Device and Method for the Production or Management of a Powder Mixture, Additive Manufacturing Method and Powder Mixture

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for the production, in particular the production and metering, of a powder mixture for an additive manufacturing process. The powder mixture for the additive manufacturing process comprises a first powder arranged in a first container (2), and at least one further, in particular a second, powder arranged in at least one further, in particular a second, container (2′). An inlet of a first means of powder transport and/or metering (4) is arranged at the outlet (6) of the first container (2), and an inlet of a further, in particular a second, means of powder transport and/or metering (4′), is arranged at the outlet (6′) of the further, in particular the second, container (2′). The first powder can be supplied by means of the first means of transport and/or metering (4) and the further, in particular the second, powder can be supplied by means of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering (4′), in each case in a controlled manner, in particular in a controllable and/or regulatable manner, to at least one mixing container (5), preferably comprising at least one screen (10). The outlet (7) of the first means of transport and/or metering (4) and the outlet (7′) of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering (4′) are arranged in or above the mixing container (5) above each other, or next to each other, preferably above each other, or next to each other, and in each case above the screen (10).

Claims

1. Device for the production, in particular the production and metering, of a powder mixture for an additive manufacturing process, wherein the powder mixture for the additive manufacturing process comprises a first powder arranged in a first container, and at least one further powder arranged in at least one further container, in particular a second powder arranged in a second container, characterized: in that an inlet of a first means of powder transport and/or metering is arranged at the outlet of the first container, and an inlet of a further, in particular a second, means of powder transport and/or metering is arranged at the outlet of the further, in particular the second, container, in that the first powder can be supplied by means of the first means of transport and/or metering, and the further, in particular the second, powder can be supplied by means of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, in each case in a controlled manner, in particular in a controllable and/or regulatable manner, to at least one mixing container, preferably comprising at least one screen, and in that the outlet of the first means of transport and/or metering and the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, are arranged in or above the mixing container above each other or next to each other, preferably above each other or next to each other and in each case above the screen.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet of the first means of transport and/or metering is arranged above the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, in particular above the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, such that the first powder in the mixing container falls in a controllable manner, in particular in a controllable and/or a regulatable manner, onto the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, or into the region of the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering is designed as a vibrating channel or a vibrating duct, or as a vibrating metering channel or as a vibrating metering duct, or as a switchable valve, in particular one that can be operated in a timed manner.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the quantity of powder of the first powder supplied to the mixing container can be controlled, in particular can be controlled and/or regulated, by the vibrational excitation of the first means of transport and/or metering, and in that the quantity of powder of the further, in particular the second, powder supplied to the mixing container can be controlled, in particular can be controlled and/or regulated, by the vibrational excitation of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, independently of that of the first means of transport and/or metering.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one vibration-decoupling unit is arranged upstream of, or at the inlet of, the first and/or a further, in particular a second, means of transport and/or metering as viewed in the direction of transport.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one vibration-decoupling unit is arranged behind, or at the outlet of, the first and/or the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, as viewed in the direction of transport.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen in the mixing container is designed as a vibrating screen, which can be subjected to a vibrational excitation in a controllable manner, in particular in a controllable and/or regulatable manner.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the mixing container has an outlet for the powder mixture, in particular an outlet for the powder mixture, and an oversize granulate outlet.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or the further, in particular the second, container (2, 2′) has a weighing device (14, 14′) for purposes of recording the weight of the container contents.

10. Device for the management of a powder or a powder mixture for the additive manufacture of a manufactured part, wherein the device comprises at least one powder conveying unit, which supplies the powder or the powder mixture to at least one container, and/or at least one powder processing unit, in which the powder or the powder mixture is processed by means of additive manufacture, characterized in that the powder conveying unit comprises or is created from a device (1) according to claim 1.

11. Method for the production of a powder mixture comprising a first powder for an additive manufacturing process, and at least one further, in particular a second, powder for an additive manufacturing process, wherein the quantity of the first powder is controlled, in particular is controlled and/or regulated, by means of a first means of transport and/or metering, and the quantity of the further, in particular the second, powder is controlled, in particular is controlled and/or regulated, by means of at least one further, in particular a second, means of transport and/or metering, and wherein the outlet of the first means of transport and/or metering is arranged above the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, in particular above the outlet, or in the region of the outlet, of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, such that the first and the further, in particular the second, powders enter in a controlled manner, in particular in a controlled and/or regulated manner, into a mixing container arranged below the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, in particular such that they fall into the latter.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the first and/or the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering is/are designed as a vibrating channel or as a vibrating duct.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the metering of the first and/or the further, in particular the second, powder is controlled, in particular is controlled and/or regulated, by the vibrational excitation of the first and/or a further, in particular a second, means of transport and/or metering.

14. Method according to one of the claim 11, wherein at least one screen, in particular at least one vibrating screen, is arranged in the mixing container.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the mixing of the powders is controlled, in particular is controlled and/or regulated, by the vibrational excitation of the screen.

16. Method according to claim 11, wherein a vibrational excitation of the first and/or further, in particular a second, means of transport and/or metering, and/or of the screen, is not, or is almost entirely not, transmitted, to other equipment components by means of damping or compensating means.

17. Method according to claim 11, with which a device is operated said device for the production, in particular the production and metering, of a powder mixture for an additive manufacturing process, wherein the powder mixture for the additive manufacturing process comprises a first powder arranged in a first container, and at least one further powder arranged in at least one further container, in particular a second powder arranged in a second container.

18. Use of a first means of transport and/or metering, designed as a vibrating channel or a vibrating duct, for the transport of a first powder-form material, and also at least one further, in particular a second, means of transport and/or metering, designed as a vibrating channel or a vibrating duct, for the transport of at least one further, in particular a second, powder-form material, as means of metering and/or mixing for purposes of metering and/or mixing the first and further, in particular a second, powder-form materials, wherein the outlet of the first means of transport and/or metering is arranged above the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, in particular above the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, such that the first powder-form material enters into or onto the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, or into the region of the outlet of the further, in particular the second, means of transport and/or metering, in particular enters therein by falling.

19. Method for the additive manufacture of a manufactured part by means of a powder or a powder mixture, wherein in a powder management process the powder or the powder mixture is provided and/or conveyed, wherein in a subsequent powder processing step the powder or the powder mixture is processed into the manufactured part by means of additive manufacture, and wherein the powder creation or powder management process comprises a method according to claim 11.

20. Powder mixture comprising a first powder for an additive manufacturing process and at least one further, in particular a second, powder for an additive manufacturing process, characterized in that the powder mixture has been produced with a device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] In the figures:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a device for the production/metering of a powder mixture in a side view,

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a device in accordance with FIG. 1 in a sectioned front view, and

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a device in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

[0051] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a device 1 for the production of a powder mixture. The powder mixture is intended for an additive manufacturing process and can, for example, comprise, or be created from, a metal powder. The powder mixture is created from a first powder and from at least a second powder, or further powders. The first powder is arranged in a first container 2, and the second powder is arranged in a second container 2′. Further containers can be provided. FIGS. 1 to 3 show two containers 2, 2′ in an exemplary manner. Both containers 2, 2′ are fixed in a frame 3 of the device 1.

[0052] The first powder in the first container 2 can be a new powder, as offered and marketed by the powder manufacturer. The second powder in the second container 2′ can be a recycled powder, that is to say, a powder that has already been used once or several times in an additive manufacturing process, and which, for example, has remained as a residue or waste in the manufacturing process.

[0053] With the mixing device, recycled powder can be admixed with the new powder. The mixing ratio is specified by the user, in particular the user of the additive manufacturing process. For high quality processes, a mixing ratio of new/recycled powder of 100:1 can be provided, and for lower quality manufacturing specifications, a ratio of 10:1 or 2:1 can be specified.

[0054] In order for the powder mixture to comply with the specifications, a mixing process that is as homogeneous as possible must be ensured. This is achieved with the device 1 in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3, in that the powder mixture components are conveyed by means of the means of transport and/or metering 4, 4′ of the device 1, in a metered and controlled manner, into a mixing container 5. In accordance with FIG. 2 (a cross-section along AA, as shown in FIG. 1), the first powder reaches the first means of transport and/or metering 4 via the container outlet 6 and from there, via the means of transport and/or metering outlet 7, enters into the inlet 8 of the mixing container 5. The second powder reaches the mixing container 5 via the second means of transport and/or metering 4′. Both means of transport and/or metering 4, 4′ are designed as vibrating channels 4, 4′. Each vibrating channel 4, 4′ has its own vibrational excitation by means of a vibrating or out-of-balance motor 9, 9′. Each vibrating motor 9, 9′ can be controlled separately. The device 1 can be operated such that only channel 4 vibrates, so that only the first powder is metered into the mixing container 5, or such that only channel 4′ vibrates, so that only the second powder enters into the mixing container 5. Both channels 4, 4′ can also vibrate, so that both the first and second powders are metered into the mixing container 5. The proportion of the first (or second) powder in the powder mixture can thus be varied in a controlled manner in a range from 0%, or almost 0%, up to 100%, or almost 100%.

[0055] By control/regulation of the vibrational excitation, the material transport within the vibrating channels 4, 4′ becomes controllable and/or regulatable. If, for example, the first powder is to be conveyed at a comparatively high material flow rate, the first vibrating motor 9 applies a strong vibration to the first channel 4, and if the material flow rate of the second powder is to be lower than that of the first powder, the second vibrating motor 9′ applies a weaker vibrational excitation to the second channel 4′. If the material flow rate in a duct 4, 4′ is to be halted, the respective out-of-balance motor 9, 9′ is stopped.

[0056] The outlet 7 of the first means of transport and/or metering 4 is located vertically above the outlet 7′ of the second means of transport and/or metering 4′, as shown in FIG. 2. It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that the first container 2 is arranged somewhat higher in the frame 3 of the device 1 than the second container 2′. Thus, to an extent, the first powder falls into the transport or conveying path of the (falling) second powder. From the transport path outlets 7, 7′ the powders enter onto the surface of a screen 10 in the mixing container 5. The screen 10 can be excited into vibration by means of an out-of-balance motor 9″, so that the powders on the screen 10 are homogeneously mixed on the one hand, and so that accumulations of material in the mixing container 5 are avoided on the other. The mixing container 5 has a correctly-sized granulate outlet 11, from which the powder mixture leaves the device 1, and a coarse granulate outlet 12, by means of which lumps or impurities in the powders are screened out of the mixture.

[0057] Compensators 13 are arranged between the components (4, 4′, 10) that can be subjected to vibration, which compensators dampen the vibrations and help to ensure that vibrations are not transmitted to other components, or only to a limited extent. Thus, a compensator 13 is located between the first container 2 and the first means of transport and/or metering 4, and between the second container 2′ and the second means of transport and/or metering 4′, also between the first means of transport and/or metering 4 and the second means of transport and/or metering 4′ on the outlet side, and between the second means of transport and/or metering 4′ and the mixing container 5. Further compensators 13 can be arranged on the outlet side of the mixing container 5.

[0058] To monitor the quantity of powder in the containers 2, 2′, weighing units 14, 14′ are provided on the first and second container, with which the absolute container weight or an alteration in weight can be observed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0059] 1 Powder mixing device [0060] 2, 2′ Container [0061] 3 Frame [0062] 4, 4′ Means of transport and/or metering, vibrating channel [0063] 5 Mixing container [0064] 6, 6′ Container outlet [0065] 7, 7′ Means of transport and/or metering outlet [0066] 8 Mixing container inlet [0067] 9, 9′, 9″ (Out-of-balance) motor, vibrating motor [0068] 11 Correctly-sized granulate outlet [0069] 12 Coarse granulate outlet, oversize granulate outlet [0070] 13 Compensator, vibration-decoupling unit [0071] 14, 14′ Weighing unit