Abstract:
The invention provides a rapid prototyping device and method thereof. The rapid prototyping device comprises an environmental temperature sensor, a control module, a nozzle, and a heating device. The rapid prototyping method comprises following steps of: sensing an environmental temperature, acquiring a nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature; and heating a nozzle till reaching the nozzle heating temperature. After the preparation of the rapid prototyping device, the environmental temperature sensor senses an environmental temperature, then the control module acquires a nozzle heating temperature based on the environmental temperature, and then the control module controls the heating device for heating the nozzle to the nozzle heating temperature. By the temperature compensating function of the present invention, the quality of the heating material ejected by the nozzle can be maintained.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Chinese Patent Application No. 201410360544.9, filed Jul. 25, 2014, entitled “A Rapid Prototyping Device And Method Thereof,” and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a rapid prototyping device and method thereof, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a rapid prototyping device and method thereof which can sense the environmental temperature for adjusting the nozzle heating temperature. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In recent years, the development of rapid prototyping device really shocks to the manufacture industry. Rapid prototyping does not need huge devices or building, it only needs design drawings, rapid prototyping devices and materials. Anyone can create simple products with the rapid prototyping devices everywhere, including in an area with extreme climate. 
         [0004]    The environmental temperature of the area with extreme climate is extremely changeable. The rapid prototyping device which is adapted to be used in the temperate region or the subtropical region cannot work properly in the area with extreme climate because the nozzle heating temperature of the rapid prototyping device is a fixed value, which will not be changed correspondingly according to the environmental temperature, and then induces the quality of the forming material, which is heated and ejected by the nozzle, cannot be maintained. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to the statement mentioned above, the present invention provides a rapid prototyping device which can adjust the temperature of the nozzle according to the environmental temperature. The rapid prototyping device comprises: an environmental temperature sensor, a control module, a nozzle, and a heating device. 
         [0006]    The environmental temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the control module for sensing an environmental temperature and outputting an environmental temperature signal to the control module, wherein the environmental temperature sensor can be a thermocouple, a platinum resistance, or a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor. The control module is electrically coupled to the heating device, wherein the control module receives the environmental temperature signal and acquires a nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature signal for outputting nozzle heating temperature signal to the heating device. The heating device is connected to the nozzle for heating the nozzle to the nozzle heating temperature according to the nozzle heating temperature signal, wherein the heating device can be a heating coil. The environmental temperature sensor is separated from the heating device with a predetermined distance to reduce the influence of the heating device on the environmental temperature sensor. The variation of the temperature sensed by environmental temperature sensor, which is caused by the heating device, is within a threshold, wherein the threshold can be 1oC. 
         [0007]    The rapid prototyping device further comprises: a nozzle temperature sensor, a frame, a carrier, and a holding space. The nozzle temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the control module and disposed on the surface of the nozzle for sensing the temperature of the nozzle and outputting a nozzle temperature signal to the control module, wherein the nozzle temperature sensor can be a thermocouple, a platinum resistance, or a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor. The carrier is used for carrying a forming material which is heated and outputted from the nozzle, and then the forming material will be set in the holding space comprised in the frame. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the present invention further provides a rapid prototyping method, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: sensing an environmental temperature; acquiring a nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature; and heating a nozzle to the nozzle heating temperature. 
         [0009]    In practical application, the step of acquiring the nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature further comprises: acquiring the environmental temperature; receiving an environmental temperature section table; and comparing the environmental temperature with the environmental temperature section table for acquiring the corresponding nozzle heating temperature. 
         [0010]    According to the statement mentioned above, the present invention discloses a rapid prototyping device and method thereof, which uses environmental temperature sensor to sense the environmental temperature, and then inputs the environmental temperature signal to the control module. The control module acquires a nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature signal, allows the nozzle to be heated to the nozzle heating temperature for compensating the nozzle temperature, and maintaining (not increasing) the temperature of the forming material which is heated and then outputted from the nozzle to prevent the nozzle to be influenced by the environmental temperature. Therefore, the quality of the heating material ejected by the nozzle can be maintained. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can prevent mistakes occurred in the printing process. Therefore, the quality and yield of the products created by the rapid prototyping device can be increased and the time cost can be decreased. 
         [0011]    The advantages and spirits of the invention may be understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows the functional block diagram in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the method flow chart in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the method flow chart in detail in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. Although certain embodiments are shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows the functional block diagram in an embodiment of the present invention. The rapid prototyping device  1  of the present invention comprises an environmental temperature sensor  10 , a control module  12 , a nozzle  14 , a heating device  16 , a nozzle temperature sensor  18 , a frame  20 , a first moving module  21 , a position control module  23 , a second moving module  25 , a material supplying device  27 , a height supporting adjustment device  29 , a carrier  22 , and a holding space A 1 . 
         [0018]    The rapid prototyping device  1  is using the nozzle  14  to output the melted material and controlling the movement of the nozzle  14 , which allows the material to be cooled on the surface of the carrier  22  and then forms a three-dimensional structure having thickness. The following statement will explain the design of each device. 
         [0019]    The frame  20  comprises the holding space A 1 . The frame  20  is used to well define the relative position of each module and each device of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The carrier  22  is connected to the frame  20  and set beneath the holding space A 1  for carrying a forming material outputted from the nozzle  14  and allowing the forming material to be formed to be an object on the carrier  22 , wherein the forming material can be a PLA material or ABS material. 
         [0021]    In this embodiment, the present invention comprises a second moving module  25 . The second moving module  25  is connected to the carrier  22  for allowing the carrier  22  to move horizontally along the X-Y axis in the holding space. In some design, the carrier  22  can move along Z axis, and the second moving module  25  can be removed as well. 
         [0022]    Corresponded to the carrier  22 , the nozzle  14  is connected to the frame  20  through the first moving module  21  and set in the holding space A 1  relatively to the top of the carrier  22 . The first moving module  21  is used to drive the nozzle  14  to move three-dimensionally on the carrier  22 . 
         [0023]    The position control module  23  is electrically coupled to the first moving module  21  and the second moving module  25  for controlling the movement of the first moving module  21  and the second moving module  25 . The designs of the first moving module  21  and the second moving module  25  are not limited to the present invention, which can be defined according to the demand of the user, wherein the first moving module  21  or the second moving module  25  can be removed selectively. 
         [0024]    The present invention further comprises a material supplying device  27 . In this embodiment, the material supplying device  27  is set on a wheel-shaped frame on the frame  20  for continuously supplying the material that needs to be heated to the nozzle  14 , wherein the material supplying device is not limited to the statement mentioned above, the user can supply the material through another material supplying method as well. Additionally, the present invention also has a plurality of height supporting adjustment devices  29 . The plurality of height supporting adjustment devices  29  are set in each corner of the bottom of the frame  20 . Each height supporting adjustment device  29  can be adjusted respectively for changing the height of the frame  20  supported by the height supporting adjustment device  29 , and then further changing the supported height of the rapid prototyping device  1 . Therefore, the rapid prototyping device  1  can be disposed stably on the supporting surface of the frame  20 , and the height supporting adjustment device  29  can be used to adjust the inclination angle of the frame  20  as well. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, a heating device  16  is set on the surface of the nozzle  14  mentioned above or inside the nozzle  14  mentioned above. The heating device  16  is controlled by the control module  12  for heating the nozzle  14  and then allowing the material in the nozzle  14  can be melted. 
         [0026]    Additionally, the present invention comprises an environmental temperature sensor  10 . The environmental temperature sensor  10  is used to sense the environmental temperature and output an environmental temperature signal. In this embodiment, the environmental temperature sensor  10  is a thermocouple. However, the environmental temperature sensor  10  is not limited to the statement mentioned above. The environmental temperature sensor  10  also can be replaced by a platinum resistance, a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor, or other kinds of temperature sensor which can provide temperature electronic signal. By the way, the environmental temperature mentioned above can be known as the temperature of the air of the space of the present invention. 
         [0027]    The control module  12  is connected to the environmental temperature sensor  10  and the heating device  16  for controlling. In this embodiment, the control module  12  is a CPU and the corresponding devices thereof. However, the control module  12  is not limited to the statement mentioned above. In practical application, the control module  12  can be a single chip and the corresponding devices thereof 
         [0028]    Additionally, the present invention also comprises a nozzle temperature sensor  18 , connected to the surface of the nozzle  14  for sensing the temperature of the nozzle  14  and then outputting a nozzle temperature signal. It is worth noting that in order to prevent the influence of the high temperature of the nozzle, the environmental temperature sensor  10  is separated from the nozzle  14  with a predetermined distance. More particularly, the design of the predetermined distance can allow the variation of the sensed temperature of the environmental temperature sensor  10  influenced by the heating device  16  to be within a threshold, wherein the threshold is 1oC. In this embodiment, the predetermined distance is at least 10 cm between the environmental temperature sensor  10  and the nozzle  14 . If the present invention is allowed, the predetermined distance is better to be 20 cm to 50 cm. In another embodiment, a heat-insulating material can be set between the environmental temperature sensor  10  and the heating device  16  for reducing the influence of the temperature of the environmental temperature sensor  10  caused by the heating device  16  to be within a threshold. And the threshold is 1° C. 
         [0029]    Upon each device of the present invention is explained distinctly, the following statement will explain the operation method of the present invention. 
         [0030]    When the rapid prototyping device  1  is turned on, the environmental temperature sensor  10  senses the environmental temperature and then outputs an environmental temperature signal to the control module  12 . Upon the control module  12  receives the environmental temperature signal, as shown in TAB.  1 , the control module  12  compares the environmental temperature signal with an environmental temperature section table preset in the present invention for acquiring the corresponding nozzle heating temperature. 
         [0031]    TAB.  1  shows the environmental temperature section and the corresponding nozzle heating temperature of the present invention. As shown in TAB.  1 , the interval between each environmental temperature section is 5° C. When the environmental temperature sensed by the environmental temperature sensor  10  is 18° C., which is within the section of 15° C. to 20° C., the nozzle heating temperature corresponding to the section of 15° C. to 20° C. acquired by the control module  12  is 200° C. 
         [0032]    Upon acquiring the nozzle heating temperature, the control module  12  outputs nozzle heating temperature signal to the heating device  16  for allowing the heating device  16  to heat the nozzle  14  to the nozzle heating temperature. Meanwhile, the nozzle temperature sensor  18  senses the real temperature of the nozzle  14  and outputs a nozzle temperature signal to the control module  12 , which allows the control module  12  to know the real temperature of the nozzle  14  and control the power or heating time of the heating device  16  according to the nozzle temperature signal. 
         [0033]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  again. When printing, the position control module  23  respectively controls the first moving module  21  and the second moving module  25  for driving the nozzle  14  and the carrier  22 ; at the same time, the material supplying device  27  supplies the material to the nozzle  14  for allowing the nozzle  14  to output the forming material, and then piling up the forming material on the carrier  22  to form a three-dimensional work piece. 
         [0034]    To summarize the statement mentioned above, the goal of controlling the nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature of the present invention is compensating the nozzle temperature and maintaining the quality of the forming material heated and outputted from the nozzle  14 , which prevents the forming material heated and outputted from the nozzle  14  to be influenced by the environmental temperature and then cooled down quickly. 
         [0035]    Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show a rapid prototyping method of the present invention, which is used to control the temperature of the nozzle of the rapid prototyping device, wherein the  FIG. 2  shows the method flow chart in an embodiment of the present invention, and the  FIG. 3  shows the method flow chart in detail in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0036]    Before performing step S 1  to step S 3 , a rapid prototyping device  1  needs to be prepared. In this embodiment, the rapid prototyping device  1  is the rapid prototyping device  1  mentioned in the above paragraphs. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the rapid prototyping device  1  is turned on and ready to work, the environmental temperature sensor  10  on the rapid prototyping device  1  starts to operate, and then performs the step S 1 : sensing an environmental temperature; in step S 1 , the environmental temperature sensor  10  senses the surrounding environmental temperature, and outputting an environmental temperature signal to the control module  12 . Upon the control module  12  receives the environmental temperature signal, performs the step S 2 : acquiring a nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature; in step S 2 , upon the control module  12  acquires the nozzle heating temperature, outputs a nozzle heating temperature signal to the heating device  16 , and then performs step S 3 : heating a nozzle  14  to the nozzle heating temperature. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the step S 2  further comprises step S 20 , S 21 , and S 22 , which are shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    The step S 20  is acquiring an environmental temperature. Upon the environmental temperature sensor  10  senses the environmental temperature, outputs an environmental temperature signal to the control module  12 . And upon the control module  12  receives the environmental temperature, performs step S 21 . 
         [0040]    The step S 21  is receiving an environmental temperature section table, wherein the environmental temperature section table is preset in the control module  12 , and the environmental temperature section table comprises a plurality of environmental temperature sections, each environmental temperature section has the corresponding nozzle heating temperature respectively. The environmental temperature sections and the corresponding nozzle heating temperature will change when the forming material used by the rapid prototyping device  1  is different; wherein the environmental temperature section table can be preset in the control module  12  or defined by the user and then be entered in the control module  12 . 
         [0041]    Step S 22  is comparing the environmental temperature with the environmental temperature section table for acquiring the corresponding nozzle heating temperature, as shown in TAB.  1 , each environmental temperature section has a corresponding nozzle heating temperature respectively; the step S 22  is comparing the environmental temperature acquired in step S 20  with the environmental temperature section in TAB.  1  for finding the environmental temperature section corresponding to the environmental temperature acquired in step S 20 ; upon the environmental temperature section corresponding to the environmental temperature acquired in step S 20  is confirmed, acquiring the corresponding nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature section corresponding to the environmental temperature, and then the control module  12  outputs a nozzle heating temperature signal to the heating device  16 . 
         [0042]    To summarize the statement mentioned above, the present invention discloses a rapid prototyping device and method thereof, which uses environmental temperature sensor to sense the environmental temperature, and then inputs the environmental temperature signal to the control module. The control module acquires a nozzle heating temperature according to the environmental temperature signal, allows the nozzle to be heated to the nozzle heating temperature for compensating the nozzle temperature, and maintaining (not increasing) the temperature of the forming material which is heated and then outputted from the nozzle to prevent the nozzle to be influenced by the environmental temperature. Therefore, the quality of the heating material ejected by the nozzle can be maintained. 
         [0043]    Compared with the prior art, the rapid prototyping device and method thereof disclosed by the present invention can not only maintain the quality of the forming material heated and then outputted from the nozzle, but also prevent mistakes occur in the printing process. Therefore, the quality and yield of the products created by the rapid prototyping device can be increased and the time cost can be decreased. 
         [0044]    With the examples and explanations mentioned above, the features and spirits of the invention are hopefully well described. More importantly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Environmental 
                 0~5 
                 5~10 
                 10~15 
                 15~20 
                 20~25 
                 25~30 
               
               
                 temperature 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
               
               
                 (° C.) 
               
               
                 Nozzle heating 
                 203 
                 202 
                 201 
                 200 
                 199 
                 199 
               
               
                 temperature 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (° C.) 
               
               
                 (° C.)