POWDER BED MACHINE AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING THE PROCESS DATA OF A MANUFACTURING PROCESS IN A POWDER BED MACHINE

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a powder bed machine including a distribution device, which is to be charged with process material and which has a residual powder tank within the manufacturing process, which residual powder tank holds surplus process material. The powder bed machine is positioned on feet and weighing cells are located in the feet.

Claims

1. A powder bed machine comprising: a distribution device; and a residual powder tank, wherein the distribution device is configured to be charged with process material, wherein the residual powder tank is configured to hold surplus process material, wherein the powder bed machine is positioned on feet, and wherein weighing cells are arranged in the feet.

2. The powder bed machine of claim 1, further comprising: a powder tank arranged above the distribution device.

3. The powder bed machine of claim 1, further comprising: a storage cylinder arranged below the distribution device.

4. The powder bed machine of claim 1, wherein the powder bed machine has at least two feet with in each case one weighing cell.

5. The powder bed machine of claim 2, wherein a foot with weighing cell is arranged below the powder tank.

6. The powder bed machine of claim 5, wherein a further foot with further weighing cell is arranged below the residual powder tank.

7. The powder bed machine of claim 6, wherein at least one further foot with at least one further weighing cell is arranged under the powder bed machine such that the at least one further foot with the at least one further weighing cell is, in relation to the other feet with weighing cell, positioned outside a process direction.

8. The powder bed machine, further comprising: a building cylinder configured to receive produced product, wherein the building cylinder is positioned before the residual powder tank in a process direction.

9. The powder bed machine of claim 1, wherein the weighing cells are retrofittable.

10. A method for acquiring process data of a manufacturing process in a powder bed machine, the method comprising: determining a filling level of process material in a storage container at a start of the manufacturing process; determining a filling level of process material in a residual powder tank at an end of the manufacturing process; comparing the determined filling level in the storage container and the filling level in the residual powder tank with existing measured values for the manufacturing process.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining a center of gravity for preparation of the manufacturing process in the powder bed machine, prior to commencement of a setup of the powder bed machine.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining a center of gravity after the end of the setup of the powder bed machine.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined measured values are compared with a shift of the center of gravity to be expected in a correct installation of attachment parts for the manufacturing process.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining a correlation between a dynamic profile during the manufacturing process relating to a shift of a center of gravity and a planned layer thickness of a product.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining whether a process flow is correct from a dynamic profile during the manufacturing process relating to a fraction of the powder used which is collected in the residual powder tank.

16. The powder bed machine of claim 3, wherein a foot with weighing cell is arranged below the storage cylinder.

17. The powder bed machine of claim 16, wherein a further foot with further weighing cell is arranged below the residual powder tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further embodiments and advantages of the disclosure will be discussed below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and on the basis of the drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts, in a schematic illustration, the construction of a powder bed machine from the prior art.

[0032] FIG. 2 diagrammatically depicts the construction of a powder bed machine according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts the construction of a powder bed machine 1 having a distribution device 2 which makes it possible for a manufacturing process to be carried out. The distribution device 2 is charged with process material from a storage container. The storage container may, in a first variant, be in the form of a powder tank 3, which is positioned above the distribution device 2 in the powder bed machine 1. In a second variant, the storage container may be in the form of a storage cylinder 4, which is arranged below the distribution device 2. The powder bed machine 1 furthermore has a residual powder tank 5, which receives surplus process material and which is arranged, in a process direction, after a building cylinder 6 in which the product is produced. The building cylinder 6 is positioned, in the process direction, after the storage containers and before the residual powder tank 5. The powder bed machine 1 may be arranged on feet 7.

[0034] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the construction of a powder bed machine 8. The powder bed machine 8 has a distribution device 9 which makes it possible for a manufacturing process to be carried out. The distribution device 9 is charged with process material from a storage container. The storage container may, in a first variant, be in the form of a powder tank 10, which is positioned above the distribution device 9 in the powder bed machine 8. In a second variant, the storage container may be in the form of a storage cylinder 11, which is arranged below the distribution device 9. The powder bed machine 8 furthermore has a residual powder tank 12, which receives surplus process material and which is arranged, in a process direction, after a building cylinder 13 in which the product is produced. The building cylinder 13 is positioned, in the process direction, after the storage container and before the residual powder tank 12. The powder bed machine 8 stands on at least two feet 14, which are each formed with a weighing cell 15. The first foot 14 with weighing cell 15 may be positioned at the start of the process, (e.g., below the storage container). The storage container may be of asymmetrical form, (e.g., situated substantially above the first foot 14). The one further foot 14 with weighing cell 15 is positioned at the end of the process, that is to say below the residual powder tank 12.

[0035] The powder bed machine is characterized in that, by a simple and automated determination of the filling level of the storage container, process data for the respective manufacturing process are determined which provide the quality assurance of the produced product. With this approach, even retroactive automation of the process monitoring in SLM/EBM machines is possible with relatively little effort. By the stated enhancements, it is additionally also possible, in part, to acquire and monitor the setup of the powder bed machine with, for example, attachment parts.

[0036] Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail by the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by the disclosed examples and the person skilled in the art may derive other variations from this without departing from the scope of protection of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

[0037] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.