BUILD MATERIAL HANDLING UNIT FOR A POWDER MODULE FOR AN APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

Abstract

Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).

Claims

1. Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, characterized in that the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).

2. Build material handling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to generate an overpressure or a negative pressure, preferably a vacuum, inside the powder chamber (5).

3. Build material handling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to generate a leveling state with a first negative pressure, preferably between 0.7-1 bar, in particular between 0.8-0.9 bar.

4. Build material handling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to generate a compacting state with a second negative pressure, preferably between 0.01-1 bar, in particular between 0.1-0.9 bar.

5. Build material handling unit according to claim 1, characterized by a connection element (8), preferably a connection plate, that is adapted to connect the build material handling unit (2) with the powder module (3), in particular to seal an opening (7) of the powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3).

6. Build material handling unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the connection element (8) comprises a first opening (9) for moving build material (4) into or out of the powder chamber (5) and a second opening (10) for controlling the gas pressure in the powder chamber (5), wherein the first and second opening (9, 10) can be independently opened and closed.

7. Build material handling unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the first opening (9) is connectable or connected to a build material handling device (11), in particular a sieving station.

8. Build material handling unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the second opening (10) is connected or connectable to a pump unit (12).

9. Build material handling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the build material handling unit (2) is built as a separate, in particular modular, build material (4) handling station, or integrated in at least one functional unit of a plant for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, preferably a powder silo or a powder module (3), in particular a dose module, or an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects.

10. Build material handling unit according to claim 1, characterized by a determination unit (14) that is adapted to determine a distribution parameter, in particular an evenness, and/or a compaction parameter, in particular a density, of build material (4) in the powder chamber (5).

11. Build material handling station (1) for a plant for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, characterized by a build material handling unit (2) according to claim 1.

12. Build material handling station according to claim 11, characterized by a moving unit (15) that is adapted to move, in particular to lift, a powder module (3) between an unconnected position in which the powder module (3) is not connected with the build material handling unit (2) and a connected position in which the powder module (3) is connected with the build material handling unit (2).

13. Build material handling station according to claim 11, characterized in that the build material handling station (1) is adapted to alternatingly compact and/or level the build material (4) in the powder chamber (5) and fill build material (4) into the powder chamber (5).

14. Method for handling build material (4) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, characterized by coupling a build material handling unit (2) with a powder module (3) and controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5) for leveling and/or compacting the volume of build material (4) arranged inside the powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized by iteratively and alternatingly filling a volume of build material (4) into the powder chamber (5) and controlling the gas pressure in the powder chamber (5) for levelling and/or compacting the volume of build material (4) in the powder chamber (5), in particular reducing the gas pressure and again increasing the gas pressure before the next volume of build material (4) is filled into the powder chamber (5).

Description

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the Figure. The Figure. are schematic diagrams, wherein

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an inventive build material handling station with an inventive build material handling unit; and

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the inventive build material handling station from FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a build material handling station 1 comprising a build material handling unit 2 for a powder module 3 for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (not shown). Preferably the apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material 4 which can be consolidated by means of an energy source (not shown).

[0039] The powder module 3 comprises a powder chamber 5 in which the build material 4 can be received, e.g. for providing the build material 4 in an additive manufacturing process. For example, the powder module 3 comprises a carrying unit 6 for height-adjustably carrying the build material 4, wherein build material 4 may be provided in an additive manufacturing process by raising the carrying unit 6 and thereby, providing build material 4 through an opening 7 of the powder chamber 5, e.g. to a dose plane.

[0040] In the embodiment that is depicted in FIG. 1, the powder module 3 is coupled with the build material handling unit 2, in particular connected with a connection element 8 of the build material handling unit 2. In the connected state the connecting element 8 seals the opening 7 of the powder chamber 5 of the powder module 3. The connecting element 8 comprises a first opening 9 and a second opening 10, wherein the first opening 9 and the second opening 10 can be independently opened and closed, e.g. via corresponding valves (not shown). The first opening 9 is connected to a sieving unit 11 via which fresh or sieved build material 4 can be provided and filled into the powder chamber 5. In the situation that is depicted in FIG. 1, powdery build material 4 is filled into the powder chamber 5 generating a pile of build material 4 that is not compacted and not leveled.

[0041] For compacting and leveling the pile of build material 4 that has been filled into the powder chamber 5, the first opening 9 can be closed and the second opening 10 can be opened. The second opening 10 is connected to a pump unit 12 that is adapted to control the gas pressure inside the process chamber 5, in particular to apply a negative pressure in the powder chamber 5 by removing gas from the powder chamber 5. Therefore, the pump unit 12 sucks gas out of the powder chamber 5 and stores the gas in a storage unit 13, e.g. a gas container, wherein due to of the applied negative pressure, the build material 4 is leveled and compacted, as depicted in FIG. 2. After the leveling and compaction process has been finished, the pump unit 12 can be controlled correspondingly for releasing the gas from the storage unit 13 back into the powder chamber 5 for restoring the initial pressure. Subsequently, the second opening 10 may be closed and the first opening 9 may be opened to again fill additional build material 4 into the powder chamber 5, as depicted via a dashed contour in FIG. 2.

[0042] The steps of filling the build material 4 into the powder chamber 5 and compacting and leveling the build material 4 in the powder chamber 5 can be repeated alternatingly until a defined fill level of build material 4 is achieved in the powder chamber 5. The build material handling unit 2 therefore comprises a determination unit 14 which is adapted to determine the fill level, preferably via a distribution parameter, in particular an evenness, and/or a compaction parameter, in particular a density, of the build material 4 in the powder chamber 5. In other words, it is possible to derive via the determination unit 14, whether the build material 4 inside the powder chamber 5 is properly leveled and compacted. It is also possible to determine the fill level of the build material 4. Hence, the leveling and compaction process can be performed dependent on the distribution parameter and the compaction parameter determined via the determination unit 14.

[0043] The determination unit 14 may therefore, be built as or comprise a fill level indicator that is adapted to determine a top of the build material 4, e.g. the top of the cone. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible to determine the weight of the build material 4 inside the powder chamber 5, e.g. via a weighing element provided by or connected with the determination unit 14. The weighing element may therefore, determine the weight of the build material 4 resting on the carrying unit 6 or the weight of the entire powder module 3. It is also possible to use the determination unit 14 for determining the pressure inside the powder chamber 4 for determining parameters of the leveling and compacting process. In particular, the determination unit 14 may comprise a pressure sensitive element.

[0044] The build material handling station 1 further comprises a moving unit 15 which is adapted to move, in particular to lift, the powder module 3 and thereby, connect the powder module 3 with the connecting element 8 of the build material handling unit 2 or disconnect the powder module 3 from the connecting element 8 of the build material handling unit 2. The movement that can be performed via the moving unit 15 is depicted via an arrow 16 indicating that the powder module 3 may be lifted upwards to connect the powder module 3 with the build material handling unit 2 or that the powder module 3 can be moved downwards to disconnect the powder module 3 from the build material handling unit 2.

[0045] Advantageously, it is possible that the build material 4 is compacted and leveled without the need for complex mechanical setups, such as rakes or blades or other components used to mechanically interact with the build material 4 to compact and level the build material 4 inside the powder chamber 5. As powder module 3 any arbitrary container can be used in which a powder chamber 5 is provided for receiving build material 4 in which the gas pressure can be controlled. The powder module 3 may also be integrated into a component of an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, such as a static powder module 3 or a mobile powder module 3 that can be releasably connected with the additive manufacturing apparatus.

[0046] It is also possible that the powder module 3 is built as other type of storage container, such as a powder silo, in which build material 4 can be (temporarily) stored. Due to the build material handling unit 2 it is possible to increase the effective capacity of the powder chamber 5, as build material 4 may be compacted and leveled and therefore, space can be generated or the available space in which build material 4 can be stored is effectively increased, respectively.

[0047] Of course, the inventive method may be performed on the inventive build material handling station 1, preferably using the inventive build material handling unit 2.