Patent classifications
B22F12/50
System and method for conditioning and distributing metal powder for additive manufacturing
Examples of a system for additive manufacturing are described. The system comprises a powder reservoir for storing the metal powder operatively coupled to a working chamber that includes a powder feeder with a housing that defines an inner cavity with an inlet and a number of nozzles in communication with the inner cavity of the powder feeder defining an outlet of the feeder. The number of nozzles are positioned around a center axis of a generated energy beam. A powder feeder's driver is configured to drive flow of the powder through the nozzles directly into a beam path such that an exact amount of the powder is placed into the beam path to be melted or sintered onto a powder bed.
Three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus
A three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer, a head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped article, a liquid supply system that supplies the liquid to the head, and a moving system that relatively moves the head with respect to the shaping table, wherein the head includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid, a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle, a supply flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber upstream in a supply direction of the liquid, and a circulation flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber downstream in the supply direction, the circulation flow channel includes a first filter, and a pore diameter of the first filter is larger than a particle diameter of a powder for forming the powder layer.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADDITIVE METAL MANUFACTURING
A system for additive metal manufacturing, including a deposition mechanism, a translation mechanism mounting the deposition mechanism to the working volume, and a stage. A method for additive metal manufacturing including: selectively depositing a material carrier within the working volume; removing an additive from the material carrier; and treating the resultant material.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADDITIVE METAL MANUFACTURING
A system for additive metal manufacturing, including a deposition mechanism, a translation mechanism mounting the deposition mechanism to the working volume, and a stage. A method for additive metal manufacturing including: selectively depositing a material carrier within the working volume; removing an additive from the material carrier; and treating the resultant material.
MASS AND HEAT FLOW IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
An additive manufacturing system may include an energy delivery device configured to deliver energy to a build surface of a component to form a melt pool in the build surface of the component; a powder delivery device configured to direct a powder stream toward the melt pool; a plurality of mass sensors, each mass sensor associated with a portion of the additive manufacturing system; a plurality of heat sensors; and one or more computing devices. The computing device(s) are configured to receive data from the plurality of mass sensors; determine an overall mass flux based on the data from the mass sensors; control the powder delivery device based on the overall mass flux; receive data from the plurality of heat sensors; determine an overall heat flux based on the data from the heat sensors; and control the energy delivery device based on the overall heat flux.
MASS AND HEAT FLOW IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
An additive manufacturing system may include an energy delivery device configured to deliver energy to a build surface of a component to form a melt pool in the build surface of the component; a powder delivery device configured to direct a powder stream toward the melt pool; a plurality of mass sensors, each mass sensor associated with a portion of the additive manufacturing system; a plurality of heat sensors; and one or more computing devices. The computing device(s) are configured to receive data from the plurality of mass sensors; determine an overall mass flux based on the data from the mass sensors; control the powder delivery device based on the overall mass flux; receive data from the plurality of heat sensors; determine an overall heat flux based on the data from the heat sensors; and control the energy delivery device based on the overall heat flux.
GALACTIC EXTRUSION MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
A galactic extrusion manufacturing (GEM) system for performing an extrusion process includes an extruder assembly for extruding building material during the extrusion process, and a connection system including a robotic arm-tether-crimper for attachment of the GEM system to space bound vehicles and/or structures in space or on orbit. The extrusion assembly includes an extruder head outfitted with multiple different heads for shaping the building material during the extrusion process, at least one power cartridge, and at least one building material cartridge containing the building material, wherein the power cartridge and the building material cartridge are removable and replaceable. Also provided are a building material cartridge for use with a GEM system or a dispensing control unit (DCU) to perform an extrusion process, and a smart extrusion system including a building material cartridge and a DCU.
GALACTIC EXTRUSION MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
A galactic extrusion manufacturing (GEM) system for performing an extrusion process includes an extruder assembly for extruding building material during the extrusion process, and a connection system including a robotic arm-tether-crimper for attachment of the GEM system to space bound vehicles and/or structures in space or on orbit. The extrusion assembly includes an extruder head outfitted with multiple different heads for shaping the building material during the extrusion process, at least one power cartridge, and at least one building material cartridge containing the building material, wherein the power cartridge and the building material cartridge are removable and replaceable. Also provided are a building material cartridge for use with a GEM system or a dispensing control unit (DCU) to perform an extrusion process, and a smart extrusion system including a building material cartridge and a DCU.
LOADING BUILD MATERIAL POWDER FOR A 3D PRINTER
In one example, a system for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes a dispenser to dispense a build material powder into a supply container, a device to measure a density of the build material powder in the supply container, a compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container, and a controller operatively connected to the measuring device and the compactor. The controller is programmed to control the compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container until a measured density reaches a threshold density.
LOADING BUILD MATERIAL POWDER FOR A 3D PRINTER
In one example, a system for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes a dispenser to dispense a build material powder into a supply container, a device to measure a density of the build material powder in the supply container, a compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container, and a controller operatively connected to the measuring device and the compactor. The controller is programmed to control the compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container until a measured density reaches a threshold density.