CN104640652B - Machine and the method that material manufactures is increased for powder base - Google Patents

Abstract

Use acts on the energy beam (3) on the powder bed in working region (4) and by sintering or melted powder (2) thus increases material and manufacture the machine (1) of three-dimensional article, the top of described working region is limited by structure lining (41), described structure lining (41) is fixedly mounted in framework (40), described goods are manufactured in described lining, described goods support by manufacturing platform (7), described manufacture platform (7) is slided in described structure lining (41) when being driven with vertical translation mode by the lid (32) of hammer ram (31), the lid (32) of described hammer ram (31) is arranged along the central axis of described lining.According to the present invention, described manufacture platform (7) is arranged in transport box (60), described transport box (60) is removably disposed between described lining and described hammer ram (31), described machine includes for making the vertical device moving thus contacting with described structure lining (41) of described transport box (60), open so that when described hammer ram (31) activates at its top and bottom with described container, the lid (32) of described hammer ram (31) can make described (7) to shift between described transport box (60) and described structure lining (41), described structure lining (41) forms tectonic framework around described.

Description

Machine and the method that material manufactures is increased for powder base

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of for powder base increase material manufacture machine and method, described machine and Method is by using energy beam such as electromagnetic radiation (such as laser beam) or particle beam (such as electricity Son bundle) sinter or melt the granule of described powder.Described powder base increases material manufacture method and uses energy Amount bundle or particle beam cause the continuous print of the selection area of the nonwoven fabric from filaments of pulverulent material successively to consolidate, The continuous section of three-dimensional article is corresponded to through bonding region.

More particularly it relates to an for increasing material manufacture work station and removing through manufacturing Carrying the apparatus and method of three-dimensional article, more specifically employing between the work station of goods can be mutual Change the type of container, be positioned in described interchangeable container through manufacturing goods.

Background technology

Document WO 90/03893 describes and uses laser beam by the continuous print of pulverulent material successively Consolidation manufactures the machine of three-dimensional article, and described machine uses removable container.Described container includes Goods gripper shoe and for driving the device vertically translating movement of this goods gripper shoe.Described appearance Device along for powder deposition, sprawl and the work station that compresses and preparing by laser beam treatment Powder bed work station between horizontal rail move.The shortcoming of the program consists in the fact that Goods manufacture in container, and described container additionally includes driving means, it means that device is heavier, It is more difficult to conveying and to carry cost higher more greatly and therefore.In addition, this container needs Highly precisely arrange in the face of each work station of machine, because if the most highly precisely face Each work station of machine is arranged, there is the risk producing geometry mistake through manufacturing goods.

Document US-6554600-B1 discloses permission by using laser beam sintered powder to manufacture three Another example of the machine of fiber products.This machine includes construction space, in described construction space Inside arranging interchangeable container, described interchangeable container includes building to be encapsulated and to be manufactured for supporting The platform of goods.Goods to be manufactured are built in container, then from building sky at the end of operation Described container is removed between.In an alternative form, except including platform and goods to be manufactured Outside, described container also includes for support platform and the mechanism of the translation movement for platform. This structure disadvantageously, the larger volume of container to be conveyed and weight.Substitute at another In form, the rear wall of container includes vertical slit, for platform is attached to the perpendicular of actuating platform The device of the side arm of straight translation is assembled to described slit and is slided by described slit.This structure Disadvantageously, it requires that plate activated in cantilever fashion, this applies in a large number should on actuator arm Power, particularly when powder is compressed or when building large-size components.Furthermore, it is necessary to Vertically at slit, the sealing device of complexity is set thus avoids powder to leak from container.Except this it Outward, making platform depart from container and install new platform is the most thorny operation, because flat Platform needs highly precisely to arrange relative to this container.

Document US-7204684-B2 proposes such technical scheme, wherein supports goods to be manufactured Platform installed via the support frame in interchangeable container.Platform passes through activated apparatus Uncinus the most drivingly move, described activated apparatus be positioned at external container and by through In the sidewall of container formed Vertical Channel and and contact with platform.In order to avoid from container Powder pollutes the space of external container, arranges stage sealing device at the periphery of support frame. Therefore framework includes the metal blade covered by felt pan sealing member, and described felt pan sealing member is each Seal at Vertical Channel.Just not saying it is activated by jib system as in aforementioned documents The fact, further disadvantage is that by rubbing that the sealing system of described enhancing causes of this structure Wiping, described friction increases the thrust load of platform activated apparatus.

Document US-6824714-B1 describes the laser sintered increasing material of another kind of use and manufactures powder base The structure of the machine of goods, described machine includes removable container, by chain conveyor by institute State removable container and deliver to working region.Described container formed for goods construction encapsulating and Including the platform supporting goods.Due to its formed goods construction space, described container need with Prepared by pinpoint accuracy.Described machine be additionally included between removable container and the groove of working region and Independent of carrying out the device that couples between vertical actuator and the support platform of container.In order to make Obtaining container to be correctly positioned in the working region of machine, these coupling arrangements need precision mechanism, Described precision mechanism only just can operate when there is splendid sealing between container and plate.This is Because if powder particle pollutes container and plate locking mechanism, these mechanisms will become inoperable.

Propose one of various prior aries is total problematically, in the production of interchangeable container Need pinpoint accuracy.This is because actually prepare in container due to goods, this container needs The most accurate manufacture and assembling tolerance, therefore add its manufacturing cost.

Another is problematically, the machine caused due to powder particle when manufacturing goods pollutes. A kind of scheme is had been proposed that, especially because machine merges in above-mentioned document WO 90/03893 Pumping equipment, after the powder bed consolidation being distributed in working region described pumping equipment The remaining powder of sucking-off remains.But, the described suction carried out before melting exists from The powder bed of preparation removes the risk of particle and adds the time manufactured used by goods.

Additionally, document DE 10 2,006 032 025 describes powder base increases material manufacture machine, wherein Build sleeve pipe by installing on underframe and make the piston in combination of itself and corresponding size, at machine Underframe in form the goods that the framework of construction space of goods can be decreased to less than initially expecting Size.Described document does not describe the removable container for carrying goods, therefore load and The operation of unloading goods is laborious.

The another kind of scheme for modification space is described in document DE 10 2,010 020 416, Owing to there is not the removable container for carrying goods, there is lack identical with aforementioned documents in it Point.

Document WO 2007/003244 and DE 10 2,009 015 130 itself describes permission conveying Increase material at powder base and manufacture the removable container of the goods manufactured in machine.Described container shape Becoming the construction encapsulating for goods to be manufactured, the most described container needs highly precisely with very Accurate limit system is standby.Additionally, described container includes moving for the vertical of plate of building of goods Device so that conveying operations is increasingly difficult.

Summary of the invention

Therefore it is an object of the invention to alleviate at least one shortcoming mentioned above and propose to use Energy beam carries out the powder base of three-dimensional article and increases machine and method, described machine and the side that material manufactures Method allows easily to load and unload the work space of machine, allows with pinpoint accuracy and low simultaneously Manufacturing cost manufactures three-dimensional article.

The energy beam on the powder bed in working region is acted on by sintering or melted by use Powder thus increase material and manufacture the machine of three-dimensional article and realize these purposes, described working region upper Portion limits by building sleeve pipe, and described construction sleeve pipe is fixedly mounted in underframe, at described set Manufacturing described goods in pipe, described goods support by building plate, and described construction plate is when by causing Slide in described construction sleeve pipe when the lid of dynamic air cylinder drives with vertical translation mode, described actuating The cover rim of cylinder the central axis of described sleeve pipe and is arranged, and described machine is characterised by, described Build plate be arranged in transport box, described transport box be removably disposed described sleeve pipe and Between described activated cylinders, described machine include for making described transport box vertically move thus With the device of described construction casing-contact, and described container open at its top and bottom so that When described activated cylinders activates, the lid of described activated cylinders can make described plate in described conveying Shifting between container and described construction sleeve pipe, described construction sleeve pipe is formed around described plate and builds bag Envelope.

Therefore the machine of the present invention includes building sleeve pipe, and the sidewall of described construction sleeve pipe limits to be built Encapsulating, when the powder bed solidification being continuously disposed on plate by making to build in described construction encapsulating Make plate progressively to move in sleeve pipe until obtaining the point of goods thus manufacturing three-dimensional article.Described machine Device also includes having the transport box building plate, and when manufacturing operation and starting, described transport box is permitted Permitted in hollow plate band to machine and be arranged in machine, and allowed at the end of manufacturing operation Export from machine through manufacturing goods and plate thereof.Described machine also includes making transport box vertically move Dynamic thus device with casing-contact.Therefore described container can be easily inserted in the lower section of sleeve pipe, Once container is in place, and container the construction sleeve pipe of the most firmly extrusion press can make powder Therefore may be limited in container.

According to the present invention, described transport box is removably mounted at described construction sleeve pipe and actuating Between cylinder, described construction sleeve pipe itself is fixedly mounted relative to the underframe of machine, described cause Dynamic air cylinder activate build plate vertically translate movement, and the axis of described activated cylinders and construction The central axis alignment of the opening of sleeve pipe.The central axis of opening means in the geometry of opening The heart or the axis of the center of gravity (described center of gravity is ideally positioned at center relative to this opening) through plate. Therefore, when described container inserts in machine, make plate be dimensioned correctly relative to activated cylinders, Being transferred to build in sleeve pipe by plate by activated cylinders, described construction sleeve pipe has identical with machine Referential.This allows to use the removal receptacle simplified, and described removal receptacle only has defeated Send goods, plate and the function of possible powder and its manufacturing tolerance not as building the manufacture of sleeve pipe Tolerance is the most accurate, allows to manufacture three-dimensional article with pinpoint accuracy simultaneously.

Described container and construction sleeve pipe are designed to each receive through manufacturing goods, and therefore they are excellent Selection of land each has at least equal to the height through manufacturing goods.Encapsulating is built more specifically, formed Enough receivings that is dimensioned so that it is able to of sleeve pipe there are the goods of maximum height Hmax, and container needs The degree of depth to be had adds the thickness of upper plate and plate and container bottom corresponding to goods height Hmax Between the thickness of remaining space.

Preferably, the central axis of activated cylinders lid aligns with the central axis of described sleeve pipe, and And turn device is set for indexing between described container and the underframe of machine, and arrange fixed Center fixture is for centering between plate and the lid of activated cylinders.

The lid of activated cylinders and therefore activated cylinders is positioned at the outside of container.Activated cylinders cover rim The referential of machine is alignd with working column.Plate is positioned at center and container on activated cylinders lid Itself relative to underframe and therefore relative to sleeve pipe indexing so that assembly be more easily installed and Promote plate being properly positioned relative to working column.

In an alternative form, described turn device includes that push rod, described push rod belong to fixing The casing that is arranged on underframe and cooperating with the hole formed in the bottom of transport box.

In another alternative form, described turn device includes peg, and described peg is at sleeve pipe Bottom sides along upper formation and with transport box top sides along on formed opening cooperation.

Advantageously, described centralizer includes two holes opposed completely, and described hole is arranged on On the bottom surface of plate and with the protuberance cooperation on the front of the lid being arranged on activated cylinders.

Therefore, only using two protuberances, particularly one protuberance is prism shape and structure Become to open to center feature for avoiding plate to revolve around axis Z (being perpendicular to the axis of the plane of plate) Turning, the protuberance opposed completely has cylindrical shape and composition completely centers feature for keeping away Exempting from the translation along axis X and Y (belonging to the intersection axis of the plane of plate) to move, plate is permissible Center ideally it is positioned at relative to the lid of activated cylinders.

Preferably, described plate in described sleeve pipe and in described container slidably.

Can plate slidably mean not have with build sleeve pipe or with the lumen contact of container The plate of peripheral seal.There is not described sealing member to make it possible to avoid and sleeve pipe and container The friction of inwall and make it possible to reduce the load at plate activated cylinders.Enter in the lab Find during the test of row, for understanding the slip space of restriction and right according to powder diameter In being adapted to the internal surface of sleeve pipe surface roughness of powder diameter, piston can slide and glade plane space Will not be blocked by powder particle.Although additionally, some powder particle (includes the finest powder Particle) successfully cross the gap between plate and sleeve pipe, these powder particles are arranged on lower section Interchangeable container collection.

Advantageously, the slip space that described plate slides in described transport box exists more than described plate The slip space slided in described sleeve pipe.

Slip space means the gap on the one hand stayed between sleeve pipe and plate, on the other hand holding The gap stayed between inner space (plate moves in described space) and the plate of device, thus permit Permitted plate to move.According to the invention it is preferred to around the periphery or at least closest at two components of plate Point at the slip space between sleeve pipe and container that records more than in the inner space of container and The phase of (in the periphery of plate or at least recording at immediate of two components) is recorded between plate Same space.This means to prepare the container with the space for receiving plate, described plate has Some sizes, more than the size of the central opening of sleeve pipe, therefore can simplify the manufacture of container, plate Only accurately need to guide in sleeve pipe.

Preferably, described transport box includes sealed flexible gaiter, and described gaiter is arranged on Between described plate and the base wall of container.

It provides the advantage of, and contains the powders within container and protects machine and environment thereof Do not polluted by powder particle, in the case of particularly there is not sealing member at the periphery of plate.

Advantageously, described sleeve pipe includes lateral openings on their outer circumference, when container is arranged below Time, described lateral openings and reservoir.

In order to obtain uniform deposition powder bed on the whole surface area of working region, generally Powder is spread over sleeve pipe that is more broader than the surface area of working region and that therefore exceed machine Periphery extend certain distance surface area on.Laterally open by being formed in the periphery of sleeve pipe Mouthful, the container below sleeve pipe can be built fully reclaim by being arranged in a sealing fashion and sprawl Excess powder.Therefore the container of the present invention has the powder manufacturing operation collecting own product Function and export the function of powder from having the machine through manufacturing goods.

Preferably, described transport box include inner chamber for receiving described construction plate, described chamber quilt Periphery path surrounds, and described periphery path connects with described lateral openings at its top.

Therefore described container is prepared with the form of casing, and described casing has restriction periphery path Vertically double-walled.This makes it possible to and periphery powder storage is reduced plate actuating dress in container The load (described load is by the retroaction of machine construction) put, reduces in container intracavity simultaneously Amount of powder, thus plate can decline until the bottom of container.Size (the width of periphery path And height) be set so that this path can be stored in the manufacture process of goods to have sprawled but It it is the amount of powder not melted.

Preferably, described activated cylinders drives described construction plate via intermediate plate.

This makes it possible to simplify builds the structure of plate and is easier to remove construction from container Plate, such as by being arranged on intermediate plate by the attachment arrangement of gaiter and in container bottom.

In a preferred alternative form of the present invention, described vertical mobile device includes framework, Described framework activated in the way of horizontal translation moves.

Described framework is advantageously disposed on the lower section of described container and makes activated cylinders pass described frame Frame.The horizontal translation of described framework move the most not with the mobile interference of activated cylinders, this meaning (activated cylinders and container) two to activate and movement can separate thus realizes bigger knot Structure simplicity and the property simple to operate of assembly.Therefore, by the shifting of single component (i.e. framework) Dynamic, it is possible to the one or more points of extruding container and ensure container vertically translate mobile thus With casing-contact.

In another alternative form of the present invention, described vertical mobile device uses activated cylinders A part at its stroke in mobile carried out towards sleeve pipe.

The present invention also proposes to use the powder acted on according in the working region of the machine of the present invention Energy beam on layer is by sintering or melted powder thus increases the method that material manufactures three-dimensional article, institute The top stating working region is limited by fixing construction sleeve pipe, manufactures in described construction sleeve pipe Described goods, described goods support by building plate, and described construction plate is when by activated cylinders Slide in described construction sleeve pipe when lid drives with vertical translation mode, the lid of described activated cylinders Central axis along described sleeve pipe is arranged, and described method is characterised by:

-described plate is arranged in transport box, and

-described transport box is removably disposed between described sleeve pipe and described activated cylinders,

-transport box vertically move until its with build casing-contact,

-described container is opened at its top and bottom, and

-use described activated cylinders make described plate described transport box and described construction sleeve pipe it Between shift, described construction sleeve pipe around described plate formed build encapsulating.

Advantageously, the method for the present invention includes successively by the manufacturing step formed as follows:

-goods are supported strip to the top of described construction sleeve pipe,

-on described construction plate deposited powder layer,

-use the melted strategy melted powder particle pre-build,

-successively repeated deposition and melted step reduce in described construction sleeve pipe simultaneously gradually downward Described construction plate until obtaining described goods,

-it is reduced to the bottom of transport box by building plate,

-move activated cylinders until it departs from described construction plate,

-from machine, remove transport box.

Accompanying drawing explanation

By the remainder of description the support of drawings described below (the described remainder obtain), It is better understood with the present invention:

-Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of the cross section of the machine according to the present invention；

The container that the machine that-Fig. 2 is the present invention is assembled is working in the manufacture process of goods The schematic diagram of the cross section under position；

The container that the machine that-Fig. 3 is the present invention is assembled horizontal stroke at the end of goods manufacture operates The schematic diagram in cross section, described container remains fixed to the underframe of machine；

The container that the machine that-Fig. 4 is the present invention is assembled horizontal stroke at the end of goods manufacture operates The schematic diagram in cross section, described container departs from and activated cylinders contraction with the underframe of machine；

-Fig. 5 to 7 shows with axonometric chart and side view and container actuators is arranged on the present invention's An example in machine；

-Fig. 8 to 10 shows an embodiment of the container that the machine of the present invention assembled Axonometric chart, longitdinal cross-section diagram and upward view；

-Figure 11 shows with cross-sectional view in an alternative form of embodiments of the present invention The container that the machine of the present invention is assembled.

Detailed description of the invention

In various figures, same or analogous element is with identical reference.The most not Their 26S Proteasome Structure and Function of repeated description methodically.

Fig. 1 show schematically show for increasing material that to manufacture of machine 1 of component 20 exemplary Embodiment.As described previously in the application, the present invention is actually available for by using energy Restraint such as electromagnetic radiation (such as laser beam) or particle beam (such as electron beam) sintering or whole All types of powder bases of the particle of melted described powder increase material manufacture.

Energy source (being lasing light emitter 10 in this case) launches laser beam 11, by inspection stream mirror 12 Control the direction of described laser beam 11.Optical lens 14 allows bundle 11 to focus on working region 4 Above thus heat top layer powder 2 with accurate decorative pattern, and the most optionally cause powder melts. After by one powder bed of laser beam treatment, build plate 7 and reduce a unit thickness (institute State unit thickness corresponding to the thickness of powder bed) and with new powder bed covering etc., thus by Layer forms component 20.The type depending on energy beam and the powder used, the thickness of powder bed Hundreds of micron (such as 500 μm=0.5mm) can be changed to from a few micrometers (such as 10 μm). When component 20 completes, i.e. when for building all layers continuous solidification needed for component 20 Time, component removes from working region.

Machine 1 also includes that layered device 50, described layered device 50 allow to execute new powder bed Add to working region 4.The layered device 50 of Fig. 1 includes feed hopper 5 and sprawls roller 6, described Sprawl roller 6 for sprawling powder 2 on working region 4.Feed hopper 5 includes meter at its underpart Amount add roller 8, described metering add roller 8 include groove 8a, the purpose of described groove 8a be by The powder 2 of precise volume or dosage is delivered to sprawl roller 6 from hopper 5.Layered device 50 is further Including consolidation roller 9.Therefore the final thickness of powder bed is the result of two continuous operations.First is thick Degree limits by sprawling roller 6, and this thickness is reduced subsequently and become by the effect of consolidation roller 9 Evenly.Consolidation roller 9 is along with feed hopper 5 and sprawls roller 6 and moves.Feed hopper 5, sprawl roller 6 With consolidation roller 9 by one or more bracket rests, described bracket can at powder storage device (not Illustrate) and working region 4 between move.

Working region 4 is limited by sleeve pipe 41 in the fixed frame 40 of machine 1, builds plate 7 Sliding in described sleeve pipe 41, this construction plate is by the way of activated cylinders 31 is with vertically translation Drive, as shown in double-headed arrow in Fig. 1.Sleeve pipe 41 is fixed to underframe 40, is fixedly mounted in Prepare integratedly on underframe 40 or with underframe 40.Sleeve pipe 41 has circle, square or rectangle Or the cross section of any other suitable shape, and it is arranged on towards the zone of action of lasing light emitter 10 In underframe 40.Sleeve pipe 41 include the central opening 43 for making plate 7 pass and side path or Opening 42.Lateral openings 42 is formed on its whole height in the periphery of sleeve pipe 41, thus permits Permitted to remove the powder 2 of excess during layering.Plate 7 has and sleeve pipe 41 same shape Cross section and the size similar to sleeve pipe 41, plate 7 slides with space j1 in sleeve pipe 41.Plate 7 form the support member for three-dimensional article to be built.Sleeve pipe 41 constitutes the construction of goods and encapsulates also And the height having adds the thickness of upper plate 7 at least equal to the height of three-dimensional article to be built.

Activated cylinders 31 belongs to translation moving assembly 30.Activated cylinders means jacking equipment, such as Scaling type or preferably include the jacking equipment of tubular body type, rigid rod is in described tubular body Translationally move thus allow the transmission of the movement in its end and speed.Activated cylinders 31 can be hydraulic pressure, pneumatically or electrically type.At one of embodiments of the present invention preferably In alternative form, use electric actuation cylinder, described electric actuation can be controlled very precisely The movement of the bar of cylinder.Translation moving assembly 30 includes the outside being fixed to the underframe 40 of machine Casing and for guide activated cylinders 31 translation movement device (not shown).Activate Cylinder 31 in the external box of microvave of assembly 30 at raised position (Fig. 2) and dip (Fig. 4) Between directed in the way of translation is mobile, the lid 32 of activated cylinders 31 is intended to engage with plate 7. In order to simplify accompanying drawing and make accompanying drawing become apparent from, in addition to activated cylinders 30, eliminate assembly 30 Each component, the vertically mobile of described activated cylinders 30 allows preferably to describe the present invention.

According to the present invention, machine 1 includes transport box 60, arranges in described transport box 60 Plate 7, described container is arranged on below sleeve pipe 41 and opens at top and bottom so that braking The lid 32 of cylinder 31 can between transport box 60 and sleeve pipe 41 transfer blade 7.Transport box 60 are arranged in underframe 40 below sleeve pipe 41, such as by the horizontal rail along underframe 40 Slide.In embodiment shown in fig. 2, transport box 60 includes lateral-supporting fin 64, Described lateral-supporting fin 64 slides until they are the most adjacent along the horizontal rail 44 of underframe 40 Connect, it is allowed in the face of sleeve pipe 41 is accurately arranged.Then by the push rod of spring load 81 vertically to Upper promotion transport box 60 thus firmly squeezing bushing 41, then use the locking device 80 will Transport box 60 is maintained at this position, and described locking device 80 includes making push rod 81 fixing in situ Device.The neighboring of transport box 60 is along including that sealing member, described sealing member firmly extrude The opposite of sleeve pipe 41 thus avoid any powder to leave transport box 60.

Transport box 60 includes inner chamber 61, plate 7 in described inner chamber 61 in activated cylinders 31 Effect under move in the way of vertically translation.The cross section of inner chamber 61 has similar to plate 7 Shape and size, the space between periphery and the wall of inner chamber 61 of plate 7 is j2, wherein j2 > j1. As clearly visible in Fig. 2 and 9, transport box 60 is to have the shape of the casing of vertical double-walled Prepared by shape, inner chamber 61 is surrounded by periphery path 62 and by vertical wall 68 and periphery path 62 Separate.Periphery path 62 open at its top thus connect with the opening 42 of underframe 40 and Bottom it, place closes it is thus possible to store powder 2.Vertically the turning of wall 68 be cut sth. askew thus (plate 7 has circle or cut sth. askew in this case and turns preferably to guide powder towards periphery path 62 Angle).The cross section of periphery path 62 is more than the cross section of respective openings 42, periphery path 62 The institute reclaimed during being sized to be stored in each continuous stratification manufactured needed for component 20 The powder of the amount of having.Transport box 60 includes peripheral seal 67 thus pro seals sleeve pipe 41.

A favourable aspect according to the present invention, build plate 7 in sleeve pipe 41 slidably, Between plate and sleeve pipe 41, it is not provided with sealing member on the periphery of plate.This is because enter in the lab Find during the test of row, for the certain roughness value of sleeve pipe and plate with for these structures The certain value in the space between part, the powder particle from working region will not block construction sleeve pipe Gap between the inwall of 41 but allow plate 7 to slide.Additionally, it is correct in order to ensure powder Be limited in transport box 60 in and protect other component of machine 1, gaiter 70 is arranged on The core of transport box 60, the bottom 71 of gaiter 70 is fixed to the base wall of inner chamber 61 63 and top 72 is fixed to the bottom surface of plate 7.

One of the present invention preferred embodiment in, as visible in Fig. 5 to 7, machine 1 Including supporting box 90, described supporting box 90 is fixed on the underframe 40 of machine and can Remove or may move transport box 60 and introduce described supporting box 90.Casing 90 is parallel hexahedro Body global shape and include base wall 91, central circular passage 92, close sidewall and top Edge 94, described central circular passage 92 allows activated cylinders 31 to pass, described at least one The sidewall closed can be opened thus allow transport box 60 to pass, and described top sides is along 94 bags Include peripheral seal 95 thus for dust seal casing 90.Four push rods 96,97 pass through case The base wall 91 of body 90 highlights, and the vertical axis of described push rod 96,97 is arranged on to be had with logical In the turning of the rectangle of road 92 identical central.The push rod that diagonal angle is relative is identical, two push rods 96 each have tapered tip and another two push rod 97 each has cylindrical tip.Push rod 96, 97 engage, as being explained below with the hole of the respective shapes formed in transport box 60.

When framework 100 drives in the way of horizontal translation moves itself by actuator 101, Push rod 96,97 moves by the way of framework 100 is mobile with vertical translation.More specifically, frame Frame 100 is rectangular shape, and the exterior contour of framework 100 has similar to the base portion of casing 90 Size.Framework 100 is equipped with cam 102 along side longitudinally in each.Cam 102 has chute 103, it is arranged on the follower 104 of bottom end of push rod 96,97 along described chute 103 row Enter.Cam 102 includes two parallel chutes 103, and each chute 103 is fixed to sidepiece 105 A side.The bottom of each push rod 96,97 is equipped with two followers 104, Mei Gesui Moving part 104 contacts with a chute 103.Chute 103 is the form of groove, and described groove is cut Enter the thickness of cam and end at flexible lug 109.Lug 109 is flexible beam, described flexibility Beam can absorb the difference in thickness between multiple container 60, ensures firmly squeezing bushing 41 simultaneously Transport box 60 (the more specifically peripheral seal 67 of transport box 60) enough fasten Fix.Additionally, at the end of manufacturing operation when departing from underframe 40, chute 103 allows Container is gradually lowered.

In another alternative form (not shown), chute 103 is rigidity, push rod 96, 97 are provided with arrangement for adjusting height in this case thus adapt to the height of container and ensure container Keep the sleeve pipe 41 of firmly extrusion press.

Four installation support members 106 for bottom roller 107,107 ' project to casing 90 The outside of base wall 91, these bottom roller be arranged in such a way so that two roller bearings 107, 107 ' contact with the bottom of the sidepiece longitudinally in each 105 of framework 100.Two roller bearings 107 are V Shape roller bearing, described V-arrangement roller bearing slides thus laterally guiding frame 100 along v-shaped track, Another two roller bearing 107 ' is originally as the smooth roller bearing contacted with flat tracks.Top roller bearing 108 with Such mode is fixed to the base wall 91 of casing 90 and makes each side of its extruded frame 100 The top in portion 105 and therefore compensate the play during this framework assembles.When being driven by actuator 101 Time dynamic, framework 100 therefore relative to casing 90 in the way of its horizontal translation moves directed. When being arranged in casing 90, actuator 101 is advantageously electric type and with such side Formula operates thus locks transport box 60.

Fig. 8 to 10 shows an embodiment of the transport box 60 of the present invention, described defeated Send container 60 can introduce casing 90 and the push rod 96,97 with casing 90 is cooperated.As The most clearly visible, base wall 63 is provided with and transport box 60 is connected to casing 90 The device of push rod 96,97.Two opposed completely accordingly, with respect to the center of opening 66 Protuberance each includes that circular port 111, described circular port 111 are designed to and the pushing away of tapered end Bar 96 engages thus by centrally disposed for transport box 60.Complete relative to the center of opening 66 Two other protuberances of opposition each include that slotted eye 110, described hole 110 are designed to Engage so that transport box 60 orients relative to casing 90 with the push rod 97 of cylinder-shaped end. When transport box 60 is arranged in casing 90, actuator 101 controls the attached of transport box 60 Connect, described transport box 60 the most firmly squeezing bushing 41.

In in a preferred alternative form of embodiments of the present invention and such as Fig. 9 clear Shown in, gaiter 70 is fixed in transport box 60 by intermediate plate 73.Intermediate plate 73 and cause The lid 32 of dynamic air cylinder 31 and contacting with plate 7 (not shown in Fig. 8 to 10) and when activating Cylinder 31 rests on when dipping on the bottom of transport box 60.For gripper shoe 7 Vertically protuberance is arranged in the bottom of container thus avoids gaiter 70 crushed.

Plate 7 and (if present) intermediate plate 73 each include making one relative to another one And the centralizer 98 centered relative to the lid 32 of activated cylinders 31.Therefore, such as figure In 8 and 10 visible, intermediate plate 73 includes two holes opposed completely 112,113, described hole 112,113 with the protuberance cooperation on the front of the lid 32 being positioned at activated cylinders 31.Intermediate plate Front 114 be also equipped with protuberance (first protuberance 115 identical with the protuberance covering 32 In FIG. 8, it can be seen that another protuberance and the first protuberance oppose completely) thus be positioned at plate 7 Bottom surface on hole cooperation.Protuberance 115 has prism shape and composition opens the spy that centers Levy, for avoiding plate to rotate around axis Z (being perpendicular to the axis of the plane of plate), the most right Vertical protuberance has cylindrical shape and composition completely centers feature for avoiding along axis The translation of X and Y (belonging to the intersection axis of the plane of plate) is moved.

Figure 11 is to show this at the sectional view obtained on cornerwise perpendicular of plate One alternative form of bright embodiment.The working column 41 of rectangular cross section is fixed to machine Underframe 40.Transport box 60 has parallelepiped global shape, introducing in machine and It is positioned under the position between working column 41 and activated cylinders lid (not shown in this Figure) display. There is plate 7 and gaiter 70 in the bottom of transport box 60, described plate 7 and gaiter 70 pass through Peripheral branches fagging is fixed and the lid of brake cylinder is through described peripheral branches fagging.Machine includes turning Position device 99, described turn device 99 allows manufacturing before operation starts at container at goods Installation process make transport box 60 orient relative to working column 41.Turn device 99 includes Two pegs being arranged on its diagonal formed on the bottom sides edge of working column 41 120, described peg is cooperated with the hole 130 formed on the top sides edge of transport box 60.Hole The most deeply make it can store any powder residual without hindering the guiding to peg 120. Transport box 60 is vertically moved by mobile device (not shown) and is extruded work in a sealing fashion Make the bottom sides edge of sleeve pipe 41.For example, it is possible to use a part for the stroke of activated cylinders So that transport box 60 moves towards working column 41.It is also provided with centralizer 98, special Be not two holes opposed completely 112,113 (the identical diagonal along plate is arranged) and with Protuberance cooperation on the front of the lid 32 being arranged on activated cylinders 31 for this purpose.These Protuberance is advantageously the type identical with reference to Fig. 8 to those described in 10.

In operation, in order to start operation, transport box 60 is provided for machine 1, described defeated There is plate 7 in sending container 60, described plate 7 directly rests on transport box 60 via gaiter 70 Bottom on or directly rest on intermediate plate 73 in an alternative form.Transport box 60 Also include that gaiter 70, described gaiter 70 are arranged in the bottom of container with compressive state.The most logical Cross and make transport box 60 slip into adjoining position along track 44, or by conveying is held Device 60 is arranged on push rod 96,97 thus transport box 60 is arranged on the lower section of sleeve pipe 41. Relative to sleeve pipe 41 with relative to activated cylinders 31, container is positioned at identical with position shown in Fig. 4 Position under.Therefore, the top 65 of transport box 60 relative to sleeve pipe in the face of bottom surface 45 are positioned at the lower section of working column 41 with distance " e ".When transport box 60 is relative to the end of machine When frame is dimensioned correctly, the locking device 80 making underframe lock relative to sleeve pipe 41 activated, Or in an alternative form, framework 100 is endowed horizontal translation and moves and cause push rod 96,97 generations vertically translation is mobile so that transport box 60 firmly squeezing bushing 41, defeated Send container 60 in figure 3 shown in position under.In the whole manufacture process of component 20, defeated Container 60 is sent to be fixed under this position.Once container is fixed to underframe 40, the control device of machine Allow activated cylinders 31 by translate up mobile in the way of activate until the lid 32 of activated cylinders 31 The bottom surface (or if it exists, bottom surface of supporting intermediate plate 73) of support plate 7.

Preferably, lid 32 via vacuum, be arranged in two components for this purpose device (figure Not shown in) be fixed on plate 7.Build plate 7 and activated cylinder 31 upwardly, pass through machine The control device of device controls, through inner chamber 61 with construction sleeve pipe 41 until reaching and this sleeve pipe The level that end face is identical.Plate 7 now prepares to receive the powder bed from layered device 50.According to The instruction received from the control unit of machine 1, the powder bed of deposition by laser beam heats and Solidify at Accurate Points in its surface.After the first powder bed solidification, plate is by activating gas Cylinder 31 drives thus reduces the distance equal with layer thickness so that can pass through new powder bed Deposition and solidification continue manufacture.At the end of the manufacture of component 20 operates, activated cylinders 31 Reducing and plate 7 leaves working column 41, activated cylinders continues its stroke until supporting through manufacturing The plate 7 of goods is positioned at the bottom of transport box 60, as shown in Figure 3.Activated cylinders lid 32 Reduce further and depart from plate 7.Locking device 80 or framework 100 then activated thus Transport box 60 is made to be disconnected with underframe 40, as shown in Figure 4.Transport box 60 is now Can remove from underframe 40 and carry and (by operator in a manual manner, or preferably make With machinery such as chain conveyor, mechanical arm etc. in an automatic fashion) to another work station, Another work station described allows reclaim component 20 and plate 7 from inner chamber 61 and allow to reclaim Any powder 2 present in periphery path 62.

The powder used is preferably metal dust or ceramic powders.According to the energy beam used Type and target end layer thickness, the preferable particle size of powder can be from a few micrometers (such as 5 μm) It is changed to 300 or 400 μm.

It is contemplated that other alternative form and the embodiment of the present invention are wanted without departing from these rights The scope asked.

Claims (14)

1. use the energy beam (11) acted on the powder bed in working region (4) to pass through Sintering or melted powder (2) thus increase material manufacture three-dimensional article machine (1), described work The top in region limits by building sleeve pipe (41)

-described construction sleeve pipe (41) is fixedly mounted in underframe (40), builds set described Manufacturing described goods in pipe, described goods support by building plate (7)

-described construction plate (7) is when being translated with vertical by the lid (32) of activated cylinders (31) Slide in described construction sleeve pipe (41) when mode drives

The lid (32) of-described activated cylinders (31) sets along the central axis of described construction sleeve pipe Put,

Described machine is characterised by, described construction plate (7) is arranged in transport box (60), Described transport box (60) can be arranged on described construction sleeve pipe and described activated cylinders with removing (31) between,

-described machine includes building with described for making described transport box (60) the most mobile Make the device that sleeve pipe (41) contacts, and

-described transport box is opened so that when described activated cylinders (31) at its top and bottom During actuating, the lid (32) of described activated cylinders (31) can make described construction plate (7) in institute State and shift between transport box (60) and described construction sleeve pipe (41), described construction sleeve pipe (41) Formed around described construction plate and build encapsulating.

Machine the most according to claim 1, it is characterised in that the lid of described activated cylinders (32) central axis aligns with the central axis of described construction sleeve pipe (41), and arranges Turn device (99) is for the underframe (40) at described transport box (60) and described machine Between indexing, and centralizer (98) is set for described construction plate (7) and described Center between the lid (32) of activated cylinders.

Machine the most according to claim 2, it is characterised in that described turn device (99) Including push rod (96,97), described push rod (96,97) belongs to and is fixedly mounted in the described end Casing (90) on frame (40) and being formed with in the bottom of described transport box (60) Hole (110,111) cooperation.

Machine the most according to claim 2, it is characterised in that described turn device (99) Including peg (120), described peg (120) is in the bottom sides of described construction sleeve pipe (41) Along upper formation and with the top sides at described transport box (60) along the hole (130) of upper formation Cooperation.

5. according to the machine according to any one of claim 2 to 4, it is characterised in that described Centralizer (98) includes two holes opposed completely (112,113), described hole (112, 113) be arranged on the bottom surface of described construction plate and be arranged on described activated cylinders (31) Protuberance cooperation on the front of lid (32).

Machine the most according to any one of claim 1 to 4, it is characterised in that described Build plate (7) free in described construction sleeve pipe (41) and in described transport box (60) Slide.

Machine the most according to any one of claim 1 to 4, it is characterised in that described The slip space that construction plate (7) is slided in described transport box (60) is more than described construction plate (7) the slip space slided in described construction sleeve pipe (41).

Machine the most according to any one of claim 1 to 4, it is characterised in that described Transport box (60) includes sealed flexible gaiter (70), and described gaiter (70) is arranged Between the base wall (63) of described construction plate (7) and described transport box (60).

Machine the most according to any one of claim 1 to 4, it is characterised in that described Build sleeve pipe (41) and include lateral openings (42) on their outer circumference, when transport box (60) When being arranged below, described lateral openings (42) connects with transport box (60).

Machine the most according to claim 9, it is characterised in that described transport box (60) Being used for receiving described construction plate (7) including inner chamber (61), described inner chamber is by periphery path (62) Surrounding, described periphery path (62) connects with described lateral openings (42) at its top.

11. machines according to any one of claim 1 to 4, it is characterised in that institute State activated cylinders (31) and drive described construction plate (7) via intermediate plate (73).

12. machines according to any one of claim 1 to 4, it is characterised in that institute State vertical mobile device and include that framework (100), described framework (100) move with horizontal translation Mode activated.

13. uses act on the working region according to the machine described in aforementioned any one of claim (4) energy beam (11) on the powder bed in is by sintering or melted powder (2) thus increases Material manufactures the method for three-dimensional article, and the top of described working region is by defined below

-fixing construction sleeve pipe (41), manufactures described goods in described construction sleeve pipe (41), Described goods are supported by following

-build plate (7), described construction plate (7) is when by driving with vertical translation mode as follows Time in described construction sleeve pipe (41) slide

The lid (32) of-activated cylinders (31), lid (32) edge of described activated cylinders (31) The central axis described construction sleeve pipe is arranged,

Described method is characterised by:

-described construction plate (7) is arranged in transport box (60), and

-described transport box (60) can be arranged on described construction sleeve pipe (41) and institute with removing State between activated cylinders (31),

-described transport box (60) is the most mobile until it contacts with described construction sleeve pipe (41),

-described transport box is opened at its top and bottom, and

-use described activated cylinders (31) to make described construction plate (7) in described transport box (60) And shift between described construction sleeve pipe (41), described construction sleeve pipe (41) is around described construction Plate (7) is formed builds encapsulating.

14. methods according to claim 13, it is characterised in that described method includes depending on Secondary by the manufacturing step formed as follows:

-goods are supported strip to the top of described construction sleeve pipe (41),

-at the upper deposited powder layer of described construction plate (7),

-use the melted strategy melted powder particle pre-build,

-successively repeated deposition and melted step simultaneously in described construction sleeve pipe (41) gradually downward Reduce described construction plate (7) until obtaining described goods,

-described construction plate (7) is reduced to the bottom of described transport box (60),

-move described activated cylinders (31) until it departs from described construction plate (7),

-from described machine, remove described transport box (60).