Additive manufacturing using particle beams
By separating the X-ray shield from the vacuum chamber walls in additive manufacturing devices, the solution addresses X-ray leakage and cost issues, providing comprehensive shielding and safety features for particle beam operations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024574562
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-01
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing additive manufacturing devices face challenges in creating effective X-ray shielding due to the integration of X-ray shields with vacuum chamber walls, which leads to potential leaks and high costs, especially when dealing with higher acceleration voltages and diverse materials.
The X-ray shield is partially separated from the vacuum chamber walls, surrounding key components like the particle beam source, vacuum chamber, and vacuum pumps, allowing for a more efficient and cost-effective shielding solution using low-cost materials.
This configuration prevents X-ray leakage and reduces manufacturing costs by using a simpler vacuum chamber design, ensuring comprehensive protection without the need for thick walls, and includes safety features like automatic shutdown and person detection.
Smart Images
Figure 2025524425000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing using particle beams.
Background Art
[0002] In additive manufacturing using particle beams such as electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF), backscattered electrons, and X-rays, X-rays, so-called primary X-rays, are generated from the powder bed. These backscattered electrons can collide with other surfaces and create even more X-rays, so-called secondary X-rays. For the safety of the operator of such a device, it is necessary to place an X-ray shield that prevents the operator of the device from being exposed to the generated X-rays. Since a vacuum is required for additive manufacturing using particle beams to prevent the particle beam from deviating by hitting gas molecules on the way to the build, an additive manufacturing device typically includes a vacuum chamber that surrounds the particle beam all the way from the particle beam source to the build. The X-ray shield is typically integrated with the wall of the vacuum chamber of the additive manufacturing device. (Problems of the Prior Art)
[0003] When the X-ray shield is integrated with the wall of the vacuum chamber of the additive manufacturing device, there is a possibility that X-rays may leak through any openings in these walls. Since vacuum pumps, vacuum gauges, viewports, and the like must have openings, it is difficult to create an X-ray shield that does not leak, especially since both primary and secondary X-rays must be considered. Since different materials produce different X-ray intensities, the X-ray shield must also be optimized to function with all the materials manufactured in the additive manufacturing device.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an additive manufacturing device with improved X-ray shielding.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The above problems are addressed by the claimed additive manufacturing apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a particle beam source, a build tank, a vacuum chamber arranged to surround the particle beam all the way from the particle beam source to the build tank, one or more vacuum pumps arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber, and an X-ray shield arranged to surround at least the particle beam source, the vacuum chamber, and at least one of the one or more vacuum pumps.
[0006] The above problems are further addressed by the claimed method for constructing an additive manufacturing apparatus having a particle beam source and a build tank. The method may comprise arranging an X-ray shield within the additive manufacturing apparatus so as to surround at least the particle beam source, a vacuum chamber arranged to surround the particle beam all the way from the particle beam source to the build tank, and at least one vacuum pump arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber.
[0007] This enables the simple creation of an X-ray shield that does not leak by separating the X-ray shield from the walls of the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber need not itself be a chamber, but may be a housing composed of different parts that are tightly connected to each other.
[0008] In an embodiment, the X-ray shield is arranged to also surround the build tank. This enables more parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus to be surrounded by the X-ray shield.
[0009] In an embodiment, the X-ray shield is arranged to also surround a powder tank included in the additive manufacturing apparatus. This enables all parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus to be surrounded by the X-ray shield.
[0010] In an embodiment, the X-ray shield is arranged to have a door, and preferably is arranged to also have a door sensor that detects whether the door is open. In an embodiment, the particle beam source is arranged to automatically turn off when the door sensor detects that the door is open, and preferably remains deactivated as long as the door remains open. This ensures that the particle beam source does not generate harmful X-rays when the door within the X-ray shield is open.
[0011] In an embodiment, the door is arranged to automatically lock as soon as the particle beam source is activated. This ensures that no one can enter the interior of the X-ray shield when the particle beam source generates harmful X-rays.
[0012] In an embodiment, a person sensor is arranged inside the X-ray shield, and this person sensor detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield. The person sensor can be any type of sensor capable of detecting the possible presence of a person inside the X-ray shield, such as an IR camera for example.
[0013] In an embodiment, the particle beam source is arranged to automatically turn off when the person sensor detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield. This ensures that the particle beam source does not generate harmful X-rays when there is a person inside the X-ray shield. In an embodiment, the particle beam source is arranged to remain deactivated as long as the person sensor detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield.
[0014] In an embodiment, the particle beam source is an electron beam source such as an electron gun.
[0015] In an embodiment, several additive manufacturing apparatuses are arranged to form an additive manufacturing production facility. In the embodiment, an X-ray shield surrounding these additive manufacturing apparatuses is arranged such that at least one X-ray shield wall is shared between at least two different additive manufacturing apparatuses. This is an efficient way to arrange an additive manufacturing production facility.
[0016] The above problem is further addressed by the claimed additive manufacturing production facility having several of the above additive manufacturing apparatuses, where at least one wall of the X-ray shield is shared between at least two different additive manufacturing apparatuses.
[0017] The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated by reference into this section. By considering the detailed description of one or more embodiments below, those skilled in the art will gain a more complete understanding of the embodiments of the present invention and will realize further advantages of those embodiments. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which will first be briefly described.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018]
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
[0019]
Figure 2
[0020]
Figure 3
[0021]
Figure 4
[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by reference to the following detailed description. It should be understood that reference numerals are used to identify similar elements shown in one or more of the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In additive manufacturing using particle beams such as electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF), backscattered electrons, and X-rays, X-rays, so-called primary X-rays, are generated from the powder bed. These backscattered electrons can collide with other surfaces to create even more X-rays, so-called secondary X-rays. For the safety of the operator of such a device, it is necessary to place an X-ray shield that prevents the operator of the device from being exposed to the generated X-rays. However, it is difficult to design an additive manufacturing device with sufficient X-ray shielding for various processing conditions.
[0024] The wall thickness required to shield X-rays depends on the acceleration voltage used in the particle beam source. A typical electron gun in an E-PBF system has, for example, an acceleration voltage of 60 kV. The X-ray shielding efficiency of a material essentially depends on its atomic number. If the vacuum chamber is made of steel, a steel wall with a thickness of 20 mm is required to shield X-rays from a 60 kV electron gun. If the chamber wall is made of aluminum, the required wall thickness is much greater than 20 mm. A vacuum chamber with such a wall thickness is very heavy and the manufacturing cost is high. Thick walls also make it more difficult to obtain a good view inside the additive manufacturing device. A thicker wall means that a larger viewport is required to obtain the same viewing angle inside the chamber.
[0025] In addition, it is considered advantageous to develop an E-PBF system having an acceleration voltage higher than 60 kV. For example, with an acceleration voltage of 120 kV, the E-PBF process is considered to be improved in terms of energy efficiency, productivity, and robustness. However, in the case of a 120 kV system, a very thick steel wall is required. Alternatively, a high atomic number material such as tungsten or lead, for example, may be attached outside the thinner steel wall. Such materials are costly, and lead also has environmental issues. Furthermore, the viewport will require very thick lead glass protection. Lead glass has poor optical properties, thus making it more difficult to use cameras and optical equipment to monitor and control the additive manufacturing process. In conclusion, X-ray shielding incorporated into the vacuum chamber wall of an additive manufacturing apparatus with an acceleration voltage higher than 60 kV is very difficult technically and also very costly.
[0026] Accordingly, an additive manufacturing apparatus is proposed having an X-ray shield at least partially separated from the wall of a vacuum chamber (surrounding the particle beam from the particle beam source to the build). The at least partially separated X-ray shield can be made using low-cost materials without some of the technical constraints associated with X-ray shields integrated with the wall of the vacuum chamber of the additive manufacturing apparatus. An X-ray shield arranged to surround at least the vacuum chamber, the particle beam source, and at least one vacuum pump arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber creates an X-ray barrier independent of any openings in the vacuum chamber wall. The vacuum chamber need not be a chamber per se and may be a housing composed of different parts that can be tightly connected to each other.
[0027] The additive manufacturing apparatus may include a distance barrier surrounding the entire additive manufacturing apparatus to ensure that a person does not approach the additive manufacturing apparatus too closely during operation. Instead of being integrated with the vacuum chamber wall, the X-ray shield may be integrated with or serve as such a distance barrier. And such an X-ray shield also functions as a barrier to prevent a person from approaching the additive manufacturing apparatus too closely during operation. Since such an X-ray shield will be located further away from the X-ray source, an increased protection distance will also be created due to the X-ray shielding effect as the radiation level decreases as the distance from the radiation source increases.
[0028] If the vacuum chamber does not need to shield against X-rays, this concept allows for the use of a much simpler vacuum chamber since a wall thickness of just a few millimeters is sufficient to ensure the mechanical stability of the vacuum chamber. This concept also means that it is not necessary to integrate X-ray shielding at the viewport and, for example, at the feedthroughs to the vacuum pumps.
[0029] The present disclosure generally relates to an additive manufacturing apparatus. Embodiments of the disclosed solution are presented in more detail in relation to the figures.
[0030] FIG. 1a schematically shows an embodiment of an additive manufacturing apparatus 100. The additive manufacturing apparatus 100 shown includes a particle beam source 110, two vacuum pumps 140 arranged to provide a vacuum inside a vacuum chamber 130, a build tank 150, a powder tank 160, and a vacuum chamber 130 arranged to surround the particle beam all the way from the particle beam source 110 to the build tank 150. The additive manufacturing apparatus 100 shown further includes an X-ray shield 120 arranged to surround at least the electron beam source 110, the vacuum chamber 130, and the vacuum pumps 140. In the embodiment schematically shown in FIG. 1a, the X-ray shield 120 also surrounds the build tank 150 and the powder tank 160 that are located inside the vacuum chamber 130 in the embodiment shown. This makes it possible for all parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus to be surrounded by the X-ray shield 120.
[0031] Figure 1b schematically shows another embodiment of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. The shown additive manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a particle beam source 110, a build tank 150, two powder tanks 160, and a vacuum chamber 130 arranged to surround the particle beam all the way from the particle beam source 110 to the build tank 150. The shown additive manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes an X-ray shield 120 arranged to surround at least the electron beam source 110, the vacuum chamber 130, and a vacuum pump 140 (not shown in Figure 1b). In the embodiment schematically shown in Figure 1b, the X-ray shield 120 also surrounds the build tank 150 and the powder tanks 160 that are located inside the vacuum chamber 130 in the shown embodiment. Thereby, it becomes possible for all parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus to be surrounded by the X-ray shield 120. In the embodiment schematically shown in Figure 1b, the vacuum chamber 130 is not a chamber per se, but is merely a housing created when different parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 are tightly connected to each other.
[0032] The additive manufacturing apparatus 100 may include a plurality of vacuum pumps connected to each other. When a very high vacuum is required, the vacuum pump 140 that provides vacuum to the vacuum chamber 130 may be connected to an additional vacuum pump that delivers a "pre-vacuum" to the vacuum pump 140. Such an additional vacuum pump does not have to be surrounded by the X-ray shield 130.
[0033] The particle beam source 110 may be any type of particle beam source, such as an electron gun for example. The particle beam source 110 may be surrounded by the vacuum chamber 130, or may be attached to the vacuum chamber 130 having an opening for the particle beam, as schematically shown from Figure 1a to Figure 1b. In either case, it is advantageous to have substantially the same vacuum level in both the particle beam source 110 and the vacuum chamber 130.
[0034] For instruments other than the vacuum pump 140, there are often feedthroughs or other openings in the vacuum chamber 130, for example, for one or more thermocouples. One or more pressure sensors may be used to control the pressure in the vacuum chamber 130, which may require one or more openings in the vacuum chamber 130 for such sensors. Also, there may be other types of openings, such as viewports and / or openings for light. Advantageously, the X-ray shield 120 surrounds all the instruments connected to the openings in the vacuum chamber 130 so that no openings are required in the X-ray shield 120.
[0035] In an embodiment, the X-ray shield 120 may be arranged to surround the entire additive manufacturing apparatus 100, for example, in the form of a wall having a thin layer of lead. Such an X-ray shield is preferably configured to protect the surrounding environment from X-rays from the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 independently, even if, for example, the vacuum chamber 130 contributes to the protection. FIG. 2 schematically shows such an embodiment of an additive manufacturing apparatus, specifically an E-PBF apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the X-ray shield 120 allows an operator to access the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 by opening the door 170 in the X-ray shield 120 and entering the space between the X-ray shield 120 and the rest of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100.
[0036] In such an embodiment, it is advantageous to provide means for ensuring that when the door 170 is opened while the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 is still operating, the particle beam source 110 in the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 is automatically turned off. This ensures that the particle beam source 110 does not generate harmful X-rays when the door 170 within the X-ray shield 120 is open. The additive manufacturing apparatus 100 may comprise, for example, a door sensor 180 for detecting whether the door 170 is open. In an embodiment, the particle beam source 110 is arranged to automatically turn off and not be able to turn on when the door sensor 180 detects that the door 170 has been opened. In an embodiment, the door 170 is arranged to be automatically locked as soon as the particle beam source 110 is activated. This ensures that no one can enter the interior of the X-ray shield 120 when the particle beam source 110 generates harmful X-rays.
[0037] However, usually, the operator only enters the space between the X-ray shield 120 and the rest of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 in order to remove the build from the build tank 150 and refill the powder tank 160, and thus the particle beam source 110 in the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 is usually not operating when the operator opens the door 170 in the X-ray shield 120. The operator controls the additive manufacturing apparatus 100, for example, using cameras and sensors mounted inside the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 in the space between the X-ray shield 120 and the rest of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100.
[0038] In an embodiment, a person sensor 190 is arranged inside the X-ray shield 120. The person sensor 190 is arranged to detect the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120. The person sensor 190 can be any type of sensor capable of detecting the possible presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120, such as an IR camera, for example.
[0039] In an embodiment, the particle beam source 110 is arranged to automatically turn off when the person sensor 190 detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120. This ensures that the particle beam source 110 does not generate harmful X-rays when there is a person inside the X-ray shield 120. In an embodiment, the particle beam source 110 is arranged to remain deactivated as long as the person sensor 190 detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120.
[0040] The additive manufacturing production facility may comprise several different additive manufacturing apparatuses 100 arranged adjacent to each other. FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of such an additive manufacturing production facility, where the additive manufacturing apparatuses 100 are arranged in different cells, each cell being surrounded by an X-ray shield 120. For efficiency, the cells may share some of the walls of the X-ray shield 120. However, it is preferable that each cell contains a door 170 that can be opened independently of the doors 170 of the other cells so that each additive manufacturing apparatus 100 can be serviced independently of the others.
[0041] The X-ray shield 120 may be made of many different materials, such as metal, concrete, gypsum, or stone, as long as it is thick enough to prevent X-rays from propagating through the X-ray shield 120.
[0042] FIG. 4 schematically shows a method 400 for constructing an additive manufacturing apparatus 100 having a particle beam source 110 and a build tank 150. The method 400 may include the following.
[0043] Step 410: Arranging an X-ray shield 120 within the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 so as to surround at least the particle beam source 110, a vacuum chamber 130 arranged to surround the particle beam from the particle beam source 110 all the way to the build tank 150, and at least one vacuum pump 140 arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber 130.
[0044] This enables the simple creation of the X-ray shield 120 without leakage by separating the X-ray shield 120 from the wall of the vacuum chamber 130. The vacuum chamber 130 does not necessarily need to be a chamber by itself, and it may be a housing composed of different parts that can be tightly connected to each other.
[0045] The method 400 may further include one or more of the following.
[0046] Step 420: Using an electron beam source such as an electron gun as the particle beam source 110.
[0047] Step 430: Placing the X-ray shield 120 so as to also surround the build tank 150. This enables more parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 to be surrounded by the X-ray shield 120.
[0048] Step 435: Placing the X-ray shield 120 so as to also surround the powder tank 160 included in the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. This enables all parts of the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 to be surrounded by the X-ray shield 120.
[0049] Step 440: Placing the X-ray shield 120 so as to have a door 170. [[ID=)21]]
[0050] Step 450: Placing the X-ray shield 120 so as to have a door sensor 180 for detecting whether the door 170 is open.
[0051] Step 455: Placing the particle beam source 110 so as to automatically turn off when the door sensor 180 detects that the door 170 has opened. This ensures that the particle beam source 110 does not generate harmful X-rays when the door 170 inside the X-ray shield 120 is open.
[0052] Step 460: Position the door 170 so that it is automatically locked as soon as the particle beam source 110 is activated. This ensures that no one can enter the inside of the X-ray shield 120 when the particle beam source 110 generates harmful X-rays.
[0053] Step 470: Position a person sensor 190 inside the X-ray shield 120, which detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120. The person sensor 190 can be any type of sensor capable of detecting the possible presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120, such as an IR camera, for example.
[0054] Step 475: Position the particle beam source 110 so that it automatically turns off when the person sensor 190 detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield 120. This ensures that the particle beam source 110 does not generate harmful X-rays when there is a person inside the X-ray shield 120.
[0055] Step 480: Position several additive manufacturing apparatuses 100 to form an additive manufacturing production facility.
[0056] Step 490: Position the X-ray shield 120 surrounding the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 such that at least one X-ray shield wall is shared between at least two additive manufacturing apparatuses 100. This is an efficient way to position the additive manufacturing production facility.
[0057] The above steps may be carried out in any technically meaningful order, and some of the steps may be carried out simultaneously with each other.
[0058] The above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention to the exact forms disclosed or to the particular fields of use. Various alternative embodiments and / or modifications of the present invention are contemplated in view of the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or suggested herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims. (Other possible items) (Item 1) Particle beam source (110); Build tank (150); A vacuum chamber (130) arranged to continuously surround the particle beam from the particle beam source (110) to the build tank (150); One or more vacuum pumps (140) arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber (130); and An X-ray shield (120) arranged to surround at least at least one of the particle beam source (110), the vacuum chamber (130), and the one or more vacuum pumps (140) An additive manufacturing apparatus (100) comprising. (Item 2) The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to item 1, wherein the X-ray shield (120) also surrounds the build tank (150). (Item 3) Further comprising a powder tank (160), and the additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to item 2, wherein the X-ray shield (120) also surrounds the powder tank (160). (Item 4) The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the X-ray shield (120) has a door (170). (Item 5) Further comprising a door sensor (180) for detecting whether the door (170) is open, and the particle beam source (110) is arranged to automatically turn off when the door sensor (180) detects that the door (170) is open. The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to item 4. (Item 6) The particle beam source (110) is arranged to remain disabled as long as the door sensor (180) detects that the door (170) remains open. The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to item 5. (Item 7) The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to any one of items 4 to 6, wherein the door (170) is arranged to be automatically locked as soon as the particle beam source (110) is activated. (Item 8) The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to any one of items 1 to 7, further comprising a person sensor (190) inside the X-ray shield (120), wherein the person sensor (190) detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield (120), and the particle beam source (110) is arranged to automatically turn off when the person sensor (190) detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield (120). (Item 9) The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to item 8, wherein the particle beam source (110) is arranged to remain deactivated as long as the person sensor (190) detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield (120). (Item 10) The additive manufacturing apparatus (100) according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the particle beam source (110) is an electron beam source. (Item 11) An additive manufacturing production facility comprising several additive manufacturing apparatuses (100) according to any one of items 1 to 10, wherein at least one wall of the X-ray shield (120) is shared between at least two different additive manufacturing apparatuses (100). (Item 12) A method (400) for constructing an additive manufacturing apparatus (100) having a particle beam source (110) and a build tank (150), the method (400) comprising the step (410) of arranging an X-ray shield (120) within the additive manufacturing apparatus (100) so as to surround at least the particle beam source (110), a vacuum chamber (130) arranged to surround the particle beam from the particle beam source (110) all the way to the build tank (150), and at least one vacuum pump (140) arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber (130). (Item 13) The method (400) according to item 12, further comprising the step (430) of arranging the X-ray shield (120) so as to also surround the build tank (150). (Item 14) The method (400) according to item 13, further comprising the step (435) of arranging the X-ray shield (120) so as to also surround the powder tank (160) included in the additive manufacturing apparatus (100). (Item 15) The method (400) according to any one of items 12 to 14, further comprising the step (440) of arranging the X-ray shield (120) so as to have a door (170). (Item 16) The step (450) of arranging the X-ray shield (120) so as to have a door sensor (180) for detecting whether the door (170) is open, and the step (455) of arranging the particle beam source (110) so as to automatically turn off when the door sensor (180) detects that the door (170) has opened. The method (400) according to item 15. (Item 17) The step (455) of arranging the particle beam source (110) so as to automatically turn off when the door sensor (180) detects that the door (170) has opened includes the step of arranging the particle beam source (110) to remain deactivated as long as the door sensor (180) detects that the door (170) remains open. The method (400) according to item 16. (Item 18) The method (400) according to any one of items 15 to 17, further comprising the step (460) of arranging the door (170) so as to be automatically locked as soon as the particle beam source (110) is activated. (Item 19) The step (470) of arranging a person sensor (190) inside the X-ray shield (120), wherein the person sensor (190) detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield (120), and the step (475) of arranging the particle beam source (110) to automatically turn off when the person sensor (190) detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield (120), the method (400) according to any one of items 12 to 18, further comprising. (Item 20) The step (475) of arranging the particle beam source (110) to automatically turn off when the person sensor (190) detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield (120) has a step of arranging the particle beam source (110) to remain disabled as long as the person sensor (190) detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield (120), the method (400) according to item 19. (Item 21) The method (400) according to any one of items 12 to 20, further comprising the step (420) of using an electron beam source as the particle beam source (110). (Item 22) The step (480) of arranging several additive manufacturing devices (100) to form an additive manufacturing production facility, and the step (490) of arranging an X-ray shield (120) surrounding the additive manufacturing devices (100) such that at least one X-ray shield wall is shared between at least two different additive manufacturing devices (100), the method (400) according to any one of items 12 to 21, further comprising.
Claims
1. A particle beam source; A build tank; A vacuum chamber arranged to always surround the particle beam from the particle beam source to the build tank; One or more vacuum pumps arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber; and An X-ray shield arranged to surround at least at least one of the particle beam source, the vacuum chamber, and the one or more vacuum pumps An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising.
2. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray shield also surrounds the build tank.
3. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a powder tank, and the X-ray shield also surrounds the powder tank.
4. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray shield has a door.
5. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a door sensor for detecting whether the door is open, and the particle beam source is arranged to automatically turn off when the door sensor detects that the door is open.
6. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the particle beam source is arranged to remain deactivated as long as the door sensor detects that the door is open.
7. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the door is arranged to automatically lock as soon as the particle beam source is activated.
8. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a person sensor inside the X-ray shield, the person sensor detects the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield, and the particle beam source is arranged to automatically turn off when the person sensor detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield.
9. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the particle beam source is arranged to remain deactivated as long as the person sensor detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield.
10. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particle beam source is an electron beam source.
11. An additive manufacturing production facility comprising several of the additive manufacturing apparatuses according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one wall of the X-ray shield is shared between at least two different additive manufacturing apparatuses.
12. A method for constructing an additive manufacturing apparatus having a particle beam source and a build tank, the method comprising the step of arranging an X-ray shield within the additive manufacturing apparatus so as to surround at least the particle beam source, a vacuum chamber arranged to surround the particle beam from the particle beam source all the way to the build tank, and at least one vacuum pump arranged to provide a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of arranging the X-ray shield so as to also surround the build tank.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of arranging the X-ray shield so as to also surround a powder tank included in the additive manufacturing apparatus.
15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of arranging the X-ray shield to have a door.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of arranging the X-ray shield to have a door sensor for detecting whether the door is open, and the step of arranging the particle beam source to automatically turn off when the door sensor detects that the door is open.
17. The step of arranging the particle beam source to automatically turn off when the door sensor detects that the door is open comprises arranging the particle beam source to remain deactivated as long as the door sensor detects that the door remains open, the method according to claim 16.
18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of arranging the door to automatically lock as soon as the particle beam source is activated.
19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of arranging a person sensor inside the X-ray shield, the person sensor detecting the presence of a person inside the X-ray shield, and the step of arranging the particle beam source to automatically turn off when the person sensor detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield.
20. The step of arranging the particle beam source to automatically turn off when the human sensor detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield comprises the step of arranging the particle beam source to remain deactivated as long as the human sensor detects the presence of the person inside the X-ray shield, the method according to claim 19.
21. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of using an electron beam source as the particle beam source.
22. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 21, further comprising the step of arranging a plurality of additive manufacturing devices to form an additive manufacturing production facility, and the step of arranging an X-ray shield surrounding the additive manufacturing devices such that at least one X-ray shield wall is shared between at least two different additive manufacturing devices.