SI25749A - Auxiliary device and procedure for volumetric additive manufacturing of objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention solves the problem of supplying powdered material from the outside of the device for volumetric additive manufacturing of objects to the inner printing area of the device, more precisely to the final volumetric printing space where the material will be produced in the volumetric part of the final object. The invention enables the final transfer of material from any direction with respect to an already manufactured part of the object and additionally enables the charge or polarization of the powder material before it enters the printing space. The invention enables the transfer of powdered material from the outside to the inside of a device for volumetric fabrication of objects in a pneumatic manner. The invention serves as an auxiliary device to a primary device for volumetric additive fabrication of objects.

Description

AUXILIARY DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR VOLUMETRIC ADDITIVE MANUFACTURE OF FACILITIES

The invention belongs to the field of auxiliary devices for volumetric additive manufacturing of objects (volumetric 3D printing), more precisely the invention belongs to the field of devices and procedures for feeding powder materials from the outside of the volumetric 3D printing device into the interior of the volumetric 3D printing device. more precisely into the printing space.

With devices for volumetric 3D printing, final objects are made by sequentially producing individual volumetric pieces of the final object, or the entire object is made at once. The production of individual volumetric pieces of the final object, which is enabled by devices for volumetric 3D printing, differs from classic devices for 3D printing, which are not volumetric, in that in classic devices for 3D printing the production of the object takes place according to the principle of individual plastic printing. behind the layer of the final object, while in volumetric 3D printing devices individual volumetric pieces (volumes) of the final object are produced, in some cases the whole object at once.

Volumetric 3D printing in some volumetric 3D printing devices takes place in a vacuum or vacuum-like conditions inside the printing chamber of the device (eg volumetric 3D printing based on melting with particle sources, mostly electrons), in some volumetric 3D printing devices the pressure in these printing chambers can be atmospheric (laser or other melting of material in the air or in the printing nozzle), and with some volumetric 3D printing devices the pressure in the printing room may be higher than atmospheric (laser hardening of the material in liquid)

Over the years, the development of 3D printing devices and processes has advanced and expanded to a number of technical solutions that describe the fabrication of objects based on the melting or sintering of powder materials. 3D printing sessions have also expanded to a new area called volumetric 3D printing, where the final object is produced by sequentially producing the volumetric parts of the final object or even the entire object at once. Volumetric parts of the final object are meant as those component pieces of the final object which have volume and which are not a flat 2D layer of the final object with a certain height, volumetric pieces are therefore meant as parts of the final object with volume and closed curved outer surface

Volumetric 3D printing thus differs from conventional 3D printing in that it is possible to produce a specific volumetric part of the final object with a single step of volumetric 3d printing, which is not a flat layer with a certain height but is a volumetric piece or even the entire volumetric final object in some cases; while conventional 3D printing allows the production of an object in layers with a certain height, ie the printing process proceeds in the manner of making an individual layer-by-layer, where each layer of the object is equal to a certain individual 2D cross section of the final object with a certain height.

Auxiliary devices and processes intended to supply powder materials to the final printing site within the printing chamber therefore differ significantly between conventional 3D printing and volumetric 3D printing. The devices and procedures for feeding powder materials used in conventional 3D printers do not correspond to the use in newer volumetric 3D printers.

In conventional 3D printing, where the object is fabricated layer by layer, the coatings of powder materials are described in many technical documents. Since the object in such conventional 3D printing is usually built on a flat support table, the powder materials can be applied simply with flat applicators or rollers. Namely, conventional 3D printers sequentially produce 2D layers of the final object, ie in a way that each individual 2D layer of the final object is produced separately and sequentially, and the manufacturing process is repeated for each given layer until the object is made. In such conventional 3D printers, the application of powder material always takes place on the previously made flat layer of the building and is carried out in one main direction - usually in height. The layers of material are therefore applied sequentially and produced on a flat surface from the lowest to the highest layer of the object until the printed object produced by the conventional 3D printer is finished.

In volumetric 3D printing, where individual volumetric parts of the final object are made, simple application with a roller (angkspreader) or squeegee (ruler) on the printing site is impossible, as individual parts of the object with volumes that do not necessarily have flat surfaces and are not necessarily supported by a flat table. In volumetric 3D printing, the application of powder material is also desirable from the side relative to the already printed piece of the object, or even from the bottom up; such a method of feeding powder material in conventional 3D printers is not required.

In volumetric 3D printing, the application of material will be desirable from several sides as in conventional 3D printers, and especially in volumetric 3D printing, the print space itself is not a 2D shape with a certain height, but a volumetric space. Powder feeders used in conventional 3D printers are therefore useless for applying materials in volumetric 3D printing.

Namely, it would be desirable that the powder material inside the device for volumetric 3D printing can be brought into a certain volumetric part of the print from any direction, which the devices for feeding powder materials in conventional 3D printers do not allow.

Patent application US8124192 describes a process for making 3D objects in which the final object is made by printing successive layers of the desired object, wherein the powder materials are applied by applying an electric force through an opening in the powder material container to a flat two-dimensional support surface. In this case, a high electrical voltage is introduced between the support base and the container with the powder material, so the powder material moves through the opening on the container with the material to the support table due to the electric attraction.

Patent application DE112015004226T5 describes a device for feeding powder material inside a 3D printer where the object is built layer-by-layer. The device has a supply unit that is charged using electrical voltage, and an insulation unit that covers the assembly of a plurality of electrodes (electrode units), the insulation unit being configured to attract material that has been negatively charged in the supply unit to a positive the surface of the insulating unit, and to attract and thus alienate material from the supply unit using the charged state of the electrode unit. The technical solution described in said patent application describes the supply of charged powder material inside a 3D printing device, where the object is made by sequentially manufacturing individual layers of the object. The device therefore enables the application of charged powder material in a 3D printer, where the object is made in the manner of making an individual layer-by-layer.

None of the technical solutions described above solves the problem of feeding charged powder material into a three-dimensional (volumetric) printing space inside a volumetric 3D printing device. The invention described in this embodiment describes a device for feeding powder material into the interior of a volumetric 3D printer, in which the final fabrication of the printed object is performed according to the principle of making successive volumetric parts of the final object or even the entire object at once. Because the production of the final object in volumetric 3D printers takes place within three-dimensional (volumetric) printing spaces and not 2D layers, the powder material must be fed from several sides according to the already made part of the object or according to the initial printing space in the first printing step.

The device described in this document enables the transfer of material from the outside of the volumetric 3D printing device to the final 3D printing space inside the printing chamber of said volumetric 3D printing device, charging or polarizing the powder material before the material enters the final 3D printing space for easier manipulation of the powder material. the use of electric forces, and the final transfer of such charged or polarized material to the volumetric printing space from any direction relative to the already printed part of the object or the initial printing space in the first step of printing using multidirectional machinery mounted on the application chamber.

None of the devices and procedures known so far allow the application of charged or polarized powder material in any 3D printing space from any direction with respect to the already printed part of the object or the initial printing space in the first step of printing.

The following will describe the technical problem. Devices and procedures for volumetric 3D printing of objects, where the final object is made of powder materials gradually in a sequential manner ς

making volumetric parts of an object or an entire object at once differs from conventional 3D printers in that they allow the production of a 3D volumetric part of the final object, while conventional 3D printers allow printing of individual consecutive 2D layers of the final object. This difference between the production of volumetric pieces of the final object enabled by volumetric 3D printing devices and the production of individual layers of the final object enabled by conventional 3D printers thus leads to a significantly different 3D printing process in volumetric 3D printers and conventional (2D) printers. and thus completely different capabilities of said devices. Unlike conventional 3D printing devices, volumetric 3D printing devices enable: a) printing in a larger number of printing directions than the already printed part of the object (conventional 3D printing devices have only one printing direction, they usually print in height) b) printing in a larger number of different directions at the same time relative to the already printed part of the object (devices for conventional 3D printing allow printing in only one printing direction at a time, usually in height)

The transfer of material in volumetric 3D printing is therefore required in the 3D printing space, which may, for example, be lower than the already printed part of the object, or the powder material must be applied from the side relative to the already printed part of the object. The mentioned cases of transfer of powder material from the side with respect to the married part of the building or from below with regard to the already printed part of the building are impossible with the devices for supplying powder materials known so far.

Currently known devices for the supply of powder materials to the printing area within conventional 3D printers, where the objects are made in layers, transfer the powder materials to the final printing point:

a) by mechanical application using a flat sprayer, spreader, roller or similar; they distribute the powder material on a flat surface without the use of electric force;

b) by applying an electric force in the manner of charging the powdered material and transferring the powdered material to a flat surface by applying an electric force to the charged powdered material.

In both cases described, the powder material refers to the flat surface of the support table, which means that the known material application devices used in conventional 3D printing of objects by making sequential layer by layer layer are not used for material application within the printing area of a volumetric 3D printer. , where it is desirable to transfer the material to a specific 3D printing space, which can be positioned below or on the side of the already printed volumetric part of the object. Conventional layer-by-layer 3D printers print in only one printing direction, so that the application of a material of a certain thickness is performed only in that direction; volumetric 3D printers, which enable the production of volumetric parts of the object, can print in any printing direction with respect to the already printed part of the object and also in several directions at the same time. Therefore, a technical solution would be desirable, which would enable the application of powder material from several directions in relation to the already printed part of the building and the application of powder material from several directions at the same time in relation to the already printed part of the building.

The invention described in this patent application describes an auxiliary device for volumetric 3D printing, which enables the supply of powder material from the outside of the device for volumetric 3D printing inside it, more precisely into the volumetric printing space located inside the printing chamber in a volumetric 3D printer and where an individual volumetric part of the final object will be produced. The device according to the invention enables the transfer of powder material into the final volumetric printing space from any direction with respect to the already manufactured part of the object and additional charging or polarization of the powder material before entering the final volumetric printing space for easier manipulation and positioning of powder material in the volume meter. electric forces.

The device thus allows the transfer of powdered material that is previously outside the volumetric 3D printer and is not charged or polarized, in the inner, printing area of the volumetric 3D printer in charged or polarized form and from any direction relative to the individual printing space.

The device comprises at least one inlet chamber, at least one measuring chamber and at least one application chamber. The device further comprises: at least one connecting pipe connecting the inlet chamber to the measuring chamber; at least one connecting tube connecting the measuring chamber to the application chamber; a system for pneumatically transferring powder material from the inlet chamber to the interior of the printing compartment of the volumetric printer; system for charging or polarizing the powder material, measuring system and control system. Further, the device comprises at least one electrifier mounted on the connecting pipe between the measuring chamber and the application chamber or on the connecting pipe between the inlet chamber and the measuring chamber.

Said electrifier is configured in one embodiment to create an electric field inside the connecting tube having a layer of non-conductive material on the inner surface sufficient to polarize the powder material during the passage from one chamber to another inside said connecting pipe. In another embodiment, the electrifier is configured to supply an electric charge to the powder material via a connecting tube made of conductive material, thereby supplying an electric charge to the powder material in the connecting tube during passage from one chamber to another.

The printer user brings the powder material to at least one inlet chamber. The entrance chamber is equipped with at least three doors, of which: at least one door is an entrance door through which the user adds a powdery material to the interior of the entrance chamber; at least one outlet door through which the powder material passes into the connecting tube from the inlet chamber onwards into the measuring chamber; at least one other outlet door for the supply and / or extraction of gases through which a mesh with holes large enough to allow the passage of gas molecules and at the same time not to allow granules of powdered material in use. At least one inlet chamber is additionally equipped with a weight meter (balance) configured to measure the weight of the powder material inside the inlet chamber. At least one inlet chamber is additionally equipped with a pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure inside the inlet chamber.

The entrance door of the entrance chamber extends to the outside of the volumetric 3D printer and their purpose is to supply material by the user. The user can be a mechanized machine.

The exit door of the entrance chamber leads to the first connecting pipe, which connects the exit door on the entrance chamber with the entrance door on the measuring chamber.

The measuring chamber is equipped with at least three doors, of which: at least one entrance door through which the powder material passes into the interior of the measuring chamber; at least one exit door through which the powder material passes from the measuring chamber via another connecting pipe to the application chamber; and at least one other door for discharging or supplying gases and on which a net with holes large enough to allow gas molecules to pass and at the same time not to allow granules of powdered material to be used is installed. At least one measuring chamber is additionally equipped with a weight meter configured to measure the weight of the powder material inside the measuring chamber. At least one measuring chamber is additionally equipped with a pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure inside the measuring chamber.

The outlet door on the measuring chamber leads to a second connecting pipe connecting the outlet door on the measuring chamber with the inlet door on the application chamber and in which the charge of powder material occurs during the transition from the measuring chamber to the application chamber.

The electrifier is mounted on the connecting pipe between the measuring chamber and the application chamber or in other embodiments additionally between the inlet chamber and the measuring chamber. The powder material is charged or polarized with an electrifier before it enters the application chamber or, in other embodiments, the measuring chamber; i.e. inside the second connecting pipe during the transition from the measuring chamber to the application chamber or inside the first connecting pipe during the transition from the inlet chamber to the measuring chamber.

The application chamber is equipped with at least three doors, of which: at least one entrance door through which the powder material passes into the interior of the application chamber; at least one exit door through which the powder material passes forward into the interior of the printing compartment of the volumetric 3D printer; and at least one other door for discharging or supplying gases on which a net with holes large enough to allow gas molecules and at the same time not to allow granules of powdered material in use is mounted. At least one application chamber is additionally equipped with a flow meter configured to measure the flow of powder material through the application chamber to the print area of the printer at a given time. At least one application chamber is additionally equipped with a pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure inside the printing area of the volumetric 3D printer

All the doors on all the chambers mentioned so far in the device enable the hermetic closure of the individual chambers and pipes mentioned. Vacuum conditions can thus be established inside each of the mentioned chambers (inlet, measuring, application). Vacuum conditions can also be established inside each of the above-mentioned connecting pipes (first and second).

The system for prenatal transfer of powder material consists of: those doors mentioned so far on the inlet, measuring and application chambers, on which nets with holes for gas supply or removal are installed; all the pressure gauges mentioned so far; an equalizer configured to control synchronous control of a) the supply or discharge of gases from or into the gas chamber via a door for the supply or discharge of gases from or into the inlet, measuring and application chambers b) closing and opening of all doors at the inlet, measuring and application chambers through which gases are discharged from or into the inlet, measuring or application chamber for the purpose of pneumatically transferring powder material from the inlet chamber via the first connecting tube to the measuring chamber, from the measuring chamber via the second connecting tube to the application chamber, and from the application chamber to the inside of the printer print area.

The application chamber is additionally equipped with multi-strand mechanization for directing charged powder material from the application chamber to a predetermined printing space, where the volumetric part of the final object is made inside a larger printing area inside the volumetric 3D printer. The application chamber may be additionally equipped with at least two electrodes attached to the output door of the application chamber, which can be used to direct charged or polarized powder material. Each of the at least two electrodes may be separately equipped with multi-directional machinery and configured to direct or position charged or polarized powder material in the volumetric printing space.

The measuring chamber can be equipped with multi-directional mechanization, which allows the measuring chamber to be moved closer to the place of printing before the start of 3D printing. The measuring chamber can be mechanically removed from the entry chamber using multidirectional machinery, in which case the exit door of the entry chamber and the entrance door on the measuring chamber remain closed during printing, as the measuring chamber is locally alienated from the entry chamber.

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The entry chamber is attached to the edge of the volumetric 3D printing device inside which the object is made, in such a way that the entrance door of the entry chamber on one side extends out of the device for volumetric 3D printing, and the exit door of the entry chamber on the other side extends into inside the device for volumetric 3D printing

Furthermore, embodiments of a device with more than one inlet chamber, more than one measuring chamber and more than one application chamber are possible. Further embodiments of the device are possible where a large number of application chambers are connected to a single measuring chamber or several measuring chambers. Further possible are embodiments of a device comprising at least two inlet chambers into which the user can bring at least two different powder materials for the purpose of volumetric 3D printing of one object from more than one powder material.

At least two electrodes mounted on the output door of the application chamber and the electrifier shall be configured in such a way that each individual can establish either a negative or a positive electric field or charge. At least two electrodes are configured in such a way that they can establish an electric field trap in which particles of material can be trapped. Embodiments with a larger number of electrodes or a larger number of electrifiers are possible. The electrifier is configured in such a way that it can establish a negative electric field or charge in one step and establish a positive electric field or charge in the next step. The electrodes can be configured to establish a positive or negative electric field.

The essence of the disclosed invention is thus primarily the appropriate charge or polarization of the powder material before entering the printing area of the volumetric 3D printing device and transferring such charged powder material to the final printing space, which can be positioned on the side, below or above the already printed part of the final object. or the initial print space in the first step of printing.

The device according to the invention thus enables pneumatic transfer of powder material using a system for pneumatic transfer of material from the outside of the device for volumetric 3D printing to the inside of the flight, more precisely to the printing space where the material will be made into a part of the object or the whole object, and additional charge or polarization of powder material. in use, which facilitates the transfer and positioning of powdered material in the printing space within a larger printing area of a volumetric 3d printer for the purpose of producing a specific volumetric part of the object or in some cases the entire object at once.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a device and basic components of a device according to the invention

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention having several or more electrifiers and a system for removing excess material.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention having a large number of inlet chambers

The invention will be described on the basis of the figures, but other embodiments of the device and method according to the invention are also possible, which are not shown in the figures.

Based on Figure 1, the components of the device according to the invention, the basic operation procedure of the device according to the invention and the process of transferring the material provided by the device for the purpose of volumetric 3D printing will be described in detail.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention, which includes components of the device.

The device comprises an inlet chamber 1 for storing powder material 2 in use for the purpose of making the object. The inlet chamber 1 partially extends to the outside out of the primary device for volumetric additive manufacturing of objects or volumetric 3D printer 0 (hereinafter: printer 0) and has Attached to the outer part of the entrance door 3 through which the user of the device 0 adds the powder material 2 to the entry chamber 1. On the other side of the entry chamber 1, which extends inside the printer 0, are attached the exit door 4, which during the addition of powder material 2 to the entry chamber 1 closed and open while scratching the material? passes from the inlet chamber 1 via the connecting pipe 7 to the measuring chamber 5.

The inlet chamber 1 is additionally equipped with a weight meter or balance 11, a pressure meter or barometer 12 and a door 19, which serves to regulate the pressure and on which a mesh with slots is attached, large enough to let air particles and other gases through. or liquids and at the same time do not allow particles of powdered material 2 in use. The output door 4 on the inlet chamber 1 leads to a first connecting pipe, which is a tube 7 and which connects the outlet door 4 on the inlet chamber 1 with the inlet door 11 on the measuring chamber 5. The measuring chamber 5 is equipped with an inlet door 11 through which the powder material 2 passes from the tube 7 to the measuring chamber 5.

The electrifier 6 is in this embodiment arranged around a tube 7 connecting the inlet chamber 1 and the measuring chamber 5 from the outlet door 4 to the inlet door 11. The electrifier 6 is an integral part of the device according to the invention and allows charge or polarization of the powder material 2. The electrifier 6 is in this embodiment in the form of a ring adhering to the outer edge of the tube 7 inside which the powder material 2 passes from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber 5. The ring is made of a suitable conductive material and is in electrical contact with the supply unit 8 electric current to the electrifier 6 and thus in one of the embodiments causes an electric field inside the tube 7, which allows polarization of the powder material 2 during travel through the tube 7 from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber 5. In such an embodiment, the tube 7 is surrounded by layer of non-conductive material. In another embodiment, the tube 7 or part of the tube 7 may be made of conductive material and in such an embodiment the electrifier 6 by means of the electrical unit 8 supplies an additional electric charge to the powder material 2 during transfer from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber 5 this way the powder material 2 charges ..

The supplied electric current generated in the electric unit 8 and supplied to the electrifier 7 is sufficient to polarize in one embodiment or in another embodiment charge most or all of the powder material 2 during passage through the tube 7 from inside the inlet chamber 1 via the outlet door 4. to the inside of the measuring chamber 5 via the entrance door 11.

4S

Similar to the inlet chamber 1, the measuring chamber 5 is equipped with a weight meter or balance 21, a pressure gauge or barometer 22, an entrance door 11, an exit door 12, and a pressure regulating door 19 to which a net with slots large enough to let through particles of air, other gases in use or liquids, and at the same time large enough not to let through particles of powdered material 2 in use.

The measuring chamber 5 can be additionally equipped with a heater 23, which can heat the charged powder material 22.

The tube 17 connects the outlet door 12 on the measuring chamber 5 with the inlet door 16 on the application chamber 15. The tube 17 can be additionally equipped with electrifiers 77 as illustrated by an embodiment of the device according to the invention in Figure 2 and in case the charged powder material 2 is heated. using a heater 23 discharges or in another further possible embodiment of the device in which the first connecting pipe 7 is not equipped with an electrifier 6.

The measuring chamber 5 can be alienated or removed from the tube 7 which connects it to the inlet chamber 1. The measuring chamber 5 may be equipped with multi-directional machinery 22 or guides 24 intended to move the measuring chamber 5 closer to the printing site within the printing area 100 of the printer 0. Volumetric 3D printing systems are possible, where several printing points or even several printing devices are positioned inside one printer at the same time.

The measuring chamber 5 is connected to the application chamber 15 via a tube 17 via an outlet door 12 on the measuring chamber 5 and an inlet door 16 on the application chamber 15. The application chamber 15 is similar to the inlet chamber 1 and the measuring chamber 5 equipped with its own entrance and exit doors. otherwise, the entrance door 16 and the output door 25, and in addition may have at least two electrodes 19 mounted on the outside of the output door 25.

In this embodiment, the barometer 32 is attached to the outside of the application chamber 15. Additional embodiments of the device according to the invention are possible in which the barometer 32 is located other than the application chamber 15 but still inside the printing compartment 100 of the printer 0 and is configured to measure the pressure in the printing area 100 of the printer 0. In the inlet chamber 1 and the measuring chamber 5, the barometer 12 and the barometer 22 are mounted inside said inlet chamber 1 and the measuring chamber 5; and are configured to measure the pressure inside said inlet chamber 1 and the measuring chamber 5.

The pressure regulating door 20 is fixed inside the printing compartment 100 of the printer 0 and a mesh is installed over it which has slots large enough to allow air particles, other gases in use or liquids to pass through and at the same time large enough not to let through particles of powdered material 2 in use.

The pressure control door 10 on the inlet chamber 1, the pressure control door 19 in the measuring chamber 5, the pressure control door 20 inside the printing compartment of the device 0, the barometer 12, the barometer 22 and the barometer 32 are all connected to an equalizer 9 synchronized operation for pneumatic transfer of powder material 2 from the outside to the inside of the printer 0. The equalizer 9 digitally and mechanically regulates the pressure pi in the inlet chamber 1, the pressure p ₂ in the measuring chamber 5 and the pressure p ₃ on the outside of the application nozzle 15 or inside the print area 100 printers 0.

The pressure p ₃ may be similar to vacuum conditions, but in other embodiments may include gases such as hydrogen or argon. Said gases can help to discharge the already printed part of the object in an embodiment, where the device according to the invention is used as an auxiliary device to a primary volumetric 3D printer, which operates on melting using irradiation with electrons or other particles with mass (EBM) and in which there is accumulated excess skylight in the already printed part of the object.

The pressure p ₃ can be similar to the pressure in a liquid, as embodiments are possible where the device according to the invention is used to supply powder material inside the primary device for volumetric 3D printing, where solidification or melting of the material is performed in liquids.

Furthermore, it is possible that the inlet chamber 1, the measuring chamber 5 and the application chamber 15 are of any form other than the embodiment shown in Figure 1, for example in the form

AS square, oval (bushy) shape, spherical shape or. any other form which is also suitable for the storage and transfer of powdered material 2.

The operation of the device according to the invention will be described below.

Prior to the supply of powder material 2 to the interior of the printing compartment 100 of the device 0, all exit and entrance doors of the device according to the invention are closed, except the entrance door 3 on the entrance chamber 1, which allows the user to fill the entrance chamber 1 with powder material. the inlet chambers 1 are then hermetically sealed, a weight measurement with a balance 11, a pressure measurement pi with a barometer 12, a pressure measurement p2 with a barometer 22 and a pressure measurement with a barometer 32 are performed.

The equalizer 9 according to the measurements of pressure pi, pressure p2, pressure ps then ensures that the vacuum or overpressure is correctly and sufficiently established in all chambers and pipes in such a way that pneumatic transfer of powder material 2 from the initial inlet chamber 1 via pipe 7 to measuring chamber 5, in the next step from the measuring chamber 5 to the application chamber 15 and in the next step from the application chamber 15 to the inside of the printing compartment 100 of the printer 0.

When the powder material 2 is in the inlet chamber 1, the entrance door 3 is hermetically closed, thus enabling the inlet chamber 1 in which the powder material 2 is hermetically closed.

In the measuring chamber 5, before the first step of transferring the powder material 2 from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber 5, a pressure p _{2 is established} , which is lower than the pressure pi inside the inlet chamber 1. The equalizer 9 ensures that a lower pressure p ₂ is established. with respect to the pressure pi in such a way that sufficient gases are taken from the measuring chamber 5 and consequently the pressure p ₂ in the measuring chamber 5 is lowered under the pressure in the inlet chamber 1. The electric unit 8 is switched on 4 on the inlet chamber 1 and the inlet door 11 on the measuring chamber 5. When the outlet door 4 on the inlet chamber 1 and the inlet door 11 on the measuring chamber 5 are opened, the powder material passes through the pipe 7 from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber due to vacuum p ₂ 5. The electrical unit 8 supplies an electric current to the electrifier 6 while the powder material travels through the pipe 7 and in this way the powder material 2 is charged during the transition from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber 5 along the inside of the pipe 7 or polarizes.

In other embodiments of the device according to the invention, it is possible for the equalizer 9 to provide an overpressure pi in the hermetically sealed inlet chamber 1 with respect to the pressure P2 in the measuring chamber 5 and thus allow a similar method of pneumatic transfer of powder material 2 from the inlet chamber. 1 in the measuring chamber 5. In this case, the equalizer 9 brings gases through the exit door 10 into the interior of the inlet chamber 1 and thus causes the pressure pi to be higher than the pressure p2. When the vacuum p2 is established in the measuring chamber 5 created by the equalizer 9, then the exit door 4 and the entrance door 11 are opened, the powder material 2 is transferred to the measuring chamber 5. In the next step, the exit door 4 on the entrance chamber 1 and the entrance door 11 on the measuring chamber 5 are closed. The process of creating a vacuum p2 in the measuring chamber 5 can be repeated until all the powder material 2 in use is transferred from the inlet chamber 1 to the measuring chamber 5 via the pipe 7. In the measuring chamber 5 and the inlet chamber 1, each time the powder material 2 passes from the inlet chamber chamber 1 into the measuring chamber 5 the weight of this powder material 2 is measured with a scale 11 and a scale 21.

The charged or polarized powder material 2 is thus in the next step inside the measuring chamber 5, where the powder material 2 is then preheated with a heater 23, if necessary.

If necessary, in this step, the measuring chamber 5 can be alienated from the inlet chamber 1 and moved using multidirectional machinery 22 or guides 24 closer to the printing space or in case more printing devices are installed in the printing area of the device, closer to the device with which the powder material 2 used to print a particular object.

The equalizer 9 then re-measures the pressure p ₃ inside the printing area 100 of the printer 0, p2 inside the measuring chamber 5, and if necessary the pressure pi inside the inlet chamber 1.

Equalizer 9 based on pressure measurements p _b pressure p ₂ , pressure p ₃ establishes a higher pressure p ₂ in the measuring chamber 5 than the pressure p ₃ inside the printing area 100 of the printer 0. In case the pressure measurement p _{3 is} lower than the pressure p ₂ , possible residual atmospheric gases can first be removed through the door 19 on the measuring chamber and then other gases in use, for example inert gases, can be added to the measuring chamber 5. In the second case, where in this step the pressure p ₃ in the printing area 100 is higher than the pressure p ₂ in the measuring chamber 5, which occurs in the embodiments of the device where there is 0 liquid inside the printing area 100 of the printer, the equalizer creates sufficient overpressure in the measuring chamber 5 that after opening the outlet door 12 and the entrance door 25 on the application chamber 15, the metered powder material 2 is transferred from the measuring chamber 5 via the application chamber 15 to the inside of the printing compartment 100 of the printer 0. The pneumatic transfer of powder material 2 in this process step, it is transferred using the creation of a lower pressure p ₃ with respect to the pressure p ₂ or a higher pressure p ₂ with respect to the pressure p ₃ .

If necessary, in the embodiments of the device as in Figure 2, an additional electrifier 77 on the tube 17 connecting the measuring chamber 5 and the application chamber 15 can be switched on in this step. Electricity is supplied to this electrifier 77 by an electrical unit 78 mounted on the measuring chamber 5 and move closer to the printing space together with the measuring chamber 5 if necessary using guides 24 or multi-direction machinery 22. When the measuring chamber 5 is close to the printing space and a higher pressure p ₂ is created in the measuring chamber 5 than the pressure p ₃ in the printing area 100, the final transfer of the powder material via the application chamber 15 to the printing area 100 of the printer 0 begins. Of course, the vacuum p ₃ in the printing area 100 can also be created by emitting gases through the door 20 located inside the printing area 100 and connected to the equalizer 9. , in embodiments in which gas is present in the printing space 100 of the printer 0.

The application chamber 15 is equipped with an entrance door 16 and an exit door 25. At least two electrodes 19 can be arranged via the output door 25 with which the device directs or positions charged or polarized powder materials 2 inside the printing area 100, more precisely in the volumetric printing space, where the printer will then produce the volumetric part of the final object or the entire object at once. Each of the at least two electrodes 19 can be equipped with a multi-strand mechanization the purpose of which is to direct the electrodes freely and thus to manipulate the charged or polarized powder material 2.

Expensive embodiments of the device are possible, which includes a large number of printing nozzles 15, which are spatially located in different locations but at the same time all connected to one common measuring chamber 5.

Other embodiments of a device including a plurality of measuring chambers 5 are possible, and in such embodiments, one measuring chamber 5 may have a plurality of output ports 12 each leading separately to its own connecting tube 17, so embodiments of the device may include a plurality of connecting chambers. tubes 17 at the end of each of which an individual application nozzle 15 is installed.

A plurality of application nozzles 15 may each be mounted on their multi-directional machinery 115 closer to the printing part of the device and may move together with the melting irradiators, while the measuring chamber 5 may serve to supply powder material from the outside of the printer to the printing nozzles in the inner printing compartment. .

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a device with an additional number of electrifiers 77 which in this embodiment are attached to the pipe 17 between the measuring chamber 5 and the application chamber 15. Additional embodiments of the device according to the invention are possible, where a large number of electrifiers 77 are also installed on pipes 7 between the inlet chamber 1 and the measuring chamber 5.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention with two inlet chambers 1 and A1. The device according to the invention may have a larger number of inlet chambers shown in the example in Figure 3 than the inlet chamber 1 and the inlet chamber Al, which may be intended to supply different powder materials 2 and 2A inside the common printing compartment 100 within one printer 0. Inlet chamber 1 and the inlet chamber Al each has its own measuring chamber, namely measuring chamber 5 and measuring chamber A5. The measuring chamber A5 is connected to the application chamber A15, and the measuring chamber 5 has an application chamber 15 attached.

Embodiments of the device and method according to the invention are possible, in which two different powder materials from two different inlet chambers 1 and A1 are transferred to one common measuring chamber 5.

Embodiments of the device according to the invention are possible, in which the device has more than two inlet chambers 1 and / or more than two measuring chambers 5 and / or more than two application chambers 15.

Embodiments of the device according to the invention are possible, in which the device has more than two application chambers 15 attached to one common measuring chamber 5.

Embodiments of the device according to the invention are possible, which can have more than two measuring chambers 5 attached to one common inlet chamber 1.

Embodiments of a device with more than two electrodes 19 mounted via an output gate 25 or a larger number of electrifiers 6.77 mounted on any of the connecting pipes 7.17 are possible. Each electrifier can be configured to establish a negative electric field or charge in one step and a positive electric field or charge in the next step. The electrodes can be configured to establish a positive or negative electric field. In this way, the process of transferring the powder material 2 to the inside of the print area 100 of the printer 0 can be performed alternately with the inversely charged or polarized powder material 2, which means that in one step the positively charged powder material 2 can be fed to the inside of the print area 100 of the printer 0. In this step, a negatively charged powder material 2 is introduced into the interior of the printing compartment 100.

The system for charging or polarizing the powder material consists of an electrifier 6, an electrifier 77, an electrical unit 8. All components of the charging system are connected to a control system.

The system for pneumatically transferring the powder material from the inlet chamber to the inside of the printing compartment of the volumetric printer comprises components which enable this transfer in particular, namely equalizer 9, exit door 10, exit door 19, exit door 20 and all connecting pipes from equalizer 9 to of the said doors 9,10,19, which are not specifically marked in the figures. The equalizer 9 further comprises at least one container for storing gases from and into which the equalizer 9 supplies or removes gases, and may comprise additional containers for the storage of other gases in use or liquids.

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The measuring system of the device consists of a balance 11 and a balance 21, each of which are separately connected to the control system.

The control system of the device is a central computer part of the device, which regulates and controls the operation of all components of the device according to the invention. The control system includes at least one processor unit for processing current tasks of the device and at least one memory unit for digital storage of commands and other data necessary for the operation of the device and other additional components required for the operation of the device according to the invention. The control system is essentially a computer that is connected to all components of the device and has for each component of the device its own channel for input and output of information or commands. Through the input channel, the control system receives feedback on the operation of individual parts of the device, and through the output port on the processor, the device sends control signals for the operation of components. Additionally, the device may have video surveillance to monitor all components of the device.

The control system of the device is connected to the control unit of the primary switch 0 and in this way coordinates the work of the components of the device with the printer 0 for the purpose of volumetric fabrication of a 3D object.

Claims (6)

PATENT APPLICATIONS Auxiliary device for volumetric additive manufacturing of objects, which enables the transfer of powder material from the outside of any device for volumetric additive production of objects into the interior of said device, characterized in that it allows pneumatic transfer of powder material from the outside of the device for volumetric 3D printing in the internal printer devices for volumetric 3D printing, more precisely into the volumetric printing space, from any direction with respect to the printing space Auxiliary device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during the passage of the powder material from the outside of the volumetric 3D printing device to the inner printing area of the volumetric 3D printing device, said powder material is charged using an electrifier mounted on a connecting tube between two chambers and is configured to deliver an electric charge to the powder material as it passes through the interior of the connecting tube from one chamber to another. Auxiliary device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during the passage of the powder material from the outside of the volumetric 3D printing device to the inner printing area of the volumetric 3D printing device, said powder material is polarized using an electrifier mounted on the connecting tube. configured to polarize the powder material during passage through the connecting tube 4. A method of transferring powder material from the outside to the inside of a volumetric additive building device, characterized in that the powder material is transferred from the outside to the outside of the volumetric additive building device in a pneumatic manner, and further that the powder material is transferred to the final melting chamber transferred from any direction according to the already constructed part of the object. Process according to Claim 4, characterized in that the powder material is charged during the transition from the outside to the inside of the device for volumetric additive construction of objects. Method for transferring the powder material from the outside to the inside of the volumetric additive building device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the powder material is polarized during the transition from the outside to the inside of the volumetric additive building device.