DE102019214271A1 - Material feed and pretreatment device for a manufacturing system for use in an additive manufacturing process, manufacturing system for use in an additive manufacturing process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a material feed and pretreatment device for a manufacturing plant for use in an additive manufacturing process and a manufacturing plant for use in an additive manufacturing process. It is provided that a material feed and pretreatment device (36) for a manufacturing plant for use in one additive manufacturing process is provided. Such a device (36) comprises a material container (38) with a material supply opening (44) and a material discharge opening (48) in order to temporarily store material (46) for the production process and to provide it for the production process. The material feed and pretreatment device (36) also comprises a preheating device (43) arranged on the material container (46) and a portioning device (50) arranged on the material discharge opening (48) of the material container (46). A production plant (34) with such a device (36) is also provided.

Description

The invention relates to a material feed and pretreatment device for a manufacturing plant for use in an additive manufacturing process and a manufacturing plant for use in an additive manufacturing process.

The additive manufacturing processes are increasingly to be regarded as an established technology in industrial production. Various types of processes are already known which, based on previously created construction data, enable the production of three-dimensional objects from shapeless or form-neutral materials. The materials used for this purpose can, for example, be in powder form beforehand. In addition to the general designation as an additive manufacturing process, other terms are also used to ultimately create an object by applying a starting material layer by layer. In addition to the term 3D printing, such processes are also referred to as additive manufacturing or manufacturing processes using rapid technologies. Depending on the fundamental orientation of the process used, variants with completely melted starting materials but also variants with only partially melted additives are to be regarded as already known.

In this context, the use of different laser technologies is widespread and increasingly represents a standard for industrial application. In order to further increase the productivity of all processes, continuous process concepts are increasingly the focus of technical development. The objects to be manufactured should above all automatically run through the intended manufacturing steps, with a respective transport to the individual processing stations being carried out continuously by means of correspondingly automated transport devices. When developing a continuous 3D printer in the inclined bed process, for example using selective laser sintering technology (SLS process = selective laser sintering process) or selective laser melting technology (SLM process = selective laser melting), the component to be manufactured is initially produced in a first production area generated.

With an additive manufacturing process, for example the SLS process, a new layer of powder is applied to the construction level before each laser process. In selective laser sintering, for example, powder is applied in layers for the production process, which is then melted at the appropriate points by a laser. The powder must be brought to a material-dependent temperature level before the laser entry so that the process is stable. The sintering temperatures for PP and PA (PP = polypropylene, PA = polyamide) are 120 - 180 ° C. Due to the material properties of the powder, however, the temperature must not be too high before coating, otherwise the powder will form agglomerates and these could damage the new powder layer during the coating process. So the warming takes place in two steps. In the first step the powder is heated to a preheating temperature and in the second step the powder is brought to the sintering temperature by the radiant heater after coating. Since the preheating takes place continuously and is not clocked according to the process, it has no temporal influence on the process times. A preheating temperature as high as possible is therefore crucial for the effectiveness of the process, so that the temperature difference for the second step is reduced.

The manufactured components are therefore still correspondingly hot immediately after manufacture and are therefore usually fed directly to the actual manufacturing process in a cooling process, which is located, for example, in a separate area of the system.

In machines which are available on the market or which are provided according to the state of the art, the fresh powder is supplied via a powder chamber next to the powder bed.

For example, in conventional systems, the powder feed is located to the right and left of the installation space in containers provided for this purpose. In this context, the powder containers within the system are heated by emitters so that the powder is preheated.

The powder chamber is raised by a lift in front of the coater and the coater takes the protruding layer with it when it passes over. The fresh powder containers are refilled and replaced after each construction job.

This process is not possible with a slant bed printer that is to print continuously, as the fresh powder containers cannot be exchanged. For this reason, a different solution must be used for portioning, with which a continuous powder supply is possible.

Possible solutions, for example, provide storage containers in the chamber next to the powder bed. Portioning is done by lifting the fresh powder container in front of the coater performed. This moves over the container and takes the protruding powder layer with it.

Initial approaches are already known from the prior art. Some approaches are presented below.

So is from the pamphlet DE 10 2016 014 349 A1 a dosing device and a coater system for the powder bed-based additive manufacturing (additive manufacturing process) can be found as known. In particular, the technical idea presented relates to a dosing unit which is suitable for powdery or essentially flowable or poorly flowable materials, in particular with a device for producing three-dimensional models.

From the pamphlet DE 10 2016 203 556 A1 a method and a device for the generative production of a three-dimensional object can be seen as known. A manufacturing method for the generative manufacture of a three-dimensional object by layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material, preferably a powder, contains the steps of applying a layer of the building material within a construction field by means of a coater moving in one coating direction over the construction field, the selective consolidation of the applied layer the building material at locations that correspond to a cross section of the object to be produced, by means of a consolidation device and repeating the steps of application and consolidation until the three-dimensional object is completed. The solidifying device and / or a compacting device moves behind a coating unit of the coater in the coating direction over the construction field. A local action on the applied layer of the building material is carried out, limited to an area between the coating unit moving over the construction field and the solidifying device and / or compacting device moving over the construction field behind the coating unit.

From the document US 2019/0060998 A1, powder bed re-coater devices and methods for their use are known. The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices for supplying powder to a powder bed during an additive manufacturing process. A recoating device comprises a powder container and a powder distribution system for conveying powder from the powder container to the powder bed. The recoating device further comprises at least two cleaning strips, at least one outlet of the powder distribution system being arranged between the two cleaning strips in order to shield the outlet of the powder distribution system.

In the case of solutions with portioning rollers, different aging states of the powder can arise. In particular, so-called dead zones can arise in which certain powder areas no longer move. In addition, sealing the roll over longer lengths can lead to problems. In this respect, a continuous powder supply is not reliably possible in this way. Rather, the powder storage containers have to be replaced when they are empty. As already explained above, the storage container must also be replaced with these approaches after the construction job.

The invention is now based on the object of providing a device which ensures a user-defined provision of material for a manufacturing plant for use in a particularly efficient additive manufacturing process.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that a material feed and pretreatment device is provided for a manufacturing plant for use in an additive manufacturing process. Such a material supply and pretreatment device comprises a material container with a material supply opening and a material discharge opening in order to temporarily store material for the production process and to provide it for the production process. The material feed and pretreatment device also includes a preheating device arranged on the material container and a portioning device arranged at the material outlet opening of the material container, so that the material is in a defined state at least based on a temperature of the material and in respective user-defined portions of the manufacturing process by means of the material feed and pretreatment device is feedable. In this way, a user-defined provision of material for a production system for use in a particularly efficient additive manufacturing process can be ensured by means of the device presented, since material can be provided in a user-defined manner by means of the preheating device, at least in relation to the temperature of the material, with the portioning device also being desired Way can provide an exact amount for the manufacturing process. Thus, by means of a single device, these two necessary steps can be efficiently combined by means of the device presented, so that not only efficient material provision, but also a cost-effective manufacturing process is made possible. The material can be, for example, a powder, which for the additive Production process is used accordingly as the starting material. A material supply can take place independently of the operation of the plant. In particular, the presented device can be refilled with new material independently of the operation of the system. Such a device can be stored at least partially outside of the manufacturing plant. By means of the device presented, portioning for the manufacturing process, for example for a coater provided in the manufacturing process, can be carried out in the shortest possible time, since the portioning device holds a corresponding amount of the material from the material container already measured shortly before it is made available for the actual process. Deposits of material or powder and different states of aging can also be avoided with sufficiently fast movements within the device.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a production system is provided which comprises a material feed and pretreatment device according to claims 1 to 9. The advantages mentioned above also apply to the production system presented, insofar as they can be transferred.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the other features mentioned in the subclaims.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the preheating device comprises at least one actively operable heating element or at least one actively operable heating element and at least one passively operable heating element that is operatively connected to the at least one actively operable heating element, so that the temperature of the material held in the material container is uniform can be provided to the manufacturing process. A user-defined provision of material for a production system for use in a particularly efficient additive manufacturing process can thus be ensured particularly well. A defined heat input can be regulated via the actively operable heating element and this heat input can be ensured in the long term in the entire amount of the material that is in the material container via the passively operable heating elements. A desired heat input can also only be achieved by means of active heating elements. In this respect, it is conceivable that the device presented is only provided by means of active heating elements or that a heat application is provided with a corresponding combination of active and passive heating elements. Due to the poor thermal conductivity of the material, the contact surfaces of the active heating elements are not sufficient to bring the entire amount of material to the intended temperature level. By increasing the contact areas, the performance per area can be increased. This is achieved by means of the passive heating elements. Since the preheating also takes place continuously and is not process-clocked, a temporal influence on the process time of the actual manufacturing process can be avoided by means of the device presented. A preheating temperature of the material that is as high as possible, which is made possible by means of the device presented, is also decisive for the effectiveness of the manufacturing process and is thus specifically promoted.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is also provided that the at least one actively operable heating element is attached to a fixed position on or in the material container and the at least one passively operable heating element is provided in an operatively connected manner within the material container by means of a movement element with a movement device the at least one passively operable heating element is attached to a fixed position on or in the material container and the at least one actively operable heating element is provided within the material container in an operatively connected manner by means of a movement element with a movement device, so that the material temporarily stored in the material container by means of movements caused by the movement device of the at least one passively operable heating element or at least one actively operable heating element from the material feed opening in the direction of the material discharge opening mo is bilisable. Such a movement of the material in the material container before the actual portioning step by means of the portioning device also ensures that respective portions of the material filled in the material container are brought into contact with the respective heating elements, so that the material can be heated particularly well. In addition, a continuous flow of material is thus conveyed in the direction of the material discharge opening. Material that moves up presses on material that is already to be conveyed into the portioning device. A particularly reliable material supply can thus be ensured, so that an efficient production process without defects in the manufactured objects due to a lack of material supply can be ensured.

Furthermore, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the moving element is mounted on the moving device by means of two connecting elements, the two connecting elements being arranged on opposite sides of the moving element and the two connecting elements with respective deflection elements, which by means of respective Drive units of the movement device can be moved in a user-defined manner, are operatively connected so that alternating movements of the movement element are adjustable and can be used for deflection movements of the at least one passively operable heating element or the at least one actively operable heating element, so that the material temporarily stored in the material container moves from the material feed opening in the direction of the material discharge opening can be mobilized. In this way, the necessary material can be moved evenly through the material container and thus evenly heated or preheated. The advantages mentioned above can thus be achieved even better.

In addition, a further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the preheating device comprises at least one radiant heater element with a control unit that can be actively operated and is arranged outside the material container, so that the at least one radiant heater element with a control unit acts on at least one component of the manufacturing process, which comes from the material feed and pretreatment device are in contact with exiting material, so that this at least one component can be at least partially subjected to user-defined heat by means of the at least one radiant heater element and wherein the preheating device comprises a heating plate element which can be positioned outside the material container and which is designed to be provided by the material feed and pretreatment device during of a manufacturing process in the defined state, at least in relation to a temperature of the material. In this way, the device presented can also be used to ensure that the preheated material remains essentially in the desired state even during the manufacturing process. In this sense, the material heating by means of the presented device can be viewed in three steps. In a first step, the material is preheated in the device. The material enters the device at ambient temperature, for example. The heat input takes place through the active and passive heating elements of the preheating device. The active heating elements can, for example, be kept electrically and temperature-monitored at a temperature just above a target temperature. Due to the poor thermal conductivity of the material, the contact surfaces of the active heating elements are not sufficient to bring the entire amount of material to the intended temperature level. By increasing the contact areas, the performance per area can be increased. This is achieved by means of the passive heating elements. For example, the passive heating elements can be provided in the form of transverse and longitudinal ribs, which are passively heated by the active heating elements by means of heat transfer. The heat from the active heating elements flows into the ribs and then into the material. This can be viewed analogously to a heat exchanger or a cooler in a motor vehicle. Because the material remains in the presented device or in the container of the presented device for a long time and there is a large contact surface, there is no overheating and thus no damage to the material during this time. The active heating elements also heat the portioning device by conduction. In the following steps, the material is kept at preheating temperature and cooling down through contact with cold system parts is prevented. For this purpose, in a second step, the radiant heater element with control unit is arranged or fastened next to or above at least one component of the manufacturing process, the thermal radiation being aligned with this component. The component can be, for example, a coater device or coater roller of the production plant. The radiant heater element heats a coater roller to the preheating temperature so that there is no temperature difference between the coater roller and the material for a new layer. Otherwise, a temperature difference would result in a heat flow that cools the preheated material on contact with the coater roller. The advantage of the radiant heat is that it is contactless and there is no need to wire the reel. The temperature can be regulated with the control unit, which can be a pyrometer, for example. In a third step, the material conveyed on by the portioning device is kept at preheating temperature in front of the coater roller. This is done by the heating plate element that can be positioned outside the material container. For this purpose, this heating plate element can, for example, be introduced into a base plate of the production plant in front of the coater roll. The aim is to reduce the heat losses of the material on the way from the portioning device to the coating or, if possible, to avoid it completely.

Furthermore, a further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that a conveying device is provided in a region of the material feed opening and within the material container, so that a continuous and even flow of material into the material container can be ensured. This conveying device can also be heated by conduction by means of the active heating elements, so that the material can already be heated during this conveying process. The conveying device can thus pass material introduced into the material container via the material supply opening over the volume of the container or distribute it evenly over a partial area of the container so that a continuous and even flow of material into the material container can be guaranteed. This conveying device thus enables the material to be distributed as uniformly as possible, for example before the material is heated in the device presented, so that then uniform heating of the material or the powder is made possible. The conveyor device can be provided, for example, in the form or as a screw conveyor device.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is also provided that the portioning device is designed to receive a defined amount of material from the material container via the material discharge opening and then to feed it to the manufacturing process. Material filling can thus take place independently of the operation of the production plant. A defined portioning can thus be made possible in a drafty and very precise manner. This portioning device can also have a modular structure and be provided interchangeably in the device presented, so that a precisely fitting portioning device with a corresponding capacity for the material can be provided as required. A capacity denotes the amount of material that is introduced from the material container into the portioning device in order to then be made available for the corresponding production process.

In addition, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the portioning device comprises a guide unit with a base element and a sliding element mounted in opposite side walls of the guide unit parallel to the base element so as to be movable in two directions by means of a drive unit, the sliding element comprising an opening area which during a first movement range of the sliding element in the guide unit is provided open on a first side and limited by the floor element on a second side and is provided open on the first and second side in a second movement range of the sliding element adjoining the first movement range in the guide unit so that the sliding element is designed to receive a defined amount of material via the first side in a first position under the material discharge opening and to receive it in a second position e to supply a defined amount of material to the manufacturing process via the second side. In the sliding element there is accordingly an opening area which can also be referred to as a groove. The size of the opening area or the groove accordingly corresponds to the required amount of material, which is required, for example, for the next layer to be produced in the production process. The portioning device, or thus also the sliding element, is located between the device presented and a production area which, for example, can have a coating device in this area. Since the sliding element is located under the material discharge opening, the material can fall into the groove according to the principle of gravity. The sliding element is then moved into the second position, with the required amount of material falling from the portioning device into the production area, for example in front of the application device, in the second position again due to the principle of gravity. The sliding element can then be moved back into the first position in order to pick up a defined amount of material again. In the meantime, for example, the coating process of a powder bed can be carried out. When the coating device has finished coating and is again in a corresponding starting position, the sliding element moves again in order to provide new material. A material supply can take place independently of the operation of the plant. In particular, the presented device can be refilled with new material independently of the operation of the system. Such a device can be stored at least partially outside of the manufacturing plant. By means of the device presented, portioning for the manufacturing process, for example for a coater provided in the manufacturing process, can be carried out in the shortest possible time, since the portioning device holds a corresponding amount of the material from the material container already measured shortly before it is made available for the actual process. Deposits of material or powder and different states of aging can also be avoided with sufficiently fast movements within the device.

Finally, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sliding element is designed to close the material discharge opening outside of the first position. Thus, the material container can be reliably provided in a closed state with respect to the material discharge opening without the need for a further component. In this way, a compact design of the device presented can be ensured.

The device presented can be used, for example, in the production of printed components for the automotive industry. The device presented can also be used in or in all additive manufacturing systems based on a powder bed Context can be used. An insert can also be provided in order to manufacture parts or components in connection with other branches of industry. For example, it could be used in medical technology or in aerospace or in similar industries.

The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can advantageously be combined with one another, unless stated otherwise in the individual case.

• 1 eine schematische Seitenansicht von einer Fertigungsvorrichtung für den Einsatz in einem additiven Fertigungsverfahren;
• 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht von einer Fertigungsanlage für den Einsatz in einem additiven Fertigungsverfahren mit einer Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 3 eine schematische Seitenansicht von einer Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 4 eine schematische Schnittansicht von einer weiteren Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 5 eine schematische Schnittansicht von einer weiteren Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 6 eine schematische Schnittansicht von einer weiteren Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 7 eine schematische Schnittansicht von der weiteren Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung von 6;
• 8 eine schematische Perspektivansicht von einer Portioniervorrichtung einer Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 9 eine weitere schematische Perspektivansicht von der Portioniervorrichtung einer Materialzuführ- und Vorbehandlungsvorrichtung von 8.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic side view of a manufacturing device for use in an additive manufacturing process;
• 2 a schematic side view of a manufacturing system for use in an additive manufacturing process with a material feed and pretreatment device;
• 3rd a schematic side view of a material feed and pretreatment device;
• 4th a schematic sectional view of a further material feed and pretreatment device;
• 5 a schematic sectional view of a further material feed and pretreatment device;
• 6th a schematic sectional view of a further material feed and pretreatment device;
• 7th a schematic sectional view of the further material feed and pretreatment device from FIG 6th ;
• 8th a schematic perspective view of a portioning device of a material feed and pretreatment device;
• 9 a further schematic perspective view of the portioning device of a material feed and pretreatment device from FIG 8th .

1 shows a schematic side view of a manufacturing device 10 with a slant bed printer 12th for use in an additive manufacturing process. In this greatly simplified representation, the individual stations of a production device of this type are only roughly outlined 10 operated procedure. In relation to the image plane, the first step is to print on the left. There is a laser device for that 14th in a process chamber 16 shown schematically, which by means of a laser beam 18th one beforehand by a coater 20th Applied powder processed so that an object 22nd can be printed in layers. The laser beam 18th encounters an object that has not yet been completed 22nd which is in a powder bed area 24 is provided. The powder bed area 24 can for example in an at least partially closed in the process chamber 16 arranged powder chamber 26th be provided. The object 22nd is from left to right during the printing process on a transport system provided for this purpose 28 emotional. During this movement, the coating device 20th correspondingly the next layer on the object 22nd coat, which then or during the application by means of the laser device 14th is processed. The process chamber 16 is shown here only schematically and can have other shapes. In particular, this process chamber 16 separate from the powder bed area 24 be provided. Following the printing, the item becomes 22nd outside the process chamber 16 unpacked, leaving excess manufacturing material 30th in one below the transport system 28 positioned collector 32 falls. After unpacking, the steps for handling and cleaning follow in the right-hand area of the screen.

2 shows a schematic side view of a manufacturing plant 34 for use in an additive manufacturing process with a material feed and pre-treatment device 36 . The material feed and pre-treatment device 36 comes with a material container 38 shown and on a coater 40 of the manufacturing plant 34 arranged, so that not shown in detail production material from the material feed and pretreatment device 36 in the direction of the coater 40 of the manufacturing plant 34 can be provided. Here is this manufacturing facility 34 similar to the manufacturing device shown 10 from 1 with a slant bed printer 12th provided, which in this 2 cannot be seen in detail.

3rd shows a schematic sectional view of a material feed and pretreatment device 36 . In the illustrated material container 38 are two active heating elements 42 shown, which on opposite walls of the material container 38 are arranged. These active heating elements 42 are components of a higher-level preheating device 43 , to which passive heating elements (not shown) and any components (also not shown) that are used for the operation of such a preheating device are considered to be associated 43 be found necessary. For example, the active heating elements 42 can be operated and controlled by means of an electrical and user-defined control device. Related to the image plane is a material feed opening above 44 illustrated about what material 46 , for example a powder intended for additive manufacturing, into the interior of the material container 38 can be filled. It is also a guiding element 47 in the material container 38 shown, which in this embodiment is perpendicular to the image plane and essentially in the center of the material container 38 is provided. It is conceivable that this guide element is designed to be shorter or in combination with the active and / or passive heating elements. Thus, material 46 not only efficiently within the container 38 guided or directed, but also in the middle of the container 38 can be tempered accordingly by the user. Opposite the material feed opening 44 is a material drain hole 48 of the material container 38 shown. Below the material drain opening 48 of the material container 38 is a portioning device 50 shown. This portioning device 50 is part of the material feed and pre-treatment device 36 and has a sliding element 52 and a guide unit 54 on. The sliding element 52 is movable on the guide unit 54 stored and can be moved to the left in a defined manner and to the right in a defined manner in relation to the image plane by means of a drive unit not shown in detail. In this illustration, there is an opening area 56 of the sliding element 52 below the material drain opening 48 of the material container 38 aligned so material 46 in this opening area 56 can fall according to the principle of gravity. As a floor element 58 the management unit 54 this opening area 56 in this first position of the sliding element 52 limited downwards, this is in the opening area 56 incident material 46 in this defined volume of the opening area 56 , which can also be referred to as a groove, collected or held in a defined portion. The sliding element 52 can on the guide unit 54 shifted or moved to the right, so that this opening area 56 via the management unit 54 can be moved beyond. The sliding element is in this second position, which is not shown in detail 52 such on the guide unit 54 moved so that the opening area 56 not above the floor element 58 the management unit 54 is aligned so that in the opening area 56 held material 46 now based on the image plane downwards in the direction of a production area 60 falls out.

4th shows a schematic sectional view of a further material feed and pretreatment device 36 . It is in this 4th greatly simplified the material container 38 shown, in the upper and in the two side walls of the material container 38 actively operable heating elements 42 are provided. Thus, these active heating elements serve 42 as a direct limit to that in the material container 38 located material 46 . In the material container 38 are next to the material 46 in addition, a large number of passively operated heating elements 62 shown. The exact number of these passive heating elements 62 can vary depending on the embodiment. It is also conceivable, for example, that only one passive heating element 62 is provided. In this case this could be a passive heating element 62 For example, be provided in one piece and so that it is made with as much material as possible 46 in the material container 38 is in contact. The material container is at the bottom 38 through a normal material container wall 64 limited. The passive heating elements shown 62 are not in contact with the active heating elements in this sectional view 42 . However, it is provided that these heating elements shown 62 with the respective lateral active heating elements, not shown 42 are in direct contact so as to get heat from these active heating elements 42 to be discharged into the interior of the material container. This way the material can 46 be preheated evenly and with as much heat as possible. In relation to the image plane are in the upper inner area of the material container 38 also three material feed openings 66 shown, which can also be referred to as powder feed. The location and number of this material feed opening 66 can be varied in this upper area in variants not shown in detail. For example, only one material feed opening can also be used 66 be provided, which is for example directly in the ceiling of the container 38 is located. At the top right and left corners of the material hopper 38 (related to the image plane) are also the respective ventilation elements 68 shown.

5 shows a schematic sectional view of a further material feed and pretreatment device 36 . The structure is essentially identical to the structure of the in 4th Material feed and pre-treatment device shown 36 . The same reference numerals are used as in 4th are used, which are therefore not introduced separately at this point. Instead of the material feed opening 66 is in this 5 a conveyor 70 shown in the form of a screw conveyor. In a manner not shown, it is conceivable, for example, that only one material feed opening 66 on the upper left area of this conveyor 70 is provided so that there is material 46 on the conveyor 70 into the material container 38 can be introduced. Then the material 46 via the conveyor 70 transported from left to right so that it is evenly spread across the entire width of the material container 38 material 46 in the under the conveyor 70 located inner space of the material container 38 can be promoted. In other words, the conveyor 70 operated in such a way so that there is a continuous flow of material into the interior of the material container 38 can be accomplished, with a substantially even distribution of the material 46 in the interior of the material container 38 is attainable. In this 5 is also only a ventilation element 68 in the upper right corner of the material hopper 38 shown. All of the location information described above is related to the image plane.

6th shows a schematic sectional view of a further material feed and pretreatment device 36 . The same reference symbols are used as in the previous figures, which are therefore not introduced separately at this point. This sectional view is a view from above of the material feed and pretreatment device 36 . The connection between the passive heating elements 62 and the active heating elements 42 is in this 6th clearly visible. There are also a large number of passive heating elements in this example 62 provided, which together form a kind of lattice structure. It is conceivable that this lattice structure consists of only one passive heating element in one piece 62 is provided. The passive heating elements 62 are essentially centered with a moving element 72 from a movement device 74 connected. This movement element 72 from the movement device 74 is on opposite sides with respective connecting elements 76 connected. These fasteners 76 are provided in the form of a rod and protrude from the moving element 72 in its respective right and left longitudinal direction. In other words, these are respective fasteners 76 a kind of extension of the moving element 72 on the right or left side. At the outer ends of these connecting elements 76 are respective deflection elements 78 shown, which with the outer ends of the connecting elements 76 stay in contact. These deflection elements 78 are also part of the movement equipment 74 and are of the respective drive units 80 the movement device 74 emotional. These drive units 80 can for example be designed as a respective drive cylinder of a corresponding mechanism. An electric drive is also conceivable. Here are the drive units 80 designed respective movement impulses in such a way on the deflection elements 78 to be transmitted so that these can be moved up and down with these drive units 80 are connected. The deflection elements 78 each have a substantially triangular shape, the deflecting element 78 on the left with a tip of this triangular shape facing downwards and the deflecting element 78 on the right with a point of this triangular shape facing up. This is how the respective fasteners are 76 , which are in contact with these triangular shapes, movable or operatively connected to the deflection elements 78 connected. For example, if the right deflection element 78 is moved upwards and at the same time the left deflection element 78 is also moved upwards, a displacement of the moving element results 72 to the left and vice versa. This lateral mobility of the moving element 72 is marked with the movement arrows 82 shown. As the passive heating elements 62 with the moving element 72 are connected, they are moved with or deflected from their current position, as in the following 7th is easier to see. All of the location information described above is related to the image plane.

7th shows a schematic sectional view of the further material feed and pretreatment device 26th from 6th . The same reference symbols are used as in the previous figures, which are therefore not introduced separately at this point. In this 7th are the right and left deflection elements 78 each has been moved downwards, causing a displacement of the moving element 72 to the right resulted. The passive heating elements 62 have been moved, so that they are shifted accordingly compared to 6th are shown. Because of these movements of the passive heating elements 62 can do that in the material container 38 located material 46 be moved or mobilized accordingly. For example, the material 46 of one in this 7th Material feed opening not shown in detail can be moved to a material discharge opening. All of the location information described above is related to the image plane. In this sense, it is also conceivable that in variants of the device presented that are not shown in detail, the 6th and 7th explained deflections of the passive heating elements are provided with active heating elements. In other words, instead of the passive heating elements, only actively operable heating elements could be provided, which can be deflected according to the same principle. Any mixed forms are also conceivable. For example, in a variant not shown, only every second or third element can be operated actively and only passive elements are then provided between these active elements. The grid structure shown can also be constructed and operated in different concepts in this sense. It is also conceivable that the dimensions and spacing of the individual elements from one another can be varied in a manner not shown in greater detail. For example, the active elements could be larger than the passive elements. It is also conceivable that only the active elements that are directly moved with them are larger and the others with them connected active and passive elements are dimensioned correspondingly smaller.

8th shows a schematic perspective view of a portioning device 50 a material feed and pre-treatment device 36 . This portioning device 50 is designed here a defined amount of a material not shown in detail 46 via the material drain opening from the material container 38 the material feed and pre-treatment device 36 to receive and then to feed into the manufacturing process. In this 8th is a funnel element 86 shown, which is optionally either part of the material container, not shown in detail 38 can be or part of the portioning device shown 50 can be. This funnel element 86 has an opening 88 , which are arranged essentially in the middle and with four side slopes 90 is shown. The slopes 90 extend from an upper edge in the direction of the opening 88 , so that not shown material 46 over these slopes 90 from the material container, also not shown in detail 38 towards opening 88 can fall or be moved. The funnel element 86 is in this representation on a guide unit 54 from the portioning device 50 positioned. In the management unit 54 is a sliding element 52 arranged or movably mounted. An arrow 96 indicates the respective directions of movement of this sliding element 52 at. On the right edge of the guide unit 54 is a catching device 98 positioned. This catcher 98 and how the sliding element works 52 will be in the following 9 described in more detail. The catching device 98 can optionally be part of the portioning device 50 or be regarded as belonging to a manufacturing facility. Below the catching device 98 is a coater 100 shown which a coater 102 and a material feed 104 includes. The coater 100 is part of a manufacturing system not shown in detail for use in an additive manufacturing process. Below the coater 100 is a base plate 106 of the manufacturing plant. In this base plate 106 is a hot plate 108 arranged, which is a component of a preheating device, not shown in detail 43 is. Left above the coater roller 102 is a radiant heater 110 with control unit 112 shown, which are also components of the preheating device, not shown in detail 43 are. Heat rays 114 are thereby from the radiant heater 110 in the direction of the coater roll 102 sent out. From the control unit 112 , which can be a pyrometer, for example, is schematically a measuring beam 116 starting shown. In other words, this control unit can 112 a temperature from the coater roll 102 measure up. All of the location information described above is related to the image plane.

9 shows a further schematic perspective view of the portioning device 50 a material feed and pre-treatment device 36 from 8th . It will use the same reference numbers as in the previous one 8th are used, which are therefore not introduced separately at this point. The management unit 54 comprises a floor element 58 and respective side walls 120 . The sliding element 52 is between these respective side walls 120 arranged or movably mounted or provided between these respective side walls. The sliding element 52 has an opening area 56 on, which in this first position is open at the top on a first side and at the bottom on a second side of the floor element 58 is limited. Does not fall on material not shown in detail 46 in this opening area 56 so can a defined portion of this material 46 according to the volume of this opening area 56 be moved to the bottom right, the sliding element 52 over the edge of the guide unit there 54 is movable. In other words, the opening area 56 then in a second position of the sliding element 52 above the catcher 98 be aligned so that the floor element 58 then the opening area 56 no longer limited downwards and that in the opening area 56 moving material 46 further into the collecting device 98 can fall. All of the location information described above is related to the image plane.

List of reference symbols

10

Manufacturing device

12th

Slant bed printer

14th

Laser device

16

Process chamber

18th

laser beam

20th

Coater device

22nd

object

24

Powder bed area

26th

Powder chamber

28

Transport system

30th

Manufacturing material

32

Collector

34

Manufacturing facility

36

Material feed and pre-treatment device

38

Material container

40

Coater device

42

active heating element

43

Preheating device

44

Material feed opening

46

material

47

Guiding element

48

Material drain opening

50

Portioning device

52

Sliding element

54

Guide unit

56

Opening range

58

Floor element

60

Manufacturing area

62

passive heating element

64

Material container wall

66

Material feed opening

68

Ventilation element

70

Conveyor

72

Movement element

74

Movement device

76

Connecting element

78

Deflection element

80

Drive unit

82

Movement arrow

86

Funnel element

88

opening

90

Slope

96

arrow

98

Catching device

100

Coater device

102

Coater roll

104

Material feed

106

Base plate

108

Heating plate

110

Radiant heater element

112

Control unit

114

Heat rays

116

Measuring beam

120

Side wall

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 102016014349 A1 [0012]
• DE 102016203556 A1 [0013]

Claims (10)

Material supply and pretreatment device (36) for a production system for use in an additive production process comprising a material container (38) with a material supply opening (66) and a material discharge opening in order to temporarily store material (46) for the production process and to provide it for the production process, characterized that the material feed and pretreatment device (36) also comprises a preheating device (43) arranged on the material container (38) and a portioning device (84) arranged on the material discharge opening of the material container (38), so that the material (46) is in a defined state can be fed to the manufacturing process by means of the material feed and pretreatment device (36) at least in relation to a temperature of the material (46) and in respective user-defined portions. Material feed and pre-treatment device (36) after Claim 1 , wherein the preheating device (43) comprises at least one actively operable heating element (42) or at least one actively operable heating element (42) and at least one passively operable heating element (62) operatively connected to the at least one actively operable heating element (42), so that the in the Material container (38) stored material (46) can be made available to the manufacturing process at a uniform temperature. Material feed and pre-treatment device (46) after Claim 2 , wherein the at least one actively operable heating element (42) is attached to a fixed position on or in the material container (38) and the at least one passively operable heating element (62) within the material container (38) by means of a movement element (72) with a movement device (74) is provided operatively connected or wherein the at least one passively operable heating element (62) is fastened to a fixed position on or in the material container (38) and the at least one actively operable heating element (42) within the material container (38) by means of a movement element (72) is provided operatively connected to a movement device (74) so that the material (46) temporarily stored in the material container (38) by means of movements of the at least one passively operable heating element (62) or at least one actively operable heating element caused by the movement device (74) (42) from the material feed opening (44) in the direction of the material The opening can be mobilized. Material feed and pre-treatment device (36) after Claim 3 , the movement element (72) being mounted on the movement device (74) by means of two connection elements (76), the two connection elements (76) being arranged on opposite sides of the movement element (72) and the two connection elements (76) with respective deflection elements ( 78), which can be moved in a user-defined manner by means of the respective drive units (80) of the movement device (74), are operatively connected so that alternating movements of the movement element (72) can be set and for deflection movements of the at least one passively operable heating element (62) or of the at least one actively operable Heating element (42) can be used so that the material (46) temporarily stored in the material container (38) can be mobilized from the material feed opening (44) in the direction of the material discharge opening. Material feed and pretreatment device (36) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the preheating device (43) comprises at least one radiant heater element (110) with a control unit (112) that can be actively operated and is arranged outside the material container (38), so that the at least one radiant heater element (110) with the control unit (112) can be aligned with at least one component of the manufacturing process which is in contact with the material (46) emerging from the material feed and pretreatment device (36), so that this at least one component is at least partially user-defined by means of the at least one radiant heater element (110 ) can be subjected to heat and wherein the preheating device (43) comprises a heating plate element (108) which can be positioned outside the material container (38) and which is designed to provide material (46) during a production process in the defined state to at least based on a temperature of the material (46). Material feed and pretreatment device (36) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a conveying device (70) is provided in a region of the material feed opening (66) and within the material container (38), so that a continuous and even flow of material (46) into the Material container (38) can be guaranteed. Material supply and pretreatment device (36) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the portioning device (50) is designed to receive a defined amount of material (46) from the material container (38) via the material discharge opening and then to feed it to the manufacturing process. Material feed and pre-treatment device (36) after Claim 7 , wherein the portioning device has a guide unit with a base element and an opposing side wall (120) of the guide unit (54) parallel to the base element (58) in two directions by means of a Drive unit comprises movably mounted sliding element (52), wherein the sliding element (52) comprises an opening area (56) which during a first movement range of the sliding element (52) in the guide unit (54) is open on a first side and on a second side of the Bottom element (58) is provided so that it can be limited and in a second, second movement area of the sliding element (52) in the guide unit (54) that adjoins the first movement area, it is open on the first and second sides so that the sliding element (52) is designed in a In the first position below the material discharge opening, a defined amount of material (46) can be picked up via the first side and the defined amount of material (46) picked up is fed to the production process via the second side in a second position. The material feed and pretreatment device (36) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding element (52) is designed to close the material discharge opening outside of the first position. Manufacturing plant which has a material feed and pretreatment device (36) according to Claims 1 to 9 includes.

Images