THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING APPARATUS

摘要

A 3-D printing apparatus includes a frame, a tank, an automatic-filling module and a control unit. The tank is disposed in the frame and contains a liquid-forming material. The automatic-filling module includes a sensing unit, a reservoir, a filling pipe and a pressuring unit. The sensing unit detects a liquid level of the tank. The reservoir stores the liquid-forming material. The filling pipe connects to the reservoir and includes an outlet. A maximum liquid level of the liquid-forming material in the reservoir is lower than or equal to a level of the outlet. A gap exists between the outlet and a top edge of the tank. The pressuring unit provides a positive pressure to the reservoir so that the liquid-forming material in the reservoir flows to the tank. The control unit determines whether the pressuring unit provides the positive pressure to the reservoir according to the liquid level.

主权项

1. A three-dimensional (3D) printing apparatus for forming a 3D object by curing a liquid-forming material layer by layer, the 3D printing apparatus comprising:
a frame; a tank, disposed in the frame and containing the liquid-forming material; an automatic-filling module, comprising:
a sensing unit, configured to detect a liquid level of the tank;a reservoir, disposed in the frame for storing the liquid-forming material;a filling pipe, connecting the reservoir and comprising an outlet, wherein a maximum liquid level of the liquid-forming material in the reservoir is substantially lower than or equal to a level of the outlet, and a gap exists between the outlet and a top edge of the tank; anda pressuring unit, configured to provide a positive pressure to the reservoir, so that the liquid-forming material in the reservoir is injected to the tank; and a control unit, coupled to the automatic-filling module to determine whether the pressuring unit provides the positive pressure to the reservoir for the liquid-forming material in the reservoir to be injected to the tank according to the liquid level detected by the sensing unit.