METHOD AND CONTAINER FOR REMOVING RESIN RESIDUES FROM A MODEL CREATED BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL 3D PRINTING

Abstract

Method for removing resin residues from a model created by three-dimensional 3D printing, including the steps of creating a three-dimensional model through three-dimensional 3D printing, inserting the model into a container (10), introducing a solvent (24) into the container (10) and moving the container (10) with the solvent (24) and the model by means of repeated linear movements. The application further relates to a container (10) for removing resin residues from a model created through three-dimensional 3D printing, the container (10) including a tank (20) adapted to contain a solvent (24), a cover (30) adapted to close the tank (20) and means (38) for sealing the cover (30) to the tank (20), wherein the cover (30) includes or is a base (32) of three-dimensional 3D printer, the base (32) including one or more anchoring elements (34) for a three-dimensional model.

Claims

1. Method for removing resin residues from a model created by three-dimensional 3D printing, the method comprising: creating a three-dimensional model through three-dimensional 3D printing; inserting the model into a container (10); introducing a solvent (24) into the container (10); moving the container (10) with the solvent (24) and the model by means of repeated linear movements.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein introducing a solvent (24) into the container (10) includes introducing a solvent (24) for not more than one third of an internal volume of the container (10).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said solvent (24) includes alcohol.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating a three-dimensional model through three-dimensional 3D printing includes creating a three-dimensional model by stereolithography, preferably or laser scanning stereolithography.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating a three-dimensional model includes creating a three-dimensional model of a tooth or part thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sealing said container (10) before moving same.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said linear movements are carried out along at least one axis.

8. The Method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one axis is included within an angle defined between a vertical axis and an axis arranged at 45 from the vertical axis.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said repeated linear movements have an amplitude comprised between 0.5 and 1.5 times an height of the container.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said repeated linear movements have a duration of between 30 seconds and 120 seconds.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said repeated linear movements have a frequency of between 60 and 180 movements per minute.

12. The method according to claim 1, including making the model integral with the container (10) before moving the container.

13. Container (10) for removing resin residues from a model created through three-dimensional 3D printing, the container (10) comprising: a tank (20) adapted to contain a solvent (24); a cover (30) adapted to close the tank (20), the cover (30) including or being a base (32) of three-dimensional 3D printer, the base (32) including at least one anchoring element(34) for a three-dimensional model; means (38) for sealing the cover (30) to the tank (20); at least one handle (120a), comprising a duct (122) having an inlet or an outlet outside of said tank (20) and an outlet or an inlet inside of said tank (20), for introducing a solvent (24) or removing the solvent (24) from the tank (20) respectively.

14. The container (10) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one anchoring element(34) is directed towards the inside of the tank (20) when the cover (30) is fixed to the tank (20).

15. The container (10) according to claim 13, wherein the cover (30) includes an adapter (35) adapted to sealingly receive the base (32) of three-dimensional 3D printer.

Description

[0067] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the description of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings where:

[0068] FIG. 1 is a lateral elevation view of a first embodiment of a container for removing resin residues from a model created by three-dimensional 3D printing according to the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the container of FIG. 1;

[0071] FIG. 4 is a lateral elevation view of a second embodiment of a container for removing resin residues from a model created by three-dimensional 3D printing according to the present invention;

[0072] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 4;

[0073] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the container of FIG. 4.

[0074] With initial reference to FIGS. 1-3, the numeral 10 indicates in its entirety a first embodiment of a container for removing resin residues from a model (not shown) created by three-dimensional 3D printing according to the present invention.

[0075] The container 10 includes a tank 20 and a cover 30, adapted to close an upper opening 22 of the tank 20.

[0076] The cover 30 includes a base 32 of three-dimensional 3D printer (not shown). Preferably the base 32 is a base of a stereolithographic machine, more preferably of the laser scanning type.

[0077] The base 32 bears the model formed in the three-dimensional 3D printer, which is anchored to the base 32 by means of an anchoring element 34.

[0078] The anchoring element 34 is extended from a substantially planar portion 36 of the base 32. In particular, the anchoring element 32 is directed towards the inside of the tank 20 when the cover 30 is fixed to the base 20 (FIG. 1). The anchoring element 34 has substantially cylindrical shape with substantially quadrilateral section, for example rectangular.

[0079] The tank 20 has substantially cylindrical shape with substantially elliptical base. Into the tank 20 is poured a solvent 24, for example alcohol, in particular ethyl alcohol.

[0080] Between cover 30 and tank 20 are provided sealing means 38, for example an annular gasket 39 positioned at an edge 22a of the upper opening 22 of the tank 20.

[0081] The cover 30 includes a substantially planar portion 31 on which is formed a through opening 33.

[0082] The cover 30 includes an adapter 35, adapted to sealingly receive the base 32.

[0083] The adapter 35 is extended from the substantially planar portion 31, at the through opening 33. In particular, the adapter 35 is directed towards the inside of the tank 20 when the cover 30 is fixed to the tank 20 (FIG. 1). The adapter 35 has substantially cylindrical shape and substantially quadrilateral section (for example rectangular) coupled to that of the anchoring element 34. The anchoring element 34 is insertable into the adapter 35 (FIG. 1).

[0084] A shape coupling is thus provided between anchoring element 34 and adapter 35.

[0085] To further facilitate the insertion and extraction of the anchoring element 34, the walls of the anchoring element 34 and of the adapter 35 can be slightly inclined, tapering in the direction towards the inside of the tank 20, when the cover 30 is fixed to the tank 20.

[0086] The cover 30 and the base 32 comprise respective grip appendages 30a and 32a.

[0087] A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4-6, in which elements that are structurally or functionally equivalent to those already described with reference to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 are indicated with the same reference numeral.

[0088] In this second embodiment the cover 30 of the container 10 is substantially the base 32 of the three-dimensional 3D printer (not shown). Hence, the presence of an adapter 35 is not necessary, as is the case instead in the first embodiment of the invention.

[0089] The tank 20 has substantially cylindrical shape with substantially circular base.

[0090] Between base 32 and tank 20 are provided the sealing means 38. A pair of mutually opposite rotatable levers 140, mounted in proximity to the edge 22a of the upper opening 22 of the tank 20, locks/unlocks the base 32 to/from the tank.

[0091] The cover 30 comprises a grip appendage 30a.

[0092] The tank 20 includes two mutually opposite handles 120a, extending longitudinally with respect to the tank 20.

[0093] One of the handles 120a comprises a duct 122 having an inlet, closed by a removable plug 124, outside the tank 20 and an outlet or an inlet inside said tank 20, for introducing or removing the solvent 24 into or from the tank 20.

[0094] In operation, a method is implemented for removing resin residues from a model created by three-dimensional 3D printing, for example by stereolithography, in particular laser scanning stereolithography. The three-dimensional model can be a tooth or part thereof.

[0095] At first a three-dimensional model is created by three-dimensional 3D printing, then the base 32 of the three-dimensional 3D printer, bearing the model from which the resin residues are to be removed, is extracted.

[0096] The base 32 is associated to the cover 30 of the container 10 (first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3) or itself constitutes the cover 30 of the container 10 (second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6).

[0097] By means of the base 32, the model is inserted into a container 10. The base 32 is made integral to the tank 20 of the container 10, for which the model, too, is made integral with the container 10.

[0098] It is observed that in the case of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, the tank 20 is preferably engaged to the base 32 when it is still in the three-dimensional 3D printer, so as to prevent the resin from dripping from the model to the exterior of the three-dimensional 3D printer and in the workplace.

[0099] The cover 30 and the tank 20 are sealed to each other by means of the sealing means 38.

[0100] Into the container 10 is introduced the solvent 24. Preferably, the solvent 24 does not fill more than one third of the internal volume of the container 10. More preferably, the solvent 24 does not fill more than one fifth of the internal volume of the container 10. Still more preferably, the solvent 24 fills approximately one tenth of the internal volume of the container 10. For example, a quantity of solvent 24 of between approximately 200 ml and approximately 300 ml can be used.

[0101] Then, the container 10 containing the solvent 24 and the model is moved by means of repeated linear movements.

[0102] Such linear movements are carried out along one or more axes. The actuation can be effected by hand, i.e. by a user who agitates the container 10 manually, or it can be effected automatically by means of an apparatus, in particular when the container 10 is a part of a more complex apparatus.

[0103] Preferably, the repeated linear movements have: [0104] an amplitude of at least 30 cm (for example, the amplitude is equal to approximately 40 cm); [0105] a duration of at least 3 minutes (for example, the duration is approximately 4 minutes); [0106] a frequency of at least 20 movements per minute (for example, the frequency is approximately 30 movements per minute).

[0107] The elements comprising the container 10, i.e. the tank 20 and the cover 30 are reusable and the base 32 is reusable as well.

[0108] Obviously, a person skilled in the art, to meet specific and contingent requirements, may make numerous modifications and variants to the method and container for removing resin residues from a model created by three-dimensional 3D printing according to the present invention, without thereby departing from the scope of protection defined from the following claims.