System for verifying the operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine and associated process

Abstract

This system (1) for verifying the operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine (2) comprises a transmission module (3) for data collected by at least one sensor (5), and a parameter verification module (4). The transmission module (3) includes a local area network (7), at least one data acquisition module (8), and a first communication module (9) connected via the local area network (7) to at least one acquisition module (8). The verification module (4) includes a storage module (10) for parameter reference values, a second communication module (11), and a calculation module (12) comprising a comparator (12a) adapted to compare, on the one hand, the calculated parameter values ​​and, on the other hand, the parameter reference values ​​and / or the data values ​​from at least one sensor (13) of the machine (2). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: System for verifying operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine and associated method Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of monitoring additive manufacturing machines and in particular the verification of operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine. Previous techniques

[0002] To ensure the quality of parts produced by additive manufacturing machines, it is necessary to periodically carry out operations to verify the parameters of the machines in relation to reference values ​​representative of production conforming to the requirements. These operations are the subject of verification procedures included in quality assurance processes for production by additive manufacturing.

[0003] Traditionally, verification procedures vary from one machine to another and are not standardized. Current procedures require significant machine downtime, as operators must adapt the procedures to the individual characteristics of the machines. Furthermore, it is not easy to compare the performance of different machines. Statement of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to propose a standardized system and method for verifying additive manufacturing machines.

[0005] The subject of the invention is a system for verifying operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine.

[0006] According to a general characteristic, the system comprises a module for transmitting, to a verification module, data collected by at least one sensor, and a module for verifying the parameters from the data from the transmission module.

[0007] Advantageously, the transmission module is capable of being arranged on a manufacturing platform of a manufacturing enclosure of the machine. Such a transmission module facilitates the collection of data.

[0008] According to another general characteristic, the transmission module may comprise a local network, at least one data acquisition module, and a first communication module connected by the local network to said at least one acquisition module.

[0009] According to another general characteristic, the verification module comprises a module for storing reference values ​​of the parameters, a second communication module and a module for calculating the parameter values ​​from the data from the transmission module, said calculation module comprising a comparator adapted to compare, on the one hand, the calculated values ​​of the parameters and, on the other hand, the reference values ​​of the parameters and / or the values ​​of the data from at least one sensor of the machine.

[0010] Such a verification system constitutes a standardized means of controlling the operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine and makes it possible to reduce the time required for immobilization of the machine compared to conventional verification means.

[0011] Preferably, at least one acquisition module of the transmission module comprises at least one temperature sensor of the manufacturing plate of the machine.

[0012] Advantageously, at least one acquisition module of the transmission module comprises at least one sensor chosen from an ambient temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an oxygen sensor and a speed and / or gas pressure sensor of the manufacturing enclosure of the machine.

[0013] For example, at least one acquisition module of said transmission module comprises at least one power sensor and / or a module for analyzing a laser beam of the machine.

[0014] Preferably, at least one acquisition module of the transmission module comprises at least one contactless sensor of the position of the manufacturing plate of the machine, measured along a vertical axis relative to a predetermined fixed point of the manufacturing enclosure of the machine.

[0015] Advantageously, at least one acquisition module of said transmission module comprises at least two sensors for contactless detection of a powder spreading device of the machine, said at least two sensors being arranged at a predetermined distance from each other and configured to count the detection time of the spreading device, so as to allow the determination of the speed of movement of said spreading device.

[0016] According to an advantageous characteristic, the transmission module comprises at least three contactless sensors, separated and capable of measuring along a vertical axis the relative position between the manufacturing plate and a powder spreading device of the machine.

[0017] According to one characteristic, at least one acquisition module of the transmission module comprises first and second oxygen sensors and a relay configured to selectively supply electrical energy to only one of the sensors. of oxygen depending on the measured value of the oxygen level compared to a predetermined threshold value.

[0018] Advantageously, the calculation module of the verification module is configured to generate a parameter verification report.

[0019] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for verifying operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine implemented by a verification system as described above.

[0020] The method comprises the following steps: - installation of the transmission module on a manufacturing platform of a machine manufacturing enclosure, - measurement of data representative of the operating parameters of said machine, - transmission of acquired data to the verification module, - calculation of the values ​​of said parameters from the data from said transmission module, - comparison on the one hand, of the calculated values ​​of said parameters and on the other hand, of the reference values ​​of said parameters and / or of the values ​​of the data from at least one sensor of the machine, and - generation of a parameter verification report. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] illustrates an architecture of a verification system according to the invention; and

[0023] [Fig.2] is a flowchart of a verification method according to one embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0024] [Fig.l] illustrates in a simplified manner the architecture of a system 1 for verifying the operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine 2 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] The operating parameters of the machine 2 are parameters that can have an influence on the quality of the manufactured parts and can notably include parameters such as temperatures, pressures, gas concentrations, humidity levels, movement speeds, laser powers, laser caustics and the position and orientation of the manufacturing plate of the machine 2.

[0026] The verification system 1 comprises a transmission module 3 and a verification module 4. The transmission module 3 is configured to transmit to the module verification 4 of the data collected by at least one sensor 5 inside an enclosure 6 for manufacturing the machine 2.

[0027] The transmission module 3 is arranged on a manufacturing platform of the enclosure 6 of the machine and comprises a local network 7 and at least one data acquisition module 8 comprising at least one sensor 5 capable of measuring data representative of the operating parameters of the machine 2. Preferably, the sensors 5 are arranged in several zones of the manufacturing enclosure 6, so as to ensure data collection over the entire enclosure 6.

[0028] In order to standardize the use of the verification system 1, the size of the transmission module 3 has a minimal size, so as to be compatible with any machine in a given fleet of machines, even when these machines are different.

[0029] The local network 7 comprises telecommunications equipment such as hubs and / or switches.

[0030] The data acquisition module(s) 8 of the transmission module 3 comprise: at least one temperature sensor 5a of the manufacturing plate; at least one ambient temperature sensor 5b of the manufacturing enclosure 6 of the machine 2; at least one humidity sensor 5c of the manufacturing enclosure of said machine; at least one speed sensor 5d and / or pressure sensor 5e of gas of the manufacturing enclosure 6 of said machine; at least one power sensor 5f and / or a module for analyzing a laser beam of said machine; and at least one non-contact sensor 5g of the position of said manufacturing plate measured along a vertical axis relative to a predetermined fixed point of the manufacturing enclosure 6.

[0031] For example, the temperature sensors 5a of the tray are resistance temperature detectors (also commonly called “RTD” for Resistance Temperature Detector) and the ambient temperature sensors 5b of the enclosure 6 are temperature probes. According to another example, the temperature sensors 5a may be thermocouples. However, in comparison with a thermocouple, the temperature detector has the advantage of being more suitable for measuring an absolute temperature value while the thermocouple is more suitable for measuring temperature variations.

[0032] Furthermore, the acquisition modules 8 of the transmission module 3 comprise at least two contactless 5h detection sensors of a powder spreading device of said machine, the sensors being arranged at a predetermined distance from each other and configured to count the detection time of the spreading device, so as to allow the determination of the speed of movement of said spreading device.

[0033] Preferably, the transmission module 3 comprises at least three 5g contactless sensors, separated and capable of measuring along a vertical axis the relative position between said manufacturing plate and a powder spreading device of said machine, so as to enable the determination of their relative orientation, in particular to verify their parallelism.

[0034] At least one of the acquisition modules 8 of said transmission module 3 comprises at least one oxygen sensor 5i adapted to measure the oxygen content of the manufacturing enclosure.

[0035] In a particular embodiment, at least one of the acquisition modules 8 of said transmission module comprises first and second oxygen sensors 5i and a relay configured to selectively supply electrical energy to only one of said sensors as a function of the measured value of the oxygen level. In this configuration, the first sensor has a nominal accuracy lower than that of the second sensor, which on the other hand offers a smaller measurement range than that offered by the first sensor.

[0036] By default, the relay supplies power to the first sensor until the measured value of the oxygen level becomes lower than a predetermined threshold value, for example 1000 ppm.

[0037] When the measured value of the oxygen level becomes lower than the predetermined threshold value, the relay switches the power supply to the second sensor and continues to supply power only to the second sensor as long as the measured value of the oxygen level remains lower than the predetermined threshold value.

[0038] When the measured value of the oxygen level becomes at least equal to the predetermined threshold value, the relay switches the power supply to the first sensor.

[0039] The transmission module 3 further comprises a first communication module 9 connected by the local network 7 to the acquisition modules 8. The first communication module 9 is adapted to communicate to the acquisition modules 8 data acquisition instructions from the verification module 4. The first communication module 9 is adapted to transmit the acquired data to the verification module 4.

[0040] The verification module 4 comprises a storage module 10, a second communication module 11 and a calculation module 12. The storage module 10 makes it possible to store in a memory (not shown) reference values ​​of the operating parameters of the machine 2. The second communication module 11 is adapted to transmit to the first communication module 9 data acquisition instructions and is configured to receive data collected inside the manufacturing enclosure 6 from at least one sensor 5 of the transmission module 3. Preferably, the communication between the first 9 and second 11 communication modules are carried out wirelessly, through standards such as IEEE 802.11, commonly known as Wi-Fi. Alternatively, it is still possible to use wired means and Ethernet-type standards.

[0041] The second communication module 11 is further adapted to receive data from at least one sensor 13 of the machine 2 via a communication interface 14 of the machine. The at least one sensor 13 of the machine 2 collects data representative of the operating parameters of the machine 2. The second communication module 11 is adapted to communicate with the machine 2 via the communication interface 14 so as to access the data collected by the sensors 13 of the machine 2.

[0042] Module 12 calculates the values ​​of the operating parameters from the data from the transmission model 3.

[0043] For example, to determine the speed of movement of the powder spreading device of the machine 2, the module 12 divides the predetermined distance by the difference between the detection times recorded by the at least two 5h detection sensors. Of course, the acquisition frequency of the non-contact 5h detection sensors is compatible with the speed of movement of the powder spreading device so as to respect a predetermined precision threshold value. In order to improve the precision, it is possible to carry out several measurements and to consider the average value of the measurements carried out.

[0044] The module 12 comprises a comparator 12a adapted to compare, on the one hand, the calculated values ​​of said parameters and, on the other hand, the reference values ​​of said parameters and / or the values ​​of the data coming from at least one sensor 13 of said machine 2.

[0045] The calculation module 12 is adapted to generate a report 15 for verifying the operating parameters of the machine 2.

[0046] [Fig. 2] is a flowchart of a method 16 for verifying operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine 2 according to the invention.

[0047] The method begins with a preliminary step 17 of installing the transmission module 3 on a manufacturing platform of a manufacturing enclosure 6 of said machine 2.

[0048] The following step 18 of measuring the data representative of the operating parameters of the machine 2 is carried out by the acquisition modules 8 of the transmission module 3.

[0049] The method continues with step 19 of transmitting the acquired data to the verification module 4.

[0050] During the following calculation step 20, the calculation module 12 calculates the parameter values ​​from the data from the transmission module 3.

[0051] The comparator 12a performs the comparison on the one hand, of the calculated values ​​of said parameters and on the other hand, of the reference values ​​of said parameters read from the storage module 10 and / or of the values ​​of the data coming from at least one sensor 13 of said machine 2 (step 21).

[0052] The method ends with step 22 of generating a report 15 for verifying the operating parameters carried out by the calculation module 12 of the verification module 4.

Claims

Claims

1. System (1) for verifying operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine (2), characterized in that said system comprises: - a transmission module (3), to a verification module (4), of data collected by at least one sensor (5) of the transmission module (3), and - a verification module (4) of said parameters from the data from said transmission module (3); said transmission module (3) being able to be arranged on a manufacturing platform of an enclosure (6) for manufacturing said machine (2) and comprising: - a local network (7), - at least one data acquisition module (8), and - a first communication module (9) connected by said local network (7) to said at least one acquisition module (8);said verification module (4) comprising: - a module (10) for storing reference values ​​of said parameters, - a second communication module (11), and - a module (12) for calculating the parameter values ​​from the data from said transmission module (3), comprising a comparator (12a) adapted to compare on the one hand, the calculated values ​​of said parameters and on the other hand, the reference values ​​of said parameters and / or the values ​​of the data from at least one sensor (13) of said machine (2) different from the sensor (5) of the transmission module (3).;

2. Parameter verification system according to claim 1, wherein at least one acquisition module (8) of said transmission module (3) comprises at least one temperature sensor (5a) of said manufacturing plate of said machine (2).

3. Parameter verification system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one acquisition module (8) of said module transmission (3) comprises at least one sensor (5) chosen from an ambient temperature sensor (5b), a humidity sensor (5c), an oxygen sensor (5i) and a speed sensor (5d) and / or pressure sensor (5e) of gas from the manufacturing enclosure (6) of said machine (2).

4. Parameter verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one acquisition module (8) of said transmission module (3) comprises at least one power sensor (5f) and / or a module for analyzing a laser beam of said machine (2).

5. Parameter verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one acquisition module (8) of said transmission module (3) comprises at least one contactless sensor (5g) of the position of said manufacturing plate of said machine (2), measured along a vertical axis relative to a predetermined fixed point of the manufacturing enclosure (6) of said machine (2).

6. Parameter verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one acquisition module (8) of said transmission module (3) comprises at least two sensors (5h) for contactless detection of a powder spreading device of said machine (2), said at least two sensors being arranged at a predetermined distance from each other and configured to count the detection time of the spreading device, so as to allow the determination of the speed of movement of said spreading device.

7. Parameter verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transmission module (3) comprises at least three contactless sensors (5g), separated and capable of measuring along a vertical axis the relative position between said manufacturing plate and a powder spreading device of said machine.

8. Parameter verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one acquisition module (8) of said transmission module (3) comprises first and second oxygen sensors (5i) and a relay configured to selectively supply electrical energy to only one of said oxygen sensors (5i) as a function of the measured value of the oxygen level relative to a predetermined threshold value.

9. Operating parameter verification system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said calculation module (12) of the verification module (4) is configured to generate a verification report (15) of said parameters.

10. Method for verifying operating parameters of an additive manufacturing machine (2) implemented by a verification system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - installation of the transmission module (3) on a manufacturing platform of an enclosure (6) for manufacturing said machine (2), - measurement of data representative of the operating parameters of said machine (2), - transmission of the acquired data to the verification module (4), - calculation of the values ​​of said parameters from the data from said transmission module (3), - comparison on the one hand, of the calculated values ​​of said parameters and on the other hand, of the reference values ​​of said parameters and / or of the values ​​of the data from at least one sensor (13) of said machine (2), and - generation of a report (15) verifying said parameters.

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