A drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of additive manufacturing, and discloses a drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing. A heating device is used to manufacture high-temperature argon gas, which is introduced into a powder barrel to dry the damp powder. An exhaust device is used to remove internal oxygen and low-temperature argon. A dehumidifying device is used to collect excess water vapor. Finally, the dried powder is input into a required device. The device avoids the long time and complicated shortcomings of the traditional powder drying process, and solves the powder damp problem in a simple and efficient working mode.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of additive manufacturing technology, in particular to a drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing. BACKGROUND

[0002] Laser powder feeding type additive manufacturing technology and laser cladding technology have been widely used in the field of aerospace. The quality of powder has an important influence on the forming and performance of workpieces, and the dryness and wetness of powder is an important factor. Powder stored in air for a long time will be damp / condensed into blocks. The traditional solution is to lay the damp powder in a vacuum drying oven, slowly dry it, and stir it regularly. The operation process is complicated and time-consuming.

[0003] Therefore, a drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing are needed to solve the problem of powder being damp for a long time in air. Therefore, we provide a simple and efficient drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing. SUMMARY

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing to solve the problem of powder being damp for a long time in air.

[0005] To achieve this purpose, the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A drying and powder feeding integrated device for high-quality laser additive manufacturing, comprising a heating device, a first gas guide pipe for introducing argon into a gas storage tank, an internal resistance wire and a first thermocouple for heating argon; high-temperature argon can be introduced into a powder barrel through a second gas guide pipe from a third gas guide pipe and a fourth gas guide pipe;

[0007] An exhaust device for discharging oxygen and low-temperature argon, with an internal filter screen to prevent powder from flying out;

[0008] A dehumidifying device for collecting water vapor after evaporation through a water absorption device and a liquid guide pipe, and storing it in a liquid tank;

[0009] A powder feeding device for outputting dried powder to a required device through a powder outlet pipe;

[0010] A controller for setting temperature and pressure parameters and controlling the operation of the device, and all the above devices are installed on the box.

[0011] As a preferred, the first pressure gauge has a large gas flow rate, controls the input amount of argon, the second pressure gauge has a small gas flow rate, controls the outflow amount of argon, and ensures the stable flow rate of high-temperature argon into the powder barrel;

[0012] The third gas pipe outlet is in a spiral shape, which blows up the powder and water vapor to make the high-temperature argon gas fully contact with the powder.

[0013] As preferred, when the oxygen content analyzer and the second thermocouple respectively detect that the oxygen content inside the powder barrel is too high and the temperature is too low, the gas flow of the third pressure gauge is adjusted to guide the oxygen and low-temperature argon gas out through the fifth gas pipe.

[0014] As preferred, the method comprises the following steps:

[0015] Step one, the normal-temperature argon gas is guided into the powder barrel through the third gas pipe, and the oxygen content analyzer detects zero, and the resistance wire is heated;

[0016] Step two, the high-temperature argon gas is guided into the powder barrel through the third gas pipe, at this time, the drying is continuously performed for 2 hours, and during the continuous aeration process, when the third pressure gauge detects that the internal pressure of the powder barrel is too large, the excess gas is automatically released to reduce the internal pressure.

[0017] Step three, the third gas pipe is closed and the fourth gas pipe is opened, the high-temperature argon gas is slowly guided for 1 hour, the residual water vapor is waited to enter the dehumidifying device, and the powder is waited to settle at the bottom of the powder barrel.

[0018] Step four, the fifth gas pipe is closed, the fourth gas pipe is continuously aerated, the internal gas pressure of the powder barrel is increased, the dried powder is transmitted into the powder outlet pipe by the transmission device through the powder feeding hole.

[0019] The present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The present application aims to provide a drying and powder feeding integrated device and method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing. The device avoids the long time and complicated process of traditional powder drying, and solves the problem of powder dampening in a simple and efficient way. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a drying and powder feeding integrated device for high-quality laser additive manufacturing provided by the specific embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a local device of a powder feeding hole and a third gas pipe provided by the specific embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a drying powder process provided by the specific embodiment of the present application;

[0024] In the drawings:

[0025] 101, powder; 102, water vapor;

[0026] 1. heating device; 11. first pressure gauge; 12. first air duct; 13. resistance wire; 14. air tank; 15. first thermocouple; 16. second air duct; 17. second pressure gauge; 18. third air duct; 19. fourth air duct;

[0027] 2. exhaust device; 21. third pressure gauge; 22. fifth air duct; 23. oxygen content analyzer; 24. second thermocouple; 25. powder tank;

[0028] 3. dehumidifying device; 31. water absorbing device; 32. liquid duct; 33. liquid tank;

[0029] 4. powder feeding device; 41. powder feeding hole; 42. transmission device; 43. powder outlet duct;

[0030] 5. controller;

[0031] 6. box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are intended to be merely illustrative of the application and not in limitation thereof. It should also be understood that, for the purpose of description, only the parts related to the application are shown in the drawings and not all the parts.

[0033] In the description of the application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "linked", "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, can be fixedly connected, can be detachably connected, or integrated; can be mechanically connected, or electrically connected; can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0034] In the application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the "upper" or "lower" of the first feature to the second feature can include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, the "upper", "above" and "on" of the first feature to the second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or only means that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The "under", "below" and "under" of the first feature to the second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or only means that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0035] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0036] This invention provides an integrated drying and powder feeding device for high-quality laser additive manufacturing, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes a heating device 1, an exhaust device 2, a dehumidification device 3, a powder feeding device 4, a controller 5, and a housing 6.

[0037] In the heating device 1, a first pressure gauge 11 and a first gas guide pipe 12 are designed on the right side of the gas storage tank 14 to control the gas flow rate of argon input. A resistance wire 13 and a first thermocouple 15 are designed inside the gas storage tank 14 to heat the room-temperature argon to a high-temperature state and monitor its temperature in real time. A second gas guide pipe 16 and a second pressure gauge 17 are designed on the left side of the gas storage tank 14 to control the gas flow rate of the high-temperature argon output. A third gas guide pipe 18 and a fourth gas guide pipe 19 are respectively connected to the second pressure gauge 17, inputting the high-temperature argon into the powder container 25 from two different channels.

[0038] The first pressure gauge 11 has a large gas flow rate, while the second pressure gauge 17 has a small gas flow rate, ensuring a stable flow of high-temperature argon gas into the powder container 25.

[0039] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, the outlet of the third gas pipe 18 is spiral-shaped, which blows up the powder 101 and water vapor 102, so that the high-temperature argon gas can fully contact the powder 101.

[0040] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, in the exhaust device 2, when the oxygen content analyzer 23 and the second thermocouple 24 detect that the oxygen content inside the powder barrel 25 is too high and the temperature is too low, respectively, the gas flow rate of the third pressure gauge 21 is adjusted, and oxygen and low temperature argon are discharged through the fifth gas guide pipe 22.

[0041] In the dehumidification device 3, the water vapor 102 after being heated and evaporated is collected through the water absorption device 31 and the liquid guide pipe 32 and stored in the liquid tank 33.

[0042] In the powder feeding device 4, the dried powder 101 is fed into the powder outlet pipe 43 through the powder feeding hole 41 and the transmission device 42.

[0043] The controller 5 sets parameters such as temperature and pressure and controls the operation of the device. All of the above devices are installed on the housing 6.

[0044] The working mode of the drying and powder feeding integrated device for high-quality laser additive manufacturing, as shown in Figure 3 includes the following steps:

[0045] Step one, the fourth gas guide pipe 19 is closed, the third gas guide pipe 18 is opened, the normal-temperature argon is introduced into the powder barrel 25 through the third gas guide pipe 18, the excess oxygen is squeezed out, the oxygen content analyzer 23 detects zero, the resistance wire 13 starts to heat, and then the high-temperature argon is generated;

[0046] Step two, the powder 101 is mixed with the water vapor 102 before being processed, as shown in Figure 3 (a). The powder 101 is blown into the air due to the upward spiral shape of the third gas guide pipe 18 outlet, at this time, the high-temperature argon is in full contact with the powder 101, the condensed powder 101 is blown away and dried, and the process lasts for 2 hours, as shown in Figure 3 (b). During the continuous gas filling process, when the third pressure gauge 21 detects that the internal pressure of the powder barrel 25 is too large, the excess gas is automatically released to reduce the pressure;

[0047] Step three, the third gas guide pipe 18 is closed and the fourth gas guide pipe 19 is opened, the high-temperature argon is slowly introduced for 1 hour, the residual water vapor 102 gradually enters the dehumidification device 2, and the powder 101 gradually settles, as shown in Figure 3 (c);

[0048] Step four, the water vapor 102 enters the dehumidification device 2, and the powder 101 settles to the bottom of the powder barrel 25, as shown in Figure 3 (d). After waiting for the completion of the whole process, the fifth gas guide pipe 22 is closed, the fourth gas guide pipe 19 continues to introduce the gas, the internal pressure of the powder barrel 25 is increased, the dried powder 101 is transmitted into the powder outlet pipe 43 through the powder feeding hole 41 and the transmission device 42 by the pressure, and then is output to the required equipment.

[0049] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present application are only examples for clearly illustrating the present application, and are not intended to limit the implementation modes of the present application. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, re-adjustments and replacements can be made without departing from the protection scope of the present application. Here, it is unnecessary and impossible to enumerate all the implementation modes. Any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A drying and powder feeding integrated method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing, for a drying and powder feeding integrated device for high-quality laser additive manufacturing, characterized in that, The drying and powder feeding integrated device for high-quality laser additive manufacturing comprises a heating device (1), the heating device (1) comprises a first pressure gauge (11), a first gas guide pipe (12) and a gas storage tank (14), the first gas guide pipe (12) introduces argon into the gas storage tank (14), and an electric resistance wire (13) is designed inside the gas storage tank (14) to heat argon; the argon heated by the electric resistance wire (13) flows out from a third gas guide pipe (18) and a fourth gas guide pipe (19) respectively through a second gas guide pipe (16) and is introduced into a powder barrel (25); an exhaust device (2) is arranged on the top of the powder barrel (25) and is used for exhausting oxygen and low-temperature argon, a filter screen is designed inside the exhaust device (2) to prevent powder (101) from flying out, the exhaust device (2) comprises a third pressure gauge (21), a fifth gas guide pipe (22), an oxygen content analyzer (23) and a second thermocouple (24), and the fifth gas guide pipe (22) is connected with the third pressure gauge (21); the third pressure gauge (21), the oxygen content analyzer (23) and the second thermocouple (24) are used for detecting the internal pressure, oxygen content and temperature of the powder barrel (25) respectively and controlling the gas flow of the third pressure gauge (21); a dehumidifying device (3) is used for collecting water vapor (102) evaporated after being heated by a water absorption device (31) and a liquid guide pipe (32) and storing the water vapor (102) in a liquid tank (33); a powder feeding device (4) is used for outputting the dried powder (101) to a required device through a powder outlet pipe (43); a controller (5) is used for setting temperature and pressure parameters and controlling the operation of the device, and all the devices are installed on a box (6); the drying and powder feeding integrated method for high-quality laser additive manufacturing comprises the following steps: step one, normal-temperature argon is introduced into the powder barrel (25) through the third gas guide pipe (18), and the electric resistance wire (13) is heated when the oxygen content analyzer (23) detects zero; step two, the argon heated by the electric resistance wire (13) is introduced into the powder barrel (25) through the third gas guide pipe (18), the powder (101) is blown up, and the drying is continuously performed for 2 hours; during the continuous aeration process, when the third pressure gauge (21) detects that the internal pressure of the powder barrel (25) is too large, the fifth gas guide pipe (22) is controlled to release the excess gas to reduce the internal pressure; step three, the third gas guide pipe (18) is closed, the fourth gas guide pipe (19) is opened, the argon heated by the electric resistance wire (13) is slowly introduced for 1 hour, the residual water vapor (102) is allowed to enter the dehumidifying device (3), and the powder (101) is allowed to settle at the bottom of the powder barrel (25); step four, the fifth gas guide pipe (22) is closed, the fourth gas guide pipe (19) is continuously aerated, the internal gas pressure of the powder barrel (25) is increased, the dried powder (101) is transmitted into the powder outlet pipe (43) by means of a powder feeding hole (41) and a transmission device (42).

2. The drying and powder feeding integrated method according to claim 1, wherein, The third gas guide pipe (18) outlet is spiral shape, the powder (101) and the water vapor (102) are blown up, the powder (101) is fully contacted with the argon gas after the resistance wire (13) heating, is uniformly heated, prevents caking.

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