EP3946899A1 - Additive manufacturing - Google Patents
Additive manufacturingInfo
- Publication number
- EP3946899A1 EP3946899A1 EP20716799.0A EP20716799A EP3946899A1 EP 3946899 A1 EP3946899 A1 EP 3946899A1 EP 20716799 A EP20716799 A EP 20716799A EP 3946899 A1 EP3946899 A1 EP 3946899A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- powder
- build
- emitting device
- energy emitting
- transport path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 title claims description 14
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 14
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 401
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 140
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 127
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 108
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000149 argon plasma sintering Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005245 sintering Methods 0.000 description 25
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 description 24
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 238000000110 selective laser sintering Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000009699 high-speed sintering Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007790 scraping Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004433 Thermoplastic polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004927 fusion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012254 powdered material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002803 thermoplastic polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000002033 PVDF binder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004696 Poly ether ether ketone Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004676 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- JUPQTSLXMOCDHR-UHFFFAOYSA-N benzene-1,4-diol;bis(4-fluorophenyl)methanone Chemical compound OC1=CC=C(O)C=C1.C1=CC(F)=CC=C1C(=O)C1=CC=C(F)C=C1 JUPQTSLXMOCDHR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000013043 chemical agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010894 electron beam technology Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004482 other powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003229 poly(methyl methacrylate) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002530 polyetherether ketone Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004926 polymethyl methacrylate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002981 polyvinylidene fluoride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000012805 post-processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007723 transport mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C64/00—Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
- B29C64/10—Processes of additive manufacturing
- B29C64/141—Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials
- B29C64/153—Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F10/00—Additive manufacturing of workpieces or articles from metallic powder
- B22F10/20—Direct sintering or melting
- B22F10/28—Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/30—Platforms or substrates
- B22F12/33—Platforms or substrates translatory in the deposition plane
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/40—Radiation means
- B22F12/46—Radiation means with translatory movement
- B22F12/48—Radiation means with translatory movement in height, e.g. perpendicular to the deposition plane
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/80—Plants, production lines or modules
- B22F12/82—Combination of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/80—Plants, production lines or modules
- B22F12/82—Combination of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/84—Parallel processing within single device
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/80—Plants, production lines or modules
- B22F12/82—Combination of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/86—Serial processing with multiple devices grouped
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F3/00—Manufacture of workpieces or articles from metallic powder characterised by the manner of compacting or sintering; Apparatus specially adapted therefor ; Presses and furnaces
- B22F3/10—Sintering only
- B22F3/105—Sintering only by using electric current other than for infrared radiant energy, laser radiation or plasma ; by ultrasonic bonding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C64/00—Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
- B29C64/10—Processes of additive manufacturing
- B29C64/171—Processes of additive manufacturing specially adapted for manufacturing multiple 3D objects
- B29C64/176—Sequentially
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C64/00—Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
- B29C64/20—Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C64/227—Driving means
- B29C64/241—Driving means for rotary motion
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C64/00—Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
- B29C64/20—Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C64/255—Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers
- B29C64/259—Interchangeable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
- B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B33Y10/00—Processes of additive manufacturing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
- B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B33Y30/00—Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
- B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B33Y99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/22—Driving means
- B22F12/222—Driving means for motion along a direction orthogonal to the plane of a layer
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/22—Driving means
- B22F12/226—Driving means for rotary motion
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B22F12/00—Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
- B22F12/30—Platforms or substrates
- B22F12/37—Rotatable
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/25—Process efficiency
Definitions
- the present invention relates to additive manufacturing (AM) and in particular, but not exclusively, to an improved method of manufacturing parts using a powder-based AM process.
- AM additive manufacturing
- Additive Manufacturing is a process where objects are manufactured from a polymer, metal, ceramic or other material in a layer-by-layer fashion by binding together the material.
- Powder bed sintering is an AM method where a polymer, metal, ceramic or other powder material is bound together using an energy source, e.g. an infra-red lamp or laser, which moves linearly back and forth across a print bed.
- HSS High Speed Sintering
- MJF Multi Jet Fusion
- SLS Selective Laser Sintering
- a fixed laser or a number of lasers as the energy source to sinter powdered material, typically nylon/polyamide
- the laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3D digital description of the part (for example from a CAD file or scan data) on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one-layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the process is repeated until the part is completed.
- the process typically takes place in an inert gas environment to prevent the material, e.g. nylon, oxidising when heated by the laser beam.
- the temperature inside the build chamber is typically kept relatively high but below the melting point of the un-sintered powder, e.g. around 170°C for nylon, so that the temperature increase required by the laser to fuse the surface particles is relatively low.
- an apparatus for additively manufacturing a part comprising:
- each build bed having a powder supporting platform for supporting a powder material
- At least one powder surface preparation device for preparing a surface of the powder material supported on at least one of said build beds
- At least one energy emitting device for energising a powder surface prepared on at least one of said build beds based on a desired part geometry
- the plurality of build beds are controllably moveable along a closed loop transport path.
- the closed loop transport path extends around a horizontal axis.
- a transport path which extends around a horizontal axis provides for more easy access to the parts located on said path, even when the apparatus is in use, which helps processes to be run continuously and subsequently operational efficiency can be improved.
- the transport path is much more difficult to access and hence requires periodic stopping to remove and replace parts, thereby reducing operational efficiency.
- the plurality of build beds are supported on a transporter which defines the closed loop transport path.
- the plurality of build beds are separable from the transporter.
- the plurality of build beds are separable from to the apparatus.
- the plurality of build beds are moveable with respect to the transporter.
- the plurality of build beds are releasably coupled to the transporter.
- the transporter is a conveyor.
- the transporter is a conveyor belt or a conveyor belt assembly. In exemplary embodiments, the transporter is a chain conveyor.
- the plurality of build beds are releasably coupled to and moveable with respect to the transporter.
- the plurality of build beds are a plurality of spaced apart build beds.
- movement of the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path is controlled by a controller.
- movement of the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path is controlled by a controller based on the desired part geometry and/or the powder material and/or the energy emitting device.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a height of each powder supporting platform respectively.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above at least one of said build beds when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material supported by at least one of said build beds.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above at least one of said build beds at a predetermined height relative to at least one of said build beds when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the relative height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device relative to the powder material.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds are controllably moveable along a vertical axis.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path at a predetermined height relative to the powder material when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material supported by at least one of said build beds.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the relative height between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the relative height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device relative to the powder material.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable along a vertical axis.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path upstream of the at least one energy emitting device for curing the powder material before the powder material has been energised.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path downstream of the at least one energy emitting device for curing the powder material after the powder material has been energised.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path.
- the plurality of build beds and the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of build beds and the at least one powder surface preparation device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of build beds and the at least one energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path.
- the at least one energy emitting device comprises a laser or a heat lamp.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device comprises a roller or scraper.
- an additive manufacturing system comprising apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention.
- a method of additively manufacturing a part comprising:
- each build bed having a powder supporting platform, the powder supporting platform of at least one of said build beds supporting a powder material;
- the method comprises:
- each build bed having a powder supporting platform supporting a powder material
- the plurality of build beds are supported on a transporter defining the closed loop transport path.
- the method further comprises removing at least one of the plurality of build beds from the transporter after the powder surface has been energised by the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises replacing the at least one build bed on the transporter after the at least one build bed has been removed from the transporter.
- the method further comprises placing an additional build bed onto the transporter.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the desired part geometry.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the desired part geometry and/or the powder material and/or the energy emitting device. In exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises moving the powder supporting platform of the at least one of build bed between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a height of the powder supporting platform. In exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the powder supporting platform of the at least one of build bed between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a clearance between the powder material nd the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path at a predetermined height relative to the powder material whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the powder supporting platform of the at least one of build bed between a first position and a second position so as to adjust the relative height between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving at least one of the respective powder supporting platforms along a vertical axis.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device. In exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material. In exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path at a predetermined height relative to the powder material whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device between a first position and a second position so as to a adjust the relative height between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device along a vertical axis.
- the clearance between the powder material supported on the powder supporting platform of at least one of said build beds and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is adjusted based on a thickness of a new powder layer providing the powder surface.
- the method further comprises curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path upstream and/or downstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path upstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path downstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds around the transport path a plurality of times until the desired part has been formed.
- the at least one build bed and the at least one powder surface preparation device and the at least one energy emitting device are controllably moved along the closed loop transport path.
- the method comprises:
- energising comprises laser sintering/fusing.
- the powder surface comprises NylonTM.
- apparatus for additively manufacturing a part comprising:
- At least one build bed for supporting a powder material
- at least one powder surface preparation device for preparing a surface of the powder material
- At least one energy emitting device for energising the powder surface based on a desired part geometry
- the at least one build bed and/or the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device are controllably moveable around a closed loop transport path.
- movement of the at least one build bed and/or the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device along the transport path is controlled by a controller based on the desired part geometry and/or the powder material and/or the energy emitting device.
- the at least one build bed comprises a powder supporting platform controllably moveable by a predetermined distance away from the at least one energy emitting device.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable by a predetermined distance away from the powder material.
- the at least one build bed is supported on a transport element defining the closed loop transport path.
- the at least one build bed is coupled to and moveable with respect to or with the transport element.
- the at least one build bed comprises a plurality of spaced apart build beds.
- the at least one build bed comprises a substantially circular/annular build bed around which the at least one energy emitting device is controllably rotatable about a rotation axis.
- the at least one energy emitting device extends radially outwardly from a drive shaft defining the rotation axis.
- the at least one energy emitting device is controllably moveable in a direction parallel to the rotation axis.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device is controllably rotatable about the rotation axis in advance of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the transport path and upstream and/or downstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the energy emitting device comprises a laser or a heat lamp.
- an additive manufacturing system comprising apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention.
- a method of additively manufacturing a part comprising:
- the at least one build bed and/or the at least one powder surface preparation device and the at least one energy emitting device are controllably moved around a closed loop transport path.
- the method comprises:
- the method comprises:
- the method comprises:
- the predetermined distance corresponds to a thickness of a new powder layer providing the powder surface.
- the method comprises:
- the method comprises:
- the method comprises:
- curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the transport path and upstream and/or downstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method comprises:
- energising comprises laser sintering/fusing.
- the powder surface comprises NylonTM.
- an apparatus for additively manufacturing a part comprising:
- each build bed having a powder supporting platform for supporting a powder material
- At least one powder surface preparation device for preparing a surface of the powder material supported on at least one of said build beds
- At least one energy emitting device for energising the powder surface prepared on at least one of said build beds based on a desired part geometry
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path for accessing at least one of the plurality of build beds.
- the plurality of build beds are supported on a transporter which defines the closed loop transport path.
- the plurality of build beds are separable from the transporter.
- the plurality of build beds are separable from to the apparatus.
- the plurality of build beds are moveable with respect to the transporter.
- the plurality of build beds are releasably coupled to the transporter. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of build beds are releasably coupled to and moveable with respect to the transporter.
- the plurality of build beds are a plurality of spaced apart build beds.
- movement of the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path is controlled by a controller. In exemplary embodiments, movement of the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path is controlled by a controller based on the desired part geometry and/or the powder material and/or the energy emitting device.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a height of each powder supporting platform respectively.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above at least one of said build beds when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above at least one of said build beds at a predetermined height relative to at least one of said build beds when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the relative height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device relative to the powder material.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds are controllably moveable along a vertical axis.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the apparatus is configured such that the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device are located above the closed loop transport path at a predetermined height relative to the powder material when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the relative height between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the powder supporting platform of each of the plurality of build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the relative height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device relative to the powder material.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is controllably moveable along a vertical axis.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path upstream of the at least one energy emitting device for curing the powder material before the powder material has been energised.
- the apparatus further comprises at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path downstream of the at least one energy emitting device for curing the powder material after the powder material has been energised.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path.
- the plurality of build beds and the at least one powder surface preparation device and the energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of build beds and the at least one powder surface preparation device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path.
- the plurality of build beds and the at least one energy emitting device are controllably moveable along the closed loop transport path.
- the at least one energy emitting device comprises a laser or a heat lamp.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device comprises a roller or scraper.
- the plurality of build beds are substantially circular/annular build beds around which the at least one energy emitting device is controllably rotatable about a rotation axis.
- the at least one energy emitting device extends radially outwardly from a drive shaft defining the rotation axis.
- the at least one energy emitting device is controllably moveable in a direction parallel to the rotation axis.
- the at least one powder surface preparation device is controllably rotatable about the rotation axis in advance of the at least one energy emitting device.
- a method of additively manufacturing a part comprising:
- each build bed having a powder supporting platform, the powder supporting platform of at least one of said build beds supporting a powder material; controllably moving the plurality of build beds along a closed loop transport path;
- the method comprises:
- each build bed having a powder supporting platform supporting a powder material
- the plurality of build beds are supported on a transporter defining the closed loop transport path.
- the method further comprises removing at least one of the plurality of build beds from the transporter after the powder surface has been energised by the at least one energy emitting device. In exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises replacing the at least one build bed on the transporter after the at least one build bed has been removed from the transporter.
- the method further comprises placing an additional build bed onto the transporter.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the desired part geometry.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds along the closed loop transport path based on the desired part geometry and/or the powder material and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving the powder supporting platform of the at least one of build bed between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a height of the powder supporting platform.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the powder supporting platform of the at least one of build bed between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path at a predetermined height relative to the powder material whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the powder supporting platform of the at least one of build bed between a first position and a second position so as to adjust the relative height between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving at least one of the respective powder supporting platforms along a vertical axis.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a height of the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device between a first position and a second position so as to adjust a clearance between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises locating the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device above the closed loop transport path at a predetermined height relative to the powder material whilst preparing or energising the surface of the powder material.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device between a first position and a second position so as to a adjust the relative height between the powder material and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises moving the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device along a vertical axis.
- the clearance between the powder material supported on the powder supporting platform of at least one of said build beds and the at least one powder surface preparation device and/or the energy emitting device is adjusted based on a thickness of a new powder layer providing the powder surface.
- the method further comprises curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path upstream and/or downstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path upstream of the at least one energy emitting device.
- the method further comprises curing the powder material by at least one curing device located on the closed loop transport path downstream of the at least one energy emitting device. In exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises moving the plurality of build beds around the transport path a plurality of times until the desired part has been formed.
- the method comprises:
- energising comprises laser sintering/fusing.
- the powder surface comprises NylonTM.
- the method comprises:
- the method comprises:
- Figure 1 illustrates a schematic plan view of an apparatus according to certain embodiments of the present invention for continuous additive manufacturing
- Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of one of the build beds of the apparatus of Figure 1
- Figure 3 illustrates the operational interaction between the sintering unit and each build bed of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 illustrates a schematic plan view of a further apparatus according to certain embodiments of the present invention for continuous additive manufacturing
- Figure 5a illustrates a schematic side view of a further apparatus according to certain embodiments of the present invention for continuous additive manufacturing
- Figure 5b illustrates a schematic plan view of the apparatus of Figure 5a
- Figure 5c illustrates a schematic plan view section of the apparatus of Figures 5a and 5b; and Figure 6 illustrates a process flow chart for printing parts in a continuous manner according to certain embodiments of the present invention.
- apparatus 100 for continuous powder-based additive manufacturing of parts includes a transporter 102, such as a belt, chain, conveyor, platform, or the like, which defines a closed loop transport path.
- a transporter 102 such as a belt, chain, conveyor, platform, or the like, which defines a closed loop transport path.
- the closed loop transport path extends around a horizontal axis.
- the transport path as illustrated in Figure 1 is substantially rectangular in plan profile having curved corner regions, however the transporter may define other continuous closed loop shapes, such as oval, circular, square, or the like.
- the transporter 102 supports at least one build bed, preferably as illustrated a plurality of build-beds 104, and is controlled by the controller 1 12.
- Each build bed 104 is coupled to the transporter 102 which is driven by suitable means, such as an electric motor operably coupled to a controller 1 12, such that the build beds are moved along the continuous transport path in a carousel-type manner.
- suitable means such as an electric motor operably coupled to a controller 1 12, such that the build beds are moved along the continuous transport path in a carousel-type manner.
- the build beds are separable from the transporter, i.e. the build beds can be removed / replaced from the transporter.
- each build bed may be coupled to a driven belt or chain or other suitable conveyor element which defines the closed loop transport path.
- each build bed may be configured to drive itself with respect to the transporter along the transport path.
- each build bed may comprise a drive assembly coupled to the transporter, wherein each drive assembly includes a driven gear coupled to a toothed rack of the transporter.
- each build bed 104 is a substantially rectangular box-like container having an open top 105 and includes a rectangular-shaped building platform 107 therein for supporting powder for additively manufacturing at least one AM part 150.
- the building platform 107 may be located above a base of the container or may be the base itself.
- the platform is movable along the Z axis, i.e. up and down, by suitable means, e.g. a motor and scissor jack or piston arrangement, and such movement is controlled by the controller 1 12.
- the apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of printing units, e.g. conventional printing units, arranged above the build beds 104 as they travel along the transport path.
- a plurality of printing units e.g. conventional printing units, arranged above the build beds 104 as they travel along the transport path.
- the plurality of printing units are fixed at a predetermined height relative to the build beds 104 when preparing or energising the surface of the powder material supported thereon.
- the powder supporting platform of each build beds is controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the height of the powder material supported on the powder supporting platform relative to the plurality of printing units.
- the plurality of printing units may also be controllably moveable between a first position and a second position for adjusting the height of the powder material supported on the powder supporting platform relative to the plurality of printing units.
- the plurality of printing units are controllably moveable along a vertical (Z) axis.
- the printing units aptly include at least one powder surface preparation unit 106 for preparing a powder surface in the or each build bed 104, such as by dispensing, rolling, scraping, or the like.
- the printing units aptly include at least one energy emitting unit 108, e.g. an infra-red lamp or a laser system for powder sintering/fusing, and at least one curing unit 1 10 to cure an additively manufactured part/s by suitable means such as dispensing an agent/binder/solvent or the like.
- the function of the curing unit may vary according to the type of sintering technology used and the functional requirement of the produced AM parts.
- a wide variety of chemicals may be used on the sintered polymer parts to provide them with various mechanical or aesthetical properties.
- a chemical agent may be sprayed onto the sintered parts to strengthen them.
- an organic solvent that can dissolve the polymer material may be sprayed on the parts to slightly dissolve and smoothen the surface.
- the curing unit may spray a colour pigment on to the sintered material for aesthetic purposes.
- an additional curing unit may be included before the sintering/fusing unit 108 but after the powder dispensing unit 106.
- This additional curing unit may be used to dispense an infra-red light absorbing agent on to the powder bed to aid the sintering process.
- the agent is deposited on specific areas of the powder layer to define the geometry of the parts.
- the printing units are controlled by the controller 1 12 which also controls the speed and direction of the build-beds 104 along the transport path.
- the controller 1 12 such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) may be connected to the Internet or another computer system to receive and store commands and information, and configured to control the printing units, build beds and transporter via a wired or wireless connection.
- PLC programmable logic controller
- the or each build bed 104 moves along the transport path in the direction of arrow A and under an energy emitting device 310 of the energy emitting unit 106, e.g. a laser, heat lamp or other thermal energy emitting device.
- the speed of movement of the build bed along the transport path with respect to the energy emitting device 310 is controlled by the controller 1 12.
- the speed of movement may correspond to the properties of the powder material being used in the build bed and/or the complexity of the part being printed and/or the type of energy emitting device, e.g. laser or infrared lamp.
- multiple units may be positioned along the transport path to further increase the efficiency and speed of the printing process.
- the energy emitting/powder fusing section of the apparatus may comprise a number of sintering units 408,409 arranged in parallel to thereby increase the efficiency and throughput of the apparatus.
- a build bed 402 is controllably moved along an input transport path on which a surface preparation unit 406 is located which prepares/dispenses powder on the print bed.
- the build bed 402 is then selectively moved to a first sintering unit 408 or a second sintering unit 409 before being moved along an output transport path on which a curing unit 410 is located.
- Such an arrangement may include two or more sintering paths each having a sintering unit located thereon to allow at least one layer of a plurality of AM parts in different build beds to be printed at the same/similar time.
- the apparatus may be enclosed in a controlled environment, involving regulated pressure, temperature and/or an inert gas.
- An inert gas environment may be used to prevent the powder material, e.g. nylon, oxidising when heated by the laser beam.
- the temperature inside the build chamber/build bed may be kept relatively high but below the melting point of the un-sintered powder, e.g. around 170°C for nylon, so that the temperature increase required by the laser to fuse the powder surface particles is relatively low.
- the apparatus may be integrated into a system comprising additional units/modules for positioning, removing and post-processing additively manufactured components.
- the apparatus 500 includes a substantially circular/annular build/print bed 504 which is fixed in terms of rotational movement about its central axis.
- the build bed is configured to contain powder for additively manufacturing at least one AM part therein.
- a vertically oriented shaft 502 extends upwardly from the centre of the build bed 504 and supports a powder surface preparation unit 506, an energy emitting unit 508 and a curing unit 510 each of which radially extend outwardly from the shaft 502 and are circumferentially spaced apart from each other by around 120 degrees.
- the angular spacing between adjacent units may be equal or different and may be greater or less than 120 degrees.
- the spacing will of course depend on the number of printing units present.
- the shaft 502 is rotatably driven about its axis by a motor operably controlled by a controller to thereby rotate each unit with respect to the rotationally fixed print bed in a desired rotational direction (anticlockwise in the illustrated example).
- the shaft may be rotationally fixed and the print bed may controllably rotate with respect to the printing units which radially extend from the shaft.
- the powder surface preparation unit 506 may include a number of nozzles for dispensing/layering/depositing/rolling/scraping (or the like) powder across the width of the build-bed from R1 to R2 as shown in Figure 5c.
- the surface preparation rate e.g. rate of dispensing/layering of the powder, may vary across the width of the build-bed to ensure uniform powder coverage.
- similar circle length and angle radius-based equation is used to adjust for the uniformity of the powder layer.
- the powder dispensing/layering rate is calculated by the controller 1 12, which tracks the location of every nozzle along the circular build-bed section. The same relationship may be used for the energy emitting unit 508 and the curing unit 510.
- the energy emitting unit 508 comprises at least one energy source, e.g. a heat lamp, laser or other thermal energy emitting device, mounted on a boom coupled to the transport shaft 502.
- the energy source may be controllably movable along the boom to thereby energise predetermined locations of the powder bed responsive to a geometry of the part being created.
- a plurality of spaced apart energy sources may be mounted on the boom and selectively operated to energise predetermined locations of the powder bed under a respective one of the energy sources responsive to a geometry of the part being created.
- the curing unit 510 may comprise at least one nozzle selectively movable along its respective boom for spraying an agent on the powder bed.
- a plurality of nozzles may be mounted on the boom to dispense a curing agent on predetermined locations on the powder bed responsive to a geometry of the part being created.
- each unit 504,506,508 is controllably moveable along the shaft, i.e. along the Z axis, to thereby adjust the height of the respective unit with respect to the print bed, e.g. to accommodate a new layer of powder provided by the powder surface preparation unit 506 during the printing process.
- the print bed 504 may include an annular shaped platform for supporting the powder and which is moveable in the Z-axis, e.g. it is lowered by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a new powder layer each time new powder is dispensed on the powder bed during printing.
- a new powder layer is provided and a new layer of the AM part created for each revolution. The process is continued until the desired AM part is complete.
- a method 600 of continuous powder-based additive manufacturing will now be described with reference to the flow diagram of Figure 6 and the apparatus of Figure 1 .
- powder is prepared/deposited in a first one of the build/print beds 104 by the surface preparation/powder dispensing unit 106.
- the powder surface preparation unit 106 is configured to provide a new layer of powder across the width of the build platform within the build bed. As each build bed 104 is moved under the powder surface preparation unit, the powder is layered substantially across the build platform of the build bed. The speed of the build bed 104 with respect to the powder surface preparation unit 106, the rate of powder deposition on to the build bed, and the start/end time of the powder deposition are controlled by the controller 1 12.
- the first build bed then moves along the transport path and a trailing build bed takes its place for powder layer preparation.
- the building platform within each build bed is positioned at the top or in an upper portion of the build bed.
- the build platform is controllably lowered by a distance corresponding to a thickness of the new powder layer.
- the build platform moves down until the part being additively manufactured has been formed, as illustrated in Figure 2. The extent of movement in the Z direction depends on the required layer thickness of the part and is controlled by the controller.
- the first build bed 104 is moved to the energy emitting unit 108 where the powder layer deposited/prepared at step 602 is energised, e.g. sintered by a laser, heat lamp or other energy emitting unit. During sintering, just enough energy is emitted such that the powder fuses together to form a layer of the desired part. The emitted energy depends on the type of material to be sintered and the sintering technology.
- a number of sintering technologies may be used for the sintering process, both for polymer and metal, including but not limited to powder bed inkjet printing, selective laser sintering, binder jetting, direct metal laser sintering, multi jet fusion, high speed sintering, electron-beam melting, and material jetting, or the like.
- the AM parts may be made from polymers including but not limited to Nylons (NylonTM12 (PA220 DuraformTM PA), NylonTM1 1 (DuraformTM EX Natural, DuraformTM EX Black), Glass Filled NylonTM (DuraformTM GF), Durable NylonTM (DuraformTM EX), Fiber-filled NylonTM (DuraformTM FIST) or the like), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), TPEelastomer materials, PMMA , ABS, EDPM, NBR, PC, PP, PPS, PVDF, ULTEMTM 9085, ULTEMTM 1010, PEEK or the like.
- Nylons NylonTM12 (PA220 DuraformTM PA), NylonTM1 1 (DuraformTM EX Natural, DuraformTM EX Black), Glass Filled NylonTM (DuraformTM GF), Durable NylonTM (DuraformTM EX), Fiber-filled NylonTM (DuraformTM FIST) or the like
- TPU Ther
- the build bed 104 comes to a standstill and the laser of the sintering unit 108 selectively fuses a predefined area of the powder.
- the build bed 104 may continue moving while the laser sinters the powder and the laser is controllably adjusted to follow the build- bed. The energy, movement and speed of the laser is controlled by the controller 1 12.
- the inkjet unit for example as illustrated in Figure 3, is fixed and the build bed moves under it at a speed selected by the controller. In exemplary embodiments, there may be several inkjet spraying heads/units positioned over the build bed.
- the first build bed 104 is moved to a curing unit 1 10 where the fused powder layer is cured. The specifics of this step depend on the type of powder being used and the desired objective.
- step 606 may also involve a solvent being sprayed on a formed AM part to dissolve and smooth the surface of the part.
- This step may also involve spraying a dye on to the fused layer or formed AM part to provide the same with a desired colour.
- the platform of the build bed 104 is moved downwardly in the Z direction to accommodate the creation of the new powder layer.
- the thickness of the layer, and therefore the amount of movement in Z direction depends on the specified part design requirements and is controlled by the controller 1 12.
- the powder dispensing unit 106, the sintering/energy emitting unit 108, and the curing unit 1 10 would each independently be moved upwardly in a direction parallel to the shaft axis to accommodate a new powder layer.
- the build bed 104 starts another cycle around the closed loop and continuous transport path with a new powder layer being deposited at and by the dispensing unit 106.
- step 612 the process is repeated until the desired AM part/s have been formed and/or finished.
- Certain embodiments of the present invention therefore provide an improved apparatus and method for efficiently and continuously manufacturing AM parts using a powder-based additive manufacturing process.
- the apparatus is configured to provide a smooth, efficient and continuous AM process which increases printing output whilst reducing wear on moving parts, undesirable NVH effects, costly downtime for maintenance/repair, and also energy usage.
Abstract
Description
Claims
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GBGB1904816.4A GB201904816D0 (en) | 2019-04-05 | 2019-04-05 | Additive manufacturing |
PCT/EP2020/059795 WO2020201581A1 (en) | 2019-04-05 | 2020-04-06 | Additive manufacturing |
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EP4134226A1 (en) * | 2021-08-11 | 2023-02-15 | Essilor International | Manufacturing system configured to carry out a method for additively manufacturing a plurality of ophthalmic devices and such a method |
CN115156560A (en) * | 2022-09-06 | 2022-10-11 | 杭州爱新凯科技有限公司 | Super large breadth 3D printing apparatus |
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DE10235434A1 (en) * | 2002-08-02 | 2004-02-12 | Eos Gmbh Electro Optical Systems | Device for producing a three-dimensional object by e.g. selective laser sintering comprises a support and a material-distributing unit which move relative to each other |
DE202011003443U1 (en) * | 2011-03-02 | 2011-12-23 | Bego Medical Gmbh | Device for the generative production of three-dimensional components |
US9925723B2 (en) * | 2015-03-27 | 2018-03-27 | Delavan Inc. | Additive manufacturing systems and methods |
US10357827B2 (en) * | 2015-07-29 | 2019-07-23 | General Electric Comany | Apparatus and methods for production additive manufacturing |
EP3554836B1 (en) * | 2016-12-13 | 2021-01-27 | Stratasys, Inc. | Rotary silo additive manufacturing system |
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