Powder bed deposition additive manufacturing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder bed deposition additive manufacturing machine, comprising an enclosure (10) comprising a separating wall (23) arranged to separate an upper chamber (20) and a lower chamber (30), and an actuator (31) arranged in the lower chamber, means for depositing a powder material, and a consolidation device (80) for selectively consolidating each layer of powder. The upper chamber comprises an opening (21) for the passage of a manufacturing jacket comprising a manufacturing plate (47), and the machine comprises a transfer system (91) configured to transfer the manufacturing jacket from a manufacturing position to the opening, the transfer system also being configured to transfer said manufacturing jacket from the opening to the manufacturing position. Figure for abstract: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Powder bed deposition additive manufacturing machine Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to additive manufacturing by powder bed deposition and in particular to metallic additive manufacturing.

[0002] It more particularly proposes a powder bed manufacturing machine with an improved unloading system. State of the art

[0003] [Fig. 1] represents a known additive manufacturing machine by powder bed deposition. This additive manufacturing machine comprises a manufacturing chamber 10 and a device 80 for selective consolidation of the powder layers. This consolidation device is for example a laser or an electron source in the case of a metal powder to be fused, or a binder jet in the case of a powder.

[0004] The additive manufacturing powder layer is deposited inside the manufacturing enclosure 10, on a horizontal powder receiving surface 61 located in a working area defined by a manufacturing jacket 400 and a movable manufacturing plate 47. The manufacturing jacket 400 is held by a work plane 62 and extends vertically under said work plane 62. The jacket 400 opens into the work plane 62. The manufacturing plate 47 slides along a vertical axis (Z) inside the manufacturing jacket 400 under the effect of an actuator 31. The machine further comprises a powder distribution device (not shown), making it possible to deposit a powder 70 layer by layer on the working area inside the jacket 400. Then, the powder 70 is selectively consolidated on the powder receiving surface 61 by the consolidation device 80.

[0005] At the start of manufacturing, the actuator 31 is fully deployed and the upper surface of the manufacturing platen 47 is located in the working plane 62. During manufacturing, the layers are successively deposited on the platen 47, and said platen 47 is lowered between the steps of depositing the successive layers, so that the layer deposited last is arranged on the powder receiving surface 61 at any time during manufacturing. At the end of manufacturing, the manufacturing platen 47 is located at the bottom of the manufacturing jacket 400 and the jacket 400 contains one or more objects 75 manufactured during the process, surrounded by a large quantity of unconsolidated powder 70 originating from the areas of the powder layers 70 not corresponding to a section of the object(s) 75 to be manufactured. In addition, the objects 75 may also contain a large quantity of unconsolidated powder 70 originating from the hollow areas of the objects 75 to manufacture.

[0006] After the manufacturing step, the jacket is unloaded, i.e. the unconsolidated powder is sucked out and the manufactured part(s) 75 are extracted. The additive manufacturing machine typically comprises a door allowing the manufacturing enclosure 10 to be opened and an operator to have access, on the one hand, to the jacket containing the manufactured objects and, on the other hand, to the unconsolidated powder.

[0007] In particular, for processes in which consolidation is carried out by melting by an energy source such as a laser beam or an electron beam, the temperature inside the jacket can reach values ​​between 200°C and 500°C. However, according to the standards in force and in order to protect the operator and minimize the risk of burns or explosion, the temperature inside the jacket must not exceed 60°C for opening the enclosure 10 and unloading the jacket. This requires several hours of cooling of the contents of the jacket at the end of the process and before unloading, during which time the manufacturing machine is inactive. The waiting time for the cooling of the powder and the manufactured part(s) 75 therefore results in a considerable loss of productivity. In addition, opening the machine for extracting the jacket results in a rupture of the inert atmosphere present in the machine.

[0008] It is possible to consider removing the jacket from the additive manufacturing machine before cooling. Document EP 1 194 281 proposes a system for unloading the jacket containing the manufactured part and the unconsolidated powder in the lower zone of the machine, i.e. below the work surface. Such a system is complex and difficult to implement due to the significant size of the actuator that moves the manufacturing plate in the jacket. Furthermore, with such a system, there is a risk of introducing powder into the lower zone of the machine, which is generally something that is sought to be avoided.

[0009] Another possible solution is the unloading of the manufactured objects and the unconsolidated powder without removing the jacket from the additive manufacturing machine. Documents US 2015 0239177 and WO2017 / 191250 disclose an evacuation of the manufactured objects and the unconsolidated powder inside a container. In these devices, the manufacturing jacket is kept inside the enclosure and is not removable. This involves a transfer of the manufactured objects and the unconsolidated powder to the container, which is a complex operation since it is necessary to ensure a powder seal between the jacket and the container. Presentation of the invention

[0010] An aim of the invention is to propose a simple and easy to implement solution. allowing unloading without waiting for the manufactured part and the unconsolidated powder surrounding it to cool.

[0011] Yet another aim is to propose a solution which allows such unloading, without introducing powder into parts of the machine which are difficult to clean.

[0012] To this end, the invention proposes an additive manufacturing machine by powder bed deposition, comprising

[0013] • an enclosure comprising a dividing wall arranged horizontally so as to separate an upper chamber extending above the dividing wall and a lower chamber extending below the dividing wall, and • an actuator arranged along a vertical axis in the lower chamber, • means for depositing a powdered material adapted to deposit at least one layer of powder above a manufacturing plate, and • a consolidation device for selectively consolidating each layer of powder deposited above the manufacturing plate,

[0014] said machine being configured to receive a manufacturing jacket comprising a manufacturing plate in a manufacturing position in which the manufacturing jacket extends under the dividing wall in the lower chamber, the manufacturing plate being movable in translation along the vertical axis inside the manufacturing jacket under the effect of the actuator, said jacket and said manufacturing plate defining a work zone,

[0015] said machine being characterized in that the upper chamber comprises an opening for the passage of a manufacturing jacket comprising a manufacturing plate, and in that the machine comprises a transfer system configured to transfer the manufacturing jacket from the manufacturing position to the opening, and the transfer system also being configured to transfer said manufacturing jacket from the opening to the manufacturing position in the upper chamber.

[0016] Preferably, the jacket comprises means for retaining the manufacturing plate in the jacket. Advantageously, the retaining means comprise an inner rim present in the lower part of the jacket.

[0017] Preferably, the machine further comprises anchoring and / or referencing means configured to maintain and / or adjust the jacket in the manufacturing position relative to the separating wall.

[0018] Advantageously, the machine further comprises locking means capable of holding and releasing the manufacturing plate relative to the actuator.

[0019] In some embodiments, the machine is configured to receive a jacket closed by an inert gas-tight cover, said machine comprising a cover handling device configured to open access to the area of working in the manufacturing position, and to close the jacket in an inert gas-tight manner when transferring it from the manufacturing position to the opening.

[0020] Advantageously, the additive manufacturing machine further comprises at least one powder-tight seal, arranged between the jacket and the separating wall and / or between the jacket and the manufacturing plate.

[0021] The invention also relates to an additive manufacturing station comprising a machine as described above and at least one transfer shuttle connectable to the opening of the upper chamber of the machine and capable of transporting a manufacturing jacket comprising a manufacturing tray.

[0022] The invention also relates to an additive manufacturing method comprising the following steps implemented in an additive manufacturing machine as described above:

[0023] • the provision of a manufacturing sleeve comprising a manufacturing tray via the opening provided in the upper chamber, • transferring said jacket to a manufacturing position in which said jacket extends under the dividing wall in the lower chamber, • the deposition and consolidation of at least one layer of powder inside the jacket • the transfer of said shirt from the manufacturing position to the opening, • the outlet of the jacket from the upper chamber of the manufacturing machine.

[0024] Preferably, the method further comprises a step of transferring said jacket and the manufacturing plate from the upper chamber of the machine to a transfer shuttle.

[0025] Advantageously, the method further comprises a step of assembling a manufacturing sleeve and a manufacturing tray in a station external to the additive manufacturing machine. Brief description of the figures

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0027] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a known powder bed deposition additive manufacturing machine.

[0028] [Fig. 2] is a schematic sectional view of an additive manufacturing machine by powder bed deposition according to the invention and of a transfer shuttle, during loading of a jacket.

[0029] [Fig. 3] is a schematic sectional view of a powder bed deposition additive manufacturing machine according to the invention and a transfer shuttle during an additive manufacturing process.

[0030] [Fig.4] is a schematic sectional view of an additive manufacturing machine by powder bed deposition according to the invention and of a transfer shuttle, during the unloading of a jacket. Detailed description of embodiments

[0031] General provision

[0032] With reference to [Fig. 2], the additive manufacturing machine 1 comprises a manufacturing enclosure 10 comprising an upper chamber 20 and a lower chamber 30, and a separating wall 23 arranged between said chambers 20, 30 and which forms a work surface 62. The enclosure 10 may for example be made of sheet metal and comprises one or more doors for access to its different chambers. Advantageously, the enclosure is under a controlled or inert atmosphere, for example filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon.

[0033] The upper chamber 20 comprises means for depositing a powder material which deposits the powder layer by layer. For example, these means for depositing powder layers comprise one or more powder distribution devices 25 and a powder spreading device 26 which may take the form of a squeegee or a roller. The powder constitutes the starting material for one or more objects to be manufactured. Typically, the powder is a metal powder, for example steel, or a metal alloy, for example based on nickel, cobalt, titanium, copper or aluminum. In some cases, the powder may be ceramic, an intermetallic compound, or a polymer or other composite material. The grains have, for example, a diameter between 5 and 100 μm. In some cases, the powder is a ceramic or plastic powder.The manufacturing chamber 20 may also include a receptacle or other device for receiving excess powder during an additive manufacturing process.

[0034] The upper chamber 20 further comprises a powder consolidation device 80. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the consolidation device 80 is a laser source or a source generating an electron beam. The consolidation device 80 may be another device adapted to locally heat the powder. In certain embodiments, the consolidation device 80 is a binder dispensing device. The consolidation device 80 may be arranged inside the upper chamber 20. In certain cases, the consolidation device 80 is arranged outside the upper chamber 20, and the upper chamber 20 comprises a passage such as a window or an orifice 180 configured for the passage of a consolidation means, for example a laser beam or an electron beam or a binder jet.

[0035] The upper chamber 20 further comprises an opening 21 forming a passage for a manufacturing jacket 40 and on which a transfer shuttle 50 can be connected. Preferably, the connection between the upper chamber 20 and such a transfer shuttle 50 is powder-tight and / or gas-tight relative to the exterior of the enclosure and the transfer shuttle 50. When no shuttle 50 is connected to the opening 21, said opening 21 may be closed in a powder-tight and / or gas-tight manner, for example by a cover or a sliding hatch 48 comprising a seal. The upper chamber 20 further comprises a transfer system 91 configured for transferring a manufacturing jacket 40 between a manufacturing position described later and the opening 21. In a non-limiting manner, such a transfer system 91 may be a system of lower, lateral and / or upper rails, one or more grooves, a cable transport system, or a combination of several of said transfer systems.

[0036] The separating wall 23 comprises an orifice 230 capable of receiving a jacket 40 in which a manufacturing plate 47 is arranged. The separating wall 23 may be made of metal or ceramic or another material suitable for supporting a manufacturing jacket 40 and the temperatures of the enclosure. Preferably, the wall 23 is powder-tight with the exception of the orifice 230.

[0037] The wall 23 is for example gas-tight and the manufacturing jacket 40 may comprise a seal 44 which is powder-tight and / or gas-tight when a jacket 40 is inserted into the orifice 230. Such a seal may for example be a static seal of the o-ring type.

[0038] The manufacturing plate 47 is intended to move axially in the jacket 40 during manufacturing, while the jacket 40 remains stationary in the orifice 230 and relative to the wall 23 during manufacturing. The jacket 40 may be made of sheet metal and the manufacturing plate 47 may, for example, be made of metal or ceramic. To slide in the jacket 40, the manufacturing plate 47 may be mounted on an annular guide support 45 itself mounted in the jacket 40.

[0039] The jacket 40 may be essentially parallelepipedal, cube-shaped or cylindrical, or have another geometry adapted to the objects to be manufactured. The jacket 40 defines with the plate 47 a manufacturing volume with a horizontal and vertical extent. When the jacket 40 is inserted into the orifice 230 of the partition wall 23, the jacket 40 extends under the partition wall 23 into the lower chamber 30. The jacket 40 further comprises elements capable of connecting the jacket 40 to the transfer system 91. The jacket 40 may comprise a cover or a sliding hatch 48 which can be removed or opened, for example by folding it down. In this case, the cover or the sliding hatch 48 is preferably powder-tight and / or gas-tight. Advantageously, the jacket 40 has an outer rim 49 which is attached to the orifice 230 and which extends above it.The outer rim 49 may include one or more seals 44 which come into contact with the wall of the seat. preparation 23, so as to produce a gas- and / or powder-tight connection. Such a seal 44 may for example be a static seal of the o-ring type.

[0040] Advantageously, the jacket 40 and / or the wall 23 comprise complementary anchoring and / or referencing means. For example, pins 46 carried by the outer rim 49 of the jacket 40 cooperate with complementary reference holes provided on the wall 23. These anchoring / and or referencing means maintain the jacket 40 in a manufacturing position when said jacket is placed in the orifice 230. Other means may be envisaged as a variant or in addition to ensure anchoring and referencing, for example:

[0041] - for referencing, a stop or a positioning rod, an optical system or an electronic system comprising a position sensor. - For anchoring, fixing elements capable of locking the jacket 40 in its manufacturing position, such as screws or locking levers, or an automatic jack or zero point locking system.

[0042] The manufacturing plate 47 is arranged horizontally inside the jacket 40 and movable in translation inside the jacket 40 under the effect of an actuator 31. The plate 47 is intended to receive the different successive layers of powder and to support a part 75 during its manufacture. The manufacturing plate 47 may be of circular, rectangular, square or other shape depending on the horizontal geometry of the jacket 40. Preferably, one or more seals 43 are arranged between the jacket 40 and the manufacturing plate 47, so as to produce a transition that is gas-tight and / or powder-tight. Such a seal 43 may for example be a dynamic seal made of Kevlar braid. Such a seal 43 can for example be installed between the annular support 45 and the sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 and the manufacturing plate 47 make it possible to keep a manufactured part 75 and the unsolidified powder which surrounds it on the plate 47 in a predefined volume.

[0043] The lower chamber 30 comprises a linear actuator 31 configured to cause a translational movement of the manufacturing plate 47 in the vertical direction. By “vertical” is meant in the present text, as commonly accepted, in the direction of gravity. By “horizontal” is meant perpendicular to the vertical. The description of the additive manufacturing machine 1 is made assuming that the separation wall 23 extends in a horizontal plane, as shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0044] By actuator is meant an electronically and / or pneumatically controlled mechanism, capable of producing a relative translational movement between the two entities that it connects, in particular a linear actuator capable of creating a movement linear. The actuator 31 is thus typically of the jack type, with a fixed main part, often tubular in which a moving part is movable in translation on command. The jack can be purely electromechanical, for example with a screw-nut mechanism, pneumatic, hydraulic or any other type of technology defined according to the characteristics of force, speed, stroke, shape, weight, and above all positioning precision, specific to the field of additive manufacturing. Those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is not limited to jacks, and that the actuator(s) 31 may use other technologies, and be for example ball screws or worm screws. Preferably, the additive manufacturing machine further comprises locking means, for example mechanical snap-fastening means, capable of holding and releasing a manufacturing plate 47 relative to the head of the actuator 31.

[0045] Preferably, the lower chamber 30 is free of powder. Thus, any risk of contamination or damage to the electronic, hydraulic and mechanical mechanism of the actuator 31 due to the presence of powder is eliminated.

[0046] The additive manufacturing machine 1 has a horizontal powder receiving surface 61 in which the consolidation of the material is carried out. When the consolidation means is a laser beam or an electron beam, the horizontal powder receiving surface 61 is preferably located in the focal plane of said beam. The manufacturing plane is fixed in the vertical direction relative to the partition wall 23 and may be above, below or at the same level as said wall 23. In the manufacturing plane, the manufacturing jacket 40 defines a working area in which the additive manufacturing process is carried out.

[0047] The transfer shuttle 50 is a container capable of receiving at least one additive manufacturing jacket 40 with a tray 47. The shuttle 50 comprises at least one opening 51 through which a jacket can be loaded and unloaded. The opening 51 may be closed, for example by a cover or a sliding hatch. In some cases, the shuttle 50 may comprise two or more different openings, for example a first opening capable of being connected to an additive manufacturing machine, a second opening capable of being connected to a cooling station, and / or a third opening capable of being connected to a depowdering or storage station. The transfer shuttle 50 may comprise similar or different openings on several sides, allowing for example to be connected successively to several machines or stations arranged face to face.

[0048] The transfer shuttle 50 is preferably movable on an automatic or manual transport system such as a rail system or a trolley or other movable support forming part of an additive manufacturing installation. Thus, the transfer shuttle 50 can be arranged so that the opening 51 of the shuttle 50 faces the opening 21 of the upper chamber 20 of the additive manufacturing machine 1. The transfer shuttle 50 can, by the same transport system, be transported to a cooling and / or storage and / or depowdering station.

[0049] Advantageously, the shuttle 50 and / or the upper chamber 20 comprises a device for connecting the opening 51 of the transfer shuttle 50 and the opening 21 of the upper chamber. Such a connecting device may, for example, comprise a seal and flanges, eyelets, screw elements, or a bayonet closure. Preferably, the connection is furthermore powder-tight and / or gas-tight, for example using a static seal such as an o-ring. The connection may be carried out manually or automatically.

[0050] The transfer shuttle 50 may further comprise a transfer system 90 configured to transfer a manufacturing jacket 40 between a fixed position inside the transfer shuttle 50 and the passage formed by the opening 51 of said shuttle. In a non-limiting manner, such a transfer system 90 may comprise a guide device such as a rail system on which rollers that the manufacturing jacket 40 comprises slide. These rollers may be driven by one or more motors.

[0051] These rails may be lower, lateral and / or upper. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer system 90 may comprise a cable drive. Advantageously, this jacket transfer system 90 may be connected to the jacket transfer system 91 in the upper chamber 20 of the additive manufacturing machine 1 as described above.

[0052] The transfer shuttle may further comprise means for holding a jacket in a fixed position inside the shuttle, for example a bottom support, a clamp or snap-in means. Preferably, when the transfer shuttle 50 comprises a manufacturing jacket 40 and is transported to the manufacturing machine 1 or from the manufacturing machine 1 to another location, the jacket 40 is held in a fixed position inside the transfer shuttle 50.

[0053] In some embodiments, the shuttle 50 comprises a connection to a source of inert gas and possibly to a pump, so as to fill the shuttle 50 with an inert gas. In this case, the transfer shuttle 50 can be closed in a sealed manner against the inert gas. Typically, the upper chamber 20 of the additive manufacturing machine 1 comprises the same inert gas. Preferably, the transfer shuttle 50 can be connected to the opening 21 of the upper chamber 20 before removing the closing device from the opening 51 of the transfer shuttle, so as to maintain the filling of inert gas in the transfer shuttle 50 and in the upper chamber 20.

[0054] In some embodiments, the transfer shuttle 50 may be replaced by a tunnel permanently connected to the opening 21 of the upper enclosure. In other embodiments, the transfer can be carried out manually, without the use of a shuttle or a tunnel.

[0055] Advantageously, the jacket 40 comprises means 52 for retaining the manufacturing plate 47 in the jacket 40. For example, these retaining means 52 comprise an internal rim 53 present in the lower part of the jacket 40.

[0056] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, these retaining means 52 make it possible to retain the manufacturing plate 47 in its low position relative to the jacket 40 during its transfer from the opening 21 to the manufacturing position and vice versa.

[0057] System Operation

[0058] With reference to [Fig. 2], when starting an additive manufacturing process, one typically begins by loading the jacket 40 comprising an empty manufacturing tray 47 into the transfer shuttle 50. Typically, the jacket 40 is loaded through the opening 51 of the shuttle 50 into a jacket loading station. If the transfer shuttle 50 comprises a jacket transfer system 90 comprising one or more motors and / or a guiding device such as rails or grooves, the jacket is slid into said transfer system 90. If necessary, the jacket 40 is fixed in the system for holding in a fixed position. Optionally, during loading into the shuttle 50, the jacket 40 is under inert gas, and closed by a cover or a sliding hatch 48 sealed against said gas. Alternatively, the shuttle 50 can be filled with an inert gas after loading the jacket 40 into the shuttle 50.In other embodiments, no inert gas is used.

[0059] The transfer shuttle 50 is then transferred to the additive manufacturing machine 1 and the opening 51 of the shuttle 50 is connected to the opening 21 of the upper chamber 20. Preferably, this connection is made in a sealed manner. If necessary, the jacket transfer system 90 of the transfer shuttle 50 and the jacket transfer system 91 of the upper chamber 20 are connected.

[0060] In some embodiments, the upper chamber 20 is filled with inert gas. When the transfer shuttle 50 is filled with inert gas, the shuttle 50 is connected in fluid connection with the upper chamber 20. When the shuttle 50 does not include inert gas and the jacket 40 is filled with inert gas and closed by a cover or a sliding hatch 48, the shuttle 50 is connected so as to form a passage for the jacket 40 while avoiding a fluid exchange between the shuttle 50 and the upper chamber 20, for example by means of an airlock under inert gas or under vacuum. The inerting of the upper chamber 20 makes it possible to avoid contamination and the formation of oxides during the manufacturing process in order to optimize the mechanical properties of the part(s) 75 to be manufactured. The inerting also makes it possible to avoid a risk of ignition in the presence of powder and oxygen.

[0061] If necessary, the system for holding the shirt in a fixed position is deactivated. The next step is to transfer the jacket 40 from the transfer shuttle 50 to the upper chamber 20. For this purpose, the transfer system 90 is used in the transfer shuttle 50 and the transfer system 91 in the upper chamber 20. Preferably, the transfer is started in a horizontal direction so as to place the jacket 40 above the orifice 230 in the partition wall 23. The jacket 40 is then transferred in a vertical direction so as to arrange the jacket 40 in said orifice 230 in a manufacturing position. The adjustment in the manufacturing position is carried out using the referencing means 46. The jacket 40 can be fixed in the manufacturing position.Then, and in order to start manufacturing, the manufacturing plate 47 is positioned in its highest position inside the jacket 40, the upper surface of the plate 47 being, for example, aligned with the upper edge of the jacket 40 and with the work surface 62 and the powder receiving surface 61. At the end of manufacturing, the manufacturing plate 47 may be in its lowest position inside the jacket 40, abutting against the inner edge of the jacket.

[0062] In other embodiments, the liner 40 is loaded into the upper chamber from a tunnel permanently connected to the opening 21 of the upper chamber. Alternatively, the liner 40 is manually loaded directly into the opening 21 of the upper chamber, for example using a handling aid tool. The liner 40 is then transferred to the port 230 and to its manufacturing position and proceeds as described for the case of using a transfer shuttle 50. When the liner 40 includes a cover or sliding hatch 48, the cover or sliding hatch 48 is removed or opened before or during or after the transfer of the liner 40 into the upper chamber 20 by a cover handling device, for example a gripper system or one or more magnets.

[0063] The shuttle 50 may be removed from the upper chamber 20 or remain connected during the additive manufacturing process. When the shuttle 50 is removed, the upper chamber 20 is closed, preferably in a powder-tight and / or gas-tight manner.

[0064] With reference to [Fig. 3], it is then possible to begin an additive manufacturing process of one or more parts 75 in the jacket 40. Layers of powder are deposited successively on the powder receiving surface 61. The powder is consolidated, for example layer by layer or by several layers, for example by total or partial selective melting carried out with the consolidation device 80. As the parts 75 are manufactured, it is necessary for the plate 47 to decrease in altitude relative to the powder receiving surface 61. Indeed, the fa Additive manufacturing consists of a successive addition of layers of material of a part 75. The manufacturing plane, of melting of the powder, remains unchanged throughout the process. Thus, the plate 47 is moved in a vertical direction towards the lower chamber 30 by the actuator 31 so that only the layer being manufactured is located in the plane of the powder receiving surface 61.

[0065] When the additive manufacturing process is complete, the plate 47 is at the bottom of the jacket 40, and the jacket 40 contains the manufactured part(s) 75 immersed in a bed of unconsolidated powder 70. At this stage, the temperature inside the jacket 40 is significantly higher than the ambient temperature outside the machine 1. For example, during an additive manufacturing process in which the consolidation device 80 is a laser source or an electron source, the temperature inside the jacket 40 may be between 200°C and 500°C.

[0066] Now, if necessary, the jacket 40 can be unlocked from the manufacturing position and / or the jacket 40 can be closed with the cover or sliding hatch 48. If the transfer shuttle 50 has been removed during the manufacturing process, a transfer shuttle 50 is connected to the opening 21 of the upper chamber 20. Then, with reference to [Fig. 4], the jacket 40 is transferred from the manufacturing position to the opening 21 and the transfer shuttle 50. Preferably, a transfer is first carried out in the vertical direction to position the jacket 40 at the vertical level of the opening 21, and then a transfer is carried out in the horizontal direction to the transfer shuttle 50 and the opening 21. If necessary, the jacket 40 can be closed with a cover or sliding hatch 48 during the transfer in the shuttle 50. If necessary, the jacket 40 is fixed in a fixed position in the transfer shuttle 50.

[0067] The shuttle 50 is then disconnected from the opening 21 of the upper chamber 20. The opening 21 of the upper chamber 20 can subsequently be closed or another shuttle comprising an empty jacket 40 can be connected to the opening 21 of the upper chamber 20. Thus, a new additive manufacturing process can be directly started using the empty jacket 40.

[0068] The shuttle 50 comprising the jacket 40 comprising the parts 75 manufactured in a powder bed 70 can be transferred to a cooling and / or storage and / or powder removal station. Such a station comprises at least one opening and a transfer system equivalent to the transfer system 91 in the upper chamber 20. The jacket 40 can be held inside the transfer shuttle 50 or be transferred alone into the cooling and / or powder removal station.

[0069] The jacket 40 is kept in the cooling and / or depowdering station until it reaches the unloading temperature which is for example less than 60°C. The jacket 40 can now be unloaded by sucking up the powder and safely removing the 75 manufactured parts.

[0070] Additive manufacturing assembly

[0071] An additive manufacturing station may comprise one or more additive manufacturing machines and a plurality of jackets 40 and transfer shuttles 50, as well as a cooling and / or storage and / or depowdering station. Each machine can therefore be equipped with an empty jacket as soon as a full jacket is transferred from this machine to the transfer shuttle 50. Manufacturing can thus be carried out almost continuously, without waiting time for the jacket to cool before unloading.

[0072] The jackets 40 are cooled, for example in the transport shuttle or in a cooling and / or storage and / or depowdering station, with a sufficiently long waiting time. It is not necessary to optimize the waiting time in order to release the manufacturing machine. Thus, a safety margin can be provided for the cooling temperature, thus avoiding any risk of burns, fire or explosion.

[0073] The additive manufacturing station may further comprise an inert atmosphere station, external to the manufacturing machines. Thus, the transfer shuttles 50 and / or the jackets 40 are placed under an inert atmosphere in a station common to all the additive manufacturing machines.

[0074] Because the transfer of the jacket 40 is carried out by passing only through the upper chamber 20 and the transfer shuttle 50, it is possible to keep the lower chamber 30 free of powder, thus avoiding damage to the mechanism of the actuator 31 in each machine. In addition, the unloading of the jacket through the upper chamber 20 makes it possible to maintain a relatively simple arrangement of the lower chamber 30 of the additive manufacturing machine.

Claims

Claims

1. Powder bed deposition additive manufacturing machine, comprising • an enclosure (10) comprising a dividing wall (23) arranged horizontally (23) so as to separate an upper chamber (20) extending above the dividing wall (23) and a lower chamber (30) extending below the dividing wall (23), and • an actuator (31) arranged along a vertical axis (Z) in the lower chamber (30), • means for depositing a powdered material adapted to deposit at least one layer of powder above a manufacturing plate (47), and • a consolidation device (80) for selectively consolidating each layer of powder deposited above the manufacturing plate (47), said machine being configured to receive a manufacturing jacket (40) comprising a manufacturing plate in a manufacturing position in which the manufacturing jacket (40) extends under the dividing wall (23) in the lower chamber (30), the manufacturing plate (47) being movable in translation along the vertical axis (Z) inside the manufacturing jacket (40) under the effect of the actuator (31), said jacket (40) and said manufacturing plate (47) defining a working area, said machine being characterized in that the upper chamber (20) comprises an opening (21) for the passage of a manufacturing sleeve (40) comprising a manufacturing plate (47), and in that the machine comprises a transfer system (91) configured to transfer the manufacturing sleeve (40) from the manufacturing position to the opening (21), the transfer system (91) also being configured to transfer said manufacturing sleeve (40) from the opening (21) to the manufacturing position in the upper chamber (20).

2. Machine according to claim 1 in which the jacket (40) comprises means (52) for retaining the manufacturing plate (47) in the jacket (40).

3. Machine according to claim 2 in which the retaining means (52) comprise an inner rim (53) present in the lower part of the jacket (40).

4. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising anchoring and / or referencing means (46) configured to maintain and / or adjust the jacket (40) in the manufacturing position relative to the separating wall.

5. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means capable of holding and releasing the manufacturing plate relative to the actuator (31).

6. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, configured to receive a jacket (40) closed by a cover or a sliding hatch (48) sealed against inert gas, said machine comprising a cover handling device configured to open access to the work area in the manufacturing position, and to close the jacket (40) in an inert gas-tight manner during its transfer from the manufacturing position to the opening.

7. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one powder-tight seal (44), arranged between the jacket (40) and the separating wall (23) and / or between the jacket and the manufacturing plate.

8. Additive manufacturing station comprising a machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one transfer shuttle (50) connectable to the opening of the upper chamber of the machine and capable of transporting a manufacturing jacket comprising a manufacturing tray.

9. Additive manufacturing method comprising the following steps implemented in an additive manufacturing machine according to one of claims 1 to 7: • Providing a manufacturing jacket (40) comprising a manufacturing tray via the opening (21) provided in the upper chamber, • transferring said jacket (40) to a manufacturing position in which said jacket (40) extends under the partition wall (23) in the lower chamber (30), • depositing and consolidating at least one layer of powder inside the jacket (40) • the transfer of said jacket (40) from the manufacturing position to the opening (21), • the exit of the jacket (40) from the upper chamber (20) of the manufacturing machine.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising a step of transferring said jacket (40) and the manufacturing platen (47) from the upper chamber of the machine (1) to a transfer shuttle (50).

11. A method according to claim 9 or claim 10 further comprising a step of assembling a manufacturing sleeve (40) and a manufacturing tray (47) in a station external to the additive manufacturing machine (1).

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