H.C. Kim
Andong National University,
Korea
Keywords: mechanical property adjustable 3d-printer, heat-treatment of each layer, easy separation of printed product
Summary:
Conventional 3d-printer system performs heat-treatment after completion of printing of structure and this prevents heat-treatment for inner part of the printed-structure. Also, it is difficult to separate printed-structure from platform without damage since the bottom part of structure is strongly attached to the upper surface of platform. The novel 3d-printer system comprises: 3D-metal-printer which stacks and processes a structure by melting metal powder by laser, heat-treatment unit performing heat-treatment per layer during stacking and processing of the structure, main controller to control operation of 3D-metal-printer and heat-treatment unit, and a platform installed in the 3D-metal-printer, comprising a pair of a left and a right platform, and an elevation cylinder installed at a lower end of the right and the left platform and elevating the right and the left platform so as to detach the printed structure from the platform. The heat-treatment unit further includes: a heat-treatment-atmosphere-controller to control heat-treatment atmosphere of a space where heat-treatment is performed, the heat-treatment-atmosphere-controller comprising atmosphere-gas-supply means and atmosphere-gas-dispensing means; a heat-treatment-path-output for quenching outer surface of the structure to harden the surface and for annealing/tempering inner part and core of the structure so that selective heat-treatment can be performed depending on plane position. - Conventional Problem: Since conventional 3d-printer system performs heat-treatment after completion of printing of structure and this prevents heat-treatment for inner part of the printed-structure. Also, it is difficult to separate printed-structure from platform without damaging the printed structure since the bottom part of the structure is strongly attached to the upper surface of the platform. - Advantages of the invention: 1) Adjusting Mechanical Property of Structure During Manufacture – High Controllability of Inner Part of Structure The novel 3D-printer system has a separate heat-treatment unit to perform heat-treatment per layer during stacking and processing of the structure. The heat-treatment unit further comprises heat-treatment-path-output for quenching outer surface of the structure to harden the surface and for annealing/tempering inner part and core of the structure so that selective heat-treatment can be performed depending on plane position. 2) Easy Separation of Printed Structure from Platform without Damage The platform installed in the 3D-metal-printer, comprises a pair of a left and a right platform, and an elevation cylinder installed at a lower end of the right and the left platform and elevating the right and the left platform so as to detach the printed structure from the platform. This technology was awarded as 100 future technology for leading the industry of Korea in 2020 (National Academy Engineering of Korea) (Target Customers for Tech Transfer) Any companies for manufacturing a 3D printer or manufacturer of components for 3D printer. (Potential Collaboration with Research Center) Any research center for doing research in 3D printer system. The technologies of the present invention are protected by multiple patents including KR10-1587411 and KR10-1738365.