A machine and a method for treating cakes from additive manufacturing processes, wherein the cake contains residual powders and sintered pieces is disclosed. The machine includes a cylindrical vibrating body which is placed in a position above a vibratory finishing or tumbling or vibro-blasting machine and is separated from the vibratory finishing or tumbling or vibro-blasting machine by a remotely operable door and the cylindrical vibrating body obtains its vibration from the machine below. The machine includes means for destructuring the cake in order to obtain the separation of the non-sintered powder from the sintered pieces present in the cake and means for recovering the powder resulting from the destructuring of the cake.

A machine and a method for treating cakes from additive manufacturing processes, wherein the cake contains residual powders and sintered pieces is disclosed. The machine includes a cylindrical vibrating body which is placed in a position above a vibratory finishing or tumbling or vibro-blasting machine and is separated from the vibratory finishing or tumbling or vibro-blasting machine by a remotely operable door and the cylindrical vibrating body obtains its vibration from the machine below. The machine includes means for destructuring the cake in order to obtain the separation of the non-sintered powder from the sintered pieces present in the cake and means for recovering the powder resulting from the destructuring of the cake.

A device, which serves to separate particles of a bulk material, which is deliverable at an input location and is removable processed in different or at least approximately unitary particle sizes at an output location, includes at least one separating element, which has a metal separating plate with through-openings provided therein, which separating element can be provided with ultrasonic energy and for this purpose is connected to an ultrasonic transducer and which is held by a holding device. The holding device is a mounting shaft, which is held at one end or at both ends fixedly or movably, in particular rotatably and/or axially displaceable, and which at one end or at both ends is connected to an ultrasonic transducer, by means of which ultrasonic energy is couplable via the mounting shaft into the separating element, which is designed to be dimensionally stable.

A device, which serves to separate particles of a bulk material, which is deliverable at an input location and is removable processed in different or at least approximately unitary particle sizes at an output location, includes at least one separating element, which has a metal separating plate with through-openings provided therein, which separating element can be provided with ultrasonic energy and for this purpose is connected to an ultrasonic transducer and which is held by a holding device. The holding device is a mounting shaft, which is held at one end or at both ends fixedly or movably, in particular rotatably and/or axially displaceable, and which at one end or at both ends is connected to an ultrasonic transducer, by means of which ultrasonic energy is couplable via the mounting shaft into the separating element, which is designed to be dimensionally stable.

The present invention relates to apparatuses for distributing build powder in powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) and for the collection of particulates of the build powder that have become suspended in the gaseous atmosphere in the vicinity of the build platform of the three-dimensional printer. These apparatuses include recoaters (20) that are particularly useful in providing uniform distribution of fine build powder across the width of the build platform or powder bed. The present invention also includes powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) which comprise such apparatuses for distributing build powder and/or apparatuses for collecting such suspended particulates. The improved fine powder recoater (20) uses an ultrasonic transducer (30) to move powder through a sheet screen (28). The sheet screen (28) may be presented to the powder fed onto it in a narrow dispensing slot to limit the flow rate of powder from the dispenser and to provide control over the amount of powder dispensed. The width of the slot may extend to cover the entire build box fill zone. The ultrasonic transducer (30) is preferably adapted to periodically sweep through a range of frequencies during operation. The ultrasonic vibration system may be augmented with a low frequency vibration system. The dust collection system (160) draws air from the perimeter of the build box (172) down through the deck plate (170) of the printer (2) and out of the printer's housing (164) to an external dust collector (250).

The present invention relates to apparatuses for distributing build powder in powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) and for the collection of particulates of the build powder that have become suspended in the gaseous atmosphere in the vicinity of the build platform of the three-dimensional printer. These apparatuses include recoaters (20) that are particularly useful in providing uniform distribution of fine build powder across the width of the build platform or powder bed. The present invention also includes powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) which comprise such apparatuses for distributing build powder and/or apparatuses for collecting such suspended particulates. The improved fine powder recoater (20) uses an ultrasonic transducer (30) to move powder through a sheet screen (28). The sheet screen (28) may be presented to the powder fed onto it in a narrow dispensing slot to limit the flow rate of powder from the dispenser and to provide control over the amount of powder dispensed. The width of the slot may extend to cover the entire build box fill zone. The ultrasonic transducer (30) is preferably adapted to periodically sweep through a range of frequencies during operation. The ultrasonic vibration system may be augmented with a low frequency vibration system. The dust collection system (160) draws air from the perimeter of the build box (172) down through the deck plate (170) of the printer (2) and out of the printer's housing (164) to an external dust collector (250).

A device, which serves to separate particles of a bulk material, which is deliverable at an input location and is removable processed in different or at least approximately unitary particle sizes at an output location, includes at least one separating element, which has a metal separating plate with through-openings provided therein, which separating element can be provided with ultrasonic energy and for this purpose is connected to an ultrasonic transducer and which is held by a holding device. The holding device is a mounting shaft, which is held at one end or at both ends fixedly or movably, in particular rotatably and/or axially displaceable, and which at one end or at both ends is connected to an ultrasonic transducer, by means of which ultrasonic energy is couplable via the mounting shaft into the separating element, which is designed to be dimensionally stable.

A device, which serves to separate particles of a bulk material, which is deliverable at an input location and is removable processed in different or at least approximately unitary particle sizes at an output location, includes at least one separating element, which has a metal separating plate with through-openings provided therein, which separating element can be provided with ultrasonic energy and for this purpose is connected to an ultrasonic transducer and which is held by a holding device. The holding device is a mounting shaft, which is held at one end or at both ends fixedly or movably, in particular rotatably and/or axially displaceable, and which at one end or at both ends is connected to an ultrasonic transducer, by means of which ultrasonic energy is couplable via the mounting shaft into the separating element, which is designed to be dimensionally stable.

Deblinding apparatuses and deblinding methods are provided. A deblinding apparatus may include a support frame including a grid structure and multiple compartments. Multiple compartments may be formed by a respective portion of the grid structure and a respective set of support members. Further, multiple scattering members may be disposed within a compartment. Scattering members be removably affixed to a portion of the grid structure that forms a part of a compartment. Multiple unsecured objects may be placed within a compartment. When attached to a screen and in response to movement of support frame, at least one unsecured object of the multiple unsecured objects may collide with a first scattering member and with a surface of the screen to thereby cause deblinding of the screen. Sizes, shapes, masses, and morphologies of unsecured objects may be designed to optimize collision rates of unsecured objects with scattering members and with the screen assembly.

Deblinding apparatuses and deblinding methods are provided. A deblinding apparatus may include a support frame including a grid structure and multiple compartments. Multiple compartments may be formed by a respective portion of the grid structure and a respective set of support members. Further, multiple scattering members may be disposed within a compartment. Scattering members be removably affixed to a portion of the grid structure that forms a part of a compartment. Multiple unsecured objects may be placed within a compartment. When attached to a screen and in response to movement of support frame, at least one unsecured object of the multiple unsecured objects may collide with a first scattering member and with a surface of the screen to thereby cause deblinding of the screen. Sizes, shapes, masses, and morphologies of unsecured objects may be designed to optimize collision rates of unsecured objects with scattering members and with the screen assembly.