DE102019115170A1 - Installation and operation of a system for additive manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for additive manufacturing of workpieces and a method for maintaining their operational readiness are proposed. The system comprises, in particular, a process chamber and a carrier (500) for receiving a granular raw material and a workpiece produced from the granular raw material by a generative layering process. An interchangeable carrier (500) is equipped with at least one tool or spare part, the assembly being carried out outside the process chamber. The equipped carrier is then moved to a predetermined position on the process chamber. With the help of the tool (570, 575) or spare part brought into the process chamber, the operational readiness of the system can be maintained. A system equipped in this way no longer needs an additional opening in the process chamber, such as a door, in order to bring tools or spare parts into the process chamber. This eliminates many sources of interference and dirt-trapping corners or joints.

Description

As the size of the construction field for machines for additive manufacturing increases, the process chamber becomes larger and cleaning, measuring and maintenance work becomes increasingly difficult. Construction fields can for example have dimensions of 600 mm x 600 mm, with larger construction fields being developed and e.g. are urgently needed for the construction of lightweight components in the aviation industry. Due to the size, individual components of the process chamber can only be reached to a limited extent by cleaning and / or maintenance personnel. This applies in particular to machines in which a granulate or powdery raw material is selectively solidified, for example with the help of a laser beam. Impurities during the construction process and wear and tear endanger the operational readiness of the system.

In many of today's systems, it is necessary to open the process chamber for cleaning and service work. To this end, many systems have a door for manual intervention. This leads to contamination of the process chamber and to the loss of protective gas, which typically fills the process chamber.

The DE 20 2013 009 787 U1 proposes to move a construction chamber in the sealed state from the ambient atmosphere from an operating position, in which a raw material powder layer applied to the carrier is exposed to electromagnetic radiation by means of the irradiation device, into a change position outside the workpiece production section. In this way, the construction chamber can be changed and filled and emptied under controlled conditions. A comparable concept of an interchangeable assembly chamber or an interchangeable assembly cylinder can be found in EP 3 263 316 A1 .

The EP 1 793 979 B1 proposes a lock chamber through which objects such as workpieces can be brought from the ambient atmosphere into the protective gas atmosphere of the process chamber and back.

The object of the invention is to simplify maintaining or restoring the operational readiness of a system for additive manufacturing.

This object is achieved by the subjects of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the subjects of the independent claims are characterized in the subclaims. The wording of all claims is hereby incorporated by reference into the content of this description.

The use of the singular is not intended to exclude the plural, which also applies in the opposite sense, unless otherwise stated.

Individual process steps are described in more detail below. The steps do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order given, and the method to be described can also have further steps that are not mentioned.

To solve the problem, a method for maintaining the operational readiness of a system for additive manufacturing is proposed. Maintaining operational readiness includes, for example, cleaning and / or maintaining the system or the process chamber. In the case of an additive manufacturing process in which light beams are used, for example laser sintering, maintaining operational readiness can also include measuring the light beam, for example to determine its position or focus diameter.

• - eine Werkstückerzeugungssektion zur Herstellung eines Werkstücks durch selektives Verfestigen einer Schicht aus einem granularen Rohstoff.
• - eine Prozesskammer. Die Prozesskammer ist der Raum, in dem die additive Fertigung von statten geht. Sie ist typischerweise gegenüber der Umgebungsatmosphäre abgedichtet und verfügt über Mittel zum schichtweisen Zuführen des granularen Rohstoffs.
• - einen Träger zur Aufnahme des granularen Rohstoffs sowie eines durch ein generatives Schichtaufbauverfahren aus dem granularen Rohstoff hergestellten Werkstücks, wobei der Träger und die Prozesskammer mit zunehmender Bauhöhe des auf dem Träger erzeugten Werkstücks relativ zueinander verfahrbar sind. Die Relativbewegung ist in der Praxis häufig eine Bewegung des Trägers aus der Prozesskammer heraus nach unten. Ebenso gut kann sich aber auch die Prozesskammer nach oben heben, oder aber sowohl der Träger als auch die Prozesskammer an der Bewegung beteiligt sein.

The system has the following:

• a workpiece producing section for producing a workpiece by selectively solidifying a layer of a granular raw material.
• - a process chamber. The process chamber is the room in which additive manufacturing takes place. It is typically sealed off from the ambient atmosphere and has means for supplying the granular raw material in layers.
• - A carrier for receiving the granular raw material and a workpiece manufactured from the granular raw material by a generative layering process, the carrier and the process chamber being movable relative to one another as the overall height of the workpiece produced on the carrier increases. In practice, the relative movement is often a downward movement of the carrier out of the process chamber. The process chamber can just as easily lift upwards, or both the carrier and the process chamber can participate in the movement.

• - Ein Träger wird mit mindestens einem Werkzeug oder Ersatzteil bestückt. Der mit dem Werkzeug oder Ersatzteil bestückte Träger ist entweder der bereits erwähnte Träger für den Aufbau des Werkstücks (sog. Bau-Träger) oder ein zweiter Träger, der gegen den Bau-Träger ausgetauscht werden kann (sog. Wechsel-Träger).
• - Die Bestückung wird außerhalb der Prozesskammer durchgeführt, beispielsweise unter Umgebungsatmosphäre.
• - Der bestückte Träger wird anschließend über eine für den Träger in der Prozesskammer vorbestimmte Öffnung an eine vorbestimmte Position an der Prozesskammer verfahren, welche typischerweise einer möglichen Position während des Bauprozesses entspricht. Die vorbestimmte Position an der Prozesskammer kann beispielsweise die Position sein, an der sich der Träger typischerweise zu Beginn der Herstellung eines Werkstücks in der Prozesskammer oder unmittelbar unterhalb der Prozesskammer befindet.
• - Mithilfe des mindestens einen Werkzeugs oder Ersatzteils wird die Betriebsbereitschaft der Anlage aufrecht erhalten.

The procedure consists of the following steps:

• - A carrier is equipped with at least one tool or spare part. The carrier equipped with the tool or spare part is either the already mentioned carrier for the construction of the workpiece (so-called construction carrier) or a second carrier which is against the construction carrier can be exchanged (so-called exchange carrier).
• The assembly is carried out outside the process chamber, for example in an ambient atmosphere.
• - The equipped carrier is then moved via an opening predetermined for the carrier in the process chamber to a predetermined position on the process chamber, which typically corresponds to a possible position during the construction process. The predetermined position on the process chamber can be, for example, the position at which the carrier is typically located at the beginning of the production of a workpiece in the process chamber or directly below the process chamber.
• - With the help of at least one tool or spare part, the operational readiness of the system is maintained.

In this way, the tool or replacement part can be brought into the process chamber from the outside with the aid of a carrier. There is then no longer any need to open a door of the process chamber in order to introduce tools into the process chamber. There is therefore no need for a door for the process chamber at all. This eliminates many sources of interference and dirt-trapping corners or joints.

If a carrier is equipped with tools outside the process chamber, the protective gas atmosphere can be maintained in the process chamber. This not only saves protective gas, for example argon - with the associated cost savings - it also protects the process chamber from contamination. In the same way, it protects against protective gas and / or granular raw material from getting into the external environment, since the latter can be harmful to health. This improves work safety for the user. Certain processes can also be accelerated in this way, as there is no need to wait for a renewed flooding with protective gas.

In a further development, the additive manufacturing systems have a transport device for moving the carrier from a position outside the process chamber, in which the carrier can be fitted, to a position on the process chamber that corresponds to a possible position during the construction process - and vice versa Direction. Such a transport device can be used to bring tools or spare parts into the process chamber.

For this purpose, the fitted carrier is fitted with tools or spare parts outside the process chamber and, after fitting, is moved to the predetermined position on the process chamber by means of the transport device.

In this way, a transport device that may already be present can be used to bring tools or spare parts into the process chamber without the process chamber having to be opened for this purpose, for example by opening a door to the ambient atmosphere.

In the process chamber, gloves are available, for example, into which one can reach through a wall of the process chamber in order to carry out maintenance work with the tool or spare part, for example. Such gloves are well known (see e.g. DE 20 2014 009 347 U1 ). They are sealed against the wall so that no impurities from the outside world penetrate into the process chamber or protective gas escapes.

In some systems for additive manufacturing there are devices for exchanging the carrier in order to get finished workpieces out of the process chamber (see, for example, the one cited at the beginning DE 20 2013 009 787 U1 ). The carrier is typically moved downwards out of the process chamber. Other translational or rotational movements are also conceivable. For example, a door through which the carrier can be moved out of the process chamber can be provided in the wall of the cylinder located below the process chamber (see below). According to the invention, these existing devices can be used to bring tools and spare parts for servicing or maintenance of the process chamber or the system as a whole into the process chamber.

The carrier equipped with a tool or a spare part is preferably moved at least partially by a movement against the relative displacement during the construction process to the position in the process chamber predetermined for the carrier. As an exemplary embodiment, it is conceivable that the carrier leaves the process chamber moving downwards and is moved with a lateral movement, for example through a lock for the protective gas atmosphere, into another area of the system, where it can be equipped with tools or a spare part. In order to then bring this into the process chamber, the carrier moves through the lock under the process chamber in order to finally be lifted.

In many cases the carrier is surrounded by walls within which it moves relative to the process chamber. Together with the walls, the beam forms a unit which is called a "cylinder" in technical terminology, even if it does not have to have a cylindrical shape, but generally comes close to a cuboid. With such a design, the carrier is fitted together with the walls, i.e. the cylinder, outside the process chamber and then introduced into the process chamber.

As in the case of the carrier, this is typically referred to as a construction cylinder for building workpieces and an interchangeable cylinder when the cylinders can be exchanged.

In this way, the tool or spare part can be brought into the process chamber with the aid of an interchangeable cylinder. Since the tools or spare parts typically have a certain height, they are protected within such a cylinder. The interchangeable cylinder initially functions as a transport container through which the tools or spare parts reach the process chamber. However, it can also take on other functions if, for example, data and media for controlling functions are transmitted with the cylinder.

An interchangeable cylinder used for this purpose can therefore be referred to in technical terms as a "service cylinder". With such a service cylinder, maintenance work can be carried out with the process chamber closed. All components necessary for the work are located in or on the service cylinder and are brought into the process chamber with it. As already mentioned, there is no need to open the process chamber in order to introduce tools. This in turn eliminates the need to provide a door to the ambient atmosphere on the process chamber.

Furthermore, in this way the degree of automation and thus the reliability and reproducibility can be increased and personnel costs can be saved.

In a first exemplary embodiment, a cleaning tool and / or a cleaning agent for equipping the carrier is used as the tool. In the simplest case, the cleaning tool can be a brush for removing superfluous powder / granular raw material that has deposited on the edges and corners of the process chamber. A cleaning agent can be, for example, a glass cleaner for cleaning optical components in the case of an additive manufacturing system that uses light to solidify the granular raw material. In such a system, the optical components include in particular the beam entry disk. For example, the carrier can be equipped with a glass cleaner and suitable cloths.

In a next expansion stage, a device for spraying a cleaning fluid could be provided as the cleaning agent. A typical cleaning fluid could be isopropanol. Together with the cleaning tools that may be introduced into the process chamber, effective cleaning, in particular of optical components, can thus be achieved.

• - eine Werkstückerzeugungssektion zur Herstellung des Werkstücks durch selektives Verfestigen einer Schicht aus einem granularen Rohstoff;
• - eine Prozesskammer;
• - einen Träger zur Aufnahme des granularen Rohstoffs sowie eines durch ein generatives Schichtaufbauverfahren aus dem granularen Rohstoff hergestellten Werkstücks, wobei der Träger und die Prozesskammer mit zunehmender Bauhöhe des auf dem Träger erzeugten Werkstücks relativ zueinander verfahrbar sind;
• - eine Einheit außerhalb der Prozesskammer zum Bestücken eines Trägers mit mindestens einem Werkzeug oder Ersatzteil; und
• - eine Transporteinrichtung zum Bewegen des bestückten Trägers von einer Position außerhalb der Prozesskammer, in der der Träger bestückt werden kann, an eine vorbestimmte Position an der Prozesskammer, welche einer möglichen Position während des Bauprozesses entspricht. Die Transporteinrichtung zum Bewegen des bestückten Trägers kann die üblichen Mittel umfassen, etwa Elektromotoren, Laufbänder, Schienen, Hydraulikanlagen, etc., wie sie in Anlagen zur additiven Fertigung heutzutage anzutreffen sind.

The object is also achieved by a system for additive manufacturing of a workpiece, the system having the following:

• a workpiece producing section for producing the workpiece by selectively solidifying a layer of a granular raw material;
• - a process chamber;
• a carrier for receiving the granular raw material as well as a workpiece produced from the granular raw material by a generative layering method, the carrier and the process chamber being movable relative to one another as the overall height of the workpiece produced on the carrier increases;
• - a unit outside the process chamber for equipping a carrier with at least one tool or spare part; and
• a transport device for moving the equipped carrier from a position outside the process chamber, in which the carrier can be equipped, to a predetermined position on the process chamber, which corresponds to a possible position during the building process. The transport device for moving the equipped carrier can comprise the usual means, for example electric motors, treadmills, rails, hydraulic systems, etc., as are found today in systems for additive manufacturing.

A system equipped in this way no longer needs a door on the process chamber in order to bring tools or spare parts into the process chamber. This eliminates many sources of interference and dirt-trapping corners or joints.

In order to better protect the process chamber from contamination and to save protective gas, the system can have a lock for the equipped or unequipped carrier, which the carrier can pass through on its way from outside the process chamber to the predetermined position on the process chamber. The lock is designed in such a way that it shields the process chamber, which is located under a protective gas atmosphere, from contact with the ambient atmosphere.

In most systems, the carrier is surrounded by walls within which it moves relative to the process chamber while a workpiece is being built. The carrier typically forms a unit with the walls, which can be moved as such. This unit is called a cylinder in technical terms, even if its shape is more like a cuboid. According to the invention, this cylinder can be equipped outside the process chamber and then moved to a predetermined position on the process chamber, which typically corresponds to a possible position during the construction process.

Accordingly, the system can have a lock for the cylinder, which the cylinder can pass through on its way from outside the process chamber to the predetermined position on the process chamber. The lock is designed in such a way that it shields the process chamber, which is located under a protective gas atmosphere, from contact with the ambient atmosphere. As a rule, the cylinder in the lock is flooded with the protective gas atmosphere.

In order to protect the unit / cylinder against the loss of protective gas or against other impurities or impairments, a closure (colloquially: cover) can be provided on the cylinder, which can either be removed or put on. In this way, the cylinder is protected from further contamination and the protective gas atmosphere in it is preserved.

Hitherto unknown possibilities open up if the tool introduced into the process chamber has means for measuring an electromagnetic beam. With the help of such measuring devices, for example, the optics in a laser sintering system can be monitored without opening the process chamber. It is conceivable, especially in the case of larger components, a correction or readjustment, e.g. of the laser, is carried out between two construction processes.

The means for measuring an electromagnetic beam can have wireless means for supplying energy. In such a case, in particular, no power cables have to be carried into the process chamber.

The usual methods can be used for wireless energy transmission, in particular an inductive coupling, in particular a resonant inductive coupling, a capacitive coupling or a laser beam whose light output is converted into electricity with the help of a photocell on the means for measuring an electromagnetic beam.

As an alternative to a wireless energy supply, docking to an interface that is present in the process chamber - or its vicinity - or carrying an energy source, such as a battery, is recommended.

In a first variant, the means for measuring an electromagnetic beam can be designed such that they can measure the radiation power. If, for example, a drop in the radiation power is measured, this can be an indication that lenses or other glass plates are dirty. If this is determined, a cleaning tool and a cleaning agent can then be brought into the process chamber using the method according to the invention in order to clean the lenses or glass plates again.

The usual components, such as a photodiode, can be used to measure the radiation power.

In a further development, the means for measuring an electromagnetic beam can be designed such that they can measure the spatial distribution of the radiation power.

In this way, for example, the focus or the caustic of the beam used for additive manufacturing, for example a laser beam, such as an infrared laser, can be measured. The possibility of adjusting the height of the carrier, which is basically available in such systems, can also be used. In this way, the focus can be measured in different planes. It can thus be checked whether the optics have been misaligned. It is also conceivable that the electromagnetic beam can be readjusted with the help of such a component - automatically or controlled by a person.

The usual components such as a CCD, a camera chip or the like can be used to measure the spatial distribution of the radiation power.

In order to measure the spatial distribution of the radiation power, however, scanning field correction means can also be introduced into the process chamber. A typical scan field correction means would be the known scan field correction plate, such as that shown in FIG WO 2018/153687 A1 is described. In the context of the invention, these can be introduced into the process chamber without having to open the process chamber.

In order to be able to transmit the measurement results to the outside from the process chamber, the means for measuring an electromagnetic beam can have means for wireless data transmission.

The usual means come into consideration as means for wireless data transmission, for example a Bluetooth or WLAN connection, communication by means of NFC or the like. For this purpose, the means for measuring can optionally carry an energy supply, for example a battery, provided they are not supplied with energy wirelessly.

This enables the measured properties of the electromagnetic beam to be evaluated in real time without mechanical problems caused by cables.

As an alternative to wireless data transmission, docking to an interface in or near the process chamber is an option.

To further monitor and maintain the operational readiness of the system, the tool introduced into the process chamber can have means for measuring the temperature, the flow, the oxygen content or the humidity of gases.

The means for measuring the temperature can be the usual electronic or visible thermometers.

A protective gas flow is conducted in the process chamber during the build-up process in order to remove any smoke, smoke or soot that may arise. With the aid of the means for measuring the flow of gases introduced into the process chamber according to the invention, this protective gas flow can be checked. The means for measuring the flow velocity, as an example of physical quantities of fluid flows, can be the usual ones, such as a hot wire anemometer, a vane anemometer, a cup anemometer, a dynamic pressure anemometer or a laser Doppler anemometer. In contrast to the other anemometers listed, a laser Doppler anemometer enables the flow velocity to be determined without influencing the flow.

In a further development of the system, the tool introduced into the process chamber can be a robot or a robot arm. Maintenance work can be carried out with the aid of such a robot. The robot can also be moved into the process chamber together with tools and spare parts. He can then carry out cleaning work, measurements or the exchange of spare parts.

So that the robot can be controlled from outside the process chamber when it is in the process chamber in order to carry out the necessary work, the robot can have wireless means for exchanging data and control commands.

The wireless means for exchanging data and control commands can in turn be the usual means, such as Bluetooth, WLAN or NFC. The robot can also carry its own energy supply, such as a battery, with it for this purpose.

The energy can also be transmitted wirelessly to the robot.

Finally, the robot can have a controller that allows the robot to carry out work autonomously to maintain the operational readiness of the system. With such a capable robot, cleaning and measuring work can be carried out automatically or partially.

When the service cylinder has arrived at the position intended for the work, media connections can be connected manually and / or automatically. Media, e.g. Inert gas, water, isopropanol or similar can alternatively also be stored and carried in the service cylinder with its own memory.

A fully developed system can have parking positions for a plurality of beams and / or units made up of beams and walls, that is to say cylinders. These carriers can either be already equipped or not. The building cylinders, which are used to assemble workpieces, typically have the same spatial dimensions as the service cylinders, which are used to bring in tools and spare parts. The parking positions are then equally parking positions for construction cylinders and service cylinders. The parking positions can be integrated into the system or can be connected to it.

Further details and features emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures. The respective features can be implemented individually or in combination with one another. The possibilities for solving the problem are not restricted to the exemplary embodiments.

• 1 eine Anlage für die additive Fertigung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Servicezylinders zum Einbringen von Reinigungswerkzeugen und -mitteln;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Servicezylinders zum Einbringen eines Roboters;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung eines Servicezylinders zum Einbringen einer Einrichtung zum Versprühen von Isopropanol und eines Scheibenwischers;
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Servicezylinders zum Einbringen von Mitteln zum Vermessen der Leistung und der räumlichen Verteilung von elektromagnetischer Strahlung;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Servicezylinders zum Einbringen einer Sca nfeld-Korrektu r-Platte;
• 7 eine Anordnung mit einer Mehrzahl von Anlagen für die additive Fertigung gemäß 1 mit einer Parkpositionen für eine Mehrzahl von Zylindern.

The exemplary embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. The same reference numbers in the individual figures designate elements that are the same or functionally the same or correspond to one another with regard to their functions. In detail shows:

• 1 a facility for additive manufacturing;
• 2 a schematic representation of a service cylinder for introducing cleaning tools and agents;
• 3 a schematic representation of a service cylinder for introducing a robot;
• 4th a schematic representation of a service cylinder for introducing a device for spraying isopropanol and a windshield wiper;
• 5 a schematic representation of a service cylinder for introducing means for measuring the power and the spatial distribution of electromagnetic radiation;
• 6th a schematic representation of a service cylinder for introducing a scan field correction plate;
• 7th an arrangement with a plurality of systems for additive manufacturing according to 1 with one parking position for a plurality of cylinders.

1 shows a plant 100 for additive manufacturing with an optical bench 110 and a process chamber 120 . To the process chamber 120 can be a construction or service cylinder 130 connected. The connection is made via an opening in the process chamber 120 through a locking unit 140 can be completed. The locking unit 140 can be moved to the side.

The construction or service cylinder 130 consists of a carrier 170 and walls 160 . The carrier 170 can be moved in the vertical direction by a linear system.

The linear system has a lifting system for this purpose 180 and a lifting rod 190 who have favourited the carrier 170 emotional.

In front of the plant 100 there is a frame structure 195 with conveyors for exchanging cylinders 130 , e.g. to replace a construction cylinder after a completed construction process or for the use of a service cylinder to maintain and restore the operational readiness of the system 100 . The cylinders 130 are in this embodiment of the conveyor of the frame structure 195 from a construction position directly below the system 100 in a change position next to the system 100 proceed.

By the possibility of the operational readiness of the plant 100 using a service cylinder 130 to maintain or restore, there are no further accesses to the process chamber 120 needed. In particular, there is no need for a door via the means for maintaining or restoring the operational readiness of the system 100 be introduced.

2 shows a carrier 200 in a service cylinder 205 with walls 210 and a lid 220 . Together these form a service cylinder 205 with lid 220 . The in 2 shown service cylinder 205 serves to bring cleaning agents and tools 230 into the process chamber. Examples are shown as cleaning agents 230 a bottle for spraying a cleaning liquid, for example isopropanol. Cleaning cloths and a brush are also shown. On the carrier plate 200 are mounts 240 to secure the cleaning tools and cleaning agents during transport 230 intended.

The lid 220 seals the service cylinder 205 from. It is used when connecting the service cylinder 205 to a process chamber 120 a plant 100 moved to the side by a lid positioning assembly. It is similar with the locking unit 140 proceed. In this way, the service cylinder can be used in a system 100 be filled with protective gas.

3 shows a service cylinder 305 with a carrier plate 300 , a lid 320 and walls 310 . The service cylinder 305 is equipped with a robot 350 which is introduced into the process chamber. The robot is exemplary 350 with a wiper 355 equipped as a tool.

4th shows a service cylinder 405 with a carrier plate 400 , a lid 420 and walls 410 . The in 4th service cylinder shown as an example 405 is used to put a cleaning agent, in the example shown, isopropanol in a spray bottle 460 , together with a tool, in the example shown a windshield wiper 465 to be introduced into the process chamber. With the aid of these two tools or means, cleaning of, for example, optical components can be carried out by engaging in gloves (not shown).

5 shows a service cylinder 505 with a carrier plate 500 , Walls 510 and a lid 520 . The in 5 service cylinder shown as an example 505 serves to provide means for measuring electromagnetic radiation in the Bring process chamber. Examples are in 5 shown a means 575 for measuring the power of an electromagnetic beam and means 570 for spatially resolved measurement of the power distribution of an electromagnetic beam.

6th again shows a service cylinder 605 with a carrier plate 600 , a lid 620 and walls 610 . The in 6th service cylinder shown as an example 605 serves to use a scan field correction plate 680 to be introduced into the process chamber. The examples of service cylinders and their contents shown in the figures are only a part of the abundance of possibilities that are opened up by the proposed change carriers and service cylinders.

7th shows a plurality of plants 100 that are arranged side by side, and a pool of cylinders that are both service cylinders 710 as well as building cylinders 720 includes. The cylinders 710 and 720 are in a parking position in a frame structure 730 . The frame structure 730 has brackets with which the service cylinder 710 and the building cylinders 720 recorded and there - e.g. until the next use in a system 100 - can be stored. 7th shows (schematically) also a transport device 740 with which the cylinder 710 , 720 from the parking positions to the systems 100 can be used for additive manufacturing.

The parking station can also be used to remove finished workpieces from building cylinders 720 to remove, to fill empty building cylinders with powder or to equip or equip service cylinders with new cleaning materials or measuring tools.

The facilities 100 can be operated in parallel and with the cylinders 710 , 720 of the pool can be filled in any order. In this way, for example, two of the three systems shown 100 manufacture one component while the third system 100 using a service cylinder 710 is being serviced. A single service cylinder can therefore be used to ensure the operational readiness of several systems 100 to maintain or restore.

glossary

Operational readiness

Operational readiness is understood to mean a state of a system in which the system can fulfill its intended purpose. In the case of a system for additive manufacturing, for example, this would be a state in which the additive manufacturing of a workpiece can be started immediately. This includes achieving the desired reproducible quality level of the component quality through, among other things, adequate purity and adjustment of the system. The measures to maintain operational readiness include repair, maintenance and adjustment as well as cleaning and recalibrating process-relevant sensors in the process chamber, for example flow or temperature sensors or process monitoring systems.

spare Parts

For the purposes of this invention, a spare part is understood to mean not only a spare part in the usual sense, but also, for example, consumables.

granular raw material

The granular raw materials include, in particular, powder for powder-bed-based melting and sintering powder, it being possible for the energy input for melting or sintering to be effected by electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared radiation, or by electron beams. The granular raw materials also include plastic granulates for free-jet binding agent application or the like.

Process chamber

The process chamber is the cavity in which the generative manufacturing process takes place. The process chamber serves, among other things the maintenance of the protective gas atmosphere and the introduction of electromagnetic waves. On the surface of the granular raw material and thus at the lower end of the process chamber, the selective solidification and thus the layered build-up of a workpiece takes place. The opening predetermined for the carrier in the process chamber is located at this point.

Robotic arm

A robot arm is a multi-axis mechatronic movement unit with a tool or a gripping device at its free or movable end. A robot arm can be a fully automatic e.g. 6-axis machine with gripping device, but also - on the less complex side - a multi-axis mechatronic movement unit that has to be controlled by a person from outside the process chamber.

lock

A lock is a space that exists between two spaces and can take on the specific states of both spaces.

carrier

In additive manufacturing, a carrier typically carries the granular raw material when manufacturing an object. As an alternative or in addition, a building carrier (substrate plate) can also be mounted on the carrier, a granular raw material for producing an object being applied to the building carrier. The carrier can be connected to a construction or exchangeable cylinder. The carrier can have seals on the walls of the cylinder. According to the invention, the carrier can also transport different tools or spare parts into the process chamber. Furthermore, the carrier can have coupling points for the transport device.

Workpiece production section

The workpiece production section of a system for additive manufacturing is understood to mean the central components for the construction of a workpiece. This includes optics and light generation, if this is used for solidification, a carrier for the workpiece, the process chamber, the feed for the granular raw material, etc.

Tool

In the present case, a tool is not only understood to mean a tool according to the usual understanding of tool, but also measuring instruments, cleaning equipment or means, objects that are required for maintenance, or the like.

List of reference symbols

100

Plant for additive manufacturing

110

optical bench

120

Process chamber

130

Construction / service cylinder

140

Locking unit

160

walls

170

carrier

180

Lifting system

190

Lifting rod

195

Frame structure for exchanging cylinders

200

carrier

205

Service cylinder

210

walls

220

cover

230

Detergents and tools

240

Brackets, transport locks

300

carrier

305

Service cylinder

310

walls

320

cover

350

Robotic arm

355

windshield wipers

400

carrier

405

Service cylinder

410

walls

420

cover

460

spray bottle

465

windshield wipers

500

carrier

505

Service cylinder

510

walls

520

cover

570

Spatially resolving measuring device

575

Power meter

600

carrier

605

Service cylinder

610

walls

620

cover

680

Scan field correction plate

710

Service cylinder in a parking position

720

Construction cylinder in a parking position

730

Parking station for holding and storing cylinders

740

Transport device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 202013009787 U1 [0003, 0018]
• EP 3263316 A1 [0003]
• EP 1793979 B1 [0004]
• DE 202014009347 U1 [0017]
• WO 2018/153687 A1 [0042]

Claims (25)

Procedure for maintaining or restoring the operational readiness of a system (100), 1.1 where the system (100) has the following: 1.1.1 a workpiece producing section for producing a workpiece by selectively solidifying a layer of a granular raw material; 1.1.2 a process chamber (120); 1.1.3 a carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) for receiving the granular raw material as well as a workpiece produced from the granular raw material by a generative layering process; 1.1.4 whereby the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and the process chamber (120) can be moved relative to one another as the overall height of the workpiece produced on the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) increases are; the method comprising the following steps: 1.2 a carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is equipped with at least one tool (230; 350; 355; 460, 465; 570, 575; 680) or a spare part; 1.2.1 where the assembly is carried out outside the process chamber (120); 1.3 the equipped carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is moved to a predetermined position on the process chamber (120) via an opening predetermined for the carrier in the process chamber; and 1.4 with the aid of the at least one tool (230; 350; 355; 460, 465; 570, 575; 680) or spare part, the operational readiness of the system (100) is maintained or restored. Method according to the preceding claim, 2.1 wherein the system comprises a transport device (740) for moving the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) from a position outside the process chamber (120), in which the carrier can be equipped, to a position on the process chamber which corresponds to a possible position during the building process; the method comprising the steps of: 2.2 the loaded carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is moved to the predetermined position on the process chamber (120) by means of the transport device (740) after loading. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the equipped carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) at least partially by a movement against the relative displacement during the construction process to that for the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400 ; 500; 600) is moved to a predetermined position in the process chamber (120). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 4.1 that the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is surrounded by walls (160; 210; 310; 410; 510; 610) within which it can move relative to one another executes to the process chamber (120); 4.2 that the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) forms a unit with the walls; and 4.3 that the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is equipped together with the walls outside the process chamber (120) and is then introduced into the process chamber (120). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool (230; 350; 355; 460, 465; 570, 575; 680) is a cleaning tool (355) and / or a cleaning agent (460) for equipping the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is used. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a device for spraying a cleaning liquid is provided as the cleaning agent (460). System (100) for additive manufacturing of a workpiece, the system (100) having the following: 7.1 a workpiece producing section for producing the workpiece by selectively solidifying a layer of a granular raw material; 7.2 a process chamber (120); 7.3 a carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) for receiving the granular raw material as well as a workpiece produced from the granular raw material by a generative layer structure process; 7.4 the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and the process chamber (120) being displaceable relative to one another as the overall height of the workpiece produced on the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) increases; 7.5 a unit outside the process chamber (120) for equipping a carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) with at least one tool (230; 350; 355; 460, 465; 570, 575; 680) or a spare part; and 7.6 a transport device (740) for moving the equipped carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) from a position outside the process chamber, in which the carrier can be equipped, to a predetermined position on the process chamber (120), which corresponds to a possible position during the construction process. System (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by 8.1 a lock for the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600), 8.2 that of the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) on its Can traverse away from outside the process chamber (120) to the predetermined position on the process chamber (120); 8.3 the lock is designed in such a way that it is exposed to a protective gas atmosphere located process chamber (120) shields against contact with the ambient atmosphere. Appendix (100) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that 9.1 that each carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is surrounded by walls (160; 210; 310; 410; 510; 610), within which it has a relative movement to during the construction of a workpiece Executes process chamber (120); 9.2 that the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) forms a unit with the walls. System (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by 10.1 a lock for the unit, 10.2 which the unit can pass through on its way from outside the process chamber (120) to the predetermined position on the process chamber (120); 10.3 the lock being designed in such a way that it shields the process chamber (120), which is located under a protective gas atmosphere, from contact with the surrounding atmosphere. System (100) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized by a closure (220; 320; 420; 520; 620) on the unit, which can optionally be removed or put on. System (100) according to the preceding claims directed to a system, characterized in that the tool (570, 575) has means for measuring an electromagnetic beam. System (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for measuring an electromagnetic beam have wireless means for supplying energy. System (100) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the means (575) for measuring an electromagnetic beam are designed in such a way that they can measure the radiation power. Plant (100) according to one of the Claims 12 to 14th , characterized in that the means (570) for measuring an electromagnetic beam are designed such that they can measure the spatial distribution of the radiation power. System (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for measuring the spatial distribution of the radiation power comprise scan field correction means (680). Plant (100) according to one of the Claims 12 to 16 , characterized in that the means for measuring an electromagnetic beam have means for wireless data transmission. Appendix (100) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the tool has means for measuring the temperature, the flow, the oxygen content or the humidity of gases. Appendix (100) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the tool is a robot (350). System (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the robot (350) has wireless means for exchanging data and control commands. System (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the robot (350) has wireless means for power supply. System (100) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the robot (350) has a controller which allows the robot to carry out work autonomously to maintain the operational readiness of the system. Plant (100) according to one of the Claims 7 to 22nd , characterized by media connections to the process chamber (120), which can be connected to a tool (350; 460, 465; 570, 575; 680) that is in. via the carrier (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) the process chamber (120) can be introduced. Plant (100) according to one of the Claims 7 to 23 , characterized by parking positions for a plurality of beams (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and / or units of beams (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and walls. Arrangement (700) with a plurality of systems for additive manufacturing of a workpiece according to one of the Claims 7 to 24 , characterized by 25.1 parking positions for a plurality of beams (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and / or units of beams (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and walls; and by 25.2 means of transport which are designed in such a way that they contain supports (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and / or units of supports (170; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) and walls from each installation to the parking positions can transport or can transport from the parking positions to each of the systems.

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