FORMING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING MOULDED BODIES BY SELECTIVELY HARDENING POWDER MATERIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, comprising a process chamber (28) having a powder inlet (32) for powder material to be processed, and a powder outlet (36) for excess powder material, a powder supply apparatus (80, 82) that is or can be connected to the powder inlet (32) and is intended for providing powder material in the process chamber (28), and a powder recovery apparatus (74) that is or can be connected to the powder outlet (36) and is intended for recycling powder material to be processed out of the excess powder material,
wherein the powder supply apparatus (80, 82) and the powder recovery apparatus (74) are combined to form a subassembly that is designed as an interchangeable module (16) and comprises connection interfaces, specifically at least one input interface (46) an at least one output interface (48), that are connection-compatible with relevant connection interfaces (40, 44) of the powder inlet (32) and powder outlet (36) of the process chamber (28) such that excess powder can be fed out of the process chamber (28) through the powder outlet (36) thereof to the powder recovery apparatus (74) by means of the at least one input interface (46), and such that powder material prepared by the powder recovery apparatus (74) can be fed to the process chamber (28) through the powder inlet (32) thereof by means of the at least one output interface (48).

Claims

1. A forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, the forming device comprising: a process chamber having a powder inlet for powder material to be processed, and a powder outlet for excess powder material, a powder supply apparatus that is or can be connected to the powder inlet and is intended for providing powder material in the process chamber, and a powder recovery apparatus that is or can be connected to the powder outlet and is intended for recycling powder material to be processed out of the excess powder material, wherein the powder supply apparatus and the powder recovery apparatus are combined to form a subassembly that is designed as an interchangeable module and comprises connection interfaces, specifically at least one input interface and at least one output interface, that are connection-compatible with relevant connection interfaces of the powder inlet and powder outlet of the process chamber such that excess powder can be supplied out of the process chamber through the powder outlet thereof to the powder recovery apparatus by means of the at least one input interface, and such that powder material prepared by the powder recovery apparatus can be fed to the process chamber through the powder inlet thereof by means of the at least one output interface.

2. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein the interchangeable module can be moved out of a separation position into a defined connection position, the interchangeable module being integrated in the forming device when in the connection position such that the associated connection interfaces are or can be connected to one another.

3. The forming device according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement is assembled such that all associated connection interfaces are automatically properly connected to one another when the interchangeable module changes from the separation position into the connection position.

4. The forming device according claim 1, wherein the powder recovery apparatus in the interchangeable module comprises a sieve device, preferably an ultrasonic sieve device that can be made to vibrate by means of ultrasound, for trapping coarse components from excess powder material from the process chamber, and in that the output of the sieve device is or can be connected to the output interface, optionally having a buffer container arranged therebetween, such that sieved powder material can be supplied to the powder inlet of the process chamber through the output interface as powder material to be processed.

5. The forming device according to claim 4, where the delivery means for delivering sieved powder to the powder inlet of the process chamber are connected downstream of the sieve device.

6. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein the interchangeable module comprises a powder collection container that is connected downstream of the input interface and is intended for receiving excess powder material from the process chamber.

7. The forming device according to claim 6, wherein the powder collection container comprises a powder outlet and in that a delivery apparatus for delivering powder material from the powder collection container to the powder recovery apparatus is provided between the powder outlet of the powder collection container and a powder inlet of the powder recovery apparatus.

8. The forming device according to claim 7, wherein the delivery apparatus for delivering powder material from the powder collection container to the powder recovery apparatus comprises a gas flow delivery apparatus, preferably an inert gas flow delivery apparatus, particularly preferably a gas flow delivery apparatus having a gas flow circuit, designed to deliver powder particles by means of a gas flow, the gas flow delivery apparatus comprising a separator, preferably a cyclone separator, designed to separate powder particles out of the gas flow and feed them to the powder recovery apparatus.

9. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein the powder outlet of the process chamber and/or the powder inlet of the process chamber open in the floor of the process chamber.

10. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein the forming device comprises an inert gas delivery apparatus and in that all the components of the interchangeable module through which the powder flows can be purged using inert gas, for example argon, by means of the inert gas delivery apparatus, such that the components can be operated in an inert gas atmosphere.

11. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of similar interchangeable modules are preferably available for different powder materials, the plurality of similar interchangeable modules being able to be combined with the forming device in a defined connection position interchangeably with one another.

12. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein a purging apparatus for purging the process chamber using a purging gas, preferably an inert gas, the purging apparatus having the following features: a gas inlet for admitting purging gas into the process chamber, a gas outlet for conducting purging gas out of the process chamber, a filter arrangement connected downstream of the gas outlet, and a gas delivery apparatus, in particular a pump, arranged in series with the filter arrangement and preferably at the output of the filter arrangement, a gas pipe system that comprises the gas outlet, the filter arrangement, and the gas delivery apparatus, the filter arrangement and the gas delivery apparatus being housed in an interchangeable module that is preferably identical to the interchangeable module that comprises the powder supply apparatus and the powder recovery apparatus, and the gas pipe system comprising a connection interface arranged on the process chamber and assigned to the gas outlet, and a connection interface that is arranged on the interchangeable module and is or can be connected to said connection interface, it being possible to move the interchangeable module out of a separation position into a defined connection position such that, when said module is in the connection position, it is integrated in the forming device in such a way that the connection interfaces of the gas pipe system are or can be connected to one another.

13. The forming device according to claim 12, wherein the gas pipe system comprises a connection interface arranged on the interchangeable module and connected in series downstream of the gas delivery apparatus and the filter arrangement, and a connection interface that is arranged on the process chamber, is or can be connected to said interface on the interchangeable module when said module is in the defined connection position, is assigned to the gas inlet of the process chamber and is designed to form a purging gas circuit, which encompasses the process chamber, when the interchangeable module is in the defined connection position such that, when the purging apparatus is in purging operation, the gas delivery apparatus can circulate purging gas in the purging gas circuit and in the process the purging gas flows through the filter arrangement in order to have impurities removed.

14. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein a suction device for sucking remaining powder material out of the process chamber by means of a gas flow once a construction process is complete or before one begins, the suction device comprising a suction handling means, preferably in the form of a flexible hose, that is provided in or can be inserted into the process chamber, a delivery pump connected to said means and intended for generating a gas flow, and a separator for separating powder material out of the gas flow, the delivery pump and the separator being housed in the interchangeable module that also contains the powder supply apparatuses and the powder recovery apparatus, the separator being designed to supply the powder material separated out of the gas flow to the powder recovery apparatus.

15. The forming device according to claim 1, wherein the interchangeable module contains a data processing apparatus in which characteristic data and/or status data of the interchangeable module, such as the type and/or volume of powder material stored in the interchangeable module are stored, and in that the forming device comprises a controller that can be connected to the data processing apparatus of the interchangeable module for data transmission in order to read characteristic data and/or status data from said data processing apparatus and to take these data into account when controlling the forming device.

16. An interchangeable module for a forming device comprising a powder supply apparatus for providing powder material to produce a moulded body in a construction process by means of the forming device, and a powder recovery apparatus for recycling excess powder material accumulating during a construction process.

Description

[0035] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings on the basis of an embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a forming device according to the invention having an interchangeable module in the connection position.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 having an interchangeable module that is in a separation position and is separate from the forming device.

[0038] FIG. 3a-3c are a front view, side view and rear view, respectively, of the interchangeable module from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view through the powder-carrying or gas-carrying main components of the interchangeable module in a position on a process chamber close to the defined connection position.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to the sectional view according to FIG. 4 showing the powder-carrying or gas-carrying main components of an additional embodiment of an interchangeable module according to the invention in a position on the process chamber close to the defined connection position.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a view from behind, similar to the view according to FIG. 3c, of an interchangeable module that can contain the components shown in FIG. 5.

[0042] According to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the forming device according to the invention comprises a housing for various components, inter alia for a process chamber comprising a front process chamber door 2 in which two observation windows 4 and two feedthroughs 6 are provided, these feedthroughs 6 being sealed with respect to the outside by operating gloves (not shown in the drawings) (glove box principle). After a construction process is complete, the process chamber door 2 can be opened in order to remove from the process chamber the produced moulded body together with a substrate plate on which the moulded body has been constructed.

[0043] A flatscreen 8 is used to visually display various items of information and optionally also to transmit an image of the inside of the process chamber taken by means of a video camera. The housing of the forming device is mounted on casters 10, and so the forming device is simple to manoeuvre. Behind the housing doors 12, 14 there are various components of the forming device, such as the process computer, inert gas bottles, power supply components for the laser device for selective laser melting, etc. The housing further contains an irradiation device for selectively remelting the powder material. The basic approach when constructing a moulded body according to the selective laser melting method can be taken from the prior art documents mentioned at the outset, the content of which in this respect is intended to be included herein by reference.

[0044] When constructing a moulded body in layers out of powder material, powder material not located in the region becoming part of the moulded body typically accumulates in each powder layer and therefore remains left over as excess powder material. Moreover, during the preparation of each individual powder layer, excess powder material also accumulates on previously prepared powder layers therebelow or on the base plate and is fed to be recovered in the interchangeable module within the context of the present invention.

[0045] In FIG. 1, the interchangeable module 16 is shown in its connection position in the housing of the forming device, the closure door 18 assigned to the storage chamber for the interchangeable module 16 being in the open state.

[0046] The interchangeable module 16 is also mounted on casters 20, and so it can be withdrawn out of the defined connection position shown in FIG. 1 and moved into a separation position, as shown for example in FIG. 2, in a simple manner. A handlebar 22 in a recess 24 in the housing of the interchangeable module 16 allows the interchangeable module 16 to be slid into the connection position and the interchangeable module 16 to be withdrawn from the connection position in a simple manner.

[0047] FIG. 2, FIG. 3b and FIG. 3c schematically show a connection interface group at 26. When the interchangeable module 16 is slid into the defined connection position, this connection interface group 26 automatically enters a connection configuration such that the associated connection interfaces of the interchangeable module 16 and the forming device in general are automatically properly connected to one another. Mechanical guides that guide the interchangeable module 16 into the connection position when it is slid into the housing can be provided. Locking means, for example electromagnetic locking means (not shown), are preferably also provided and attract the interchangeable module when it approaches the connection position and hold it in the connection position.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows the substantially internal gas-carrying or powder-carrying components of the interchangeable module 16 relative to the forming device in general in a position close to the defined connection position of the interchangeable module 16, the forming device in general being shown in FIG. 4 by the schematically illustrated process chamber since the additional components of the forming device, such as the irradiation apparatus, etc., do not play any role in the explanation of the present invention.

[0049] The process chamber 28 contains a construction platform 30 that can be lowered in steps within a construction cylinder or the like in a manner known per se and on which a moulded body is gradually constructed from powder material layers by selectively irradiating each layer. Each powder layer is remelted in the regions that correspond to the cross-sectional regions of the moulded body that are assigned to each layer. To prepare a powder material layer to be irradiated next, powder material is fed to the process chamber 28 through a powder inlet 32 in the floor of the process chamber. According to FIG. 4, a smoothing slide shown at 34 in FIG. 4 can be moved back and forth from left to right and right to left in order to carry along powder material introduced into the process chamber 28 at the powder inlet 32 and to smooth above the construction platform 30 or smooth an already irradiated powder layer left behind from a previous powder preparation step, such that a new powder layer for the next irradiation and remelting process is prepared in this manner. The smoothing slide 34 can be raised in a controlled manner shortly before reaching the powder inlet 32, at least when it moves to the right in FIG. 4, and can be lowered again after sweeping over the powder inlet 32, such that, when it moves to the left in FIG. 4, it can carry with it an amount of powder material projecting upwards from the process chamber floor 29 in order to prepare the next powder layer therewith. Excess powder material accumulating in the process can be caught and swept away again accordingly by the smoothing slide 34 when it moves to the right, such that said excess powder can enter the preferably slot-like powder outlet 36 that is also provided in the process chamber floor 29. The smoothing slide 34 or at least elements of the smoothing slide 34 that come into contact with powder material or to which powder tends to adhere can preferably be exchanged in a simple manner.

[0050] The powder outlet 36 is connected to a connection interface 40 by means of a connection pipe piece 38. The powder inlet 32 is connected to a connection interface 44 by means of a connection pipe portion 42. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the connection interface 40 assigned to the powder outlet 36 can be connected to an input interface 46 of the interchangeable module 16, whereas the connection interface 44 assigned to the powder inlet 32 can be simultaneously connected to an output interface 48 when the interchangeable module 16 is moved into the defined connection position. FIG. 4 shows a state shortly before the connection position is reached.

[0051] A collection container 50 is connected in the interchangeable module 16 at the input interface 46 and forms a main tank having a relatively large storage volume for powder material. The input 52 of the collection container 50, which input is connected downstream of the input interface 46, is located at the highest point of said container, whereas an output 54 is located at the lowest point of the collection container 50, and specifically in a region of the collection container 50 that tapers conically downwards. The output 54 of the collection container 50 opens into a screw conveyor apparatus 56, which transports powder leaving the collection container 50 at the outlet 54 thereof towards the right in FIG. 4 to a powder feed 60 of a gas flow delivery apparatus 62.

[0052] The gas flow delivery apparatus 62 comprises a gas circuit having a pump 64 delivering the gas flow, a buffer 66 connected downstream of the pump 64, and a cyclone separator 68. Said components of the gas flow delivery apparatus are interconnected by gas flow pipe elements 70 to form a circuit.

[0053] When the gas flow delivery apparatus 62 is in delivery mode, the gas flow indicated by arrows entrains the powder material present at the powder feed 60 and conducts it to the cyclone separator 68 to be separated out of the gas flow. The pump 64 ensures the gas flow is maintained.

[0054] By means of an intermediate tank 72, the powder material separated out by the cyclone separator 68 reaches a powder recovery apparatus 74 in the form of an ultrasonic sieve device 76, in which the coarse components of the powder material fed in are trapped and conveyed into a container 78. The powder collected in the container 78 in its coarse particle form is not normally used any further for forming in the forming device.

[0055] The finer powder that passes through the sieve device 76 enters an intermediate tank 80, from which it is fed to a screw conveyor apparatus 82 that feeds the powder material recycled by the sieving process to the powder inlet 32 of the process chamber.

[0056] The drawings do not show automatic sealing means that preferably automatically seal the interfaces 40, 44, 46, 48 with respect to the outside as soon as the interchangeable module 16 is moved out of the defined connection position. In the gas delivery apparatus 62, inert gas, in particular argon, is preferably circulated by means of the pump 64.

[0057] Next, reference will be made to another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This further embodiment of the invention comprises all the features of the first embodiment of the invention as already explained with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the same reference numerals being used in the drawings to denote said features. Therefore, reference can be made to the above description of the first embodiment for explanations of said features present in the two embodiments. In the following, the features of the second embodiment not present in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0058] One essential aspect of the invention in one design, which also represents the second embodiment, is to preferably arrange within a common interchangeable module all the filter components, pump components and powder collection or storage containers that are contaminated by powder material in relation to a construction process for producing a moulded body, such that, once a construction process is complete, substantially all the powder material is left in the interchangeable module and can be removed from the forming device in general together with the interchangeable module. The aim of this is to ensure that the forming device in general and in particular the process chamber and the pipes that lead from the process chamber to the connection interfaces for the relevant interchangeable module and possibly come into contact with powder particles in connection with the production of a moulded body can be cleaned in a simple and quick manner as required and can thus be prepared for a subsequent construction process for producing a moulded body out of a potentially different powder material. In that case, a different interchangeable module containing the relevant other powder material could be used in the forming device without much delay.

[0059] The process chamber 28 is designed so as to be continuously purged by an inert gas, for example argon. during a construction process and so as to be integrated in an inert gas circuit for this purpose. The components of this inert gas circuit include a pipe part 90 that leads out of the process chamber 28 and has an outer connection interface 92 for a connection interface 94, which is connection-compatible therewith, of the interchangeable module 16a. In relation to the interchangeable module 16a, the connection interface 94 is an input interface from which a first pipe part 96 leads to a pre-filter 98 for removing coarse contaminant particles, such as powder particles, condensate agglomerates, dust particles or the like, from inert gas sucked out of the process chamber 28. At its output, the pre-filter 98 is connected by means of a pipe 100 to a fine filter, for example HEPA filter, that is used to filter ultra-fine particles that have passed through the pre-filter out of the inert gas circuit. At its output, the fine filter is connected to a gas delivery pump 104, which is used to maintain the gas flow in the inert gas circuit. By means of a pipe 106, the pump 104 is connected to an output interface 108 that is connection-compatible with a gas inlet interface 110 for the inert gas feed to the process chamber 28. A pipe part 112 connects the interface 110 to the interior of the process chamber 28. The associated connection interfaces 92, 94 and 108, 110 are also automatically properly interconnected such as to be sealed with respect to the outside as soon as the interchangeable module engages into its defined connection position in the forming device.

[0060] In preparation for a construction process, the process chamber (once its process chamber door is closed) and the additional components 90 to 112 of the inert gas circuit can then first be evacuated. For this purpose, the pump 104 can be used as an evacuating pump, for which care must then be taken to ensure that the delivered air is channeled to the exterior by adjusting a valve arrangement (not shown) at the pump output. If the inert gas circuit has been sufficiently evacuated, a supply of inert gas can first be introduced into the inert gas circuit from an inert gas source (e.g. a pressure cylinder) by altering the valve settings, the inert gas ultimately being able to be recirculated in the inert gas circuit by means of the pump 104 once the valve arrangement has been adjusted accordingly. The inert gas is recirculated in the inert gas circuit while a construction process is underway. In this construction process, process smoke can be produced and can condense and leave behind solid particles that are entrained in the inert gas flow. Powder particles that are potentially swirled up can also enter the inert gas circuit and likewise contaminate the inert gas. As mentioned, the filters 98, 102 are used to filter impurities of this type out of the inert gas, such that the cleaned inert gas can ultimately be returned to the process chamber 28 again.

[0061] In FIG. 5, 114 denotes a flexible hose of a powder suction device, which hose is provided in the process chamber 28 in order to suck powder material out of the process chamber using an inert gas flow in particular after a moulded body has been completed. In this case, this powder can be excess powder surrounding the produced moulded body on the construction platform or other powder material remaining in the process chamber 28 or in the connection line parts 38 or 42. The suction hose can be guided manually by an operator even when the process chamber door 2 is closed. To do so, the operator can reach through the glove operation openings 6 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2) into the gloves sealed thereon and thus grip and move the suction hose 114. The suction hose 114 is connected by means of a connection line part 116 to an outer output interface 118, which in turn is connection-compatible with a complementary interface 120 on the interchangeable module 16a. The interface 120 on the interchangeable module 16a is connected, by means of a pipe 122 in the interchangeable module 16a, to a pump (located in the background and not visible in FIG. 5) for maintaining the inert gas flow, upstream of which pump a powder separator is connected, preferably a cyclone separator (also not visible in FIG. 5). The powder separated out of the inert gas flow by the powder separator enters the main tank 50 and can thus be used in a construction process for a subsequent moulded body. The inert gas is returned to the process chamber 28 by means of corresponding pipes having relevant connection interfaces 12. The pump connected to the suction hose 114, and the downstream separator can be designed in the same way as the pump 64 and the separator 68. The suction hose 114 can be exchanged quickly and simply. According to a variant of the powder suction device, the powder suction hose can be arranged on the accordingly designed pipe 122 as an extensible or fold-back hose in such a way that it is also a component of the interchangeable module 16a and can be inserted into the process chamber 28 or removed therefrom through the interface 118, preferably in a manner sealed with respect the outside. In this case, the powder suction hose remains on the interchangeable module when the module is removed from its connection position. The basic design and functioning of a powder suction apparatus are known, for example from the aforementioned EP 2 052 845 A2.

[0062] In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, all the components of the powder suction device that critically have to have powder cleaned out of them are provided in the interchangeable module 16a such that, following a sufficiently thorough powder suction process using the powder suction hose 114, substantially all the powder is in the interchangeable module 16a in this respect too. All the elements of the forming device in general that come into contact with powder, in particular the process chamber 28, are then very simple to clean in a quick and thorough manner, and are thus ready for a subsequent construction process possibly using a different powder material and interchangeable module.

[0063] FIG. 6 also shows a power supply interface 130 and a data line interface 132 on the interchangeable module 16a, which, by means of an accordingly connection-compatible power supply interface and data line interface of the forming device in general, also automatically enter the proper connection configuration when the interchangeable module 16a enters its defined connection position in the forming device. By means of the power supply interface 130 and lines connected thereto, the electrical consumers of the interchangeable module 16a, such as pumps, screw conveyors, sieve apparatuses, etc., are supplied with electrical power.

[0064] The data line interface 132 is connected to an electronic data processing apparatus in the interchangeable module 16a, in which apparatus characteristic data of the interchangeable module and optionally other items of information are stored.

[0065] On the forming device, a data line interface is provided that is connection-compatible with the data line interface 132 and is connected to a controller of the forming device by means of relevant data transmission lines. After a data transmission connection has been produced between these data line interfaces, the controller of the forming device can read data from the data processing apparatus of the interchangeable module 16a and prepare itself for particular characteristics that must be taken into account for operation using the relevant interchangeable module 16a. These particular characteristics can in particular relate to the construction process control on the basis of the powder material stored in the interchangeable module, etc.

[0066] According to an alternative embodiment, the data can be transmitted between the data processing apparatus of the interchangeable module and the controller of the forming device wirelessly, such as by radio or modulated IR radiation or the like.

[0067] An air lock can optionally be provided on the process chamber to allow objects to be placed in the process chamber or removed therefrom without destroying the inert gas atmosphere in the process chamber.