725results about "Manufacturing environment conditioning" patented technology

An apparatus for making a three-dimensional object includes a powdery layer-forming unit for forming a powdery layer on a table and an optical beam-irradiating unit for irradiating an optical beam on a predetermined region of the powdery layer to sinter the predetermined region. The optical beam-irradiating unit is disposed at a position spaced from immediately above an optical beam-irradiating range to obliquely irradiate the optical beam on the powdery layer. Because fumes generated by irradiating and heating the powdery layer with the optical beam rise towards a position immediately above them, the optical beam is irradiated from the position spaced from immediately above the optical beam-irradiating range, thereby reducing a cloud of the optical beam-irradiating unit that may be caused by the fumes.

A method and apparatus for embedding features and controlling material composition in a three-dimensional structure (130) is disclosed. The invention enables the control of material characteristics, within a structure (130) made from a plurality of materials, directly from computer renderings of solid models of the components. The method uses stereolithography and solid model computer file formats to control a multi-axis head (480) in a directed material deposition process (123). Material feedstock (126, 127) is deposited onto a pre-heated substrate (19). Depositions (15) in a layer-by-layer pattern, defined by solid models (141, 146), create a three-dimensional article having complex geometric details. Thermal management of finished solid articles (250-302), not available through conventional processing techniques, is enabled by embedded voids (152) and/or composite materials (126, 127), which include dissimilar metals (210, 216). Finished articles control pressure drop and produce uniform coolant flow and pressure characteristics. High-efficiency heat transfer is engineered within a solid structure by incorporating other solid materials with diverse indexes. Embedding multi-material structures (132, 134) within a normally solid component (141) produces articles with diverse mechanical properties. Laser and powder delivery systems (420, 170) are integrated in a multi-axis deposition head (480) having a focused particle beam (502) to reduce material waste.

A coated print bed for a 3D printer having a permanent print-surface coating permanently secured to a print bed substrate plate, having a smooth, planar surface that provides an adhesive interface layer between a first layer of an applied plastic print material and the coated print bed. The coating contains a matrix-forming compound, such as a solvent- or water-based epoxy resin, an adhesive material, and optionally a filler. The user can print a series of print object directly onto the permanent print surface coating of the coated print bed, without having to refresh or refurbish the print surface, such as by applying to the print bed surface a temporary coating such as painter's tape, or a liquid adhesive.

An object of the present invention is to easily eliminate fumes inside a chamber, so as to improve a positional accuracy of irradiation with a light beam and a machining accuracy in a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object. A stacked-layers forming device 1 includes a powder layer forming unit 3, a light beam irradiating unit 4, a base 22 which is fixed and on which a powder layer 32 is formed, a lifting/lowering frame 34 which surrounds the circumference of the base 22 and is freely capable of being lifted and lowered, a cover frame 36 which has a window 36a allowing transmission of light beam in its top surface, and whose bottom surface is opened, and which is disposed on the lifting/lowering frame 34 to form a chamber C, and a gas tank 71 for supplying an ambient gas. The lifting/lowering frame 34 is lowered to reduce the volume of the chamber C, so as to discharge fumes generated inside the cover frame 36, which performs replacement with the ambient gas. Since the volume of the chamber C is reduced, it is possible to easily eliminate the fumes, which makes it possible to improve the positional accuracy of irradiation with the light beam L, and the machining accuracy.

A manufacturing assembly has at least a sterilizable chamber containing at least one of a three-dimensional printing device (additive manufacturing), a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) finishing head (subtractive manufacturing), a vacuum-forming unit, an injection-molding unit, a laser-cutting unit, a ultrasonic-welding unit, a robotic arman analysis device, a sampling device or a combination thereof. A plurality of individual sterilizable chambers may be aseptically connected into a network of sterilizable chambers that provides additional functionality for the manufacturing assembly. A sterilizable printer assembly may include at least one printing head, a printing platform, and a driving mechanism adapted to perform a movement of the at least one printing head relative to the printing platform along three degrees of freedom; a printer housing enclosing the printer assembly in a sterile manner, at least one aseptic connector fluidly connected to a corresponding one of the at least one printing head.

A device for detecting X-rays radiated out of a substrate surface, said device comprising at least one X-ray detector, a resolver grating and a modulator grating, said resolver grating with at least one opening facing towards said X-ray detector is arranged in front of said X-ray detector. Said modulator grating is provided between said resolver grating and said substrate at a predetermined distance from said resolver grating and said substrate, where said modulator grating having a plurality of openings in at least a first direction, wherein said x-rays from said surface is spatially modulated with said modulator grating and resolver grating.

A method for increasing the resolution when forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, said method comprising providing a vacuum chamber, providing an electron gun, providing a first powder layer on a work table inside said vacuum chamber, directing an electron beam from said electron gun over said work table causing the powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article, providing a second powder layer on said work table, directing the electron beam over said work table causing said second powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a second cross section of said three-dimensional article, reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber from a first pressure level to a second pressure level between the providing of said first powder layer and said second powder layer.

The present invention is for a recirculating gas system for a manufacturing device. The recirculating gas system consists of an enclosure, a gas inlet, a gas outlet and an actuator to propel the gas.

A selective laser solidification apparatus including: a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited, a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a gas flow direction, a laser scanning unit for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form at least one object and a processing unit for selecting a scanning sequence of the laser beam based on the gas flow direction.

A direct inkjet printing system for fabricating a part by an additive manufacturing process includes an ink delivery system operative to circulate the ink, a printhead associated with the ink delivery system, the printhead operative to dispense ink from the ink delivery system through a plurality of nozzles and based on a defined pattern, a building table for receiving the dispensed ink one layer at a time based on the defined pattern, wherein the part is formed from a plurality of layers of the ink dispensed from the printhead and a drying station operative to perform a drying process on layers of the ink dispensed from the printhead on a per layer basis.

A three dimensional printing device has a sterilizable printer assembly including at least one printing head, a printing platform, and a driving mechanism adapted to perform a movement of the at least one printing head relative to the printing platform along three degrees of freedom; a printer housing enclosing the printer assembly in a sterile manner, at least one aseptic connector fluidly connected to a corresponding one of the at least one printing head.

A metal 3D printer includes: a housing (1) forming a molding chamber (1B); a recoater head (3) reciprocating in the direction of a horizontal U axis in the molding chamber to form a powder layer of a metal; a laser irradiation device (9) irradiating an irradiation region in the powder layer with a laser beam to form a sintered layer; and an inert gas supply device (4). The inert gas supply device includes: a first suction port (V1) disposed on one (14) of the side walls facing each other in the direction of the U axis, which is far away from the irradiation region; a first blowout port (F1) disposed on a side of the recoater head to face the first suction port; and a second blowout port (F2) disposed to face the first suction port across the irradiation region.

A method for removing supports from a three-dimensional object formed by solid freeform fabrication. The three-dimensional object and support structure both contain a phase change component in order to achieve the desired phase change characteristics needed for dispensing the material. The method prevents the phase change material within the three-dimensional object from migrating within the object during post processing to remove the support structure.

This invention relates to a method and reactor of manufacturing an object by solid freeform fabrication, especially an object made of titanium or titanium alloys. The reactor of production of an object of a weldable material by solid freeform fabrication comprises a reactor chamber which is closed to the ambient atmosphere, wherein the reactor is given a design such that all adjacent wall elements forming the reactor chamber are joined with an obtuse angle (larger than 90°), the actuator located below the reactor chamber is given a design such that the actuator protrudes into the reactor chamber through an opening at the bottom of the reactor chamber holding the support substrate inside the reactor chamber, the opening is sealed by at least one elastic gas impermeable membrane which is gas tight attached to the reactor wall at the opening and to the actuator, the actuator located outside the reactor chamber is given a design such that the actuator protrudes into the reactor chamber through an opening at the side of the reactor chamber holding the high energy plasma transferred arc welding torch with wire feeder of the weldable material inside the reactor chamber, the opening is sealed by the at least one elastic gas impermeable membrane which is gas tight attached to the reactor wall at the opening and to the actuator, and the reactor is equipped with at least one closable gas inlet located at the lowest level of the reactor chamber and at least one closable gas outlet located at the highest level of the reactor chamber.

A method of monitoring an additive manufacturing process in which one or more energy beams are used to selectively fuse a powder to form a workpiece, in the presence of one or more plumes generated by interaction of the one or more energy beams with the powder. The method includes using at least one sensor to generate at least one signal representative of a trajectory of one or more of the plumes.

A method of manufacturing an article with integral active electronic component comprising: using an additive manufacturing process to: a) form a non-electrically conductive substrate; b) form a non-electrically conductive perforated layer having an aperture; c) form electrically conductive anode and cathode elements spaced in the aperture; d) deposit a conductive electrical connection to each of the elements suitable for imparting an electrical potential difference between the elements; e) form a non-electrically conductive sealing layer atop the perforated layer so as to retain and seal the aperture in the perforated layer.

The present invention relates to granular composite density enhancement, and related methods and compositions. The applications where these properties are valuable include but are not limited to: 1) additive manufacturing (“3D printing”) involving metallic, ceramic, cermet, polymer, plastic, or other dry or solvent-suspended powders or gels, 2) concrete materials, 3) solid propellant materials, 4) cermet materials, 5) granular armors, 6) glass-metal and glass-plastic mixtures, and 7) ceramics comprising (or manufactured using) granular composites.

A selective laser sintering apparatus is adapted contain or receive a build frame and comprises a cap assembly which includes a removable plate assembly having at least one gas inlet formed therein. The removable plate assembly sealingly covers the build frame. The cap assembly further comprises at least one gas line fluidly connectable to the gas inlet via a gas port to deliver inert gas to the interior of the build frame. The plate assembly comprises upper and lower plates defining a spacing therebetween. A seal extends around a periphery of the upper and lower plates and is sandwiched therebetween to enclose the spacing. The lower plate has a plurality of gas inlets formed therein which are in fluid communication with the spacing such that inert gas may be delivered to the build volume while the cap assembly is installed thereupon.