GANTRY-TYPE 3D PRINTER

Abstract

A gantry-based 3D printer contains two vertical columns, connected with each other by a horizontal fixed beam, designed with the possibility of moving along rail guides. The rails are mounted on the printer base. A cross beam is installed on the vertical columns designed with the possibility of moving in the vertical direction; and the carriage with the print head attached to it and the possibility of longitudinal movement is mounted on the cross beam. The rails are equipped with an alignment system, which contains washers, nuts and screws, the latter of which are embedded in the base of the printer. The vertical columns and a cross beam are equipped with V-shaped rails with an additional leveling system, and the vertical columns and a cross beam are moved by roller carriages with the help of a drive and helical rack.

Claims

1. A gantry-based 3D printer comprising: two vertical columns connected with each other by a horizontal fixed beam and configured for moving along rail guides; rails mounted on a base of the 3D printer; a cross beam installed on the vertical columns and configured to move in a vertical direction; and a carriage with a print head attached thereto mounted on the cross beam and configured to move in a longitudinal direction, wherein the rails are equipped with an alignment system containing washers, nuts, and screws; wherein the screws are embedded in the base of the 3D printer; wherein the vertical columns and the cross beam are equipped with V-shaped rail guides including a leveling system, and wherein the vertical columns and the cross beam are moved by carriages including rollers via a drive and a helical rack.

2. The 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the leveling system contains a base with grooves having a pair of wedges installed therein and configured to move via adjusting screws, and wherein a cradle is installed in the wedges via the grooves, and wherein and a V-shaped rail guide is mounted on the cradle, and wherein the cradle has a groove with a screw passing therethrough and pressing the V-shaped rail guide and the cradle to the base of the leveling system.

3. The 3D printer according to claim 2, wherein the cradle has adjustment screws for fixing the V-shaped rail guides in position.

4. The 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the vertical columns, the horizontal fixed beam, and the cross beam have a modular design and includes multiple sections.

5. The 3D printer according to claim 1, wherein the rails have a modular design and include multiple sections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1Image of the printer

[0018] FIG. 2Optional V-rail alignment system

[0019] FIG. 3Rail alignment system

[0020] The figures indicate the following positions: 1vertical column; 2fixed beam; 3cross beam; 4rail guide; 5carriage; 6print head; 7base; 8wedge; 9cradle; 10V-shaped rail guide; 11screw pressing the V-shaped rail guide and cradle (9) to the base; 12carriage roller; 13carriage; 14adjusting screw for fixing the position of the V-shaped rail; 15adjusting screw for moving and fixing the wedges; 16rail alignment system screw; 17rail alignment system nut; 18rail alignment system washer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The claimed 3D printer (FIG. 1) consists of two vertical columns (1), which are designed with the possibility to move on rails (4). The rail guides (4) are mounted on the base of the printer. The vertical columns (1) are connected to each other by a horizontal fixed beam (2). The cross beam (3) with the carriage (5) having the possibility of longitudinal movement is mounted on the vertical columns with the possibility of moving in the vertical direction. The print head (6) is attached to the carriage (5). The essential difference from other designs consists in the fact that vertical columns (1), horizontal fixed beam (2) and cross beam (3) have a modular design and include identical elements-sections (sections can be identical or of several standard sizes at the customer's request). Vertical columns (1) and a cross beam (3) are equipped with V-shaped rails (10) and a helical rail (not shown in the figures) to realize the drive, i.e. the movement of vertical columns (1) and a cross beam (3) is carried out by means of carriages (13) with rollers (12) due to the drive and helical rail.

[0022] The rails (4) also have a modular design and consist of sections (sections can be identical or of several sizes as required by the customer) and are installed on concrete pads or piles (printer base) at the joints of the sections. The modular design and interchangeability allows speeding up and simplifying the process of manufacturing and assembly of the structure; and, most importantly, realizing a scalable design of the printer, thus increasing its versatility and applicability.

[0023] The rails (4) are equipped with a leveling system (FIG. 3), which compensates for ground variation and allows the structure to be accurately aligned with respect to the zero level provided in the print object. The leveling system contains washers (18), nuts (17) and screws (16). Adjustment is accomplished by the nuts (17), which are mounted via the washers (18) to the screws (16) in the printer base on which the rails (4) rest. The gaps between the screws (16) and the rail guides (4) allow alignment to be performed. This system improves the accuracy and smooth running of the printer and reduces the amount and time of work required to prepare the base.

[0024] Also, a significant difference from the existing modular structures is an additional system of V-shaped rails (10) alignment on each section of the cross beam (3) and each section of vertical columns (1) (FIG. 2). The system allows the position of the V-rail guide (10) to be adjusted vertically and horizontally. The additional leveling system contains a base (7) with grooves, in which a pair of wedges (8) is mounted with the possibility of movement by means of adjusting screws (15). With the help of the adjusting screws (15) the wedges are driven to the desired position. A cradle (9) is installed in the wedges (8) by grooves, and a V-shaped rail (10) is installed on the cradle (9). The cradle (9) has a through groove through which a screw (11) passes to press the V-shaped rail (10) and the cradle (9) against the base (7). At the same time, the screws (11) are used to press the wedges (8) through the inclined surfaces against the adjusting screws (15) and against the base (7). The base (9) also has grooves in which the wedges (8) are inserted. The grooves on the base (7) and the cradle (9) allow the wedges (8) to be fixed in the longitudinal direction with respect to the guide. The cradle (9) has adjusting screws (14) to fix the V-rails (10) in the required position.

[0025] Alignment of V-rails (10) is necessary not only to ensure straightness of the beam assembly, but also to eliminate backlashes and gaps between the carriage (13) with rollers (12) and V-rails (10).

[0026] The use of V-shaped rails is also a special feature of the design. This shape allows implementing a self-aligning design and together with the alignment system described above eliminates unintended backlashes and gaps completely, which allows achieving high accuracy and smooth running of the printer.