 2 21 is used as the printing origin of the 2D print head 4, so the size of the image files 7 can be reduced, and the coloring speed of the 2D print head 4 can be increased. In one embodiment, the 3D print head 3 uses the positioning point 21 preset on the printing platform 2 as the printing origin. In another embodiment, the 3D print head 3 can also use the same printing origin 501 as the 2D print head 4, but it is not limited.

Return to Figure 4. After the step S2604, the method further converts the color levels of the three primary colors of the color information in the image file to generate the cyan image file 71 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in each of the printing layers. , The magenta image file 72, the yellow image file Case 73 and the black image file 74 (step S2606). In other words, in the step S2606, the method is to convert the color information from the three primary colors (R, G, B) to the four printing colors (C, M, Y, K). In this way, in the step S282 of FIG. 3 described above, the printer 1 can base the cyan image file 71, the magenta image file 72, the yellow image file 73, and the black image file 74 of each printing layer. To control the four ink cartridges of the 2D nozzle 4 to eject ink to respectively color each of the sliced objects.

After the step S2606, the method separately stores the cyan image file 71, the magenta image file 72, the yellow image file 73 and the black image file 74 of each print layer to the image file database (step S262) , And then execute step S28 to perform printing and coloring of each sliced object. In this embodiment, each print layer has four corresponding image files 71-74, and the four image files 71-74 are used to describe the cyan information, Magenta information, yellow information, and black information.

As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the 3D spray head 3 and the 2D spray head 4 are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the control rod 10, so the 3D spray head 3 and the 2D spray head 4 will have a spatial Distance error. In another embodiment, the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 may use different printing origins during printing, so there will also be a spatial distance error. In order to compensate for the above distance error, the 2D print head 4 can accurately color each of the sliced objects printed by the 3D print head 3. Therefore, in one embodiment, the printer 1 needs to actually print each of the The 3D nozzle 3 or/and the 2D nozzle 4 are calibrated before the layered object is sliced, or before each sliced object is colored.

6A and 6B, which are respectively a flow chart of generating a correction value and a schematic diagram of correction according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the printer 1 corrects the 3D nozzle 3 or/and the 2D nozzle 4 according to a pre-calculated correction value, and the correction value is calculated according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

First, the printer 1 controls the 3D nozzle 3 to print one or more calibration templates A1 on the printing platform 2 according to a preset coordinate group (step S40). Then, the printer 1 controls the 2D nozzle 4 to color the printed calibration template A1 according to the same preset coordinate group (step S42). Specifically, the step S42 is to control the 2D print head 4 to directly print a calibration color patch A2 on the calibration template A1 according to the same preset coordinate set. In this way, the printer 1, a user or an administrator can confirm the 3D print head 3 and the coloring status of the calibration template A1 (ie, the corresponding status of the calibration template A1 and the calibration color patch A2) The distance error of the 2D nozzle 4 in space (step S44). Then, the printer 1 can generate and store the above-mentioned correction value according to the distance error (step S46).

For example, the 3D print head 3 may use the preset coordinate set to print the square-shaped calibration template A1, and the 2D print head 4 may use the same preset coordinate set to print the same as the calibration template A1 The shape and size of the correction patch A2. If the calibration color block A2 is completely aligned with the calibration template A1, it can be determined that the 3D print head 3 and the 2D print head 4 do not have a distance error; if the calibration color block A2 deviates from the calibration template A10.2mm to the right, it can be determined that the 3D The distance error between the nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 on the X axis is +0.2mm; if the calibration color block A2 deviates from the calibration template A10.2mm to the left, it can be judged that the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 are on the X axis If the correction color block A2 deviates upward from the correction template A10.2mm, it can be judged that the distance error between the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 on the Y axis is +0.2mm; if the correction When the color block A2 deviates from the calibration template A10.2mm downward, it can be judged that the distance error between the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 on the Y axis is -0.2mm, and so on.

Refer to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart of printing a color object according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 7 further illustrates how the printer 1 controls the 3D nozzle 3 and the 2D nozzle 4 in the step S28 of FIG. 3.

After the 3D path slicing process and the 2D image slicing process are completed through the various embodiments of the present invention, the printer 1 can start to print each of the sliced objects layer by layer, and after printing a row After the layered object of the printing layer is printed, the layered object is colored. And after the coloring is completed, the sliced object of the next printing layer is printed, and so on.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the printer 1 first reads a path file 6 of the printing layer (step S50). Specifically, the printer 1 reads a path file 6 from the path file database. The path file of the print layer 6. Then, the printer 1 controls the 3D nozzle 3 to print the sliced object of the printing layer according to the path file 6 (step S52).

It is worth mentioning that in each embodiment of the present invention, the 2D nozzle 4 directly sprays ink on the printed sliced object to color the sliced object. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the sliced object as much as possible. The surface is flat. In one embodiment, the printer 1 may first print one of the sliced objects and color the sliced objects, or print the sliced objects of the next printing layer. The 3D nozzle 3 is controlled to stop supplying materials, and a molding material withdrawal procedure is executed (step S54). In this way, the printed layered object is kept flat on the surface, and then the next action is executed. However, in other embodiments, the step S54 may not be executed.

Next, the printer 1 determines whether the currently printed sliced object needs to be colored (step S56), that is, it determines whether the sliced object printed in the step S52 needs to be colored. If the sliced object is a single color, and the color of the sliced object is the same as the color of the molding material used by the 3D nozzle 3, the printer 1 can determine that the sliced object currently printed does not need to be colored.

Specifically, in one embodiment, the printer 1 can read the path file 6 of the printing layer, and determine whether the sliced object needs to be colored according to the description content of the path file 6. In another embodiment, the printer 1 can also directly read the image file database to view the image file database Whether the image file 7 of the same printing layer is stored in the file is used to determine whether the currently printed layered object needs to be colored. That is, when the image file 7 with the same printing layer in the image file database is judged that the sliced object needs to be colored, and when the image file 7 in the image file database does not have the same printing layer, it is judged that the The sliced object does not need to be colored.

If it is determined in step S56 that the sliced object of the print layer does not need to be colored, the printer 1 does not need to control the 2D nozzle 4, but then executes step S66 to determine whether it is necessary to print the next The sliced object of the print layer.

If it is determined in the step S56 that the sliced object of the printing layer needs to be colored, the printer 1 further reads the image file 7 of the same printing layer from the image file database (step S58). In one embodiment, the printer 1 reads the cyan image file 71, the magenta image file 72, the yellow image file 73 and the same layer height (for example, the 100th layer) from the image file database. The black image file 74. In one embodiment, the image files 71-74 are image files generated after performing the 2D image slice processing. In other embodiments, the user can also modify the images of the image files 71-74 generated by the 2D image slice processing through an external computer device, so that the description content of the image files 71-74 is more in line with the user. Actual demand.

After the step S58, the printer 1 controls the 2D nozzle 4 to color the sliced object of the same printing layer according to the obtained image file 7 (step S62). In one embodiment, after the printer 1 reads the image file 7, it will first control the 2D nozzle 4 to move and return to the printing origin 501, and then control the 2D nozzle 4 from the printing origin. Point 501 starts to move to color the sliced object. Moreover, in order to prevent misoperation, the printer 1 can turn off a coloring function of the printing layer after the 2D print head 4 finishes coloring the sliced object (step S64).

In one embodiment, the printer 1 may read the calibration value pre-stored in the foregoing embodiment before controlling the 2D print head 4 for coloring, and adjust the calibration value obtained in step S58 according to the calibration value. The coordinate information in the image file of the print layer (step S60). And in the step S62, the printer 1 controls the 2D print head 4 to perform coloring according to the adjusted image file 7 again.

For example, if the coordinates of one of the anchor points in the image file 7 are (100, 90, 90), and the correction value is "X axis + 0.5mm", after adjustment, the coordinates of the anchor point will be Becomes (100.5,90,90). However, the above description is only one embodiment of the present invention, but it is not limited thereto. For example, when the 3D print head 3 and the 2D print head 4 both use the positioning point 21 on the printing platform 2 as the printing origin, the printer 1 may not use the 3D print head 3 or/and the 2D print head 3 The nozzle 4 performs calibration, that is, step S60 does not need to be executed.

After the coloring of the sliced object of the printing layer is completed, the printer 1 determines whether the printing layer is the last printing layer of the color model 5 (step S66). In one embodiment, the printer 1 determines whether there is an unread path file 6 in the path file database, thereby determining whether the printing layer is the last printing layer of the color model 5. In another embodiment, the printer 1 determines whether the printing layer is the last printing layer of the color model 5 according to whether it receives a printing end notification sent from the outside.

If the printing layer is not the last printing layer of the color model 5, the printer 1 executes the step S50 to the step S64 again to print the sliced object of the next printing layer, and the Slice the object for coloring. Conversely, if the printing layer is the last printing layer of the color model 5, the printer 1 ends this printing operation.

Refer to FIG. 8, which is a flowchart of printing a color object according to another embodiment of the present invention. Steps S70, S74-S80, S82 to S86 in the embodiment of FIG. 8 and steps S50, S52 to S58, and in the embodiment of FIG. 7 S62~S66 are the same or similar, so I won't repeat them here. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 8 and the embodiment of FIG. 7 is that the printer 1 obtains the correction value before controlling the 3D print head 3 to print the sliced object of a printing layer, and executes a step S72 After adjusting the coordinate information in the path file 6 of the printing layer according to the correction value, the step S74 is executed to control the 3D nozzle 3 to print the printing layer of the printing layer according to the adjusted path file 6 Slice objects.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the printer 1 calibrates the 3D print head 3 using the correction value. Therefore, the printer 1 reads the image file 7 of the same printing layer in step S80. It is not necessary to calibrate the 2D print head 4, and the step S82 can be performed directly to control the 2D print head 4 to color the sliced object of the same printing layer according to the image file 7.

As described in the foregoing, the present invention uses the 2D nozzle 4 to color each of the sliced objects printed by the 3D nozzle 3, and the 2D nozzle 4 can be an ink nozzle used in an existing flat printer. Therefore, in one embodiment, the printer 1 can also realize full-color 2D printing on the printing platform 2 by operating the 2D nozzle 4. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the printer 1 uses a stepping motor to control the movement of the 3D print head 3 and the 2D print head 4, so the pulse generated by the stepping motor can be used to It replaces the sensing information of the optical ruler of the existing flat printer.

Refer to FIGS. 9 and 10, which are respectively a schematic diagram of a boundary and a schematic diagram of 2D printing according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, in one embodiment, the printer 1 can be set on at least one corner of the printing platform 2 according to the size to be printed (that is, the size of the paper, such as A4, B5, etc.). Boundary marking 22. If the user wants to use the printer 1 to perform the 2D printing action, he can place the paper on the printing platform 2 and align the border mark 22, and use the 2D print head 4 to transfer the text or image The content is printed on the paper.

Specifically, the 2D printing action is the same or similar to the coloring method described above. The difference is that the coloring method described above is to control the 2D nozzle 4 to eject ink on each of the sliced objects that have been printed. The example of the 2D printing operation is to control the 2D nozzle 4 to eject ink onto the paper placed on the printing platform 2.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the printer 1 controls the 2D nozzle 4 to move in the X-axis direction, the same effect as the optical ruler of the existing 2D flat printer is achieved by calculating the operation of the stepping motor. When the printer 1 controls the 2D nozzle 4 to move in the Y-axis direction, it controls the 2D nozzle 4 to move one ink cartridge width W each time, thereby printing the next line until the entire 2D document is printed. until.

With the method implemented in each embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to effectively read the 3D file of a single color model, to control the 3D nozzle and the 2D nozzle separately, and to print the sliced objects of each printing layer. And coloring, and then get the technical effect of full-color 3D objects, which is quite convenient.

The above are only preferred specific examples of the present invention, and are not limited to the scope of the patent of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes made by using the content of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention in the same way. Bright.

2: Printing platform

22: Boundary marking

W: ink cartridge width

Claims (1)

A 2D document printing method realized by a 3D printer, applied to a 3D printer, the 3D printer has a printing platform, a 3D nozzle and a 2D nozzle integrated with the 3D nozzle, wherein the 3D printing The meter is a thermal fusion deposition (FDM) 3D printer. The 3D nozzle is used to spray thermoplastic wires, the 2D nozzle is used to spray inks of different colors, and at least one corner of the printing platform is fixedly provided with a Border marking, and the method includes: a) receiving a paper placement action through the printing platform, wherein the paper is aligned with the border marking marked on the printing platform; b) entering after the paper is aligned with the border marking A 2D printing mode to print a 2D document on the paper through the 2D print head; c) After the step b), control the 2D print head to reset to a Z axis of the 3D printer Height and a printing origin on an X-axis and a Y-axis of the 3D printer, where the printing origin of the 2D printhead of the 3D printer is defined by a boundary based on a color 3D model A boundary point on the block is converted into a positioning point on the boundary mark on the printing platform; d) The 2D print head is controlled to move along the X-axis and move on the paper by calculating the operation of a stepping motor Jet cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink and black ink to execute the printing action of the 2D document, and print the text or image content on the paper, so that the 2D nozzle can achieve the same effect as the optical ruler ; And e) when the printing action on the X-axis ends, control the 2D nozzle to move the width of an ink cartridge of the 2D nozzle in the direction of the Y-axis to execute the next printing operation for the Print the next line of the 2D document on the paper.

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