SEPARATING DEVICE

Abstract

Separating device (1) for separating at least one object (2-10) from an object carrier (11), in particular for separating an additively built three-dimensional object (2-10) from a build plate, preferably built via an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2-10) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, which separating device (1) comprises at least one separating element (12) that is adapted to remove material for separating the at least one object (2-10) from the object carrier (11), wherein a control unit (15) is provided that is adapted to control at least one operational parameter of the at least one separating device (1), in particular a feed rate and/or a cutting rate of the separating element (12), dependent on at least one object parameter of the at least one object (2-10).

Claims

1. Separating device (1) for separating at least one object (2-10) from an object carrier (11), in particular for separating an additively built three-dimensional object (2-10) from a build plate, preferably built via an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2-10) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, which separating device (1) comprises at least one separating element (12) that is adapted to remove material for separating the at least one object (2-10) from the object carrier (11), characterized by a control unit (15) that is adapted to control at least one operational parameter of the at least one separating device (1), in particular a feed rate and/or a cutting rate of the separating element (12), dependent on at least one object parameter of the at least one object (2-10).

2. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the object parameter is or comprises an object dimension of the at least one object (2-10) and/or an object position of the at least one object (2-10) on the object carrier (11) and/or an object orientation of the at least one object (2-10) on the object carrier (11) and/or at least one chemical parameter and/or at least one physical parameter and/or at least on mechanical parameter of the object (2-10), in particular the build material used to build the object (2-10).

3. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the object parameter relates to a separating surface (16) the at least one object (2-10) provides for the at least one separating element (12) and/or to a material distribution of the at least one object (2 -10).

4. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to adjust at least two different operational parameters, in particular motion parameters, for two different regions, in particular for empty run and separating at least on object (2-10).

5. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to assign at least one object (2-10) to a defined object class or object category dependent on the object parameter of the object (2-10).

6. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one object category is or comprises support objects (8, 9) or filigree objects (4-6) or regular objects (2, 3, 7) or high-volume objects (10).

7. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to adjust the at least one operational parameter in advance to and/or during and/or after a separating process of at least one object (2-10).

8. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to reduce the feed rate at the beginning and/or at the end of a separating process.

9. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized by a receiving unit that is adapted to receive the object carrier (11) during the separation process, wherein the control unit (15) is adapted to control at least one actuator (19) that is adapted to adjust an orientation of the object carrier (11), in particular with respect to the at least one separating element (12).

10. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (19) is adapted to control the orientation in advance to and/or during and/or after a separation process.

11. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to prioritize one of at least two object parameters of two objects (2-10) with at least one portion spaced the same distance away from the at least one separating element (12) for the control of the at least one motion parameter.

12. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to prioritize at least one object parameter dependent on the category of the corresponding object (2-10) and/or the amount of objects (2-10) of a corresponding category.

13. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (15) is adapted to receive the at least one object parameter from a determination device or a data storage device, in particular a data storage device of an additive manufacturing apparatus.

14. Separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating device (1) is built as or comprises at least one cutting device, in particular a band saw and/or at least one wire eroding machine and/or at least one water jet cutter.

15. Method for separating at least one object (2-10) from an object carrier (11), in particular from a build plate onto which the object (2-10) is additively built, preferably using a separating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one operational parameter of a separating device (1) is controlled, in particular a feed rate and/or a cutting rate of a separating element (12) of the separating device (1), dependent on at least one object parameter of the at least one object (2-10).

Description

[0034] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the Fig. The Fig. are schematic diagrams, wherein

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an inventive separating device; and

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the inventive separating device from FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a separating device 1 for separating objects 2-10 from an object carrier 11. The objects 2-10 are, for example, additively built in an additive manufacturing apparatus (not shown) directly onto the object carrier 11 and have to be separated from the object carrier 11 via the separating device 1. The separating device 1 comprises a separating element 12, for example a band saw blade, which can be set in motion, e.g. with a defined cutting rate and feed rate, to remove material to separate the objects 2-10 from the object carrier 11. As indicated by arrow 13, the cutting rate of the separating element 12 and, as indicated via arrow 14, the feed rate of the separating element 12 can be adjusted via a control unit 15. Hence, the feed rate relates to the movement of the separating element 12 towards the objects 2-10 and the cutting rate relates to the movement of the separating element 12 essentially perpendicular to the feed rate, i.e. describing the sawing movement of the separating element 13. Of course, other operational parameters of the separating device 1 can also be adjusted via the control unit 15.

[0038] The control unit 15 is adapted to adjust the operational parameter, such as the motion parameters of the separating element 12, dependent on an object parameter of the objects 2-10. The object parameter may for example comprise the object dimensions, the object position, the object orientation, chemical parameters, physical parameters and mechanical parameters of the objects 2-10. In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 15 takes into calculation the material of which the objects 2-10 are additively built in the additive manufacturing process. Further it is taken into calculation the object position of the individual objects 2-10 as well as the object dimensions of the objects 2-10 and the material distribution of the objects 2-10.

[0039] In other words, a separating surface 16, as exemplary indicated for object 3, can be derived from the object parameter which separating surface 16 is provided by the objects 2-10 to the separating element 12. In other words, the separating surface 16 is the surface via which the object 2-10 comes in contact with the separating element 12. Of course, throughout the separating process of the individual objects 2-10 the individual separating surfaces 16 vary as the separating element 12 removes material and cuts through the objects 2-10.

[0040] The object parameter indicates that the object 2 is a massive object which poses a comparatively smaller separating surface 16 towards the separating element 12, for example compared with the massive object 3 posing a larger separating surface 16 towards the separating element 12. Compared to the objects 2, 3 the object 4 comprises a hollow portion 17 with a filigree shell region 18 and a comparatively large separating surface 16. As can be derived from FIG. 1, when the separating element 12 cuts vertically through the object 4, the separating surface 16 varies, as the object 4 comprises the hollow portion 17 and the filigree shell region 18. Hence, after the separating element 12 cut through the upper part of the shell region 18 the separating surface 16 changes. Accordingly, the operational parameter can be adjusted via the control unit during the separation process of the object 4 in that the change of the separating surface 16 is taken into calculation.

[0041] Further, the operational parameter can be adjusted via the control unit 15 based on the object parameter of one of the objects 2-10 that is most relevant for the quality of the separating process or poses the highest quality requirements. For example, the feed rate and the cutting speed may be adjusted via the control unit 15 dependent on the region in which the separating element 12 is currently positioned relative to the object carrier 11. For example, in the situation that is depicted in FIG. 1, the feed rate can be increased and the cutting rate can be decreased, as the separating element 12 performs an empty run, as the separating element 12 is not in contact with one of the objects 2-10. In the empty run the feed rate can be increased to save time in the separation process, since the separating element 12 is moved faster towards the objects 2-10.

[0042] Additionally, each of the objects 2-10 can be assigned to a specific object category, for example the objects 2, 3, 7 can be assigned to the regular category, wherein the objects 8, 9 being support structures can be assigned to the support object category. The objects 4, 5, 6 may be assigned to the filigree object category, as the objects 4-6 comprise hollow portions such as the hollow region 17 and comprise filigree shell structures, such as the filigree shell portion 18 of the object 4. Additionally, the object 10 can be assigned to the high-volume category, as the volume of the object 10 exceeds a predefined threshold volume.

[0043] As the control unit 15 can receive all object parameters of the objects 2-10 the position of the contours and therefore, the positions of the separating surfaces 16 can be determined for each object. Additionally, it is possible to prioritize an object parameter of one of the objects 2-10. For example, for the first line in which the objects 2, 3, 4 are positioned, the control unit 15 may prioritize the object parameters of the object 4, as the object 4 is assigned to the filigree object category, whereas the objects 2 and 3 are assigned to the regular object category. As the filigree object category is more relevant in terms of separation process quality, the separation process is performed dependent on the object parameter of the object 4.

[0044] Regarding, for example the objects 5, 6, 7, the control unit 15 may prioritize the objects 5, 6 as they are assigned to the filigree objects category, whereas the object 7 is assigned to the regular object category. It is also possible to prioritize the objects parameter of the objects 5 and 6, as in the second line of objects the object category filigree object category is the object category comprising the most objects.

[0045] In the last line of objects in which the objecta 8, 9, 10 are arranged, the control unit 15 may prioritize the object 10 being assigned to the high-volume object category, whereas the objects 8 and 9 are assigned to the support object category. As the support objects 8, 9 do not pose any quality requirements and merely have to be separated from the object carrier 11, any other object category can be prioritized in terms of adjusting the operational parameter of the separating device 1.

[0046] Further, the separating device 1 comprises an actuator 19 that is adapted to adjust the orientation (depicted by arrow 20) of the object carrier 11, for example by rotating a receiving unit (not shown) in which the object carrier 11 is received. FIG. 2 shows the separating device 1 with the object carrier 11 from FIG. 1, after the actuator 19 turned the object carrier 11, for example by 45. Hence, the separating surface 16 of the object 4 has changed, wherein the separating surface 16 is significantly reduced compared to the situation in FIG. 1 allowing for an enhanced separation process via the separating element 12 removing material from the object 4 to separate the object 4 from the object carrier 11.

[0047] Of course, any arbitrary rotation and adjustment to the operational parameters, in particular the cutting speed and the feed rate of the separating element 12 is possible. The prioritizations of object parameters of the individual objects 2-10 are merely exemplary, wherein it is of course, possible to separate any arbitrary object 2-10 with any arbitrary geometry via the separating device 1. Self-evidently, the inventive method may be performed with the inventive separating device 1.