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Powder bed fusion apparatus and methods

A melting equipment and powder bed technology, which is applied in the field of selective laser melting and selective laser sintering equipment, can solve the problems of increasing material oxidation, air entry, and increasing the oxygen content of inert atmosphere.

Inactive Publication Date: 2020-02-18
RENISHAW PLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, deformation and / or failure of seals at high temperatures can lead to the ingress of air into the volume surrounding the build surface, increasing the oxygen content in the inert atmosphere and thus increasing material oxidation of the part and / or powder

Method used

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  • Powder bed fusion apparatus and methods
  • Powder bed fusion apparatus and methods
  • Powder bed fusion apparatus and methods

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0106] refer to Figure 1 to Figure 4 , the powder bed fusion apparatus 223 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a build chamber 202 that is isolated from the external environment. The build chamber 202 is divided into an upper processing chamber 220 and a lower chamber 200 by a top plate 215 and a build platform 230 , which is reciprocally movable in a hole 299 of a build sleeve 290 . The build platform 230 is moved by a lift mechanism (not shown), which is located in the lower chamber 200 . The build platform 230 is sealably engaged with the bore 299 of the build sleeve 290 to prevent infiltration of powder into the lower chamber 200 . This is accomplished by seals 209, 210, 211 associated with the edges of the build platform 230 (see Figure 4 ), these seals physically engage the bore 299 of the build sleeve 290. Plate 215 , build sleeve 290 , build platform 230 and associated seals 209 , 210 , 211 act to form a barrier to powder so that powder re...

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PUM

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Abstract

The invention concerns a powder bed fusion apparatus in which an object is built in a layer-by-layer manner. The apparatus comprises a build sleeve (290, 690, 790, 890, 990, 1090, 1190), a build platform (230, 630, 830, 930, 1030, 1130) for supporting a powder bed and the build platform 230, 630, 830, 930, 1030, 1130 lowerable in the build sleeve (290, 690, 790, 890, 990, 1090, 1190). A heating element (201, 801, 901, 1001, 1101, 895, 896, 995, 996, 1095, 1096, 1195, 1196) is integrated in or located on the build platform (230, 630, 830, 930, 1030, 1130) or the build sleeve (290, 690, 890, 990, 1090, 1190). A seal (209, 210, 211, 809, 810, 811) is provided for sealing a gap between the build platform (230, 630, 830, 930, 1030, 1130) and the build sleeve (290, 690, 890, 990, 1090, 1190) toprevent powder from passing through the gap. A build chamber (202) is provided for maintaining an inert atmosphere both above and below the build platform (230, 630, 830, 930, 1030, 1130).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a powder bed fusion apparatus and method for solidifying selected regions of a powder bed in a layer-by-layer manner to form a workpiece. The invention finds particular, but not exclusive application in Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) equipment. Background technique [0002] Powder bed fusion machines create objects by using a high energy beam, such as a laser or electron beam, to solidify material (eg, metal powder material) layer by layer. A layer of powder is formed on the powder bed contained in the build sleeve by lowering the build platform to lower the powder bed, depositing a pile of powder near the lowered powder bed and spanning (from side to side) with a wiper The powder bed spreads the pile of powder to form the layer. The portions of the powder layer corresponding to the cross-section of the workpiece to be formed are then cured by irradiating these areas with a beam. Th...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): B22F3/105B33Y30/00
CPCB33Y30/00B22F2999/00Y02P10/25B22F10/32B22F12/67B22F12/222B22F10/28B22F10/322B22F12/90B22F12/17B22F12/20B22F2203/11B33Y40/00B29C64/153B29C64/232B29C64/245B29C64/295B29C64/371
Inventor W·美尼尔F·埃比尔N·克马科拉姆克里斯托弗·约翰·萨克利夫J-P·德勒C·哈斯肯
Owner RENISHAW PLC