Patent classifications
B22F10/77
Method and apparatus for treating combustible and/or reactive particles, method of operating a system for producing a three-dimensional work piece and system for producing a three-dimensional work piece
In a method for treating combustible and/or reactive particles (34) which have been separated from a gas stream (32) by means of a separation device (36) an oxidizing agent is supplied to an atmosphere surrounding the particles (34) so as to cause a passivating oxidation of at least a part of the particles (34). A content of the oxidizing agent in the atmosphere surrounding the particles (34) is detected and the supply of the oxidizing agent to the atmosphere surrounding the particles (34) is controlled in dependence on the detected content of the oxidizing agent in the atmosphere surrounding the particles (34).
Method and apparatus for treating combustible and/or reactive particles, method of operating a system for producing a three-dimensional work piece and system for producing a three-dimensional work piece
In a method for treating combustible and/or reactive particles (34) which have been separated from a gas stream (32) by means of a separation device (36) an oxidizing agent is supplied to an atmosphere surrounding the particles (34) so as to cause a passivating oxidation of at least a part of the particles (34). A content of the oxidizing agent in the atmosphere surrounding the particles (34) is detected and the supply of the oxidizing agent to the atmosphere surrounding the particles (34) is controlled in dependence on the detected content of the oxidizing agent in the atmosphere surrounding the particles (34).
Lamination molding apparatus
A lamination molding apparatus includes an irradiator, a processing unit, and a cooling device. The irradiator irradiates a material layer with a beam to form a solidified layer. The processing unit includes a processing head having a tool that performs processing on the solidified layer, and a processing head driver moving the processing head at least in a horizontal direction. The cooling device is provided in the processing head and cools at least a part of a solidified body including an upper surface to a predetermined cooling temperature, and the solidified body is formed by laminating the solidified layer. The cooling device includes a cooling plate having a cooling surface being cooled to the cooling temperature, and the cooling surface is in close contact with the upper surface of the solidified body in a recumbent state with the cooling surface along the horizontal direction.
AIR KNIFE ASSEMBLY FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an environmentally sealed first chamber, a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a first valve, a platform positionable in the first chamber, a dispenser configured to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material onto the platform in the first chamber, at least one energy source to selectively fuse feed material in a layer on the platform in the first chamber, and an air knife assembly to direct a laminar flow of air across a layer of feed material on the platform in the first chamber. The air knife assembly includes an inlet module and an exhaust module that are movable through the first valve between the first chamber and the second chamber.
Additive manufacturing apparatus and methods
This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building a part by selectively consolidating flowable material in a layer-by-layer process comprising a build chamber (101) for building the part, a module (105, 106) for providing a focussed energy beam for consolidating flowable material in the build chamber, a gas flow circuit for generating a gas flow through the build chamber (101). At least one filter assembly (200, 201) may be arranged in the gas flow circuit, the or each filter assembly (200, 201) having associated therewith a valve (V-4, V-8) operable to seal the gas circuit upstream from the filter assembly (200, 201) and a valve (V-5, V-9) operable to seal the gas flow circuit downstream of the filter assembly (200, 201), the arrangement allowing a filter element (E-5, E-7) of the filter assembly (200, 201) to be changed whilst maintaining a controlled atmosphere in the build chamber (101). The apparatus may further comprise a purging device (210) configured to purge air from the or each filter assembly (200, 201) when the valves (V-4, V-5; V-8, V-9) associated with that filter assembly (200, 201) have sealed the filter assembly (200, 201) from the gas flow. Alternatively or additionally, a controller (131) may be arranged to control the valves (V-4, V-5; V-8, V-9) associated with the or each filter assembly (200, 201) such that the filter assemblies (200, 201) are closed off to gas flow from the build chamber (101) during a period in which the inert gas atmosphere in the build chamber (101) is compromised as a result of opening the door to the build chamber (101). The apparatus may comprise a pair of filter assemblies (200, 201) arranged in parallel within the gas flow circuit, the arrangement allowing a filter element (E-5, E-7) of the each filter assembly (200, 201) to be changed during a build by allowing the filter element (E-5, E-7) of one filter assembly (200, 201) to be changed whilst the filter element (E-5, E-7) of the other filter assembly (200, 201) is connected to filter particulates from the gas flow. A monitoring device (I-3, I-5) may be provided for detecting a property associated with the gas flow and a controller (131) arranged to control the valves to switch the filter assembly (200, 201) connected in line with the gas flow based upon signals from the monitoring device (I-3, I-5
Additive manufacturing apparatus and a flow device for use with such apparatus
An additive manufacturing apparatus including a build chamber in which an object is built and a flow device. The flow device comprises a body having a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface and a passageway connectable to a pressurised gas source. The passageway has an opening located adjacent to the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface to, in use, direct a jet of gas over the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface. A space adjacent the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface is in fluid communication with the build chamber such that gas drawn into and/or propelled from the space causes gas flow through the build chamber.
Control unit, device and method for the production of a three-dimensional object
A device (1) for producing a three-dimensional object (2) through layer-wise solidifying of build-up material (13) at positions (43) corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be produced in a respective layer comprises a coating device (12-14) for applying a layer of the build-up material (13) on a working plane (10), a solidifying device (20) for the selective solidifying of the build-up material (13) in the applied layer and a gas suction nozzle (34) for extracting gas from the device (1) by suction. The gas suction device (34) is thereby movably arranged and the device (1) is designed to control or to regulate a movement and/or orientation of the gas suction nozzle (34) as a function of a number of reference positions (51, 53, 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d).
Apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional objects
Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (2) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, with a process chamber (3) comprising at least a first and a second region (4, 5), wherein in the first region (4) build material (2) is applied and irradiated on a build plane (6), wherein a stream generating unit is provided that is configured to generate a stream of process gas (10) in the process chamber (3) separating the first region (4) from the second region (5).
SELECTIVE LASER SOLIDIFICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD
A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by, repeatedly, depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning a plurality of laser beams over the deposited powder to selectively solidify the powder layers, wherein a gas flow is passed over the powder bed in a gas flow direction. The method including selecting a scanning sequence for the plurality of laser beams to include the simultaneous exposure of an upstream point together with a downstream point located downstream of a flow of debris carried from the upstream point by the gas flow, the downstream and upstream points selected for simultaneous exposure based upon the downstream point being within a maximum separation distance from the upstream point.
POWDER BED FUSION APPARATUS
A powder bed fusion apparatus including a build chamber, a build platform in the build chamber for supporting a powder bed, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder to form the powder bed, a scanner for scanning an energy beam across the powder bed to fuse the powder and a gas circuit for forming a gas flow across the powder bed. The gas circuit includes a separator for separating particles from gas in the gas circuit, a nozzle for propelling gas into the build chamber and an exhaust for extracting gas from the build chamber and delivering the gas to the separator. The exhaust includes an exhaust channel or opening located for receiving powder wiped from the powder bed and/or build platform.