Layer molding device

Abstract

The present invention provides a layered molding device capable of stably supplying material powder to a recoating head, which has a chamber that covers a desired molding area and is filled with an inert gas of a predetermined concentration, and supplies powder to the molding area while moving in the chamber. A recoating head for forming a material powder layer from material powder, and a material supply unit for supplying material powder to the recoating head. The material discharge port of the powder, the material supply unit has an intermediate duct for supplying the material powder to the material storage part and a main duct for supplying the material powder to the intermediate duct. The material powder is discharged from the outlet of the duct, and the material supply unit is controlled in such a way that the material powder is discharged from the outlet of the intermediate duct while moving the intermediate duct so that the outlet of the intermediate duct reaches a position lower than the upper end of the material storage part. body.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a stack molding device. Background technique [0002] In the layered molding of metal by laser, the desired molded object is formed by repeating the following steps: Forming a very thin layer of material powder on a molding table that is arranged in a molding chamber filled with nitrogen gas and can move up and down , irradiating a predetermined portion of the material powder layer with laser light to sinter the material powder at the irradiated position. [0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which material powder is supplied to an area between a pair of scrapers while moving a drop supply port of a powder supply device along the longitudinal direction of the pair of scrapers. [0004] The configuration of Patent Document 1 is excellent in that it is easy to supply material powder uniformly in the longitudinal direction between a pair of scrapers or to match the width of a predetermined molding area. ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, if the inner diameter of the flexible member is large, the material powder will be filled in the flexible member, so that the flexible member cannot be bent, and the falling supply port cannot move smoothly.

Therefore, it is necessary to sufficiently reduce the inner diameter of the flexible member and the inner diameter of the drop supply port in advance, but the supply amount of material powder per unit time will decrease, so the moving speed of the drop supply port has to be reduced, and the conveying speed of the scraper needs to be relatively reduced. Slow, so more time will be required to homogenize the material powder

In addition, since the inner diameter of the flexible member is small, the material powder is likely to clog the flexible member or the drop supply port, and the supply of the material may be stopped.

In addition, since the material powder is transported to the drop supply port by free falling, the supply amount of the material powder depends on the remaining storage amount of the material powder in the material storage area, and the amount of the material powder to be supplied cannot be kept constant.

Therefore, it is necessary to constantly change the moving speed of the drop supply port according to the fluctuating drop supply amount of the material powder, but it is difficult to make the drop supply port operate in this way.

Moreover, since the falling supply port moves in an unstable state of the amount of falling material powder, the material powder will be slantedly supplied in the above-mentioned area, and the material powder cannot be supplied accurately and uniformly, and there may be May be scattered outside the above mentioned area

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