DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Abstract

A device and a method additive manufacturing, the device has a movable platform, on which a powder bed is gradually built up using successively added powder for powder layers, and on which a component is produced step by step; a process chamber, wherein the powder bed is compressed selectively by means of an energy beam; a powder reservoir from which powder is applied layer by layer for a new powder layer of the powder bed; and a preheating chamber, wherein the preheating chamber selectively preheats the powder that is to be applied for a new powder layer from the powder reservoir, and into which the quantity of powder required for applying a new powder layer is metered.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A device for additive manufacturing, comprising: a movable platform, on which a powder bed is gradually built up using successively added powder for powder layers, and on which a component is produced step by step; a process chamber, wherein the powder bed is compressed selectively by means of an energy beam; a powder reservoir from which powder is applied layer by layer for a new powder layer of the powder bed; and a preheating chamber, wherein the preheating chamber selectively preheats the powder that is to be applied for a new powder layer from the powder reservoir, and into which the quantity of powder required for applying a new powder layer is metered.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: another heating device to heat the existing powder bed.

8. A method for the additive manufacturing of a component, using a device as claimed in claim 6, the method comprising: preheating the powder for the powder layer; and selectively compressing the powder bed by means of an energy beam.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: heating the existing powder bed.

10. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the powder bed is compressed selectively by means of a laser beam.

11. The device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a spreader adapted to introduce the powder into the process chamber, so that the heated powder is spread, as a powder layer, over the existing powder bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The FIGURE shows a device 1 according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0026] The FIGURE and the description represent only exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0027] As in the prior art, the device 1 has a movable platform 4 on which a powder bed 7 is built up. The platform 4 can be moved down in one direction (the Z direction) in order to be able to apply a new layer of powder. A component 10 that is to be produced is present or generated in the powder bed 7.

[0028] In the process chamber 31, an energy beam 13, in particular a laser beam 13 of a laser 29, and a corresponding scanner 34 are used to selectively compress, i.e. sinter or melt, the powder layer by layer to form the component 10.

[0029] As in the prior art, a wiper 25 is used to apply powder 28 as a new layer once the platform 4 has been lowered by a certain value.

[0030] According to the invention, however, this newly applied powder 28 is preheated.

[0031] This can be done in various ways.

[0032] Another heating device can be present, which preheats the entire powder reservoir 16, as per the prior art.

[0033] It is also possible, as shown in the drawing, for powder from a powder reservoir 16 to be selectively preheated in a preheating chamber 19, as a powder quantity that is to be applied for one powder layer, and optionally introduced into the process chamber 31 by means of a corresponding distributor 22 so that, there, it can be introduced into the process chamber 31 as a powder layer by means of the wiper 25.

[0034] The distributor 22 and the preheating chamber 19 can also be designed together as a subassembly.

[0035] Optionally, the process chamber can also heat the existing powder bed 7 in various ways, inductive heating being particularly suitable in the case of metal powders.