WO2019115140A1

WO2019115140A1 - Apparatus for supplying protective gas, heating and supplying powder, device and method for the additive manufacturing of components, and component

Info

Publication number: WO2019115140A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/081424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ole Geisen
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2017-12-13
Filing date: 2018-11-15
Publication date: 2019-06-20
Also published as: DE102017222645A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (7) for supplying protective gas, heating and/or supplying powder for a device for the additive manufacturing of components from the powder bed (1), comprising: protective gas means, which are designed to supply and in particular to remove a protective gas, and powder means, which are designed to provide a plurality of layers of a pulverous material lying one over the other in the construction chamber (3) of a device for the additive manufacturing of components, and/or heating means, which are designed to heat at least one component section (8) already additively produced from the powder bed (1) and/or to heat a portion of a powder bed (1) and/or a work platform (4) of a device for the additive manufacturing of components, wherein means are provided, by which the protective gas means and the powder means and/or heating means can be or are mounted for joint movement, in particular translation, above the work platform (4) or the powder bed (1) of a device for the additive manufacturing of components. The invention further relates to a device and to a method for the additive manufacturing of components, and to a component.

Description

description

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING GASES, WARMING AND POWDER SUPPLY, AND DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURING COMPONENTS AND COMPONENT

The invention relates to a device for inert gas supply and heating and / or powder supply for a device for the additive production of components. Moreover, the invention relates to an apparatus for the additive production of components, comprising a construction space in which, in particular on a working platform, a powder bed for the additive construction of at least one component can be provided or be ready, an energy beam device which is designed to generate at least one energy beam, Preferably, provide several energy beams for selectively melting and / or sintering a powder bed provided in the installation space and to move the at least one energy beam via a powder bed provided in the installation space in accordance with predetermined component geometry. Finally, the invention relates to a method for the additive production of components and a component.

Process and apparatus for the additive production of construction parts are well known from the prior art.

As an example of such a method, the selective La melt melting (English: Selective Laser Melting - SLM) called from the powder bed. This is a construction method in which successively a plurality of powder-shaped layers of material are provided one above the other and each layer is locally melted by means of one or more laser beams in accordance with a predetermined component geometry. Since so many layers are provided, and scanned in each case with at least one laser beam until the component to be produced is completed. As an alternative to one or more laser beam (s), it is also possible to use other energy sources, such as electron beams (English: Selective Electron Beam Melting - SEBM). Also, alternatively or in addition to a melting sintering of the provided material carried out (Selective Laser Sintering - SLS, or selective electron beam sintering - SEBS).

From DE 10 2014 222 302 Al, for example, go a Ver drive and a device for the additive production of components by SLM from the powder bed out. The layer-wise construction is carried out in a well-known manner in the space defined by the interior of a production cylinder space of the device platform on a height-adjustable. Means are provided for providing powder layers, which comprise a supply cylinder arranged next to the work platform with a liftable bottom and a squeegee distribution device by means of which powder can be conveyed from the storage into the production cylinder and smoothed. The layers provided are scanned to obtain a component with several laser beams.

A auftre in the context of the additive production of components tendes problem is that during the scan plasma, debris, spatter and / or smoke generated who the. As a result, the energy beam can be blocked on the one hand and thus the intensity undesirably attenuated, and on the other hand can lead to deposits in areas of a material layer that are still to scan, causing additional surface roughness and it to form layers of material uneven thickness can occur.

In order to avoid or at least reduce this problem, it is known to generate a protective gas flow in the installation space above the processed material layer. From the WO

2014/125280 A2 and DE 10 2013 215 377 Al, for example, this is already known. The latter document teaches that the disclosed protective gas device comprises means for movable mounting above the working platform or the powder bed. This makes it possible to carry the protective gas device with the current point of impact of the energy beam on the Pulverbett. Another problem in additive manufacturing is that the energy input by the one or more meh eral energy, especially laser beams is highly local and the possibility of heat dissipation, especially in the case of powder bed is comparatively poor. Therefore, high thermal gradients can occur and it can lead to the formation of hot cracks. This problem is particularly given in the case of someone that components are made of hard to weld materials. Purely by way of example here high-temperature alloys and Ni, Co and Fe base elements are called, as they come, inter alia for running and Leitschaufein and Bren nerkomponenten of turbines used.

In order to use difficult to weld materials in the context of additive manufacturing, provides an additional Erwär determination, in particular preheating to temperatures of example, over 1000 ° C a promising possibility. If the material layer to be scanned and / or an optionally existing component section or an underlying working platform are additionally heated before and / or during the scanning process, rapid cooling and the associated hot cracking risk can be avoided or at least reduced ,

An additional heating by inductive heating by means of at least one above and / or around the powder bed angeord Neten coil in the context of SLM or SLS is described in EP 2 572 815 Al. It is also apparent from DE 10 2012 206 122 Al that in the context of an additive manufacturing process, such as the Laserpulverauftragsschweißen or selective Be rays of a powder bed, an additional, specifically induk tive heating of the component to be produced takes place. In this case, this document provides that the at least one Indukti onsspule is movable and their position is changed during the additive production. The additional heating makes it possible to obtain better results, in particular the preservation of components with improved properties, since the formation of cracks is avoided or at least reduced - even when using materials which are difficult to weld.

In particular, in that case that both a protective gas supply and additional heating is desired or required, it can lead to a mutual negati tive influence, can be about very different union flow ratio of the inert gas set, which in turn can lead to worse results. Also, it has proven to be problematic to realize an additional approximately induction inductive heating in the case of large installation spaces and / or multi-laser systems.

In light of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for additive manufacturing which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved on the one hand by a device for inert gas supply and heating and / or powder supply for a device for the additive production of components from the powder bed to arrange above or in a construction space of the device for additive manufacturing provided work platform or powder bed or is arranged, comprising

Protective gas means which are designed for supplying and in particular discharging a protective gas,

and

- Powder means, which are designed to provide a plurality of superposed layers of a powdery Materi as in the space of a device for the additive manufacture of components,

and or - Heating means for the particular inductive Erwär tion of at least one already made additive from the powder bed component portion and / or a Abschnit TES a powder bed and / or a working platform of an apparatus for additive production are formed, wherein means are provided, via which the inert gas and the Powder and / or heating means can be moved together, in particular movable above the work platform or the powder bed can be stored or stored.

In the apparatus for the additive production of components from the powder bed of the type mentioned, the object is achieved in that it comprises a device according to the invention for inert gas and heating and / or powder feed to the above or in the space of Vorrich device for additive Manufacturing provided working platform or powder bed is arranged.

The basic idea of the present invention, in other words, is to provide the protective gas guide, the means for heating, which can be or may be provided by one or more induction coils, and / or the powder agents as one or in a single unit and to handle the funds together. Thus, in a uniform movement with the protective gas stream and the heating ge the impact of the at least one energy beam ge followed and at the same time a new powder layer can be provided.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, he inventive device includes both inert gas and heating and powder and these are all moved together in common, in particular procedural.

The inventive device and thus also with egg ner such equipped device for additive manufacturing offers a variety of benefits. A negative effect ing a relative movement of the onsspulen given by Indukti given heating means relative to the protective gas in the same direction is avoided by the erfindungsge Permitted common movement. Thus, during a scan with one or more energy, in particular laser beams without negative interactions simultaneously ei ne additional heating and protection against smoke, plasma, debris and the like are possible. Are also provided powder medium, these are preferably moved with the inert gas and possibly heating means, so that at the same time the next powder layer can be provided on the top of the powder bed during a scan when already a protective gas and additional heating are possible, creating a Time savings and thus a particularly efficient component production is possible. In this case, the already taking place movement of the inert gas, over which they follow the or the impingement of the energy beams or the energy, then also used for the powder order on the expansion of the powder bed. It is a particularly efficient approach, in particular a simultaneous use of all funds allows.

The means which are designed so that the protective gas, powder and / or heating means at the intended Mon days of the device according to the invention above the working platform or the powder bed in the space of a Vorrich device for additive component production can be moved together gela siege or are stored, in Favor ter embodiment, a movably mounted or storable Ge vice, where the funds are held.

Accordingly, the device according to the invention for the additive production of components, which comprises a inven tion proper device, in advantageous Weiterbil tion characterized by the fact that the device comprises a frame on which the inert gas and the heating and / or Pul mediated means are kept and the Frame relative to the beitsplattform the device or a powder bed provided in particular is kept relatively movable.

The frame is preferably formed frame-shaped and / or this are associated with Verfahrmittel via which the frame in particular linearly movable above a Arbeitsplatt form or a powder bed of a device for additive manufacturing can be kept or held. A Ge stell makes a particularly simple structural measure for a common movable storage of said means. It should be noted that a frame shape has proven to be particularly suitable ge, but this is not required. In a particularly simple embodiment, e.g. also find a striven- or beam-shaped frame use. The frame can be formed one or more parts.

The movement of the frame can in particular be used both for entraining the protective gas flow and the entrainment of He heat, such as induction coil (s) and the powder order to obtain a further powder layer. The frame is conveniently motorized movable.

Is a frame for carrying and moving together the

Protective gas, heating and especially powder means, the device is also particularly well above all scalable upwards, e.g. the frame increases and / or, for example, the number of induction coils held thereon as heating means and / or protective gas is increased and / or outlets or their size is increased. Thus, the advantages of the invention can be achieved in a particularly simple way also for comparatively large installation spaces and Mehrla sersysteme.

Are associated with the frame traversing means, they may include for example when mounted according to the inventions to the invention device above the working platform or the powder bed of an apparatus for additive manufacturing mounted rail on which the frame then be _The movement is linearly movable, for example via one or more rollers.

A further embodiment is further characterized in that the inert gas and / or the powdery means are held stationary on the frame and / or the heating means are in turn movably held on the frame, this be preferably linear along an associated track axis. The arrangement is then in particular such that the heating means, for example one or more induction coils, are movably held along an axis on the frame, which is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to the travel axis of the frame. Thus, two directions of movement can be covered in the plane above a powder bed. It has also been found that a relative movement of the heating medium, for example one or more induction coils, leads to the protective gas flow in the orthogonal direction to no or only slight influence on the protective gas flow. The heating means are then suitably motorized movably held on the frame, so that a control of the movement is possible in a simple manner.

The protective gas means of the device according to the invention are formed in an advantageous embodiment for providing at least egg nes preferably substantially laminar inert gas stream. You can, for example, at least one in particular special beam-shaped shielding gas inlet and at least one of the protective gas inlet in particular opposite to given to give beam-shaped protective gas outlet. If the inlet and outlet are bar-shaped, they are in particular oriented at least essentially parallel to one another. Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least one protective gas inlet has a plurality of adjacent and / or superimposed protective gas nozzles. In example, a plurality of nebeneinan derliegend arranged in a row protective gas nozzles may be provided. Also, a plurality of such lines can be superimposed on the IN ANY. Due to the plurality of protective gas nozzles, a la- Minarer protective gas above a provided in a space of a device for additive preparation powder bed, in particular over its entire width, are generated in a simple manner. The one or more protective gas outlets may also be designed to suck off inert gas or this or these may be associated with means for the extraction of inert gas.

The Schutzgaszuvor from an external reservoir to which we least one protective gas inlet of the invention A device can, in order to ensure the freedom of movement of the inert gas, for example, via flexible hoses be rea lisiert. If the at least one protective gas inlet comprises a plurality of protective gas nozzles, a plurality of flexible tubes can also be provided, in particular a number of flexible tubes corresponding to the number of protective gas nozzles. In the same way, the protective gas discharge via at least one inert gas outlet of the device according to the invention, in particular back to a reservoir via one or more re flexible hoses.

The expansion of the frame in one spatial direction and / or the dimensioning of the at least one inert gas inlet and / or outlet in a spatial direction is preferably adapted to the expansion of the powder bed to be processed in the space direction, so that the entire powder bed covered with a protective gas flow and / or can be achieved with the heating means.

A further embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the heating means comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of induction coils for inductive heating, and in particular the at least one induction coil is movably held on a frame of the device. The inductive heating of, for example, a component part made of a powder bed and / or of a section of a powder bed and / or a working platform, which has already been made additive, has proven to be particularly suitable. Nete form of additional heating proved. Other possi possibilities of additional heating, such as the heating with IR rays or radiate the heating by means of electrons or resistive heating are not excluded, however.

With regard to the powder agent of the device according to the invention Einrich can also be provided that this sen a egg on a frame of the device held powder container sen comprehensive. This can for example also be characterized by a bar shape and preferably has at least one underside, in particular elongate powder feed opening. Furthermore, the powder means may comprise one or more untersei term held on the powder container rollers and / or squeegees to the smooth strip of the powder container underside exiting powder. Thus, in a particularly simple manner, powder layers of preferably uniform thickness can be provided by the powder container being moved together with the protective gas agents and, in particular, heating means above the powder bed. The distance of the means for smoothing, such as roll (s) and / or doctor blade (s), to Obersei te the previous layer then defines the layer thickness. If the powder agent comprises a powder container, its expansion in a spatial direction, in particular its longitudinal extent, is preferably adapted to the expansion of the powder bed in a spatial direction, so that a powder layer of appropriate size can be obtained if the powder container is in contact with the protective gas and heating means is moved above the bed.

A very particularly preferred embodiment of the inventions to the invention device is further characterized by the fact that they two preferably mirror-inverted machining processing areas comprises, in each of the two machining processing areas inert gas to supply and in particular Abfüh ren a protective gas and heating means for heating an already additive from a powder bed manufactured construction section and / or a portion of a powder bed and / or a working platform are provided, and FITS preferred powder means between the two processing areas are arranged.

Then it can be provided in a development that in each of the two processing areas a preferably bar-shaped inert gas inlet and the inert gas inlet ge preferably opposite each other bar-shaped inert gas outlet is provided, and / or rich in each of the two Bearbeitungsbe at least one, preferably two induction coils are seen before.

If the device according to the invention comprises two processing areas which are preferably spatially offset from one another, it is possible to work particularly efficiently. In particular, a scanning process with one or more energy beams can take place in both processing areas and, for example, two components or component sections can be produced simultaneously from the powder bed. It is also possible that, while in the one processing area a scan takes place, with the heating means of the other processing area an already manufactured, still lying in the powder bed component or component section is heated, so simultaneously takes place to a neighboring scan a subsequent heat treatment.

If the device according to the invention comprises two preferably spie gelverkehrte processing areas, a powder container of the powder is particularly preferably approximately centrally provided in a frame-shaped frame of the device and to each side of the powder container a Schutzgasauslass to ordered, with a protective gas outlet provided at the Schutzgasauslass respectively from the powder container is turned abge. The respective outlet opposite, in particular at the two opposite ends of a rahmenför shaped frame of the device according to the invention, then two associated inert gas inlets are then preferably arranged. Then, in both processing areas, a laminar protective Gas flow generated in each case from the opposite outer sides of the frame to the center and centrally applied simultaneously new powder. A mirror-inverted embodiment allows an opposite orientation of the protective gas flow in the two processing areas and this in turn such that the inert gas flow both for a forward and a return movement of the means, in particular a tra denden frame along an associated track axis to the direction of advancement of the at least one energy beam can be oriented opposite to the powder layer.

Another object of the invention is a

Method for the additive production of at least one component from the powder bed using a device according to the invention, in which

- The inert gas and the powder and / or warming agent together above the working platform are moved in particular linear and successively meh rere powder layers are provided by means of the powder as a powder bed,

- Wherein the powder layers each with at least one energy gies beam according to predetermined component geometry locally melted and / or sintered,

- With the inert gas means of the device above the powder bed, a preferably laminar protective gas flow is generated, while with the at least one energy jet powder is melted and / or sintered,

- wherein the heating means an additional Erwär tion of a powder bed already made from the construction part section and / or the working platform and / or the powder bed takes place while powder is melted and / or sintered,

- And in particular powder is applied simultaneously with the powder agents.

In a further development of the method according to the invention can be seen easily that a device according to the invention with two processing areas is used and - Several adjacent components or Bauteilab sections are made from the powder bed,

wherein powder is melted and / or sintered with at least one energy beam in a first region of the powder bed, while a preferably laminar protective gas stream is generated with the protective gas agents of a processing region of the device above the first powder bed region;

and with the heating means of this machining region, in particular, at the same time, additional heating of a component section already manufactured from the powder bed in the first powder bed region and / or the working platform below the first powder bed region and / or the first powder bed region takes place,

- And with the heating means of the second processing area of the device in particular at the same time an additional heating of a section in a second powder bed already made of the powder bed component takes place section,

- And in particular powder is applied at the same time with the Pulvermit stuffs.

The method according to the invention enables a particularly efficient additive manufacturing of components, in particular also in comparatively large installation spaces. This is especially true be particularly for the design with simultaneous scanning in the one work area and subsequent heat treatment treatment in the other at preferably simultaneous production of a respective new powder layer.

It can be preferably provided that the shielding gas, heating and especially powder means, about a Ge vice, where they are held, are moved along a pregiven enclosed axis above a powder bed continuously or stepwise, with the first scan in a first area of the powder bed is started, while there provided a protective gas flow using the first processing area and a particular inductive additional heating takes place, and if the second processing area above the previously scanned construction part (section) s arrives, with the heating means a subsequent heat treatment is performed while un ter simultaneous use of inert gas and Erwärmungsmit tel of the first processing area another powder bedab is scanned. In this case, during the entire process of the frame with the powder agents powder can then be re-applied and preferably smoothed to obtain the next layer. After the agent was in one direction once completely on the powder bed or a process to edit the portion of this procedure, the direction of movement can be reversed and the procedure can be repeated.

Finally, the subject matter of the invention is a component which has been prepared by carrying out the method according to the invention.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment form of a device and device according to the invention as the method according to the invention with reference to the drawings. That's it

Figure 1 is a schematic partially sectioned illustration of a device for the additive production of components according to an embodiment of the vorlie invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic partially geschnit TEN representation of the device for Schutzgaszu drove and heating and powder feed the Vorrich device of Figure 1 above the partially presented Darge powder bed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic plan view of the

Device for inert gas supply and heating and powder supply of the device of Figure 1; 4 shows the device of Figures 1 to 3

to 10 different positions above the powder bed to illustrate an embodiment of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of the area traveled by the coils of the device of FIG. 1 during stepwise movement of the frame;

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of the area traveled by the coils of the apparatus of Figure 1 with continuous movement of the frame; and

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view of the direction in which Laserstrahlein and the space of the device of FIG

1.

1 shows a schematic partially sectioned view of an embodiment of an inventive ago direction for the additive production of components from the powder verbett 1. This includes a manufacturing cylinder 2, the egg nen space defined 3, in which one or more components additively in operation from the Powder bed 1 made who the. The layered component structure is carried out on a working platform 4 of the device, which - as indicated by a corresponding arrow in the figure 1 - höhenver adjustable in the production cylinder 2 is held.

The device further comprises a platform 4 above the working arranged laser beam device 5, which is formed from to emit several, in the present two laser beams 6 and selectively melt with these provided in the space 3 of the device powder layers according to a predetermined component geometry. For the corresponding deflection of the laser beams 6, the laser beam device 5 comprises a scanning device not visible in the figures. This can be formed in any manner well known in the art.

To the device further includes an embodiment of a device according to the invention for inert gas supply, heating and powder feed 7, which is above the manufacturing cylinder 2 and the working platform provided therein 4 and the powder 1 is arranged. An enlarged side view as well as an enlarged view of the device 7 can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. It should be noted that the other components of the device according to the invention in these two figures and Figures 4 to 10, which will be discussed below, not shown, son in it next to the inventive device 7 only the powder bed 1 and two already in it additively Herge presented component sections 8 can be seen. From the laser beam 6 is further in Figures 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 only to recognize egg ner.

The illustrated embodiment of the device 7 according to the invention comprises a frame-shaped frame 9 which is movable along a predetermined axis above the work platform 4 and the powder bed 2 located thereon. The means for the movable mounting of the frame comprise in the present case a fixedly fixed rail, not shown in the figures, on which the frame 9 is mounted by means likewise not recognizable in the figures, so that it runs along the rail in the x-direction and thus a ho rizontalen level above the powder bed 1 back and forth is movable. In the figures, the respective current direction of movement of the frame 9 is also indicated by a respective upper half of this arrow.

On the frame 9 of the device 7 are protective gas means for supplying and discharging a protective gas in the space 3 and He kept warming agent and powder. The heating means are already addi tively used in the powder bed 1 for producing additional inductive heating. In particular, for the very first powder layer provided on the work platform 4, the working platform 4 is formed. The powder agents are used to provide a plurality of superimposed layers of powdered material in the space 3 of the device.

In the illustrated embodiment comprising the

Protective gas means concretely two bar-shaped Schufzgaseinlässe 10, which are held at opposite ends of the frame 9, and two bar-shaped shielding gas outlets 11, which are located approximately centrally on the frame 9 and each lying opposite the Schufzgaseinlässe 10 are arranged. There are ever Weil two Schufzgasseinlässe 10 and protective gas outlets 11 before seen, since the device 7 in this case comprises two mirror-inverted processing areas 12, 13, with which simultaneously and / or successively processing steps can be carried out in the context of additive production of components. For the production of an at least substantially laminar

Protective gas flow above the powder bed 1 in the respec conditions processing area 12, 13, each of the two protective gas inlets 10 each have a plurality of protective gas nozzles 14, which are arranged in three rows one above the other and 15 columns side by side in the manner of an array. The shielding gas of erfindungsge MAESSEN device 7 further comprising a plurality of flexible hoses 16, of which in the present case six tubes lead to one of the Schufzgaseinlässe 10 and depending Weil one is connected to a protective gas outlet 11. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, both the Schufzgasinlässe 10 and the protective gas outlets 11 each extend over the entire width of the frame 9 over the entire extent of the frame 9 in the Y direction, so that over the entire width of the powder bed 1 a more uniformly in particular laminar protective gas stream 17 can be provided. In Figures 2 to 6, 9 and 10, the laminar Inert gas flow 17 indicated by corresponding horizontal arrows above the powder bed 1. The dimensioning of frame 9 and inert gas inlets and outlets 10, 11 is selected such that it at least the expansion of the powder verbettes 1 in the Y direction or the possible, so reachable with the laser beams 6 scan area speaks ent.

The held on the frame 9 heating means of the inventions to the invention device 7 comprise four induction coils 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the four Spu len 18 are held on the frame 9 in the Y direction forward and zurückbewegbar, so that a relative movement of the coil 18 against the frame 9 is possible, which is oriented orthogonal to the direction of travel of the frame 9 in the X direction.

Due to the movable mounting of the frame 9 in the X direction and the movable mounting of the coils 18 on the frame 9 in the Y direction, the point of impact of the laser beams 6 in the horizontal plane can be followed.

It should be noted that the induction coils 18 can also be mounted movably in the X-direction in the frame 9, so that a relative movement of the coils 18 ge compared to the frame 9 in the X direction is possible to increase the flexibility x further , However, this is not necessary.

The powder means of the device 7 according to the invention also held on the frame 9 in the present case comprise a powder container 19, which is held approximately centrally on the frame 9 and, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, at least approximately parallel to the beam-shaped inert gas inlet and outlet 10, 11 is oriented, and, just like this, over the entire extent of the frame 9 in the Y direction he stretches. The powder container 19 has on the underside a slot-shaped powder outlet opening, which is not visible in the figures, and which extends almost over its entire extent. There are also provided on the bottom side of the powder containers 19 two arranged at opposite end portions of rollers 20, which serve to smoothzu out of the powder container 19 liberated powder to obtain a layer of uniform thickness. As can be seen in FIG. 1, only one of the two rollers 20 is used for smoothing, and two rollers are required for the reason that the frame 9 is moved in both directions along the Y-axis. The powder agents further comprise ei ne powder feed 21, which opens laterally into the powder container 19 and alone in the plan view of Figure 3 can be seen.

The additive manufacturing of components according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention using the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 will be explained in more detail below with particular reference to FIGS. 4 to 10.

Additive manufacturing comprises, in a well-known manner, the provision of a plurality of powder layers after and in one another in the installation space 3 of the device and their scanning by means of the laser beams 6 for local melting.

Here, the embodiment of inventions to the invention device 7 described here is used to provide the powder layers to produce during the scans a laminar protective gas stream 17 above the powder bed 1 and during the scans and these downstream already additive manufactured component sections 8 and Arbeitsplatt form 4 to heat inductively. The frame 9 is for this upper half of the powder bed 1 between the recognizable in Figure 4 right end position and the recognizable in Figures 8 and 9 left end position continuously moved back and forth.

The steps that are repeated until completion of the components to be produced are explained below by way of example, in which case FIG. 4 is started at a point in time. on which already two component sections 8 in the powder bed 1 were made additive and currently another powder layer are first scanned in the region of the right in Figure 4 component by means of the two laser beams 6 of the laser beam device 5 according to predetermined component geometry. In the preceding layers was accordingly - with the first powder layer starting on the work platform 4 - proceeded.

As can be seen from the figure 4, the left in the figures processing area 12 of the device 7 is currently upper half of the right component section 8 and it takes place by means of the two induction coils 18 of this processing area 12, an additional inductive heating of the already finished th Bauteilabschnitts 8 below the to be scanned Pulverla ger, while powder is locally melted up with the laser beams 6. To follow the progression of the laser beams 6 ent long the X-axis to the left, the frame 9 is continuously moved at a suitable speed in this rich direction. At the same time, the induction coils 18 of the processing area 12 relative to the frame 9 in the Y-direction method to follow with the additional heating and the movement of the laser beams in this direction. It can thus be achieved that the point of impingement of the laser beams 6 is always centered under a coil 18, for example.

During the scanning process and the additional heating is provided with the device 7 according to the invention in the processing area 12, an at least substantially laminar protection gas stream 17 above the powder bed 1 for the scanning of the right component section 8. For this purpose, protective gas is conveyed via flexible hoses 16 into the protective gas inlet 11, let out through the plurality of protective gas nozzles 14 and sucked off via the opposing protective gas outlet 11 with a protective protective gas outlet opening 15.

Once the rack 9 has been moved to the left so far that the powder outlet opening at the bottom of the powder container ters 19 has reached the right end of the powder bed 1, to obtain the next layer of powder from the powder container 19 is let out on the underside and smoothed by means of the right roller 20.

The laser beams 6 of the laser beam device 5 are deak tivated as soon as the scanning of the position in the region of the right th component section 8 is completed and the coils 18 are deactivated. FIG. 5 shows the state in which no powder is currently being scanned, since the induction coils 18 of the left-hand machining area 12 are still between the two component sections 8, that is, they have not yet reached the left-hand component section 8. Errei Chen the coil 18 this, it can follow an inductive heating and a scan of the powder layer above this component section 8 with the two laser beams 6 takes place. At the same time, a downstream heat treatment of the previously scanned right component section 8 is effected with the two induction coils 18 of the right-hand processing area 13 (FIG. 6). It should be noted that the additional in ductile heating in Figures 4, 6 and 7 and 9 is indicated in each case by a directed from the induction coil 18 on the underlying member lying low component portion 8 arrow.

The frame 9 is continuously moved further to the left and as soon as the scanning process is completed with the laser beams 6 in the region of the left component section 8, the laser beams 6 are deactivated again and the coils 18 are turned off. Powder is further discharged from the powder container and smoothed with the right roller 20.

This until the powder container 19 reaches the left end of the powder bed 1, as seen in Figure 7. Then be the two induction coils 18 of the right Bear beitungsbereiches 13 of the device 7 above the left part of the component 8 and there is a downstream inductive thermal treatment of this component section. 8 As soon as the powder container 19, as can be seen in Figure 8, is located completely to the left of the powder bed 1, the powder is lowered by lowering the working platform 4 (see Figure 1) by a layer thickness 22 and the direction of movement of the frame 9 is reversed ,

Then, as can be seen in Figure 9, with the induction coils 18 of the right processing area 13 of the device 7 ei ne additional inductive heating of the left Bauteilab section 8 done while the previously prepared powder layer is scanned by the laser beams 6 and simultaneously with the inert gas of the Right machining tion area 13 of the device 7 a laminar protective gas flow above the powder bed 1 is generated. It should be noted that the protective gas stream 17 is advantageously always oriented opposite to the direction of advancement of the laser beams 6. This is also the reason why the two processing areas 12, 13 are formed mirror-inverted, so both inert gas inlets 10 are located at opposite ends and both shielding gas 1 in the middle of the frame 9, so that a protective gas flow 17 always from outside to inside and thus opposite to the Advancement Rich direction of the laser beams 6 can be generated.

After the scan process in the region of the left component section 8 has been completed, once again only one material application takes place (compare FIG. 10). Then, a scan in the area of the right component section 8 with additional heating of the induction coil 18 of the right-hand machining area 13 with subsequent subsequent heat treatment of the left component section 8 with the In duktionssspulen 18 of the left processing area 12, to closing a subsequent heat treatment of the right part of the component 8 with the induction coils 18 of the left processing area 12, then an inversion of the direction of movement of the frame 9 and a repetition of Licher all steps until the components are completed, which is not shown in the figures. Figures 11 and 12 show purely schematically, which surface preparation of each of the two induction coils 18 of the two machining processing areas 12, 13 are covered when the frame 9, as in the example described above continuously (Figure 11) or alternatively stepwise (Figure 12) is moved in the Y direction. As can be seen, a powder bed located underneath the coils 18 can be completely covered and a uniform, additional inductive heating can be achieved over the entire area.

Figure 13 shows a plan view of a space 3 with Pul verbett 1 in a purely schematic representation, which is indicated by circular areas 23 where above the powder bed 1 - in the case of a total of four laser beams 6 - the laser beams 6 emitted and deflected become. There are also exemplary impact points 24 of the four Laserstrah len 6 shown in a strip-shaped laser processing area 25 and the scan field 26 of the laser beams 6 is indicated by ge dashed lines. The impact point 24 for the case of the laser beam device 5 with two laser beams 6, as described above, is also shown in FIG. 1, in each case in the middle in one of the coils 18.

As can be seen from the above description, several advantages are achieved with the present invention. On the other hand, a processing of difficult to weld materials, this can be done easily even with relatively large space. The concept allows the same time working with multiple lasers and multiple induction coils in several processing areas and it can be achieved over the entire space homogeneous protective gas flow, always at the place of need, namely the aktu ellen interaction zone between the one or more energy and the powder material. The system is therefore scalable without sacrificing quality. The scanning, the provision of new powder layers as well as the additional and subsequent heating necessary for scanning can simultaneously tiger without negative interactions, whereby a very high efficiency can be ensured. separate

Steps, for example, for the scanning on the one hand and the layer provision on the other hand, as provided according to the prior art, are not required.

While the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. As already emphasized above, the system is arbitrarily scalable, for example, another, in particular higher number of induction coils 18 may be provided and / or more than two processing areas.

Claims

claims

1. Device (7) for inert gas supply and heating and / or powder supply for a device for the additive production of components from the powder bed (1) above one or in a space (3) of the device for additive manufacture provided for working platform (7 4) or powder bed (1) to arrange or arranged, comprising

Protective gas, which are designed to supply and in particular discharge of a protective gas, and

Powder agent, which are designed to provide a plurality of superimposed layers of a powdery Materi as in the space (3) of a device for the additive production of components, and / or

Heating means for the particular inductive Erwär tion of at least one already additive from the powder bed (1) manufactured component section (8) and / or a section of a powder bed (1) and / or a working platform (4) of a device for the additive production of components are formed, wherein means are provided, via which the inert gas and the powder and / or heating means are movable together, re insbesonde movable above the working platform (4) or the powder bed (1) of a device for the additive manufacture ment of components can be stored or wherein the device (7) comprises two preferably processing areas (12, 13) formed in each of the two processing areas (12, 13) inert gas means for supplying and in particular discharging a protective gas and heating means for heating an already additive of a powder bed (1) ge finished component portion (8) and / o a Abschnit TES of a powder bed (1) and / or a Arbeitsplatt form (4) are provided, and more preferably the powder means between the two processing areas (12, 13) are arranged, wherein in particular in each of the two processing areas (12, 13) a preferably bal kenförmiger protective gas inlet (10) and a Schutzga the inlet (10) in particular opposite preferably bar-shaped protective gas outlet (11) are provided, and / or in each of the two processing areas (12,

13) at least one, preferably two induction coils (18) are provided.

2. Device (7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a preferably frame-shaped frame (9) on which the inert gas and the heating and / or powder means are held, and the frame (9) preferably be associated with Verfahrmittel , by means of which the support (9) can be held or held in particular linearly movable above the work platform (4) or the powder bed (1).

3. Device (7) according to claim 2, characterized in that the traversing means comprise a designated mounting above the working platform (4) or the powder bed (1) fixed rail on which the frame (9) be held preferably linearly movable ,

4. Device (7) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the protective gas and / or the powder agent are held stationary on the frame (9).

5. Device (7) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the heating means are preferably along a trajectory linearly movable on the frame (9) hold GE, wherein the arrangement is in particular such that the heating means along an axis movable are held on the frame (9), which is oriented at least substantially or thogonal to the travel axis of the frame (9).

6. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective gas means for ready Position of at least one preferably at least substantially laminar protective gas stream (17) are formed.

7. Device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inert gas at least one preferably bar-shaped inert gas inlet (10) and we least one the protective gas inlet (10) in particular against opposite preferably bar-shaped protective gas outlet (11), wherein the at least one Protective gas inlet (10), in particular a plurality of adjacent ones

and / or superimposed shielding gas nozzles (14).

8. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating means comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of induction coils (18), and in particular the at least one induction coil (18) movable bar on a frame (9) of the device (7 ) is held.

9. Device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the powder means one in particular on a frame (9) of the device (7) held Pul verbehälter (19) with at least one lower side, before given to elongated powder feed opening, and at least one, be preferably two on the powder container (19) underside held rollers (20) and / or squeegees for smooth strip of the powder container (19) let out bottom side powder to grasp.

10. A device for the additive production of components from the powder bed (1), comprising

- An installation space (3) in which in particular on a work platform (4) a powder bed (1) for the additive construction on at least one component can be provided or ready, an energy beam device (5) which is formed by at least one energy beam (6), preferably several Energy beams (6) for selectively melting and / or sintering in the space (3) provided Pul verbettes (1) and the at least one energy beam (6) via a in the space (3) bereitge notified powder bed (1) according to predetermined component geo Procedure, characterized in that the device continues to summarizes

- A device (7) according to one of claims 1 to 9, which is above the or in the space (3) of the front direction for additive production provided working platform (4) or powder bed (1) is arranged.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device (7) comprises a frame (9) to which the inert gas and the heating and / or powder means are hold GE and the frame (9) relative to the Arbeitsplatt form ( 4) or in particular provided thereon powder bed (1) is held relatively movable.

12. A method for the additive production of at least one construction part of the powder bed (1) using a Vorrich device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein

- The inert gas means and the powder and / or heating medium together above the working platform (4) are in particular linear and consecutively several powder layers by means of the powder as powder bed (1) are provided, the powder layers each gies with at least one energy ( 6) locally melted and / or sintered according to predetermined component geometry, - Wherein with the inert gas means of the device (7) above the half of the powder bed (1) a preferably laminar

Protective gas stream (17) is generated while at least one energy beam (6) powder is melted and / or sintered,

- wherein with the heating means an additional heating tion of a powder bed (1) already manufactured component section (8) and / or the working platform (4) and / or the powder bed (1) takes place while powder is melted and / or sintered,

- And in particular with the powder agents aufgetra conditions powder, while powder is melted and / or gesin tert.

13. The method according to claim 12 for additively producing at least one component from the powder bed (1) using a device according to claim 10 or 11, comprising a device (7) according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which

- Several adjacent components or Bauteilab sections (8) are made from the powder bed (1),

- Wherein with at least one energy beam (6) in a first region of the powder bed (1) powder molten zen and / or sintered, while with the protective gas averaging a processing area (12, 13) of a device (7) above the first powder bed area a preferably laminar protective gas flow (17) is generated,

- And with the heating means of this Bearbeitungsberei ches (12, 13) in particular at the same time an additional heating of a in the first powder bed area already from the powder bed (1) manufactured component section

(8) and / or the work platform (4) under the first Powder bed area and / or the first powder bed preparation takes place,

- And with the heating means of the second processing area (12, 13) of the device (7) in particular at the same time an additional heating of a second powder bed area already made of the powder bed (1) component section (8), takes place - and in particular at the same time with powder the Pulvermit stuffs is applied.

14. Component produced by the method according to claim 12 or 13.