Additive manufacturing facility

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an additive manufacturing facility (1) comprising an additive manufacturing machine (3) having a processing chamber (5), a plurality of load items (7, 9, 11), and a loading system (14) for positioning the load items (7, 9, 11) from a first loading zone (15) to a second loading zone (17a, b), where the second loading zone (17a, b) is located above and / or below the processing chamber (5). The loading system (14) comprises a lifting column (21), at least one support arm (23) and at least one load carrier (25), where the at least one support arm (23) is mechanically coupled to the lifting column (21) for vertically rising and falling along the lifting column (21), where the at least one load carrier (25) is mechanically coupled to the at least one support arm (23) for vertically rising and falling along the lifting column (21). The loading system (14) has a first loading zone (15) and a second loading zone (17a, b) for movement relative to the lifting column (21) along a defined horizontal path, where the first loading zone (15) is located in a front side region (31) of the loading system (14) and the second loading zone (17a, b) is located in a rear side region (33) of the loading system (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a facility for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an additive manufacturing facility for industrial-scale batch production, wherein the additive manufacturing facility includes a plurality of additive manufacturing machines for parallel additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces. More particularly, the additive manufacturing machines are preferably configured to apply laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) as an additive manufacturing technology for producing metal workpieces. Background Art

[0002] Additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces is generally referred to as 3D printing. A specific form of additive manufacturing is laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), in which layers of raw material powder are exposed to a high-energy electromagnetic radiation beam, such as, for example, a laser beam or a particle beam, for selectively sintering and / or melting particles of the raw material powder. The three-dimensional workpiece is manufactured by sequentially sintering and / or melting the raw material powder layer by layer.

[0003] Compared with traditional manufacturing techniques (such as molding), additive manufacturing of a single three-dimensional workpiece consumes significantly more time. Therefore, in the early days of 3D printing, additive manufacturing was only applied to prototype manufacturing or a small number of individual pieces. However, since additive manufacturing provides the possibility of designing and producing parts that cannot be used by other traditional manufacturing technologies, there is a demand for industrial-scale mass production using additive manufacturing. Industrial-scale mass production requires fast and safe loading and unloading of certain load items required for the construction of additive manufacturing machines. For example, before the construction work can be started, a new construction chamber must be placed in an operating position below the processing chamber, and the filled construction chamber must be transported away after the construction work is completed. Another example is the supply of raw material powder. Depending on the type of raw material powder supply system used by the facility, the raw material powder tank must be filled or replaced before or during the construction work to provide enough raw material powder to the additive manufacturing machine. For industrial-scale continuous additive manufacturing, it is also necessary to transport and accurately position other loading items, such as the lid of the construction chamber or the raw material powder funnel.

[0004] What all these loads have in common is that they are usually quite heavy, for example 40 kg to 6,000 kg or more. The fast, precise and safe handling of such heavy loads is a particular challenge for continuous additive manufacturing on an industrial scale. Usually, forklifts or jacks are manually maneuvered and operated by operators. For safety reasons, relatively large operating areas must be cordoned off. The precise positioning of the load requires specific manual skills and is time-consuming. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an additive manufacturing facility that allows for faster and safer processing of the loading and unloading of heavy loads of articles to and from the manufacturing machines of the facility.

[0006] The solution to this problem is provided by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be derived from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an additive manufacturing facility, comprising:

[0008] - an additive manufacturing machine having a process chamber,

[0009] - Multiple loadout items, and

[0010] - a loading system for positioning load items from a first loading area to a second loading area, wherein:

[0011] The second loading area is located above and / or below the processing chamber and is characterized by:

[0012] The loading system comprises a lifting column, at least one supporting arm and at least one load object carrier, wherein the at least one supporting arm is mechanically coupled to the lifting column to be raised and lowered vertically along the lifting column, wherein the at least one load object carrier is mechanically coupled to the at least one supporting arm to be movable along a defined horizontal path relative to the lifting column, wherein a first loading area is located in a front area of ​​the loading system and a second loading area above and / or below a processing chamber is located in a rear area of ​​the loading system.

[0013] In other words, the lifting column is positioned axially between the first loading zone and the second loading zone. In order to better understand spatial terms within the additive manufacturing facility, such as "axially", "laterally", "above", "below", it is useful to define a local right-handed Cartesian coordinate system of the additive manufacturing facility, in which the z-axis extends vertically, the y-axis extends laterally horizontally, and the x-axis extends axially horizontally. Thus, the lifting column extends along the z-axis, the at least one support arm extends at least partially laterally along the y-axis, and the at least one load object carrier can be moved axially relative to the lifting column along the x-axis. Thus, the yz plane spanned by the lifting column and the at least one support arm separates the front area of ​​the loading system (towards the positive x-axis) and the rear area of ​​the loading system (towards the negative x-axis). Thereby, the loading system can pick up a load object in the front area of ​​the loading system and position the load object in the rear area of ​​the loading system. Of course, a reverse transport from the second loading area in the rear area back to the first loading area in the front area is also possible. It should be noted that the ordinal numbers of the loading areas "first", "second", "third" in this document indicate the order of the loading areas reached by a certain load object during the loading process. Thus, there may be more than one second loading area, in particular if the loading system is configured to load more than one loading item type.

[0014] It should be noted that the second loading area is preferably located at a higher height than the first loading area. The first loading area can be located on the ground or on an elevated static platform on which a forklift or jack can travel. For example, the first loading area can be accessed via a ramp so that the load items are placed on it by means of a forklift or a jack. It is also possible that the second loading area is located at the same or lower height as the first loading area, for example, if the additive manufacturing facility includes an additive manufacturing machine having a processing chamber located at ground level or only slightly above ground level, and the second loading area is located below it. Preferably, the first area is the same for all types of load items, that is, the first loading area can be the entrance area for any type of load items to enter the loading system. The load items can be brought into the first loading area manually or by another automatic conveying system. Alternatively, the first loading area can be a parking area, in particular, there is no further access (access, entrance) except by means of the loading system. The second loading area can be different between the types of load items. The third loading area can be used as a parking area for one or more types of load items.

[0015] Optionally, the lifting column may be stationary, in particular in the horizontal xy plane. This is beneficial for the accuracy of positioning, since it is not necessary to accurately reproduce the defined position of the lifting column. Alternatively, the lifting column may be accurately positionable laterally along the horizontal y-axis, preferably on rails. Such mobility along the lateral y-axis may be useful for a loading system serving two or more additive manufacturing machines of an additive manufacturing facility that are arranged in a row along the lateral y-axis. Regardless of whether the lifting column is stationary or movable, a storage or shelving system may be part of the additive manufacturing facility and served by the loading system. Such a storage or shelving system may have a "single depth" and / or a "double depth" along the x-axis. The advantage of the double depth is that two load items can be parked or stored by the loading system one behind the other in the x-direction.

[0016] Optionally, the lifting column can have a vertical lifting range of at least from the first loading area to the top of the processing chamber. The number and position of the second loading area can depend on the various types of loading items that the loading system is configured to load. If the loading system is very specifically dedicated to loading only the building chamber, one second loading area may be sufficient. However, if the loading system is more general to also load the raw material powder tank, it is beneficial to reach another second loading area above the processing chamber. Once the raw material powder tank is placed in such a second loading area at a higher height than the processing chamber and connected to the processing chamber, the raw material powder can fall from the raw material powder tank into the buffer tank of the processing chamber by gravity so that sufficient raw material powder is supplied during the construction work.

[0017] Optionally, the types of loading items that the loading system can load can be a building chamber, a raw material powder tank, a cover of the building chamber, a service module, a filter module, spare parts, wear parts, a cleaning device, a maintenance robot, an overflow container and / or a raw material powder funnel. It should be noted that the cover of the building chamber can be used as a raw material powder funnel when the building chamber is rotated upside down to de-powdering after the building work is completed. In the case where the loading system is generally used to also load the cover / funnel of the building chamber, it is beneficial that there is an additional third loading area located above the first loading area in the front area. The third loading area can be used to disassemble and park the cover / funnel during the building work. After the building work, the loading system can position the building chamber at the third loading area to be closed by the parked cover / funnel for further transportation, cooling and / or de-powdering. The third loading area can be used to park the closed building chamber after the building work.

[0018] Optionally, at least one load carrier may be telescopically movable horizontally relative to the support arm. This advantageously provides accurate and reproducible automatic positioning of the load in the axial x-direction (ie forwards-backwards).

[0019] Optionally, at least one load object carrier can be horizontally movable relative to the support arm from a front region of the loading system to a rear region of the loading system. This has the advantage that the lifting column does not have to be movable in the axial x-direction (i.e. forwards-backwards). The lifting column can therefore be stationary in the x-direction, which significantly reduces the space consumption of the loading system.

[0020] Optionally, the loading system may further comprise a motor for vertically raising the support arm and thereby the at least one load carrier along the lifting column. For example, the motor may drive a lead screw extending vertically along the z-axis for raising the support arm. Alternatively, the motor may pull a chain or belt upwards along the lifting column for raising the support arm.

[0021] Preferably, the loading system may comprise two parallel lifting columns which have a lateral distance to each other (i.e. a distance in the y-direction). Between the lifting columns, a support arm may extend laterally (i.e. extend in the y-direction) in the form of a support bridge which is able to move vertically between the lifting columns. Each lifting column may be provided with a motor or one drive motor may be mechanically coupled to drive both lifting columns. Two lifting columns have the advantage of being more stable due to the distribution of the weight to be lifted.

[0022] Optionally, the axial extension of each load item (i.e. the extension in the x-direction) is equal to or less than the maximum axial load item extension defined by the loading system, wherein at least one load item carrier is movable relative to the lifting column along an axial horizontal motion path length (i.e. in the x-direction), wherein the axial horizontal motion path length is greater than the maximum axial load item extension. Preferably, the axial horizontal motion path length is at least twice, or more preferably at least three times, the maximum axial load item extension. This is particularly beneficial for the loading system to serve a double-depth storage or shelving system, so that the loading system can park or store two load items one behind the other in the x-direction. The maximum axial load item extension may be defined by the axial extension of the largest load item that the loading system can load. For example, it may be the largest raw material powder can to be loaded. The axial horizontal motion path length depends on the axial distance of the loading area to the lifting column. If the center of the first loading area in the front area has an axial distance x1 to the lifting column, and the center of the second loading area in the rear area has an axial distance x2 to the lifting column, the axial horizontal motion path length is at least x1+x2. Therefore, the maximum axial load item extension X may meet the following criteria: More generally, in the case where N loading areas are served by a loading system with a certain load item type, the maximum axial load item extension X may satisfy the following criteria: Therefore, the axial horizontal movement path length may be greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum axial distance among the loading areas in the front region and the maximum axial distance among the loading areas in the rear region.

[0023] Optionally, at least one load item carrier may be fork-shaped and may comprise two carrier legs extending axially transversely to the support arm, wherein the carrier legs are configured to fork the load item in the axial direction. This is advantageous for a stable and safe loading process.

[0024] Optionally, each load item may have a lateral extension which is equal to or smaller than a maximum lateral load item extension defined by the distance between two carrier legs. This facilitates forking the load items at dedicated lateral support surfaces arranged at the lateral sides of the load items. Thus, no transport pallet is required to fork the load items from below.

[0025] Optionally, the additive manufacturing facility may further comprise a post-processing station, such as a de-powdering station, a heating / cooling station and / or an inerting station, the post-processing station being preferably located in the front region of the loading system, preferably at a higher height than the first loading zone, wherein the loading system is configured to position the build chamber at a second loading zone below the process chamber in the rear region of the loading system before the building work, wherein the loading system is further configured to position the build chamber in the post-processing station after the building work for post-processing the build chamber, such as heating, cooling, inerting and / or de-powdering the build chamber. The post-processing station may define a third loading zone.

[0026] Optionally, the loading system may be programmed to automatically pick up load items from a first loading area and automatically position the load items at a second loading area, wherein the second loading area is located at a higher height than the first loading area.

[0027] Optionally, the additive manufacturing facility may comprise a third loading area, which is located above the first loading area in a front area of ​​the loading system.

[0028] Optionally, as part of the previously described invention or as a separate independent inventive aspect, the loading system may be configured to lift the build chamber from a second loading area below the process chamber to a raised operating position below the process chamber. Thereby, the loading system can be used to perform the task of a lifting mechanism of the additive manufacturing facility (which is used to place the build chamber vertically into its operating position). Therefore, such a lifting mechanism may no longer be required. It should be noted that, as a separate independent inventive aspect, the raising into the operating position may be performed with a loading system having a first loading area and a second loading area on the same side, i.e., in this case, the loading system is capable of loading and unloading only on the front side or only on the rear side, regardless of which side the process chamber is arranged on. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Other embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of an additive manufacturing facility according to the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of an example of an additive manufacturing facility according to the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 3 shows a schematic elevation view of an example of an additive manufacturing facility according to the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4a-4c Shown according to Figure 2 Schematic side view of the additive manufacturing facility in different loading situations; and

[0034] Figure 5a-5c Shown according to Figure 2 Schematic side view of the additive manufacturing facility in a further loading situation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Figures 1 to 3 The most relevant units of the additive manufacturing facility 1 are shown from different perspectives to explain the present disclosure in more detail. For better spatial orientation and understanding of spatial terms (such as "axial", "lateral", "above", "below"), each figure shows a local right-handed Cartesian coordinate system of the additive manufacturing facility 1, wherein the z-axis extends vertically, the y-axis extends laterally horizontally, and the x-axis extends axially horizontally.

[0036] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the additive manufacturing facility 1 includes an additive manufacturing machine 3, in which a processing chamber 5 is only schematically shown in the form of a box. The additive manufacturing machine 3 is a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) machine with a processing chamber 5, in which a raw material powder layer is exposed to a high-energy electromagnetic radiation beam, such as, for example, a laser beam or a particle beam, for selectively sintering and / or melting particles of the raw material powder. By sequentially sintering and / or melting the raw material powder layer by layer, a three-dimensional workpiece is additively manufactured in the building work. Before the building work can be started, the building chamber 7 will be placed in an operating position below the bottom opening in the processing chamber 5. At the beginning of the building work, the vertically movable substrate in the building chamber 7 is located in the topmost position, so that the first layer of raw material powder is placed on the substrate of the building chamber 7. After each layer of raw material powder is selectively sintered or melted, the substrate moves downward by one layer thickness to receive a new raw material powder layer to be selectively sintered or melted next. Therefore, the substrate moves stepwise downward in the building chamber 7 until the building work is completed. After the building work, the substrate is located in a lower position within the building chamber 7 and the additively manufactured three-dimensional workpiece is included within the building chamber 7. The building chamber 7 is then removed from the processing chamber 5, closed by the funnel-shaped cover 9, and transported away for cooling and / or de-powdering. It should be noted that after the building work is completed, the funnel-shaped cover 9 acts as a funnel when the building chamber 7 is rotated upside down in a de-powdering station (not shown) for rinsing the residual raw material powder from the manufactured workpiece into a powder recycling system (not shown). In the example shown, the raw material powder required during the building work is provided by a raw material powder tank 11, which is positioned above the processing chamber 5, thereby realizing a gravity-driven supply of raw material powder from the raw material powder tank 11 to the buffer tank 13 of the processing chamber 5.

[0037] For efficient operation of the additive manufacturing facility 1, it is important to keep the setup time of the additive manufacturing machine 3 between build jobs to a minimum. The logistics and handling of the build chamber 7 and its lid 9 and the raw material powder tank 11 can account for a significant portion of the setup time of the additive manufacturing machine 3. The build chamber 7 and its lid 9 and the raw material powder tank 11 are relatively heavy load items 7, 9, 11 weighing from 40kg to 6,000kg or more. Handling these heavy load items 7, 9, 11 quickly, accurately and safely is a particular challenge for continuous additive manufacturing on an industrial scale. Therefore, it is a challenge to allow faster and safer handling of the loading and unloading of heavy load items 7, 9, 11 to and from the manufacturing machine 3 of the facility 1.

[0038] To facilitate such processing, the additive manufacturing facility 1 includes a stationary loading system 14. The loading system 14 is configured to position the load items 7, 9, 11 from the first loading area 15 to the second loading areas 17a, 17b. The second loading area 17a for the build chamber 7 is located below the process chamber 5, while the second loading area 17b for the raw material powder tank 11 is located above the process chamber 5. Above the first loading area 15, there is also a third loading area 19 for the build chamber 7 and the cover 9.

[0039] The loading system 14 comprises two stationary lifting columns 21 extending vertically (i.e. along the z-axis) at a lateral distance D from each other (i.e. along the y-axis). The loading system 14 also comprises a support arm 23 and a load carrier 25. The support arm 23 extends between the lifting columns 21 in the form of a bridge and is mechanically coupled to the lifting columns 21 so as to be raised and lowered vertically along the lifting columns 21. A motor 27 is provided (here at the top end of one of the lifting columns 21) for driving a chain or belt 29 at each lifting column 21 for raising and lowering the support arm 23.

[0040] The load carrier 25 is here fork-shaped for forking the loads 7, 9, 11 and comprises two carrier legs extending transversely to the axial direction of the support arm 23 (i.e., along the x-axis). The load carrier 25 is mechanically coupled to the support arm 23 to telescopically move forward and backward along a defined horizontal path relative to the lifting column 21 along the x-axis. It is important that the vertical lifting range H and the axial horizontal movement path length L of the load carrier 25 relative to the lifting column 21 are large enough to serve the first loading area 15 at the front area 31 of the loading system 14 and the second loading areas 17a, 17b at the rear area 33 of the loading system 14.

[0041] Thus, the yz plane spanned by the lifting column 21 and the support arm 23 separates the front area 31 (towards the positive x-axis) of the loading system 14 and the rear area 33 (towards the negative x-axis) of the loading system 14. Thus, the loading system 14 is able to pick up the load items 7, 9, 11 in the front area 31 of the loading system 14 and position the load items 7, 9, 11 in the rear area 33 of the loading system 14. Of course, reverse transport from the respective second loading areas 17a, 17b in the rear area 33 back to the first loading area 15 in the front area 31 is also possible.

[0042] The first loading area 15 is here located on a raised static platform 35, on which a forklift or a jack can easily place the load items 7, 9, 11. The first loading area 15 is the entry area for any type of load items 7, 9, 11 into the loading system 14. Thus, the building chamber 7, the cover 9 or the raw material powder tank 11 or any other load item to be loaded is first placed on the first loading area 15 by the operator. Both second loading areas 17a, 17b in the rear area 33 of the loading system 14 are located at a higher height than the first loading area 15.

[0043] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The building chamber 7 , closed by the cover 9 , is shown positioned at the first loading area 15 to be picked up by a load object carrier 25 . Figure 3 It is shown that the first loading area 15 can be reached by an optional ramp 37, which a forklift or a jack can use to travel on the raised platform 35. The carrier legs of the load object carrier 25 have a lateral distance Y from each other, so that the building chamber 7 fits between the carrier legs to be forked. The load object carrier 25 is shown in the most forward position (i.e. in the positive x-direction) by being telescopically movable forwardly relative to the lifting column 21.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, each loaded item has an axial extension X7, X9, X 11 . Axial extension X7, X9, X 11 is equal to or less than the maximum axial load item extension X defined by the loading system 14 max In the example shown, the raw powder tank 11 has a maximum axial extension X 11 ≤X max In order to enable the load carrier 25 to pick up the load 7, 9, 11 at the loading area 15, 17a, 17b, 19, the load carrier can be moved along an axial horizontal movement path length L relative to the lifting column 21. The axial horizontal movement path length L is greater than the maximum axial load extension X max Preferably, if Figure 2 As shown, the axial horizontal motion path length L is the maximum axial load item extension X max At least three times, that is, L ≥ 3X max The length L of the axial horizontal motion path depends on the axial distance x from the loading area 15, 17a, 17b, 19 to the lifting column 21. 15 、x 17a 、x 17b 、x 19 The axial horizontal movement path length L is greater than or equal to the maximum axial distance x between the loading areas 15 and 19 in the front area 31. 15 、x19 and the maximum axial distance x between the loading areas 17a, 17b in the rear region 33 17a 、x 17b The sum of Figure 2 In the example shown, the axial horizontal motion path length is L ≥ x 15 +x 17a .

[0045] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment, the raw material powder tank 11 has been placed at its second loading area 17b above the processing chamber 5. Since the raw material powder tank 11 is here the heaviest type of load item 7, 9, 11 located at the highest height, it is advantageous that the distance x from the center of the second loading area 17b for the raw material powder tank 11 to the lifting column 21 is 2b It is smaller than the distance x1 from the first loading area 15 to the lifting column 21. This reduces the tilting moment caused by the weight imbalance that the loading system 14 needs to bear.

[0046] Figure 4a-4c and Figure 5a-5c A series of different loading situations that may occur during operation of the loading system 14 are shown. Figure 4a Shown as Figure 2 and Figure 3 The situation in which the raw material powder tank 11 has been positioned in its second loading area 17b above the process chamber 5. The closed build chamber 7 is being picked up from the first loading area 15 by the load article carrier 25. Figure 4b In the example, the closed building chamber 7 is lifted to remove the cover 9 from the building chamber 7 to park the cover 9 at the third loading area 19 for the building chamber 7 located above the first loading area 15 during the building work. In this example, the third loading area 19 for the building chamber 7 is therefore the second loading area for the cover 9.

[0047] like Figure 4c As shown, the open building chamber 7 is then positioned in its second loading area 17a below the process chamber. The loading system 14 can even be used to achieve the final vertical positioning into the operating position for the building work. Alternatively, another lifting system of the additive manufacturing facility 1 can pick up the building chamber 7 from the second loading area 17a to achieve the final vertical positioning into the operating position for the building work.

[0048] Figure 5aThe situation is shown in which the raw material powder tank 11 has to be replaced or refilled during the building work in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw material powder. The advantage of the loading system 14 is that the replacement or refilling of the raw material powder tank 11 can be carried out within such a short time window that it can be carried out during the building work. Therefore, the replacement or refilling is faster than the powder buffer 13 of the additive manufacturing machine 3 is emptied. Therefore, the replacement of the raw material powder tank 11 does not increase the preparation time of the additive manufacturing machine 3 between building work. Figure 5a In FIG. 1 , a new or refilled full raw material powder tank 11 has just been picked up from the first loading area 15 by the loading object carrier 25. Figure 5b , a new or refilled raw material powder tank 11 has been positioned in its designated second loading area 17 b above the process chamber 5 .

[0049] After the construction work is completed, Figure 5c As shown, the build chamber 7 containing the additively manufactured workpiece is positioned to cool at its designated third loading area 19, where the cover 9 is parked during the build work. Therefore, first the cover 9 is placed back on the build chamber 7 (similar to Figure 4b ), so that the closed build chamber 7 can cool down at its third loading area 19. In an alternative, not shown, embodiment, the third loading area 19 can be part of a de-powdering station, in which the build chamber 7 can be rotated upside down, so that residual powder around the workpiece is cleaned into a powder recovery system through the funnel-shaped cover 9. When the build chamber 7 is positioned at the third loading area 19, the loading system 14 can be used to prepare a new build chamber for the additive manufacturing machine 3 for the next build job to start as quickly as possible.

[0050] Reference numerals list

[0051] 1 Additive Manufacturing Facility

[0052] 3 Additive Manufacturing Machines

[0053] 5. Processing Chamber

[0054] 7 Construction Room

[0055] 9. Lid / Funnel

[0056] 11 Raw material powder tank

[0057] 13 Powder Buffer

[0058] 14 Loading system

[0059] 15 First loading area

[0060] 17a, 17b Second loading area

[0061] 19 Third loading area

[0062] 21 Lifting Column

[0063] 23 Support arm

[0064] 25 Loading the item carrier

[0065] 27 Motor

[0066] 29 Chain / Belt

[0067] 31 Front area

[0068] 33 Rear area

[0069] 35 Platform

[0070] 37 Slope

[0071] D Lateral distance between lifting columns

[0072] Y Lateral distance between carrier legs

[0073] H Vertical lifting range

[0074] L Axial horizontal motion path length

[0075] X max Maximum axial load extension

[0076] X7 Axial extension of the build chamber

[0077] X9 Axial extension of cover

[0078] X 11 Axial extension of the raw powder tank

[0079] x 15 Axial distance from the first loading area to the lifting column

[0080] x 17a Axial distance from lower second loading area to lifting column

[0081] x 17b Axial distance from the upper second loading area to the lifting column

[0082] x 19 Axial distance from the third loading area to the lifting column

Claims

1. An additive manufacturing facility (1) comprising an additive manufacturing machine (3) having a process chamber (5), a plurality of load items (7, 9, 11) and a loading system (14) for positioning the load items (7, 9, 11) from a first loading area (15) into a second loading area (17a, 17b), wherein: The second loading area (17a, 17b) is located above and / or below the processing chamber (5), and is characterized in that: The loading system (14) comprises a lifting column (21), at least one supporting arm (23) and at least one load object carrier (25), wherein the at least one supporting arm (23) is mechanically coupled to the lifting column (21) to vertically rise and fall along the lifting column (21), wherein the at least one load object carrier (25) is mechanically coupled to the at least one supporting arm (23) to move along a defined horizontal path relative to the lifting column (21), wherein the first loading area (15) is located in a front area (31) of the loading system (14), and the second loading area (17a, 17b) is located in a rear area (33) of the loading system (14).

2. The additive manufacturing facility (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The lifting column (21) is stationary.

3. The additive manufacturing facility (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The lifting column (21) has a vertical lifting range (H) extending from at least the first loading area (15) to above the processing chamber (5).

4. The additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one load object carrier (25) is telescopically movable horizontally relative to the support arm (23).

5. Additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one load object carrier (25) is horizontally movable relative to the support arm (23) from the front area (31) of the loading system (14) to the rear area (33) of the loading system (14).

6. The additive manufacturing facility (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a motor (27) for vertically raising the support arm (23) and thus the at least one load carrier (25) along the lifting column (21).

7. Additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: Each of the loaded objects (7, 9, 11) has an axial extension (X7, X9, X 11 ), the axial extension being equal to or less than the maximum axial loading item extension (X) defined by the loading system (14). max ), wherein the at least one load carrier (25) is movable relative to the lifting column (21) along an axial horizontal movement path length (L), wherein the axial horizontal movement path length (L) is greater than the maximum axial load extension (X max ).

8. The additive manufacturing facility (1) according to claim 7, wherein: The axial horizontal motion path length (L) is the maximum axial load item extension (X max ), preferably at least three times.

9. Additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one load item carrier (25) is fork-shaped and comprises two carrier legs extending transversely to the axial direction of the support arm (23), wherein the carrier legs are configured to fork the load items (7, 9, 11) in the axial direction.

10. The additive manufacturing facility (1) according to claim 9, wherein: Each of the load items (7, 9, 11) has a lateral extension which is equal to or smaller than a maximum lateral load item extension defined by a distance (Y) between the two carrier legs.

11. An additive manufacturing facility according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The loading items (7, 9, 11) include at least one item (7, 9, 11) selected from the following loading item type group, the loading item type group including: a building chamber (7), a raw material powder tank (11), a cover (9) of the building chamber and a raw material powder funnel (9).

12. The additive manufacturing facility (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a post-processing station, which is located in the front area (31) of the loading system (14), preferably at a higher height than the first loading area (15), wherein The loading system (14) is configured to position the building chamber (7) at the second loading area (17a) below the processing chamber (5) before the building work, wherein the loading system (14) is also configured to position the building chamber (7) in the post-processing station after the building work for post-processing the building chamber (7).

13. Additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The loading system (14) can be programmed to automatically pick up load items (7, 9, 11) from the first loading area (15) and automatically position the load items (7, 9, 11) at the second loading area (17a, 17b), wherein the second loading area (17a, 17b) is located at a higher height than the first loading area (15).

14. The additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a third loading area (19), wherein: The third loading area (19) is located above the first loading area (15) in the front area (31) of the loading system (14).

15. Additive manufacturing installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The loading system (14) is configured to lift the build chamber (7) from the second loading area (17a) below the process chamber (5) to a raised operating position below the process chamber (5).

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