Technical Field

The invention relates to a liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer which is used for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object designed in a virtual environment in metal form and which has the cooling property for a plastic model mold.

Background of the Invention

Three-dimensional printing is the process of printing a three-dimensional object of any shape designed in a virtual environment in solid form. Devices that perform this process are called 3D printers. Prints can be made using many types of raw materials. The most widely used raw material on the basis of normal users are hard plastics called PLA and ABS. There are three-dimensional printers that can print in various types and techniques. The working principle of three-dimensional printers, which are the most widely used, is based on the fact that any three-dimensional object prepared in computer environment is divided into layers and each layer is printed on top of each other by pouring the melted raw material.

For the metal forming of the product in three-dimensional printers, gas metal arc welding printers using the method of welding to each layer; and three-dimensional printers such as powder bed fusion (PBF) printers using a laser or electron beam to melt and fuse the material powder are known in the art. However, these methods in the prior art involve very high cost and complex systems and do not produce sufficient quality products for metal.

The patent application US20170056970A1 in the state of the art relates to a three- dimensional printer, and discloses a system for adjusting the ambient thermal values during the forming of the metal. In this document, various coolers can cool the tray on which the metal is shaped and the shaped metal product.

Patent application CN106112206 in the state of the art discloses a metal enclosure, a six-axis robotic arm, a displacement substrate assembly, a welded assembly, a temperature control probe and a CCD monitor. The document mentions the usability of the cooler at the bottom of the tray where the arc welding is made.

Problems Solved by the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer that forms a plastic mold in a three-dimensional manner and allows the metal product to form into the mold.

The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer that uses a cooler to prevent molten metal from damaging the plastic mold.

The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer which is used to prevent flame occurring in the event of metal spillage.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer realized in order to achieve the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawing, in which

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the internal structure of a liquid-cooled three-dimensional printer according to the present invention.

The parts in the figures are numbered one by one and the corresponding numbers are given below.

1. Cooled three dimensional printer

2. Body

21. First nozzle

22. Second nozzle

23. Lid

24. Additional chamber

25. Pipe

3. Process table

31. Connection hole

4. Motion assembly 41. Rod piece

5. Cooling device

6. Gas burner

7. Top plate

8. Sensor

9. Propeller

10. Heatsink

A cooled three-dimensional printer (1) used for printing a three-dimensional object designed in a virtual environment in a metal solid form with a plastic model mold comprises;

at least one body (2) having a volume inside;

at least one plastic melt agglomeration system used for the production of plastic molds and including a first nozzle (21) for transferring the plastic,

at least one metal melt agglomeration system for pouring molten metal into the plastic mold and including a second nozzle (22) for transferring the metal, at least one processing table (3) places in the body (2) and used for shaping the plastic mold and/or metal,

at least one motion assembly (4) connected to the process table (3) for up and down movement of the process table (3) in the body (2),

at least one cooling device (5) for cooling a liquid placed in the body (2), at least one control unit adapted to control the cooling device (5) and the motion assembly (4).

The inventive cooled three-dimensional printer of the present invention (1) includes a plastic melt agglomeration system in a body (2) that produces a three-dimensional mold pattern of plastic material on the process table (3) and a metal melt agglomeration system for conveying molten metal into the plastic mold for the desired metal product and is comprised of a motion assembly (4) for moving the processing table (3) for contact with the liquid in the body (2) of the plastic mold formed on the processing table (3); and a cooling device (5) for cooling the liquid contained in the body (2). There is a control unit for the operation and control of said cooling device and the motion assembly (4), and during the pouring of the metal melt into the plastic mold, the plastic mold is cooled and the deformation of the mold is prevented. With the molding system used in the cooled three-dimensional printer (1) of the present invention, the mold in which the metal is poured into the metal is first formed with plastic and after the plastic container completes the shape, the metal is poured into the mold and the metal takes the desired shape. A cooling device (4) is used to cool the plastic by immersing the plastic in the liquid in the body (2).

By separating CAD data into layers by software, the path is determined for the first nozzle (21) and the second nozzle (22) to move for metal transfer (22) in the cooled three-dimensional printer (1). First, the plastic heater is formed as a first layer on the process table (3) together with the first nozzle (21) as a mold. Then, the metal is introduced into the plastic mold by the second nozzle (22). After the plastic mold is immersed in liquid, the second layer is applied by the first nozzle (21) onto the first layer and again the metal is conveyed into the second layer by the second nozzle (22). This process continues until the product is completely formed.

In the plastic melt stacking system and the metal melt stacking system, the solid first material (metal or plastic), called filament, is directed to the heater first nozzle (21) or second nozzle (22) by means of pulley and motor. The solid material reaching the nozzle is heated to a semi-fluid or a semi-fluid state. The semi-fluid or the material in semi-fluid state travels from through the nozzle in a specific path predetermined by the software. The semi-fluid or the material in semi-fluid state solidifies by cooling as soon as it leaves the head and one of the layers forming the model geometry is completed.

The control unit in the cooled three-dimensional printer (1) of the present invention calculates the required cooling according to the stage of making the model transmitted as input. During the transfer of the molten metal into the plastic mold, under the control of the control unit, the motion assembly (4) gradually immerses the process table (3) into the cooled liquid and provides cooling of the plastic, after the first layer is completed, the second plastic mold layer is formed again and this layer is filled with metal again. This process continues until the mold and product are completely formed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the motion assembly (4) is comprised of at least one rod piece (41) extending from the base of the body (2) and used in the up and down movement of the process table (3) in association with the processing table (3), and a drive device used in driving the rod piece (41).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the motion assembly (4) comprises a drive device with a hydraulic or pneumatic system and a rod piece (41) which is the piston shaft of the unit. The piston movement and the piston shaft can move back and forth to move the process table (3) to which it is associated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one connection hole (31) on the process table (3) through which the rod piece (41) passes. In another embodiment of the present invention, the threaded structure is provided in the connection hole (31) and there are screw steps compatible with the threaded structure on the rod piece (41). As a result of the rotating movement of the rod piece (41) with its drive device about its axis, the process table (3) moves in the upward or downward direction with the thread-screw step connection. In this way, upward and downward movement of the process table (3) can be achieved with a precise measurement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there are two opposed rod pieces (41) in the body (2). In another embodiment of the present invention, there are four rod pieces (41).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (5) is a thermoelectric cooler. The thermoelectric cooling device (5) is used to cool the cooling liquid added to the body (2) by the command from the control unit or manually. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (5) is a peltier cooler.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one temperature sensor (8) used to measure the temperature inside the body (2) and / or the temperature of the liquid placed in the body (2). The temperature sensor (8) transmits the measurement data to the controller and the controller can adjust the required temperature with the cooling device (5).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature sensor (8) is an infrared sensor. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is a heatsink (10) located at the bottom of the body (2) and used for homogeneous cooling of the liquid contained in the body (2). In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (5) is connected to the heatsink (10) and the cooling device (5) cools the heatsink (10).

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one propeller (9) located in the body (2) and used for more homogeneous and faster cooling. The propeller (9) is preferably driven by a motor and can be operated by the controller or manually.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is a drainage outlet in the form of an opening on the body (2) which is used to prevent the rise of the liquid by submerging the process table (3). As the process table (3) and the plastic mold sink into the liquid in the body (2), the liquid exits through the liquid drainage outlet in the body (2) and the increase of the liquid height in the body (2) is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one additional reservoir (24) connected to the drain outlet. The fluid overflowing from the body (2) exits the drain outlet and accumulates in the additional chamber (24). In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one pipe (25) is provided between the additional chamber (24) and the drain outlet. In an embodiment of the present invention, the additional chamber (24) is attachable and detachable on the drain outlet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a lid (23) which can be opened and closed, on an opening over the body (2). In another embodiment of the present invention, the lid (23) is transparent, such as glass, and allows the product to be observed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid added to the body (2) is an antifreeze.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first nozzle (21) of the plastic melt agglomeration system and the second nozzle (22) of the metal melt agglomeration system are located on a biaxial top plate (7) located in the body (2). In another embodiment of the present invention, the first nozzle (21) and the second nozzle (22) are movable biaxially on the top plate (7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one gas burner (6) in the body (2) which performs combustion until oxygen is exhausted. The combustion continues until all the oxygen in the body (2) is exhausted.

Three-dimensional printer method used for printing and cooling a three-dimensional object designed in a virtual environment in metal solid form with plastic model mold comprises the steps of;

- loading the model of the part to be produced in the printer,

choosing the type of plastic to be printed as mold (PLA, ABS, PVA etc.), selecting the material to be produced (Aluminum, copper, etc.),

calculating the mold to be printed in plastic of the part to be produced and adjusting the printing speed of the selected metal material by a control unit, - cooling the liquid in the body by a coolant,

detecting that the liquid has cooled sufficiently with a temperature sensor, printing the first plastic layer on a process table,

moving the process table down one layer (dipping into liquid) after or during the first plastic layer is produced,

- printing the first metal layer which will remain in the first plastic layer after the first plastic layer has cooled sufficiently,

printing the second plastic layer onto the first layer after determining that the temperature is at the desired level and continuing the layer formation process until the desired shape is formed.

In one embodiment of the three-dimensional printer method, after the step of cooling a liquid in the body by a cooler, a gas burner performs combustion until the oxygen in the body is exhausted.