Machining Module for a Device for an Additive Manufacturing Process

Abstract

The invention relates to a machining module for a device for producing a molded metal body (1) by means of an additive generative manufacturing process. A sheet, wire, or pulverulent metal-containing starting material (2) is melted and applied in layers, thereby forming the molded body (1). According to the invention, in addition to a material supply device (9), the machining module comprises a protective gas supply device (11), which has an outlet opening arranged annularly about the material supply device (9), and a fluid supply device (3) for supplying coolant (4), having one or more nozzles (10) which are arranged spatially adjacent to the material supply device (9) such that the surface of the molded body (1) can be supplied with the coolant (4) in points or in a partial manner directly adjacent to the melt bath at one position or along a curve, each of which can be specified in a variable manner.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A machining module for a device for producing a molded metal body (1) by means of depositing a meltable sheet, wire, or pulverulent starting material (2) within individual, successive layers (1.1) at a site of generation action (7), wherein the machining module comprises a material supply device (9), a protective gas supply device (11) and a fluid supply device (3) for supplying a fluid in the form of coolant (4) and/or protective gas, said protective gas supply device (11) having at least one outlet opening arranged annularly about the material supply device (9), characterized in that the fluid supply device (3) comprises at least one nozzle (10) being arranged spatially adjacent to the material supply device (9) in such a way, that the surface of the molded body (1) can be supplied with the fluid in at least one point or in a partial manner at a position directly adjacent to the site of generation action (7), wherein said position can be specified in each case in a variable manner, wherein the fluid supply device (3) comprises one nozzle (10), which is rotatable around the material supply device (9) in a plane extending parallel to the layer (1.1) to be produced, or the fluid supply device (3) comprises a plurality of nozzles (10), which are arranged annularly about the material supply device (9), wherein a mass flow of fluid flowing through each nozzle (10) is separately controllable for each nozzle (10).

13. The machining module of claim 1, characterized in that each of the nozzles (10) is connected to an inlet pipe for protective gas and an inlet pipe for coolant (4) by means of a switching valve and/or a mixing device.

14. The machining module of claim 1, characterized in that at least the fluid supply device (3) is rotatable around an axis of rotation (12) extending perpendicular to the layer (1.1) to be produced.

15. The machining module of claim 1, characterized in that the machining module further comprises a temperature-sensitive camera system (8), by means of which a temperature prevailing in an area around the site of generation action (7) can be detected spatially resolved, as well as an evaluation and control unit (6) being connected to the camera system (8) and the fluid supply device (3), said evaluation and control unit (6) being set up in a way that the fluid supply device (3) can be controlled on basis of the temperature detected by the camera system (8).

16. The machining module of claim 1, characterized in that the machining module further comprises a suction device, by means of which fluid and/or flue gases can be removed from the surface of the molded body (1).

17. Use of the machining module of claim 1 for an additive manufacturing process of a molded body (1), characterized in that the coolant (4) is a process gas.

18. Use of the machining module of claim 1 for an additive manufacturing process of a molded body (1), characterized in that the coolant (4) is an aerosol.

19. Use of the machining module of claim 1 for an additive manufacturing process of a molded body (1), characterized in that the coolant (4) is dry ice in the form of powder or pellets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example on the basis of the accompanying drawings. Shown therein are:

[0047] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a machining module during additive manufacturing;

[0048] FIG. 2: a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the machining module in oblique view;

[0049] FIG. 3: a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the machining module in oblique view; and

[0050] FIG. 4: a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the machining module in a cross-sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] The molded body 1 is built up according to FIG. 1 layer-by-layer on top of the printing platform 5, in that individual metal droplets are melted off from the starting material 2, in this case a metal wire made of titanium, supplied by the material supply device 9 and deposited in a molten state within the layer 1.1 at the site of generation action 7.

[0052] The protective gas supply device 11 exhibiting an outlet opening arranged annularly about the material supply device 9 creates a protective gas shielding (not shown) around the site of generation action 7.

[0053] By means of the fluid supply device 3 the coolant 4 is directed precisely onto the layer 1.1 and the deposited, still molten drop of the material 2, respectively, at a location, which is located with respect to the direction of travel (illustrated by the arrow) behind the site of generation action 7. Thus, said drop of molten material 2 is solidified. In this exemplary depiction the layer thicknesses are shown exaggerated.

[0054] The temperature-sensitive camera 8 detects the temperature of the layer 1.1 in an area around the site of generation action 7. The evaluation and control unit 6 permits the control of the coolant impact position and the coolant mass flow.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the machining module comprising the nozzles 10, which are arranged along a circle around the protective gas supply device 11 and the material supply device 9.

[0056] FIG. 3 displays an embodiment of the machining module with only one nozzle 10, whereby the whole machining module can be rotated about the axis of rotation 12.

[0057] In a third embodiment of the machining module according to FIG. 4 the fluid supply device 3 is designed in such a way, that the coolant 4 by means of the nozzles 10 is sprayed onto the layers 1.2, which are located beyond the layer 1.1 under construction, in that the active cooling is not carried out from the top but from the side walls of the molded body 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0058] 1 molded body [0059] 1.1 layer [0060] 1.2 layer [0061] 2 starting material [0062] 3 fluid supply device [0063] 4 coolant [0064] 5 printing platform [0065] 6 evaluation and control unit [0066] 7 site of generation action [0067] 8 temperature-sensitive camera system [0068] 9 material supply device [0069] 10 nozzle [0070] 11 protective gas supply device [0071] 12 axis of rotation