B22F10/77

Metal condensate control during additive manufacturing

A system and method for additive manufacturing are provided. The system includes a structure defining a chamber for manufacturing parts via additive manufacturing. A powder metal applicator is configured to deposit layers of powder metal material to build a part on a build platform. A laser source is configured to direct one or more laser beams onto each layer of powder metal material to fuse the powder metal material, wherein metal condensate is created by the laser beam(s) contacting the powder metal material. An element spaced apart from the layers of powder material has a temperature different than the chamber temperature, so that the element is configured to attract or repel the metal condensate by virtue of the temperature differential between the element and the chamber. The method includes using the element having the different temperature to attract or repel the metal condensate within the chamber.

Metal condensate control during additive manufacturing

A system and method for additive manufacturing are provided. The system includes a structure defining a chamber for manufacturing parts via additive manufacturing. A powder metal applicator is configured to deposit layers of powder metal material to build a part on a build platform. A laser source is configured to direct one or more laser beams onto each layer of powder metal material to fuse the powder metal material, wherein metal condensate is created by the laser beam(s) contacting the powder metal material. An element spaced apart from the layers of powder material has a temperature different than the chamber temperature, so that the element is configured to attract or repel the metal condensate by virtue of the temperature differential between the element and the chamber. The method includes using the element having the different temperature to attract or repel the metal condensate within the chamber.

METHODS FOR WETTING FILTRATION MEDIA UTILIZED IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
20220362702 · 2022-11-17 · ·

A method for wetting volatile material positioned on a filter from an additive manufacturing process includes passing a passivation fluid to an interior space of a filtration system including an outer housing, a filtration medium, detecting an amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space with a volume detection device, determining whether the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than a configurable threshold, in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than the configurable threshold, continuing to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space, and in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is not less than the configurable threshold, stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space.

METHODS FOR WETTING FILTRATION MEDIA UTILIZED IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
20220362702 · 2022-11-17 · ·

A method for wetting volatile material positioned on a filter from an additive manufacturing process includes passing a passivation fluid to an interior space of a filtration system including an outer housing, a filtration medium, detecting an amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space with a volume detection device, determining whether the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than a configurable threshold, in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than the configurable threshold, continuing to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space, and in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is not less than the configurable threshold, stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space.

ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING APPARATUS
20220355311 · 2022-11-10 · ·

The invention provides an electrostatic precipitator, including: a gas inlet, supplied with gas containing dust that is a magnetic substance; a charging part, charging the dust; a collecting part, capturing the charged dust; a cleaning device, including at least one of a charging part cleaning device and a collecting part cleaning device; a magnet filter, provided downstream of the collecting part; an ozone removing filter, provided downstream of the magnet filter and removing ozone from the gas; and a gas outlet, discharging the gas in which the dust and the ozone are removed. In the magnet filter, multiple magnet plates are arranged at a predetermined interval. A downstream side of each magnet plate provided on an upper side with respect to a center is inclined downward. A downstream side of each magnet plate provided on a lower side with respect to the center is inclined upward.

MANUFACTURING DEVICE WITH LARGE-AREA SINKING GAS STREAM
20230098828 · 2023-03-30 ·

A manufacturing device for additive manufacture of a three-dimensional component from a powder includes a manufacturing space delimited by a working surface including a powder bed region and a top wall including a protective glass window disposed above the powder bed region. A laser beam can be emitted through the protective glass window and through a beam passage zone to irradiate powder in the powder bed region. A shielding gas system has two outflow ducts, each disposed on the top wall and extending along a duct axis K on each side of the beam passage zone. Each output duct has a duct wall and duct wall sections that allow passage of gas and extend along the duct over an outflow length corresponding at least to an extent of the powder bed region.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING AN OBJECT IN A POWDER BED

An additive manufacturing system including a housing configured to contain a powder bed of material, and an array of laser emitters having a field of view. The array is configured to melt at least a portion of the powder bed within the field of view as the array translates relative to the powder bed. The system further includes a spatter collection device including a diffuser configured to discharge a stream of gas across the powder bed, and a collector configured to receive the stream of gas and contaminants entrained in the stream of gas. The collector is spaced from the diffuser such that a collection zone is defined therebetween, and the spatter collection device is configured to translate relative to the powder bed such that the collection zone overlaps with the field of view of the array.

INLET MANIFOLD FOR A LAMINAR GAS FLOW IN A LASER POWDER BED FUSION SYSTEM

An inlet manifold is for use in a laser powder bed fusion system having a build platform for carrying a powder bed and a pump or blower for supplying a gas flow in a direction relative to a surface of the build platform. The inlet manifold is made of a gas flow guide structure having a gas flow inlet to receive the gas flow and being comprised of a plurality of stacked gas flow guides, each being defined by top and bottom guide plates oriented downwards at an angle A relative to the direction of the gas flow for guiding the gas flow downwards towards a gas flow outlet. At least some of the top and the bottom guide plates have upwardly curved ends at the gas flow outlet to redirect the gas flow to be substantially parallel to the surface of the build platform.

SUCTION DEVICE, AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPONENT
20230035880 · 2023-02-02 ·

A suction device for sucking a process gas from a process chamber and to an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional component by selectively solidifying a building material, applied layer by layer, by means of a beam acting on the building material, having an suction tube which at one end has an outlet opening at an end face, to which an suction line can be connected, having an intake opening which extends in the longitudinal direction of the suction tube and is slot shaped, wherein there is provided at the outlet opening of the suction tube a connection port which can be inserted into a connection interface on or in the process chamber, and at the opposite end of the suction tube there is provided a holding element which is releasably held by a holding device associated with an opening of the process chamber.

Additive manufacturing system and method of forming an object in a powder bed

An additive manufacturing system including a housing configured to contain a powder bed of material, and an array of laser emitters having a field of view. The array is configured to melt at least a portion of the powder bed within the field of view as the array translates relative to the powder bed. The system further includes a spatter collection device including a diffuser configured to discharge a stream of gas across the powder bed, and a collector configured to receive the stream of gas and contaminants entrained in the stream of gas. The collector is spaced from the diffuser such that a collection zone is defined therebetween, and the spatter collection device is configured to translate relative to the powder bed such that the collection zone overlaps with the field of view of the array.