WORKPIECE CLEANING DEVICE, CLEANING PROCESS AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a workpiece produced by means of additive production from a granular and/or powdery production material and/or for removing excess granular and/or powdery production material after additive workpiece production. The device comprises a housing in which a workpiece mounting is arranged on which or on which the produced workpiece can be arranged. In or on the housing at least one conveyor is arranged to convey, in particular, excess production material, away from the housing interior. At least one movable nozzle is arranged on at least one movable nozzle arm in the housing interior, such that the workpiece and the housing interior can be acted upon by at least one flow of the cleaning fluid during a cleaning cycle in which the workpiece and/or housing interior are purged of, in particular, excess production material. At least one nozzle rotation is provided, in which the nozzle can be rotated about at least one nozzle rotation axis relative to the nozzle arm. At least one arm trajectory movement and/or at least one arm rotation is provided, in which the nozzle arm can be moved and/or rotated relative to the workpiece mounting along at least one arm trajectory and/or about at least one arm rotation axis. The rotational speed of the nozzle rotation and the speed of the arm movement and/or the arm rotation are constituted such that during a cleaning cycle the flow of the cleaning fluid assumes all, or almost all, flow directions within the housing interior, such that the whole surface, or almost the whole surface, of the workpiece and of the housing interior, can be exposed to the cleaning flow from all, or almost all, directions.

Claims

1. Device for the cleaning of a workpiece produced by means of additive production from a granular and/or powdery production material, and/or for the removal of excess granular and/or powdery production material after additive workpiece production, wherein the device comprises a housing, in which is arranged a workpiece mounting, on which, or onto which, the produced workpiece can be arranged, at least one conveyor is arranged in or on the housing to convey, in particular, excess production material, away from the housing interior, and at least one movable nozzle is arranged in the housing interior on at least one movable nozzle arm, such that the workpiece and the housing interior can be exposed to at least one flow of the cleaning fluid during a cleaning cycle, in which the workpiece and/or housing interior are purged of, in particular, excess production material, characterized in that, at least one nozzle rotation is provided, in which the nozzle can be rotated about at least one axis of nozzle rotation relative to the nozzle arm, and at least one arm trajectory movement, and/or at least one arm rotation, is/are provided, in which the nozzle arm can be moved and/or rotated relative to the workpiece mounting along at least one arm trajectory, and/or about at least one axis of arm rotation, wherein the rotational speed of the nozzle rotation and the speed of the arm movement, and/or the arm rotation, are constituted such that during a cleaning cycle the flow of the cleaning fluid assumes all, or almost all, flow directions within the housing interior, such that the whole surface, or almost the whole surface, of the workpiece and of the housing interior, can be exposed to the cleaning flow from all, or almost all, directions.

2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the arm movement, and/or the arm rotation, causes the rotating nozzle to move along a round, circular, oval, rectangular, or almost rectangular, or free-form, trajectory around the workpiece mounting, and between the workpiece mounting and the housing wall.

3. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the nozzle rotation and the arm movement, and/or the arm rotation, are coupled, such that during one revolution of the arm rotation an adjustable constant, or an adjustable alterable, or a non-adjustable variable, or any desired, number of revolutions of the nozzle rotation take place, or such that during one revolution of the nozzle rotation an adjustable constant, or an adjustable alterable, or a non-adjustable variable, or any desired, number of revolutions of the arm rotation take place.

4. Cleaning device according to claim 3, characterised in that the coupling of the nozzle rotation and the arm movement, and/or arm rotations, takes place mechanically, and/or electronically, in particular by means of a control device.

5. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one gearing mechanism is arranged on or in the nozzle arm, which converts the movement of the nozzle arm into a movement of the nozzle.

6. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the nozzle is constituted as a rotating dual, or multiple, nozzle.

7. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the angle, or angles, at which the flow of the cleaning fluid leaves the nozzle is or are adjustable, in, or on, or by means of, the nozzle, in particular by altering the angle between the rotatable nozzle and the movable, and/or rotatable, nozzle arm.

8. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the workpiece mounting is movable, in particular displaceable, and/or pivotable, and/or rotatable, in the housing interior.

9. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised by a workpiece actuator, by means of which the workpiece can be moved in, or on, the workpiece mounting during a cleaning cycle, in particular can be moved incrementally.

10. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor is constituted as a vacuum conveyor.

11. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor is fluidically connected to a conveyancing port, which is arranged such that the granular and/or powdery production material, in particular, excess production material, to be removed, flows by virtue of gravity in the direction of the conveyancing port.

12. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that a fluid flow monitoring device is arranged in the region of the conveyancing port.

13. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the position of the device is alterable, in particular displaceable, rotatable and/or pivotable.

14. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device can be positioned on the workpiece mounting so as to form a fluid-impermeable volume.

15. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that a vibration device is provided in or on the device, with which the device, and/or the workpiece mounting, and/or the workpiece, can be exposed to at least one vibration.

16. Method for the cleaning of a workpiece produced by means of additive production from a granular and/or powdery production material, and/or for the removal of excess granular and/or powdery production material after an additive workpiece production, characterized in that the workpiece is positioned in a cleaning device, in particular a cleaning device according to claim 1, and in that a cleaning fluid is applied to the workpiece during a cleaning cycle in which the workpiece and/or the housing interior are purged of, in particular, excess production material, which cleaning fluid flows out of at least one movable nozzle, which is arranged on at least one movable nozzle arm, such that the workpiece and the housing interior of the device are exposed to at least one flow of the cleaning fluid during a cleaning cycle, wherein at least one nozzle rotation is provided, in which the nozzle rotates about at least one axis of nozzle rotation relative to the nozzle arm, at least one arm movement, and/or arm rotation, is provided, in which the nozzle arm moves along at least one arm trajectory relative to the workpiece mounting, and/or rotates about at least one axis of arm rotation relative to the workpiece mounting, and the rotational speeds of nozzle rotation and the speed of arm movement, and/or arm rotation, are constituted such that during a cleaning cycle the flow of the cleaning fluid assumes all, or almost all, flow directions within the housing interior such that the whole surface, or almost the whole surface, of the workpiece and the housing interior are exposed to the cleaning flow.

17. Additive production method for the production of a workpiece from a granular and/or powdery production material, characterized by a cleaning method according to claim 16.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device in a schematic side view,

[0026] FIGS. 2A/B show a cleaning device with a build chamber and a workpiece in differing schematic side views,

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a build chamber with a workpiece in a schematic side view, and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a cleaning device in a schematic sectional view (plan view).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a cleaning device 1, or a powder removal module, for the removal of powder from an additively produced workpiece (2). A nozzle arm 4 is arranged in the housing 3 of the device 1, which arm can be rotated about the axis of nozzle arm rotation 6, by way of a nozzle arm drive 5. A bend 7 is provided at the end of the nozzle arm 4, on which is arranged a rotatable nozzle 8. A cleaning fluid, such as a gas, or a gas mixture, flows out of the nozzle 8 into the housing interior 9. The fluid flow removes production material residues from a workpiece (2), which can be inserted into the device 1 shown in FIG. 1. The production material residues are sucked out of the housing interior 9, for which purpose a conveyancing port 10 is provided, onto which a vacuum conveyancing system can be fluidically arranged. Furthermore, the housing interior 9 is impermeable to fluids, such that no production material residues can escape into the environment 11 of the powder removal device 1.

[0030] The housing 3 can have a cylindrical geometry, that is to say, the housing cross-section can be round, which becomes clear from the view according to FIG. 4. An opening 13, or a possible connection for a port, or for a build chamber (14) can be provided on an end face 12 of the housing 3, through which the workpiece to be cleaned can be brought into the interior 9 of the housing.

[0031] FIGS. 2A and 2B show a powder removal module 1 on which is arranged a workpiece mounting 14, in which a workpiece 2 to be cleaned is arranged. The workpiece mounting 14 is shown in FIG. 3. The workpiece 2 has previously been manufactured from a production material by means of additive production. Due to the method of production, production material residues adhere to the workpiece 2. Cleaning of the workpiece 2 in the cleaning device 1 removes these production material residues. The workpiece mounting 14 forms a build chamber, which is connected to the housing 3 of the cleaning device 1 such that the volume of the build chamber 14 and the housing interior 9 are connected to each other in a manner impermeable to fluids. In principle, the cleaning device 1 can be positioned on, or set on top of, the build chamber 14.

[0032] The workpiece 2 can be linearly displaced within the workpiece mounting 14 along the direction of the axis of rotation 6, which is made clear by a comparative study of FIGS. 2A and 2B. Provision can be made for the mounting 14 (build plate) to be moved back and forth during the powder removal process. In FIG. 2A the workpiece 2 is located partially within the housing interior 9; in FIG. 2B the workpiece 2 to be cleaned is located wholly within the housing interior 9.

[0033] The workpiece 2 is cleaned by guiding the nozzle arm 4 with the rotating nozzle 8, out of which the cleaning fluid flows, around the workpiece 2 by rotation about the axis of nozzle arm rotation 6. During these rotations (of the arm 4 and nozzle 8), the workpiece 2 is moved linearly, for example with an actuator that effects an incremental displacement of the workpiece 2. In this manner, each surface element of the workpiece 2 to be cleaned is exposed to a flow of fluid during a cleaning cycle. During a cleaning cycle, the nozzle arm 4 makes a plurality of revolutions around the workpiece 2, and the nozzle 8 makes a plurality or multiplicity of revolutions about the axis of nozzle rotation, per revolution of the nozzle arm. The axis of nozzle rotation stands almost at right angles to the axis of nozzle arm rotation 6. The angle at which the fluid leaves the nozzle 8 can be altered, by the pivoting or adjustment of the nozzle 8. At the position where the fluid is applied to the workpiece 2, excess production material adhering to the workpiece 2 is removed, and enters the housing interior 9 of the cleaning device 1. From there it is removed from the housing interior 9 by a vacuum conveyancing system.

[0034] To ensure that the excess production material that is to be removed is extracted efficiently, the port 10 of the vacuum conveyor is located in a depression 15 of the housing 3. By virtue of gravity, the production material residues fall in the direction of the conveyancing port 10 of the vacuum conveyor. This is facilitated by the funnel shape of the housing end face.

[0035] By providing at least two axes of rotation during the movement of the nozzle 8, not only is the cleaning fluid applied to the workpiece 2, but also to the housing wall 16 of the housing interior 9. In this manner, the housing interior 9 is also purged of production material residues. On the one hand, this prevents dust from returning to the workpiece 2, and on the other hand, it prevents cross-contamination with the cleaning of a first workpiece 2 made of a first production material, and the subsequent cleaning of a second workpiece 2 made of a second production material that differs from the first.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0036] 1 Cleaning device/powder removal module [0037] 2 Workpiece [0038] 3 Housing [0039] 4 Nozzle arm [0040] 5 Nozzle arm drive [0041] 6 Axis of nozzle arm rotation [0042] 7 Bend [0043] 8 Nozzle [0044] 9 Housing interior [0045] 10 Conveyancing port [0046] 11 Environment [0047] 12 End face [0048] 13 Opening [0049] 14 Workpiece mounting/build chamber [0050] 15 Depression [0051] 16 Housing wall